In one corner of the palace, a separate building had been constructed for state affairs.
Rather than coming and going separately, the building was designed to be connected to the center of the palace, making it convenient for the Emperor to call when needed. In this building, there were various departnts, including a study where the Chancellor, Hector Kazaf, conducted his work.
Hector, who had been busy gathering information related to Maxin from the intelligence departnt, was in the midst of tidying up his attire when the Emperor's sudden visit occurred.
"His Majesty has arrived," his subordinate inford him.
Hector looked around and asked, "Is there any new information from the Academy?"
"No, there isn't."
Hector nodded and waited for the Emperor.
Soon, the Emperor arrived, and the mbers of the intelligence departnt and Hector all bowed respectfully.
"Raise your heads," commanded the Emperor.
Everyone raised their heads at the Emperor's command.
By the Emperor's side, there stood the long-hidden figure of the Chief of the Royal Guard, Javier Leonard.
"So, Maxin is at the Academy?" the Emperor inquired.
"That's correct, Your Majesty."
"He wanted to have a conversation with Adrias Cromwell? Do we know what kind of conversation he wants?"
"We haven't received any information on why he wants to speak with Adrias Cromwell yet," Hector replied.
The Emperor scanned the surroundings after Hector's response.
"I have sothing to discuss with the Chancellor for a mont, so please withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After everyone except Javier and Hector withdrew, the Emperor began the conversation in earnest.
"Maxin, has he realized the existence of Original Sin?"
"That is unlikely, Your Majesty. For now, we are trying to find out where Maxin has established a connection with Adrias."
"I don't understand why that insignificant Maxin would capture the attention of the entire empire."
After a brief mont of contemplation, the Emperor spoke impulsively, "Perhaps we should just eliminate Maxin at this point?"
When the Emperor pointed to Javier, Hector narrowed his eyes.
Javier remained motionless, like a doll, even in such a situation.
"I dare not speculate, but the damage wouldn't be minimal, wouldn't it? Certainly, compared to the power of the Empire, Maximin is nothing more than a firefly. However, Maximin's abilities are highly specialized in escaping..."
"Hector."
The Emperor called his na sharply.
Hector, with goosebumps from the inexplicable chill, managed to answer, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"This won't do, that won't do either. What on earth can we do? Is the Empire's ruler truly capable?"
"No, Your Majesty. You are indeed the rightful ruler of the most powerful nation on this continent."
"Is it acceptable that our empire cannot punish a single individual?"
"No! With the empire's strength, an individual like Maxin is nothing!"
"Then, let's consider killing Maxin. What do you think?"
"I will communicate with our agents nationwide."
Hector rely nodded.
He could sense that the Emperor's arrogance was gradually reaching its limit, despite his efforts to restrain it.
"Javier, can we trust you?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Hector looked at Javier, who responded chanically, but there didn't seem to be any doubt about the possibility.
Javier Leonard was also one of the Top Ten on the continent.
With the scattered Aura Masters and Warlocks throughout the nation, could they capture Maxin without any casualties?
Just as they were discussing this, a sound interrupted their conversation.
Knock, knock.
Even though they had been ordered to withdraw by the Emperor's decree, soone was knocking on the door...
"Co in."
The Emperor spoke, and a woman in white attire entered. She bowed her head and silently extended a magical communication device with both hands.
"Hegel contacting at this ti... It's fortunate that the Chancellor is here as well; it will be easier to discuss."
The Emperor took the communication device and imdiately established a connection.
"Have you been well, Your Majesty?"
"Hegel, it's been a while. So, what brings you here?"
"I have found traces of Wrath."
There was a montary silence, and the Emperor nodded.
He seed unaffected, but a smile was drawn on his lips that couldn't be erased.
"Good work."
"We have identified the location, but it may take so ti to bring it in."
"Is there a problem?"
"It's not an object; it's the Chief's child."
"What?!"
Hector, caught off guard, exclaid before covering his mouth.
The Emperor didn't scold Hector for his reaction; instead, he seed inwardly surprised.
"You an the child is alive?"
"Yes."
"Understood. We will et and discuss this later."
After ending the call, the Emperor changed the subject.
"We may have to let Maxin go for now."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Wrath is the more imdiate concern."
"I'll wait for Hegel to arrive. Continue to provide updates on Maxin."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
As the Emperor left with Javier, Hector wiped his forehead with relief.
'In the early days, there were benefits for as well, but lately, even those advantages have disappeared. Maybe it's ti to consider other options.'
Experiences of various political struggles in the palace made him feel that the Emperor, whose standards were increasingly ambiguous, was becoming more dangerous.
As a loyal mber of a noble family, he had followed the Emperor since his ancestors' ti, but he could sense that the ti for a decision was approaching in order to survive.
'It's getting difficult, very difficult.'
.
.
.
.
As Isabelle woke up, Maxin imdiately left.
Before leaving, we made a simple promise that if she fell asleep again, they would contact .
eting in the Empire made nervous, so we agreed to contact separately when I was outside the Empire.
There was no rush for the remaining requests, so I decided to think about them gradually.
'If Surahan had died, the situation would have beco complicated. It's fortunate we managed to save him sohow.'
Maxin concealed Isabelle's appearance and, together with Bart, Berial, and Deos, who had arrived belatedly, urgently moved Surahan, who was in a near-death state, to a treatnt facility.
Fortunately, my first aid had worked well, and he could be treated without any issues. If Surahan had died, it would have been a problem no matter how much Surahan had rushed in first.
Knock, knock.
"Your Highness, Count Adrias Cromwell has arrived."
As I organized my thoughts while walking, I suddenly found myself in front of the entrance.
The place I had just arrived at was the mansion of the Alben family, located in the capital.
Bart had called here due to matters related to Maxin.
"Very well, co in. Adrias alone may enter."
The servant who had guided this far inclined his head to and then left.
As I entered the room, I saw that Bart was with soone.
'Carlos Alben.'
I had seen him briefly in the port city of Muriel, perhaps about half a year ago.
He was an unexpected figure, but I didn't show any surprise.
"You're here. It's been a while, Carlos."
"You ca? You've got so nerve."
"It has been a while, Your Grace Cromwell."
Ignoring Bart's grumbling, I offered a courtesy to Carlos.
"Your Highness, I will take my leave now."
"Where are you going? You were waiting for Adrias. You're becoming more cunning."
"Haha. You're being too harsh, Father. Please bear with and let play along."
He was waiting for ?
Even though I was present, it was quite Bart-like to speak so bluntly to his own son.
Nevertheless, their relationship seed good on the surface.
"You were waiting for ?"
"I was trying to subtly ask, but it got ssed up because of Father. Yes, I rushed here because I wanted to hear about Maxin Cromwell's story after hearing it at the Academy."
That's what it was.
Looking back, Carlos was the eldest son of a prestigious magical lineage, yet he had beco a wandering knight, which was quite unusual.
Considering Dianne's love for knights, there must have been sothing within the family.
"Now, let's sit down and talk. I heard a bit at the Academy, but I haven't heard all the details."
"What do you want to hear?"
"From the beginning to the end, everything!"
It was quite a demanding request.
Still, I was confident in presenting the information in a sowhat embellished manner.
"There's no need to say, but since Carlos is here, I should tell you in particular."
"As expected of Your Grace Cromwell."
"Adrias, you seem to be getting more insolent these days."
Bart didn't hold any grudges against , and despite his eccentric personality, he often made jokes. He was expressing our growing closeness, and fortunately, Bart only joked around.
"At first..."
I began to explain, carefully concealing the information about the deity. I adjusted the details and spoke about it while highlighting my skill in potion-making, as well as the recent rumors about curing Lucia's illness that had been spreading. I decided to take advantage of this.
"Maxin sotis carries a coffin with a person inside. The person was sick, so they asked if I could take a look and I did."
"Huh? I know Maxin travels with Isabelle. Are you saying you cured her illness?"
"It's not a complete cure. I just woke her up from her sleep."
At that mont, Carlos asked, "Isabelle, during the Terafin Incident...?"
"Yes, that's right. She's a vampire."
If you trace the cause of the Terafin Incident, Isabelle's involvent would be the most significant. If her true identity hadn't been revealed, the Terafin Incident might not have occurred.
'She's just a vampire.'
Her identity as a direct vampire wasn't disclosed yet, and her potential as a head of the family was high. As an heir hostage, she held great value.
However, the problem was that she was Maxin's lover.
Even though Maxin was sowhat famous at the ti, he wasn't renowned to the point of being called the strongest swordsman. The title of the strongest swordsman only started to stick to his na after he graduated.
"During his ti at the Academy, Maxin was an outstanding prospect, but once he graduated, he chose a mundane wandering life. He even declined the Emperor's title when it was offered. Then, by pure chance, Isabelle, a vampire, was exposed within the Empire, and Maxin raised his sword to protect her. That marked the beginning of the Terafin Incident and the origin of his title as the strongest swordsman."
When I thought about it, Bart was Maxin's junior. Two of the Ten Greats attended the Academy at the sa ti, which was quite surprising.
So, Bart might be even more curious about Maximin.
'If Maxin and Bart were to fight...'
It was hard to imagine.
In reality, in the ga, they rarely encountered each other.
Bart belonged to the Empire, and Maxin was usually a wandering swordsman, staying away from the Empire.
Personally, I thought Maxin would win.
After all, I had seen his skills up close, and it would be a natural assumption to make.
"If I ask you tell what the cure is taht woke up Isabelle, you won't answer right?"
"To be honest, I don't really know what the treatnt is. To begin with, isn't it strange that I supposedly cured a woman I just t?"
"What do you an?"
"The story is that I woke her up by chance. I was just lucky."
My words seed plausible, and Bart nodded in agreent. Since Bart knew that Maxin had been wandering for over forty years to cure Isabelle, hearing that a stranger had cured her right away would be hard to believe.
After explaining in detail about the battle between Suhrahan and Maxin, Carlos stood up.
"Lord Cromwell, it's getting late. How about having dinner here before you leave?"
"Who decides that?"
Bart interjected, but Carlos didn't pay him any attention and waited for my response. I appreciated Carlos' offer, but I shook my head.
"Thank you for the suggestion, but I have so matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way."
"Busy by yourself."
It was funny to see Bart complain about this, as if he was disappointed.
Carlos' offer was kind, but I had other places to visit while I was in the capital. So, I had no choice but to decline.
We concluded our conversation, and with Carlos' farewell, I left the mansion. As I was leaving, I noticed Dianne approaching.
"What's this? Is the discussion over already?"
It seed that Dianne had hurried over, eager to hear Maxin's story.
I nodded awkwardly in response to her question. She sighed when she realized she had missed it.
"I was asked to help Professor Shirin with sothing, and that's why I'm late."
"I'll tell you everything. Since everyone else has already heard it."
Carlos laughed as he spoke, and Dianne finally extended her hand to shake mine.
"It's been a while, big brother. It's not often we get to see you, so I ca right away when I heard Adrias had arrived."
"Haha..."
Carlos laughed awkwardly, and I lowered my head as a gesture of farewell.
"Well, I'll be on my way."
"Let's et again next ti, Lord Cromwell."
I nodded and left, leaving Carlos to wonder what he was busy with now.
I hadn't given it much thought, but Carlos was curious about a world he had never experienced before.
"Adrias Cromwell."
As I headed to the Everlast headquarters with thoughts of Carlos on my mind, soone called out my na.
The person had an ordinary appearance and was dressed in plain clothing. However, that very ordinariness made uneasy, given my experiences from my past life.
"Who are you?"
Despite the slight unease, I didn't feel the need to be overly cautious. I was currently in the capital of the Empire, and I had so ans to protect myself if necessary.
"I'm a ssenger. Here..."
He quickly approached , handed sothing, and then disappeared. I was taken aback by his speed, and I didn't even have a chance to refuse whatever he was giving .
'Another unusual person?'
I couldn't help but wonder about the identity and motives of this person who had vanished so quickly. What was I getting involved in now?
I examined the item he had given , and it turned out to be a small note. I sensed a faint magical aura emanating from it, indicating that it was enchanted with a spell that would ignite it automatically after so ti.
'It contains sensitive information.'
I decided to take a look at what the note contained. Carefully, I unfolded the piece of paper, and my brow furrowed when I saw the sender's na.
'A gathering?'
The ssage contained a reference to a gathering, and I couldn't help but wonder what this ant and what kind of event I was being inford about.
Reviews
All reviews (0)