“Are you here, Chancellor?”
“Oh, Dien! You’re early again today.”
Before taking his seat, Persian Cherbil approached Dien and patted him on the shoulder. It was a new greeting he had recently adopted.
“Let’s see…”
As soon as he arrived at the office, Persian naturally picked up the schedule. He began scanning it quickly, as was his usual habit.
“The Lasmos Merchant Group? Isn’t that a merchant group located in the Scania Empire?”
Persian examined a small note attached to the side of the schedule. This was likely a note Dien had placed there to catch his interest.
“Yes, Chancellor. I have placed a secret letter on your desk sent by the spies we planted in the Scania Empire.”
“Right. Have you checked the contents?”
“Yes.”
Persian opened the secret letter as he spoke to Dien.
Thanks to the recent permission granted by King Lonas, Dien’s secret information access level had been raised, allowing him to view almost all of the Kingdom of Delos’s confidential documents.
After a private meeting with Dien, King Lonas had selected him as the right person to handle affairs for the future of Delos. Consequently, Persian could now discuss the business of the Chancellor’s office and the kingdom’s top-secret information with Dien without having to worry alone.
“The position of Crown Prince of the Scania Empire finally went to the Second Prince. This is going to be a headache…”
Persian clicked his tongue as he read the secret letter. The Kingdom of Delos had implicitly supported the First Prince, the legitimate eldest son, as the Scania Crown Prince. They had maintained a good relationship with the First Prince and poured in significant support, but in the end, the position had fallen to the Second Prince.
“I’ll have to summon all the secretaries and aides from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an emergency meeting.”
“Yes.”
Dien gave a short answer to Persian’s words and summoned an aide to order the emergency meeting.
‘I heard the First Prince was neglecting state affairs because he was lost in wine and women… Should we have turned to the Second Prince sooner? Ha… damn it! Even so, for the Emperor to abandon his eldest son…’
Persian shook his head with a deep sigh. With the Second Prince’s appointment as Crown Prince, the many collaborative projects promised by the First Prince had vanished into thin air.
“But why did you mention the Lasmos Merchant Group?”
Persian asked while looking at Dien. Since Dien always looked two steps ahead of him, there was surely a reason why he had mentioned them together.
“The Lasmos Merchant Group was the First Prince’s source of funds. Now that the Second Prince has become the Crown Prince… he will likely try to bankrupt the Lasmos Merchant Group first, if only to cut off the First Prince’s funding and prevent his comeback.”
“That’s the natural sequence of events… but why?”
“Chancellor, we must embrace the Lasmos Merchant Group. Now that the Second Prince is the Crown Prince, the only way to prevent our losses is to attract the Lasmos Merchant Group to Delos. They are the only merchant group on the continent capable of building magic-powered cranes.”
“Hmm… That is true… but if we do that, wouldn’t the Second Prince — no, the Crown Prince — become hostile toward Delos?”
At Persian’s words, Dien spoke with an unwavering gaze.
“That is why this must be carried out in absolute secrecy. If necessary, we should at least recruit the core technicians of the Lasmos Merchant Group.”
“You’re right. It was clearly a mistake by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to side with the First Prince. The only way to make up for it would be that… As expected, you already thought of a solution before reporting.”
“I thought you might feel ashamed to face His Majesty, Chancellor. That is why I thought of a way to cover the losses first.”
At Dien’s words, Persian broke into a faint smile.
“Good! I’ll get this approved by His Majesty! But if we’re going to proceed in secret, to what extent do you think people should know about this?”
“I think it would be best if only His Majesty, you, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viscount Noil, knew.”
“Then… who will execute the operation?”
Persian looked up at Dien, surprised by his answer.
“I will do it. If you and Viscount Noil are absent for a long time, it might raise suspicion among the Scania Empire’s spies.”
“What? You? Boy! Do you realize how dangerous this task is?”
“Yes.”
Of course, he knew. Even in his past life, attracting regional corporate investment was a silent war. If there was one major difference, it was that if the operation failed here, his head would literally roll.
“Usually, at least one unit of knights should be dispatched for such a task. Slipping away a merchant group targeted by the Crown Prince is no easy feat!”
“It’s not as if they don’t have legs. I can do it alone.”
“No.”
Persian, who had been pondering for a moment, shook his head firmly.
Though Dien was a remarkable genius, he was still at a young age, just beginning his successor training. He could not be sent on such a dangerous mission.
However, Dien showed no sign of giving up.
“You must know as well, Chancellor. The Royal Knights cannot move for this. Even if they disguise themselves, they won’t be able to pass the Empire’s gates. Furthermore, there are many nobles from the Empire within the Royal Knights. This operation could fail before it even begins.”
Persian groaned at Dien’s valid point.
“I will recruit the talents of the Lasmos Merchant Group. As long as a physical conflict doesn’t break out, I can sufficiently manage it alone…”
“That’s true, but we have an alternative.”
The alternative likely referred to the Masked Knights, Persian’s direct and secret knight order. Their very existence was classified, known only to a few within Delos, including Dien, so they were a force unknown even to the Empire.
“You are talking about the Masked Knights.”
“Correct.”
Dien, who had been considering the deployment of the knights, soon shook his head.
“Chancellor, this isn’t something that can be done by many people moving at once. And most importantly, the key is to persuade them so they feel the desire to settle in Delos. An official who understands their grievances and is knowledgeable enough about construction companies to draw out their empathy… you know who that is.”
“Stop. That’s enough! You are still — “
Persian raised his voice toward Dien.
“Do not mention it further! Absolutely not!”
How could he send an official he cherished alone to another country? Though he trusted Dien more than anyone, he could not allow him to step forward for this task.
“Chancellor.”
“Tsk! Enough! I will discuss this with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and then draft knights from the Masked Knights.”
“Yes… I understand.”
It was Persian’s firm intention. Realizing he could not break Persian’s stubbornness, Dien bowed his head.
“Ah! Dien.”
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“I believe you and I have something to talk about?”
Persian looked at Dien with narrowed eyes. Since they had just raised their voices, Dien watched Persian’s expression carefully, but he seemed to have already forgotten what just happened.
“Pardon? What…”
“You. Didn’t you make a bet with me?”
“Oh!”
The bet they made regarding the ranking of the thesis competition. Persian was the first to bring up the bet Dien had forgotten.
“I did.”
Dien gave a hollow laugh. He didn’t know what the man wanted from him, but he suspected it wouldn’t be an easy request.
“Hahaha, don’t be so nervous. It’s nothing major… just visit our house once when you have time. I want to invite you to our family home. That’s all I want.”
“Really?”
“Truly!”
It was unbelievable. Such a surprisingly simple request. He even doubted if he had heard correctly.
“Then, since the Academy is off tomorrow, I’ll go right away.”
“Good.”
Strike while the iron is hot. Rather than keeping a concern on his mind, it was better to fulfill the request as soon as possible and get it over with.
“Hahaha, if there’s any food you like, tell me in advance. I’ll have my servants prepare it.”
“No, thank you. I think I’ll be at ease as long as Young Master Zalz is by my side.”
“Zalz is always at home… he’ll be happy if you come. Ah… of course, that person will too…”
“Pardon?”
“Hahaha, never mind!”
Persian laughed so hard he even threw his head back. Dien just watched him. Unable to understand why Persian was laughing so much, he only offered an awkward smile.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“Chancellor, the secretaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been assembled.”
“I understand, I’ll be there shortly.”
Persian’s aide knocked and entered, and Persian quickly organized his documents before standing up.
“We’ll talk more when I get back.”
“Yes!”
Dien stood tall and answered energetically. Persian gave Dien a sly look and left with a meaningful smile.
‘I can never tell what he’s thinking…’
Dien recalled Persian’s laughter and silently sat down to begin his work.
***
The city center of the royal capital was crowded with buildings.
Shilona was walking through the alleys, holding a bell the size of her palm.
‘I can’t find any traces today either.’
The Frances Bell she held was one of the five Holy Relics, capable of picking up even the smallest traces of holy power. The more concentrated the holy power it sensed, the clearer and more elegant its sound became.
However, since Shilona had arrived in Delos, the Frances Bell had never once let her hear its clear sound, and thus her expression was not bright.
‘Is the Apostle truly using holy power…?’
Could it be that the Apostle of God mentioned in the prophecy was not using holy power? There was no way the Frances Bell, one of the five Holy Relics, could fail to find a trace of holy power.
Because there was no information about the Apostle of God other than a single line of prophecy in an ancient book, the task of finding him was extremely exhausting and difficult.
*Whistle—*
Right then, Shilona heard a familiar whistling sound echoing around her.
‘Has the support already arrived?’
This sound was a signal used by the members of the Holy Knight Order. Accordingly, Shilona began walking toward the source of the whistle. She stopped where the whistling ended. Soon after, she discovered a letter tucked between the stones of a wall.
‘Tomorrow, western suburbs of the capital. The windmill where the smuggler was caught.’
It was a short letter indicating the meeting place.
At the end of the letter was a sun-shaped seal representing the Holy Empire, and soon, the letter burned away in her hand.
‘What a relief…’
They were reinforcements sent quickly from the Holy Empire for Shilona, who was guarding the Delos capital alone.
For some reason, even as she felt a sense of relief, she felt a lingering regret that made her mouth dry.
‘I suppose I don’t need to say goodbye.’
Shilona walked toward the House of Portran. The scenery on the way there was familiar.
Now that the reinforcements had arrived, there was no reason for her to stay at the House of Portran any longer.
She didn’t even realize that she was letting out a sigh with every step.
‘It’s strangely warm.’
She thought as she grabbed the gate, which had been cooled by the chilly wind.
*Creak.*
The door of the Portran mansion opened, and Dien and Nue looked at Shilona as she stepped inside.
“Lady Shilona! It’s so cold today! Shall I prepare a bath for you?”
“Have you eaten?”
Nue and Dien spoke to Shilona at the same time.
But even as she heard their words, she went into her room without a single word of response.