Chapter 23 "The Crown Prince"

"That's how the story goes! I'm not lying or making up!" I shouted loudly in front of everyone.

Right now, I was in a 3x5 meter room where all four walls were made of rotting wood. After arriving at Glafelden, I headed straight for the Dark Night headquarters. Surprising everyone by banging the door hard was the first thing I did.

Igresti woke up from sleep and jumped off the sofa in shock. Jaester, who was making breakfast, stopped his activity. While the two female members, Nina and Diana, greeted me warmly. I didn't know what Grussel was doing, so I just banged on his room door repeatedly. The old bastard was so surprised to see me. A few seconds later, his hand immediately slapped me, who had woken him up.

After a few minutes, Grussel immediately pulled all the hunters and me into the meeting room. Their expressions varied. I caught the expression of happiness implied when they met me again.

I told him everything that happened, from accidentally being carried away by a merchant's cargo to meeting the Third Prince of the West Elvian Kingdom, Keylan. Ah, I definitely cut the part when I was locked underground by a mysterious group. The fear would make them even more worried, especially Dimas who might be overly anxious.

The only wrong thing about my story was that I learned Esze techniques there. I lied like that to make up for my long return time.

At first, they thought I was making the story. Dimas, who saw Prince Keylan himself, witnessed my statement, even though he couldn't justify my whole story. And not forget to show a viglet that Prince Keylan gave to strengthen my boast.

"Then I trust you, Anggi!" said Grussel, clearing his throat once. "Your story is very interesting. Finally, after decades of living, I know how Elvian's life in the forest. Well, that's natural. Anyway, they never open up to us."

"It seems like a very exciting place."

"The houses on the giant tree, huh? Hmm… if only I could go there!"

Both Nina and Diana seem to be so impressed with the town of Ruvia I told them about. I have to admit, the place was indeed so beautiful that its image was always stuck in my head. Even for the inhabitants of the world who were used to magic and monsters, that city's scene was still a remarkable thing.

"But… is that Elvian Prince trustworthy? That man already knows your true identity, didn't he?" Grussel glanced at me with his sharp gaze.

"What do you mean, Boss?"

"Almira has already told you, hasn't she? Haier-Elvian could control Esze stronger than anyone. There's really nothing you can do right now. But your talent is real. There will be many people who want your power. Are you sure that guy isn't one of them? Besides, don't you feel suspicious about him being too kind to you?"

Wait a minute! Why did this bastard old man suddenly become so caring? Usually, he was always apathetic about things other than his job. His savage face didn't match the look of concern in his eyes at all. Honestly, I want to burst out laughing right now. But the atmosphere in this room somehow turned heavy and serious.

"I-I'm sure. Prince Keylan has no intention of using me," I stammered.

Indeed, if I thought from a different point of view, The Third Prince might have some ulterior motive by approaching me. For example, recruiting me to help him become the heir to the royal throne over his two older brothers.

Geez! Why was I thinking like this?

Obviously, that was not possible. I'd only known him for a short time and didn't know his true nature. But it seemed impossible for people who always gave a warm smile every day to have such ambition. I had a feeling that the man was really sincere.

"But that's up to you, anyway," said Grussel. Then the old man got up from his chair and walked to the door. His back looks so dashing from behind. "Nice to see you back. Next time try to not worry the others, Idiot!"

After his figure disappeared from the doorway, my gaze remained fixed ahead. I couldn't believe Grussel would say such sweet words. Yet every day, all I could hear from him were screams and cursing. This was probably the first time my ears caught the worried words from his mouth. From inside my heart, I somehow felt a little warm.

I thought he was a heartless person. That statement was a big mistake. People who were tough on the outside may have a soft side on the inside. Since then, my view of Grussel has changed.

Today I also learned a lesson, never underestimate the feelings and attention that other people give, even if it was just a hint.

***

Hundreds of kilometers away from the Glafelden Town stood a city several times larger. A tens of meters high stone wall surrounded the city firmly. Its thickness can be up to eight meters. Every few hundred meters, a guard post was built above it. A dozen soldiers were seen patrolling there. That said, this wall was the city's most impenetrable defense by the enemy. This was the First Wall of the city of Lurich, the capital of The Lurivia Kingdom.

Inside The First Wall was a neatly constructed residential area of ​​commoners. All houses were designed similarly to each other. Both in terms of size, design, color, and facilities. Each house's yard was planted with a tree which made the environment look beautiful. At first glance, this place was very similar to housing in the modern world. Likewise, the market and important buildings here, all neatly arranged according to the pattern. All city streets were made of ivory-colored bricks. Made the road look luminous because it reflected the sun's rays on this hot afternoon.

The hustle and bustle of city life sounded so noisy compared to the Glafelden Town. The city streets seemed to be filled with a sea of ​​people passing by. Horse-drawn carriages ran up and down the road. Because there were so many horse-drawn carriages, some of the city's main streets, especially intersections, could be seen in traffic jams. A thing you could never find in a country or small town.

Further into the city, tall buildings came into view. The building arrangement here was also according to the rules. For example, District 1 was for administrative and government buildings. District 2 was for office buildings and service bureaus until District 9 was an industrial area at the farthest point of the city. The buildings and factories in this city were deliberately built magnificently and multi-story, which was still quite rare in its day. Outsiders who set foot here for the first time would surely be amazed by the splendor of The Lurich City.

Right in the middle of the city, a palace stood firmly. The palace has seven towers as high as one hundred meters soaring. The main building was five stories high, where the dome-shaped roof was covered with bright blue stones. This royal palace was the most conspicuous place, even from a distance.

A young man looked out over the entire city below from the top window in one of the towers. The look in his eyes was firm and looked a little intimidating. His body was fairly strong like a knight. People immediately lowered their heads and trembled when they saw him. Even a person like Grussel was unable to do anything in front of him. This was what The Royal Crown Prince, Alucard il Lurivia, looked like.

His sharp senses could detect the presence of a guard who was in front of the room, about to knock on the door to ask permission to enter.

"Come in!"

Alucard, who knew beforehand, immediately let the guard in before the guard knocked on the door. A few moments later, the guard came in with a face that was half-deadly astonished. He stepped closer to the Prince carefully. He didn't want to be struck by the intimidating aura that Alucard emitted.

"Y-Your Majesty! There's a letter from Master Flamenco in Ruvia City," said the guard with shaking hands.

"Hoo… what else does that Long Ear want?"

After giving the letter, the guard immediately lowered his head and left the room. Leave the Prince alone. The man sat on the chair, staring at the dark purple envelope. The color was a military code indicating that the contents of the letter were very important. The envelope was not plain paper, but special paper that had been enchanted with Esze. If someone else wasn't supposed to open the letter, the envelope would burn itself and destroy all the information inside. Quite an effective trick to avoid information leakage.

Alucard poked his finger with a needle, then dripped a drop of his blood on the envelope. Then the dark purple envelope faded its color and turned white. Only then could Alucard tear the envelope like normal paper.

The letter was from an Elvian named Flamenco. Since a few years ago, Alucard had hired him as his exclusive spy in The Elvian region. The Prince believed that a war between humans and Elvian would break out at any time in the future. By placing spies there, he hoped to get information about Elvian's military movements. In that way, he was one step ahead of his enemy when the war broke out. It took more than a hundred gold pieces and the threat of beheading the entire family to make Flamenco betray his own people.

When he read the letter, his face turned serious. The man even reread it again.

Greetings to His Majesty!

This time the servant is not to provide information that was usually sent. But I'm sure this information I provide will please you.

About two weeks ago, the Ruvia City was in an uproar due to the escape of a small intruder. The intruder was named Anggi from Glafelden Town, but what put everyone in turmoil was the fact that she was Haier-Elvian.

As a broad-minded person, surely you know what it is. The Mixed Race re-emerged after several hundred years. That Haier-Elvian could realize your ambition to rule the entire Blue Continent. But what you need to pay attention to, the First Prince and Third Prince Elvian have already started moving to get her.

Moments later, Alucard smirked. A smile was full of cunning and great ambition. Anyone who saw his expression would surely think the man was plotting something evil.

"Haier-Elvian, huh? Hmm… it seems that my dream is about to come true."