The Pursuit

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

"What's wrong with you again?"

Paul noticed the twisted expression on Derson's face.

"Uh, nothing. Lord Grayman, how will you handle me?"

Paul answered, "Hmph~ I'll give you a chance. After all, people with magic are, in some ways, special talents."

"Thank you! Uh..."

Derson was so excited that he forgot he was tied up and tried to stand, only to be choked by the restraints.

"Actually, you don't know this, but I'm also from Aldor. If it weren't for my identity as a mage, I wouldn't have come to this distant foreign land to work!"

"Calm down! Mr. Derson, even so, you'll be under special surveillance until you prove your loyalty."

"I won't disappoint you, Lord Grayman!"

"Listen, I'm going to call my subordinates in. You tell them about the Arcane Order, but..." Paul sternly warned him, "Don't mention anything you shouldn't!"

"I understand! Lord Grayman!" Derson knew that Earl Grayman didn't want anyone to know about the things in his mind.

"Come in, Cecil and Ladia."

The two waiting outside quickly responded to the summons.

"What? This mage wants to swear allegiance to you?"

After hearing Paul's explanation, both were shocked.

Paul ordered, "Unbind him first!"

With Ladia present, he wasn't worried about Derson trying anything funny.

He made Derson repeat what he had just said.

"The Arcane Order... has such a huge plan?"

Ladia was stunned. When they were in the Bay, the Arcane Order had invited her, but she felt their views were too radical, so she declined to join.

She didn't expect that secretly, they were up to this.

"It sounds like the plot of a novel!" Cecil scratched his chin, still in disbelief.

"Do you believe him just like that? Why would he swear allegiance to you for no reason and betray his old comrades?"

"It can't be explained in just a few words!" Paul stopped explaining. "Ladia, can you confirm that he's telling the truth?"

The witch, holding her glowing crystal ball, nodded, "There's a 99% chance it's true."

Cecil asked, "Should we expose their conspiracy to the world?"

Paul shook his head. "I'm afraid that might provoke their crazy retaliation. Imagine a whole bunch of mages flooding into the Northwest Bay causing chaos. Just thinking about it makes my head spin."

He also worried that the Church would use the Arcane Order's conspiracy to strengthen its presence and increase its influence.

"Let's focus on something else first. I suggest we pay attention to the members of the Arcane Order who have infiltrated Alden!"

Derson seriously suggested, "That is, my former comrades. We should capture them, control them, or simply destroy them."

"Derson's right!" Although Paul was surprised by how quickly he betrayed his comrades, letting a few uncontrolled mages operate right under his nose was certainly not a good thing.

Ladia looked at Derson. "How strong are they?"

Derson replied, "They are all skilled combat mages, especially in fire magic. There's one, a red-haired female mage named Marianna, who's particularly powerful!"

"If they're staying in an inn, it would be tricky to resist in the buildings, so I suggest Lord Grayman bring a dozen cannons and blast both them and the buildings to pieces!"

"That won't work! There are other people inside, and the buildings are dense. Who knows where the shells will hit?"

Paul immediately rejected the suggestion, looking at Derson.

"Mage, now is your chance to prove your loyalty!"

Derson widened his eyes and pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Yes, you need to find a way to lure them out to a deserted place! We'll catch them there."

---

"Derson's shopping trip seems to be taking longer than expected!"

Nathan said with some worry, "I have a bad feeling about this."

He and Edward were playing cards out of boredom, while Marianna was meditating in her own room.

As if to confirm his bad feeling, the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs echoed.

Bang! The door flew open, and Derson barged in.

"My God, brother! What happened to you?"

Nathan was shocked at the sight of Derson, who was bruised and battered.

"I got into a fight with a bunch of thugs!"

Edward mocked, "Sounds like an unforgettable shopping trip."

"Uh... guys?" Derson looked embarrassed, as if he had done something wrong. "We need to leave quickly."

"Why?"

"I couldn't resist using a little magic to get back at them, so..."

Nathan slapped his forehead. "Damn! You used magic on the street?"

"Enough talking!" Derson shouted. "Pack up, and call Lady Marianna!"

Half an hour later, a carriage left the hotel and headed toward the outskirts of Alden Town.

On the road outside the city, Nathan said with some regret, "To be honest, I really liked this place. I'm going to miss Alden."

Edward was curious. "It's rare to see you express such feelings."

"I can't explain it," Nathan shook his head. "It's like my soul resonated with this land. It's a strange feeling."

As they were talking, the sound of hooves grew louder behind them.

They turned to see a large group of knights—about twenty—riding toward them at full speed.

"Are they looking for us?"

"I don't think a bunch of thugs could muster this kind of force."

"What if the thugs told the Church or the lord about Derson's 'magic trick'?"

"Either way, let's pull over to the side, but get ready for a fight."

They pulled the carriage to the side of the road.

The knights quickly surrounded them.

Nathan felt something was wrong. These knights, all wearing identical uniforms, were clearly targeting them.

Especially... in the middle was Paul Grayman.

"Ha-ha, we meet again, the great Earl Grayman! It's a shame I couldn't perform a magic trick for you last time. Are you here to make up for that?" Nathan exaggerated as he bowed to Paul.

With a rustling sound, Derson noticed all the knights were removing long, tube-like objects from their horses, pointing them at them.

What's this, some kind of weapon?

Paul, sitting on his horse, looked at him from a distance.

He said expressionlessly, "There are some matters that require your cooperation for an investigation."

Hearing this, Nathan immediately realized something was wrong. This earl must have figured something out. Derson, that idiot!

He still thought it was just because Derson had accidentally used magic during the fight with the thugs that this situation had arisen.

"What a shame, Lord Earl, we're all in a hurry."

The obsequious expression he had worn earlier disappeared, and a coldness now settled on Nathan's face.

(End of the Chapter)

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