◈ Episode 079

"Search everything."

The guardsmen who had been instructed dispersed in unison. They ran, trampling on the carpets as beautiful as the palace carpets. The employees of the mansion trembled like small animals.

"You can't do this, Your Majesty!"

Count Bedeloff knelt down and desperately pleaded his grievances. Adrian, on the other hand, simply looked down at his trouser legs with cold eyes.

The count quickly pulled away from Adrian's hand. He seemed ready to cut his wrist if he clung to him any longer. The prince had always been fierce, so he didn't know what he would do.

But I couldn't just let it go.

'They're searching my house all of a sudden!'

It was dangerous. There were too many things in the mansion that could not be shown to the royal family. Where would you find a noble who was pure and upright, but the problem was the difference in degree.

'If it gets discovered... ... .'

Political life is at risk. If we talk about the mountain faction in general, not everyone in the faction is of the same mind and body. There are many people who will attack if there is even one flaw.

We must stop it at all costs.

"What on earth is this…! Even though you are a member of the royal family, there are rules that must be observed in the relationship between a ruler and his subject. Does Your Majesty know about this?"

"It's so noisy."

Adrian didn't even listen.

"There was a complaint and I took it seriously."

"A, an accusation? I don't know the details, but it's a false accusation. How dare someone do something like that!"

"Why, if you find out, are you going to take revenge?"

He snorted.

"Just wait quietly. If you are innocent, nothing will come out. If you are found not guilty, I will bring the accuser and make him kneel before you. I will also sincerely apologize."

Having said that, Adrian followed the guards into the mansion. His attitude was firm, refusing to accept any further objections.

'Fuck!'

Count Bedeloff clenched his fists as he looked at the prince's back.

I had to think of the following numbers. The news would quickly spread through the noble society. The nobles of the mountain faction would hide their accounts out of fear of their turn, and protest to the royal family.

Today is the last day Adrian will act as he pleases. No matter how well it is presented, his current actions are deserving of criticism unless there is evidence of treason.

The situation itself isn't bad, but… … .

'Why did I have to be the shield?'

So I had no choice but to pray. That only the lightest of sins would be revealed.

The search was thorough.

"The list of family soldiers is quite thick."

Adrian tapped the stack of papers he had been handed.

"The Count seems to have a lot of popularity. The difference from when I reported last year is remarkable. Are you saying that he hired this many people in less than a year?"

"That, that is..."

"This number is far exceeding the standard. For some reason, they needed to assemble troops in a short period of time… I have some doubts."

His eyes flashed fiercely.

"Are you planning to start a war?"

"No, it's not worth it!"

"Then? Explain it to me."

"Actually, I'm reorganizing the Knights Templar… Since the personnel changes are so frequent and detailed, I had to rewrite the list several times."

"This list is wrong?"

Count Bedeloff's head was spinning. If he investigated, it would be discovered right away. If he lied, it would only cause more trouble.

"...It seems that there was something wrong with the submitted documents."

"I guess you're saying I made a false report."

The count closed his eyes tightly. Not only would he have to pay a huge fine, but the knighthood he had worked so hard to gather would also be forcibly disbanded. This alone would be a huge loss.

But it was a minor thing compared to the sins that came to light next.

"Count, let us try to explain these things too."

A chapel built on the grounds of a mansion. Explosives were found in a storage room where cleaning supplies and such were stored. Plastic bombs were piled up in boxes covered with cloth.

That wasn't all.

Thud, thud!

A deformed creature banged its head against the metal cage. A small chimera, a cross between a baby minerat and a pigeon. It bore a striking resemblance to the monster Adrian had seen.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"Hee, heek!"

The Count fell on his butt as Adrian held the cage up in front of his eyes. The chimera's fluids spurted out through the iron bars. The bright red eyes gleamed in the dark room.

"What, something is wrong."

"Of course. You wouldn't have thought you'd get caught."

"I don't know about that!"

The count clung to Adrian's feet as if he was crawling on the ground.

"It's a conspiracy. I swear I've never brought anything like this into my mansion."

"Who is saying that the Count was framed?"

"Yes, that is certainly true. You must reveal the truth. Please, Your Majesty…!"

He was really wronged.

There were other things he wanted to hide. For example, the slaves he kept underground. But what was actually discovered were bombs and chimeras.

If you've seen it, there are. They are 'gifts' that I received from Legion. However, as I said with my own mouth, I didn't bring them into the mansion. They were things that shouldn't be here.

Above all, it seemed a little different.

Among the weapons the Count received were explosives, but most were firearms. When I saw them with my own eyes, I could see that the mutants looked different from each other.

The count sensed the malice of others. He realized that someone unknown was targeting him. That was why he could shout, "It's unfair!" without any shame.

"흠."

Adrian seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but the conclusion he ultimately reached was far from what the Count had expected.

"The Count would know better than anyone."

It was a look in his eyes as if he was looking at a bug.

"Even if it is actually a conspiracy, nothing will change."

There is no way to prove innocence. There is no time. Count Bedeloff has eliminated several of his opponents in a similar manner.

The count slowly lowered his head. Then a voice was heard.

"I can execute the Count here and now for treason. However, I do not wish to send him away in vain. After all, he is a subject who has supported the royal family for a long time."

"Your Majesty...!"

The count's face brightened noticeably. He raised his head again and looked up at Adrian. But there was not a shred of pity in the prince's expression.

"I'll give you a choice."

Adrian spoke as if issuing an ultimatum.

"Tell me everything. Tell me what you're up to in places I don't know about."

* * *

A deserted street at night.

Kim Yi-hyeon fiddled with his hair as he walked along the street. He felt quite uncomfortable. The horns shook slightly every time he moved, which was extremely annoying.

'I don't even wear accessories, but you've put on all these horns.'

It's not an actual Pecatum horn. It's just a roughly similar shape that's been attached. It's a crude object that's easily revealed when viewed up close, but it's quite useful on the road at night.

'It's annoying if I get into trouble.'

The atmosphere has somewhat lightened with Ainoa's return, but Minos is Minos. Discrimination still remains. It's quite amusing that such pranks alone can free up one's actions.

As I entered the alley, I saw drunks and homeless people lying around. There were no security cameras. In Bastitera, even in the most prosperous capitals, crimes occur openly.

Criminals are arrested every day, but most of them are just thugs.

Even among criminals, there are bound to be some who are good.

"I heard. They said they handled it properly."

"Yes, because it's work."

"You broke in without even being noticed."

"Well, that's true, haha…."

The boy, who looked like a middle or high school student, smiled awkwardly. Kim Yi-hyeon chuckled and threw the pouch to him. The boy opened the pouch and held his breath.

"You're giving me this much? It seems like more than the deposit you promised."

"I put a little more in. I liked the way it worked out."

"Oh, thank you…!"

"Be careful not to lose it while bragging."

"Oh, I see."

He hurriedly hid it in his arms, as if he was afraid someone would see it. No matter where you looked, he was an innocent young man. However, it was not something you could just look at with happiness.

'As expected, the sprouts are different.'

A character who would have appeared three years later. With the outbreak of the civil war, he went abroad and joined a large mafia organization. Despite being an outsider, he quickly assumed the position of executive.

The current Bastetria is overflowing with these characters.

'Not an important character, but whatever.'

There is no reason to leave a jewel rolling around.

"Don't you need a job?"

It doesn't matter if you feel a little uneasy about dragging him into Dustborn. If you introduce him to Kushan, he'll use him well. He's a guy with a good eye for people.

'Anyway, this ends all the annoying work.'

It's time to watch the transformation.

* * *

The nobles entered the dining hall of the inner palace one by one. The number of chairs prepared was fourteen. Excluding the host who was to sit at the head table, thirteen people were invited to the banquet.

"Oh my, a dinner party all of a sudden. What the hell happened?"

"That's true. Your Majesty, you should come to your senses soon."

"Well, well, don't complain too much."

Marquis Genève looked around.

"Looking at the faces, they all seem familiar. His Majesty has finally realized that there are limits to running the country with only the support of the military."

"Haha! If that's true, then that's really fortunate."

They were all nobles classified as mountaineers. A faction that had an uncomfortable relationship with the prince, if not an opposition. So why did they call them in anyway?

'I was wondering what was going on when the guards stormed the Bedeloff mansion… but it seems like no punishment was given in the end.'

There is no noble who doesn't get a single speck of dust when you shake him. Even if he was bad, he would have been caught evading taxes or embezzling something or another. But the prince turns a blind eye to it.

The truth is obvious.

'Does this mean that we should establish a friendship by using the count as a connection?'

It is a well-known fact that the prince regards Princess Ainoa as a thorn in his side. It seems that he is determined to exclude her, as she has been causing trouble recently, such as by bringing Minos.

'Surprisingly cunning.'

It seems like they fired a warning shot to seize the initiative. It is not an unpleasant situation for the mountaineers either. The house search can be taken as a threat, but if you look at it the other way around, the meaning is different.

As long as a good relationship is maintained, the prince can be used as a backer. The leash can be put on later. This is truly a desirable symbiotic relationship.

Now the only stumbling block is the princess.

"Count Hardy, how is the courtesy going?"

"Well, it seems like there's not much of an opportunity…."

"It seems that the Marquis of Mobile's daughter is quite capable."

Marquis Gened clicked his tongue.

"Well, there's no need to rush."

"Yes? They're urging us to get it done as soon as possible."

"That's their business."

He laughed through his nose.

"Minos cannot be our master."

The cooperative relationship with the Legion is strictly out of necessity. I have no intention of bowing down forever. The owner of Bastitera must be a Bastitera.

"In that respect, the princess is incredibly foolish. She was swayed by Minos without even knowing it."

"Haha, maybe those dirty rumors are more credible than you think."

"rumor?"

"Haven't you heard? Why, there's a man named Hyun at the Sujeong Palace...."

It was in the midst of a small, secret conversation.

Damn it.

My eyes were drawn to the sound of footsteps that were particularly clear. A familiar figure came into the hall, stepping on the carpet. The rumbling voices suddenly died down.

'...Princess Alone?'

It was a sight that felt unfamiliar, even though it was clearly familiar. Ainoa was not wearing a dress. She was wearing tight hunting clothes. Instead of shoes, she wore boots.

She didn't wear any jewelry at all. She walked confidently, wearing clothes that she had never seen on her skin before. When she reached the head of the table, she looked around the audience.

"I'm a little late."

It was the beginning of a dinner party.