Chapter 30. Eyes That See Through Deceit

Inside the tent, Ian stared intently at the crimson flower. Berwick was still sound asleep, snoring loudly, oblivious to the commotion outside.

To summarize the situation, it seemed Winchen's illness required a plant called 'Silasce', and several expeditions had been launched to find it. However, none had returned.

'And this is it?'

Silasce. The identity of the potted plant that no one in the Bratsch household knew. Ian frowned, gently stroking a petal. How on earth did the illegitimate Ian acquire this in his previous life?

'Philia said that Ian grew it himself. If only she were here, I could ask her.'

Could it be a miraculous medicine found only in the hidden corners of the red-light district? Like Gula? Something that, once discovered, could propel humanity forward once more.

At that thought, Ian felt his heart pound.

"Ugh."

Just then, Berwick woke up, his face swollen from the meat and alcohol consumed the night before. Ian tossed him a towel, signaling him to get ready quickly. Berwick, still half-asleep, stumbled out of the tent.

"Ah, it's the foreigner."

"Shh, it's the foreigner."

"Heard he went to the banquet yesterday?"

"Hey! Did you have a good dream? What went into your bellies was top-notch!"

Pushing through the whispering crowd, Ian sought out a familiar path. It was the way to Winchen's tent, where he had gone immediately after arriving yesterday. The scent of the 'gurute' leaves was even stronger now. Nersaren spotted Ian and tilted his head in confusion.

"What brings you here?"

"Good morning. I followed the commotion, and it led me here."

"This is no concern of yours. Stay in your tent until Kakantir's summons."

From now on, Ian would earn his keep here. Given his status, he would probably be tasked with teaching the Variel language and culture to the higher-ups.

As for Berwick, who knows. He might be treated like a slave, as the veterinarian suggested, or he might be recognized as Ian's aide.

"It seems Chief Winchen's condition is quite serious."

"Ian Bratsch. You are speaking too much."

The moment the name of Chief Winchen left his lips, the surrounding area fell silent. Some scoffed in disbelief, others shot him looks of undisguised anger. If Ian hadn't been dealing with Nersaren, a fight might have broken out right then.

"It was so noisy everywhere this morning, I couldn't help but overhear."

"I apologize, but you-"

"A flower that never fades once it blooms, called Silasce. If you have that, Chief Winchen's health will be restored?"

Nersaren hadn't known Ian for long, but he knew he wasn't one to be so oblivious to the atmosphere. Ian glanced around and whispered quietly.

"I have something to discuss, so please allow me to meet with the chief."

This should be enough to draw attention. If what he possessed was indeed Silasce, then his contribution would spread among them like the wind. Given the need to foster goodwill, a little attention was necessary.

Thwack-

Nersaren led Ian not to Winchen's chamber but to an adjacent tent. There, Kakantir and other leaders were discussing the expedition.

"-but the man has just had a son."

"His fifth, yes. He has four grown children, so there should be no issue for the remaining family."

"And he is exceptionally skilled with a bow..."

"Kakan."

At Nersaren's call, Kakantir turned his head, a gurute leaf still rolled in his mouth.

"What is it?"

"Ian Bratsch says he has something to say about Silasce."

"More accurately, I have something to ask."

"...Sit."

Ian took a seat amidst the thick smoke. The elders seated around him watched him with a variety of expressions.

"Please explain to me what this plant, Silasce, is. I have a suspicion, and I want to confirm if it's correct."

"A suspicion? Ah. You don't know of Silasce?"

Ian answered with silence.

Kakantir exhaled a puff of smoke and gestured to a council member seated nearby. The council member pulled out a sheet of paper. It seemed to be part of a botanical illustration, written in an unknown language.

"Silasce is the name of the disease that afflicts those who directly receive the will of the god, like Chief Winchen. They carry that power throughout their lives until they become old and weak, unable to withstand it any longer, and shatter."

The council member continued his explanation.

"According to records, a long time ago, a merchant from the south was rescued by Cheonryeo in the desert, and he gave them the seeds of Silasce... but it's been impossible to find these days."

It was impossible to gauge how long ago "a long time ago" was for them. Currently, there was no one in the Cheonryeo tribe who knew Winchen in her youth.

While she endured, the records of Silasce faded, and they had only now grasped a clue.

Ian offered appropriate words of comfort.

"It seems that in Variel, there aren't many who receive the will of the god."

He almost slipped and said "gypsy." Winchen was an important figure to these people, but in the Variel Empire, she was just an old gypsy. Though, among the swindlers, she was one of the more skilled ones, at that.

Moreover, gypsies wandered their entire lives, so no one knew what became of them in their later years. It would be more accurate to say that no one cared.

The council member narrowed his brow.

"Silasce has been lost for some time, and, well, as you can see."

"Is Silasce perhaps... a red flower that, once bloomed, never fades?"

"If the records are accurate."

This time, it was Kakan who furrowed his brow elegantly.

"I smell the scent of Silasce on you."

This guy has a nose like a dog.

Ian smiled and nodded.

"In fact, I've seen a flower suspected to be Silasce in the Bratsch territory. It was red, and once it bloomed, it never faded."

Even the sun sets once a day, yet a mere flower that never fades. It was certainly a special case. At Ian's words, Kakantir pressed him.

"Is that the truth?"

"I was surprised as well. That's why I came here as soon as I heard about Silasce."

Now, what to do? If the timing was right, he could lure them to Bratsch.

While the Emperor's central army was laying waste to Bratsch, if he went with the backing of the Cheonryeo's power, not only his life but also his territory might be secured, if he played his cards right.

But...

'The problem is that Winchen is on her deathbed.'

Could she hold on until the central army reached Bratsch? Unlikely. If the chief had rushed out in the middle of the banquet, her condition was such that it wouldn't be strange if she drew her last breath at any moment.

"Tell me more."

"Before that, I have a request."

Then, he had to use this situation in a different way.

At Ian's words, Kakan didn't hide his displeasure. Bargaining with the chief's life on the line.

"A request? If Winchen's breath stops before then, your head will roll too, you know?"

"Treat me not as a target of reconciliation, but as a guest of the Variel Empire."

Since he didn't have the Emperor's decree, he couldn't use terms like "envoy" or "representative." But the meaning was essentially the same. He wanted guaranteed safety and respect.

"Bratsch is a piece of the great Variel. The Imperial Palace is aware of Bratsch's desire for reconciliation, and my presence here is, in a way, the will of the Imperial Palace."

Kakantir's lips curled up slightly at Ian's honeyed words. He had a look that said, "Oh, really now?"

"Is that so? Then let me ask you. If your head rolls here, will the Imperial Palace send an army here? According to your claim, they should, shouldn't they?"

"I don't know if they'll send an army, but it will certainly be a problem. I carry the enduring spirit of the Imperial Palace within me."

Thud!

Before he could finish, an old man slammed his fist on the table. He spoke in their language, so Ian couldn't understand. Something about a serpent's tongue...

The others remained silent, but their eyes showed they believed Ian's words to be far-fetched.

"The spirit of the Imperial Palace?"

Was this Ian claiming to be of the Imperial bloodline? When Derga was his father?

"I can't go into details. What I can say for sure is that I inherited my body from Derga Bratsch, but my spirit is that of the Imperial Palace. I don't think it's a difficult request for the chief to grant."

"Fine. Yes, fine. It's because of people like you that the god sent us Winchen. You there!"

At Kakantir's shout, two warriors approached and grabbed Ian's arms. Berwick, who had been waiting outside the tent, was startled and tried to rush in, but Ian stopped him with a raised hand.

'It's done.'

They were taking Ian to Winchen. Ian gave Berwick a look that told him to wait, and then he entered the chief's tent once more.

"Winchen."

"Ah..."

Her breathing was labored, but she was conscious. Her attendants slowly helped her sit up, and her cloudy eyes were fixed on the sky.

"This one says he knows something about Silasce."

"To be precise, I said I have a suspicion."

"...A suspicion, you say. Is it true?"

Drool dripped from Winchen's mouth. She nodded in response instead of speaking. At the same time, her attendants let out cries of joy, and Nersaren, who had followed, looked as if he had found a ray of light.

"And he also claims that his spirit is that of the Variel Imperial Palace."

Was there anything to correct this time?

Kakantir looked down at Ian, his words trailing off. At this moment, if Winchen shook her head, he was prepared to cut off Ian's legs. He would have to hear about Silasce first, so he would make sure to stop the bleeding, he thought.

"Ah..."

Then, Winchen took a sharp breath. Her body trembled, and she closed her eyes. She never closed her eyes while discerning lies.

"...!"

And then, everyone fell silent. Winchen raised her hands, as dry as twigs, to her chest in a gesture of respect. Then, she bowed as low as she could, prostrating herself forward. It was, without a doubt, a greeting reserved for someone of high status.

"Winchen?"

"Ugh..."

And with that, the chief collapsed to the side. A council member rushed to check her pulse, and the attendants ran out to fetch warm water. Ian watched her silently and murmured.

"The Silasce is in my tent."

At his words, Kakan was startled. Since the chief hadn't given an order, Nersaren, who had been listening, ran outside and shouted.

"Go to the foreigner's tent! Find the red flower!"

"Huh? What? Why?"

"Hurry! Time is of the essence!"

"Ian! What is it? What do we do? Should I grab it and run?"

Ian smiled faintly at Berwick's shout.

"It's done. This is my first gift to them, as a guest of Variel."

Ian informed Berwick with a dignified voice. In Winchen's tent, filled with the scent of gurute leaves, Ian stood, for the first time, on equal footing with Kakan.