Chapter 164: The Baron, the Emperor, and His Granddaughter

Valtherion picked up the crystal ball and sat down in one of the armchairs by the window. After settling it on his lap, he leaned forward slightly and peered into its depths, as though trying to see the emperor beyond the projected image.

The old man needed no further confirmation.

That was Valtherion.

The same man he had known as a boy, back when he was nothing more than a street urchin, distrustful of everyone and incapable of accepting orders without understanding the reasons behind them.

Accusing him of something was a peculiar experience. Valtherion would simply listen, observe the accuser for as long as he deemed necessary, and then, once the man had finally finished speaking, wait for him to come back and apologize.

He never justified himself. He never rushed to defend himself. And above all, he never seemed to believe he owed anyone an explanation simply because they had accused him of something.

The emperor sighed.

"Even so, I feel like you’re hiding something."

He set his teacup on the table.

And wasn’t Valtherion hiding something, after all?

Haru.

The baron had known from the beginning that the boy was a Gamer. He had discovered it on the day Haru had openly declared himself one in front of everyone at the mansion.

After Haru and Isabela left, he had made everyone involved swear never to reveal the secret. What happened in the mansion stayed in the mansion.

And ever since, Valtherion had kept that information to himself as though it had never existed.

After all, he had a Gamer working as his daughter’s bodyguard.

"Gamers are dangerous, Valtherion. But do you know what worries me most? It’s not the abilities they display or how quickly they grow stronger. It’s the fact that we don’t know who they really are."

The emperor paused, watching the baron through the crystal ball.

"There have been cases of individuals acquiring knowledge they shouldn’t possess, while others seem to have forgotten parts of their own lives. And in certain incidents, witnesses swear that people they’ve known for years no longer seem like the same individuals."

Valtherion remained silent.

"And then there are the reports of the abilities some of these individuals have demonstrated. Abilities that don’t fit into any classification known to our scholars."

The emperor interlaced his fingers.

The baron narrowed his eyes slightly.

"And what conclusion have you reached, Master?"

The old man didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward.

"Think about it. A man wakes up one morning and is no longer the same. His family still recognizes his face, his documents confirm his identity, and every record points to the same person... but the person behind those eyes could be a complete stranger."

The emperor’s expression hardened.

"Anyone could become a Gamer without anyone around them realizing it. A merchant, a soldier, a scholar... even a noble. No family, social standing, or bloodline can guarantee that the person standing before us is the one we believe we know."

Valtherion fell into thought for a few moments.

"That’s a possibility that could change everything we believe about identity, loyalty, and the very nature of our citizens," he admitted.

Then he raised his eyes.

"So I don’t blame you for asking whether I’m a Gamer, Master."

The emperor studied him.

"I’m glad you understand."

The old man gave a faint smile.

"It’s always a pleasure talking to you."

"The feeling is mutual, Master."

"I don’t believe you."

"And yet, you keep calling me."

The emperor shook his head in amusement before picking up his teacup again.

"By the way, Valtherion... I haven’t received any reports from you in a while."

The baron looked back at the sphere.

"The region has demanded much of my attention, Master. The city’s construction, the administration of my lands, and the expansion of my estate have taken up most of my time."

"I can imagine. And how has my granddaughter been... Isabela?"

Valtherion froze.

For a moment, he wondered if he’d heard correctly.

The emperor ruled an entire kingdom. He had meetings, advisors, nobles vying for his favor, and enough problems to occupy several lifetimes. And yet, he remembered the name of a baron’s daughter.

Either it was a display of etiquette meant to maintain good relations with his subordinates, or the old man genuinely cared about the people he knew.

Perhaps it was both.

"Ah..."

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

He knew that expression.

He had spent years observing Valtherion. He knew how to recognize when the man was about to say something important, and that hesitation didn’t bode well.

Especially when the subject was Isabela.

"What is it?!"

Valtherion scratched the back of his head.

"She got married."

The emperor stared at him.

"Huh?"

"And she hasn’t sent me any news in a while."

The old man remained silent for several seconds.

Then he asked, "And you didn’t invite me to the wedding?"

"I wasn’t invited either."

The emperor leaned back in his armchair, bringing a hand to his chin.

"Are you serious, Valtherion?"

The baron sighed.

"I was thinking of visiting the capital later this month. I could stop by the academy and see how she’s doing."

"Well, Isabela won’t be the only reason you’ll be coming. And honestly, I think you’ll end up arriving much sooner than you planned."

The baron raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

The emperor took a long sip of tea before setting his cup down.

"There will be a council meeting. All the barons have been summoned."

Valtherion straightened in his chair.

"All of them?"

"All of them."

"That sounds serious."

"It is. There’s a lot going on, and I want to hear what each of you has to say about the situation in your respective regions. We need to understand what’s happening across our lands, what incidents have occurred, and whether there are problems that haven’t yet reached the crown’s attention."

The emperor paused.

"And, naturally, we need to discuss the Gamers. I want to hear the barons’ accounts, compare the information we’ve gathered, and decide how to proceed from here."

Valtherion crossed his arms.

"And when will this council take place?"

"You leave tomorrow, Valtherion. If you travel at a reasonable pace, you’ll arrive in time for the opening of classes at the academy your daughter attends."

The baron stared at the crystal ball.

Then he placed a hand over his chest and gave a small bow, his expression exaggeratedly solemn.

"As you wish, Master. It will be an honor to appear before our glorious emperor."

The old man narrowed his eyes.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Never!"

"Valtherion..."

"All right, all right. I’ll leave tomorrow."

The emperor shook his head, though a smile had appeared on his lips.

"That’s all. I’ll see you soon."

"Until then, Master... For Eldrath!"

The emperor’s image disappeared from the crystal ball.

Valtherion remained seated for a few moments, gazing at the now-transparent sphere.

Then he stood and walked over to the window.

The workers continued building the mansion, oblivious to the imperial summons and the journey their lord would have to make the following morning.

The baron watched them with a wistful expression.

"And here I was, hoping to spend a little more time here..."

He sighed.

Then his daughter came to mind again.

Isabela.

And Haru.

His smile slowly faded.

"That boy..."

---

The following morning, before the sun had fully risen, Baron Valtherion’s carriage was already passing through the estate gates.

A small escort followed behind, keeping a suitable distance. Inside the carriage, Valtherion sat by the window with a report open on his lap.

It was the report detailing Isabela and Haru’s journey to Eldrath Academy.

He had already read it once.

Then he’d read it again.

Now, he was on his third read-through.

His expression grew increasingly bizarre with every page.

"I let him work as my daughter’s bodyguard..."

He turned the page.

"And he gets himself a daughter... kills Vandirs..."

Another page.

"Gets himself a servant."

One more page.

"And marries my daughter?!"

He lowered the report and stared into space.

Silence settled inside the carriage.

Then he raised the document again, as though hoping to find some explanation he’d overlooked during his previous readings.

Nothing.

The facts remained unchanged.

Haru Mizuki, the boy he’d hired to protect Isabela, had managed to pack more events into his life in a short time than many noble children experienced in decades.

And somehow, he’d managed to do it all while working as a bodyguard.

Valtherion rubbed his forehead.

"What the hell is wrong with that boy..."

He looked at the report again.

This time, he stopped at the section concerning his daughter.

His expression softened for a moment.

Isabela was at the academy. She had a new life ahead of her, new people to meet, and opportunities she would never have had if she’d stayed at the estate.

The baron smiled faintly.

At least that was good.

But then he thought of Haru again.

His smile vanished.

"Just wait until I get to the academy, you little..."

He didn’t finish the sentence.

The carriage continued toward the capital.

And although Baron Valtherion had an imperial council meeting waiting for him, there was a question that seemed far more urgent at that moment.

He needed to find out exactly what Haru Mizuki was doing with his daughter...