Chapter 440: A Bed of Needles

Prince Green felt the presence of every attendee questioning him, though not putting it into words, "You made him go, didn’t you?" "Weren’t you tacitly permitting it?" As if he was not trusted. If this continued, it seemed he himself might be said to be colluding with the Empire.

"If I had known I would never have let him leave the country! All the more, letting him go to the Empire is out of the question! If by any chance I were to commit the folly of letting that one go to the Empire, there is no way I would let Division Head Hütter go under his real name. I would surely make him go under a false name! That one went arbitrarily!"

When Prince Green said it as if shouting, those who said that was indeed so also appeared. When told, it became an atmosphere of indeed that was so.

"Moreover, the Division Head Hütter who went to the Empire, in the first place we do not know if it is the person himself! There is no one among the Marie Kingdom’s people who knows Division Head Hütter’s face! Was it not an impostor who went to the Empire under the name of Division Head Hütter?"

When Prince Green said it again, it became an air that that was also so. However the Prime Minister,

"The Marie Kingdom’s people also seemed to have thought that. Hütter’s name is famous even in the Marie Kingdom and the head of the border guards knew it. Then when they confirmed whether it was the person himself, it seems he proved it using magic."

"What..."

Prince Green was at a loss for words. If they had gone that far, there was no mistake it was the person himself.

"What kind of magic did Division Head Hütter use to prove himself?"

A minister asked such a question, but the Prime Minister,

"That is unknown. The document from the Marie Kingdom does not write that far."

Even so,

"Unbelievable."

was the impression of all the attendees. Entering the Empire meant losing all property and privileges in the Mainz Kingdom. Going that far, for what purpose had he gone to the Empire? Everyone thought so. At that time something flashed to Prince Green.

"Hero Summoning..."

Prince Green muttered.

"Hero Summoning? What does that mean, Prince Green."

Unusually the King asked Prince Green. Prince Green regretted having said it, but since asked by the King, he had to answer.

"Perhaps Division Head Hütter has been invited by the Empire and is trying to perform the Hero Summoning ceremony on Empire soil."

At Prince Green’s words everyone in the room snapped. There is no way he would do such a thing no matter what! Can such a foolish thing exist! Does he have no patriotism to abandon the Mainz Kingdom and do something beneficial to the Empire! Does that one have no common sense! and so on, voices rose one after another.

But after a while, they began to think that if it was that Division Head Hütter, that might also be possible. A personality that could only be called a magic idiot, lacking other common sense. A personality that does not care at all about others’ eyes or evaluations, and is not satisfied unless thoroughly pursuing what he wants to do to the end. If such a one was approached by the Empire, and told won’t you accomplish the great feat of the century once more in the Empire, it felt as though he would readily follow. In that case, there would be no need to abduct Division Head Hütter and he could be taken to the Empire. Thinking that, the fact that Division Head Hütter had gone to the Empire of his own will began to take on a sense of reality.

The feelings of everyone at the meeting seat sank. They were thinking they did not want to be called to a meeting like this.

If Division Head Hütter succeeded in the Hero Summoning ceremony in the Empire, what would happen? If a hero more excellent and stronger than the Mainz Kingdom’s and his party were summoned, it could become a threat to the Mainz Kingdom. If the Empire had the saint that the Mainz Kingdom could not summon, that would be nothing but a humiliation for the Mainz Kingdom. Everyone was thinking that though not putting it into words.

"What, there is no need to worry about such a thing. The Hero Summoning ceremony requires enormous mana, does it not? There are not so many in the Empire who possess inhuman mana like Ambassador Marie."

Such a one appeared saying that. The Prime Minister,

"High Priest Andropov of the Sophia Theocracy has entered the Empire together. If High Priest Andropov accompanied them, it probably means they also took the divine stone."

"However, just because that High Priest went together does not necessarily mean he will cooperate?"

One appeared denying the Prime Minister’s statement. However the Prime Minister clearly denied it.

"Perhaps the Empire gave High Priest Andropov permission for the propagation of the Sophia faith within the Empire? In that case it could be said to be sufficient compensation for bringing in the divine stone. In the Empire the Sophia faith is not yet publicly recognized. The Sophia faith has not obtained the Empire’s protection."

When said that, no one could say anything.

"Prince Green, why did you not capture Division Head Hütter."

After a while of silence, the King’s statement represented the feelings of everyone present. While thinking it was impossible to capture that one, one could not help saying it. Prince Green thought even if such unreasonable things were said, but

"I am sorry. I did not think such a thing would occur, and let that one do as he pleased. No matter what, I did not know he was such an unprincipled man, and trusted him. I am truly sorry. I will submit to any crime, so please state the disposal."

he lowered his head. Inwardly he thought he would not be held accountable for a crime. Because he thought there was no way one could keep that man tied down.

Silence visited again.

"What does the Empire intend to do by summoning a hero?"

One of the ministers said.

"They probably intend to use it in war with our country."

"Is it because our country performed the Hero Summoning?"

"Surely so. If our country has a hero, it would not be strange even if the Empire thought to call a hero as well."

"However, how did the Empire know that our country was advancing preparations for the Hero Summoning ceremony? It was being done secretly. I was informed after the ceremony ended."

"I also learned after it ended."

"Yes, me too."

Most of those attending the meeting said they learned after the Hero Summoning ceremony was finished. Those informed in advance were only a few, and it could only be thought that information leaked from those. In the minds of Prince Green and the Prime Minister the face of the same person was floating. That was the Duke of Vélez.