Chapter 219 : Chapter 219

Chapter 219 - In Their Respective Places

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Youngest Son did not stop.

“His ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Majesty admitted it as well. He admitted that his method failed, and that Your Highness as you are now is the result.”

“…Whatever ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Father’s method may have been, it is not something an outsider like you should interfere in. This is a matter between Father and me.”

“No. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍That is not true.”

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍denied those words at once.

“Your ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Highness is the Crown Prince of the Empire. As the emperor of the next generation, you must rule the Empire that occupies the center of the world.”

“…….”

“The emperor of the current generation taught his imperial studies to the emperor of the next generation, and that teaching failed. The price of that failure is as you can see.”

The intervention of the Two Great Families. Their interference with the Imperial Family. The discomfort of this very moment.

The young members of the Imperial Family in the room were paying that price. However, the price was not limited only to them.

“Because that teaching failed, Wisdom was able to attack us sooner. Countless lives were lost.”

Was it not only natural for people to die in war? The emperor of the current generation might have said that, but the emperor of the next generation could not.

He simply averted his eyes. At the same time, the warmth also stopped twitching. That would not do. So the Youngest Son displayed his specialty.

Not the specialty of Millesdusk, but his own specialty: deception.

“One failure by His Majesty killed innocent people in the distant East. Among them was even a subordinate I cherished, yet I could not even find the body.”

The Crown Prince’s golden eyes met the bloodshot eyes once again.

“That was my failure. Those were lives lost because of me. So do not say that His Majesty failed, or speak as though Father killed them.”

“His Majesty knew from the beginning that his son did not resemble him, yet he forced Your Highness onward, again and again, with sheer coercion.”

“That was only natural. The one who will bear the Empire must be able to endure at least that much.”

“But you could not endure it.”

“That is why I said it was my failure. Father was not the one who failed.”

Without the Crown Prince noticing, he gradually increased the pressure of the hand resting above his solar plexus.

The pressure, increasing very slowly and steadily, caused discomfort in the body, and that discomfort affected emotion.

Furthermore, the affected emotion could not tell where the pressure was coming from.

And yet, right before his eyes, the other party kept spouting words he disliked without yielding in the slightest. In his land, in his domain, no less.

Then a human being, whether a beggar living by begging or an emperor, would arrive at the same emotion.

“…Fifth Son of Millesdusk. Do not make me repeat the same words any further.”

In other words, irritation. And when a person became irritated, strength naturally entered the body. It was a force that began in the realm of the unconscious.

“I am saying we should examine the truth. Your Highness is being stubborn before that truth.”

“Ha.”

After letting out a small hollow laugh, he turned his head sharply. At the same time, it was felt through the palm touching him.

His pulse quickened, and his blood pressure rose little by little along with it. The warm Crown Prince’s emotions had been set aflame.

All that remained now was to pour oil onto a burning house.

CLATTER—

The sound of a door closing came from behind. The Princess had left.

[Her intuition is as remarkable as the appearance she was born with.]

The Youngest Son ignored the former and agreed with the latter. She had realized the significance of this argument.

“The one being stubborn right now is you.”

But the Crown Prince had not even noticed that his younger sister was gone. His attention was completely focused on this side.

Now, so that the patient’s family would not have to wait long.

“No. Do you know who was truly stubborn?”

At this point, he threw the bottle of oil.

“It was His Majesty, who forced imperial studies that did not suit you into you.”

***

The two Grade 1 Agents arrived at Wisdom’s airship. One arrived first, and the other followed afterward.

“I won. This time too.”

“It seems you have completely returned now. Even just a few days ago, I was narrowly faster.”

“That was truly a weak past.”

“…I do not think it was truly that weak.”

Kang Yu added quietly, but she lightly ignored him. That was not what mattered, and both of them knew what had to be prioritized.

“The protocol for a capture operation. We move exactly according to it.”

“…Hmm.”

At Kang Yu’s words, Mirea postponed her answer without either denying or affirming it. The one who had spoken was instead surprised.

He had never imagined she would hesitate over this part.

“What is it? Why are you not answering?”

“Because I want to do it a little differently.”

“What if we fail after doing that? No, no, were you not opposed to this sort of thing? You were usually the one who stopped me.”

Mirea swallowed a groan.

Just as he said, their roles had now switched.

Originally, he had been the one trying to stray from the existing protocol, and she had been the one to stop him.

But now that the situation had come this far, an intuition she had never felt before in her life rang through her brain. Mirea immediately recognized the source of that intuition.

“…I think the Young Master would have done it this way.”

The life she had spent staying beside and assisting someone who was not an Intelligence Department agent. Through observing that person, she had learned a certain method.

“I do not know what the Young Master’s method is, but we cannot fail. You know that better than I do. Let us take the safe path.”

“Kang Yu.”

“Y-Yes.”

At the sudden mention of his name, Kang Yu’s shoulders trembled. But what sent a greater shiver through him were the fierce eyes staring at him in the darkness.

“You know my memory is not intact right now.”

“I-I know.”

“In a protocol where everyone has to move like a single body, having a problem with memory is fatal.”

“That is…”

This time, Kang Yu was left speechless.

“But an operation devised on the spot will not be held back by memory.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Yes. And I absolutely need you for it.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. It cannot be done without you.”

With those final words, the option of refusal burned away and vanished from Kang Yu’s mind.

“I will follow you. No matter what.”

“Good.”

“What do I have to do now?”

“…Just a moment.”

THUD—

THUMP— THUMP—

Footsteps gradually approached the cargo hold inside the ship. The agents, who had been hiding behind a huge crate placed in a corner, also stopped talking.

CREEEAK—

The large door of the cargo hold opened wide.

“Hoo, because of that damned Fifth Son, more than one or two things have become inconvenient.”

“Exactly. To think that we, mages of the 75th Floor, are moving crates like this.”

“It is because all the servants died because of that bastard. Even the return trip is going to be torture.”

“…A bastard who deserves to be torn apart. Still, there is one fortunate thing, is there not?”

The mage who had carelessly set the crate down on the floor chuckled.

“A large-scale teleportation magic circle is being completed in the neutral zone near the Millesdusk bastards.”

“Yes. According to the latest news I heard, it is almost complete now.”

“That is good. Truly good. I do not even want to imagine what would have happened if that side had failed too.”

The mage whose hands were now free shuddered, as though the thought gave him chills. It was, in truth, a terrifying result.

The hand they had extended into the sun had been severed by the Youngest Son. However, before that, there had been another hand extended into the shadows.

Fortunately, that hand had reached the enemy. The hand gripping the deadly blade would soon stab into the enemy’s lungs.

“The Third Son also seems somewhat relieved by that fact.”

“Even we, whose beards have all turned white, fear the Family Head. How much more must the Third Son, who is his blood kin, fear him? That must be why he ordered the ship’s speed to be reduced.”

“Hmm? Was it not because the Young Master likes the outside world, since this is his first time leaving?”

The two mages left after that final remark about the Third Son. They certainly intended to.

TAP—

A slight stinging sensation was felt at their necks.

THUD—

The next thing they saw was the floor. As their heads touched the floor, their eye level became lower than even a mongrel dog’s in the borderlands.

There was something visible from that field of vision. Two pairs of black boots darker than the shadows over there.

“If we had taken even one wrong step, we would have been caught. More importantly, Mirea. You heard that too, did you not?”

“Yes.”

The two agents, who had knocked the two mages unconscious in an instant, drove one more needle into the backs of their heads as though they had rehearsed it.

The mages’ condition changed from unconsciousness to brain death. But there was something else to worry about.

“The fact that they are building a large-scale teleportation magic circle near the neutral zone. We have to inform the family as quickly as possible.”

Kang Yu’s words were correct, but it was also true that they could not leave this place yet.

“Damn it. How on earth did they—”

“Hey.”

GRAB—

Mirea’s hand seized his forearm. The heartbeat that had quickened without him realizing it returned to normal as if it had been a lie.

“Calm down.”

However, that lasted only a moment. His heart soon began moving even faster.

“Y-Yes. But could you let go of this…”

“If you promise you will stop shaking.”

“Ha. Who was shaking?”

Kang Yu snorted and shook off her hand. But Mirea also laughed softly.

“If you shake that much, of course your cheeks will turn red.”

“T-That is not why they are red.”

“Then what is it?”

Kang Yu could not possibly answer that here, so he turned his head. Then he lifted the corpses in both hands and shoved them into the large luggage.

After exerting himself like that, the reason for his red face was quickly replaced.

“These bastards were higher-ranking mages than I thought, so I put too much strength into my feet. Satisfied?”

“If it is you, that might be possible.”

“Hoo. So what now? At this rate, the ship will depart.”

His words became a seed.

RUMMMMBLE—

With a sudden vibration, the roar produced by the ship rang through their heads.

“…….”

“…….”

The two looked at each other and instinctively realized it.

There was now yet another reason they had to seize the Elixir quickly.

Mirea immediately spoke.

“You brought disguise equipment, did you not?”

***

The owner of the largest space inside the Imperial Palace was not the emperor.

This largest space had been made for the largest being in the Imperial Palace.

The being who was the largest in both position and body used the space even more broadly in human form.

Though it was inside the Imperial Palace, this place looked at a glance like a field. Toward the blond middle-aged man standing there alone as always, the emperor walked.

“Advisor.”

“It has been a long time, Miliard. Has it been about thirty years?”

The ancient dragon, who had stepped back from the front line of the Empire and taken on the role of Advisor, turned to look at him.

“When I first gestured to you with my eyes, you barely reached my knees. Yet you have already grown this much.”

“Hearing that story again after thirty years makes it feel affectionate. Though now, rather than saying I have grown, it would be more fitting to say I have aged.”

“Are you using the word aged in front of me?”

Emperor Miliard smiled faintly.

“It is not rude to say it before a dragon.”

Standing beside the ancient dragon, he gazed at the same scenery as him. It was a field that looked the same no matter when he saw it.

With no rain, no animals grazing on the grass, and only a dragon here, this place was always green.

“There is someone I believe it would be good for you to meet.”

“I have no interest in humans other than members of the Imperial Family.”

“That is because he is not human. I am told he is a dragon who wishes to train.”

“…….”

The ancient dragon’s eyes turned toward the emperor. It was because he had heard something that had no precedent, even if he searched through his long remaining life.

“If it is such an eccentric member of my kin, is it a Purple Dragon?”

“It is a Red Dragon.”

“…A Fire Dragon said such a thing?”

“Yes. And apparently, he even serves the ten-year-old youngest bloodline member of Millesdusk as his master.”

The ancient dragon, who had said just moments earlier that he had no interest in humans, could not resist asking.

“Who is that human?”