Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Nester Temple (4)
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This time, not just me, but Allen, Iriel, and even Nederman all headed to Cardron's office together.
"Book?"
"Of course I brought it."
Allen proudly held up the thick book.
「City of Immortality」.
It was the book we'd taken from that guy's research lab in the past.
I'd completely forgotten about it since I wasn't interested, but seeing him this time brought it back to mind.
I planned to ask Cardron to decipher it.
I didn't know if the text was the mage's language called 'Rune' or whatever, but someone who could create and use their own cipher script must have a solid foundation in linguistics. He was worth entrusting it to.
"Come on in."
As the door opened, Cardron, who had arrived first, greeted us. He rose from his desk and guided us to the sofas on one side.
Before we sat, he gave a light bow to Allen and Iriel.
"I didn't get a proper greeting earlier due to the rush. I heard you've been working hard for Cecilia. Thank you."
"It was only what we should have done, so your words are much appreciated."
Allen lightly bowed his head in return. Nederman smirked at them and plopped down on the sofa.
"What we found wasn't Cecilia but a dog hole, but we did work hard anyway."
As Nederman grinned, Iriel, who had led the charge in finding the dog hole, flushed bright red.
Cardron shot Nederman a sidelong glance and added,
"Cecilia said she went out through that dog hole."
Iriel, now full of spirit, elbowed Nederman and glared at him with fierce eyes.
"See? I told you that's where she went!"
"Oh, truly impressive. An expert in dog holes is something else."
"Thanks to that, we've sealed it tight, so it won't happen again."
"......Ah, yes."
Iriel replied with an awkward smile.
From her expression, she seemed to feel sorry toward Cecilia at the same time.
They'd moved to find her, but that dog hole might have been Cecilia's only escape from her stifling life in the inner castle.
Iriel, the self-proclaimed dog hole expert, would know that better than anyone.
"Alright, let's get to the main topic."
Cardron brought documents from his desk and distributed them to us as he sat.
"It's the contents of the deciphered cipher. It'll be quickest if you read through them and then we discuss."
I examined the paper handed to me.
The unknown cipher had been fully decoded into readable text.
"I brought the interpretation as is without organizing separately. Forgive any messiness or lack of format."
The contents were a simple list of brief information.
It seemed to be the result of passing on real-time recorded info without time to organize.
「……Omitted…… Crown Prince confirmed directly. Silver hair, silver eyes. Grown appearance but not hard to identify. Currently in hiding. Knights seeming to belong to the Governor-General's office are escorting. Heavily guarded, approach impossible. Movement starting. Following discreetly. ……Omitted…… Plan to infiltrate enemy ship. Attempt to obtain route info after infiltration. Failed. Two comrades died during infiltration op. Confirmed heading to Imotel Island. Imotel Island not found on maps. Hideout discovered by enemy. Fleeing. Plan to contact Independence Army at Delront Port. Current injuries severe. ……Omitted…… // His Highness the Crown Prince is alive. …….」
The part after '//' was written by the person who received the cipher.
The info on the Crown Prince's location wasn't pinpoint accurate, but at least it seemed true that they had confirmed him.
Though the one he saw probably wasn't the real Crown Prince.
Had they found someone who looks like me?
"The one carrying out the mission back then was someone who served as a guard in the palace in the past. He wouldn't have misidentified His Highness. Either it's someone who looks that much like him, or the real His Highness is alive. Of course, that's not the important part."
Whether the one he confirmed was the real Crown Prince or not, if even a palace worker could mistake him, the authenticity didn't matter.
That alone would be enough to incite the Independence Army and the people.
"Halent is a cunning one. I don't know how he plans to use His Highness's existence, but if we don't stop it beforehand, it'll cause quite a stir."
Cardron continued.
"For now, we're planning to search for Imotel Island, where the Crown Prince was headed. Since it's not on maps, it's probably a small island only locals know."
I nodded.
With the ship carrying the Crown Prince heading to Imotel Island, finding that island was the only immediate action we could take.
As Cardron said, if it's not marked on maps, it was likely a small island known only to locals. Or maybe they had their own code name for it.
Either way, we needed to find that island. The biggest obstacle was that Francia's western jagged coastline had countless islands.
Pinpointing Imotel Island among them was definitely no easy task.
For this, we'd have to rely on the intelligence network of the twisting straits.
At any rate, the veil on the rumor of the Crown Prince's survival was lifting bit by bit.
I still didn't know Halent's purpose hidden within, but rushing wouldn't change anything.
It took time to approach the hidden truth.
This matter seemed concluded for now.
I changed the subject.
"What about the infirmary investigation?"
"We'll proceed immediately in coordination with the temple. To think such things were happening in my territory. I'm ashamed to even show my face."
It happened inside the temple, but the temple was still within Tainan territory.
It must have bruised his pride.
They'd already arrested quite a few involved, so they'd handle the investigation properly.
Cardron said,
"I'll share the info as soon as it's organized."
I nodded and took the book from Allen, handing it to Cardron.
He tilted his head as he received it.
I said,
"It's the book the person in charge had. Felt like it might be related, so I brought it."
"There was a separate person in charge?"
Only then did I tell him everything that happened at the temple.
Cardron had only heard limited info from Cecilia.
After hearing it all, he furrowed his brow with an even more somber expression.
"What on earth were they doing in there……. I knew black magic was called the devil's power, but bodies disappearing and the dead coming back to life? How did they achieve such a feat? Even a high priest at the peak of holy power couldn't do that."
Cardron pressed his temples like someone with a headache. He too had much to ponder.
But not all agenda items were done.
I said,
"You're aware of Lordr Heiser's public execution."
"……I was about to bring that up too. According to this guy, he plans to go there."
I nodded. He'd already heard my intentions from Nederman. No need for long explanations.
"You should reconsider. I know you're strong, but Halent isn't a fool. He's already prepared everything to cage you. This is like walking into a dragon's lair alone."
"That's why going alone is better. The rest would just be baggage."
In the end, rescuing just Lordr Heiser would solve it.
Help would make it easier, but those who went with me wouldn't return alive.
Going alone was the best way to save him without extra sacrifices.
"So, mind watching my baggage for a bit."
Here, my baggage meant Allen and Iriel. Cardron gave me an uneasy look—not worry for my safety, but concern over the future gains from his prospective son-in-law.
Though that wouldn't happen anyway.
"……Is it really possible?"
"Of course."
At my firm reply, he nodded as if giving up persuasion.
"When do you plan to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
My words caused a stir in the room. No one expected me to leave tomorrow.
I'd already finished everything here.
No reason to delay.
"If you need anything, just say."
"Nothing special. Just give me plenty of travel funds."
"Not a problem."
I nodded in satisfaction. Nederman, who had been listening quietly beside me, asked.
"Three weeks round trip?"
"Yeah."
Two weeks until his public execution.
Factoring in return after rescuing Lordr, it'd take a bit over three weeks.
To reach Stis City for the execution, we had to head quite far east.
"You all have much to do in that time."
I looked at Cardron and Nederman.
While I was gone, Cardron would handle Imotel Island, the temple incident, and deciphering 「City of Immortality」.
He'd have a busy schedule.
I had separate instructions for Nederman.
"Finish everything by the time I return."
After Stis City, we'd have to hurry back to the capital.
Three weeks later, we'd be way behind the original schedule.
But rescuing Lordr Heiser was far more valuable than the delay.
Right now, he was the sole thread connecting Francia's past and present.
The meeting ended there.
But Cardron wouldn't let me leave.
"You stay and talk a bit more. There's something to discuss separately."
* * *
On the way back to the room.
Iriel looked at Nederman and asked.
"Is it possible for Jenes to do that alone?"
She knew what he planned was absurd, but she wanted confirmation from Nederman.
Nederman was the only one who could objectively gauge the full power of Jenes, a Sword Master.
Nederman shrugged and said.
"I don't know either. But if he thinks he can, he's going, right? Jenes may have a shit personality, but he's not an idiot."
Allen and Iriel nodded.
They agreed vehemently from the depths of their hearts.
"If he fails, he at least thinks he can escape alone. And anyway, even if we follow, we're just baggage as he said. After the grassland wild dog incident, Halent knows he's a Sword Master, so he'll be prepared accordingly. Just increasing numbers means nothing in this situation."
"Still, wouldn't one more be better? Nederman, why don't you say you'll go too? You're the sword of the west and a dragon hunter."
At Iriel's urging, Nederman looked at her with a baffled expression.
"Didn't you see me nearly get mauled to death by those wild dogs last time? If the enemy's fully prepared, I'm no different. There's a limit to facing multiple forces alone. That guy's the abnormal one who makes it seem effortless. Even as a Sword Master, I wouldn't go there."
"……Exactly. Such confidence."
Iriel shook her head at Jenes's recklessness.
Allen, walking with them, patted her.
"He'll be fine, like always."
Iriel turned to Allen. Seeing him bite his nails with a stiff face wasn't reassuring.
She was worried too.
"But what are the marquis and Jenes talking about so much? They've been meeting separately since last time."
It was about Cardron.
What could they have so much to say that they met privately every time?
At first, it was good not to be in uncomfortable spots, but now curiosity was inevitable.
Nederman grinned at Iriel.
"He's probably pushing the marriage with Cecilia. 'Come back alive and I'll give you my daughter,' spouting that nonsense. Jenes hit the jackpot."
"Huh? Marriage?!"
Iriel's eyes widened like they might pop out as she gasped. Allen, with them, was surprised too but chimed in casually.
"Well, Jenes would be the perfect son-in-law for a marquis house."
"Right? If only for that personality. Not sure if he'll agree to marry though."
"Yeah. Whether Jenes would even marry……."
Iriel just listened to Nederman and Allen's conversation in a daze.
To be precise, nothing reached her ears.
The sudden news of Jenes's marriage had half her soul flown away.
For some reason, her heart felt like it dropped to her toes…….
She didn't know why.