Chapter 114
Translator: uly
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: If You Do as Chris Says, It'll Work Out for Now (3)
Nigel's subordinate couldn't hide his excitement and shouted.
"Dispose of all of this?!"
"That's how it is."
"Do you know how much effort went into this?!"
Kwang!
The sound of the subordinate slamming the desk echoed loudly.
"Just wait and see for now. We'll have results soon enough."
He dispatched informants once more, centering around the torn documents.
The informants would return soon.
He could verify everything then.
Clunk.
His subordinates began returning right away.
"I-It really seems the festival date has been moved up."
"What's your basis?"
"The king issued the order himself."
Clunk!
Another informant burst into the room with a panicked look on his face.
"I checked the infiltration route into the palace!"
"Is it really off?"
"W-Well..."
An expression of utter bafflement.
It was so vivid it even conveyed a sense of wonder.
"It looks like the patrol routes are being completely overhauled."
"All of a sudden?"
There had never been a truly safe secret passage into the palace to begin with.
The document had simply compiled information from guard patrols, knight shift changes, and the like.
If that was really happening, it meant the info was now useless.
"It seems to be because of the recent destruction of the military supply warehouse."
"..."
Clunk!
The informants kept pouring in one after another.
"I checked on the merchant guild we were supposed to contact."
"No issues there, right?"
This was one of the plans Chris had torn up.
"Their contacts with slave traders were exposed, and the church has them all in custody."
"The church...?"
"Sir Allured, the papal candidate, is personally leading the operation."
Clunk!
"Three informants we sent by sea are missing! And we spotted a bunch of orcs...!"
"The merchant guild set to deliver supplies is under church investigation too!"
"Count Lorraine's health has taken a turn for the worse! He might not last more than a few days."
Every report coming in was deeply unsettling.
And this was just a fraction of it.
His gut told him everything outside the documents Chris had selected would unfold the same way.
'Is this even possible?'
If he hadn't sent people ahead in advance, it would've been hard to even grasp the situation in time.
It was only natural that a web of interconnected operations like this would suffer ripple effects.
Even the subordinate who'd been complaining earlier stood there dumbstruck, at a loss for words.
"Sir Nigel..."
"Didn't I tell you?"
"Even so, this is..."
This wasn't the time for that.
The remaining plans would end up as wasted effort, just like he'd said.
In that case.
"Send someone to the church right now."
Nigel hurriedly pulled a small letter from his breast pocket.
The one Chris had written for him.
"Show them this, and the church will cooperate without question."
"With just that one letter?"
"It's stamped with the Saintess's personal seal."
"...!!!"
Everyone in the room gasped in shock.
A command authenticated by the Saintess herself.
In the church, the Saintess's word carried immense weight.
Almost on par with the emperor's decree.
Lately, the church had seemed to leave her entirely in Chris's hands, almost neglectfully...
'That's not the case.'
If anything, there was no need to worry.
With him by her side, her safety was all but guaranteed.
He'd dodge any variables that arose.
"Deliver this document to Sir Allured."
"I'll head out immediately."
Now all that remained was the biggest task.
Evacuating the people.
Nigel peered at the map and let out a groan.
How was he supposed to relocate people living safely across such a vast area?
"We'll need the church's help for this one too."
"I'll deliver that to Sir Allured as well."
"Where is he right now?"
One subordinate dashed over and pointed at the map.
"There's an orphanage here."
"Hm?"
"It's run by a woman named Jenny... The church recently provided support, and it's expanded quite a bit. Big enough to house all the kids rescued from slave traders."
The church's recent good deeds were the talk of the town.
Treating patients for free was already famous.
The path to priesthood had opened up for the talented.
And that was hardly all—they shared food with the starving and even gave the clothes off their backs to the naked.
Rumors swirled about a new temple being built in Aster territory.
'A temple right by the public graveyard...'
The corrupt priests who'd plagued the place had vanished without a trace.
A massive purge had taken place.
Supporting an orphanage was hardly surprising at this point.
"For a papal candidate to step up personally... The church really has changed."
"...But there's one odd thing."
"What is it?"
"Well..."
The informant hesitated to continue his report.
And the words that finally slipped out were.
"They say the relationship between Sir Allured and this Jenny woman is anything but ordinary."
"...You mean what I'm thinking?"
It wasn't all that strange.
The church didn't forbid marriage, after all.
But for someone of Allured's position, that intel was valuable.
"Classify it as top-secret information."
"Count!"
"Young Master Chris!"
A passionate reunion.
Of course, it was Count Nordin who welcomed me so warmly.
I wasn't the passionate one.
Was he always someone who was this glad to see me?
"Have you been well?"
A young man fidgeting right beside the count.
He looked about my age.
"This is my son."
"Pleased to meet you! I'm Nordin Brict, the eldest son of the Nordin Count family!"
"I'm Chris. No family name."
His gaze scanned me from head to toe, probing.
Intense curiosity and goodwill.
Even a hint of respect.
How, when he'd never even seen me before...?
It was a bit overwhelming.
"I brought him along to gain some experience."
"Fine family you've got."
Bright and sparkling eyes.
These weren't Brict's eyes.
The count's gaze.
Staring at me expectantly, like he was hoping for something.
"See anything...?"
"Out of the blue?"
Whoosh!
Brict bolted forward like lightning and held out a pouch in front of me.
"It's silver! Father told me to give it to you the moment we met..."
What the heck had this guy drilled into him?
The heir of a count's family, and he was this disciplined?
I'd taken the offering fee first, and with an acquaintance's introduction, there was no reason to refuse.
"Hm..."
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his face alone was reason to overlook any flaws.
Quick-witted, diligent demeanor.
And his eyes showed a steadfast sense of honor.
"You've got good eyes."
"Oh...?"
"You'll excel at whatever you do."
Jingle!
He really had been raised well.
Was it the count's strict upbringing, or had he learned by example?
Minus just one thing, he'd be perfect.
"If you're not arrogant, you'd be spot-on."
The moment the words left my mouth, a roar exploded.
"You fool! Haven't I always told you to stay humble?!"
"S-Sorry!"
He wasn't the type to shrink like that, so the count must be pretty strict.
To see that strong pride humbled into such a posture.
"Recite the family motto."
"Patience and moderation are a knight's chief virtues!"
"Good. Always keep it in mind. Words from a fine knight. To repeat..."
"Father, you've given that lecture dozens of times already..."
There was no need to read his fortune any further.
His child-rearing was a success; all he needed was to shed the arrogance, and he'd achieve great things.
Count Nordin looked extremely pleased too.
"Ahem. You wish to meet the king of Harp?"
"That's right."
"Sorry, but I'm against it."
"Pardon?"
What happened to the guy who seemed ready to do anything for me just now?
"The necromancers aren't idiots—they'll know about you."
"Fair point."
"If the king is really connected to them, it'd be like parading you right in front of them."
He had a point, but I had no intention of meeting him directly.
A king of a nation would have an aura palpable even from afar.
I gave a rough explanation, and the count nodded readily, as if he'd expected as much.
"Knew you'd have a plan, young master. That's why I agreed to meet now."
He'd talked like he wouldn't help, but he'd prepared everything inwardly.
"There's a ball scheduled soon at Harp palace."
"Perfect."
"Just change clothes and go. For decent camouflage, noble or servant?"
To avoid standing out, the latter seemed better.
Noble attire looked uncomfortable anyway.
And this wasn't some huge operation—such a disguise felt a tad excessive.
"Got it. That's what you want."
"I haven't even said anything yet."
"Truth is, I didn't prepare servant clothes anyway."
"...?"
"Let's go, Viscount Stein."
"...?"
Was this really the man who'd opposed it?
He'd even prepared a name already.
Brict piled on.
"An honor to serve the venerable Viscount of House Stein..."