Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Esten Royal Palace
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[Esten Kingdom Royal Palace]
"This way."
Following the soldiers' guidance, Woojin walked down the royal corridor.
How did I end up in the palace, of all places?
Woojin found the sudden turn of events amusing and unwittingly smirked.
Man, this place is ridiculously extravagant.
It felt worlds apart from the Tekan Kingdom.
Unlike the Tekan palace, which had almost no decorations and only the bare essentials, the Esten palace was the epitome of opulence.
I have no idea what the king's actually like...
A puppet king manipulated by his ministers, or a ruler bloated with vanity.
Hard to say which was better.
Both kingdoms seem to have kings that are the real problem.
He hadn't seen the last kingdom, but if it was similar, the federation was doomed to become fodder for the five great kingdoms.
Kugugugugu―――.
As the doors to the throne room swung open, a dazzlingly lavish chamber assaulted his eyes.
"Fuhum... You... are the emissary... from Tekan Kingdom... I presume."
A rotund man lounged against the backrest of a throne slathered in gold leaf, gazing at Woojin with a thoroughly languid expression.
"Not quite such a lofty title. I'm merely a guest of the Ballan family."
"Hmm― Is that so? And your house?"
"...None."
The king's expression shifted at Woojin's reply.
A derisive snort.
His eyes screamed that there was no point in even conversing further.
Anyone would think he was the emperor of an empire.
Woojin was more baffled by the reaction than anything.
"So... you're claiming... that our Esten Kingdom... attacked Tekan... is that it?"
"Yes. The eastern border guards were wiped out, and we found soldiers' corpses in the alchemists' building in the Great Forest within Esten territory."
"Hmm... Is that... so?"
"They were using soldiers made from those corpses. And not just that―there were monsters pieced together from mangled bodies too."
"Unbelievable... That they would... stoop to such... depravity."
The Esten king replied with a twitching cheek.
What's with that speech pattern?
The king's slow, slurred pronunciation didn't seem quite right.
"Tekan Kingdom demands appropriate compensation for this incident."
"We are... blameless... Esten had... no part in this. We were unaware... of the alchemists'... experiments."
"Is that truly the case?"
"Of... course."
"Yet Your Highness accepted those alchemists into your realm. Failing to properly vet what manner of people they were is a clear mistake on Esten's part."
"Hm... We merely... welcomed them as... part of business."
"...Business?"
"Not long ago... the alchemists sought... a place for their research... and brought vast sums of gold. For us... there was no reason... to refuse."
The king answered Woojin with an indifferent look.
"We have... no intent of war. We never imagined... the alchemists would attack Tekan. Seek compensation... from them, not us."
"This happened in your own territory! What kind of irresponsible attitude is that?!"
Chakak―.
That was when it happened.
The knights around the king drew their swords on Woojin.
"Insolent fool!! How dare a mere envoy raise your voice!!!"
"A rootless adventurer like you dares...!!"
"... ."
Stay calm. If I act rashly, they could use it as an excuse to start a real war.
Absurd as it was, if this was all part of their scheme, he couldn't play right into their hands.
"...Understood. Then, as Your Highness says, we'll handle the alchemists directly for this matter. Where are they now?"
"Gone."
Kwak―.
Woojin clenched his fist tight.
These bastards... playing games.
He desperately wanted to charge in, but Woojin held back once more.
"What do you mean by that? The alchemists vanished?"
"Just... yesterday dawn, the alchemists... in the capital all vanished... without a trace. If you wish... I can tell you... their former abode."
"So Esten Kingdom truly offers no compensation whatsoever for this incident?"
"What happened... at the border pains us, but we had no cause... to restrain the alchemists. They weren't... our citizens, after all."
"Understood. Then please tell us the location of their former abode."
"Hansen."
At Woojin's response, the king promptly summoned the steward waiting in the corridor, as if he'd been expecting it.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Escort this man... out of the palace... ."
"Understood."
The man called Hansen nodded toward Woojin, gesturing for him to follow.
Whether it's these guys or those... why do they all treat people like this?
It made no sense.
Even so, the Sword Emperor was at his back.
The continent's strongest swordsman could charge in at any moment.
Yet they were this rude...
Unless they weren't crazy,
They must have something they're relying on.
He couldn't figure it out yet, but Woojin couldn't shake the feeling something was off.
Kung―.
The doors closed, and Woojin followed Hansen down the corridor.
"Heh... hehe..."
"Such... things happen... do they?"
"Ha... haha!!"
Nobles conversing in the hallway.
Somehow, their speech seemed slurred like the king's.
"Here it is."
Beyond the inner castle, farther out than the outer city where commoners lived.
Hansen arrived at a dilapidated mansion, his face twisted in disgust as if he couldn't wait to leave.
"We're regretful about this incident, but we received reports of the alchemists' sudden disappearance and checked everywhere."
Kkiiik......
Pushing open the heavily rusted door, Hansen continued.
"Nothing was left behind. We left it as is since some alchemists remained in the lab in the Great Forest..."
Hansen turned his head.
"They should all be safe, right? His Highness will summon them for the investigation into this matter."
His question about their safety oddly implied he thought the alchemists were probably dead.
"......"
"Assuming there's no issue on your end."
Woojin felt talking further was a waste of time.
"Just close the door on your way out."
Hansen's final words carried a hint of irritation; his expression hardened as he turned and left.
Good riddance if he leaves me to it.
Once alone, Woojin stepped inside the mansion.
-Puha!!
Setsuna popped her face out from inside his pocket, as if she'd been waiting. Having been stuffed in there since the border, her cheeks were flushed red.
"Stuffy in there?"
-Hehet, I'm fine! But what was that? Can you believe it? Their own kingdom, and they act like it's none of their business?
Setsuna, having overheard the entire conversation with the Esten king, punched the air like a boxer in outrage.
"People who act like that usually know full well and are just playing dumb."
Woojin said as he wiped his finger across the mantel above the living room fireplace.
-You mean the king and alchemists plotted it together?
"Probably. The question is whether we can find proof. They're acting so smug because they're confident we won't."
-Infuriating.
Setsuna crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
"Exactly. And the cockier they get, the harder they fall."
The mantel was spotless, not a speck of dust.
It meant they'd thoroughly erased every trace.
They figure no normal method will uncover anything...
"But we're not normal."
[Trail Path]
▶ Searching for remaining traces nearby.
A breeze swirled around her, spreading through the mansion. Astonishingly, all sorts of marks began appearing in what had been a pristine house.
"Let's see what we've got."
Woojin curled one corner of his mouth upward.
"How'd the interview go?"
David, waiting in the parking lot, waved at Do Kyung-hoon as he descended from the studio exit.
"Eh... Pretty much the usual."
"Really? Your face says you're pissed."
Chakak―.
Do Kyung-hoon reclined the passenger seat almost flat and rested the back of his hand on his forehead.
"Most of the questions were about that guy Khan."
"And that's what's got you riled up?"
David snickered at his words.
"Can't be helped. It wasn't even our outlet―it was Game Station. That host? She's also an in-game star manager, right?"
The comprehensive portal [In-Game Star]
It was the largest gaming portal site in existence.
"Yeah."
"From what she was doing, seems like she was trying to spin some rivalry between you two... Ridiculous."
David scoffed.
"I mean, pitting a total newbie who just hit the Central Continent against you? If only you'd gone with S Media from the start."
The sponsor of [Phoenix Unit], and all their broadcasts so far had been through S Media.
Naturally, they'd rejected every invitation from rival N Media's [Game Station].
Yet he'd agreed to this interview.
Doesn't seem like there's any upside...
David still couldn't wrap his head around it.
S Media would not be pleased if they found out.
"It just looks like we're dodging. Up till now, it was only Labyrinth Tower stuff, so it was fine."
David nodded at his explanation.
Like it or not, Khan was red-hot in [Evil Tail].
People weren't sure yet whether to welcome the new powerhouse or view him warily.
"Some sponsors are getting suspicious too. They were digging into Khan."
They wanted stars.
The purpose of their investments was profit, and public attention was key to that.
"Crazy... They think we're already losing? Who's conquering Labyrinth Tower if not us? Who are these guys? We'll cut ties first."
"That's exactly why we need to show them. No matter what, we clear the 11th floor in one go."
Do Kyung-hoon smirked, watching David overreact and get even angrier, as if sensing his mood.
"All this talk, but conquering Labyrinth Tower is still our top priority."
"Right. No need to worry. People's eyes will turn back to the tower eventually."
David nodded.
"The Black Dragon thing blew up for a bit, but that was just luck."
Booooong―.
David accelerated as he spoke.
"No need to fret. Nothing else is gonna happen now, right?"
"Achoo―!!!"
-Are you okay?
"Ah, yeah. Just a random sneeze."
Woojin rubbed the tip of his nose with the back of his hand and waved it off like it was nothing.
Setsuna nodded and entered the final room.
-Master!!!
That was when it happened.
-I found it!!!
Hearing the urgent cry, Woojin rushed to her location.
"......!!"
The moment he entered the room, Woojin's eyes widened.
"......This is gonna cause a huge uproar."
He'd uncovered something massive.