Chapter 97
Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Into Silder's Mansion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lander looked at Deong's left arm. The gloved hand looked awkward.
"You noticed, even though I hid it pretty well."
"What happened to your hand?"
"It got cleanly sliced off while carrying out the Captain's orders."
Deong glanced subtly at Guchi. His eyes were asking if it was okay to include him in the conversation.
"It's fine. Captain Kalligo cleared him."
"I see. Then I should introduce myself first. I'm Deong. I handle miscellaneous tasks under Captain Kalligo."
Deong shook hands with Guchi and sat down.
"But where is the Captain?"
"He's moving separately from us. It seems the Inspectorate hasn't been contacted yet."
"That's just like that guy—no, the Captain. He's a candidate for Preemptive Action. No wonder His Majesty the Emperor once flew into a rage and told him to at least say something before running off."
Deong shook his head as if it gave him a headache.
"You said you were carrying out Captain Kalligo's orders. Does it have to do with Silder's mansion by any chance?"
"Yes. My initial mission was to monitor Dianne, but after I ended up like this, another colleague took over watching the mansion."
Deong said, lifting his left arm.
"If you were with the Captain, you must have seen that strangely shaped gray bird flying around."
"I saw Albert coming and going. So he was relaying messages to the people here."
"It was more like a one-sided notification than an exchange. I've been thrown into operations out of the blue plenty of times before, but this is the first time I haven't even known the point of the mission."
"You'll get Captain Kalligo's message soon. The Inspectorate will be busy too."
"That sounds chilling."
Deong looked around before speaking.
"The Captain's personal order to me was to grant whatever Lander requested. That means full support. Since you two showed up here where the surveillance order was issued, it seems the Captain has something in mind too. If there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate to tell me."
Imagining Silder's mansion beyond the blizzard, Lander asked,
"First, tell me the current situation at the mansion."
"A spirit appeared near the mansion not long ago. Piecing together eyewitness accounts, it flapped its huge wings a few times, and a four-story building was half-demolished. It wasn't an ordinary spirit."
"That's not common."
"Because of that, Silder's daughter Charlotte suffered serious injuries, and right now Silder and Charlotte have left for the Holy City. Dianne is left behind at the mansion handling the aftermath, but the suspicious part is that the butler—who's supposedly managed the mansion for a long time—is nowhere to be seen."
"Don't worry about that. We've handled it on our side."
"Understood. Nothing else special happened. Entering the interior is high-risk, so we haven't grasped the internal situation. The Captain instructed us to monitor only up to the safe limit. Actually, Dianne is the one who cut off this arm. She's no ordinary woman."
Bivinel had said that Dianne and the 1st Knight Order had received new bodies through complete Realms.
Considering their physical abilities, entering the mansion was definitely dangerous.
"Did you put surveillance on Silder's side?"
"There are only two Inspectorate members on site right now, including me. If it were official business, we'd request reinforcements, but the circumstances didn't allow it. Operations where the Captain hides the reason can't even be rumored within the Inspectorate."
Lander nodded.
"And crowds of citizens have been swarming the mansion to help manage the collapsed parts. They dispersed today because of the snow, but in a few days, it'll be crawling with people again."
"Then now is the perfect time."
Lander finished the remaining tea and stood up.
"I have one favor to ask. Could you and the other Inspectorate member wait on the outskirts of the mansion?"
"Just wait?"
"Probably nothing will come of it, but if I miss anyone, I'd like you to track them. Of course, only up to the safe limit."
"You're giving me orders as tricky as the Captain's. Got it."
As he stood, he looked at Guchi. Guchi naturally picked up his bow and rose.
"If I'm in the way, I'll wait outside."
"No. Come with us. You can catch what I miss, Guchi."
He opened the door and stepped out. The snow was still falling heavily. As they pushed through the vision-obscuring flakes for a few steps, Deong, who was following, spoke up.
"Just the two of you?"
"Yes."
"Doesn't look like you're going for tea and chit-chat. There are knights stationed at the mansion. I don't know their skill level, but going with this few is pretty dangerous."
"Thanks for the concern. But two is enough."
He gave Deong a smile with his eyes and started walking.
Deong didn't say it twice. With a farewell to be careful, he vanished into the scattering snow ahead.
"It's a bit strange watching them."
Guchi, standing beside him, said.
"What's strange?"
"That people don't recognize you. I can understand since even the Emperor's face on the front page of the newspaper is hazy to me, but why don't others recognize the Empire's hero?"
"My name is known, not my face. Above all, I've never participated in Empire events. I was mostly on the battlefield, and after the war ended, I stayed by my wife's side."
"Didn't take many photos? The streets in the Holy City are plastered with pictures of famous people. I hear there's even a mage dedicated to that."
"There are photos of me, but they look quite different from how I am now. When I returned from the battlefield, my hair was tied back in a long ponytail on top, and I had a thick beard."
"You liked dressing up too."
"It wasn't for style; it was a ritual. There was a young kid from Ulas in my direct unit who died during an operation. Following Ulas custom, everyone involved in the op, including me, grew out our hair and beards. When we returned after the war, we offered our cut hair at his grave. That was a few years ago. Feels like just days ago."
"Time flies by so quickly."
Guchi sniffed as he spoke.
"I wonder what happened to Inevil."
"We'll find out when we get there."
"What if she's transcended to a complete Realm like the ones who ambushed us?"
"Inevil wouldn't have accepted that offer. At least the Inevil I knew didn't believe in getting strong the easy way."
"I hope so."
"You worried?"
"It's that grudging affection. The scariest thing in the world is grudging affection."
They pushed through the snow. Soon, the half-demolished mansion came into view. The collapsed side was buried in white snow.
"Now that we're here, I'm getting scared."
"Want to wait outside?"
"No. We've come this far; I can't send you in alone. And before we go in, remember this: I have no confidence in protecting myself against those monsters."
"Just stay behind me. Nothing will happen."
"No safer place than your back."
For an operation needing a large force, he would have agonized over a desk for days.
He would have checked every possibility and risk, reviewed meticulously with aides, and found the optimal move.
But now, there was no need. For solo action, no plan was necessary. One sword was enough.
They stood before the mansion door. He could sense people inside.
He glanced at his feet. There was a basement here too. Bivinel's information held no lies.
"Spirits are this scary? The house is a total wreck."
Guchi said, examining the collapsed side.
"It gets reported occasionally. Like an unavoidable natural disaster, a typhoon."
"Feels like a 'One-Man Legion.' More importantly, are there really people inside? No way anyone could stay in a place like this."
"A few are there. Not servants, so they should answer our questions."
Lander gently knocked on the door with the knocker. Tang tang tang—the metallic sound muffled in the snowfall.
"What is it?"
The one who came out was a woman in black clothes. She looked like a maid.
"We've come to see Dianne."
"Lady Dianne said to politely turn away anyone without urgent business."
"Then relay this to Dianne: people from the Blueton second-floor house have come. She'll tell you how to handle it."
"Understood. And I'm sorry again for not inviting you inside."
"It's fine."
"Please wait a moment. I'll go inform Lady Dianne."
The maid closed the door.
"What will you ask first when you meet her?"
"First, I'll take over Gilliuwd's custody. I need him to learn the details of what happened at the orphanage."
"She won't hand him over nicely, I bet."
"I'll make her."
The door opened quickly. The maid, catching her breath as if she'd run, appeared.
"I'll show you inside. Lady Dianne will meet you both."
The maid led the way. They entered the mansion. Canvas patched over the collapsed wall flapped noisily in the wind.
"Inside or out, it's equally freezing."
Guchi said, crossing his arms. They followed the maid into the left corridor.
"She's in here."
They opened the door and entered. Dianne was in a room warmed by the fireplace.
"You being here means Pablo failed, right?"
"Probably."
"Did you kill him?"
"Use your imagination."
"Really, nothing but bad luck lately. Never imagined a face-to-face like this."
"May we sit and talk? We'd appreciate it if you offered seats."
"Have a seat for now. We both have a lot of questions."
People were gathering toward this room. The energy emanating from them was growing increasingly fierce. It felt familiar.
"The fact that you came here and mentioned the second-floor house means there's a traitor among the knights who went to Blueton. Who is it? Not Pablo or Steen. Bivinel? Ran? Or Noel?"
"At this point, that doesn't matter."
"You're right. It doesn't. The problem happened, and now cleanup is all that matters. But why just you two? Where's the sword?"
"He had other business and split off temporarily. He received Jon's prophecy."
"Jon?"
"Gilliwd's supposed master. You know him, right?"
"First time hearing the name. Gilliwd never mentioned him."
"I see. Where is that Gilliwd now?"
"We'd like to know that too. He vanished suddenly. It's really annoying."
Dianne walked toward the fireplace. Guchi flinched—he could feel it.
"Care for some tea? Doesn't seem like it'll end quickly."
"Unsweetened, please."
"Got it."
Dianne replied with a smile.
(To be continued in the next installment)