Chapter 182: Was It You? (2)
Chapter 182: Was It You? (2)
The royal palace of the Caesar Kingdom.
King Georgia, the ruler of the realm, bolted upright from his throne upon receiving his subordinate’s report.
“He’s surfaced?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
King Georgia spoke through gritted teeth.
“Where is he now? We must mobilize the kingdom’s entire military strength to hunt him down and kill him!”
The King’s eyes were bloodshot as he roared.
How could they not be?
The Caesar Kingdom had suffered catastrophic losses as a result of officially mobilizing the army to capture Patrick. They had lost thousands of soldiers, and their knight orders had been decimated.
Most critically, Marquis Andrea Luid and Count Martin Tonius—both 7-Star Knights—were dead. Including the previously deceased Count Calvin Spike, a staggering three 7-Star Knights had perished.
All because of one man: Patrick Schneider.
This was an irreversible, monumental loss for the kingdom. To King Georgia, Patrick Schneider was now nothing less than a mortal enemy. If he could only capture the boy alive, he wanted to personally tear him limb from limb in the royal hall. But…
“Your Majesty, the Tower of Truth has requested that we refrain from seeking revenge regarding the… previous misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? Like hell it was a misunderstanding!”
Unable to contain his fury, the King bellowed and hurled the scepter he was holding. The reporting official didn’t dare dodge; he took the hit, blood trickling from his forehead.
He prostrated himself and spoke.
“I beg your forgiveness. However, as long as the Tower of Truth is protecting the Double Dragon, I believe it is too dangerous to touch him recklessly.”
The King knew this.
But to give up on revenge against Patrick? That was unthinkable. If he failed to seek retribution after such a massive national loss, his political standing would be severely compromised.
Even for a King, authority was not always absolute. Hadn't the Emperor of the Roman Empire lost his head as the price for the failed expedition to the Great Forest?
‘The Double Dragon must die within our borders.’
The King took a firm stance to protect his own power.
“We will use covert means. We’ll finish the job before the Tower of Truth can intervene.”
“However…”
“What? What is the problem now?”
Under the King’s interrogation, the official squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
“It is reported that Riman Sierra, a Magic Swordsman from the Tower of Truth, is accompanying the Double Dragon.”
“Dammit…”
King Georgia looked as if he had been punched in the solar plexus.
He had intended to strike the moment Patrick left the Tower of Truth. It seemed the Tower had already anticipated his intentions.
Riman Sierra. A talent evaluated as a candidate who might one day ascend to the position of Guardian within the Tower of Truth. As long as someone like Riman Sierra was attached to him, it was impossible to target Patrick without clashing with the Tower.
“Curse it all…”
King Georgia slumped back onto his throne. Drained of strength, he pressed a hand to his forehead as if a migraine were coming on.
“Where is he now? What is he doing?”
“That is…”
“Report in detail. Where is he?”
Pressured by the King, the official squeezed his eyes shut again and spoke.
“The Double Dragon has moved north from the Tower of Truth and is currently in the Touban Territory. And there, he is… holding a festival.”
“What?”
“……”
Faced with the official’s silence, the King spoke with a dazed expression.
“You’re saying he’s moving boldly through my territory and holding a festival?”
“So it seems.”
“What kind of festival?”
“Ahem… It is said to be a festival celebrating his victory.”
Right. I see.
He’s holding a festival inside our country to celebrate winning against our country.
Once King Georgia fully grasped the situation…
“…Urgh… Keuh… Keuuuuuugh…!”
He clutched the back of his neck and began to topple backward.
“Your Majesty!”
“Call the royal physician!”
The officials rushed forward to attend to the King. And King Georgia…
“I will curse you! Patrick Schneideeeeer!”
With a resentful shriek, he began to foam at the mouth and finally passed out, falling backward.
* * *
“Huh? I feel like someone just cursed me.”
Patrick said, picking at his ear. Matthew, standing beside him, replied indifferently.
“There are plenty of people who would curse you.”
“Hey now… where else would you find a person as kind as me?”
“Really? Then what’s that?”
Matthew pointed toward a man sitting off to the side, staring blankly into space with a gaunt, hollow expression.
Once a Magic Swordsman with a promising future, this man—now looking like a shriveled husk of a zombie—was named Riman Sierra.
As for why he had ended up like this…
“Double Dragon-nim! What are you doing? Aren’t you drinking more?”
“Ayy, of course I am. Come on, let’s drink!”
Patrick raised his glass high, shouting alongside the village men whose names he didn’t even know.
“Alright, everyone, drink up! Today’s drinks are all on the Tower of Truth!”
“Oooooh!”
“Now this is living!”
“Gwahahaha!”
This was why.
* * *
Magic Swordsmen of the Tower of Truth do not carry cash when operating externally.
This is because, as long as their identity can be verified, the Tower of Truth will settle any payments later. Of course, since people might try to impersonate them to abuse this system, a means of verification was necessary.
That was the Capital Card, a magical tool issued by the Tower of Truth.
The principle was simple. After using the Capital Card to make a purchase, both the seller and the buyer would sign the card’s form, and the transaction details would be transmitted to the Tower of Truth. The Tower would then settle the payment within a short period.
It was a simple, convenient, and even secure method. Because of this, people from the Tower of Truth didn’t bother carrying cumbersome cash when traveling.
Riman Sierra was no exception. He had received a Capital Card for his external duties.
It was even a Gold-grade card.
The cards were ranked Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Black. A Gold card alone allowed for spending enough to comfortably manage a decent-sized territory for several years.
And Riman Sierra’s biggest mistake was naively telling all of this to Patrick Schneider.
[Hooo. Is that sooooo?]
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Well, and so…
“Gwahaha! Pour it! Drink it!”
“Ohhh! He’s got spirit!”
“I don’t know who that young man is, but he sure can drink!”
“The customers are all out of booze!”
“Really? Then we move to the next house! Not a single drop of alcohol shall remain in this city today! Heroes, follow me!”
“Wooooooo!”
“I’ll follow you for the rest of my life!”
“Let’s gooooo!”
It turned into this.
“The Sages… the Sages are going to kill me.”
Riman clutched his hair, berating himself.
Since leaving the Tower of Truth, they had held a festival in every village they passed. The amount already spent was far more than the total amount Riman had spent in his entire life.
As Riman Sierra muttered in a state of severe crisis, Matthew approached him.
“Why did you tell him that in the first place?”
“Logically, I didn't think it would come to this.”
“Tsk, tsk. What can you do? It’s already past the point of no return… Hang in there.”
Riman looked at Matthew with teary eyes, grateful for the comfort… wait.
“Matthew-ssi, what’s that in your hand?”
“Ah… this?”
In Matthew’s hand was a rather expensive-looking women’s hat. Matthew spoke with an awkward expression.
“They said it’s a local specialty. A hat made from the feathers of a bird called a Harpuntel.”
“……”
“Hahaha. I thought it would be a good gift for my younger sister. Thanks to you, of course.”
He was just like the other guy.
Moreover, looking closely, April and Isabella were also busily moving about.
“Please arrange for bulk delivery to the Schneider Viscountcy in the Atronia Kingdom.”
“And the shipping costs are to be paid by the Tower of Truth as well.”
Riman Sierra, a flower raised in the greenhouse of the Tower of Truth, was gaining some harsh life experience.
* * *
Peaceful days followed.
A daily routine of eating and drinking on someone else’s dime, being generous to the common folk, and traveling smoothly without anyone picking a fight.
“Phew… I wish I could live like this forever.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Spending other people’s money is the best.”
“I bought plenty of gifts for the Lord and the Madam.”
“…Logically, I wish you all would just die.”
It was a situation where four people were satisfied and one was in despair, but according to the principles of democracy, this qualified as a peaceful daily life.
However…
“Are you the Double Dragon?”
A middle-aged knight in neat attire appeared, blocking the path of Patrick and his party.
He had been waiting as if expecting the four of them to pass this way. To his question, Patrick replied flatly.
“I am… and who might you be?”
At Patrick’s question, the middle-aged knight bowed politely and spoke.
“My master requests the honor of your presence for a moment. Could you please spare some time?”
“Hmmmm…”
Matthew chuckled.
There had been many such occurrences. Envoys from nameless nobles trying to invite Patrick to get on his good side and build a connection were common. In fact, considering Patrick’s fame, it was only natural.
‘Regardless of his personality, that is.’
Patrick hadn't met any of these people until now—except when there was something to gain from them. Matthew expected him to send this one away as well. But…
“Who is your master?”
Surprisingly, Patrick didn't refuse immediately and showed interest. While Matthew was caught off guard, the man replied.
“You will find out once you come and see for yourself.”
“So, someone who won’t even reveal their identity is telling me to come, and you expect me to just go?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmmmm…”
Now, this twisted human will surely refuse with a flippant attitude.
That was what Matthew, an expert in Patrick-ology, predicted. However…
“Well, fine. It’s not far, is it?”
“They are nearby.”
“Good.”
Surprisingly, Patrick agreed to follow him without a fuss.
Matthew looked at him with an absurd expression.
“Hey, did you eat something wrong this morning?”
“Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?”
“No, it’s just that seeing you act like a normal, compliant person makes no sense to me.”
“Is it really that strange?”
“Yes. Are you worried about something? Or are you sick?”
His eyes showed genuine concern.
“Tell me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“I want to hit you, friend.”
Patrick let out a deep sigh.
Whether in his past life or this one, why were all his friends like this?
Patrick turned to Matthew.
“Stew. Hey, Stew.”
“Yeah?”
“A person needs to have at least enough intuition to recognize a big shot at a glance, don’t you think?”
“That knight is a big shot? Hmm…”
Matthew looked at the knight walking ahead of them. His armor and weapons were all ordinary. He didn't sense any element (money) that would typically interest Patrick. Then, April spoke.
“That knight is strong.”
“Huh?”
Only then did Matthew notice. April was staring intently at the middle-aged knight’s back with a level of wariness he hadn't seen before.
Seeing April like that, Matthew frowned and thought.
‘For April to react like this?’
Matthew knew April’s strength. Hadn't she been the one to take the head of the 7-Star Knight, Count Martin Tonius? While the public believed Patrick had done it, Matthew was one of the witnesses who knew the truth.
For such an April to…
‘Be this guarded?’
If April was this wary, it meant the man was at least at the 7-Star realm or higher. And at this point, a knight of 7-Star realm or higher…
“Could it be from the Caesar Kingdom…?”
“Probably not. He doesn't match the descriptions of the Caesar Kingdom’s 7-Star Knights.”
“Then who on earth…?”
“How should I know? I’m going to find out because I don’t know.”
Patrick spoke bluntly.
In his experience, an invisible enemy was more dangerous than a strong one. It was better to check unknown variables when you had the chance. That was why he was complying with the middle-aged knight’s invitation.
The place the group arrived at was…
“You’ve come.”
A table prepared under the shade of a tree.
A man sat there, waiting with an empty chair across from him. A few knights were seen attending to him nearby, but there were no obvious traps. However…
“What? I wondered who it was.”
Surprisingly, the mastermind Patrick had come to identify was someone he already knew.
“Was it you?”
The moment Patrick spoke bluntly…
Whoosh!
The surrounding knights instantly radiated a thick killing intent toward Patrick. Even knowing he was the Double Dragon, they directed a blatant, genuine bloodlust at him.
However, the master himself smiled and spoke.
“It is fine. Leave him be.”
“But, Your Highness…”
“I said it is fine.”
“Understood.”
The killing intent vanished as if it had never existed.