Chapter 112: Reinforcements for Each (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Reinforcements for Each (2)
The Secret Palace.
A giant tower rising high from the middle of the continent's West Sea.
It was the place Jin had decided to commission to resolve the current crisis. Naturally, ordinary people couldn't even get near the Secret Palace, but since Casimir operated a massive intelligence agency called the Seven-Colored Bird, he had a contact network there.
Alisa nodded after taking another look at Casimir’s frantic expression.
"I’ll open a teleport gate to Manji Island on the Western Continent. Fortunately, there’s a Seven-Colored Bird informant on the island."
Manji Island was the only island through which one could access the Secret Palace. Attempting to enter from any other location was considered an intrusion, resulting in an immediate death sentence from the Palace Master and her subordinate warriors.
Of course, simply reaching Manji Island didn't guarantee entry. Admission was only possible for those who, like Casimir, had an established contact network, or for those who could pay a substantial price.
"I sent an informant there about three years ago just in case; I hope that pays off now. Did that fellow manage to maintain a hotline with the Secret Palace? Was his name Lucas?"
That was the biggest hurdle.
Had the informant on Manji Island stayed in the Secret Palace's good graces enough to open a path in the middle of the night?
"I haven't received a direct report on that. Should I call the heads of the Seven-Colored Bird to confirm?"
"No, there’s no time. If the informant has just been idling around, I’ll have to stand in the middle of Manji Island and scream insults at the Palace Master. That ought to bring someone out, right?"
While Alisa hurried to the teleport gate, Casimir gave a brief explanation to Gilly, whose face had turned pale.
"He killed a pure-blooded Zipple and is hiring the Secret Palace to handle it? Oh, Young Master… why must he walk such a tightrope every single time? And I can't even assist him because my aura is sealed…"
"I feel this every time I see him, but that brat Jin… it’s not just that he has guts; it’s like his audacity has swollen to the point of bursting," Quicantel remarked.
"Lady Quicantel, the Young Master’s audacity is driving me crazy! What should we do? If what Sir Casimir says is true, the mages of the Magic Tower will be swarming the area soon!"
Gilly bit her nails nervously as Enya, Latri, and Yuria patted her on the back.
"Still, Gilly, don't worry too much. Your Young Master isn't the type to die so easily. Besides, you have me. If that Palace Master doesn't help, I'll go sweep them all away myself. So what if I end up on the Zipple's wanted list?"
Though she spoke confidently, Quicantel was also worried.
If the Zipple’s elite mages arrived in droves, even she would be unable to handle them. Furthermore, if Quicantel revealed her true form to the Zipple, the deaths of Andrei and Buretta would be dredged up again, making the aftermath even more hopeless.
"...Do not worry, Gilly. I will definitely persuade the Palace Master and go help Young Master Jin and Lord Murakan!"
A short while later, once the teleport gate to Manji Island was ready, Casimir left the mansion with a grim, determined expression.
* * *
Most people in the world live their entire lives without ever setting foot on Manji Island.
However, those who have visited even once often spend the rest of their days longing for it, unable to forget.
It was a warm, small island where lovely little animals frolicked freely. About ten households of kind-hearted humans, lucky enough to receive permission from the Secret Palace to settle there, called it home. Across the open sea, the dreamlike silhouette of the Secret Palace itself was always visible.
Lucas Manfran, a public informant for the Seven-Colored Bird dispatched here three years ago, was sitting in a rocking chair on the beach, sipping a cocktail while gazing at the pre-dawn sea.
With tanned skin and a loose, colorful shirt, he looked more like a tourist on vacation than an informant.
"Back at headquarters, I never could have imagined this kind of leisure. Hehe, there’s no sweeter gig than this."
He only exchanged short letters with headquarters once every three months. This was a result of the Seven-Colored Bird's leadership fearing they might incur the Palace Master's wrath if they contacted Lucas too frequently.
Furthermore, since Lucas was a public informant whose identity had been disclosed to the Secret Palace beforehand, there was no need to arouse suspicion by exchanging frequent, secret messages.
"Lucas! Lucas Manfran!"
Suddenly, a familiar yet faint voice called his name, and Lucas set down his glass. He doubted his ears for a moment before jumping to his feet to greet his leader.
"L-Lord Casimir? What brings you here at this hour…?"
In the brief moment their eyes met, all sorts of unfortunate scenarios flashed through Lucas's mind.
A reprimand for negligence? A pay cut? Or worst of all, an order to return to headquarters, ending these happy days?
However, contrary to his fears, Casimir didn't seem to care about any of that. Instead, he asked in an urgent voice:
"I must meet the Palace Master! Right now! Have you established a hotline with the Secret Palace? Please tell me you have. This is a dire emergency."
The dazed expression on Lucas's face was rapidly replaced by a triumphant smile.
‘This is my chance for a raise! Maybe even a promotion!’
The true master of the Seven-Colored Bird, who had seemed like a distant god back at headquarters, had come to him in person to ask for a hotline.
And Lucas could fulfill his superior's command immediately.
"Of course, Lord Casimir. I can take you to the Secret Palace right this moment."
"Oh… truly?!"
"Yes. You have no idea how much trouble I went through over the last three years to establish this hotline… I am glad I can be of help to you in such a critical moment."
Lucas took full credit for his efforts.
"I will never forget this. If things go well with the Palace Master, you can expect great things."
"I have merely fulfilled my duty as an informant. Now, please wait a moment. I will contact the Secret Palace."
Fwiiiish—!
Pop, bang!
Lucas took a firework from his breast pocket and launched it into the air.
"Fireworks? Is that the signal?"
"Yes. And please, do not be alarmed in a moment. Something… like a giant, warm cloth will envelop us. When you open your eyes again, we will be at the Secret Palace."
"What? What do you mean by— ugh!"
Suddenly, gulp!
Just as Lucas said, a massive silhouette enveloped them. It looked like a mouth, but it moved too fast to see clearly.
‘Something swallowed me—huh?!’
Ptu!
The mouth that had swallowed Lucas and Casimir spat them back out.
When Casimir opened his eyes, the warm sea breeze of Manji Island was gone, replaced by a chill that seeped into his very bones.
The walls were made of pale blue and white crystal. Even the floor was composed of crystals that radiated a strange cold up through the soles of his feet.
They were inside the Secret Palace.
‘What kind of sorcery is this…?!’
Suppressing his confusion, Casimir reflexively scanned his surroundings. Beside him was Lucas, who had been spat out with him. In front of them…
"Baby, didn't I tell you not to call me in the early morning unless you had to?"
A woman was speaking, her voice strangely both affectionate and cold. She was lying sideways on a bed, holding a long pipe and looking down at the two men.
Her name was Talaris Endorma.
The 51st Palace Master of the Secret Palace and a 10-star Knight whose epithet, the "Spider of the Abyss," commanded awe throughout the world.
"And bringing a guest without my permission… Hehe, my baby. You’ve grown quite bold since I last saw you. Are you trying to show me how fearless you can be?"
Hotline?
Lucas had established a very hot line with Palace Master Talaris Endorma.
"Sweetheart… I'm sorry for contacting you so suddenly and for bringing a guest without permission. But this man, Lord Casimir, is the one who pays my salary. He desperately wanted to meet you, so I brought him along."
Casimir, having grasped the situation, could only stare in horror.
‘I heard rumors that Palace Master Talaris Endorma’s history with men was legendary, but even our informant?! No, more importantly, did this rascal Lucas fail to report this all this time?’
However, Casimir quickly realized the reason.
Strictly speaking, Talaris and Lucas were not lovers. Lucas was merely one of Talaris's many playthings, and it was a common rumor that any of her lovers who dared to brag about their relationship often vanished without a trace.
"Hmm… fine. I suppose my baby has his reasons. You, leave. Be prepared for your punishment later."
Snap!
As Talaris gestured, another giant mouth appeared out of nowhere, swallowed Lucas, and vanished.
It happened so fast that even Casimir, who was on high alert, found it difficult to react. Once he was left alone with Talaris…
He could feel it. The sheer pressure naturally exuded by Talaris, even as she lay there comfortably, was comparable to that of Cyron Runcandel.
‘Keep it together…! I’m a knight who has said everything I needed to say even in front of Lord Cyron!’
Casimir gritted his teeth. Talaris shook her head.
"Casimir Viment. Ah, I suppose you don't use the name Viment anymore. At any rate, you're a married man, and your looks aren't my type. So what exactly are you counting on, coming to see me?"
Casimir flinched.
"...My apologies for the late greeting, 51st Master of the Secret Palace. I am Casimir, a warrior serving as a leader in the Tikan Free City. The reason I have sought you out so rudely is—"
"Ah, I don't want to hear a sob story. Keep it brief. Just answer my question. What exactly are you counting on…"
…coming to find me for?
As Talaris asked the final part of her question, she infused it with her aura. Casimir’s pupils trembled. He had taken the full brunt of her powerful pressure without a chance to raise his own aura.
‘My breath… is catching. Is this the pressure of a 10-star Knight?’
Explaining the problem and asking for help… it seemed that approach would be useless. Thus, Casimir immediately pulled a single Secret Palace Snow Flower from his breast pocket.
"The boy your only daughter entrusted this flower to is about to die."
"Pfft!"
Talaris burst into an inscrutable laugh.
* * *
Three hours had passed since Myuron’s death.
And Jin, Murakan, and the surviving Colon natives, still waiting for Casimir…
‘Damn it…’
They could only watch as the pre-dawn sky grew darker, looking up at the six dragons that had suddenly begun to swarm the skies above Colon.
Unfortunately, Jin’s party and the Colon natives had not been able to leave the site of Myuron’s death.
The natives had just begun the ritual to retrieve their sacred object. As fate would have it, the place where Myuron died was the very ground where the ancient Colon altar was located.
"The natives are performing some kind of ritual. It doesn't look like they are following the Tower Master's orders, Vice Tower Master."
"Find the Tower Master! Capture every single human in the area—do not let a single one escape!"