Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Imperial Audience
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The capital of the Dufer Empire, Antigonia.
Flash!
Alongside the city walls staunchly guarding the capital, a brilliant light erupted from the teleport gate, revealing a group of figures.
Absolute Teleport.
A super long-distance movement spell that allowed translocation to designated coordinates regardless of distance.
Due to numerous military risks, it was used sparingly, and colliding with a mana barrier could trigger severe backlash, among other vulnerabilities.
In the past, even beastkin like Tia and Bator had suffered tremendous nausea during their journey to the Karen Plains.
Yet the individuals who now appeared at Antigonia's walls showed no signs of such side effects. With utterly composed expressions, they headed straight for the imperial palace, Bergina.
Many awaited entry to the palace, but none voiced complaints, yielding their places willingly.
And for good reason. This was the capital's defensive walls, enveloped in a mana barrier several times stronger than elsewhere.
An unauthorized user of this spell here would have their brain fried without surprise—it was a critical stronghold.
That they emerged unscathed spoke volumes about their status.
They had already received approval from the capital.
As if proving the bystanders' guesses correct, the guards at the walls saluted the lead man.
"Loyalty! We greet the Prime Minister!"
Leaving the guards' salutes behind, they arrived at the palace. There, Orddin quietly commanded the Paradium members.
"You've done well. Dismissed."
In response, the Paradium operatives nodded silently and vanished like mist.
Only two remained before Bergina Palace: Paradium's captain, Orddin, and Dufer Empire's Prime Minister, Adrian.
"Well now, Captain Orddin. You could head back too. Are you worried I won't report properly?"
"...His Majesty's orders to me were solely to confirm Paon Lichtenauer's condition firsthand. That's distinct from yours, Prime Minister. It falls to me to report."
An answer indirectly affirming Adrian's words.
"Hahaha. Seems I haven't earned your trust, Captain."
"......"
'After pulling that insane stunt, you talk of trust?' The retort rose to his throat, but Orddin barely swallowed it down.
Insane or not, Adrian was the empire's Prime Minister.
A position second only to the emperor.
Only the emperor could punish him.
"Well, if you feel that way, Captain, no helping it. Let's go together."
Upon reaching the audience chamber of Bergina, Torgud—one of the palace's imperial guards—slowly uncrossed his halberds.
As the doors opened, the emperor seated on the jade throne came into view.
Lustrous golden hair, eyes blue as the depths of the sea.
"You've traveled far. Well done."
The Hero Emperor, Siegfried Dufer, praised Adrian and Orddin.
"Loyalty! We greet His Imperial Majesty!!"
Thud!
Unlike Orddin, who dropped to both knees and prostrated before Siegfried, Adrian approached casually, kneeling on one knee right before him.
Their demeanors starkly highlighted their differing statuses.
"I have returned, Your Majesty. In the short time apart, you seem even more majestic."
With honeyed words dripping from his tongue, Adrian offered Siegfried a neatly folded paper.
"Here are the details of our dealings with the Lichtenauer Clan. Please review."
"......"
Rustle!
Siegfried skimmed the paper Adrian handed him. For a fleeting moment, a distinct glint flashed in his eyes.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he naturally turned to Orddin.
"Orddin. In your view, how was that old man Paon's condition?"
Still prostrated, Orddin replied with utmost deference.
"To my humble eyes, Paon Lichtenauer still boasts unparalleled martial prowess. The divine might that forced Khan Empire's Karawunas to their knees with a mere surge of aura... That power is not something a weakened, injured man could display. If he wields that despite wounds, his strength truly touches the heavens."
"Hmm... To that extent, you say?"
Siegfried tapped the armrest thoughtfully at Orddin's report, then asked him pointedly.
"In your eyes, how do I compare?"
"......"
Unlike his fluid responses before, Orddin hesitated.
Siegfried pressed him again.
"Speak freely."
"...It pains me to say, Your Majesty..."
Ignoring an emperor's repeated command was impossible. Thus, Orddin forced open his reluctant mouth.
"...Paon Lichtenauer's prowess is one—no, two steps above yours, I judge."
Bracing for punishment, Orddin squeezed his eyes shut.
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Siegfried merely nodded calmly.
"Well done, Orddin. Go rest."
Dismissed plainly, Orddin departed. Alone with Adrian, Siegfried spoke abruptly.
"You see it the same?"
"A troubling question, Your Majesty. Asking a subject to commit such impropriety ill befits a wise ruler."
A roundabout affirmation that Adrian also deemed Paon superior.
"However."
Adrian glanced at the paper in Siegfried's hand before adding,
"In 10—no, 5 years, if asked the same, I could answer without offense."
"Is that right?"
Siegfried nodded at Adrian's words.
If Adrian said so, it was so.
His superhuman senses transcended mere perception—verging on precognition.
A realm beyond judging by personal might alone.
"Oh, one curious thing. Second Young Lord Ian Lichtenauer... showed marked hostility toward our empire."
As if it had just occurred to him, Adrian mentioned it to Siegfried.
"I suspected he might have learned Lucas Alexei's martial arts. His enmity was too dense for mere caution."
"Oh...?"
Siegfried neither confirmed nor denied, eyes fixed on the paper.
Adrian intuited from this.
His hunch was correct. And Siegfried had known Ian Lichtenauer mastered the Hegemon's arts.
"Was there a reason you kept this from me?"
Adrian cautiously voiced his grievance toward Siegfried for withholding information.
Siegfried surely recognized it as protest.
"It's not like that."
Setting the paper down, Siegfried countered.
"Let me ask instead. Had I told you... would you have left Ian Lichtenauer be, Prime Minister?"
Adrian fiddled with his glasses at Siegfried's question.
"...No. I'd have eliminated him by any means."
His frenzy over Lucas's traces far exceeded Siegfried's.
For betraying Lucas, he'd endured assassination threats for ages.
"Exactly."
Siegfried clicked his tongue.
"A wounded lion weakens in time, yielding its place naturally. With your reckless nature, you'd have stirred the hornet's nest needlessly."
"...Understood."
Adrian conceded, dropping the matter.
"But."
Siegfried added,
"It hardly matters now. Mentioning five years means you're certain—tenfold."
"...You mean?"
"The Lichtenauer Martial Clan's heirs have begun moving."
Merely three days since the clan's lesser stars stirred, yet Siegfried knew all.
"Ian Lichtenauer headed to the Eastern Continent. It's vast. Hard to grasp events there from the Southern Continent."
That sufficed.
Adrian bowed with his usual mask-like smile.
"As Your Majesty wills."
Beneath that smile, his eyes gleamed icily.
"Uweeeek!!"
He heaved up lunch repeatedly.
His stomach long empty, only gastric juices remained, yet the churning wouldn't subside.
"Puhahaha! Humans are so frail. Seasick and spewing like that over mere waves."
Aelion mocked the vomiting Latent Dragon Squad members with a pale face. Biyona, quietly by his side, jabbed his ribs hard.
"Uweeeek...!!"
Aelion reflexively gripped the rail beside the squad, inspecting his lunch menu anew.
"...Please, stop flopping around."
Embarrassment was Biyona's burden; unlike pale Aelion, her dark skin flushed crimson.
"...This route's rough, alright."
Ian muttered, clutching the mast against the waves.
Stay strong. The journey won't be easy... but you'll endure, Young Lord Ian. Can't vouch for the others...
Viscount Sojen's concerned words—spoken before the squad's departure—echoed in his ears.
He felt them viscerally now.
Normally, reaching the Eastern Continent was straightforward.
From Shurton's northern port, Pale Moon, to Khan Empire's Silver River Port—a simple route.
Khan's southern waters to Aslan Kingdom's north were short and calm, no reason for this misery.
If heading to Khan Empire, that is.
Ian and the Latent Dragon Squad weren't bound for Silver River Port.
Khan Empire monopolized all trade routes to the East.
No nation could open direct routes to Fang Kingdom; only as foreign envoys, in minimal trade.
Even then, crippling tariffs at borders bled the kingdom dry.
Not content with isolation, they treated Fang as a colony—suffocating policy.
Blatant interference, yet Fang couldn't protest.
They lacked power.
Thus, entering via Silver River Port was impossible for them.
Khan wouldn't permit it.
Hence, Ian's group headed to Fang's Dawn Port—not Silver River.
A modest harbor for Fang's fishermen, not merchants.
In essence, smuggling.
Khan wouldn't ignore such a chokehold on Fang, yet they left Dawn Port untouched.
Not for Fang's people.
They couldn't fathom anyone attempting smuggling there.
Splash!
Fierce waves battered the ship's side again.
"Uweeeek!!"
"Argh, seriously!"
As the ship tilted, Aelion emptied his guts once more. Even quiet Biyona finally snapped.
On seas rough enough to churn a near-swordmaster like Ian.
Amid the squad's woes, Ian spotted Kasar standing firm.
'Impressive... Unfazed by this voyage? As expected of the finest after Alex. Rumors hold true.'
Ian inwardly admired Kasar's prowess.
...Until spotting the trickle of vomit seeping from his bandages.
"...Damn, nothing's ever easy."
The Latent Dragon Squad's perilous journey to Fang Kingdom stretched on.