Chapter 549: The Roadblock
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 549: The Roadblock
"This is the latest batch from the Central Intelligence Office, President."
After dropping another thick stack of intelligence reports onto Celicia’s desk, Wei’er—who had been busy all day—once again collapsed like a deflated balloon, plopping her slightly baby-fat cheeks onto the tabletop.
She really couldn't take it anymore. Running back and forth with her poor stamina had left her exhausted, her face practically flattened against the wood.
"Nothing was missed, I hope?"
Despite having been just as busy all day, Celicia showed no sign of fatigue. she picked up the documents and began flipping through them rapidly.
The only evidence of her long hours was the cluster of empty coffee cups sitting by her hand.
"There shouldn't be. Only that person and I handled these files. I can guarantee that no third party touched them before they reached you, President," Wei’er replied.
"Mm. Well done."
Celicia offered a rare word of praise, her focus remaining fixed on the pages before her.
In the room brightly lit by magic stones, there were no gaudy decorations to be seen. The silver-haired girl sat perfectly upright in silence, the only sound being the rhythmic shlap-shlap of paper being turned at high speed.
Wei’er tilted her head, quietly observing the girl whose fair face remained as pristine as white jade under the lamplight.
While the President had always been diligent, it was truly rare to see her this focused.
It’s all because of that damn Muen Campbell. He’s so useless that he’s making the President take the initiative, and she’s getting so tired because of it!
Wei’er gritted her teeth inwardly, mentally cursing that detestable playboy.
"The Royal Mage Corps... even they show signs of mobilization?" Celicia suddenly murmured to herself.
"The Corps?"
Hearing those words, Wei’er perked up. "What’s wrong with the Royal Mage Corps?"
"I almost forgot your background," Celicia said. "It’s nothing major, just that several squads show signs of their personnel being reassigned."
"Nothing bad is going to happen, right?"
Wei’er waved her small pink fists, looking worried. "I’m the woman who’s going to become the twenty-third generation head of the Royal Mage Corps! Nothing can happen to them before I succeed!"
"What could possibly happen to a position as vital as the Royal Mage Corps?"
Celicia picked up a file and playfully tapped the eccentric Wei’er on the head. "Besides, the high-ranking officers of the Corps aren't fools. My own magic mentor is shrewder than anyone; she knows that at a time like this, the Corps absolutely cannot show favoritism. These mobilizations are clearly just the lower-level members acting on their own."
"After all, while the Corps as an entity cannot take sides, the individual members are a different story."
"I see..." Wei’er scratched her head. "Then will this affect the situation tonight?"
"Why are you asking? It has nothing to do with you."
"It doesn't, but I can see you’re very concerned about the situation, President... Ugh!"
Feeling that sudden, icy gaze lock onto her, Wei’er immediately backed down and shut her mouth.
"Sorry, I was just talking to myself."
"Stand by the wall."
"Yes..."
Wei’er hung her head dejectedly and stood obediently by the wall, muttering something under her breath.
After another period of silence, Celicia suddenly snapped the file shut and stood up.
"Let’s go."
"Eh? Where to?" Wei’er blinked in surprise. She looked out the window and saw that night had completely swallowed the city—hardly the time for an outing.
"A field investigation, of course. Some things cannot be accurately judged through intelligence analysis alone. I need to see them with my own eyes."
"A field investigation..."
Wei’er’s eyes widened. "Does that mean you’ve already found a lead on that Robin?"
"Robin?" Celicia looked back, puzzled. "Why would I care about finding his trail?"
"Eh? But haven't you been working so hard just to investigate him? And that Inner Council thing?" Wei’er blinked. During her time assisting Celicia, she had gained some understanding of the Inner Council.
"I am indeed investigating the Inner Council, but why would I bother with Robin? He may seem to be jumping all over the place, but in reality, he’s just a mouthpiece pushed forward by the Inner Council. Even if I caught him, what would it accomplish? Does a person die just because their tongue is cut out?"
"Then you mean..."
"Bai Hu... as I said before, he is the key to the entire Inner Council."
Celicia’s expression remained impassive. "I don't have time to waste on a dead bird that only exists to be an eyesore."
"But... that Bai Hu guy seems to be hidden very deep. Can we really flush him out?"
"It’s difficult, but not as difficult as you think. Bai Hu is hidden deep, but precisely because he is so well-hidden, every move he makes is more likely to leave a trace. Besides, the things Muen investigated earlier have been a huge help. Robin handles the coordination, but the source of those matters certainly doesn't lie with him."
"The source is Bai Hu?"
"Likely. Don't overcomplicate the problem. To be able to lead and organize a group like the Inner Council... that alone narrows his identity down to a specific range."
Celicia pulled a sheet of paper from the files, which contained a list of names she had written down not long ago.
Now, the list had changed; some names were crossed out, while others had been added.
And a few names were marked in a conspicuous, vivid red.
No matter how well this "Bai Hu" hid, he was bound to be among those few names.
"The President is so amazing! You’ve already narrowed it down?"
Wei’er wore an expression of pure adoration. As expected of the President—she had dug so deep without anyone noticing.
She was much more useful than a certain muscle-brained brute!
"It’s not at the stage of absolute certainty yet, which is why I need to see for myself."
Celicia continued, "In fact, I just happened to hit the right timing. A noble coalition like the Inner Council, established in the shadows, couldn't possibly escape the notice of the Palace. The Central Intelligence Office has been investigating them for a long time, but they’ve always run into a certain resistance. They could only map out the irrelevant branches but could never reach the core."
"Even the Central Intelligence Office..."
"It’s a different concept. The Central Intelligence Office faces resistance because they themselves are part of the Empire’s noble hierarchy; naturally, they are constrained by it. It’s like a doctor trying to perform surgery on themselves. But I am different..."
"Because you don't have those concerns, President?" Wei’er blinked, finishing the thought.
"Not for the time being. Right now, everyone’s attention is on my two brothers. Who would care about what a princess with no real power does at a time like this? I’m not going there to fight; I’m simply paying a visit to offer my regards during these turbulent times."
The corners of Celicia’s mouth curled into a cold, mocking arc. She picked up her parasol, her chilly gaze falling upon the dark, grim Lower District.
"It’s going to be very lively there tonight."
Lively was an understatement. The two great factions of the Empire would use that district as their chessboard tonight.
Conspiracies, schemes, betrayals, blood, and death could occur in any corner at any moment. Both sides had poured massive resources into this struggle surrounding the two princes.
It was even possible that the fate of the Empire for the next several decades would be decided tonight.
But even so, none of that had anything to do with her. The Lower District tonight was not her battlefield.
It was his.
"Go and get ready."
Celicia walked out the door.
"While the night is still young, let’s take a stroll through the Upper District."
*
A short while earlier, elsewhere.
The carriage’s speed leveled out as it rolled down a wide street.
This was the first time the carriage had driven so directly onto a main thoroughfare. After surviving wave after wave of assassinations, the two people inside had been on edge about such a blatant move. It wasn't until they had traversed an entire street without incident that they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is this also because of the people you stationed in advance?"
Albert leaned his head out of the window and saw a crater in the middle of the road, clearly left by an explosion.
He had heard the massive boom earlier, but on a night where even magic cannons had been deployed, a loud explosion or two was no longer enough to shake him.
"Who knows?"
Muen focused on the reins and gave a casual smile. "Maybe they’re just having some internal infighting."
"Cracking jokes at a time like this... you’re not being much of a friend, are you?" Albert teased, following along with a smile.
" I’m not joking. While both sides are constantly revealing their hands, they should at least have some self-awareness regarding the strength of their cards."
Muen shook his head. Suddenly, his figure blurred as he leaned down to snatch something from the ground.
He held it up to the glimmering light to examine it. It was a translucent white fragment. Judging by its hollow, perforated structure, it seemed to be part of a musical instrument.
"To be honest, when I got the intel, I didn't have much hope. I was planning to bypass this area entirely, even if it cost us more time... but it seems the performance of someone I didn't expect much from can be quite surprising."
"Is that so? That’s a good thing."
"It is."
Muen closed his palm over the fragment of the bone flute, thinking that once this was over, he should buy that girl a better one.
"Speaking of good things, I have some good news."
"Please, tell me."
"Once we pass through here, we’re less than ten minutes away from total safety."
"Really?"
Albert’s eyes lit up visibly, looking genuinely happy.
Though he hadn't sustained any physical injuries yet, the constant barrage of attacks and assassinations had been a massive ordeal for his naturally weak constitution, both physically and mentally.
Honestly, if this happened a few more times, he wouldn't be able to hold on.
"If the road is clear, we only need to cross two more blocks to reach the street where the gala is being held. Once we’re there, no matter how unscrupulous the opposition is, they wouldn't dare murder Your Highness in front of so many nobles."
"However..."
Muen adjusted his top hat and looked up. His gaze drifted toward the road ahead with a hint of helplessness as he whispered, "As expected, it won't be that easy, will it?"
The wide street had, at some point, become shrouded in a hazy mist.
And in the middle of that mist, directly in front of Muen, a petite figure slowly emerged.
She took one step, then another, her gait stumbling and unsteady.
"Is that... a child?"
Albert frowned, startled by the small figure appearing from the fog.
"Your Highness."
Beside him, Lawenny seemed to sense something. She gripped Albert’s arm tightly.
"Be careful."
"Wooo—"
A sound like a mournful wind echoed through the alleyways. The sorrowful tone was enough to make anyone instinctively feel a surge of pity.
"Is she... crying?" Albert’s frown deepened.
"Yeah, she’s crying," Muen sighed softly.
"But a little girl wandering alone in the mist in the middle of the night, crying... no matter how you look at it, she isn't exactly 'cute,' is she?"