Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Recall Order
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I stared at Isabel, my brow deeply furrowed.
My expression asked what on earth she was doing here.
She slowly glanced around, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Hehehe! You look like you're dying of curiosity.”
I didn't want to admit it, but honestly, I was.
But when I thought about it calmly, the answer came quickly.
‘The main family.’
Very few people knew about my cover identity, Ray Carter.
This mission was being conducted without any involvement from the Eastern Branch.
By the Head's special orders.
‘There must be a major change in the mission. There's no other explanation.’
Otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered revealing my identity to Isabel.
She was probably here as a messenger.
After all, I was currently operating directly under the Head.
Besides, Isabel had actually attended Venderford, so it wouldn't be strange for her to be loitering around here.
If she got caught, she could just say she was here to join up.
“Stop acting all high and mighty and just give me what you brought.”
“...”
I replied casually with a flick of my right hand, but her expression didn't change.
Her eyes seemed to ask if I was spouting nonsense again.
But I could read the true meaning behind them.
‘Her acting has improved a bit, hasn't it? Still, she has a long way to go.’
Normally, Isabel would have responded with a snarky remark.
In a much more energetic voice.
Catching that subtle difference, I let out a soft chuckle.
“You brought orders, didn't you? Hand them over.”
“Tch! You're still as sharp as ever.”
“I've been living by my wits for twenty years. And... why is a Grade 1 agent acting so bold in front of a Special Agent?”
“Because I'm your older sister?”
“That's our private relationship. You're here on official business, aren't you?”
“...”
In truth, she and I had a peculiar relationship.
We were both of the direct line, but she was the legitimate heir, and I was the illegitimate son.
My skills and rank were far superior.
It seemed Isabel didn't know how to treat me either.
If she treated me casually as usual, the guild's regulations would get in the way.
I smiled faintly and tapped her on the shoulder.
I had tried to pull rank on her, but I had no intention of being that strict.
“Just act like you normally do. It's not like pulling the agent rank card would work on you anyway.”
“O-Of course! Who do you think you are, trying to walk all over your older sister?”
Isabel shot back venomously, but the look in her eyes had returned to normal.
She seemed relieved that I was the same guy as before.
‘Right. What kind of grudge would I hold against a kid?’
In reality, Isabel was in a similar position to Kamil Felton.
She had just turned one when the Riverune family fell.
Still, I had no intention of getting friendly with her.
It was best to keep a moderate distance, seeing each other only occasionally, just like now.
Our relationship was destined for disaster someday.
“By the way, we were together for a year. How could you not acknowledge me even once?”
“Of course. It was a mission.”
“So thorough, are you?”
“Isn't that why I became a Special Agent so quickly?”
“Tch!”
“Enough chatter. Unfurl what you brought.”
I completely ignored Isabel's grumbling and waved my hand.
As if she had no choice, she took out a directive from her coat.
“It's nothing special. It's a recall order.”
“Yeah, of course it's nothing spe... What?”
I, who had been casually accepting the document, was startled.
‘What is this nonsense?’
A recall order out of the blue, right when the mission was on the verge of completion.
It was a truly absurd situation.
I hastily unfurled the directive and read its contents.
Usually, I just skimmed the objective, but this time I scoured every detail, right down to the appendix.
That's how serious the matter was.
“The Crown Prince... has awakened?”
“The Imperial political scene is in turmoil. The assassination guild is on high alert.”
Of course it was.
For the nobles who had been lining up to support a new crown prince, this news must have been a bolt from the blue.
They had finally chosen a side and laid all their groundwork, only for the entire board to be flipped.
‘But something about this smells fishy.’
As I read the information in the directive's appendix, I couldn't shake a sense of unease.
Returning at a time when the princes' civil war is in full swing?
Isn't that too much of a coincidence?
‘It's the perfect opportunity to weed out the loyal retainers who waited for him and the opportunists who turned their backs.’
It's also a great way to make the princes' factions destroy each other.
I thought he was just an insignificant figure, but he seems more cunning than I expected.
Perhaps even the rumors of his poor health were intentionally spread.
And would the Crown Prince have orchestrated this alone?
‘The Emperor's approval. Without it, this would have been impossible from the start.’
I suddenly recalled the strange look in the eyes of Venderford's headmaster, Empress Marie Meliess.
The iron-willed woman who hadn't been greatly perturbed even when the princes were utterly defeated by me.
She probably knew about the Crown Prince's scheme as well.
With a small nod, I looked back at the Third Prince's army, which was in the midst of preparing for battle.
“If we leave them be, they'll probably clash with the enemy, right?”
“That's a given.”
If things were left to follow the Crown Prince's grand design, the Imperial political landscape would undergo a cataclysm.
The families that had invested in Franz and Ellington would walk the path of ruin.
They must have poured immense resources and troops into this civil war.
‘The Richter Duchy might survive, but...’
Even so, Adel would face considerable hardship.
I started walking toward the encampment.
Then, Isabel's questioning cry came from behind me.
“Aren't you coming back?”
“I am. But I need to get my things first.”
“Alright. Then.”
“It might take a while, so you go on ahead.”
“Did you think I was planning on going back with you?”
She shot back a single retort and turned away in a huff.
Staring at her, I shrugged.
“Seems like you were expecting it. We're taking different routes anyway.”
It was none of my business how my half-sister returned.
There was something more important right now.
‘Even if I have to leave, I have to protect my woman.’
* * *
Rushing over, I managed to catch Adel just before she set out.
She stared blankly at my face with a bewildered expression.
“Why do you keep staring? It's not like my face is that handsome.”
“Because it's fascinating.”
“What is?”
“That I could actually like someone who looks like this. That's what I'm thinking.”
“I told you, it's a disguise. You've seen the real me.”
“It's so perfect that this feels more like your real face. Maybe because I've seen it so often?”
“Nah.”
I waved my hand dismissively and chuckled.
Even though I was about to deliver serious news, I couldn't help but feel good.
If I left for the East, I might not see her for a long time.
‘Is it because she likes me for who I am, regardless of my background? To the point where, despite being obsessed with looks, she'd even kiss this face.’
Of course, it's not like I'm a complete nobody.
Still, she knows my skills are incredible, and there's the expectation that my real face is amazing.
In any case, now wasn't the time to fill my head with such idle thoughts.
I immediately led Adel out of the encampment.
I wanted to say goodbye to everyone, but the situation didn't allow for it.
The leaders of the Third Prince's army were about to get incredibly busy.
With a calm expression, I told her the news of the Crown Prince's return.
“W-What did you say?”
As expected, her reaction wasn't much different from mine.
It seemed she hadn't anticipated this kind of situation.
That's how much the Crown Prince's death had been accepted as fact.
So much so that even Adel hadn't doubted it.
“It's a meaningless fight. If you go through with the battle today, you'll be playing right into the Crown Prince's hands.”
“...”
She was silent for a long time.
Her mind must have been in turmoil.
I waited quietly for Adel to gather her thoughts.
‘First, I should undo the Seven-Joint Face-Changing Technique.’
I might not see her for a while, so there was no need to maintain Ray Carter's face.
This was a small gift for her.
Ah! Calling it that myself feels a bit...
I suddenly imagined myself with a giant ribbon tied on my head and shook my head vigorously.
It seemed to suit me surprisingly well, but I couldn't help but shudder at the thought.
I stepped into the bushes and undid the Seven-Joint Face-Changing Technique as I came out.
I intentionally came out a little later, so Adel would think I had removed a disguise.
I stood before her, waiting for her thoughts to settle.
“Ah...!”
Just as I expected, a strange light soon appeared in Adel Richter's eyes.
‘She really is obsessed with looks. Her eyes are filled with far more affection than when she kissed me.’
It was probably because this was the first time she had seen my face so closely.
I smiled gently and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“Fallen for me again?”
“...What are you talking about?”
“You can't deny it when your eyes are practically dripping honey.”
The moment my fingertips touched her skin, Adel's face instantly flushed.
Teasing her was fun, but I couldn't drag this out any longer.
The Third Prince's army was already in the final stages of departure, and Franz hadn't heard the news yet.
If left alone, they would most likely fight a battle that would only leave them with scars.
She had to go and stop them quickly.
Naturally, that role fell to Adel Richter.
“You should go. You'll be late.”
“What about you?”
“There's no point in currying favor anymore, so what's the use in staying? I'm planning to head back.”
“To where? The Quad-Sector Autonomous Zone?”
Not wanting to part, she pressed me about my future plans.
What I needed to do right now was return to the Eastern Branch.
I didn't know why, but the directive had been issued with urgency.
It was a tight schedule; I had to return to Troven immediately and catch the magitech train.
There was no time to ease the sorrow of parting.
Adel would be incredibly busy too.
As if realizing this, her gaze grew even more wistful.
“We'll be able to meet someday. This is where I'll be most of the time.”
“This place is...”
As I handed her the note, a look of delight appeared in Adel's eyes.
The address I'd given her was in the new villa district of the Pennant County.
It wasn't far from the Richter Duchy's villa.
She seemed to already be picturing the moment of their reunion in her mind.
“Tell Frixon and Mac for me. Say I had something urgent come up and had to leave first.”
“I will.”
“Take care of yourself. Well then.”
After a brief farewell, I turned away.
And then I left the Third Prince's encampment without delay.
Without a single glance back.
‘Heh! That was cool.’
The back of a man walking silently toward the rising sun in the east.
What scene could possibly be more epic than...
Thud!
“Ugh!”
I must have been too lost in the moment, because I tripped on a rock.
I quickly regained my balance and didn't fall, but it was still an unsightly scene.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I turned around to see Adel sighing in the distance.
“Ah, she saw. Damn it.”
The cool atmosphere was shattered just like that.
With a sheepish expression, I quickened my pace.
It was time to return to the Eastern Branch.