The Fifth Star's Shackles
The main building was shaped like a wide, sprawling a Korean digeut. Its layout could be summed up simply.
The east wing, bathed in morning sunlight, housed the infirmary and the offices of the duke’s direct family.
In other words, since Killian had neither a wife nor an heir, everything on the first floor except the infirmary stood empty.
The central section of the main building, facing south on the second floor, belonged to the duke himself. Above that were mostly public spaces—the office where I had been dragged, the grand conference room, and the like.
The remaining west wing was similar to the center, filled with the workspaces of the seven executives and other key figures in the organization.
It looked as though the subordinates were guarding the central Knox duke from both sides.
Pretty sure it was on the third floor.
And right now, I was climbing the stairs of the main building’s west wing.
Though it was still morning, work hours had already begun. Any action squad member loitering around the main building was bound to stand out.
I had just set foot on the staircase leading to the third floor when it happened.
“Is that him?”
The voice was loud enough to show they had no intention of hiding. It came from two men standing at the corner of the second floor, staring at me intently.
Judging by the marks on their clothes, they belonged to the Foreign Affairs Department, which handled negotiations with other organizations.
“They said he was young and tiny, and damn, it’s true.”
“That kid’s the one who took down the assassin who targeted His Grace?”
“Anyone who believes that rumor is an idiot. Just look at his size.”
“Why? Maybe he’s one of those monsters whose skill completely ignores weight class. Who was that person again—Wickers’ Helena? They say she’s pretty slender too, right?”
“There you go again with your nonsense. Would someone that strong really be stuck in the action squad?”
Ah, crap.
My name suddenly popping up nearly made me miss a step.
“Why the hell are you bringing up that woman’s name first thing in the morning? It’s bad luck!”
“What’s with you today?”
“Kkhat, back when he was in the Intelligence Department, that woman gave him one hell of a headache. Ever since, just hearing the name Helena makes him like this.”
“If my luck’s rotten today, I’m blaming it all on you.”
Thick curses trailed after the grumbling.
Yeah… I guess I was pretty harsh back then.
When I was trying to expand Wickers’ influence, I completely demolished Knox’s Intelligence Department.
Of course, that achievement had helped me solidify my position as Edward’s aide.
I silently prayed that the noticeably thinning crown of one man’s head wasn’t my fault as I knocked on the door of my destination.
Knock, knock.
A man with an extremely strict expression opened the door.
“Who is it?”
“I’m Runelk Ains from the action squad. May I see Sir Decon Gold for a moment?”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“I don’t. It’s just a quick matter of delivering something.”
“Hah, really now.”
The man, who appeared to be Decon Gold’s adjutant, let out a dry laugh. He didn’t bother hiding his displeasure.
“Sir Gold is busy. He’s not someone the action squad can just meet whenever they please.”
“I understand, but… could you at least pass on a message?”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
With that, the door slammed shut right in front of my nose.
But a short while later, the adjutant opened the door again and even stepped aside to let me in.
“He’s in the inner office.”
Whatever conversation had taken place in that brief interval, the man’s tone was still stiff, yet all traces of his previous arrogance had vanished.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure not to disturb Sir Decon Gold’s work and leave quickly.”
After bowing politely, I stepped past the already wide-open door of the office.
“Ah, Runelk, my boy.”
“…Sir Decon Gold?”
The state of Decon Gold, half-reclining on the large couch in the office, was slightly strange.
His slightly damp, disheveled golden hair clung to skin glistening with a faint sheen of sweat. His blue eyes carried a languid haze.
A disheveled beauty. The atmosphere felt dangerously seductive—like I shouldn’t get too close.
When I hesitated and didn’t move, Decon Gold tilted his head with a puzzled look.
“Why are you just standing there? Come in.”
“If you’re not feeling well… I can come back another time.”
“Ah, I’m currently serving a punishment.”
He lifted one arm and shook it lightly. Around his wrist—veined and masculine—sat a bracelet.
It was a crude, thick shackle that looked completely out of place on the delicate beauty that was Decon Gold.
“I was the one who tried to introduce the Green Merchants’ leader to His Grace. Even if it wasn’t intentional, I still made a mistake, so I must accept my punishment. It’s a Mana Blockade.”
So it wasn’t just shaped like one—it really was a shackle.
The Mana Blockade was exactly as the name suggested: a punishment that forcibly sealed the circulation of mana inside the body.
Those who trained by accumulating mana within themselves used it freely in daily life. This prevented that entirely.
It was considered a fairly heavy penalty—so much so that people described it as feeling like losing an arm and a leg.
Worse, since the mana that should circulate through the body was locked away, it often came with severe side effects resembling a bad flu.
“The enforcement unit came by last night and put it on me. I’ll be like this for the next ten days. I’m afraid I’ve shown you an unsightly appearance, Runelk.”
“No, it’s not so much unsightly as…”
In many ways, it looks incredibly powerful.
Anyway, now that I knew Decon Gold was simply suffering from the Mana Blockade’s side effects, I took a seat across from where he lay.
“Some kind people shared cookies with me this morning. I thought of you, Sir Gold, and brought some over. I’m not sure if you like sweets, though.”
Decon Gold was so fond of sweet things that he kept a dedicated patissier in his residence inside Knox Castle to make chocolates and desserts.
According to the information I had collected, he was also a well-known gourmet.
In short, I had come fully prepared.
“Cookies… now that you mention it, I haven’t eaten yet. Wearing this Mana Blockade shackle kills my appetite.”
With a weak hand, Decon Gold accepted the bag of cookies. He inhaled their sweet aroma and smiled faintly.
“To think you brought such a wonderful gift because you thought of me. I’m touched, Runelk.”
“I’m glad you like sweets.”
“We’ll need some tea to go with the cookies.”
Decon Gold pressed a button on the table as he spoke.
“No, I can do it myself!”
I tried to stop him after spotting a kettle and hot water already neatly arranged on one side of the office, but Decon Gold firmly shook his head.
“You are both my benefactor and my guest, Runelk. That’s what I have an adjutant for. His skills are lacking, so he doesn’t do much except nibble away at Knox’s precious budget. The least he can do is make tea.”
“Ah… yes…”
I think I just caught a glimpse of the infamous Decon Gold.
The adjutant entered after a polite knock. At Decon Gold’s order to “bring tea for my guest,” he glanced at me, then silently began preparing the tea.
I pretended to feel uncomfortable, shifting in my seat a few times, but honestly, I was quite pleased.
Tea made by the adjutant of the Fifth Star? It had been ages.
“Mmm, these must be freshly baked. Thanks to you, I feel like I’m regaining some strength.”
Seemingly unbothered by the cookies’ rustic, hand-shaped appearance, Decon Gold quickly polished off his share.
Then he looked at the still-full plate in front of me.
“Do you not like sweets, Runelk?”
“No, it’s just… I’m a bit nervous…”
I rubbed my palms against my knees as if wiping away sweat and gave an awkward smile.
“I came without warning, and now I’m sitting face-to-face with an executive. I was reflecting on whether this was too presumptuous of me.”
“Runelk—no, Rookie. May I call you Rookie?”
“It’s just a nickname the seniors use however they like… Please call me whatever is comfortable for you.”
“Alright then, Rookie. As I said in the infirmary, you are my benefactor. And for some reason, I feel like getting closer to you.”
It wasn’t a bad offer.
A chance for a low-ranking member to become close with an executive.
If I were truly Runelk Ains of the action squad, I would have seen this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity dropped from the heavens.
Of course, from my position—where I had no choice but to stay in Knox for the time being, whether I lived or died—it was also a useful card to hold.
“So if there’s anything I can help you with, come find me anytime. Whether it’s about difficulties living in Knox or something like today’s sweet gift, I’d welcome it even more.”
Decon Gold winked and spoke affectionately.
He’d probably be really good at using his beauty as a weapon.
“Thank you for saying that, Decon.”
Calling him by his first name without the title was something only possible between those with considerable familiarity.
When I addressed him by name unlike before, Decon smiled brightly, clearly pleased.
I stared for a moment at the face that undoubtedly specialized in using charm, then carefully brought up the real reason I had come.
“Um, actually… I did come because there was something I wanted to tell you.”
“What is it? Do you need a raise?”
“That wouldn’t be bad, but… no, that’s not it. I remembered something strange about the Green Merchants’ leader yesterday.”
“Something strange?”
The smile vanished from Decon’s face, revealing his cold, true nature.
“I’m not entirely sure, but he was completely fine at first, then his attitude suddenly changed. And when I subdued him, his eyes turned bloodshot and the foam at his mouth seemed to have a purplish tint at the beginning…”
This was why I had come to see Decon Gold right after my night shift ended.
To let Knox solve the question that had been bothering me like a splinter under my nail.
“It looked like the symptoms of addiction to a mana rampage drug.”