Chapter 118, Don’t Touch (8)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

‘White Hawk.’

 

He was the one who managed the base of Secritia’s spies. He was also the one who had sold poison and a map to Kalian a year ago.

 

“Isn’t it quite ironic, the nature of spies? They are people who hide in other countries and deceive them to gather information out of loyalty for their own nation, yet when such people have a change of heart, should we consider it betrayal, or should we think they simply did what they always did? It’s a true wonder.”

 

Allan spoke words that seemed like a soliloquy but was not and smiled briefly.

 

“In any case, it’s clear that you are no longer Secritia’s spy. You’ve betrayed your Master and escaped from your cage on your own.”

 

‘I can’t remember what his real name was.’

 

Long ago, when Kalian was drinking tea with Allan and suddenly thought of him, he had said this.

 

Unlike Blue Warbler, with whom he had several private conversations with, he had not been particularly close to White Hawk.

 

A middle-aged man with a gentle impression who favored wearing a monocle. But in truth, he was one who hid cruelty that would not lose to anyone.

 

Kalian remembered him only to that extent.

 

He had said he could not recall who White Hawk originally was.

 

It was natural.

 

Until the end of his life as Bern, he had been the loyal White Hawk.

 

“Stop.”

 

White Hawk, who had been watching the third Flame Sphere rising in Allan’s hand, opened his mouth.

 

Then, he spat out the poison he had hidden in his mouth. Allan, who had been staring at White Hawk, flicked his finger.

 

*Click.*

 

The shop door that Allan had locked briefly opened. It was because he judged it would be fine to let someone else in now.

 

With a *jingle*, the bell attached to the door rang once more as someone else entered.

 

*Step step.*

 

Quiet but unhesitating footsteps.

 

Footsteps that perfectly resembled its owner.

 

*Step.*

 

After the sound stopped, silence settled for a while.

 

Neither White Hawk nor Allan opened their mouths.

 

“Ned.”

 

A voice flowed out, breaking the silence.

 

There, a pair of tranquil violent eyes were exposed to the one who had been referred to as White Hawk.

 

* * *

 

Just before stepping out of Siegfried mansion gate with Allan, Raven’s hurried steps came to an abrupt halt. Seeing this, Allan also stopped speaking.

 

“Come to think of it, something is strange.”

 

Kalian quietly opened his mouth.

 

A doubt had suddenly occurred to him.

 

“What do you mean strange?”

 

“The information that suspicious people had been watching Duke Siegfried and Marquis Beurisen’s houses and then left. Such clear information was suddenly delivered, right

 

Kalian had called Allan as soon as it was confirmed when and where they had gone, and they were about to head straight to the place where these suspicious people were said to be.

 

“Those trying to hide unexpectedly dislike places with fewer people. They stand out more. But the place where they’re said to be hiding doesn’t have many people around.”

 

“Are you worried it might be a trap they’ve set?”

 

“I merely think it could be a trap. I thought it wouldn’t matter even if it was a trap. Even if it were false information to lure me out, it wouldn’t matter as long as I properly dealt with them and identified who was behind them.”

 

“If it’s not about whether the sudden information is false, then what do you think is strange?”

 

Kalian, who had been staring intently at Raven’s saddle, opened his mouth.

 

“Master. Have the birds’ information and the Mages’ information matched this whole time?”

 

Though he was asking a question, his voice carried conviction as if he had already grasped all the facts. Allan nodded and answered.

 

“Yes. They matched exactly.”

 

“Then. It’s definitely strange. It doesn’t make sense for the information to match perfectly.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Because while Master may not know much about Secritia’s spies, I do.”

 

Allan looked at Kalian wordlessly.

 

Kalian, who reorganized his thoughts once more, quietly opened his mouth.

 

“Even though Euria is helping me by gathering various information, the Mages are not intelligence sources. The birds, however, are different.”

 

Kalian had a good idea how many spies were active and how actively they operated in Cyriesus at this time.

 

“It doesn’t make sense for the information to be the same. Secritia should have discovered more information. Isn’t it strange that all the information was identical?”

 

As if he was speaking his thoughts aloud, Kalian’s words continued at a rapid pace.

 

“To hear rumors circulating in Cyriesus from that remote place and devise countermeasures, there should have been people going back and forth. The birds couldn’t have missed their movements. So…”

 

Given the explanation from Cyries’ Third Prince about how capable Secritia’s spies were, Allan did not smile. It was because he guessed what Kalian was trying to say.

 

“…Chase, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince.”

 

Kalian barely managed to swallow the word ‘older brother’ that was about to come out naturally. Kalian, who had briefly tensed his fist holding the reins, opened his mouth again.

 

“It seems there might have been something he didn’t tell Master.”

 

“Are you saying Chase discovered something but did not convey it to me?”

 

“Yes. It seems so. Rather than not conveying it, I should say he couldn’t convey it.”

 

“Should we assume he learned something he couldn’t tell me, Your Highness, or maybe Cyries, and thus could not convey it?”

 

“Yes. Looking at the situation, it could be confirmed that someone from Secritia is related to those who attacked me. And, they are here in Cyries…”

 

Kalian quietly murmured.

 

“The birds.”

 

The most likely candidate was a spy.

 

“Didn’t I already meet Blue Warbler, who had a change of heart from Secritia? So there’s no reason there couldn’t be more such people. There was another bird that left its cage, and someone is involved in this incident. It seems the Crown Prince of Secritia has learnt of this as well.”

 

Allan’s eyes narrowed.

 

“You’re saying Chase hid the fact that there are defectors among the Secritia’s spies and only selected the same information as what Euria had conveyed to me. Is there any particular reason to do so?”

 

“Did you meet the Crown Prince before coming here?”

 

“No. I couldn’t meet him.”

 

Chase always came to find Allan directly. However, today alone, he heard the content through someone Chase had sent.

 

Allan had thought it was because Chase found it difficult to leave his position to monitor the developing situation that was why the information was passed through using someone else. Also, since Allan came to meet Kalian as soon as the location was confirmed, there was no time to realize that it had been strange.

 

Kalian, hearing Allan’s answer, gave a faint smile. He was not smiling because it was amusing.

 

“He learned that Secritia birds were involved in my attack and seems to have changed his mind to meet the birds directly. It wasn’t because he couldn’t leave his position, but because he had to leave it. He also conveyed the content to Master through someone else, right?”

 

Chase was not trying to deceive Kalian. He just knew his position, that as Secritia’s Crown Prince, he could not be the one to inform Cyries of this matter.

 

Instead, he had decided to move separately for Kalian’s sake. Or more like, as Bern’s older brother.

 

Chase was similar to Bern. He does not hesitate when taking action.

 

He liked to move recklessly, alone, and directly. When Debeullan dropped Bern into the sea, it was Chase who fearlessly jumped into those deep waters to save him. Also, was he not the one who strutted around the Royal Palace so willfully, which made even Plants have worried thoughts?

 

So this time too, he moved directly.

 

To investigate the matter of the defected spies.

 

“The place where the defected birds are. He would have gone there separately.”

 

The location the Mages and birds informed them of would indeed be a trap to catch Kalian. If Kalian went there, there would be an attack from the assailants.

 

“There must be another base of those people that only Crown Prince Chase knows about. He would have gone there alone. He would be taking advantage of the opportunity when their attack is concentrated on me, to meet the defected spies who will not be participating in the attack and are guarding their base.”

 

The spies were not powerful enough to directly face Kalian. So those waiting for Kalian would be Warriors from the Great Dunes, and the defected spies would be watching the situation from their base. Therefore, Allan spoke as if to comfort Kalian, who had a pale face.

 

“Even if Chase moves separately, Lord Kastrin will be there, so don’t worry…”

 

“Count Manasil.”

 

Kalian’s firm voice cut off Allan’s words.

 

“Go to the Palace. The Mages will have tracked the Crown Prince’s movements. Follow him.”

 

This was not a Disciple asking his Master for a favor.

 

It was Cyries’ Third Prince commanding Count Allan Manasil.

 

Allan had Warped from the Palace entrance to the Siegfried mansion to avoid having his movements detected by the enemies.

 

Not much time had passed since then until now. So if Allan moved quickly, he could have the Mages catch up to Chase, who was traveling on horseback.

 

After all, this was Allan. Such matters were simple to attend to.

 

“He surely would have taken other Escort Knights… because Lord Kastrin will come to where I need to go.”

 

* * *

 

If one stands at the top of the tower of Secritia’s Royal Palace, looking down, they could see the castle walls forming the inner fortress in full. That day, Bern had survived until the end, and he had guarded the castle gate alone.

 

There was only one person standing with his back to the inner fortress. So, it would not have been difficult for Chase, who was far away, to recognize Bern. He must have watched on, as Bern, stood with his back to the castle walls and died.

 

From beginning to the very end, he would have watched it all.

 

The emotions at that time…

 

Chase would never wish to experience the same thing again.

 

* * *

 

White Hawk, no, the one who Chase called Ned, said nothing.

 

Standing quietly, Chase looked at Ned with eyes that asked more than any words could.

 

‘Why did you defect? Why are you helping the Warriors? Who is behind the Warriors? Why did the Warriors target Kalian’s life?’

 

“You’ve come all this way, but I have nothing to offer you.”

 

To those countless questions, Ned answered thus.

 

He was the one who had offered water to Kalian who came to buy information. He always gave something to those who visited. But to the one who had been his Master, he had nothing to give.

 

Whether it was a cup of water, or information.

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

 

Ned had also expected Chase to come. It was because he had already heard news about Chase and his Escort Knights heading this way.

 

What he had not expected was just one person.

 

Only Allan, who had Warped right in front of the shop door to find this place.

 

Ned neither smiled, nor got angry, nor made a resolute expression. He was only thinking of buying time so that those who had fled could escape through the secret passage.

 

“I understand.” Chase answered only this much. He did not get angry.

 

Chase was not someone who got angry.

 

Chase’s gaze reached Allan.

 

He quietly stepped back one step. It meant that since Allan had come with him, he would first watch what Allan did.

 

If Allan extracted information his own way, Chase could then dispose of Ned in his own way.

 

“I’m neither as soft as my Disciple, nor do I have as calm a temperament as the Crown Prince here.”

 

When Chase stepped back, Allan came forward again. And he smiled while adding a somewhat longer explanation about himself. Seeing this, Ned smiled back and opened his mouth.

 

“I know too little, so you’ll be disappointed. Will that be alright?”

 

“That’s not for you to worry about.”

 

The third Flame Sphere in Allan’s hand fell to the floor.

 

“Damn it!”

 

Unlike when dealing with Chase.

 

Curses burst from Ned’s mouth.

 

“Six little birds left the cage.”

 

Another scream was heard.

 

However, this time, a long scream like before was not heard. It seemed those escaping had joined together to end the life of the one caught by his Spell.

 

Six Flame Spheres rose simultaneously in Allan’s hand.

 

“I’ll ask just one thing. Is Tansyll behind the Warriors you helped?”

 

Ned did not answer.

 

Allan lowered his hand without hesitation once again. Seeing the red spheres moving smoothly, Ned squeezed his eyes shut.

 

“They are not affiliated with any nation.”

 

And like this, he opened his mouth.