Chapter 40, Verify (4)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

It was noisy.

 

“So I said, ‘No, how could you do such a dishonourable thing!’ Do you know what that outrageous guy said?”

 

He really disliked drunk people. He disliked noisy drunk people even more.

 

Kalian did not bother to hide his discomfort as he looked at Hale sitting in front of him.

 

After dinner, the Count kept asking about the man who had attacked Kalian, so to shut him up and find something to hold against him, Kalian suggested having a drink.

 

Hale reached out to grab the wine glass but missed. As a result, the wine glass tipped over, and red soaked the white tablecloth.

 

“Ah, Your Highness! I think I might be a bit drunk.”

 

[At least he is aware of it.] Kalian thought, though, who was to be blamed for this mess? Kalian had to take some responsibility for it.

 

The wine that had spilled on the table dripped down to the floor, drop by drop. Watching it, Kalian was reminded of something else. [Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask for his name.]

 

Kalian lowered his eyes, thinking of the man who had his arm severed by Yuran’s sword. Regardless, Hale’s speech went on and on.

 

“Anyway, he hasn’t contacted me for over three months since then. So, Your Highness, you should never associate with such a person.” Kalian clicked his tongue as he watched Hale, who was not only noisy but also a mudslinger, endlessly badmouthing a local Lord.

 

Kalian interrupted Hale and asked, “Is there a Tansyll Priest scheduled to visit here or nearby?”

 

He asked not out of genuine curiosity, but because he was starting to worry that Hale might start badmouthing Rmain as well.

 

At those words, the Count finally stopped talking and, with bleary eyes, slowly searched his memory before speaking.

 

“Well, maybe… maybe not…”

 

[What a ridiculous answer.] Kalian chuckled. The butler standing next to Hale looked visibly uneasy. Not only had Kalian been attacked on his way here, but now Hale was getting drunk in front of him and giving such a vague answer to a Prince’s question.

 

“The Tansyll Priests are so arrogant, there’s no way they’d come to a remote place like this… or would they… or wouldn’t they…” Hale repeated again, as if to drive the point home. The butler looked like he was about to cry, and Kalian discreetly smiled.

 

[At this rate, they won’t suspect anything if I don’t come out of my room tomorrow.] Kalian wanted to find fault with Hale because he was planning to secretly leave the castle soon. If he did not return by the next morning, Hale would surely be suspicious, so Kalian intended to make it seem like he was angry at Hale’s rude behaviour and refused to meet him.

 

The reason he needed to secretly leave the castle was because of the name coming from the man he had met earlier.

 

– Blue Warbler.

 

A secret agent of King Debeullan of Secritia.

 

Kalian remembered that Blue Warbler’s mission was to monitor the relationship between Cyries and Tansyll. It was strictly surveillance; they had never been assigned a mission that required meeting a Tansyll Priest directly, nor had they ever reported doing such a thing.

 

Blue Warbler’s assigned area was not this rural place but Cyriesus. How could they monitor the relationship between Cyries and Tansyll in a place where even the shadow of a Tansyll Priest was hard to find?

 

Of course, Kalian, who was not Bern, was not trying to find out why a Secritia agent was acting outside their assigned area out of mere curiosity. Blue Warbler was somewhat acquainted with Bern. Therefore, Kalian knew that this person’s skills were far from ordinary.

 

Blue Warbler had never failed a mission, not even once. Such a skilled Secritia agent could not have failed to recognise a Prince of Cyries. Therefore, Kalian wanted to find out what was so important that the agent was willing to risk shooting an arrow at Kalian’s party.

 

“Your Highness.” Ian softly called out to Kalian, who was thinking about Blue Warbler.

 

He glanced in Ian’s direction and saw Arsene, his shoulders slightly damp, come into the dining room. He gave a slight nod of his head without saying anything. It was a gesture indicating that he was ready to leave.

 

Unaware of the situation, Hale muttered again.

 

“The Tansyll Priests are all dark-hearted. I’ve met them before, haven’t I? Both the citizens of the Tansyll Kingdom and their Priests, when you look at them closely, all have skeletons in their closets.”

 

Kalian sighed loudly, as if wanting to be heard.

 

In place of the still-drunk Hale, the butler bowed deeply.

 

Kalian placed his hand on his head and cast his face down, as if expressing displeasure. A moment later, a barely audible voice slipped from his lips.

 

“Sleep.”

 

As Hale continued to mutter, a snoring soon came from him.

 

Kalian looked up and frowned.

 

“This…” The butler’s head was now almost touching the floor.

 

“You certainly have a knack for making things difficult.” Kalian picked up the napkin that was spread on his lap and placed it firmly on the table. Ian quickly approached and pulled out his chair, casting a reproachful glance at the butler. Kalian turned and left without even glancing at the bowing butler.

 

His stride back to his room was quick. Arsene hurriedly followed behind him and spoke in a low voice.

 

“I’ve caught the bird.”

 

The bird Arsene was referring to was a messenger bird.

 

Fortunately, Kalian had not draped a robe over Sia when they first came into this city. Not only that, but Hale, eager to catch Kalian’s eye, had greeted him quite boisterously.

 

Therefore, even if Blue Warbler had not seen Sia, some of the pursuers probably had and would inform them of the situation while remaining in this city. That was what Kalian believed.

 

That was why he sent Arsene to the Arcane Enclave.

 

Kalian had asked him to catch any strange birds flying through the rain, in the darkness. And now, Arsene was informing him that he had caught the bird.

 

With results coming faster than expected, Kalian nodded in satisfaction and said, “Where is it?”

 

It was a question about the starting point of the pigeon. Arsene answered immediately.

 

“It’s Redwick Street, not far from here. I’ve informed Lord Rauchel of the location. Also, if you go outside the inner castle, the knights will be waiting with horses.”

 

Kalian had only asked Arsene to find the bird, but he was very pleased with how Arsene handled everything else. Kalian smiled and said,

 

“Good job.”

 

Then Kalian opened the door.

 

Before closing the door to his room, Kalian spoke to Arsene, who was standing outside.

 

“Lord Hertz, they might come again tonight. So, please be on guard.”

 

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

 

Arsene replied in a very serious and respectful manner.

 

After Arsene left, Kalian closed the door and immediately picked up the ring and infused it with magic.

 

Since meeting that man, Kalian had tried to contact Allan from time to time but it just could not get through. This time, as he wondered if Allan was too busy once more, the ring glowed, and Allan’s voice echoed in his mind.

 

– Have you arrived safely in Latran?

 

– Master!

 

Kalian’s face lit up for the first time in a while.

 

– It seems your journey was not comfortable.

 

Allan was, well, Allan. Even in a conversation where one’s’ voice could not be properly heard, he could still read Kalian’s expression. Kalian quickly recounted everything from meeting Sia to how he came to know about Blue Warbler.

 

Then, he got scolded for only now revealing that he had gone to the bird shop in Cyriesus.

 

– Keep wandering around like that, and this old man will go to a warm southern country for a good long rest.

 

– That’s scary for you to say.

 

Kalian laughed as he took off his cumbersome jacket. Allan continued speaking.

 

– So, Your Highness, what you’re saying is that your life is now in danger because of the item that the secret agent from Secritia is looking for. Is that correct?

 

– Ah. My life is fine, though.

 

Allan seemed to smile at Khalian’s answer; he could almost hear him chuckle.

 

– I wonder if the head of the pursuer is still attached to his body. I am not in a position to immediately give chase though.

 

Kalian looked out the window.

 

The rain was still pouring down fiercely.

 

– So, are you going out now?

 

– Yes. But I have a favour to ask of you, Master.

 

– Go ahead.

 

– Could you find out if there are any Tansyll Priests near Latran? The spy mentioned that he had something to confirm with a Priest.

 

Kalian spoke as he put on the robe handed to him by Ian. Allan responded without any further questions.

 

– I will. It will be confirmed by tomorrow morning.

 

– Thank you.

 

After Kalian finished his preparations, Kyrie and Yuran entered the room. Kyrie was carrying both swords that Kalian had purchased, and Kalian took the lighter sword, which he had bought first. After finishing his conversation with Allan and withdrawing his magic from the ring, Kalian spoke to Ian.

 

“Take a rest. They probably won’t look for me, but if Count Latran asks where I went, make up a good excuse.”

 

He had also informed Ian of the situation. Ian smiled reassuringly and replied.

 

“I’ll say you were upset by Count Latran’s rudeness and went out for some fresh air. I’ll handle any inquiries tomorrow as well.”

 

[Could there be a better excuse than this?] Kalian grinned.

 

“Perfect.”

 

Ian’s expression was not as worried as before. Kalian was with Yuran and Kyrie, after all. Even though he had been nagging Kalian about the incident with Sia, he seemed to think that Kalian was now capable of taking care of himself to some extent. So, Ian bowed to him as he turned to leave.

 

“Take care.”

 

Kalian nodded and leaped out the window.

 

With a flutter, the hem of his black robe brushed past the window and soon disappeared. Then, Kyrie and Yuran followed him out the window. Kalian’s room was on the third floor. Ian’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“I thought he’d at least use the door!”

 

* * *

 

Hiding in the rain, cloaked underneath the darkness, they left the inner castle. Yuran pointed to a spot and said,

 

“They’re waiting over there.”

 

Kalian turned his head and saw the Siegfried Knights, who had been waiting in advance. The knights dismounted and handed the reins of their horses to the three of them.

 

These were not their own horses, which were tired from a day’s march, but Count Latran’s horses.

 

“Good job.”

 

The knights smiled at Kalian’s words and left a warning to be careful before sneaking back into the castle and disappearing. They had arranged for other knights to bring horses when they returned. Yuran had suggested this to avoid suspicion if certain knights were continuously absent.

 

“I’ll take the lead.”

 

As Kalian mounted his horse, Yuran, who had already been informed by Arsene of the location where the messenger bird had taken off, said this and moved forward.

 

The streets shrouded in darkness were very quiet. The rain made it even more so. After passing through several such streets, Yuran stopped in front of a rather ordinary-looking tavern.

 

Knowing they had arrived, Kalian dismounted and pulled his robe hood tightly over his head, saying,

 

“Wait five minutes before coming in.”

 

He meant he would go in first and assess the situation.

 

Yuran nodded with a worried look on his face, while Kyrie nodded with his usual expression. Without hesitation, Kalian opened the tavern door and went inside.