Volume 8, Chapter 4 – A Little-Known Secret Meeting

At the same time Yisi and Alice parted ways, a little-known audience was being held in the royal palace of the Hels Kingdom.

In the vast, expansive palace hall, apart from the maids and a few guards, there was only one person standing at the highest position. When the guards led in three women wearing hoods and veiled in black gauze from outside the palace, the man, whose armor was laden with medals, slowly turned around.

No matter who they were, upon seeing this man with a resolute face, anyone would feel that they could not lie in his presence. His gaze was as sharp as a falcon’s, as if a single glance was enough for him to see through one’s innermost thoughts, where no falsehood could hide—this was one of the only two Prime Ministers of the Hels Kingdom, known as the Right Hand of the Kingdom and the Cold-Blooded Duke, the man who directly managed the army, Duke Hermann Wozwahl.

“You’ve arrived,” his voice was calm and tranquil, as if nothing could sway his thoughts. He sized up the three women who had entered the palace. “You are earlier than the letter stated. His Majesty does not have time today, so I will receive you on his behalf. I am the Prime Minister of the Hels Kingdom, Duke Hermann Wozwahl.”

“We have long heard of Duke Hermann Wozwahl’s great name. Although we have not seen you in battle, we knew from the first glance that you are a powerful expert who specializes in the martial arts. Is this incident something that even a warrior of your caliber cannot resolve?”

The one who answered was the woman standing on the left of the three. Judging from the fact that the other two women said nothing, the ensuing conversation would be handled entirely by her. Her slightly languid tone was reminiscent of a socialite at a ball.

“If I could resolve it on my own, the kingdom would not have extended an olive branch to you.”

“True. Compared to the slow-reacting Ymir Church, we are much more efficient.”

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They’re just trying to pry open the kingdom’s gates.

Although he looked down on these opportunists from the bottom of his heart, Duke Wozwahl did not let it show on his face.

“At present, His Majesty has contained the disaster to a minimum. Your mission is to eliminate the perpetrator of this natural disaster within two weeks. The kingdom’s army will provide you with the utmost support. All needs and battle plans can be discussed directly with me. You may also move freely within the royal city—on the condition that you do not reveal your identities.”

“Well, you still have to rely on the Ymir Church to fend off the Empire, so it’s not convenient for you to have a falling out with them. How pitiful.”

“Red, you talk too much,” the black-haired girl in the middle, her tone devoid of any fluctuation, bowed her head slightly. “I apologize, Duke Wozwahl, for my companion’s rudeness. I will discipline her more when we return.”

“It is of no consequence.”

Southern barbarians should be this ill-mannered. The other party’s politeness, on the contrary, displeased Duke Wozwahl. As the most loyal supporter of the Hels Kingdom, Duke Wozwahl looked down on people from the Empire from the bottom of his heart. If he had not sensed a strength in the black-haired girl in the middle that was no less than his own, Duke Wozwahl would have already waved his sleeve and dismissed them with the attitude of having completed a task.

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In Duke Wozwahl’s eyes, it was utterly disgraceful to have outsiders clean up his own family’s mess. Even if it meant paying a heavy price, they should have done everything in their power to accomplish it themselves. This would have shown the southern barbarians the resolve of the men of the Hels Kingdom. However, the decision was made by His Majesty. Even if Duke Wozwahl was dissatisfied, he could not commit the grave disrespect of openly opposing his lord.

If only he could find a powerful individual within the kingdom who could solve this matter. If that wasn’t possible, someone from elsewhere would be fine too, as long as they weren’t from the Norta Empire, which was constantly causing trouble at the border—no, he should say the southern barbarians. As long as it wasn’t those southern upstarts, people from the United Kingdom would be fine, people from the Ymir Church would be fine, even the Blood Clan would be acceptable. Duke Wozwahl was completely willing to accept them to resolve this disaster. After all, the Blood Clan and humans had not been at war for a hundred years, while friction between the kingdom and the empire was constant. The animosity between the upper echelons of the two human nations had long surpassed the conflict between two different races.

Unfortunately, he could not find such a candidate. Although he was unwilling to admit it, Duke Wozwahl knew that the Empire had long since left the kingdom behind in terms of top-tier combat power.

“Our assistance to the kingdom is one thing, but does His Majesty agree to our request?”

Duke Wozwahl frowned slightly, his already imposing face now becoming even more oppressive.

“You mean searching for an angel within the kingdom’s borders?”

“Of course.”

“What is your purpose in searching for an angel?”

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The price these three had offered for helping the kingdom was that once they had helped the kingdom through this crisis, the kingdom must allow them to search for an angel within its borders. And once they found the angel’s whereabouts, no matter who the angel’s owner was or what difficult means were required to obtain it, the kingdom must help them in the name of the state to deliver the angel into their hands.

It sounded like a very unreasonable request, but this was already a compromise. According to the trio’s initial proposal, as soon as they found the angel, the Empire’s people would enter the kingdom to get the angel for them. Of course, the kingdom would not allow such a thing to happen. To allow another country’s army to march into one’s own country, waving their banners, was tantamount to letting someone else slap your own face with your own hand. No country would allow the army of an enemy to parade their might in its territory. There was only one possibility for such a situation to occur, and that was defeat in war.

Recalling the outcry from the nobles in the council meeting a few days ago when they opposed this proposal, Wozwahl couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratification. It was the first time he had seen the conservatives and the war hawks maintain a unified stance.

Of course, even as a compromise, this was still unbelievable. After all, the identities of these three could represent half of the Norta Empire. Allowing them to move freely within the kingdom was as unpleasant as having a fishbone stuck in one’s throat. But there was no other choice. If the rain were allowed to continue, the kingdom would collapse from within before the Empire even invaded. Duke Wozwahl could only feel a sense of urgency in his heart.

The current king of the kingdom had only recently come of age. Not only was he short-sighted, but due to the rebellious phase common at his age, he was completely deaf to counsel. On the contrary, simple-minded suggestions were more easily adopted by the king. In contrast, although the current emperor of the Norta Empire was also very young, his thoughts and strategies far surpassed his own king. Thinking of this, Wozwahl couldn’t help but feel a hint of helplessness.

“Duke Wozwahl will know the reason sooner or later. It’s just that we can’t tell you right now. It’s too early.”

“If you use the pretext of searching for an angel to spread information detrimental to the kingdom within its borders, His Majesty has given me the authority to punish you.”

“So, His Majesty has agreed? We understand. Then, please have your men rest and recuperate during this time. We will notify you of the departure time when we are ready.”

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“Don’t delay too long.”

“Of course. We will resolve it within two weeks.”

With the clatter of footsteps, the three women shrouded in black gauze left the main hall. Following closely behind them, a soldier who had been waiting for a long time, his face filled with anxiety, trotted to Duke Wozwahl’s side and whispered something in his ear. After which, Duke Wozwahl’s displeased expression rapidly changed.

“Alice is causing trouble at the temple? Cynthia didn’t stop her?”

“She has gone after her, but whether she can make it in time…”

“That child, she has no idea what her status represents. Prepare the carriage, I’m going to the temple!”

“Yes, sir.”