Chapter 79 : Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Support (2)

The broad leaves filtered the sunlight, casting dappled rays onto the gleaming silver armor of the guard unit.

The green flag of Manoa, embroidered with its crest, fluttered proudly.

Every guard wore an iron helmet shaped like an eagle’s head, obscuring their faces.

But beneath the helmets, their sharp eyes glinted.

The presence of the Manoa guard unit filled the forest with an imposing aura.

The guards surrounded me and the Imperial Intelligence agents, halting in unison.

Their movements were so well-trained that they moved as one, without any excess.

One of the guards thumped his chest and removed his helmet.

“Greetings, Lord Polarin. I’m Arcadius, whom you met before.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

It was a face I’d seen before at the agency.

I was glad to see him in this tense situation, but I couldn’t figure out how they’d known to come here.

“You recently dealt with demons near Manoa, didn’t you? The Baron is deeply grateful for that.”

“No, I should’ve reported it. My apologies.”

“Haha, not at all. We should’ve come to you. That’s why we’re here today.”

The guard unit completely ignored the Imperial Intelligence agents, addressing only me.

“The Baron eagerly awaits a meeting with you, Lord Polarin. Will you come with us?”

But I didn’t have time to respond.

The Imperial Intelligence agents weren’t staying silent any longer.

“I’m Nit, an agent of the Imperial Intelligence Agency. We’re taking Polarin-nim.”

“Are you defying the Baron’s orders?”

I was dumbfounded by the power struggle unfolding without regard for my opinion.

But it didn’t seem like a situation I could interrupt, so I observed their confrontation.

“Don’t forget that the Imperial Intelligence Agency operates directly under the Emperor. We’ve been tracking Polarin-nim for a long time, and we’re the first ones here today.”

“Was there an order from His Majesty? If not, the Baron’s orders take precedence.”

“The matter has already been reported to His Majesty…”

“If it’s just a report, the Baron’s orders come first.”

Arcadius stood firm, repeating only that he followed the Baron’s orders.

No matter what arguments Nit presented, Arcadius stuck to his stance, leaving Nit at a loss for words.

At that moment, one of the agents with Nit glanced at the guard unit.

Soon, the agents exchanged signals.

“Give us a moment to discuss.”

The agents asked for a pause and began talking among themselves.

They weren’t far away, but even straining to listen, I couldn’t catch their words.

It seemed they were using a Silent spell to mask their conversation.

Their discussion didn’t last long.

Nit approached one of the guards and bowed deeply.

“I greet the Baron.”

It was a baffling statement.

Until now, Arcadius, the deputy commander, had been acting as the leader of the guard unit.

The guard Nit addressed as the Baron was dressed no differently from the others.

Creak.

But the one called the Baron lifted his helmet’s visor and spoke.

“How did you know?”

* * *

After the Imperial Intelligence Agency identified the Baron, the conversation proceeded more smoothly.

The agency had gathered information on Baron Renwood’s physique, temperament, and martial prowess.

By constantly analyzing the situation, they deduced that Baron Renwood was hiding among the guards.

It was a mindset I’d learned from Tello.

Nofen always emphasized not accepting situations at face value, no matter how clear they seemed.

But that was easier said than done.

Constantly questioning one’s surroundings would be exhausting.

Moreover, even if you questioned the situation, deriving the correct conclusion was another matter entirely.

I had to admit the Imperial Intelligence agents were exceptionally skilled.

“You didn’t back down even when His Majesty was mentioned. That means you have something to rely on, doesn’t it?”

“Haha, you noticed Arcadius has something up his sleeve.”

Arcadius bowed apologetically to Baron Renwood.

“My apologies, Baron.”

“No matter. I told you not to back down, didn’t I? His Majesty hasn’t attended to state affairs in quite some time.”

The Emperor hasn’t been handling state affairs?

That was intriguing.

If so, who was leading the war for human unification?

At that moment, the gazes of Nit and Baron Renwood turned to me.

No, everyone present was looking at me.

They must have noticed I was quietly trying to piece together the situation.

Baron Renwood handled the situation with the finesse of a noble.

“It’s true the Imperial Intelligence Agency operates directly under His Majesty. Even if they haven’t received His Majesty’s explicit approval, the matter has been reported, hasn’t it?”

“That’s correct, Baron.”

“But I, too, have urgent matters to discuss with Lord Polarin today. You may have tracked him for a long time, but our connection isn’t short either.”

“We know Polarin-nim was involved in two major incidents near Manoa recently.”

“Haha, as expected of the Empire’s sharpest eyes. That makes things easier.”

Baron Renwood suddenly chuckled, as if struck by an amusing thought, and spoke.

“Then, instead of fighting among ourselves, shouldn’t Lord Polarin’s wishes matter most?”

“…You’re right, Baron.”

Baron Renwood seemed unassuming but was sharp.

He maintained legitimacy without opposing the Emperor while skillfully leveraging his noble status.

He looked at me directly and asked,“Lord Polarin, Manoa or the Imperial Intelligence Agency. Which would you choose to go with?”

The Empire’s sudden pretense of respecting my opinion felt utterly hypocritical.

‘Right now, I lack strength, but if I grow stronger…’

I gritted my teeth. But the choice wasn’t difficult.

“I’ll go with Manoa.”

* * *

On the way to Manoa, Baron Renwood donned his helmet again, blending in with the guard unit.

As a result, I ended up walking at the front with Arcadius.

“The Baron came out without revealing his identity to anyone, so please understand.”

“Does the Baron often go out incognito?”

“Haha, that’s a secret.”

“Ah, alright…”

And so, I headed to Manoa.

It wasn’t a large territory, but true to the Empire, the roads were well-paved and everything was clean.

The return of the guard unit was met with cheers from many.

A fruit vendor even handed out apples to the guards.

The guard unit seemed to have a good reputation among the locals.

I went to meet Baron Renwood again in his office.

“Great to see you again, Lord Polarin! The Baron is waiting.”

The administrator I’d met before at the agency welcomed me warmly.

Before heading to the office, he explained the etiquette for meeting the Baron in detail.

Thanks to Labella’s teachings, I was somewhat familiar with the Empire’s noble customs.

‘I should ask about that agent named Nit later.’

The administrator knocked on the office door.

A voice from inside soon called for us to enter.

“I hope you have good results!”

Leaving the administrator’s goodwill behind, I faced Baron Renwood.

Unlike earlier, he had removed his armor and sat in the office chair.

He spoke as soon as I greeted him.

“Did you mention meeting me outside to anyone?”

“No, it seemed the administrator didn’t know, so I didn’t let on.”

“Haha, thank you. If I don’t go out like that, things get stifling.”

The life of a noble didn’t seem easy either.

Outside, Baron Renwood hadn’t seemed like someone bound by formality.

But here, he looked every bit the Baron.

“But I didn’t go out just to get some air. I wanted to meet you in person, Lord Polarin.”

“If you’d summoned me, I would’ve come anytime.”

“Here? It’s hard to be genuine here. I’m no different.”

It seemed the Baron, too, found his noble duties stifling.

But I wasn’t an Imperial noble.

There were plenty of things we could discuss openly.

“What did you think of me out there, Baron?”

“The three agents you subdued—they weren’t weak, yet you overpowered them. Without a single scratch.”

“Yes, it wasn’t difficult.”

When I spoke confidently, Baron Renwood laughed heartily.

I hadn’t made anything up, so what was so funny?

“I knew you were exceptional, Lord Polarin, but you’re even more skilled than the rumors suggest. How about becoming my adopted son?”

“What?”

“Exactly as it sounds. You’d become Polarin Renwood. I don’t have a son, you see.”

It was a sudden proposal.

Baron Renwood didn’t look that old.

Mid-twenties, perhaps?

It was rare for a noble not to be married, but if he chose to, he could marry and have an heir anytime.

“I’m not asking you to abandon your loyalty to the Adjak family. You can do whatever you want while using my name and I’ll use yours in return.”

Becoming a noble’s adopted son would bring plenty of benefits.

I could think of dozens off the top of my head.

I could request the Empire to halt its war plans without gathering merit points, and I’d likely receive support from the prosperous Manoa Barony.

“It’s a difficult offer to accept.”

But I refused.

The faces of Gerd and others from the Adjak family flashed through my mind.

I came to this world as a descendant of Adjak and had been living as one ever since.

“Haha, you refused as expected. Then let me make another proposal.”

Even without a clear reason for my refusal, Baron Renwood took it in stride and moved on to his next offer.

“There’s a country I’ve been keeping an eye on. Turoko Kingdom.”

“You mean the small city-state near the Hamdel Desert.”

“You know it well. Recently, there was a flood there. Can you help?”

“Me, solve a flood?”

He couldn’t mean I should wield power to defy nature.

I looked at Baron Renwood with doubt, and he cleared his throat.

“Let me apologize in advance. It’s a strange story.”

“Yes, strange things happen everywhere.”

“The fountain in the old imperial garden… the water won’t stop flowing.”

The moment I heard that, a peculiar phenomenon came to mind.

“A fountain naturally produces water, but they say too much is pouring out. Turoko has abandoned the old royal castle and evacuated.”

I was certain.

The strange phenomenon Baron Renwood described was caused by a Tune.

“May I go take a look?”

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