Chapter 144 : Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Imperial Etiquette

After dining on the feast prepared by the Lord of Aldenfort, night had fallen.

Though not as bad as daytime, the night air was still humid and stiflingly hot.

"Everyone, gather in my bedroom."

I spoke to the Solari Order trio, who were wilting in the heat.

"Gather? What’s this all about, brother?"

"It’s time to get to work."

"?"

The Lord of Aldenfort had provided us with separate rooms.

The bedrooms were spacious and impressive.

He’d been pestering me to share tales of my exploits, which was annoying, but I briefly thought if I’d known we’d be treated this well, I might’ve humored him a bit.

"What do you mean? What am I supposed to explain?"

"The Gunbel Trading Company’s division, current situation, headquarters location, size, estimated forces, notable details—everything you know."

With Maserin at the center, the Solari Order trio and I sat around her in a circle.

"Who’s this girl, brother?"

"Oh, right. Introductions first."

I gestured for her to introduce herself and Maserin frowned, visibly displeased.

Her defiance ended there, after locking eyes with the impassive Bolero.

"M-Maserin. I’m the bodyguard swordsman for Deputy Leader Jewelina Gunbel…"

Clap, clap, clap.

Krnock and Deli applauded.

"Begin."

At first, Maserin was hesitant, but she soon adjusted to the mood and was in the middle of explaining when—

"Um."

Deli raised her hand.

"…Why are we listening to this?"

As if sharing the same curiosity, Krnock’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me. Bolero followed suit.

"I forgot to mention the important part."

Uncrossing my legs, I spoke.

"Tomorrow, we’re going to crush the Gunbel Trading Company’s headquarters in Aldenfort."

The eyes of the Solari Order trio widened simultaneously.

"What’s that supposed to mean out of nowhere?"

"In short, it’s for the Solari Order. In the bigger picture, it’s for the Kingdom."

The three exchanged glances, their expressions puzzled.

After a moment of silent eye contact, they all turned to me at once.

"…That’s unlike you, spouting vague ideals. Explain it clearly."

I understood.

It was a natural reaction.

But I hadn’t said anything wrong.

Fighting for the Kingdom wasn’t an exaggeration—it was an understatement.

This battle was about to become a turning point that would twist history.

Thus, they shouldn’t just assist—they should be the main actors.

‘Of course, I can’t lay out every detail.’

I spoke slowly.

"In fact, most Imperials strictly reject faith and worship."

It wasn’t a complete lie.

The Empire does have a history of eradicating its state religion, the Holy Church.

Seeing the three flinches, I continued.

"The Gunbel Trading Company has already infiltrated much of this land. Even Conwell, the hegemon of the east, wasn’t spared. This will soon become a major obstacle to the Solari Order’s expansion and, beyond that, shake the entire Kingdom’s order."

With a stern face and a firmer tone, I added, "We need to cut it off at the root."

Bolero shot to his feet.

"A holy war, you mean…!"

I gave a resolute nod.

Soon, the three huddled together, their faces serious, and began a heated discussion among themselves.

In the midst of this, my eyes met Maserin’s.

…

I’d already given Maserin a heads-up in Jewel’s bedroom.

Of course, she was shocked at first but eventually resigned herself.

With her Deputy Leader’s life hanging by a thread, she wasn’t in a position to argue.

In any case, the trio’s demeanor became noticeably more serious.

Tension gleamed in their attentive gazes.

Maserin scanned their expressions and resumed her explanation.

"The armed sailors loyal to the Administrator number about a hundred. They’re not bound by the honor or principles of Kingdom knights. They move solely for money and profit. Think of them as mercenaries."

The shoulders of the two young priests twitched.

They seemed startled by the number.

Bolero glanced at me, as if asking if this was right.

"Now, now."

I clapped my hands to settle the chaotic atmosphere.

"That’s the overview. Now, I’ll explain the specific plan."

My voice carried an unintended weight. It brought back old memories.

"There’s a plan. So don’t be scared."

Even if they’re martial priests, Krnock and Deli are still kids.

Though I’d set the mood so seriously…

I wasn’t crazy enough to throw kids into a fight without a plan.

* * *

The next day.

In front of the Gunbel Trading Company’s headquarters.

"Solari Order?"

The two guards exchanged glances and shrugged simultaneously.

They turned back.

Two bald kids stood side by side, grinning brightly.

"You’re here with a letter from the lord?"

Krnock and Deli nodded vigorously, maintaining their smiles.

One guard scoffed, incredulous.

"…The lord himself should’ve come, and he sends magic school brats to deliver a letter? And kids, at that?"

"This is gonna cause a storm. The Administrator’s gonna lose it."

"Follow me."

Krnock and Deli bowed slightly with clasped hands, then followed the guard.

It didn’t take long for the two young priests’ jaws to drop.

‘Wow.’

‘It’s like stepping into another world.’

The Gunbel Trading Company’s headquarters was nearly as large as the Aldenfort mansion.

From the outside, the building’s design was just slightly unusual, but once inside, everything—from the smallest details to the atmosphere—was completely different.

"Imperial architecture is really unique."

"Right? Was it built with magic?"

"There’s no magic in the Empire, sister."

"Oh, right."

As the two priests whispered, the guard leading them turned sharply.

"Hey, you two. If this is a prank, you won’t leave here in one piece. We don’t care if you’re kids or not."

"A prank? Brother, didn’t we show you the lord’s seal earlier? Hehe."

"I don’t know. Just watch your mouths. The Administrator’s on edge lately."

"Thank you for your concern, brother."

"Brother, my ass."

Following a wooden-floored corridor deep inside, they reached a large double door at the end.

The guard, clearly reluctant, turned and emphasized again, "This may be Kingdom soil, but this is the Gunbel Trading Company’s domain. I don’t expect Imperial etiquette, but if you act reckless, you could disappear without a trace."

"We’ll keep that in mind."

Knock, knock.

A low voice came from within, and the guard entered first.

Soon, the door opened again, and the guard quietly gestured for the two to come in.

"Who are you a lot?"

Administrator Max leaned crookedly against his desk, asking.

Krnock and Deli were momentarily speechless.

A strange intimidation emanated from Max, clad in formal Imperial attire.

"Greetings, brother! We are priests of the Solari Order, here to deliver a letter from the Lord of Aldenfort!"

Krnock answered energetically.

Max stood from his chair with a bored expression, flicking his fingers.

The guard took a scroll from Deli and handed it to him.

Max perched on the edge of his desk and unrolled the scroll.

***

As he read, Max’s expression twisted moment by moment.

The guard watching him furrowed his brow.

Something was off.

A cold silence settled over the office, like ice floating in the air.

"…Hah."

After a long pause, Max spoke.

"This wasn’t sent by the Lord of Aldenfort. It was written by some Solari Order priest, with the lord’s seal slapped on it."

He let out a hollow laugh, as if dumbfounded.

"Telling us to completely withdraw from the Kingdom?"

The guard tilted his head. Did I hear that right?

"If we comply quietly, there won’t be bloodshed…?"

The guard’s eyes and mouth widened.

He looked between Max and the two young priests, his fingers trembling as a chill ran down his spine.

‘I’m screwed.’

Letting them in just because of the lord’s seal was a mistake.

If he’d known the contents were this outrageous, he’d have kicked them out.

"Brother, please hear us out."

Deli spoke with clasped hands, audaciously calm despite the situation.

Max let out a dry laugh, utterly baffled.

The lord’s seal is real.

At this point, he was dying to know what was going on.

Has that old man finally lost his mind?

"Fine. Go ahead, kid."

"We, the Solari Order, are here to assist the Aldenfort family in mediating the Gunbel Trading Company’s conflict."

Max stared at Deli.

Then he burst into laughter, his eyes bloodshot and his gaze brimming with raw anger, the opposite of his laugh.

"Mediation, huh? Who do you think you are?"

"The Solari Order seeks to protect the order of this land and spread the gospel of Elzerus…"

"Enough. Now he’s dragging in weird lunatics? Has that old man gone senile?"

Krnock stepped forward.

"Please calm down! We’re not here to provoke you."

"Then are you here to test my patience?"

"Not at all. The lord anticipated your reaction and asked us to add something."

"What now?"

Max roughly rubbed his face.

He couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.

That old man, kept alive out of necessity, wouldn’t do this unless he’d gone mad.

"Well…"

Krnock hesitated, pursing his lips, suddenly cautious.

"Speak. Let’s hear it."

"Yes. Um, he asked us to find out who put Deputy Leader Jewelina Gunbel in a critical state…"

The guard’s throat bobbed.

Cold sweat trickled down his neck.

‘Are these kids insane? Do they even know what they’re saying?’

The office was soon gripped by an eerie chill.

Max looked down at Krnock and Deli.

His cold eyes felt almost hollow.

Deli, shrinking her already small shoulders, whispered, "As expected… you don’t like that, do you?"

"…"

"Then please just stamp the reply. We’re just messengers, after all… We’ll take it and leave quickly, brother!"

The guard wished he could turn back time. He cursed himself for thoughtlessly bringing them in.

‘Neglecting duty and upsetting the Administrator. This won’t end with just a wrist slap.’*

His family’s faces flashed in his mind.

Spit—

Max spat on the letter.

Thick phlegm pooled beside the Lord of Aldenfort’s seal.

Krnock and Deli grimaced simultaneously.

"One thing to know. Insults will be repaid several times over."

Max crumpled the letter, adding, "That’s Imperial etiquette."

"Ugh…"

"No need to take it. I’ll deliver it myself. Along with both your heads."

Shing!

At Max’s signal, the guard instantly drew his sword.

Krnock and Deli crouched low in that moment, their feet sliding across the floor as they shifted into combat stances.

The office air sharpened in an instant.

"Krnock!"

"Ready!"

"These brats are—"

Boom! Boom!

Before he could finish, the two kids leaped.

Krnock’s head slammed into the guard’s solar plexus, and Deli’s fist drove straight into Max’s abdomen.

"Urgh, ugh…!"

"Krnock! I got the letter! Ew, gross!"

"Good! Let’s get out, sister!"

The two young martial priests smashed through the door and bolted.

They darted down the corridor.

True to their promise as prospects handpicked by Bolero, the Solari Order’s greatest martial priest, their movements were swift and agile.

"Grab those brats! Now!"

Multiple heavy footsteps thundered after them, but the two slid around a corner and reached the outer courtyard.

"Intruders!"

"The Lord of Aldenfort sent assassins!"

Armed company members poured out from all directions.

Krnock and Deli stopped running.

Their sharp gazes shot upward through the gap in the crisscrossed roofs.

"To Elzerus…!"

"May it reach—!"

Boom—!

The two martial priests shot into the air.

A shockwave erupted like a tide, forcing the encircling members to halt and shield themselves with their arms.

The whipping wind sliced their cheeks like blades.

"The main gate! They’re at the main gate!"

Someone tracking the two intruders’ path shouted.

The members rushed toward the main gate.

"Open the gate! Hurry!"

The heavy doors groaned and slowly began to open, accompanied by the dull scrape of metal.

As the gap widened… a man’s silhouette stood motionless beyond, catching everyone’s eyes.

"What’s that now?"

At that moment, the two young intruders were seen crouching far behind him, panting heavily, visible to all.

As the members charged, grinding their teeth—

Shing.

A metallic sound rang softly.

The members’ bodies froze.

"A declaration of war."

Crackle—!

The Heavenly Demon blazed white-hot in an instant.

The vibrating blade drew dust up from his feet.

"Well received."

The Sword Aura surged.

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