Ch.182Big Catch (1)

What body part is most important for a novelist? Without hesitation, one would answer “hands.”

Even with leg or back pain, if your hands work, you can write while lying down. Even with poor eyesight, as long as you’re not completely blind, writing isn’t impossible.

However, if your hands are injured or disabled, not only is writing impossible, but daily life becomes extremely difficult. You could write with your other hand, but it takes much longer and feels awkward.

This is why readers express great sympathy and wish for recovery when an author announces a hand injury. Such an injury is a significant loss for both the author and readers alike.

Currently, the author of Biography of Xenon, Xenon (Issac) is in this situation. Since Xenon has achieved fame not just in one country but worldwide, countless readers are praying for his safety.

If something were to happen to him, the publication of Biography of Xenon would not just be delayed but might become indefinitely postponed.

Typically, publishing a book takes about 1-2 months on average, but new volumes of Biography of Xenon were released much more frequently. The publication cycle was remarkably fast, almost worryingly so.

Moreover, the publisher once mentioned finding bloodstains on the manuscripts, which increased concerns about his well-being. So far there hadn’t been major issues since he published consistently, but…

[Biography of Xenon author, Xenon, attacked by assailants and severely injured in his right hand…]

[Fortunately his life is not in danger, and the assailants have retreated. However, Biography of Xenon…]

[Forced hiatus, not by choice, due to right hand injury…]

The news that Xenon was attacked by assailants and injured his right hand shocked readers beyond belief. Of all body parts, it had to be his right hand.

Moreover, it wasn’t just injured—each finger was reportedly bent in a deformed manner, indicating an extremely serious condition.

The publisher initially didn’t believe it, thinking it was ghostwritten, but accepted the truth after seeing the crooked handwritten signature.

For a novelist, an injury to the hand—their greatest asset—could mean an “indefinite hiatus” in the worst case.

[Anger from Biography of Xenon readers. Crowds gather at the publisher demanding explanations.]

[Notable figures from various countries are working to find the assailants. However, finding them is virtually impossible when even Xenon’s identity remains unknown.]

[The Papal Kingdom of Sabre offered substantial tribute to ask Luminus for divine punishment, but the answer was “Wait. Time will resolve this.”]

[Where will the anger-forged blade point?]

Readers were furious. Xenon suffered a right hand injury not from an accident but from an attack by assailants.

While capital cities might be safe, security in outlying areas isn’t great in this world. Bandits frequently appear and plunder in some regions, and even capitals aren’t entirely safe at night.

Occasionally hearing news of someone being severely injured or killed by assailants is not uncommon, and Xenon is no exception. Most nighttime thugs attack with specific purposes.

While Xenon could have been a random target, the fact that his right hand was severely injured fueled readers’ anger to immeasurable levels.

[Currently working to find Xenon. With his severely injured right hand, we might be lucky enough to find him.]

[A person with an injured right hand was found in the Dutchy of Bellua around the same time, but it wasn’t Xenon. Just an ordinary knight.]

While readers were angry, the number of people trying to find Xenon also increased. There might be many people with injured right hands in the world, but if they were attacked by assailants around the same time, the scope narrows considerably.

It’s no longer like finding a needle in a desert, but rather finding a needle on a beach—still difficult but more manageable.

Some criticized this approach as an invasion of privacy, but without such methods, finding Xenon would be nearly impossible.

[Was only Xenon’s right hand injured? Or did the assailants know who Xenon was?]

[The right hand is frequently used and could be injured, but there’s a significant chance the assailants knew Xenon’s identity.]

[Was the assailants’ target really Xenon’s right hand? Or was it just coincidence?]

Amid the whirlwind of anger, some people were thinking rationally. Of course, if the assailants deliberately targeted Xenon’s right hand, that would be an even bigger problem.

As the incident became increasingly mysterious and readers’ anger reached the boiling point…

[Queen Arwen of Alfheim: There are facts the people need to know.]

[Facts Queen Arwen will reveal at this time? Citizens of Alfheim and neighboring countries are watching with curious eyes…]

[Second public address after the half-blood incident. What will she reveal?]

Unexpectedly, Queen Arwen of Alfheim officially announced she would prepare another public address following the half-blood incident. This seemed like an incomprehensible move given the current situation with Biography of Xenon on temporary hiatus.

However, Arwen currently enjoys fervent support from Alfheim’s citizens. Both citizens and foreign dignitaries, though puzzled, moved to their places curious about what she would reveal.

Having quelled the socially impactful half-blood incident with her outstanding oratory skills, and even unifying the elves, this was a matter neighboring countries needed to monitor carefully.

Despite Xenon’s right hand being damaged by assailants, state affairs still needed attention. So, like during the half-blood incident, many dignitaries headed to Alfheim to see what Queen Arwen would say.

None of them could predict what would unfold there.

*****

Arwen’s address, like the previous one, takes place in the great square of Yggdrasil. The Senate and noble families are arranged at the front of the platform for a better view of Arwen, while foreign VIPs sit in chairs placed behind them.

The remaining citizens and tourists gather around as directed by elven warriors. Being a public address delivered by Arwen herself, a large number of people have assembled.

“What could she possibly want to say that requires a public address?”

“Hmm… I don’t know either.”

Phiren, the head of the Senate, couldn’t hide his puzzlement at his aide’s question. A public address at this time seemed quite awkward.

Even if she had prepared the speech in advance, the timing was not ideal. The half-blood issue had been admirably resolved, so it couldn’t be related to that.

Moreover, given the current situation, a speech at this time would have little political effect. It would be short-lived, as attention would inevitably return to Xenon soon.

‘What could it be? She wouldn’t be lamenting that her lover was injured… and that guy wouldn’t have told the queen either…’

Phiren pondered deeply while stroking his chin as preparations for the address continued. He had already concluded that Xenon was Arwen’s former lover.

Moreover, the possibility that Xenon had revealed the culprit to her was close to zero. The covenant stated as much. The letter sent to the publisher only mentioned being attacked by assailants, without revealing their identity.

While this cleverly exploited a loophole in the covenant, it wasn’t decisive evidence. Therefore, Arwen’s address was likely purely coincidental.

Speeches are often given for political gain, but in this case, even Phiren wasn’t sure. Was she being tactless, or was there another fact to be revealed?

‘What is this uneasiness?’

Having kept tabs on Arwen while checking her, he had learned much about her. First, Arwen was not only skilled in rhetoric but also politically capable.

In politics, having a clear “enemy” makes it easier to gather allies. Arwen had positioned the Senate as her enemy and was steadily recruiting noble families to her side.

After the racial war, the Senate was considered a setting sun, a toothless tiger, but still couldn’t be ignored. Arwen couldn’t face them alone.

This uneasiness made him wonder if she had a hidden card. However, the covenant brought by Karlas days ago was certainly not false.

It was a moment when his political instinct, honed over hundreds of years, was activated, but he couldn’t identify the cause.

While pondering and stroking his chin, Phiren belatedly realized the seat beside him was empty. He had reserved it for Karlas, who had made great contributions in this matter, but the protagonist himself hadn’t appeared.

“Where’s Karlas? Where did he go?”

“He said he couldn’t attend due to family matters.”

“Family matters… then it can’t be helped.”

While the Senate was important, family matters took precedence. But this only amplified Phiren’s uneasiness.

Was Karlas really absent due to family matters? If so, what was this uneasiness?

Phiren had survived hundreds of years in the Senate thanks to this instinct, but he didn’t act rashly without knowing the cause. The world doesn’t run on emotions, even if one trusts their instincts.

In the end, unable to dispel his uneasiness until just before the speech began, he had no choice but to remain in his seat.

[Silence, everyone! Her Majesty the Queen is arriving!]

Just before the address began, an announcer used voice amplification magic to herald Arwen’s arrival. Unlike last time, the announcer raised his voice even before Arwen ascended the platform.

The murmuring that had filled the square immediately subsided, and a subtle atmosphere pervaded the venue. The spectators waited silently for Arwen to ascend the platform.

Click- Click- Click-

The sound of shoes echoed in the quiet square. People instinctively knew Arwen was ascending the platform.

Phiren, too, watched quietly with his arms crossed in a somewhat arrogant posture as she climbed onto the platform, still harboring that inexplicable uneasiness.

Click-

Finally, Queen Arwen of Alfheim stood proudly on the platform erected in front of the great tree, facing the crowd. The crowd carefully examined her appearance.

Silver-gray hair and eyes like the Milky Way flowing. Delicate features like a young girl and a petite frame. But the curved hip line below her slender waist exuded mature charm.

Arwen appeared wearing a fresh green dress instead of the silver-gray one from the half-blood incident. She slowly looked around at the crowd and made eye contact with Phiren sitting in the front.

Despite meeting her eyes, Phiren didn’t greet her and just watched. He couldn’t predict what thoughts were contained in those mesmerizing silver-gray eyes.

“…Thank you all for coming. Some have traveled far to be here.”

After exchanging glances with Phiren, Arwen looked straight ahead and quietly began speaking. Her voice, like jade beads rolling on a silver tray, covered the entire square through voice amplification magic.

“You must be curious. Why I called you for this address during such an important time. You might be puzzled, perhaps even bewildered. But what I’m about to reveal will be very important to you, and perhaps to this world.”

Speaking calmly, Arwen suddenly turned around and waved her hand as if beckoning someone. This action raised questions in the eyes of the onlookers.

Calling someone in the middle of speaking is inappropriate for an address. But Arwen gestured from the very beginning.

While everyone was wondering, someone slowly began to ascend the platform.

Not climbing directly, but being dragged up by warriors on either side.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

“…Ka, Karlas?!”

“Ma, Mael and Rena too… what on earth…?”

The people dragged onto the platform by warriors were none other than Karlas and his subordinates. Naturally, Phiren and his aides were bewildered.

They appeared fine on the surface, but their expressions mixed with despair and resignation suggested something had happened. Only then did Phiren realize the source of his uneasiness.

Something had gone terribly wrong. Seriously wrong.

As a seasoned politician with hundreds of years of experience, he tried to figure out what was happening, but came up empty. Karlas wouldn’t have betrayed him, and the covenant was definitely genuine.

There was nothing to grasp, and he couldn’t understand what was happening.

“Who are those people?”

“I don’t know? They look like criminals…”

“Why bring criminals to the platform? Did they commit some grave offense?”

“Probably so.”

The crowd, unaware of the details, simply assumed they were criminals. They had no idea how grave their offense was.

As soon as Karlas and his group ascended the platform, Arwen glanced at Phiren amid the stirring crowd. Phiren’s pale complexion plainly revealed his state of mind.

At this, she inwardly smiled bitterly and shouted with force:

“Everyone knows that Xenon’s right hand was damaged by unidentified assailants! Look at the faces of these criminals! Their names are Karlas, Mael, and Rena!”

The crowd’s murmuring quickly subsided at Arwen’s shout.

Finally, she cried out to the crowd using her compelling voice:

“These are the criminals who attacked Xenon under the orders of Phiren Gerrit Stormwalker, the head of the Senate!”

The fuse had burned completely, and the bomb exploded.