Ch.198Chapter 198: The Kingdom of Duron (4).

# Chapter 198: The Kingdom of Duron (4)

The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, Valt and Professor Lemen left Lamrpo’s secret hideout.

Their destination was the heart of the Duron Kingdom—either the royal palace or the Magitek Knights’ headquarters where the airship “Tempest” was managed.

Lamrpo, who seemed to have spent a sleepless night, grabbed their hands with bloodshot eyes and said, “Please… please, I’m counting on you.”

“I can’t tell you not to worry. We’ll be back.”

The companions left behind watched their retreating figures with a mixture of anxiety and hope.

The morning in the capital city of Siduron was lively, but the road to the palace had a distinctly different atmosphere.

Buildings concentrated with brilliant magical engineering technology displayed an imposing and intimidating presence, and most people on the streets were uniformed knights, officials, or mages.

The air was filled with strict order and an invisible tension.

“Tch, all glitter on the outside, but inside it’s just a den of stubborn fools,” Professor Lemen grumbled, glancing sideways at a magical surveillance tower along the road.

“These Duron folks, their pride in their technology reaches the heavens. Especially that ‘Tempest’ or whatever—it must be their most precious treasure, so they won’t hand it over easily.”

Valt then asked, “Professor, do you have any acquaintances among the Duron royal family or knights?”

“Acquaintances? Hmph, I do, but not in a good way.”

Lemen smirked.

“A few years ago, I rather sharply criticized the flaws in Duron’s magical engineering technology at a conference, and ever since then, they’ve seen me as a thorn in their side. I’m a professor with a reputation, you know. They can’t openly pick fights with me because of my name. So my name might actually be a hindrance.”

“…We still have to go,” Valt’s voice was resolute.

“I know, I know. So lead the way, my student. Today, we’ll have to rely on your name and that princess badge of yours.”

Finally, they arrived at the main gate of the Magitek Knights’ headquarters, surrounded by a massive magical barrier.

Steel golems and heavily armed knights stood guard with strict vigilance.

Valt stepped forward and presented the royal insignia given by Princess Siloin.

“I am Valt of Southern Gerungtu. I have urgent matters to discuss with the commander or an equivalent authority.”

The knight who appeared to be in charge of security examined the brooch and momentarily showed surprise, but quickly responded with a rigid expression.

“The royal insignia is verified. However, to meet the commander, the formal procedure—”

“I am Lemen Skwet, Professor at Grovint Academy and Aura Master,” Professor Lemen stepped forward, declaring his identity. His voice carried a subtle pressure.

“This is an urgent matter. It could concern the safety of the Empire, the Duron Kingdom, and Southern Gerungtu. Let us meet the person in charge immediately. I don’t have time to waste on underlings.”

‘Valt of Gerungtu’ and ‘Lemen of the Counter Sword’—the weight of these two names was not insignificant.

Especially considering Valt’s recent achievements in the Eastern War and the close relationship between Duron and Gerungtu through the Lamrpo Trading Company, it was difficult to turn them away.

After communicating with someone inside, the security chief finally said, “Please come in. The vice-commander is waiting for you,” and opened the way.

The reception room of the Knights’ headquarters was cold and practical.

Complex magical circuits were engraved on the walls, and a holographic map of the entire Duron Kingdom floated above the central table.

They were greeted by a middle-aged vice-commander in steel armor who appeared impeccably disciplined.

“You’ve come a long way, Prince Valt and Professor Lemen. I’ve heard your business, but…”

The vice-commander’s voice was rigid.

Professor Lemen spoke first.

He logically explained the threat facing the Lamrpo Trading Company, the suspected existence of the Dark Council behind it, the promise with ‘Kwan’ and the pressing deadline, and finally, why they needed the “Tempest” airship.

He emphasized that this was not simply about saving one trading company, but about stopping the Dark Council’s plot, preventing the breakdown of relations between Duron and Gerungtu, and even averting a potential war.

Valt added strength to Lemen’s explanation.

“Vice-Commander, the Lamrpo Trading Company is an important bridge connecting Duron and Gerungtu. If that bridge collapses, it will be a great loss to both sides. Especially my father, Kwan, values promises above all else. If this matter goes wrong… no one can guarantee the consequences. I urge you to make a wise decision.”

He placed Princess Siloin’s brooch on the table, applying implicit pressure.

The vice-commander listened to both men until the end, but his expression remained unchanged.

He stared at the holographic map for a long time in silence, then finally spoke. His voice was cold and firm.

“I fully understand your concerns and the urgency of the situation. The Dark Council is a significant threat to our Duron Kingdom as well, and we also value our relationship with the Lamrpo Trading Company and Gerungtu. That’s why the Royal Knights are protecting the head of Lamrpo and its key facilities.”

He paused briefly, then looked directly into Valt and Lemen’s eyes and said:

“However… I cannot authorize the deployment of the ‘Tempest’.”

“…!”

Both Valt and Lemen frowned simultaneously.

“The Tempest is not just an airship. It is the heart of the Duron Kingdom and its sharpest sword. It is a top-tier strategic asset directly linked to national security, and can only be operated under the final approval of His Majesty the King and the joint decision of the highest military command, in extremely exceptional national emergencies. While I understand the current situation is urgent, it is difficult to judge it as a ‘national emergency’ of that magnitude. Moreover, its technology is absolutely classified as top military secret that cannot be leaked externally. No matter if you are a prince of an allied nation or an academy professor, we cannot entrust its controls to outsiders. This is the iron rule and principle of the Duron Kingdom.”

His answer was firm. It was an attitude that would not allow any exceptions. Professor Lemen tried to object, but the vice-commander raised his hand to stop him.

“I respect the royal insignia and Professor Lemen’s reputation. But on this matter, I cannot yield. This is the knights’ final position. Further discussion is meaningless.”

Valt and Lemen’s expressions were dark as they left the knights’ headquarters with heavy steps. They had expected this, but Duron’s wall was much higher and harder than they thought.

“…Damn! Those stone-headed fools! Will they only come to their senses when Kwan actually charges in with a spear?!”

Professor Lemen couldn’t contain his anger and spat out curses.

Valt walked silently with a hardened expression, looking only ahead. Time was running out.

The next day, as promised, Princess Siloin arrived in Siduron. She came directly to the hideout where Valt’s group was staying, and after hearing the whole story from Valt, her face turned pale.

“…How could this be! The vice-commander… no, the kingdom’s knights made such a decision? Father has always valued our relationship with the Lamrpo Trading Company…!”

“They’re too comfortable. They owe everything to Lamrpo but think they did it all themselves.”

Siloin rose from her seat and exclaimed, “I must go!”

She immediately contacted the palace and the knights, and tried to reverse the decision by mobilizing all her connections and authority.

She argued using her position as royalty, her influence as a future potential queen, and even the economic interests with the Lamrpo Trading Company, but the responses were cold.

“We understand Your Highness’s concerns, but the operation of the ‘Tempest’ is absolutely impossible without the consent of the Defense Committee and the Magic Tower.”

“The strategic asset operation regulations cannot make exceptions for anyone.”

“While relations with the South are important, national security takes priority.”

After desperately trying for several hours, Siloin finally returned to Valt’s group with slumped shoulders and shook her head.

Her beautiful green eyes were filled with frustration and apology.

“…I’m sorry, Prince Valt. My power was insufficient. The opposition from the conservative nobles and the Magic Tower is too stubborn. The Tempest… seems impossible to move at present.”

Her words seemed to break their last hope.

Now only about four days remained. It had become clear that they could not obtain the airship through official means.

A heavy silence descended again on Lamrpo’s hideout.

Lamrpo’s face had already turned ashen as he sat in a daze, and despair hung over the expressions of the other companions.

“…Damn! What do we do now? Should we just walk there?”

Yuria shouted in frustration, but everyone knew that was impossible.

“…There is a way.”

It was Professor Lemen who broke the silence. His eyes gleamed coldly.

“…Surely not, Professor?”

Airin asked anxiously.

Lemen tapped his finger on the map on the table that showed the location of the Tempest hangar.

“If normal methods don’t work… we’ll have to use abnormal ones.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lemen, and then to Valt. Valt closed his eyes briefly and fell into deep thought.

To seize a strategic asset of the Duron Kingdom.

It was a clear hostile act against an allied nation, and a dangerous gamble that could potentially put them at odds with Duron.

But… if they did nothing, Lamrpo and Duron would be ruined, and his father Kwan might really start a war. It would only benefit the Dark Council.

There was no choice.

Valt slowly opened his eyes. His golden eyes held a cold and dangerous resolve.

“…Very well.”

He stood up and looked around at his companions.

“From now on, we switch to Plan B. We’ll formulate a plan to seize the Tempest airship. Professor Lemen, please brief us on the security system information and internal structure of the hangar that you observed at the knights’ headquarters.”

At Valt’s declaration, looks of disbelief appeared on his companions’ faces.

Lati was the first to speak, sounding dumbfounded.

“Wait, are you saying this in front of Princess Siloin? She’s Duron royalty, you know?”

At that, Yuria and Solpin next to her burst into laughter.

“I just find it so funny when Valt says crazy things with such a serious expression.”

“Me too, hehehe, really. I’m eccentric, but he’s seriously eccentric.”

Then Lemen looked at Princess Siloin and said smoothly:

“You’ll help us, won’t you, Princess? If not, your practical evaluation grade will be an F.”

Princess Siloin was incredulous.

“Th-that’s unfair, Professor!”

“What? If you don’t help, we can’t even try. How about it? Don’t you want to cause some proper trouble for the stuffy Duron royal family? You tomboy princess of Duron?”

Only Professor Lemen, who surprisingly knew Siloin’s family circumstances well, could say such things.

“Ugh…!”

Now they would have to become not just mission executors, but “thieves” raiding an allied nation’s core military facility.

Kwan’s deadline was approaching, and their dangerous gamble was about to begin.