Ch.97Politics

# 1.

The Duke of Hallorand’s Intrusion.

The situation completely flipped due to a single unexpected variable.

“Ugh… huh.”

The death of the Minister of Defense—the only evidence that could have proven Hallorand was the mastermind.

“Stop!!”

Reina shouted urgently, but Hallorand had already decided on his next move.

‘We need to keep the assassin alive.’

As Nahan quickly assessed the situation and tried to give instructions to Pedro,

【Savior – <Hallorand(A+)> deletes the <Cause> and derives only the <Result>.】

【Result: [All unnamed individuals who attempted to assassinate the Emperor begin to be purged by Hallorand.]】

Even that thread of evidence was lost due to Hallorand’s swift action.

The death of the Minister of Defense.

The death of all assassins.

In other words, all evidence that could have held Duke Hallorand accountable was lost.

Reina was also aware of this situation, so she approached the now-stationary Hallorand and shouted:

“Did I not tell you to stop?!”

Despite the weighty pressure befitting the Emperor of the great empire, Hallorand wiped away the blood on him and bowed respectfully.

“I am honored to be in the presence of the Empire’s sun.”

“Cut that out and just stop!!”

“Ah… you mean these people?”

The remaining unnamed individuals who were still breathing.

“They are criminals who dared to ambush Your Majesty; it is right to deal with them here and now.”

Hallorand looked them over once, flicked his finger with a faint smile, and

Thud!

All of them,

died with their hearts bursting.

“How dare you—!!”

“Please calm yourself, Your Majesty.”

“Calm?! You dare disobey the imperial command and expect to remain unscathed?!”

“…Your Majesty.”

The enraged Reina rushed forward and grabbed his collar, but Hallorand, still smiling, pointed around and asked:

“Who are you protecting right now?”

Blue eyes, worn and weathered, gleaming within that curved smile.

“We were only trying to protect Your Majesty. I wonder why you are so upset. And above all, those behind Your Majesty… aren’t they the top-wanted Black Wolf?”

“…!”

Only then did the voices of the nobles who had rushed in with Hallorand become audible.

“Duke Hallorand rushed here for Your Majesty’s sake, why are you treating him like this…”

“More importantly, why are you with the Black Wolf? Isn’t the Black Wolf the mastermind behind this incident?”

“Could it be… that Your Majesty is in collusion with them?”

Sharp, suspicious gazes.

Only then did Reina realize.

That Hallorand was already playing politics several moves ahead.

“Therefore, Your Majesty. For the sake of the nobles who discuss imperial affairs with us, it seems Your Majesty’s explanation, not mine, takes precedence.”

“Explanation?! Do you see this situation as my doing?!”

“Of course not. We simply wish to hear the full account of what happened.”

As Reina was choosing her words in response to Hallorand’s deliberately provocative statement,

“Puhah!”

Laughter echoed from the training ground window.

The source was, of course, Black Wolf.

He had positioned Pedro by the window and approached the gathered nobles.

“I came to see how impressive the Emperor of the great empire was, but to be swayed by a single fox cub. Your Majesty, Babylonia’s future looks truly bright.”

“What?!”

The nobles who had rushed in together were the first to react to his sharp provocation.

A visibly young noble shouted in outrage:

“How dare someone of such lowly birth disparage the Duke!! Have you no shame?!”

“Disparage?”

“Don’t play dumb!! The fox clearly referred to the Duke!!”

“Ah, if it sounded that way, I apologize.”

Nahan politely apologized to the angry old noble’s bellowing, then asked slyly:

“But isn’t it strange? I primarily insulted the Emperor, yet everyone jumps to defend the Duke who was merely mentioned in passing, while no one stands up for the Emperor!”

“Y-you!! How dare you have the audacity—!!”

“This is the Imperial Palace. The place where the Emperor’s word should take absolute priority above all else.”

Finally, in front of Hallorand.

“Yet everyone only listens to that man, so I was just trying to make some noise to see…”

Nahan addressed the imperial guards and great nobles surrounding him:

“Oh, could it be that man is the Emperor?”

An instant silence fell.

Nahan’s words, challenging Hallorand’s attempt to control the situation, precisely hit their sore spot.

But that lasted only a moment.

“You bastard!!!”

Just as one great noble exclaimed, concluding the argument with Nahan’s victory,

“Please calm yourself, Prime Minister.”

Hallorand, who had been standing at the very back, pushed through the nobles and guards to step forward.

“Hallorand, did you not hear!! What that criminal was spouting!!”

“Indeed. A ‘criminal,’ precisely. There’s nothing to gain by playing into their hands. So… we should focus on punishment right now.”

As the momentum was shifting toward Nahan, Hallorand quickly restored the balance by emphasizing the fact they were “criminals,” then drew his rapier.

“I am Hallorand.”

“Black Wolf.”

After this brief introduction, imperial guards surrounded the training ground at Hallorand’s gesture.

“The crimes of attempting to assassinate His Majesty and raiding the Imperial Palace are by no means light.”

“I might not know about raiding the palace, but framing us for the Emperor’s assassination attempt seems unfair. Wasn’t that ordered by Duke Hallorand himself?”

“You certainly have a loose tongue.”

“Am I wrong?”

“Capture and interrogation will resolve this matter.”

Step, step, step.

Soldiers who had already taken position pointed their spears at Nahan, but he shook his head nonchalantly and replied:

“Your ‘interrogation’ will just be killing us and framing us afterward, so there’s no need to go through the trouble.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Neither you nor I need to feel wronged—I’ll commit a crime worthy of the accusation.”

The next moment.

【<Mastermind(Ex)> – 20% activates.】

Nahan instantly activated Mastermind, turned around, and rushed toward Reina while asking:

“The Emperor kidnapped by the Black Wolf due to Duke Hallorand’s incompetence. Wouldn’t that make for interesting gossip?”

“What are the imperial guards doing!! Protect His Majesty immediately!!!”

At Hallorand’s furious command, numerous guards rushed toward Nahan, but

Whoosh!

Nahan was faster, hoisting Reina over his shoulder and leaping out of the training ground.

“W-wait!! What is this—!!”

“Pedro!!”

“…Yes, Captain.”

Pedro read Nahan’s intentions from his gaze alone and immediately moved to escort him.

“……Pedro. I’ll handle this.”

“Wait…!! Why are you here—!!”

“……Be silent, failed savior. Everything is for the One True Savior.”

Unknown even to Hallorand, the Third Elder of Eclipse—the Calamity of Silent Stillness—who had been hiding among the nobles, followed after Pedro.

“Damn, that bastard again…!!”

Hallorand’s plan was disrupted.

【The Bad Ending created by ??? – <???. Tyrant> is prevented.】

【First Achievement!】

【You have prevented the will of <Another Savior> rather than <World’s Fate>!】

【Reward: <Savior System> is granted.】

It happened on an early night.

# 2.

Immediately after leaving the Imperial Palace.

“Over there!! After them!!”

The imperial soldiers began to move according to Duke Hallorand’s orders.

“They were so sluggish when our guys were causing trouble, but they sure listen well to Hallorand.”

“…Are you saying that for me to hear?”

“Oops.”

“…You’re not denying it?”

“Oops.”

Despite carrying the armed Emperor, Nahan’s speed was formidable, and at this rate, they would soon escape the surveillance network.

‘Let’s just get away first.’

Nahan wanted to buy time to proceed slowly, one step at a time, as he had done until now.

But as always, things don’t go as planned.

When they arrived at the factory backstreet where Pedro had stayed for a while,

Flutter.

“……You took your time.”

Someone who had been lying covered in darkness rose, removing the cover.

Nahan quickly checked the information.

【Name: Silas.】

-Alias: Calamity of Silent Stillness.

-Rank: SS-

-Information: Third Elder of Eclipse. Also [Access Denied], and [Access Denied].

The Third Elder of Eclipse—the Calamity of Silent Stillness.

‘He’s been quiet since last time, why suddenly now?’

As Nahan wondered,

Pedro, who had already stepped in front of Nahan, assumed a combat stance and said:

“Everyone is following that woman’s energy and coming this way, so we can’t delay. Leave this one to me and continue on.”

The rank of Pedro, with all restrictions removed, was Triple S.

Since the place where he planned to leave the Emperor wasn’t far, it wouldn’t be a big problem to entrust this to Pedro and return quickly, but,

‘The First Elder of Eclipse.’

If that one were to intervene, Pedro might be in danger.

‘…Still, the Emperor is more urgent right now. I can drop her off and come back quickly.’

Nahan finally nodded and continued running, leaving the scene.

“…there, …after them..!!”

As the voices of the imperial soldiers following Nahan faded into the distance, Pedro quickly moved to deal with the enemy before him and follow after, when

Flutter.

Silas, the Calamity of Silent Stillness, caught something from the darkness of the void and draped it like a cloak, then asked Pedro:

“Ria…… that was her name.”

“…What?”

“The terrible woman who was looking for the demon called…… Pedro, just like those demons.”

Only after his eyes adjusted to the darkness could Pedro see the emblem embroidered on the cloak Silas wore.

It was clearly,

“I’ve come…… to end this ill-fated connection.”

The imperial emblem that Pedro remembered.