Chapter 171

Chapter 171. Playing Catch-Up (3)

It was quite rare for a priest to leave the area to which they were appointed after being ordained.

After all, they were sent to manage the congregation in that region, with strict regulations in place to ensure they could not vacate their position.

Typically, permission was granted only for events such as a parent’s funeral or a direct relative’s wedding.

For this reason, Vellego had spent a significant amount of money to leave Chedaltman.

On top of that, he had even lowered himself to ask favors from other nobles to obtain an invitation to the sudden imperial banquet.

‘Those who bowed before me when my father was alive, now ignore me!’

It was inevitable, given the Protoram family’s control over most southern supplies.

However, that was all in the past—a past glory.

Although bitter defeat surged within him over his transformed situation, what angered him more was Reitan’s reaction at the imperial court, despite all the indignities he had endured to get there.

‘He must know I came here because of him.’

After spotting Vellego, Reitan had merely shaken his head without the slightest change in expression.

It was blatant disregard. A signal that whatever Vellego intended to do that day posed no threat whatsoever.

Every time Vellego recalled the disdain in Reitan’s eyes, he couldn’t suppress the curses rising within him.

“Damn it, damn it…”

Even as Vellego muttered the curse he couldn’t swallow, he continued to walk diligently.

This was to pursue Reitan, who had disappeared into the crowd just a moment ago.

‘He definitely went to the second floor.’

There lay a resting area where attendees of the banquet could relax.

A space where they could converse with acquaintances or drink peacefully, away from the hustle and bustle of the main hall.

Thus, even if he followed them, overhearing their conversation would be difficult.

‘There’s no choice but to eavesdrop.’

Fortunately, the banquet was taking place at the Full Moon Palace.

While many may not know, each lounge in the Full Moon Palace was accompanied by a discreet secret space.

‘Haha, they won’t even dream of it.’

Even though Vellego wasn’t originally from the Atar Empire, he knew quite a bit about the layout of the imperial palace.

Before reaching adulthood, he frequently entered and exited the Atar Empire accompanying his father and was treated as a distinguished guest, staying in the imperial palace.

His role was to entertain the three or four-year-old princess while his father held private discussions with the emperor.

Such explorations with the princess had made him familiar with the palace’s layout, discovering numerous secret spaces.

Now, he was headed to one such secret location.

Through it, he could spy on Reitan, who should be in some part of the west corridor on the second floor, without anyone noticing.

‘No matter how clever you think you are, you’re still within my grasp.’

Snorting disdainfully, Vellego finally reached his destination.

He exited the first-floor hall and walked down a narrow corridor westwards, ending at a small cleaning supply closet likely used by the staff.

Upon feeling along the wall, he quickly found the seam.

“Heh heh.”

Pressing down firmly next to it, the wall groaned as it began to shift.

Appearing as an ordinary wall, it was actually a door veneer, with bricks shaved thin and layered atop wooden boards.

Once past that door, one would find a narrow corridor made between an exterior and an interior wall.

‘Still intact!’

It was the four-year-old princess of the Atar Empire who had discovered this place.

Of course, she hadn’t understood what this space meant.

As a child, she merely saw it as a hideaway from the staff, nothing more.

But Vellego, learning of this location while playing with the princess, was at an age where he could discern its true purpose.

‘It was made to surveil all the lounges on the second floor.’

As proof, entering here allowed one to peer into every lounge through the moon-shaped ornamental pieces inside.

‘I was worried it might have been blocked off.’

Fortunately, it seemed the princess never revealed her secret hideout to anyone.

Once she was older, she may have forgotten about it entirely.

‘Seeing as no maintenance or improvement was made, perhaps the emperor is unaware as well.’

Had he known, he surely would have modified it to prevent unauthorized use.

‘Well, it’s lucky for me.’

Thanks to this, he could clandestinely monitor Reitan.

Vellego stepped into the approximately one-meter-wide narrow passage between the exterior and interior walls.

“Ugh.”

His belly slightly brushed both sides, making the fit tight.

Back when he regularly visited the palace, he had been much slimmer.

“Aye, why must I go through such trouble?”

Why Reitan had to come all the way to Gemal, to the imperial palace at that, causing distress, was beyond him.

Grumbling about Reitan’s activities, Vellego slowly navigated through the narrow passageway.

The passageway extended in a straight line, past a staircase leading upwards.

Several pathways branched out at intervals, each leading to a small space where one could observe the interior of the lounges.

‘From inside, the moon-shaped decorations looked opaque as mirrors.’

Meanwhile, here, the room’s interior was visible.

Vellego checked the lounge interiors each time a branching path appeared.

Some were empty, while others were occupied by people drinking.

In some cases, there were men and women engaging in more scandalous acts.

It took about eight missteps before he finally spotted him.

‘Found him!’

He could see Reitan’s annoyingly familiar back of the head.

Yet Reitan wasn’t alone.

‘That person is…’

A high-ranking priest of Senoa.

‘Gallonic Hogue.’

He was a likely candidate for the next highest archbishop within the Senoa Order.

Upon seeing his face, an incomprehensible mystery, present ever since his father’s death, began to clear up.

‘I wondered why sponsorship funds decreased.’

After Reitan succeeded the title, rumors say the Protoram family greatly reduced the funds sent to the Order of Agnotia.

Had it all gone to the influential figure within the Senoa Order?

If things continued, he might altogether change the sponsored order.

‘No conviction, that one.’

To abandon an order that had stood by them due to lust for power.

“Humph.”

Unlike the dishonest Reitan, Vellego maintained loyalty and immigrated to Agnotia.

He had formally received blessings and was garnering more donations than anticipated.

Unlike Reitan, who had nothing to boast of but his inheritance, Vellego was steadily establishing his position and reputation with his own strength within the order.

If he could uncover the corruption and the suspicious black connections of that man…

Perhaps he could reclaim his father’s legacy and the family’s title.

‘Just wait, I’ll expose you for what you truly are!’

Yet his grand plan faltered right at its first step.

‘… What are they talking about?’

Aside from receiving blessings, Vellego possessed no extraordinary abilities.

He lacked a special ability to eavesdrop on quietly whispered conversations between others.

Even though the particular adornments allowed him to see inside the lounge clearly, they didn’t benefit him much.

After all, Vellego had never learned ventriloquism.

At this rate, he would have to return empty-handed.

‘I can’t let that happen!’

Chasing Reitan all the way to Gemal had cost him a fortune!

In his impatience, Vellego pressed his ear against the moon-shaped decoration.

Of course, it had little effect.

“— —–.”

“—later— —–.”

The pair appeared mindful of eavesdroppers, their voices so low that only a word or two occasionally reached him.

‘It’s hopeless.’

Having come all this way only to leave with nothing.

Pouting at the predicament, he grumbled,

“Aye, why is their talking so soft?”

If their voices couldn’t be heard here, they wouldn’t hear his mutterings either.

It seemed okay under such logic.

Of course, if he had known he’d get a response, he might have kept quiet.

“Do you want me to tell you?”

“Eugh!”

Startled by the voice whispering into his ear, Vellego nearly screamed out.

Fortunately, thanks to a rough hand covering his mouth, disaster was averted.

“When they don’t obey, this is when you decide and hand them over for elimination, is what’s being said.”

Rolling his eyes sideways, he noticed a shadowy figure beside him.

Could it be a knight sent by Reitan? Or someone from Gallonic’s side?

Was he going to be assassinated here? How should he extricate himself from this peril?

His body began quivering with growing fear.

For some reason, the assailant released his grip over Vellego’s mouth.

“What are you trembling for?”

Only then did he realize he knew the almost whispering voice from somewhere.

“Since I’m benefiting from your slip-up today, I’ll skip roasting you for once.”

As his creaking head turned, who else could it be but him?

“Relax, Young Master.”

An outsider dressed as any aristocratic heir would be, with slicked-back hair and a luxurious outfit.

K, eyes cold and fixed on the lounge, continued observing what was unfolding inside.

* * *

The last time I saw Vellego was at a temple within Chedaltman.

‘It was when I went to extract funds under the pretext of establishing an orphanage.’

I later heard he was using the orphanage story everywhere to refurbish his image.

‘Hence, I sent him letters demanding royalties for misappropriating the orphanage’s name regularly.’

He’d been sending money without fail, likely fearing I might say something contrary.

Therefore, I didn’t expect to encounter him in person again.

Of course, I intended to keep the leash tight just in case.

‘And yet, we meet here of all places.’

Perhaps surprised by the unexpected encounter, I instinctively tailed Vellego.

By doing so, I discovered he was trailing a man resembling a skeleton.

The problem arose when, as the skeletal man exited the banquet hall, I noticed Gallonic heading in the same direction.

Shortly thereafter, Gallonic slipped away to the second floor, following the skeletal man.

This may have been a mere coincidence.

However, I was already aware that Gallonic had secured an additional invitation and sent a telegram to someone.

I suspected Gallonic intended to meet someone at this banquet.

As such, I couldn’t dismiss their staggered departure from the hall as mere coincidence.

This was why I chose to follow Vellego, who left the hall a step after my actual target, Gallonic.

‘He moved as if he knew where to tail them for incriminating evidence.’

In the end, a decision born almost from impulse turned out to be an excellent one.

‘With the skeleton clearly accompanied by an attendant.’

Yet inside that room were only Gallonic and the skeleton.

This likely meant the attendant, who ascended to the second floor with the skeleton, was guarding the door.

‘Mana detection would make it clearer, but…’

Within the empire, relying solely on perception was necessary since using magic was prohibited.

‘I sensed rustling from outside, so it’s probably accurate.’

Thus, reaching the door of this room was near impossible for me.

I couldn’t eavesdrop effectively from far enough away not to be noticed by the guard in front of the door.

Gallonic and the skeleton were nearly whispering during their exchange, after all.

‘At such low volume, even with a bronze rank, it’s inaudible.’

Noise from the banquet would drown out quieter voices.

Luckily, Vellego’s unforeseen involvement had presented an opportunity.

“But what if they talk?”

I focused on the hushed conversation between the skeleton and Gallonic.

“If that worries you, isn’t it better to cleanly eliminate them?”

“That’s too risky. What if evidence remains after sending people?”

“Then the only way is to place our people within the investigative agency. Just say they resisted arrest fiercely and were killed.”

“Will others simply watch while I plant personnel? They’d surely place surveillance on my men.”

“Phew, you dislike this and that, but what’s your plan?”

“Isn’t thinking up solutions why I called you?”

Although I hadn’t overheard from the beginning, grasping the conversation’s context wasn’t difficult.

‘They’re planning a scheme.’

Damned System