Chapter 80 : False Purpose (4)

The first thing they needed to figure out was where Jeanne was keeping the imprisoned people. 

Naturally, she wouldn’t openly lock them up in the palace dungeons, as those were already filled with regular prisoners.  

This meant that the saintess had taken those she had arrested as traitors to an unknown location and imprisoned them there. 

This realization made Prince Jaiha understand the gravity of the situation.  

Even if, for argument’s sake, those arrested were truly traitors, they should have been imprisoned in the palace dungeons. 

Secretly moving prisoners was an act of defiance against the monarchy, and that itself was treason.  

That’s why Prince Jaiha realized how serious the situation was. 

Even though he had been at odds with the saintess faction, he had still considered them comrades who cared for the kingdom.  

“I can’t even begin to guess what the saintess is plotting.”  

“I can’t tell you right now.”  

“If you say so, there must be a good reason. But you must tell me later.”  

“I can promise you that, Your Highness.”  

Though it hadn’t been a long time, Prince Jaiha had come to realize something while working with Wolfgang Leonhardt: she was not a coward.  

Prince Jaiha had harbored some doubts about Wolfgang, given that she was a hero of the empire. 

But after working with her, those doubts had largely faded. 

In fact, it was only natural.  

Hadn’t Wolfgang risked her life to fight the monster’s nest and save the kingdom? 

If she had ulterior motives, she could have simply stood by and let the kingdom suffer great damage.  

Moreover, it was thanks to her that the royalist faction had regained some control. 

That’s why Prince Jaiha had trusted her and delegated authority to her, and now he felt it had been the right decision.  

‘What on earth is she plotting?’  

Not only had she declared treason on absurd grounds, but she had also secretly moved prisoners. 

However, this fact couldn’t be made public. 

The situation was already too unfavorable.  

She had declared treason, and the justification had suspiciously gained traction. 

As a result, the majority of the common people were supporting her. 

If he misspoke now, he would only face backlash.  

How laughable.  

Speaking the truth could get him arrested.  

But he had no intention of surrendering.  

Even in this dire situation, Prince Jaiha looked at the significant number of nobles still loyal to him and realized one thing: if he faltered now, the kingdom would be finished.  

He had no intention of handing over his homeland to someone who arbitrarily labeled commoners and nobles as traitors. 

Even if he had to fight alone, he would fight to the end. 

With his resolve firm, Prince Jaiha spoke.  

“First, investigate the source of the funds. Following the money will reveal the corruption the saintess is hiding.”  

“What do you plan to do, Your Highness?”  

“First, I will meet with His Majesty and report the situation.”  

Prince Jaiha had no intention of sitting idly by. 

He would first consult with the king and then take the necessary actions. 

Of course, law and justice had already been trampled upon.  

That was an undeniable fact. 

But if even he, the crown prince, abandoned the law because his opponents did, then there would truly be no one left to uphold justice.  

So, he would follow the proper procedures. He would report to the king, receive his approval, and then act. 

That was the path Prince Jaiha had chosen. 

After hearing the prince’s plan, Wolfgang nodded and said:  

“I understand what you’re saying, Your Highness. But won’t that hinder my movements?”  

“I’ll handle that part. I’ll explain that the situation was urgent and we had to act quickly. But there must be someone to take responsibility, don’t you think?”  

“As the crown prince, I will not shirk my responsibility.”  

After receiving his confirmation, Wolfgang immediately turned away. 

The situation demanded swift action. 

If they hesitated, the Winter King might truly be resurrected.  

Wolfgang’s mind was filled with no other thoughts but this. 

The Winter King—the possibility of his return consumed her. 

And she knew she had to stop it at all costs.  

This wasn’t about the kingdom or the empire.  

The Winter King must not be resurrected.  

She didn’t want to go through that terrible battle again.  

Why hadn’t the Winter King revealed himself from the beginning?  

There were many theories, but the one Wolfgang considered most plausible was the “ant theory.” 

The Winter King didn’t see humans as humans. 

To him, they were merely ants.  

Just as humans don’t usually think much about ants—though some might cherish them—they are still seen as insignificant. 

The Winter King was the same.  

As an ancient evil god of immense power, he paid no mind to humans unless they were his followers. 

He simply went about his business.  

The endless winter.  

What most believed to be an ancient curse or divine punishment was, in fact, neither. 

It was merely the breath of the Winter King, the territory he ruled.  

Just by his presence, an eternal winter began. 

The only reason the Winter King had spread winter across the empire for a century was due to the restraint of the other gods.  

If not for that, the Winter King would have long since covered the continent in unending winter. 

And he had been preparing for just that. 

He had driven out the kingdom’s goddess using his daughter,  

Expelled the true saintess, and installed a false one to slowly corrupt the kingdom. 

His plan had been perfect. 

Except for one thing—he hadn’t anticipated defeat at the hands of a mere human.  

Who could have predicted that the Winter King, an ancient primordial god and the source of all evil, would be defeated and reduced to a demi-god by a human? 

Even with the blessing of the Sun God,  

The Winter King’s defeat at the hands of a human had shattered his plans. 

But in the end, victory had been achieved, so he was nothing to worry about. Right?  

This wasn’t something to laugh off. 

Though they had won, the cost had been immense. Countless lives had been lost.  

It had taken Wolfgang five years to defeat the Winter King. 

During that time, she had honed new techniques, swallowed the sacrifices of her comrades, and gritted her teeth to achieve victory.  

Even then, without the Vendetta Corps by her side, the outcome might have been different. 

That’s why, the moment she heard the Winter King might return, Wolfgang didn’t hesitate.  

“I really didn’t want to use this, but…”  

It was none other than the crystal orb. 

The same orb she had used during the dragon’s nest subjugation in the empire. 

While it served as a communication device for the Vendetta Corps,  

The orb belonging to the commander, Wolfgang, had a hidden function. 

A function reserved solely for her. Honestly, Wolfgang didn’t want to use this power. 

It would take her further from her goal of a peaceful retirement.  

‘Using this will make a peaceful retirement impossible, but there’s no other choice.’  

Right now, retirement was the least of her concerns. 

If the Winter King returned, she would have to go through the same grueling battle all over again. 

Without hesitation, Wolfgang activated the orb.  

There were too many eyes here to use it now.  

And it was too cumbersome to reveal at this moment.  

So, she would hold onto it for now and use it at the decisive moment. 

With Prince Jaiha’s cooperation, Wolfgang managed to trace the saintess faction’s funding source. 

No matter how well-hidden, there were always suspicious traces.  

And among them, Wolfgang found a particularly conspicuous name: the construction costs for a new temple. 

Over the past few months, the expenses had skyrocketed.  

What did that mean?  

It meant there was suddenly a reason to spend a lot of money. 

Even though they had been steadily receiving funds from the kingdom for years, they were now building a temple for the false goddess?  

“No matter how I look at it, the answer lies here.”  

Now that she knew where to look, all that remained was to act. 

If she delayed any longer, the Winter King might truly be resurrected.