Chapter 64

Chapter 64 – The Royal Family’s Struggle (2)

Karnak asked for three days to decide whether to accept the mission. Anyway, just by looking at him, anyone could tell if he was related to a necromancer or not. So, he thought that three days would be enough to figure out whether the second prince had anything to do with the Dark Church.

It was a mistake. The capital, Delastas, was the central capital of Drunta. Karnak clicked his tongue as he stood outside the capital’s high barrier.

“Oh, I have a problem with this.”

Even if he had eyes that saw through all necromancy, he had to do the act of seeing first. As in the case of Gelpa Village, if a necromancy barrier was spread extensively throughout the village, it could be noticed from a distance, no matter how they kept it secretly.

However, if small-scale necromancy was cleverly used, as in the case of Count Vreeland, it would be possible to confirm it only by direct exploration. So, once he entered the castle, he had to see the second prince or the residence of the prince.......

“There’s no way to get in.”

How could Karnak, who had no ties to the royal family in the first place, approach Prince Alford’s residence buried deep in the palace? Put an audience request under the guise of the King’s Order? For what reason? Did he mindlessly look it up because he was suspicious?

Karnak would have to meet him well. Whether the allegations were true or not, that was enough to make him feel bad, and the displeasure of those in power differed from that of ordinary people. He had to check it out secretly.

So, for the past two days, Karnak’s party had been eagerly wandering around the capital, looking for an opportunity. And, of course, it didn’t work. Sitting together at the inn, Karnak dropped his shoulders.

“I have to give them an answer by tomorrow, so what now?”

Serati asked, saying she didn’t understand.

“Did you never think that this would happen?”

Acting so proudly, she thought Karnak had some kind of exquisite magic trick. She thought it would confirm the traces of the necromancer. He couldn’t believe she couldn’t even remember that was a problem.

‘Is this person really an idiot?’

As if making an excuse, Karnak grumbled.

“Well, it was easy to come in and out in the past.”

“How?”

The two ‘human bastards of yesteryear’ replied bluntly.

“I broke everything and went in, what?”

“I killed them all and went in.”

“Ah, yes......”

This was why biased experiences were dangerous. When infiltrating the hideout of a back alley criminal group, those who came up with all kinds of tricks couldn’t even think of how hard it was to get in and out of a country’s capital. Karnak also looked sullen, perhaps realizing his problem.

“When you think about it, it’s really obvious, but I don’t think about it until it shuts up.”

Scratching his head, he looked troubled.

“What? Do you take on a mission? But then, if there is no charge, I can’t come up with any excuses.”

Serati asked cautiously.

“First of all, why don’t you find out why you doubted the second prince?”

He must have been suspicious for some reason, and since the reason sounded reasonable, Captain Erantel must have regarded it as a serious matter and called Karnak.

Just an unknown wanderer came.......

“The 2nd Prince won! I thought he joined hands with a necromancer!”

“He couldn’t! What was the basis?”

“Just. Still, wouldn’t it be good to do some research?”

“Right! The King’s Order was out!”

“......There’s no way this could have happened, right?”

Barros shook his head.

“We know that much. But you have to be on a mission to find out.”

Even within the King’s Order, such detailed information was only given to the party on the mission.

“Well, the concern right now is whether or not to take on the mission?”

Karnak and Barros looked at Serati with expressions asking how they could not know this. So Serati responded with the same expression.

“No, so now you have an excuse!”

“Huh? You got an excuse?”

“Have you thought of a good way, Miss Serati?”

Serati groaned inwardly once more.

“Well, that’s all I know right now. They said that any further details would only be passed on to the person involved in the mission. I completely believe in the King’s Order as well.”

“You’re saying you can’t do it.”

Serati nodded.

“You’re cautious like a spy.”

From Prince Lloyd’s point of view, Captain Erantel was trustworthy enough. He had been loyal to the royal family for a long time and maintained a neutral position despite the secret struggles of the princes. So, he was rather reliable. Necromancer matters were beyond the realm of clandestine fighting.

But he couldn’t trust everyone in the King’s Order. It was common sense to be as careful as possible and be careful again, as he never knew where information might leak out. Conversing, the three of them continued to walk the streets of the capital.

Instead of neat buildings in the capital, shabby buildings replace the streets. A slum on the outskirts of the capital where the lower classes mostly live. Among them, a cluttered two-story building made of logs and boards was the meeting place.

Upon entering, a stout man with a deep robe covering his face was waiting for the party. The man looked around and asked.

“What are you doing, sir?”

Karnak laughed.

“For a spy, the smoke is so clumsy, isn’t it?”

Maybe he was trying to look like a common poor, but he was too good for that. Besides, if someone he didn’t know came, he should be puzzled. Why was he vigilant? Karnak took out the emblem from his chest and held it up.

“It’s the King’s order. Are you the one who received Highness Lloyd’s secret order?”

After checking the seal, the hooded man changed his tone.

“Right. Are you the ones chosen by Lord Erantel?”

For a moment, Barros was puzzled.

‘Isn’t the way he talks too high-class?’

Even for a spy, his tone was too high-handed. No, rather than being overbearing, wasn’t that a noble’s natural way of speaking?

“Are you a high-ranking aristocrat?’

That was weird as high-ranking aristocrats usually did not work as spies.

‘Be wary,’ Barros said.

“Now, it’s your turn to prove your identity.”

The man shrugged.

“The only physical evidence to prove my identity was a letter from the prince to the King’s Order.”

“You mean there’s no evidence?”

Barros brought his hand to the sword at his waist. Serati also slightly bent her knees. However, the opponent did not care.

“So, all I have to prove is my face......”

He lowered his voice as he brought his hand to his hood.

“I’ll tell you, but you’d be quite surprised by the look on my face. So, I want to ask you in advance not to panic.”

In front of the puzzled party, the man threw back his hood. A young man with dark black hair, sharp virtues, and a strong impression revealed his face. A mysteriously calm feeling mixed with an expression that seemed confident at first glance.

The moment they saw that face, the complexion of Barros and Serati hardened.

“Uh?”

“You are?”

They had never seen him in person, but it was a familiar face from the portrait. Due to the nature of the job, the King’s Order learned people’s impressions with life-like portraits made by dyeing with the magic of light, not glorified artistic portraits.

Thanks to you, he was able to find out right away.

“......Prince Alford?”

“What is this?”

The identity of the hooded man was Alford, the second prince of the Yusteel Kingdom. It was a situation they didn’t understand.

Was it the second prince himself who brought the suspicion that the second prince colluded with the Dark Church? But then something even more incomprehensible happened.

“You’re right. This face must be Alford’s.”

Touching his chin, the man smiled bitterly.

“But I am not Alford. It’s hard to believe, but.......”

Then, he pointed at himself and spoke calmly.

“I am the first prince, Lloyd Rudan Yusteel. The rightful heir of this country.”

[To be continued.]