Chapter 170. I Will Receive The Payment Afterward! (1)
News of the rebellion in Mejab, the capital of the Pajar Sultanate, spread rapidly. However, its impact was minimal.
That was because the rebellion had been crushed within three hours.
Executions were carried out immediately, and the citizens of Mejab trembled in fear. Even the nobles weren't spared from the bloodshed, and the common folk knew that the violence could easily spill over to them.
In the midst of this tense atmosphere, an armed group marched into the city. They wore armor emblazoned with the crest of a blue wolf. Their sudden appearance sent a chill through Mejab.
That was because...
"Sir Zerath, why does everyone look at us like that? It feels as if we're the villains," Leo remarked, glancing around from atop his horse.
"Young Master Leo, this is enemy territory. It's natural for them to look at us with fear," Zerath replied calmly.
The citizens of Mejab knew exactly who they were: The Oceanwolf Knight Order, the prestigious knight order representing the Ducal Family of Leston of the Orias Empire. Naturally, no one in Mejab would greet them with a warm welcome.
Leo surveyed the crowd slowly. In the empire, he was greeted with cheers wherever he went, but the Pajar Sultanate was a different story. Here, all he met were glares filled with resentment and hatred. Some didn't even bother to hide their hostility.
"Come to think of it, we haven't actually fought any bloody battles with the Sultanate in our generation," Leo mused.
"Before His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne, there was endless bloodshed. The Sultanate repeatedly tried to seize the empire's eastern breadbasket. If you'd paid attention in history lessons, you'd know that," Zerath replied dryly.
"...I know that much. But still, it's not as if we've waged war in our time," Leo countered.
Time should have dulled old hatreds. Generations had passed, and those who had shed blood were mostly gone; with them, the enmity should have faded.
Zerath gave a bitter smile to Leo's question.
"Sometimes, an enemy is more useful than an ally. A visible enemy unites your own people, as you can see right now," Zerath explained.
It was a relationship of enmity born out of political necessity.
Leo sighed and nodded, then said, "Politics is never simple. But Caron, that bastard..."
"Young Master Caron was known for his intelligence and sharp mind even as a child. Judging by his achievements, his political instincts are exceptional. He's secured quite a few interests for himself over the years," Zerath said.
"I suppose he is Impressive," Leo admitted with a nod.
Zerath and Leo had come to the enemy capital because of Caron. Upon hearing that Caron was being detained in the royal palace of the Pajar Sultanate, Grand Duke Halo had dispatched a special envoy led by Sir Zerath.
Thanks to this, Leo was freed from the disciplinary probation he'd been under. Ironically, the very person responsible for his punishment had long since escaped Azureocean Castle on his own.
Well, at least Leon and Hugo are still under probation. That makes me the lucky one, Leo thought.
The human heart was such a fickle thing. Knowing someone else was worse off could bring unexpected comfort.
Leo exhaled softly as he observed the city, then remarked, "Sir Zerath, the Caron I know would start a rebellion, not put one down."
"I agree," Zerath replied without hesitation.
"But do you really believe he played a key role in suppressing the rebellion? And in an enemy nation, no less?" Leo asked. Those words carried enough weight to warrant consideration.
After a brief pause, Zerath nodded thoughtfully and replied, "That's quite a plausible thought. So, do you believe the news is false?"
"Not exactly," Leo replied, scratching his head. "More like... He stumbled upon success by sheer accident, like a cow backing into a mouse."
"That does seem reasonable," Zerath agreed with a faint smile.
"If a bucket leaks inside, it's bound to leak outside too," Leo muttered.
"When it comes to Young Master Caron, I must admit you have sharper insight than I do," Zerath said.
Indeed, Leo had an uncanny intuition where Caron was concerned.
Before long, the Oceanwolf Knight Order under their command arrived at the palace gates. The guards stationed there blocked their path with spears crossed, their commander stepping forward to speak in slightly awkward Imperial tongue.
"From here, you must dismount from your horses. What is the purpose of your visit to the royal palace?" the commander asked.
Zerath responded fluently in the Pajar language, "We are the Oceanwolf Knight Order, protectors of the great Azureocean Castle. We come bearing letters from His Imperial Majesty and the Grand Duke himself."
The guard commander hesitated, which made Zerath and Leo curious as to whether it was because Zerath spoke their language fluently. After a moment, he bowed respectfully and replied, "The Sultan is expecting you."
There was something rigid, almost overly disciplined, about the guards. Some even seemed afraid of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, which piqued Zerath's curiosity. He furrowed his brows slightly, studying them.
They're supposed to be the elite guards of the royal palace. Why do they seem so... he thought.
Clearly, there was more to this than met the eye.
While Zerath observed in silence, Leo leaned in to whisper quietly, "...Could it be because of Caron?"
"What makes you think that?" Zerath asked.
"Even the guards at Azureocean Castle act the same way around him. The expressions are almost identical," Leo explained.
Leo's deduction was astute. After hearing his remark, Zerath glanced back at the guards' faces.
Yes, indeed... he thought.
The guards' averted gazes seemed to confirm Leo's theory. With a soft sigh, Zerath raised his hand and addressed the knights behind him. "Only Young Master Leo and I will enter the palace. The rest of you stay here and wait. Avoid unnecessary conflict. Understood?"
The knights of the Oceanwolf Knight Order responded with a thunderous shout, "Yes, Commander!"
Their voices echoed with discipline and resolve. After settling the matter, Zerath turned back to the guard commander and asked, "This should suffice, right?"
"Thank you for your cooperation. This way, please..." the guard commander said.
"Before we meet the Sultan, there's someone we need to see first—Caron Leston. Where is he now?" Zerath asked.
"C-Caron Leston, you say?" the guard commander asked, visibly trembling at the mention of Caron's name.
Seeing this, Zerath sighed and exchanged a glance with Leo. He murmured, "Seems we were right."
"It's Caron, after all," Leo replied with a shrug.
"...Let us proceed," the guard commander said, stepping aside.
And so, Zerath and Leo entered the royal palace.
***
Guided by the palace guards, Zerath and Leo managed to find Caron. The place the guards led them to was none other than a palace occasionally used by the Fourth Prince.
"W-We'll take our leave now!" one of the guards stuttered.
The moment they arrived at their destination, the guards retreated hastily, almost as if fleeing. Their eagerness to get away was palpable, as though lingering any longer could expose them to some unseen danger.
Zerath and Leo watched them disapprovingly.
"What on earth has Caron done this time?" Leo muttered, clicking his tongue and shaking his head.
"Let's go in for now," Zerath replied curtly, leading the way into the palace.
As they entered, the palace staff bowed respectfully, their manners impeccable despite the chaotic atmosphere within.
Zerath and Leo returned the gestures with brief nods, acknowledging the formalities as they made their way deeper inside. Eventually, they arrived at the Fourth Prince's chamber.
From within, a raucous scene unfolded.
"Drink! Come on, Saintess. To truly understand those drowning in liquor, one must experience the depths of drunkenness firsthand!" Caron shouted.
"I-Is that so?" the Saintess replied hesitantly.
"Of course! There's no need to hold back. Today, we will drink till dawn... Ah! Sir Ugo! Save some for the rest of us!" Caron said.
"The liquor is excellent. I like it," Ugo responded nonchalantly.
"C-Caron Leston... I can't drink anymore... Please, no more..." Prince Samir said weakly.
"Prince, you're such a lightweight. Saintess, can't you bless him or something?" Caron asked.
"Using a divine blessing for such a purpose is sacrilege," Seria said.
It was absolute chaos. A full-blown disaster, really. The stench of liquor was so strong it seeped through the doors.
Zerath let out a deep sigh before stepping into the scene.
Inside the room, four men and women were sprawled about, each clutching a bottle as if it was their lifeline. Empty bottles littered the room, rolling freely across the floor. It looked as though they'd plundered the royal liquor cellar.
Zerath, a self-proclaimed connoisseur, immediately recognized the value of the scattered bottles—rare vintages not easily found even in the empire.
"Ahem," Zerath cleared his throat loudly.
One of the drunken fools lazily turned his head, a bottle still pressed to his lips. The moment his blurry eyes met Zerath's stern gaze, a grin of pure delight spread across his face.
"Oh! Sir Zerath!" Caron called out.
"I rushed here out of concern, but clearly, that was unnecessary," Zerath replied dryly.
"Ha! I didn't expect Grandfather to send you," Caron chuckled.
"I informed you personally that I would be coming," Zerath said flatly.
"Ah, did you? Must've slipped my mind," Caron replied.
"How commendable," Zerath remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Caron, undeterred, peeked over Zerath's shoulder to spot Leo standing there with a scowl etched on his face.
"Sir Leo!" Caron shouted.
"Do we really need formalities between us?" Leo grumbled.
"Why the long face? You look like someone who has a problem with me. Actually, it's the kind of face that makes me want to punch you first thing in the morning," Caron said. The stench of liquor wafted over with every word he spoke.
Leo clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to suppress his rising frustration. He snapped, "Wouldn't you be mad if you were me?"
"Leo, why are you acting like that?" Caron asked.
"You talked everyone into getting drunk and causing trouble with Uncle Dales, then ran off on your own! And now I find you here, drinking in the palace of an enemy nation. You really think that wouldn't make me mad?" Leo replied.
"Well, if it bothers you that much... Go ahead. Punch me. I'll let you," Caron said as he leaned in, presenting his face like an open target. He repeated, "Go on. Hit me."
"Are you being serious?" Leo asked.
"I said I'd let you punch me, but I never promised I wouldn't hit back. So, make it count," Caron said.
He was still the same lunatic as ever. Leo could do nothing but tremble in response to Caron's nonsense.
I must endure this, Leo thought. There were too many unfamiliar faces around. Getting beaten up by Caron here would leave his dignity in shambles.
Caron, noticing Leo's restraint, patted his back as if proud of him. He said, "Wow, you've grown, Leo. You can hold back now. All that's left is for you to get married."
"...Shut up and introduce these people," Leo replied.
"Ah, right. You'll be seeing them quite often from now on," Caron said.
"From now on?" Leo asked.
"Something like that," Caron replied.
Whoosh.
A ripple of mana surged from Caron, and a tiny droplet formed at his fingertip. In an instant, he had purified the strong alcohol from his system using mana. Fully sober now, he began the introductions, starting with Seria.
"This is the Grand Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, Seria. Seria, please greet them. This is Sir Zerath, Commander of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, and this is my cousin, Leo," Caron said.
Seria stood up gracefully—or at least tried to.
"Pleased to... hic ... meet you... hic ... I'm Seri... hic ... a," Seria struggled to introduce herself.
"Is it Seri Hic?" Leo asked.
"S-Sorry... I drank too mu— hic ," Seria replied.
Despite her attempts at decorum, Seria wobbled unsteadily, clearly drunk. While her behavior could have seemed rude for a first meeting, Zerath and Leo merely clicked their tongues in sympathy.
Tsk tsk. Poor thing, getting caught up with a mad dog, Zerath thought.
That's rough, Leo mused.
Seria earned their pity from the very first encounter.
Next was Prince Samir of the Sultanate. He wasn't much better off, as he struggled to say, "Welcome... to the palace... gurg ... I hope... gurg ... you feel at ho— bleegh !"
Unable to hold it in, he vomited into a nearby bucket.
Caron shook his head in disapproval and muttered, "Spitting out something that expensive... tsk tsk. This is why princes are a problem. They don't appreciate the value of things."
With Samir's introduction done, only Ugo remained. He rose from his seat slowly, without needing to expel any alcohol. He was known for his legendary tolerance.
Zerath quietly observed Ugo's face and thought, ...Ugo Aegis.
Zerath recognized Ugo as one of the Imperial Guards from the same era as Grand Duke Halo, and also as a knight who had reached the pinnacle of 8-Star. Zerath still recalled his shock upon learning Ugo was in the Sultanate. The imposing aura radiating from the latter's massive frame was overwhelming.
"It's been a while, Sir Ugo," Zerath said in greeting.
"Sir Zerath, your skills have improved greatly since we last met. Was it ten years ago?" Ugo replied.
"Has it been that long already?" Zerath asked.
Caron's eyes sparkled as he listened. He then said, "Oh, you two know each other? I had no idea. That just leaves Leo. Leo, say hello. This man here is Sir Ugo Aegis, the Imperial Guard once favored by the Malevolent Emperor."
"The favored one wasn't me, but someone else," Ugo corrected.
"Let's just say you shared the favor," Caron said.
Ugo sighed softly and looked at Leo with a hint of pity. He said, "I've heard many stories. You must be Leo Leston."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Leo Leston," Leo introduced himself.
"...You've really had it tough, haven't you?" Ugo asked.
"Thank you for recognizing that... truly," Leo replied.
With the introductions complete, Caron nodded in satisfaction and turned to Zerath. "You're going to have an audience with the Sultan, right?"
"Yes, His Majesty the Emperor and the Grand Duke entrusted me with an official letter," Zerath answered.
"Perfect timing. They've probably settled the accounts by now. Let's go together!" Caron said.
"Accounts?" Zerath asked.
Caron grinned brightly and nodded, then said, "I helped suppress a rebellion. You think they'd let me leave empty-handed? I can even guess what's in that letter."
He brushed some dust off his clothes, looking excited as he added, "If you're interested, Sir Zerath, let me know. I'll make sure you get a proper share."
Zerath sighed.
"Nothing's more fun than raiding someone else's pockets. Heh," Caron said.
Zerath couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the Sultan.