Chapter 28
When they arrived in Thebe, Caron and his group were quickly escorted to a luxurious mansion situated in the northern part of the city. This mansion was known for its opulence, and was reserved for important guests whenever they visited. In the grand reception room, which was far more splendid than most noble estates, they were greeted by an unfamiliar host.
"Thank the heavens! I am so relieved that such precious people are safe. The moment I saw your faces, I felt immense relief... I will be going back to the temple today to offer my gratitude," said a man who was dressed in formal attire, sounding almost as if he was confessing. He was Mayor Grine, the head of the Thebe Autonomous Territory.
Mayor Grine forced a smile as he looked at the direct descendants of the Leston family before him.
Truly, thank goodness, he thought to himself .
When he first heard the news that the train carrying the duke's family had been attacked, it felt as though the world was closing in on him. Mayor Grine could only imagine the devastation that would have ensued if any of them had been injured or killed during the attack. Azureocean Castle would have mobilized all its forces and swept through the city in retaliation.
Although the worst had been avoided, the situation was far from resolved.
"The Thebe Autonomous Territory pledges its full cooperation in this matter. We will do everything in our power to assist in the investigation and prove that Thebe was not involved in this attack," Mayor Grine declared with conviction as he clenched his fists.
However, Caron, who had been listening quietly, remained unimpressed. His expression was indifferent as he remarked, "You don't quite match the description Hans gave."
Hans interjected, "Given the circumstances... Mayor Grine, please, just act as you usually would. This isn't like you."
"Ha ha, Sir Hans, what are you saying?" Mayor Grine chuckled nervously.
Hans continued with a subtle nudge, "We're well aware that the Thebe Autonomous Territory isn't involved in this attack. There's no need to be so tense. It seems you've changed quite a bit since we last met."
At Hans's gentle urging, Mayor Grine let out a deep sigh of relief and said, "If I had known that this position would be a poisoned chalice, I would never have taken up the role of mayor. Sir Hans, what can I possibly do in this situation?"
"You were full of charisma when you were the Minister of Finance," Hans remarked with a hint of nostalgia.
"People are shaped by their environment. Now, I find myself in a situation where I must bow my head no matter what. It's the burden of responsibility that comes with this position. Who could have predicted that my grand retirement plans would end up like this?" Mayor Grine replied.
As Caron saw the mayor practically ready to kneel, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "I'm not here to hold you accountable, Mayor Grine. Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable."
"I'm deeply ashamed, Young Master Caron," Mayor Grine said hesitantly.
"Speak freely, Mayor Grine. You're a senior figure, and I'm not thick-skinned enough to insist on formalities. Please just call me Mr. Caron," Caron replied.
"I couldn't possibly use informal language with a member of the esteemed Ducal Family of Leston..."
"Then by all means, go ahead and kneel," Caron responded with a hint of amusement in his tone.
"I—No, I misspoke," Mayor Grine quickly corrected himself, trying to suppress a chuckle. "My knees have been troubling me lately anyway. I'll graciously accept your offer, Mr. Caron."
Mayor Grine sighed lightly as he settled into the chair opposite to Caron. The young grandson of the Leston family had always been a figure shrouded in mystery, who had never once appeared in public. Though Leo Leston, seated next to him, had attended a few official events, Caron had remained in the shadows. Mayor Grine had always been curious about him. Now he wondered if it was Caron, the son of Fayle Leston, who really handled the Leston family's diplomatic affairs.
"So, how is your father doing?" Mayor Grine asked as he steered the conversation toward familiar territory.
"Do you know my father well?" Caron asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course. Not just your father, either. I'm on brotherly terms with your maternal grandfather, Gyle," the mayor explained.
"You're showing your political side, Mayor Grine. Look at you, bringing up connections like this," Caron remarked.
"In life, few things are as important as relationships. That's my belief," Mayor Grine said as he took a sip of the water that Caron had poured for him, moistening his dry lips.
It was remarkable how this thirteen-year-old boy was the one controlling the atmosphere of the room. However, the thing that struck Mayor Grine as odd was that Hans and Leo naturally accepted the situation.
There had been rumors in the capital about Caron, the youngest grandson of the Leston family, being exceptionally clever even before he entered Azureocean Castle. At the time, Mayor Grine had dismissed these rumors as exaggerated tales typical of noble circles, but now he realized he could have misjudged Caron.
So there was a reason that his maternal grandfather was so fond of him, he thought when he observed Caron. Despite having just survived a near-death experience, Caron's eyes still sparkled with sharp vitality. He was definitely far beyond his peers.
"Alright, shall we get to the main point now?" Caron asked, breaking the silence.
"It seems you have something you want to discuss," Mayor Grine replied, sensing the shift in tone.
"Of course. Although I know you're not involved in this incident, Mayor Grine, that doesn't mean all suspicions surrounding the Thebe Autonomous Territory are completely cleared," Caron said. He smiled as he looked at Mayor Grine and continued, "We haven't had a chance to investigate thoroughly, given the chaos, but the explosion that derailed the train showed no traces of mana. In other words, it was caused by simple explosives."
He wasn't referring to the final explosion, which was caused by a self-destruction spell. The earlier blast that had destroyed the tracks was caused by pure, non-magical explosives, of the kind used in mining operations. Such explosives were assets directly controlled by the empire.
"I think there are two possibilities. The first is that someone diverted explosives from the imperial armory. But honestly, that's far-fetched. It's a highly secure institution with strict oversight," Caron said.
"You're right. All explosives produced by the empire are closely monitored by the Intelligence Department," Mayor Grine agreed.
"Alright, so that leads us to the second possibility." Caron's gaze drifted to the view of Thebe outside the mansion. He said in a low voice, "Smuggling."
Mayor Grine exhaled deeply as the weight of the situation pressed down on him.
"There are many smugglers in Thebe, aren't there? I've heard rumors that some trading companies are secretly involved in that practice. Is that true?" Caron asked.
Apart from the empire, there was one other nation on the continent known for producing high-quality explosives. It was the empire's neighboring country, the Pajar Sultanate. Seeing as the 6-Star knight who had attacked Caron was from a country known for smuggling explosives, the chances were high that they had brought the explosives in from there.
"It seems more likely that it's the latter possibility," Caron said.
"Are you really thirteen years old, Mr. Caron? I'm being serious," Mayor Grine asked, his tone conveying a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
"I suppose I am a bit too cute for my age, aren't I?" Caron replied with a playful smile.
"Haha. There's no way Lord Fayle could have taught you all this... but you're right. Your reasoning makes sense," Mayor Grine said.
"Please just remember one thing," Caron continued, his tone turning serious. "Members of the Oceanwolf Knight Order and servants of the Leston family were killed."
Mayor Grine suddenly realized that the conversation had turned into a negotiation. This young boy was laying out his points, preparing to make demands. And there was no way for him to refuse.
He knew that if he refused, he'd be seen as complicit. Accusations of aiding in an attack on the Leston family would fall squarely on him, along with the crime of destroying the train tracks. His instincts, honed by years in central politics, were sounding alarms.
"You can take your time to think it over, and even have a cigarette if you'd like," Caron suggested.
"Hmm? How did you know that I smoke?" Mayor Grine asked, surprised.
"The scent isn't completely masked by your cologne," Caron replied.
"I'm not so rude as to smoke in front of guests," Mayor Grine replied as he tried to regain his composure. He wondered what exactly the boy was waiting for. After all, he already knew that Caron was aware he was just a puppet.
A sharp-minded person like Caron would definitely know that. After all, the Leston family and the Oceanwolf Knight Order were known for their excellent intelligence networks. The real power lay entirely with the council, or more precisely, with the large merchant guilds that controlled it. That meant discussing this matter with the council was the right approach.
"Mayor Grine! Mayor Grine!" A voice interrupted Mayor Grine's thoughts as the door to the reception room burst open. His secretary hurried in, looking panicked.
"I'm in the middle of a conversation with our guests. If you keep acting like this, I'll have no choice but to consider firing you," Mayor Grine said sternly.
"Being fired isn't an issue, Mayor Grine. It's about the capital..."
"I've already heard that the imperial guards have been dispatched to investigate," Mayor Grine interrupted.
"It's not just the imperial guard. The Director of the National Tax Service is coming, personally leading Special Division One. They're planning an extensive tax audit of the entire Thebe Autonomous Territory," the secretary answered.
Mayor Grine's eyes widened in realization. "The current Director... That would be Gyle... Ah!"
Gyle Periton had been the Director of the National Tax Service for many years, earning him the nickname "Demon of the Tax Office." He was also the grandfather of the young boy sitting before him.
Mayor Grine finally understood what Caron had been waiting for.
"Is this the news you were expecting, Mr. Caron?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of admiration and resignation.
Caron took a sip of water, smiling broadly as he said, "My grandfather is very fond of me. Oh, do you know the motto of the Leston family, Mayor Grine?"
"I'm quite curious. What is it?"
"Repay kindness tenfold, and debt a hundredfold," Caron replied.
"That's a motto that speaks to the greatness of the Leston family," Mayor Grine said with a nod of agreement.
"My conclusion is that there's a collaborator in this city, and I intend to find them," Caron said.
Mayor Grine couldn't help but chuckle. He had noticed the peculiar gleam in the boy's eyes earlier, and now understood it. Suddenly, the image of the Leston family's emblem, the wolf, flashed in his mind. The Azure Wolves, as people called them, suited Caron perfectly.
"If you appear weak, you'll be devoured. That's a good mindset to have," he said as he recognized the strength behind Caron's young demeanor. And he also realized what this young wolf wanted.
"So, what can I do to help?" he asked, fully aware that the shining city of Thebe could soon be caught in a storm of bloodshed.
***
After their meeting with Mayor Grine, Caron and his companions were given the time to rest. The official investigation was set to begin only after Zerath arrived in Thebe. Until then, they would have some free time.
"Hey, Caron, why does everyone seem so terrified when your grandfather's name comes up?" Leo asked as he sprawled out on a lavish bed in a bedroom filled with luxurious items.
Caron smiled in satisfaction as he eyed a bottle of liquor on the table. He picked up the bottle, examining it carefully before answering, "It means they've got something to hide."
"But your grandfather is just a civil servant, isn't he?" Leo continued.
"Not all civil servants are the same. He married into the family of Grand Duke Halo, after all. Do you really think he's just any civil servant?"
Gyle Periton was the Director of the National Tax Service, and he'd held his position longer than anyone else in the empire's history. He had also maintained the title of the empire's most feared official for nearly twenty years. Caron knew his grandfather well. He knew exactly what kind of person Gyle was and how he would react when his grandson was in danger.
"The people here didn't seem too scared of the imperial guards, but as soon as they heard about Special Division One, they froze up. Are those guys really that terrifying?" Leo asked from his spot on the bed, firing off questions one after another.
Caron gave a slight nod to Hans, who sighed before stepping in and answering, "Those of Special Division One of the National Tax Service are known as the 'devils of the tax office.' They'll do whatever it takes to collect taxes and are also known to be a heavily-armed group."
"Why would you need armed forces just to collect taxes?" Leo asked, his eyes wide in surprise.
"There's no guarantee that taxpayers will always be cooperative," Hans explained. "Special Division One recruits primarily from the Imperial Guards and the regular army."
Leo's eyes grew even wider. For a fifteen-year-old, the complexities of the adult world were hard to grasp. He said, "Wow... That's intense. So, you really have to pay your taxes..."
"And you actually believed that?" Caron teased.
"Was that a lie?" Leo asked, confused.
"Think about it. Does it make any sense for the Tax Service to run a military unit? You need to study more, you stupid cousin," Caron retorted before turning to Hans. "And Hans, well done. That was a convincing story."
"Next time, please deceive him yourself," Hans replied, exasperated.
"It wouldn't have the same effect if I did it," Caron said with a chuckle.
They continued to banter, using jokes to ease the tension. But Caron knew there was a kernel of truth in what Hans had said.
In the empire, taxes were seen as a duty owed to the beloved empire and the imperial family. Anyone who failed to pay was essentially disrespecting the emperor. If large trading companies or nobles refused to pay, the Tax Service had the authority to request military support from the Imperial Guards.
"Special Division One usually deals with large-scale tax evaders like the big trading companies. To put it simply, they're like a natural predator to the people here," Caron explained.
Thebe was closer to the capital, Decus, than to the Leston territory. That meant people dispatched from the capital would arrive before Zerath did.
"But Young Master Caron, there's a high chance the Imperial Guards will take charge of the investigation. By law, any crime related to the railway falls under the jurisdiction of the imperial family," Hans pointed out with concern.
Caron's lips curled into a sly smile and said, "That's why I've already made preparations."
"Oh... I see," Hans said, suddenly understanding.
"We'll let the imperial guards handle the railway investigation while we take on Mayor Grine's request to find whoever smuggled the explosives into the city," Caron explained.
The incident had claimed the lives of three knights and two servants. Many others were injured, some seriously. If it hadn't been for the remaining knights and Urhan, who was trained in emergency medical care, there could have been even more casualties.
"Whoever planned and carried out this attack, they will pay dearly for it," Caron said as he clenched his fist.
That was the law of Azureocean Castle: A life for a life.