✦ Chapter 101 – Wow, Rewards Pour In Aplenty! (1) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
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But the message didn’t end there.
New text, which hadn’t been there before, began to appear on the back of the carrier pigeon.
[Have you earned your reward?]
A straightforward question.
It seemed to be asking about the other deal they had discussed, the one that offered rewards beyond the promised Sun Elixir. In other words, it was asking if he had succeeded in stealing secret techniques from other Magic Towers.
‘This is tricky…’
The problem was…
‘I really need that Sun Elixir.’
He knew, better than anyone, how significant a single drop of Sun Elixir could be. He had to get his hands on it.
So he racked his brain, trying to come up with a way to present at least one secret technique… and it didn’t take long for a solution to present itself.
‘The Black Magic Tower.’
Teddy Devine, whom he had personally beheaded, had been nothing more than an assistant. That meant the true Black Tower Master was still out there, somewhere.
And, as he recalled, he knew where to find her. The scroll was in his possession, wasn’t it?
Perhaps the Black Tower Master would be willing to help him.
He made up his mind.
‘I need to meet with her.’
• • •
Inside the Black Magic Tower, in a large dormitory…
“Ugggh…”
“Gah…”
“I… I think I’m dying…”
As he entered the Black Tower, he found most of the Imperial Magic Tower mages sprawled across the floor, exhausted and barely clinging to life.
They resembled walking corpses, merely breathing, their souls seemingly drained from their bodies.
“They look like they’ve lost a lot of weight.”
Ezekiel muttered quietly.
They were so exhausted that they didn’t even acknowledge his presence.
No one bothered to lift their heads or offer a greeting.
He turned to Agnes, who was slumped against Tether, their backs supporting each other.
“They all look terrible, don’t they?”
“…Yes. The task you assigned, converting your notes into scrolls, has been completed, somehow. But everyone collapsed as a result.”
Even Agnes, normally so composed and efficient, looked terrible.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and she was massaging her temples as if trying to ward off a headache.
“Don’t exaggerate.”
Ezekiel clicked his tongue.
“Well, you all did well.”
He snapped his fingers, and fist-sized chunks of ice materialized, one for each of the collapsed mages, landing gently on their foreheads.
“Ah…”
“Hmm…”
Their groans now carried a tone of relief.
“Now that the scrolls are complete, there’s no reason to stay here any longer. Agnes, prepare for our return.”
He had the promised Sun Elixir, and the secret meeting had yielded a wealth of information. There was no need to linger here.
Just as they were preparing to leave, a voice called out to Ezekiel.
“Excuse me… Are you Master Ezekiel?”
“Hmm?”
He didn’t need to ask who they were; their clothes, emblazoned with the Imperial emblem, identified them as agents of the Imperial family.
While their physiques weren’t particularly imposing, their hands were rough and calloused. That was all I needed to know. They were scribes.
Ezekiel signaled them with his eyes.
“What brings you to this humble abode?”
“First, allow us to introduce ourselves,” one of them said, bowing respectfully.
“We are Imperial scribes, dispatched to assess your accomplishments and determine the appropriate rewards for your service during this expedition.”
“Rewards?”
Ezekiel tilted his head.
“I already received a message from His Majesty the Emperor.”
“A message directly from His Majesty the Emperor…?”
They seemed astonished to learn that the Emperor himself had sent the message but soon regained their composure.
”It seems word of your accomplishments has spread faster than we anticipated, Inspector. However, we were not sent by His Majesty.”
“Then…?”
“We are here at the behest of the Second Imperial Princess.”
The scribe discreetly revealed a scroll, its wax seal bearing the unmistakable imprint of the Second Imperial Princess.
“Her Highness instructed us to meticulously document every detail of your achievements and to ensure that you are generously compensated.”
Scribes, armed with brushes and scrolls, had already dispersed throughout the Magic Tower, diligently recording every detail; the state of the Magic Tower, the scrolls, the condition of the Black Magic Tower. Nothing escaped their notice.
The head scribe, distinguished by a traditional head covering, addressed him directly.
“As there is much to discuss, Inspector, perhaps we could relocate to a more suitable setting?”
“Very well.”
.
.
.
.
.
As Ezekiel and the head scribe made their way to the reception room, Tether and Agnes trailed behind them like obedient ducklings.
Agnes sent Ezekiel a telepathic message.
— Imperial scribes are known for their… rigorous interrogation methods, Inspector. They believe it’s the only way to ascertain the truth.
— And… what’s your point?
— …Don’t you find it strange? They’re usually not so… polite.
Agnes searched her memories, recalling her past encounters with Imperial scribes.
They had always instilled a sense of fear in her.
They were relentless in their pursuit of both accomplishments and flaws, and they showed no mercy to those who fell short of their expectations.
This… this unusual display of courtesy… it was unsettling.
— Perhaps the Second Imperial Princess gave them… specific instructions?
— That seems likely. They are known to be… exceedingly deferential to esteemed guests, especially those favored by the Imperial family.
So, this was what the Second Princess meant when she promised to take care of him. Ezekiel felt a surge of… gratitude.
She was truly a formidable ally.
Her influence within the Imperial court was clearly… significant.
They arrived at the reception room.
And soon, formal introductions were exchanged.
“Ezekiel, Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower,” he said.
“Veron. Head Scribe.”
Unlike Ezekiel, who had already taken a seat, the head scribe remained standing rigidly.
With a nod of his head, Ezekiel indicated for him to sit.
“Why don’t you have a seat? It’ll be more comfortable for our conversation.”
“Her Highness instructed us to treat you with the utmost respect, Inspector. Sharing a table… would be inappropriate. I am perfectly comfortable standing.”
“I’d be more comfortable if you just sat.”
“…Thank you for your consideration, Inspector.”
The head scribe seemed quite taken aback.
“Is such a thing really that surprising?”
“Apologies. This is very different from what I expected, and I reacted instinctively.”
The head scribe scratched the back of his head, looking rather sheepish.
“Given how the Second Princess emphasized repeatedly that we were to treat you as a distinguished guest, I assumed you would be as strict as she is.”
Ezekiel understood, but he was not a person bound by formalities, having rarely experienced lavish treatment in his life.
“That’s understandable. How about we get to the point?”
“Yes, let us proceed immediately.”
The head scribe unfurled a scroll and began underlining the already written notes as he verified them.
“Eliminating the bandits in the Black Territory, thwarting the Black Tower’s conspiracy, and setting a firm example with your decisive actions…”
The head scribe nodded approvingly.
“These are indeed remarkable accomplishments. Beyond mere achievements for the Magic Tower, you’ve upheld the imperial family’s honor.”
“I’m pleased to be recognized.”
“The scrolls are also quite notable. It will be interesting to see how they advance after the Imperial Magic Tower’s research.”
The scroll was rolled up again smoothly.
“That said, determining appropriate rewards for such deeds has been quite challenging. As a longstanding scribe, I rarely encountered cases warranting such compensation.”
Another, longer scroll was unfurled, likely detailing the rewards.
“Firstly, there is gold. Then, starting from at least the second floor of the Imperial Treasury, we have potions, armaments, and—”
“Hmm…”
The list was so extensive that it was almost tedious to listen to.
*Snap!*
Agnes and Tether created a three-way telepathic connection.
‘They’ve become quite efficient at this,’ Ezekiel thought quietly. Agnes and Tether, as a team, indeed had a good synergy.
— I think gold would be the best option, wouldn’t it?
Tether murmured first.
— I agree. We can decide how to use it later.
— But we could never acquire such valuable elixirs and artifacts with mere gold. We should choose wisely.
— Enough. Enough.
Ezekiel intervened.
— Why are you both debating over what I should receive?
— …
The two women blinked in silence.
After a moment of silence, Agnes communicated again.
— This is also part of my job, Inspector. You need to make the best possible choices to stay motivated, and a motivated Inspector will bring further success to the Imperial Magic Tower…
— I’m thinking it over, so just hold on.
*Click.*
He mentally cut off the telepathic connection with Agnes.
— Master, Agnes says to reconnect.
— Do you want to be cut off too?
— I will explain it to Agnes.
Ah, peace and quiet at last.
Ezkiel exhaled a plume of sunweed smoke and asked the scribe.
“Do I really need to decide today?”
“There’s no need for you to give an answer right now,” the scribe replied, shaking his head.
“I’m somewhat confused by your meaning.”
“It means that everything will be prepared for you. You can come and collect it whenever it suits you.”
“All of it? That means…”
“Yes, all the items listed just now are yours, Inspector.”
Ezekiel was momentarily speechless.
He had assumed he would need to choose just one item due to the enormity of the list. But to think everything was rewarded to him.
And yet there was more.
“Finally, please accept this.”
What was handed to Ezekiel was a piece of white paper, the size of a cheque, but only the words ‘5 hours’ were delicately written on it.
“What is this?”
“This is a time cheque. Think of it as a way to exchange for the Princess’s time whenever you wish.”
Five hours… with an Imperial Princess, on demand?
If that’s what it meant, then this was an extraordinary reward.
Ezekiel examined the cheque again.
“There’s no name on this. Should I assume this is for the Second Princess’s time?”
“It’s a blank cheque, so you can write in whichever Princess you wish. However…”
“However…?”
However? What was he about to say?
He instinctively felt a sense of foreboding.
“The fact that you’ve received a time cheque, and whoever it will be used on… All of this will be reported to the Five Princesses. That was her command.”
Ezekiel quickly extended the cheque back.
“…Just take it back.”
“Your refusal will also be reported, Inspector.”
Ezekiel suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck and glanced behind.
Agnes and Tether were looking at him as if they had witnessed the most extraordinary thing, their faces filled with admiration and envy.
Ezekiel closed his eyes tightly.
Could this really be considered a reward?
This… as a reward…?