Chapter 91
Inside the Imperial Chief Mage’s residence within the Imperial Palace of the Avalon Empire…
The soft glow of a mana communication device illuminated the modest room. A man dressed in a pure white cloak was sitting on a chair in front of the communication device.
“Evergrant…”
“Tower Master, it has been a long time.”
Imperial Chief Mage Evergrant bowed slightly in response.
The number of people who could receive such a greeting from Evergrant was limited, but he bowed his head down in respect to who he was talking to, anyways.
Not many people could make Evergrant pay them such a greeting, and Evergrant only bowed in respect because he was talking to Ian tun Murray, the leader of the Seven Mages, the current Tower Master of the Magic Tower, and the continent’s one and only Class 7 Mage. Evergrant was currently the Imperial Chief Mage of the Avalon Empire, but it was only natural for him to respect Ian because of their relationship.
“Did something happen?” asked Evergrant when he saw the sadness in Ian’s eyes.
“Nothing much. It’s just I’m short on workers because you left all of a sudden,” replied Ian.
“That is something I cannot refute, so please accept my apologies, Master.” Evergrant bent his head and apologized.
“No. That’s not why I called you. You know, I just noticed this, but as I get older, I get more grumpy toward my subordinates.”
“...”
Tower Master Ian carefully asked after looking at the silent Evergrant, “Is the emperor treating you well?”
“Yes. He gives me everything I need to the point that I’m starting to feel like I’m undeserving.”
“That’s good.”
When Ian’s words fell, there was a moment of silence. Tower Master Ian’s expression turned stiff, and he suddenly gave off a solemn air as he said, “I am aware of your ambitions. I know it’s the reason you accepted the emperor’s offer.”
“...”
“He’s leading Avalon in a dictatorship-like type of leadership, but you have a few good options with you. You see, I already know that you’re supporting the Fourth Prince.”
“Tower Master—” Evergrant started.
However, Tower Master Ian interrupted him. “You made such the worst decision possible. I don't believe that the Fourth Prince will inherit the throne.”
“...”
“It would have been better if you gained the favor of the First Prince or the Second Prince.”
“I have nothing to say…” Evergrant wanted to make a few excuses for himself, but he knew there was no way he could even say anything else after hearing Tower Master Ian’s words.
After all, what Ian said was true. In fact, it was even logical because the First Prince and the Second Prince were currently in the lead. However, Evergrant felt something different when he first saw the Fourth Prince.
“Jack is dead.”
“What?” Evergrant’s eyes widened. He seemed confused as he muttered, “This…”
“Someone killed Jack.”
“What? How could that be?”
Evergrant’s mouth was agape. He seemingly couldn't believe the revelation.
“I reached out to you for a request and favor,” Ian said before continuing, “Evergrant con Aswald, I would like to offer the empty seat to you. I want you to be a member of the Seven Mages and take the Thunder seat.”
“Tower Master!” Evergrant exclaimed in surprise.
“I believe becoming a seatholder will be more beneficial to you when it comes to realizing your future goals. It should be of greater help to you than the strange decision you have made by following the Fourth Prince.”
“Why do you have to put it that way…” Evergrant shook his head in pain and bit his lips before saying, “I can’t accept the offer.”
“I knew you would say that.” Tower Master Ian laughed.
“Perhaps the Fourth Prince really has the potential, and I know you’re not the type to make hasty decisions.”
“...” Evergrant kept his mouth shut.
“The other thing is the Avalon Empire's Secret Treasury. Only by reaching the position of the Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights Order can one gain the privilege of accessing that place once a year. It's not a secret treasury just in name but an actual treasury that contains gems and rare stones.”
“You knew about it, Master?” asked Evergrant. It seemed that he had no intentions of making an excuse or concealing the matter.
Ian nodded in response.
“A mage should always be in pursuit of the truth.”
“...” Evergrant remained silent.
“Mages should always pursue the truth and quench their curiosities,” Ian muttered.
“My offer will always be available for you. I’ll keep the seat tidy for you just in case you returned,” Ian added.
“Master…” Evergrant was touched.
“It is shameless of me to ask for a favor like this, but I hope you understand,” said Ian.
“Master, please let me help.”
“We finally discovered where Jack went. Fortunately, he used a Warp Gate, so it wasn’t that hard for us to locate where he went,” said Ian with a grim look.
Evergrant nodded. Indeed, the Magic Tower owned those Warp Gates, so it wouldn’t be difficult for them to track those who used them.
“Where?” asked Evergrant.
As if he had been waiting for that question, Ian responded in a low voice, “The capital of the Avalon Empire, Arcadia.”
“...!”
“And that’s where you are...”
Evergrant flinched.
The history Joshua was familiar with was changing bit by bit—silently and unbeknownst to him.
***
After Joshua left, Icarus muttered to himself, “I’m one of his men?”
Joshua von Agnus. Icarus wanted to follow after the former, but he had already left. In addition, Joshua even gave him an opportunity to show his worth.
Icarus' face flushed. Whenever he recalled Joshua’s face and the conversation they had that day, he would always find himself blushing.
“I’ll prove my worth and make him ask me to be one of his comrades…”
Icarus laid out his plans.
All of a sudden, the door opened with a creak.
“Are you alone?”
“Agareth?”
Icarus suddenly turned his head and was caught off guard.
He was shocked because Agareth was wearing nothing but his underwear.
“W-w-where are your clothes?”
“Ah, I was just about to hop into the shower…” Agareth tilted his head and asked, “Why's your face so red? Are you sick?”
“No, I’m not sick… I just… I just feel a bit hot…”
Agareth nodded at the muttering Icarus.
“That’s great to hear. Anyway, how about we shower together?”
“...!” Icarus blushed so deep it couldn’t be any redder as he exclaimed, “No, thank you!”
Icarus turned away and avoided Agareth’s gaze before escaping and slamming the door shut behind him.
Agareth could only mutter, “What was wrong with him?”
Only Agareth's confused voice could be heard in the empty room.
***
"It has been a long time since I've seen you in person."
Joshua whispered regretfully as he gazed at the towering imperial palace in front of him.
He had the most vivid memories of this place.
He had lived here before. It was his house, but it had never been his home.
He was more familiar with this place rather than the Agnus Duchy. After all, he stayed by Kaiser’s side here for a very long time.
“No… The battlefield felt more like home for me rather than this place.”
Joshua bitterly smiled.
Joshua had spent the majority of his life on battlefields.
As such, the battlefield full of rotten bodies and the smell of rust in the air was more familiar to him than anywhere else.
“Stop! This is the Imperial Palace of the Avalon Empire. Unauthorized visits are prohibited.” When Joshua arrived in front of the imperial palace's magnificent outer wall, an imperial guard at the gate blocked him. “Please produce proof of your identity.”
The imperial guards remained cautious and courteous despite Joshua’s young appearance. After all, the imperial palace wasn’t a place for children to visit on their own. In addition, they were simply doing what they had to do.
Joshua awakened from his stupor and said, “I’m here for Berche’s Bloody Battle.”
“Wait, what?” One of the imperial guards side-eyeing Joshua from the start chuckled at Joshua’s reply. “Do you even understand the meaning of the words you just said?”
“Ribery! He’s a visitor of the imperial palace, what kind of attitude is that?” said one of the guards. However, he grimaced when he saw Joshua for the first time.
Ribery saw that and said, “Bunto… your attitude is what annoys me the most. Has there ever been a time when a kid like this guy came alone and seek entrance into the imperial palace?”
“That’s…” Bunto didn’t know what to say.
Ribery laughed at that. “See, is this your first time seeing a kid trying to enter the palace?”
Afterward, Ribery turned to Joshua and hissed before saying, “Little guy. The people here are busier than you think, I’ll forgive you this time, so you should scoot away now. Just come back after you’ve grown some height and weight.”
Ribery mockingly shooed Joshua away. However, it was understandable from their perspective. After all, it was unprecedented for a child to visit the towering and overwhelming imperial palace by themselves.
“...”
Joshua sighed deeply.
‘I don’t even know what to say or where to begin…’
“This kid even had the balls to say something about Berche—”
“Stop scolding the kid,” Bunto remarked.
Ribery shrugged and crossed his arms in front of his chest before stepping closer to Joshua, who was seemingly in the midst of an internal struggle.
“Ah!”
Joshua finally discovered the best way to get out of this situation.
Joshua smiled and stepped closer to Ribery as well.
“You’re not going away?” said the annoyed Ribery.
“Go and send the message. I, Joshua von Agnus, have come here per His Majesty's instruction.”
“What kind of nonsense…”
Joshua slowly pumped mana into the ring on his finger as Ribery started cursing.
Whoosh!
A resounding boom reverberated, and the eyes of the two soldiers widened in astonishment.
“T-The Agnus Family Crest!”
Ribery exclaimed, and his voice echoed for quite a while.
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