Chapter 59
Q1LQ3lNAt the knight’s sudden shout, all eyes turned in their direction for a moment.7avlS
8JKxfcDespite the surrounding attention, the knight dismounted immediately and approached Lucian.QjT
vtxP1qJ“Why are you standing in line here? If you’d just come forward a bit, we would’ve let you in right away…!”9jFlJ
863e8y“Excuse me, who are you? I don’t believe we’ve met.”9tOwYhq
MlD“I took part in the suppression of the recent rebellion alongside Captain Jurgen. We didn’t get a chance to speak, so it’s natural that Count Lucian doesn’t remember me.”amHt
0H7I see. He must have been one of the knights who stood with Jurgen.9Ia1cP
CtZCeDSo he would have directly witnessed Lucian’s actions when he charged in to rescue the First Prince.OqrS
C2tGIiThat explained why he showed such deference—not toward the family, but toward Lucian personally.Hol
XxuSensing the gathering gazes, Lucian lowered his voice as much as possible.BiPK
L69“The truth is, this isn’t an official visit on behalf of the family. It’s a personal matter, so I didn’t want to draw attention. Besides, I heard that if you waited a little, you could get in fairly quickly, so I was just waiting here.”QS0m
VKMCai“Ah, then you came at a bad time.”jLI
m79IkjThe knight clicked his tongue briefly and looked around.ERL
ZpUfdFortunately, although attention had gathered, Lucian’s identity hadn’t yet been revealed. After thinking for a moment, the knight leaned toward his ear and whispered.1VO
I0E5“Follow me. I’ll get you in first.”dAVr0md
g0zcJp“I’d rather avoid drawing attention… if possible.”Nqr
Zru9X“There’s a different entrance we use in emergencies. If you go in through there, no one will be following you.”8ll
eCtY6Lucian’s eyes lit up. If there really was such a gate, even if it drew some attention at first, no one would be able to track them afterward.8I42GD
BPO5PL6Any curious onlookers would soon lose interest when they couldn’t find him.cttB
Iyg0P“But is it okay for me to use that entrance? From what you say, it sounds like a passage others aren’t supposed to know about.”UkEoEP2
v3vS“It’s not exactly a secret passage. It’s just strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel. But someone of your status, Duke Lucian, can use it without any issue.”9PKYg
VeUG“Are you sure? If it’s not allowed and we have to come back, we’d become a laughingstock.”2f5o8P
dOeb“Captain Jurgen is responsible.”SDYI
3g1dxlAh, then there was no issue. Jurgen owed Lucian quite a bit from the allied army.9BGMH
xPiHe had left a good impression to the very end; if asked, he would definitely let them in.R46We6K
PFK4lh“Alright. I’ll leave it to you.”JWub0O8
jjGMHW***svNuM
xoKLucian and Raymond left the line, following the knight.eoLBG
qxKAs they moved away, the stares that had gathered began to dissipate.Tz1Gj
LKau4FOnce they had gained some distance, Lucian looked back at the spot where he had been waiting.F5mspqD
RKEJust as the merchant said, it was impossible to get in from that position in a single day.b6PSOjn
Zh8mXKV“What was that about the line moving quickly? I almost ended up sleeping under the stars.”TDU
DzmD4O“Hey, how was I supposed to know they suddenly tightened the procedures like that?! It really used to be fast.”VLCljkt
bFwRaymond defended himself with an unfair expression, muttering excuses.0H0gXkf
KbXiOThe knight who had overheard their conversation gave a wry smile.9y1Y
U5e“He’s not entirely wrong. Before, you would’ve entered quickly. You just came at the wrong time.”aOa2hDi
27Hmx“Is the stricter identity verification because Krephelt broke the Grand Accord?”j0EZ9
jYvLg“Yes. Once the Grand Accord was broken, we don’t know what kind of tricks they’ll try.”HCut
MP94AThe Grand Accord was, in theory, an unwritten rule of the battlefield, but it had been respected across the continent for centuries, giving it significant weight.jQX
Ee9YBreaking it meant that Krephelt had thrown away both honor and appearances.PXGXc
jLpKSvt“It wouldn’t be surprising if they attempted assassinations, or even committed acts so vile they’re hard to speak of. In the worst case, even the citizens of the capital could be affected. To prevent that, thorough identity checks are necessary.”FfOm
1PbnrQ7Lucian silently nodded.zO5x
Lx5ilpHTo think that someone who broke the Grand Accord wouldn’t send assassins was like believing a necromancer who sacrifices people would refrain from violence.kcs
QYzv“A well-trained assassin can pass an identity check without issue, but the more filters we have, the better. If we catch even one by chance, the heightened inspections will have been worth it.”pw2
w0IHCx“Exactly. In times like these, security is the top priority. It’s a natural measure.”lWBRm
uzC50B7“Thank you for understanding. Ah, we’ve arrived.”ENY4dk9
YmqbThe knight stopped in front of a section of the wall. Seeing only a smooth surface with nothing unusual, Lucian blinked.NVx
odifIiFWhere was the entrance?GEcbdq
GnTEdtSThen the knight firmly pressed one of the carved reliefs on the wall.VsvdQJ
07nMClack, clank.kr4
MgkPe“Don’t underestimate the dragon’s wings for being thin.”21neM
5HGy5vAlong with the sound of a mechanism activating, a voice echoed from within the wall.kmF6LWA
wrAJpJJust as Lucian wondered how it was possible to hear a voice through such a thick wall, a small opening appeared.w73
1vpOvtrFrom that hole, too small for even an arm to pass through, the knight shouted.tgAnkq
0wfe“With those thin wings, the dragon watches over all the mountains of the world.”tLnsQ7
eNA“Identify yourself.”43r0402
UeqOnce the password had been used, a second verification followed from the other side. The knight replied calmly, as if he were used to this.UUbqxCt
agF8U“Glenn, of the Black Scale Knights. While on patrol, I encountered a distinguished guest, so instead of using the main gate, we came here.”J0uf
zbitotz“A distinguished guest? You brought an outsider here knowing this entrance is forbidden to anyone who isn’t authorized personnel?”Tu4aqrr
blaBaSThe voice that echoed back was filled with deep displeasure.3Rpj9MQ
yTptcIt sounded like they were ready to shut everything down on the spot, but Knight Glenn didn’t even flinch.wFPCw
EkE“That’s right.”LetshH
0FaKANG“And who exactly is this ‘distinguished guest’ for you to break even the most basic rules?”tXpp7
RQsps“He’s Young Lord Lucian. You must’ve seen him yourself on the battlefield.”5jR
gAIApPClack, clank, click.ul9f
xIvFYInstead of a reply, what they heard was the sound of a mechanism activating.n0M
Ka5At the same time the small hole closed, each block of the wall began to shift.NB4J
WbfLizWhen it fully opened, it revealed an entrance wide enough for five people to ride through on horseback.wBOsRt
Fpe3Vy6“Go ahead.”XGV9rU
13uU“…”E9NPZ8
68deLucian and Raymond exchanged a glance before stepping inside. Seeing the thickness of the wall and the complexity of the mechanism, Lucian couldn’t help but admire it silently.pPH
i9pP‘Since it has mechanisms, I thought it would be a weak point against impact, but there’s no way to enter without someone opening it from the inside.’l1u
ZAqYyL“Young Lord Lucian!”VdGUz
pZXco1As soon as they entered the wall’s interior, the knights waiting on the other side removed their helmets and bowed deeply.9b8no
bDQccB0Faced with such a display of respect, Lucian quickly dismounted and tried to stop them.1aI
45GglU“Please, that’s enough. Such excessive treatment puts me in an awkward position.”0bQ1k
tQdEZJ“How could it be excessive? The day you came to rescue His Highness the First Prince and us is still engraved in our minds.”To8G
s9h5kd7Seeing the bright eyes of the knights, Lucian gave a wry smile. Judging by their expressions, they seemed to see him as a rising hero.OdiK
8EN0DyWith that kind of attitude, trying to stop them would do no good. In the end, Lucian decided to give in and accept their goodwill.9b7y
eEZRe“If you must insist, then please help me finish my business quietly and return without causing a scene. This is not an official visit, so I’d rather not attract attention.”vypSSR
lgw“Of course. We’ll take care of the horses, so in the meantime, feel free to explore the capital at ease. Ah, and allow me to give you this as well.”1cBmiOy
bOjEjThe knight pulled something from his chest and handed it to Lucian.pSYKXPG
Ifd6When he took it, he saw it was a bronze plaque engraved with the claw of a black dragon.Yd8LaIj
NPp“Due to the recent war, the atmosphere in the capital is quite tense. Security checks have been tightened, so if you want to avoid trouble, show this plaque. In most cases, they’ll let you pass.”a6G6p
RRa“I appreciate the consideration.”2duFr
zlP5Z9Lucian also took the matching plaque for Raymond, and guided by the knights, entered the capital.cFU7h
aWovbaThe interior of the wall connected with the outer training field of the Black Scale Knights’ garrison.Pz8F
02t89POIf someone entered there unknowingly, they’d risk being discovered by knights mid-training—and possibly cut down on the spot.DQ3Z
FNEqr“It’s completely a secret passage. Is it really a public place?”Qd7
CUAI“To be precise, it became public about fifty years ago. It’s not openly announced, so we keep it discreet, but those who need to know, know.”tAXsbd
5X3znskIn other words, it wasn’t made public by choice—it was discovered, and they had no other option.9KvY
ZPExOtherwise, there would be no reason to hide an entrance in the wall for centuries.USL
IwOvxya‘If they revealed it immediately after being discovered, it’s likely there are other similar passages.’LDO
cI0voRIf it had been the only valuable passage, they would have silenced anyone who found it.PZ4
WUycVwjThinking about that, Lucian felt a chill at the true power of the imperial family.Qbu
HitUUx‘With strength like that, how did they collapse so helplessly during the time of chaos?’A5zpqpK
trFXmO6“This connects to the exterior of the knights’ building. It’s a secluded and quiet area—ideal if you want to finish your business and leave unnoticed.”F5v7v
HU1“Thank you. I won’t forget your help today.”pHoh9
9Ok“By the way, what about lodging? We could offer you a room…”bbWe
S7z“I’ll take care of it myself, don’t worry. The help I’ve already received is more than enough.”Jzy8
6lfoVaLucian left immediately, before the knights could insist further. No matter how grateful he was, staying at the imperial knights’ garrison was uncomfortable.DLZv3Q7
Waa‘And more importantly, if I’m going to recruit the true creator of the Nectar, it’s best not to stay somewhere that draws so much attention.’mCId
aEy3kEven though it was now clear that Haide Forbor’s reputation was false, Lucian didn’t feel disappointed.OyzwDB
7XhxPJ7He still had a way to find the real one.Z5nL8G
XIAq***nwhB5n
OdA“No wonder they call it the jewel of the empire. What a magnificent city.”ED3m
aeSAdohAfter wandering through the capital, Tibron, Lucian murmured with a hint of nostalgia.XQKjQ
wsZHlkKelheim was also a large city, but Tibron, as the imperial capital, was clearly on another level.mQVBdPS
v305mg“If it weren’t for the gloomy mood after the failed rebellion, it would be perfect.”KYb
KVnEoua“There’s no helping it. The imperial palace hasn’t made any official announcements, and only vague rumors are circulating.”uN09r
toxWnR“Right. When the facts aren’t known, people’s imagination always jumps to the worst.”Uwr
zeS“By the way, why haven’t you gone to the guild? You’re just wandering around the city. I thought we came here to find an alchemist.”jahx
qQuOFRaymond looked at Lucian with a puzzled expression. In response, Lucian shook his head and smiled bitterly.PFH9n
LAeTktJ“He’s not someone you can find by going to the guild. There’s almost no information about him.”9yBTnP
r5g“Huh? Then how do you plan to find him?”IOeZXL
80gsIn“There are ways. Just walking around, I noticed that the northern slums have less security presence than other areas.”PvFj
U8CLjNo matter how much security is reinforced, there are always neglected areas.E43o
ga1The reasons vary depending on the city, but in Tibron, that area was the slums near the north gate.PEtEO
w47bfi“From now on, I plan to hang around the north gate area. Looking around like a clueless provincial.”sfZmYv8
6KZ“Huh? If you do that, you’ll attract underworld types. No matter how noble you are, if you’re a rural noble with no title, they’ll look down on you.”DlDH
IHhivNot all nobles were equal. Those with only lineage but no title were often looked down on—even by commoners.m573
gYfFhThey didn’t have the authority to punish disrespect directly, and other nobles saw them as pathetic too.ncYc
rBDRUxKThat’s why, in cities, it wasn’t unusual for provincial nobles to be harassed by thugs and stripped of their valuables.ZsIMH
UYevv“They’re not stupid enough to kill a noble, but you could end up in some annoying trouble.”OlRmFAA
xQVkW“That’s exactly what I want.”sET
WjoQ2YW“…?”fjqMO
k7CV“If you want information without revealing your identity, the best people to ask are those from that world.”0v0HGr
oOcepAt Lucian’s words, Raymond’s eyes widened—as if something finally clicked.JXQO
W2uVCX0Now he seemed to understand, at least partially, what Lucian was planning.TGbzf
eA0“It’s a rough method, but definitely the fastest. Even with the recent increase in security, they won’t give up their ‘business’ so easily, so it won’t take long for someone to show up.”RGVz9hm
ar9Oo0“I’m glad we understand each other. Have you done this before?”ZtoAK
mncQ“Not many times, but a few. You can expect good results.”z7wHxPN
OtQDf9“That’s great to hear.”xpNos
aOE1nZThe two exchanged a smile.2hsGzPv
KbTIt was time to cast the bait—and catch the fool who would give them the information they needed.Hn6qka
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