『It could be good or it could be bad.』
"...What kind of vague answer is that?"
『It means that while it's clear something significant has started to go wrong, I don't yet know what it signifies. But one thing is certain.』
Mephistopheles' gaze towards Elric deepened.
『You are standing at the center of the axis that has started to twist—the inflection point.』
"...!"
***
"...So, you're saying you can't track them down?"
Judas ground his teeth at the report from his subordinate.
The more he thought about it, the more furious he became.
Even though it wasn't the subordinate's fault, the man had no choice but to bow his head slowly.
"Y-yes, that's correct."
"Hah!"
Judas was at a loss for words.
All the plans he had been carrying out in the Black Snowfield had fallen apart in an instant.
If only they had been able to hold things off until he arrived in the north, he might have found a way to salvage the situation.
But now, the matter had ended before it had even begun.
He was beyond frustrated—he was utterly defeated.
The Blood Wolf King, whom he had strained himself to turn into a mysterious force, had been wiped out in a puff of smoke.
"Was the Melvinger really that capable?"
Judas couldn't help but think so.
Who could have predicted that this variable, which he had never considered particularly important, would tighten around his neck like this?
Could it be that… that bloodline truly couldn't be denied?
'At this rate, the High Priest will surely reprimand me.'
The two powers that Gregory had tried so hard to obtain, Northern Wind and Winter blizzard, had completely slipped through his fingers.
Even if he tried to chase them down, the problem was that the situation didn't allow it.
'Damn those agents from the Inspection Bureau.'
How many valuable forces had been lost in the past few months because of their relentless pursuit?
In fact, one of the reasons he couldn't head north was because of the dogged pursuit of the Fourth Inspection Bureau.
Even now, he was hiding in a secret location, one set up by the organization to gather followers of Azazel and perform sacrifices.
But even here, there was a risk that the agents would discover the place at any moment.
Gritting his teeth, Judas struggled to contain his growing anger.
His subordinate, sensing the tension, prostrated himself on the ground, trembling with fear.
"I-I beg for your mercy!"
Given the weight the messenger held in the organization, such a response was only natural.
But like most Demons, Judas didn't care about the terror he inspired in his subordinates.
'Melvinger, Melvinger, Melvinger! It's that damned Melvinger that's thrown everything into disarray!'
He couldn't even request reinforcements from the main branch. They were also completely entangled in the recent events with the Margrave Wynz and the Red Lion House.
If it was true that everything had been destroyed by the Melvinger…
Then the organization itself had been caught in the trap laid by the Inspection Bureau, slowly being dragged into their design.
'No matter what, I have to get the Northern Wind and Winter blizzard back.'
While Judas was wracking his brain over this.
"...Lord messenger, I believe you should see this."
Another subordinate hurried in, holding a scroll marked with a secret message from the main branch.
It was written entirely in cryptic characters, decipherable only to those deeply devoted to Azazel. Judas quickly read the message.
The contents were simple.
–Return immediately upon reading, and destroy this letter.
Judas's face contorted in frustration.
He hadn't even accomplished anything related to his mission, and now they were telling him to return empty-handed? He could feel his anger bubbling up.
What would the other messengers say about him?
No doubt, they would whisper things like, 'That's why mongrels aren't fit to become the vessel of the Great Demon King,' or 'Only purebloods can lead the Demons.'
Worthless fools with no real skills!
But the next part of the letter made things much worse.
–Leave no trace behind.
Leave no trace.
This was a code known only to senior officers above the level of the messenger.
Its meaning?
'Wipe out all branches.'
The low-ranking subordinates who worked under Gregory were typically the hands and feet that facilitated their great cause.
In times of crisis, however, they became "nutrients," ready to be sacrificed for power, just as had happened when creating the Blood Wolf King.
Their lives were the most efficient offering to fuel the mission.
And now, with the main branch giving such a direct order, it meant they were demanding that all evidence be erased, leaving nothing for the Inspection Bureau to find.
It also meant that Judas had to maximize his strength and return to the main branch.
'So, they're finally making their move!'
Although the date of the great endeavor was already near, it seemed they were preparing to rise completely now that things had escalated.
With a soft sigh, Judas turned his gaze to the subordinates still prostrated before him, trembling in fear, unable to meet his eyes.
It seemed like he would have to take out his anger over Elric Melvinger on someone else.
His eyes gleamed menacingly.
***
"The wall is in sight!"
At Karl's shout, Sean glanced out of the carriage window.
Beyond the dense forest, the towering walls of the castle came into view.
"Finally. It's almost over," Sean sighed in relief.
It was no surprise. Wandering around the Black Snowfield had taken quite a toll on him.
He hadn't let his guard down even once during their time there, so it was only natural for him to feel this way.
Beyond the wall was imperial territory, under the influence of their family, so things would be much easier from there on.
"Halt! If you do not comply with orders, you will be deemed intruders and attacked!"
A soldier stationed atop the wall used a loudspeaker to initiate a checkpoint procedure.
The wall was originally built to block the armies of monsters coming from the Black Snowfield, so there were no guards stationed on the snowfield side.
However, due to recent strange occurrences in the Black Snowfield, the defenses had been reinforced.
Even though the strange phenomena had seemingly vanished without explanation, the guards were still on high alert, preparing for anything that might happen.
"Security is tight," Elric remarked with a low whistle from inside the carriage.
The large bows and ballistae aimed in their direction weren't just for show.
They were all formidable weapons imbued with 'Runes of Explosion,' making them not just artifacts but deadly weapons.
If those were fired in their direction, the resulting spectacle would be something to see.
Anything within several hundred meters would be obliterated.
Even with the extensive budget allocated to the border guard, acquiring such items couldn't have been easy.
Was this caution due to fear of General Winter?
Or…
'Could it be related to the rebellion of the Red Lion House?'
Elric's eyes sharpened.
The border guards were one of the Empire's elite forces.
And the Red Lion House's charge of the wall wasn't far from this fortress.
If the border guards were mobilized there, what would happen next?
The border guards were officially neutral in the Imperial power struggle, but if they got involved in the rebellion, they'd be dragged into central politics…
"State your affiliation and number!"
Elric's thoughts were interrupted as the checkpoint moved swiftly along.
Karl quickly removed the tarp covering the family crest on the carriage and showed it to the guards.
"This is a carriage of the Nerester family, which passed through here two months ago! Open the gate!"
"The Nerester?"
"Are they really back?"
"No way…!"
A wave of disbelief spread among the soldiers atop the wall.
As the border guard stationed at the castle for many years, they were somewhat familiar with the Black Snowfield, even if they didn't know the full details.
They knew that during the dangerous period of monster rampages and impenetrable weather, it was nearly impossible for humans to survive.
Even they only sent out elite search parties during such times. But for ordinary people to return alive…
"You're not going to open the gate?" Karl snapped, frustrated.
At his outburst, the soldiers scrambled to lower the drawbridge.
Thud!
As the bridge fell across the moat, Karl tugged the reins and moved the carriage forward.
***
"I am Vanil, in charge of Post 3. Please forgive my soldiers for their rudeness and mistakes."
Once the border guards confirmed the group's identities, they promptly invited them to the command center.
The group initially declined, citing the urgency of their journey, but the lower-ranked soldiers insisted, saying it would put them in an awkward position if they refused.
More importantly.
The border guard had a teleportation gate linked to the imperial capital, which facilitated their supply chain.
If they wanted to use it, they had no choice but to comply.
'We might also be able to gather some information about their movements,' Elric thought.
While he pondered this, Sean took the lead as their representative and greeted the guards.
This, of course, was because both Elric and Augustine had flatly refused, not wanting to step forward.
"No need to apologize. Seeing the formidable soldiers guarding the Empire's border fills me with pride as a citizen of the Empire. Please continue to defend the walls diligently."
Though his words praised the border guards, the underlying message was clear: don't get any ideas.
Sean, like Elric, was worried that the border guards might get politically entangled in the rebellion.
The consequences of such involvement needed to be carefully considered.
From the start, Sean didn't believe the rebellion of the Red Lion House would succeed.
What mattered was the political order that would emerge afterward.
If Elric's brilliance had shone in the Black Snowfield, this was the place for Sean's talents to take the stage.
'Especially since these soldiers showed no particular interest when we first passed through the checkpoint. But now, they seem much more focused on us… something must be going on.'
And sure enough.
Vanil, unaware of Sean's concerns, took the bait.
"Haha! You needn't worry. Our border guards have always stood strong, and we'll continue to be the steadfast defenders of the people's safety and peace. But, if I may say, there is something that has made me quite happy."
"Oh? What might that be?" Sean asked.
"Until now, our work hasn't been properly recognized within the Empire. Many have complained about our expenses."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. But not only does the Fourth Prince appreciate our efforts, but so does the third son of the Nerester family. In my thirty years of service, this is the first time I've been so moved. Haha!"
At that moment, Sean and everyone else in the room exchanged glances, their eyes shining with understanding.
One word could not be ignored.
The Fourth Prince!
The prince, known as a brilliant strategist and awarded the title of 'Black Lion,' had even been counted among the Three Stars of the Empire. And now, he had come to the border guard?
Sean carefully concealed his inner thoughts and feigned surprise.
"Oh! It seems the Fourth Prince has a great interest in the border guards."
"Not just interest—he personally comes to inspect us from time to time. He came again recently because of the strange phenomena in the Black Snowfield… In fact, he's not far from here. Would you like to meet him?"
In that instant, Elric and Sean both realized.
This whole situation had been orchestrated by the Fourth Prince to meet them directly.
[T/L: You can read ahead chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]