"Black Heaven's Guard!"
"We're saved!"
"They can catch that murderer."
The students sighed in relief.
Black Heaven's Guard.
They were directly under the Crown Prince's command.
The unit consisted of knights at the beginner tier of the 5th class.
A masked figure, who appeared to be the captain, stepped forward.
"You must come with us."
It wasn't an authoritative tone.
It was extremely courteous, as if welcoming a distinguished guest.
Kane raised his book and said,
"Is it because of this book?"
"There are many eyes watching."
Although the answer was not spoken, it was affirmative.
"But let me tell you, I don't trust the Crown Prince either."
The crown prince only needed a scapegoat to identify the empire's problems.
That scapegoat was Rehinar.
From the Crown Prince's perspective, it was an unavoidable choice, but from his own perspective, it was not acceptable.
The victim (Sasha and Rose) had to endure tremendous pain.
"How dare you!"
The captain of the Black Heaven's Guard shouted angrily.
But Kane did not blink.
His was Beginner-tier 4th class Blood Knight.
However, his blood rune was already at the mark stage.
Additionally, he had the SSR-level skill Blood Dance.
He also possessed one of the few UR traits in this world, the Pure-Blooded trait.
Although he was at the beginner-tier of 4th class, he was effectively at least two levels higher.
"Would you trust someone who uses Rehinar as bait to find traitors?"
"The Crown Prince acts for the empire,"
"Sacrificing the few for the many? Do you think the Frecia Empire will rise again that way?"
He knew the story of this game.
He had seen what happened to the empire even as Ray Hatzfeld.
Sacrificing Rehinar only accelerated the empire's downfall.
The most foolish act.
It was better to put heads together and seek a way to live.
"I disagree. The Crown Prince's choice is the worst."
"How dare you!"
"Look at him even now. He continues to watch in hiding in this situation."
Kane's gaze turned.
His eyes were on a place full of people.
At that moment, a handsome young man with a pleasant face emerged from the crowd.
"The Guardian Lord has fooled everyone. What a surprise. You're not an ordinary dullard, but the brightest star among the stars?"
With the appearance of the blonde young man, everyone bowed their heads.
"Ah, I greet Prince Isaac."
He was a prince without presence among the crowd.
But upon revealing himself, he exuded an overwhelming presence.
"Even though you hold a grudge against me, you still show me respect?"
Kane bowed his head slightly to Prince Isaac.
At the same time, he checked Isaac's status window.
[Isaac von Frecia (Lv.70)]
Grade: ★★★★☆
Age: 25
Occupation: Crown Prince of the Frecia Empire
Mana Affinity: Moon's Bond (A+)
Favorability: 31 (Interest)
– Basic Abilities –
[Health: A+]
[Mana: A+]
[Body: S]
[Strength: A+]
[Agility: A+]
Traits: Hidden Moon (SR), Chatterbox (SSR)
Skills: Breath of the moon (S+), Sun-Moon Swordsmanship (S)
'He has the stats of a high-tier 6th-class, but his Hidden Moon trait conceals his true strength. His actual power is at the beginner-tier of the 7th class.'
He will return to his original power when his grade rises to 5 stars.
When the character is unlocked later, the 5-star grade will be revealed.
'I never thought I'd see that SSR-grade Chatterbox trait again.'
It's a trait with clear pros and cons.
Neither shit nor entirely positive.
[Chatterbox]
Type: Trait
Grade: SSR
Description: A peculiar trait that increases power the more one talks. However, stats decrease if a certain amount of chatter is not maintained.
Effect: Increases all stats and maximizes all buff effects.
'As the description says, it's a bizarre trait.'
It was a unique trait possessed only by Isaac.
Perhaps that's why.
Isaac was chattering away like a fish in water.
Meanwhile, Isaac examined Kane, then tilted his head.
'Strange. He's a beginner-tier 4th-class knight… why does he feel stronger than that?'
He had accurately assessed Kane's abilities.
It was the first time.
Someone had accurately gauged Kane's power.
Isaac was curious but held back.
"Shall we move to a different location? There are many eyes watching, as the captain of the guard mentioned."
Isaac turned to the captain of the Black Heaven's Guard.
"Today's incident will be covered under my authority as the Crown Prince."
"Your Highness! The nobles will fiercely oppose. There must be some justification, or it will harm Your Highness instead."
The captain of the Black Heaven's Guard voiced his concerns.
Most of the dead were central nobles.
Among them was Dyer's youngest son.
If this incident were simply covered up, Dyer would surely rebel.
It would provide a pretext for Isaac's siblings who were eyeing the throne.
"The names written in that book will protect me."
"But!"
"If not, then use the authority Rehinar holds to settle this."
Rehinar was a founding family.
Unless it was treason, they could be pardoned from any punishment.
"And in the name of the Crown Prince, thoroughly investigate any corruption, misconduct, and bullying within the Royal military academy."
"I… obey your command."
The captain of the Black Heaven's Guard reluctantly answered.
Isaac's gaze returned to Kane.
"Is this satisfactory? Now it's your turn to save my face."
Kane nodded willingly.
"Let's go."
* * *
The Dean's Office of the Royal Military Academy.
Isaac and Kane sat facing each other.
Isaac sipped his tea, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"What an intriguing power. The Guardian Lord used white mana, but you use purple."
He didn't get straight to the point.
Instead, he watched Kane with curious eyes, while his mouth kept moving.
"But you don't seem to use dual swords, do you?"
"I do use dual swords. It's just that right now, I only have one suitable sword."
"Oh, the swords can't withstand your mana? How thrilling."
"Aren't you busy?" Kane asked
Isaac responded leisurely to Kane's words.
"Not busy at all. But tell me, that power you showed earlier, was it magic?"
"It's something similar."
"Could it be the 'Void of Water'?"
"Both correct and incorrect."
Isaac clapped his hands in delight. The commanding aura he had displayed before the crowd was nowhere to be seen. Now, he appeared quite frivolous.
"Ha ha! 'Void of Water' is amazing. I once saw the Guardian Lord's annihilation technique and it gave me goosebumps all over. 'Void of Water' was so destructive, it seemed like the power of a demon."
He had so much to say, it was almost painful to listen.
"Your Highness…."
Kane tried to call him, but Isaac continued talking.
"To think you can use that annihilation technique, that's an unexpected twist."
Isaac kept talking about whatever came to his mind. Kane listened for a while.
'He was like this even when he was about to die in my last life, still giving too much information. Some things never change.'
In front of others, Isaac had to maintain his dignity as the Crown Prince. Although he loved conversations, all his siblings were his rivals. Only his closest aides could talk freely with him. He had grown tired of talking to the captain of the Black Heaven's Guard every day. He needed new conversation partners, but there was no one he could truly open up to.
'Let's just endure it a bit longer to raise his favorability.'
[Isaac von Frecia's favorability has increased by +1.]
[Isaac von Frecia's favorability has increased by +1.]
[Isaac von Frecia's favorability has increased by +1.]
...
...
...
Isaac talked on and on, losing track of time.
"Ahem. Have I been talking too much?"
"Yes, I thought I was losing my mind."
"Heh heh. I like your honesty. The captain of the Black Heaven's Guard always says it's fine."
"He's not being honest."
Isaac gave Kane a peculiar look.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're very different from what I've heard."
"I hear that all the time. Can we get to the main topic now?"
"Ugh, I wanted to talk a bit more."
"I've had enough."
"Alright then. Let me ask you something I'm curious about. Can you see the contents of that book?"
Kane answered Isaac's question immediately.
"Yes, I can see it."
"How? We already found clues about the spy. It was that book. But when we unlocked the magical seal, there were no words."
It was understandable.
There was only one way to see the writing in the book.
It required a special fire-type breathing technique to reveal the text.
No other breathing techniques would reveal the text.
This was also why Kane could control all information while at Hatzfeld.
Although he eventually lost this control.
"I will break the seal on the book."
[Breath of the Blood Phoenix has been activated.]
A purple flame rose from Kane's hand.
The flame soon engulfed the book.
A pattern created by the heat waves appeared on the book.
A red dragon, symbolizing the Hatzfeld family, materialized in mid-air.
"Now the text should be visible."
Kane handed the book to Isaac.
Isaac's eyes widened as he received the book.
"To think something we tried so hard to unlock was done so easily!"
"If you wait for evidence before taking action, it will be too late. Sometimes you need to act boldly."
"You're right."
Isaac quickly flipped through the book.
"I knew there were many who were corrupting the empire, but to this extent…"
"That includes Dyer."
"With this, we can end them all."
Thud!
Isaac closed the book.
"We can capture the Hatzfeld spies, but those who have gone into hiding will only sink further into the shadows."
"Are you saying there's a third faction besides these?"
"Yes."
"Who are they?"
Isaac looked at Kane intently. He had thought Hatzfeld was the only enemy, but now another faction was involved.
"The House of Sun, the Meyer family, who claim to be a mysterious family. They are collaborating with Hatzfeld to bring down the empire."
"The House of Sun, Meyer family, the ones who call themselves the agents of the celestial realm and gods?"
"Yes."
"That's an even more serious problem than Hatzfeld."
"They will not easily reveal themselves."
"So what should we do?"
"We have to draw them out."
"Do you have a plan?"
"That's why I came here."
Isaac's eyes sparkled again, expecting Kane's answer.
"Isn't it true that His Majesty the Emperor is gravely ill?"
Isaac, who had been full of anticipation, couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Everyone knows that."
"I can cure His Majesty's illness."
"Really?!"
"My father had the same illness as His Majesty, but he is now cured. His Majesty is suffering from the Formlessness Poison."
"That's right!"
"He's also experiencing severe mana hemorrhage."
"Exactly!"
Isaac became excited. Kane had accurately diagnosed the Emperor's condition without even seeing him.
"He has been poisoned by the extremely toxic Mana Crystal herb. He is holding on with his immense mana, but without an antidote, he will die within a few days."
Isaac grabbed Kane's hand firmly.
"Please cure His Majesty's illness! I will grant any request you have."
Isaac was desperate. The Emperor's death would throw the empire into great chaos. The empire could fracture like a piece of paper.
"I will detoxify His Majesty. Only then will the House of Sun try to cut their losses."
Kane's enemy was not only Hatzfeld. The true enemy was the House of Sun.
"I will help as much as I can."
"Your Highness should do nothing."
"Why?"
"Only then can we eliminate them all. If Your Highness stirs things up, I won't be able to do what I need to."
"What is it that you want to do?"
"The downfall of Dyer. That's where I'll start."