It was unfortunate that the uneventful days didn't last.
On the night of the third day, Lanling received an urgent report from a distressed soldier—Akiko had gone missing.
Her guards were unharmed, and the area surrounding her prison showed no signs of disturbance. Her tracks had vanished entirely, as though swept away by the wind, leaving the soldiers responsible in quiet disarray.
The only baffling detail was that the prince remained leisurely stationed in his separate tent. Occasionally, he could be seen sparring with a guard at the newly designated training grounds.
It was clear that Akiko held greater importance to whoever had infiltrated the army. And Lanling feared he knew exactly who was behind it all.
With a heart weighed down by anxiety, he crossed his arms and tilted his head, languidly interrogating Prince Orion across the table. The prince, seated with an unmistakable air of nobility, sipped his tea with a composed facade that betrayed none of his thoughts. Yet the days spent in the army were visibly taking their toll on his mental energy.
"Let me get to the point so you can continue appraising my soldiers for free," Lanling said bluntly. His tone, however, betrayed his words, sounding maddeningly proper. "I expect an honest answer to my question, considering all strategic information you're gaining here. Isn't that right, Your Highness?"
Orion sighed, setting the tea aside and massaging the bridge of his nose with a helpless expression. "I see now why my brother doesn't like dealing with you."
Lanling's relentless probing over the past few days, combined with his maddening knack for extracting information through equivalent exchange, was utterly draining.
And yet, Orion couldn't help but accept the devil's bargain every time...
With a long, frustrated exhale, he finally relented. "What do you want to know?"
"Who is Akiko's backer?" Lanling asked right away.
It was a question that had troubled Lanling from the moment he first laid eyes on the woman. A problem—he feared—that could once again separate him from Haruki and break whatever they currently have.
Orion's expression darkened at the question, his brow furrowing as he fell into deep thought. After a moment, he shook his head. "Truthfully, he's a mysterious existence."
Lanling didn't like that description one bit.
"He arrives at the castle unbidden, yet my father hasn't issued a ban order against him. He's primarily known as a wealthy investor in the merchant society and a very trustworthy informant. Nobody knows his name but we have taken to calling him Sir Blue."
Orion's face gradually eased as he continued speaking. He knew he was letting on more than he should have but after days of contemplation, he no longer found a reason to stubbornly keep his mouth shut. He picked up his cup and took a leisurely sip.
He'd rather use it for his own gains instead.
"Since you're willing to divulge this much, it shouldn't be an issue for you to show me what he looks like," Lanling said, his lips curving into a faint smile. Yet his eyes, were far from smiling. They were sharp and unyielding.
Orion cleared his throat. "Of course... as long as the principle of equal exchange we've been following remains intact." He smiled wryly. "I've already ran away—might as well make a deal with the devil, shouldn't I?"
"You jest." Lanling chuckled, though a faint chill laced his tone. "The only devil you'll find here is the one who took away your precious transmigrator."
Orion looked startled. "You seem to know of him?"
Lanling's eyes flashed with a ruthlessness so unfamiliar that Haruki, quietly observing, was stunned.
Never had he thought he would see such an expression on Lanling's face. It was as if the person Lanling was thinking of was someone he loathed so deeply, their very existence was an affront.
Curiosity, worry, and a wave of remorse washed over Haruki as he wrestled with his thoughts. How could he continue supporting Lanling while keeping his past memories at bay? He didn't want to remain like this—ignorantly trailing behind Lanling, who walked ahead of him.
He had vowed to protect this man, yet here he was, the one being shielded.
The tent's atmosphere grew heavy, the weight of unspoken thoughts pulling each person at the table into their own private world.
It was Orion who finally broke the silence. "General Lanling Cheng." Respect rang clearly in his tone, the gravity of the moment underscored by his deliberate use of Lanling's full name and title.
Lanling maintained his languid posture, his cheek resting on the back of his right hand. Yet his expression turned serious as he nodded. "Your Highness, Prince Orion Kaissin." His responded as a common courtesy upon hearing his full name.
Orion hesitated, his earlier days of contemplation seemingly insufficient for the predicament he now faced. But as uncertainty clouded his face, his eyes slowly brightened with determination. He carefully chose his next words.
"As long as my country's safety is guaranteed, I will provide any information you need." He gulped, a nervous tremor betraying his composure as the image of Lanling draining Akiko's mana flashed through his mind. "In return, help me unlock my potential."
Lanling stared at Orion calmly, silent. His lack of response gave the impression that he already knew what Orion had intended to say.
"Is gaining a talent so important to you?" Lanling asked, narrowing his eyes to mask his emotions.
Orion laughed bitterly despite himself. "I'm sure you've heard of our problematic bloodline. The more passionate we are about something, the more powerful we become—and the longer we live. The opposite happens when we aren't."
A self-deprecating smile graced his lips. "I suppose I'm something of an oddball in my family."
Though Orion didn't elaborate, those listening had already connected the dots. An image of him amidst his hotheaded family formed in their minds. Combined with their initial impressions of his demeanor and behavior in the army, it was clear—he truly was an oddball.
Lanling's shoulders seemed to relax slightly as he let out a sigh he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"This deal is not bad. We might even extend it to national cooperation in the future, once Your Highness ascends the throne."
Orion dropped his tea in shock, the delicate porcelain rolling off the table before shattering on the ground.
"Y-You have an insane level of confidence!"
Lanling smiled, a glimmer of mischief flashing in his eyes.
"Your Highness, I didn't become general through luck."