“Your Majesty, the strategy has been devised. Macrotov’s plan is for the generals to dispatch personnel to each city to investigate any unusual characters. And they wanted to find the Astrologer who had been absent for a few months. The Astrologer had the star tarot cards, which can be used to establish contact with the gods and study one’s future! At the very least, the Astrologer’s tarot card provides an opportunity to communicate with other gods and ascertain what is going on. If that fails—”
It had been more than half an hour since the talk in the hall. Hoen stood in a magnificent bedroom; his head lowered as he looked at the King, who sat cross-legged on the bed in loose casual attire.
The King, who had just reprimanded his ministers in the hall, held an ancient scroll in his hand and was reading it slowly. His impeccably groomed face was not as commanding as that of a common ruler. Rather than that, it was delicate and beautiful. Except for a few strands of white hair at his temples, the remainder of his hair was pale gold.
Two barely clad women sat cross-legged behind the king. One of them massaged the King’s shoulders and legs, while the other carried a fruit dish and delicately peeled the fruit before placing it in his mouth.
If Vermillion Town’s acting mayor, Lophis, were there, he would undoubtedly exclaim in amazement, for the woman peeling the fruit was none other than Adele, Vermillion Town’s former mayor. Of fact, Adele’s real name was Emma.
Emma’s face was lavishly adorned. As she fed the King, she murmured, coquettishly, “Your Majesty, this is a unique fruit grown near the border. It is known as the Crystal Grape. I purposefully brought it here from Vermillion Town. Don’t you think it’s delicious?”
“It’s not bad.”
King Landhar III nodded as he chewed on a grape. His gaze was fixed on the book in his hand. “So, Hoen, what are you trying to say? What are those civil officials going to do if they can’t reach the gods using tarot cards?”
“If that fails, Your Majesty, we can only change the church’s beliefs, just as you did ten years ago with the Demoness Church! This may take several months and may wreak havoc on the kingdom. But it is our last resort.”
That was all to it.
Hoen’s voice was barely audible when he noticed the King had closed his book abruptly. Two palpably icy gazes were directed at him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
As the King’s confidant, he was there to speak with the King, following the parliament’s conclusion. He knew how the King worked. Anyone who disobeyed him would face a fate worse than death, as he had witnessed far too many times. As a platinum-tier elite, he was obligated to show his respect for the King.
“Your Majesty, I didn’t mean to mention the Demoness Church. I just—”
“It is all right, Hoen. As far as I am aware, you have worked diligently and never slacked off. I have no intention of blaming you.”
The icy gaze ceased. King Landhar III straightened his shoulders and rose from his bed. “I’m surprised that Macrotov would think this way. After all, the royal family has long dominated the Holy Dragon Kingdom’s rule. In recent years, the Holy See’s strength has grown too swiftly, to the point where some people are already dissatisfied! Those are Macrotov’s ideas. I wonder about your views on the matter.”
“Your Majesty, my thoughts are similar to Macrotov’s,” Hoen replied after a few moments of hesitation.
As the commander of the generals, he was not very gifted with the use of his intellect. Additionally, Macrotov’s strategy was flawless, and he could not think of anything to improve it. He was unsure whether such a reaction would enrage the King, so he peeked at him nervously.
Suddenly, a palm landed on his trembling shoulders.
“Hoen, you have been by my side for a long time. You have been with me since I was a prince, haven’t you? Do you know why I have given you the position as the commander?
“I understand. Your Majesty wishes to prevent the formation of parties and private interests among the country’s great noblemen, which would result in an imbalance of power endangering the imperial power.”
Sweat trickled down Hoen’s brow, but he refrained from wiping it.
“So you do know. And your answer to the question just now was similar thoughts to Macrotov’s. Is that so?”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I believe that Macrotov’s and the others’ plans are a little out of place. I would like to return to them and have a good talk with the generals to ascertain the weaknesses in their plans.”
Hoen was well aware that he did not get his position by being friends with the King, but the King had wanted a pawn to oppose civil officials and the noblemen.
His role was to challenge civil officials, no matter what the other party said. There was no need for him to have his own judgment. That pawn could be called Hoen or any other name.
“Your Majesty, you’ve frightened Commander Hoen from the time he approached you. He appears to be sweating profusely. If this continues, I believe he will not be able to talk. Why don’t we change the subject and let him unwind?”
Emma rose and set the fruit platter down behind King Landhar III. She leaned in close to him and spoke in a sweet tone.
“That is quite reasonable.” King Landhar III shifted his gaze to Emma’s nose and poked it. He leaned back in his bed and positioned himself across from the sofa. “Hoen, we are old acquaintances. There is no reason to be so formal in my presence. Take a seat.”
“Certainly, Your Majesty.”
Hoen sat down; he had not dared to wipe his sweat until then.
“As my most beautiful treasure, Emma, is there anything you would like to share with me while you were at the border?”
“Certainly, Your Majesty. I’ve discovered some extremely dangerous signs near the border.”
“Oh? What signs?”
“I saw the Dragonspine Snow Mountain collapsed. Not long after that, a mysterious path to Vermillion Town was paved with platinum-tier ore. The path led to an incomparably gorgeous mountain peak that appeared to include more than half of the areas on the border.”
Emma leaned against the side of Landhar III; her pupils dilated with a tinge of panic. “I am not exaggerating, Your Majesty. At the border, the entire landmass has flown into the sky, and underneath it is an endless sea…”
She gave a quick account of what she had witnessed at the border. Her description was centered on Blackmoon Town and Watson. King Landhar III listened intently.
“Are you claiming that the tremendous transformation at the border is connected to Blackmoon Town and a youngster named Watson?”
“It is unusual that the border count would suddenly compel all villages to submit to Blackmoon Town. After all, Blackmoon Town is a relatively new force, and Watson is the town’s youngest and most brilliant young master. He was barely ten years old that year. According to what I have heard, he is related to the border count—”
Emma wanted to continue, but the King patted her shoulder abruptly. “Emma, you have been talking for such a long time; you must be exhausted. Go to the store and purchase some fruit wine.” Then he turned around and cast a glance at another maid.
Emma and the other woman exited the bedroom quietly, nodding respectfully.
King Landhar III grimaced as he watched Emma leave. He chuckled. “Platinum-tier ore paved road, a divine mountain in the sky… What significant events! The former queen’s younger brother appears to be rather energetic. Even the people I sent to deal with the magical beasts in the winter could not divert his attention. And what role did the young man named Watson have in it? Emma had moved back here before she could complete her task. Moriarty, on the other hand, had been successful in destroying the Dragonspine Snow Mountain. But his soldiers had vanished.”
“An ordinary person can’t kill a peak platinum-tier elite.
Additionally, someone at the border had created a seventh element that did not belong to the world. Even the Astrologer who had not stepped a foot outside the Temple of the Stars in recent years were drawn to the border. It appears as though there have been some unexpected changes at the border recently.”
King Landhar III was preoccupied with a thought. His brilliant eyes clouded abruptly. “By the way, Hoen, are you unhappy with me for allowing Emma to stay at the border for so many years?”
“Of course not.”
“Really? After all, Emma is your daughter. You must think me cruel.”
“No.”
Hoen shook his head.
“Emma is not my biological daughter. We do not have that kind of connection.”
“That’s true. After all, you were the one who killed her biological father.”
His calm words blew into Hoen’s heart like a cold wind. He could only smile sourly. The King would always expose one’s deepest scar inadvertently. When he told Emma and the other woman to leave them alone in the room, Hoen knew that he did not do it for any good intentions. There was no doubt that the Holy Dragon Kingdom’s ruler was adept at manipulating other people’s hearts.
