For a while, only silence lingered in the dimly lit room.
It was a place with few sources of light. Only the flickering candle provided a faint view. Nevertheless, neither of the two men present expressed any dissatisfaction.
On the contrary, they moved with a naturalness as if they were more accustomed to the darkness.
There was no hesitation in the way they handled the teapot, poured the tea, and took sips.
It meant that their vision was already secured.
Not only did they sip their tea, but they also had the leisure to carefully observe each other’s expressions. Eventually, it was the middle-aged man clad in black who broke the silence.
He let out a heavy sigh.
“…Fine, I surrender. I can’t figure out who you are.”
“As I said, I am just a loyal servant of the Empire.”
The response to the middle-aged man’s grumbling was so dispassionate.
That made him chuckle softly. A loyal servant of the Empire, does that mean there are loyal servants that the Emperor doesn’t even know about?
Still, it was a relief that he claimed to be a ‘loyal servant’ even verbally.
He was a talented individual who had already achieved such accomplishments at a young age. Although the agents seemed oblivious, they couldn’t deceive the middle-aged man’s keen insight.
The man’s magical capacity was ordinary.
However, his skill in handling it was remarkable. As if the limitation of lacking an abundance of magical power were nothing, he focused his power only where it was needed at the appropriate moments.
The result was an explosively enhanced physical ability.
Of course, there were limits.
Basically, concentrating magical power on a specific part of the body would come with a corresponding burden. The man was even moving a large amount of magical power all at once.
If it turned into a long battle, he would surely lose. No matter how many tricks he employed, the limitations of physical abilities were clear.
But, would there ever be a situation where that man would enter into a prolonged battle?
The middle-aged man contemplated that possibility, tapping his finger against the table. His rhythm was as orderly as a trained musician.
“Impressive skill. To be honest, in terms of controlling magical power, it’s comparable to a Master… Where did you receive your training?”
“The battlefield is the best training ground, isn’t it?”
While saying that, the man took a sip of tea with a weary expression. The fatigue was evidently radiating from his golden eyes.
Swallowing a sigh, the middle-aged man raised his teacup as well.
The continent had been enjoying peace for hundreds of years. There were no places where wars were occurring.
The only events that could be called battlefields were the eradication of monsters taking place at the northernmost edge of the continent, or the ‘front line’ located at the southernmost part.
Those two places were battlefields that the Empire paid much attention to.
Naturally, the middle-aged man was well-versed in information about those areas. However, no matter how he searched his mind, he could not find any information related to the man.
That meant the man’s answer was a lie.
The reason was obvious.
He must want to hide it.
Since it was within the expected range of responses, the middle-aged man decided to let it pass without critique.
“Alright, that said… By the way, your skill in handling chains is quite remarkable. Have you received special training in that regard?”
“…Everything has a flow.”
The sudden change in topic made the middle-aged man pause as he set down the teacup. His blue eyes, fixed on the man, deepened further.
“When you comprehend that flow, you realize that all weapons are fundamentally the same. Be it a sword, an axe, a bow, or chains, it’s the same.”
“Even so, saying a sword and a bow are the same is a stretch, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I mean. In reality, I prefer a sword or an axe more.”
The middle-aged man laughed heartily at the clean admission. He set down the teacup that he had been holding with a thud.
“You’re an interesting fellow… I know someone who says something similar.”
A fleeting expression of vague nostalgia crossed the middle-aged man’s eyes. It was clear that he was reminiscing about some point in the past.
What brought him back to reality was the man’s next words.
“I know.”
“…You know me?”
There was interest in the middle-aged man’s retort.
Beyond surprise, he now felt strong curiosity. Just where could this man’s limits lie?
In line with that expectation, Ian spoke without hesitation.
“If I didn’t know, I would have jumped in recklessly against you, wouldn’t I? To say the least, against the Empire’s Sword Master.”
The middle-aged man, referred to as the ‘Sword Master of the Empire,’ couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
The weight behind that title was anything but light.
He was one of the only three Masters that existed on the continent. The most powerful swordsman on the continent with no equal, save for the Holy Kingdom’s Saint or the Southern Kingdom’s Great Witch.
It was said that in his younger years, he once fought the Holy Kingdom’s Saint and smashed a mountain.
However, time is known to turn even the hottest fires to ashes.
After several years of roaming the continent, renowned as a swordsman, he suddenly became reclusive, returning to the imperial palace and engaging in limited external activities.
Ultimately, he could not overcome the ties of blood.
Because his body bore the blood of the Imperial Court.
Decades passed in such a manner, yet the Sword Master’s name and dignity remained intact. No matter how much time passed, a Master was still a Master.
His strength was not something that could be compared to an Expert.
Even if the current Ian were to challenge him, he would probably face defeat without fail. The ease with which the middle-aged man appeared was rooted in such skill.
After a good laugh, the Sword Master couldn’t help but sigh.
“Time is cruel… To have such a wonderful opponent in front of me and not be able to draw my sword?”
“You’re not thinking of drawing your sword just yet, are you?”
In response to Ian’s nonchalant remark as he sipped his tea, the Sword Master smiled faintly.
“Well, that depends on how you act. This old man is a bit confused…”
With a tap, the Sword Master’s index finger rapped on the table again.
The look of vigilance in his blue eyes was deepening more and more. It wouldn’t have been strange for him to draw his sword at any moment.
Nevertheless, there were no signs at all.
The man silently drank his tea. By now, his teacup was empty.
“…How do you possess the Bloodline Mark? My nephew told me he hasn’t given you one.”
The man let out a light sigh at that question. A faint emotion flickered in his golden eyes.
Regret and nostalgia, the hues of emotions one would expect from a defeated soldier, made the Sword Master’s brow twitch.
A shallow sigh escaped the man’s lips as he asked in a low voice.
“Is His Majesty still in good health?”
“No, he’s become very weak. So, I hope you can resolve the problems regarding me and my nephew.”
After a moment of hesitation, the man spoke as if he had no choice.
The Sword Master, without his knowledge, exhibited signs of tension.
Depending on that answer, he might have to stain his hands with the blood of a hopeful young man.
Then, in the next moment.
“The dragon hidden in the cradle, a rusty knife sharper than a great sword.”
“…?”
At the enigmatic words, the Sword Master’s gaze turned blank for an instant.
As he stared at the man with a face full of questions, Ian added one more thing.
“Just relay that as it is.”
“…To whom?”
“To the rightful owner of the Bloodline Mark, is there anyone else living in this age?”
It meant to convey it to the Emperor.
Realizing that, the Sword Master’s expression soured. He was not only a guardian of the Imperial Court but also an elder of the Court.
He was, after all, the Emperor’s uncle.
As one ages, the propensity for meddling grows. He felt uneasy about the fact that this young man, whom he had never seen before, shared some secret with his nephew.
However, the answer that the Sword Master had to give was already set in stone.
“…Very well.”
It didn’t matter that he was the Sword Master of the Empire or the Emperor’s uncle.
The true master of the Empire was only the Emperor.
The Bloodline Mark was a symbol of that authority, and the judgment regarding it naturally fell solely to the Emperor. The Sword Master was well aware of this.
Gradually, the Sword Master rose from his seat. It was to report to the Emperor.
Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by yet another request from the man.
“And please tell him that I will take over the Academy branch of the Empire’s Intelligence Department.”
The Sword Master, who had come to a sudden halt, looked at Ian with an expression of disbelief.
It could be a situation where he might lose his life, depending on the Emperor’s decision. Yet, he brazenly made an additional suggestion.
Moreover, there was no trace of any emotion on his face.
He simply sipped his tea with fatigue in his eyes.
“Oh, and also tell him to provide a drink for His Majesty. Something big will happen later.”
“…He hasn’t been drinking much these days?”
“Of course, he’s probably drinking it secretly. If you open the second drawer of the nightstand next to his bed, there will be a bottle of liquor hidden beneath the bottom panel.”
The Sword Master had to shake his head in exasperation.
Could it be that this young man knew secrets even about his uncle?
But that skeptical gaze soon turned sour.
Upon returning to the interrogation room, the Sword Master was holding a seal symbolizing the Imperial Court.
“…It’s as you wished. And I’ve confiscated two bottles of liquor as well.”
Ian nodded quietly as if he had expected that.
“Please tell His Majesty that I will visit him soon.”
With that, the man casually brushed away the cuffs that were binding his hands. The restraining device, which had been glowing white hot, instantly broke with a loud crack.
The Sword Master’s gaze at Ian, disassembling the restraints one by one, grew increasingly perplexed.
He was realizing for the first time that such an expensive restraining device could be broken so easily.
The Sword Master did not forget to leave a warning to the man until the very end.
“For now, I may trust you, but this is only temporary…”
“I know.”
Nevertheless, the man merely replied in his usual indifferent tone.
“Just watch, until the end.”
Thus, the branch of the Empire’s Intelligence Department was entrusted to the man’s hands.
Immediately after hearing that news, Neoris spat curses into the void.
“…Don’t talk nonsense!”
Neoris already held no good feelings toward Ian. To be more precise, fear was the more appropriate word.
He was cruel, and she could not comprehend his intentions or principles of action. Even Neoris, who had dug up and analyzed information about countless figures, found him to be a completely unfamiliar type of human.
Naturally, he belonged to the worst category of individuals to serve as a superior.
She cursed him several more times thereafter, but the directives handed down from above were not going to change.
Neoris already knew that much.
She just needed time to accept this unfortunate truth.
Before long, having exhausted herself with curses, Neoris settled on a somewhat optimistic outlook.
Yes, even if he is called the “mad dog of the Academy,” Ian Fercurus is still human.
The previous incident could be excused, and as long as he didn’t cause trouble in the future, he shouldn’t treat his subordinates too harshly.
With that resolve in mind, Neoris decided to do her best to serve her new superior.
Of course, when she encountered him again, she silently cursed him in her heart a hundred times.
A bad man, a scumbag, a murderer, a violent addict…
She gnawed on those thoughts as many times as she could, but every time she met Ian’s golden eyes, she found herself depressed.
The fear still hadn’t dissipated.
Nevertheless, Neoris held onto hope.
Ian seemed a bit strict, but he appeared to be a principled person.
If she didn’t commit any mistakes, there would be no punishments.
Therefore, as long as she didn’t cause any trouble, it should be fine for Neoris.
Just a few minutes after she came face to face with Ian with that belief.
With a thud, blood splattered into the air.
Neoris’s eyes went blank. Her lips parted in astonishment.
It wasn’t just blood that soared into the sky.
A slender finger was flying, splattering blood as it soared. And that finger belonged to Neoris.
The man who had struck down the woman’s finger with an axe spoke in an indifferent voice.
“Neoris…”
As always.
“I told you, don’t doubt me.”
Ian Fercurus was not a principled person, Neoris painfully realized through her frozen thoughts.
He was an embodiment of violence.
Soon, the sound of a piercing scream echoed throughout.
