Published: July 3, 2025
Chapter Text:
In the Holy Capital, in the lounge of the kingdom delegation on the first floor.
In front of Ryo, there was a strawberry tart and dark coffee.
However, unusually, he hadn't touched them.
The reason for that was...
"I'll ask you once more. When you witnessed the battle between golems in the Republican Territory, you did not intervene, correct?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Ryo nodded in response to the question from the inquisitor general, Archbishop Stefania.
"After that, did you do anything regarding the destroyed golems?"
"I looked at various things to understand their mechanism."
"During that time, it’s possible that you saw confidential information."
"I only saw what was destroyed and discarded. If it’s something that shouldn't be seen, it shouldn't have been left out in the open. If it’s confidential, then it should not be sent abroad."
It was this exchange that made Ryo unable to touch the cake.
What a misfortune.
By the way, in front of Stefania, only coffee was present.
Of course, she hadn’t touched that either.
The only people in this place were Ryo and Stefania.
Other inquisitors and kingdom adventurers were watching from a distance...
Making sure not to approach.
That was the arrangement.
Most of the inquisitors seemed relieved upon hearing this.
It seemed they were scared of Ryo's instant freeze ability.
At that time, when Ryo said, "I’ll listen to you in the lounge over there," it was more than half a sales talk, yet the fundamentally serious Stefania made an appointment to come for this hearing.
"One more thing about the golems. Were you the only one who saw the broken golems?"
"No, Nils-san, Neil Anderson-san did too."
Seeing Stefania write that down, Ryo decided to ask.
"I saw Neil Anderson-san the other day at the Holy See. Where did he go?"
"A person who might have seen confidential information, then later appeared in the Holy See? Is that true? Are you sure you didn't missee?"
"No, I’m certain. I saw him walking in the courtyard surrounded by four monks."
Ryo stated clearly.
Even though probing with [passive sonar] yielded no response seemed like giving away too much information, he thought it would be better to disclose that he saw him in the courtyard.
From Stefania's reaction, he hoped to glean something.
"Hmm... I have not received any reports regarding that matter."
Ryo questioned her upon hearing Stefania's mutter.
"Isn't it strange that the inquisitor general, Archbishop, hasn't received that information? Oh, by the way, the reason I met Neil Anderson-san was because he was requested to deliver a letter from this cardinal, right?"
"...Eh?"
At Ryo's words, Stefania's expression changed ever so slightly.
It was likely due to the letter mention.
"I heard it was a letter from Cardinal Sakarias."
"Is that true?"
Stefania leaned forward slightly at Ryo's words.
"Neil-san said so. However, he was surprised that there were invitations before, and wondered why now. And that person who said that was present in this Holy See afterwards. Isn’t that strange?"
"…"
Upon hearing Ryo, Stefania fell silent.
She seemed to be deep in thought.
"Cardinal Sakarias? Really?"
That mutter from Stefania barely reached Ryo's ears.
He didn’t know what was "really" but...
"For today, that would be all. Thank you for your cooperation. We may ask you again, so please be ready."
With that, inquisitor general Archbishop Stefania and the inquisitors departed.
What remained were the untouched dark coffee...
Which Ryo downed in one go.
Of course, he drank his cake and coffee too.
"What a waste, what a waste..."
He murmured.
At that moment, a man sat down in front of Ryo.
"Ignis-san?"
It was Ignis, the chief negotiator of the kingdom delegation.
His expression was exhausted and filled with distress.
"Ryo-san, I have a request. I would like you to ask his majesty the king."
((Ah. As Ignis said, the completion of the gigantic trading ship is two years away. And indeed, it’s not a ship designed for long-distance navigation.))
Conveying Abel's answer to Ignis, Ignis sighed deeper than before.