The Water Magician

After the garden party at the Sujay Kingdom Embassy, Duke Helb returned to the Embassy of the Duchy of Atinjo.

His first instruction was...

"Please gather information on Abel and Ryo from the Naitorei Kingdom who attended the garden party."

"Understood."

The second secretary Zuluma bowed respectfully.

He could sense from his master's tone that he was very eager to obtain information about those two.

This was an extremely rare occurrence.

Duke Helb rarely displayed emotional fluctuations.

It might have been a tendency he originally had, but through training, he had refined it.

This was because, as a sorcerer, it was one of the very important powers he possessed.

Unlike mages, sorcerers can 'launch' talismans or spirit talismans to manifest magical phenomena.

However, the act of launching talismans or manifesting magical phenomena must be performed calmly.

This is because if one fails at that point, the sorcery could go out of control.

If the sorcery runs amok, it can backfire on the caster.

That is precisely why those who aspire to become sorcerers are trained from a young age to keep their hearts steady.

Duke Helb is one of those powerful sorcerers.

By the way, whether it is magic or sorcery, the phenomena that occur are referred to as 'magical phenomena.'

They are not called 'sorcery phenomena.'

Very few people know the reason for this...

Now, the people who stir Duke Helb's heart... Abel and Ryo from the Naitorei Kingdom.

It was only natural for Zuluma to instruct his subordinates to gather detailed information afterward.

Meanwhile, at the Sujay Kingdom Embassy, a new order was about to be issued.

"Captain Gorik, I need you to urgently lead the Rondark and investigate."

"Investigate?"

Ambassador Randassa handed a piece of paper to Captain Gorik as he said this.

"Is this the sea area where the large-scale exercise of the Free City Fleet is taking place?"

"Yes, that's correct. I had information obtained before the exercise took place... but I want you to confirm whether the exercise is actually taking place there."

"Is this related to what Duke Helb mentioned earlier?"

Captain Gorik had not heard it directly since he was at a distance, but Ambassador Randassa had.

"'The Blue Island' and 'the main force of the Free City Fleet has been annihilated.'"

While he was concerned about the Blue Island, he could only set it aside for the moment.

However, the annihilation of the main force of the Free City Fleet was something that could not be ignored.

"Two weeks ago, the fleet indeed departed from this Free Port. It was information that had not been made public, that it was a long-term exercise lasting a month, with supply ships included. But hearing that phrase makes me doubt whether it was truly an exercise..."

"I see. So, you want us to check it out."

"Honestly, we don't know what might happen. There's even a possibility that the Free City Fleet might attack."

"That's why you want us to go in the Rondark, which is a warship."

"Yes. The information has implications not just for embassy staff but for the lives of citizens of the Sujay Kingdom residing in this Free City. I ask you."

Ambassador Randassa bowed his head as he said this.

In principle, the navy does not fall under the command structure of the embassy.

However, after the Rondark had delivered Ryo and Abel to the Free City, it was instructed to temporarily fall under the embassy's command.

This was because the home country judged that based on the movements of the grand duchy.

Therefore, Ambassador Randassa was allowed to 'order' Captain Gorik and his team.

To investigate.

Yet, he bowed his head and pleaded.

Asking them to go into a dangerous situation.

It would be good if an exercise were indeed taking place.

If warships from other countries appeared there, it wouldn't lead to a favorable situation, but they could understand each other.

Because the relationship between the Sujay Kingdom and the Free City was good.

But what if no exercise was taking place?

The grand duchy fleet could be present.

Or perhaps, there might be even more troublesome individuals.