The Water Magician

"Is there really no choice but to rely on Princess Shio Fen?"

"That may be the case, but... it feels a bit much to rely on a princess who just got married..."

Abel and Ryo walked out of the waiting area, discussing such matters.

They didn't have a particular destination in mind.

However, there wasn't much point in staying at the waiting area...

Aside from the waiting area near the Imperial Palace and the 'Dragon Spring Residence', their knowledge of the places around them was limited.

"The High Security Prison where Mr. Von Dobre is located is at the Censorate, right?"

"That's what they said. Places like the Censorate and other government facilities are adjacent to the Imperial Palace, right? We might as well check it out."

Neither Abel nor Ryo had any expectations of doing anything or finding any clues by going there.

The Censorate faced a main street.

There were quite a few people passing by, yet no one seemed to look towards the Censorate.

It seemed as if they were deliberately avoiding looking in that direction.

"It looks like a terrifying place."

"Well, I suppose no one would want to get involved with it."

Ryo and Abel exchanged their impressions as they observed the situation.

The Censorate itself wasn't tightly shut...

On the contrary, the gates were wide open, and there was no one standing by the gate.

"There aren’t even any guards."

Abel nodded silently at Ryo's words.

Peering inside the gate, they could see another gate further in.

It was firmly closed.

And in between...

"There's an incredibly large drum."

"Are we supposed to hit that to call someone?"

A drum taller than a person was placed there.

"This building—or rather, this department—has a really oppressive atmosphere."

"Even if we haven't committed any crimes, it feels suffocating."

As Abel said this, Ryo glanced at him with a look that suggested he had something to say.

"Don't say anything."

Abel took the initiative.

"I was just about to list the one hundred and eight crimes you’ve committed..."

"I haven't committed that many crimes."

"The fact that you acknowledge you've committed a number means you have at least a hundred and seven crimes in mind!"

"I haven't!"

Perhaps due to their banter...

No, it was likely not that; a person approaching from the street called out.

"Lord Rondo?"

"Yes?"

The person who called out appeared to be in his forties, at a robust age.

He wore a long grass-colored eastern attire that reached his shins, his hair was neatly tied up, held in place by a small crown.

Though his belt wasn’t flashy, it had an air of elegance.

The sword he held in his left hand had very little decoration, but the discoloration on the grip indicated it was a well-used sword.

Two young men, who looked like they had just come of age, followed behind him, carrying large bags.

Ryo looked at the man who had called out but couldn't recall who he was.

However, he did call out "Lord Rondo."

The identity of Lord Rondo had only been revealed to him at the Imperial Tomb in Fenmu.

He had met with the sixth prince Lyun and others there...

"Captain Li Chuu of the White Flame Army?"

"Ah, so it was indeed your grace, the duke."

Ryo stopped Captain Li Chuu, who hurriedly knelt to greet him.

"No, Captain Li Chuu, you stand out too much..."

"My apologies."

Captain Li Chuu stood firmly but lowered his head.

He was the captain of the imperial tomb guardians of the White Flame Army.

As the guardians of the Imperial Tomb, he should have been stationed there the last time they met, but why was he in the imperial capital now?

"The guardianship of the Imperial Tomb is rotated among the four guardian armies every hundred days. Our White Flame Army's guardianship ended two days after I met your grace. Therefore, I have returned to the imperial capital."

"I see."

Working for a hundred days and resting for three hundred days.

It wasn’t something to be envious of.

During that hundred days, they had to concentrate on work to a terrifying degree.

That was likely why there were three times as many days off.

No one said that the three hundred days in the imperial capital were a vacation...