Published: July 4, 2025
Envoy Berk and his companions flew away, and the two phantom beings encased in ice disappeared, but they had companions waiting outside the mansion.
However...
"The Censorate personnel who went to suppress them were defeated early in the battle and managed to escape."
"Ah, so Envoy Berk and the others prolonged the fight to buy them time to flee."
Ryo nodded at the explanation from Minister of State Shou.
By the way, Shou had been fighting a female phantom being named Taoran, but immediately after the battle, he was so exhausted that he could barely speak.
"When you get older, you lose endurance."
After he was able to speak again, he repeatedly muttered such complaints.
"I was surprised that General Yun's body itself became a tool for analyzing alchemy tools."
"Indeed. That's why they secured General Yun's body as soon as they arrived in the imperial capital."
"However, the interrogation itself took place here, not in the Imperial Palace or the adjacent High Security Prison, so there wasn't enough information gathered."
"So they brought him along for diplomatic negotiations... and got him into the Imperial Palace."
"Did they extract information from the celestial net?"
"Honestly, I don't know. We need to investigate various things."
Ryo and Minister of State Shou confirmed the situation.
Although it felt like everything had ended with the departure of the phantom beings...
"It's not over yet."
Ryo said to Abel in a serious tone.
"Wha... Why are you saying this to me?"
"Minister Shou seems busy coordinating his subordinates, so I'm speaking to the seemingly free Abel."
"I see. It's a virtue to be able to speak honestly."
"Not really."
"I'm not complimenting you."
For some reason, Abel told Ryo he wasn't complimenting him, who seemed to be embarrassed.
"Four forgotten third rank adventurers remain."
"That's right. They were completely overshadowed by Envoy Berk."
"That shows they are still third rank, doesn't it?"
"We're even lower than that, being sixth rank."
"That's that, and this is this."
"I think Ryo's ability to keep turning phrases is impressive."
"Not really."
"Again, I'm not complimenting you."
Abel told Ryo once more that he wasn't complimenting him, as Ryo blushed again.
That said, it was true that the four third rank adventurers were left abandoned in the garden.
Of course, when the little skirmish with Envoy Berk occurred, all four of them were once again sealed within the ice coffin.
"Did those four tell everything?"
"It seems so. They apparently blabbered on their own. They are not fit to be called adventurers."
"Well, if surrounded by the Censorate and interrogated under the command of his majesty the emperor, they would comply, wouldn't they?"
"After all, they were just hired for money. Third rank adventurers are that sort of thing."
"We're sixth rank adventurers, lower than that. Besides, those five from 'Spring Hope' are also third rank adventurers."
"That means there's a difference in ambition from the people of 'Spring Hope'!"
"I, is that so...?"
Ryo nodded repeatedly for some reason while Abel reluctantly accepted it.
At the very least, Abel had no information to deny it.
In fact, from Abel's perspective, the five from 'Spring Hope' appeared to be good people.
The fact that those five and the four caught in the garden were both third rank adventurers...
"Well, even if they are both called third rank adventurers, there are various types."
Abel shrugged as he said this.
"Lord Rondo, what shall we do with the four frozen ones?"
After giving instructions to his subordinates, Minister of State Shou approached Ryo and asked.
"Uh, can I decide?"
"I have heard that permission to capture them was granted by his majesty the emperor to Lord Rondo. However, these four... they have not clearly committed any crimes."
"Indeed, they were just monitoring me."
Yes, the four were merely watching under orders.
They did not harm Ryo or those around him.
Of course, Ryo would not be charged with a crime for capturing them with the permission of Emperor Tsuin, the absolute ruler...