Published: July 4, 2025
“Seventy people? Seventy second rank adventurers have either died or been captured?! What does that mean?!”
The voice of anger echoed through Prince Bin's Residence.
“It seems that one of the Six Saints, Lord Rowan, intervened.”
“Even if it’s one of the Six Saints! How can seventy second rank adventurers not be able to defeat just one?!”
“I apologize.”
Prince Bin, the lord of the residence, scolded Rinsui, who was bowing his head in response to the report.
“So… how many second rank adventurers are left?”
“About eighty.”
“Half….”
Prince Bin grimaced deeply.
However, as if realizing something, he changed his expression and asked a question.
“Why did Lord Rowan appear so conveniently? Could it be that information has leaked from this residence?”
“I don't believe that to be the case…”
“Then why has a non-human like one of the Six Saints appeared? Are you saying he just happened to be passing by?!”
“Lord Rowan said so.”
“Can you believe that?!”
Prince Bin shouted again.
The gap between him and the second prince Kouri, and the third prince Churei, was not narrowing... In fact, Prince Lyun, who had not been a rival until now, was advancing.
It was only natural that the first target for Prince Lyun, who was advancing as a prince, would be himself.
Compared to the two leading princes, he himself, who had a weak foothold in the Shtaiif Layer, would be the first to be targeted.
Then, he would be dragged down, expand his influence, and challenge the other two...
Prince Bin was thinking along those lines.
That’s why he was anxious.
Because he was anxious, he would take forceful measures.
Because he took forceful measures, the cracks would widen...
In the midst of this, Rinsui took out a piece of paper to provide further report.
“The whereabouts of the four missing third rank adventurers have been determined.”
“Third rank? Ah... at this point, who cares about four third rank adventurers? We lost seventy second rank adventurers. Deal with it appropriately.”
“Yes... but they’re captured in a troublesome location.”
Rinsui frowned for the first time.
“I am the fourth prince, you know? As a prince, we can manage anything! Or what? Are you saying they are captured in the Emperor's Hall of Supreme Harmony?”
The Hall of Supreme Harmony was, so to speak, the emperor Tsuin’s office, and of course, it was not a place to keep people captive.
However, it was true that there were not many places in the imperial capital where a prince like Bin would have no influence.
At most, it would be under the emperor or princes Kouri or Churei.
“No, it might be an even worse place.”
“Huh? Worse? Where is it? Speak without being coy.”
“Yes, actually, it seems they are captured in Duke Rondo's mansion.”
“Duke Rondo?”
After a moment of being stunned by Rinsui's explanation, Prince Bin grimaced deeply.
To be honest, Prince Bin was not fond of Duke Rondo.
He could not forget the memory of being pressured by Duke Rondo during the earlier banquet for Prince Lyun and Princess Shio Fen.
Every time he heard the word “Duke Rondo,” the memory of that humiliation resurfaced.
But at the same time, he knew that that name held an astonishingly troublesome and enormous significance in the current imperial capital.
The most important point was that he was the emperor's favorite.
No matter how powerful the prince was, he could not compete with the emperor.
Although it was not common, the emperor had the authority to strip a prince of his status.
Thus, turning the emperor into an enemy was absolutely not an option.
Such a favorite of the emperor.
A duke from a foreign country, or whatever...
“I don’t like it.”
Prince Bin clearly stated.
To that, Rinsui maintained his silence.
“I’ve decided. Leave it be.”
“...Excuse me?”
After a while, Prince Bin muttered this, and Rinsui replied back, not fully understanding.
“I’m talking about those four third rank adventurers. Leave them be.”
“Is that alright?”
“What’s it to you? Should we assassinate them? Sneak into Duke Rondo's mansion? What would happen if that was found out?”