Published: July 4, 2025
In the room, there were eight people present: Prince Lyun, Princess Shio Fen, Chief Chamberlain Rinshun, Chamberlain Wenshu, Captain Ruyao, Captain Bijis of the guard squad, Maid Mifa, and Commander of the Forbidden Army Tin Meow.
In addition, there were two golems in the corner of the room… Precursor Officer No. 1 and Friendship Proof No. 2.
Amidst this, Mifa was pouring tea for everyone.
"Your Highness, thank you for taking the time to meet with us."
Commander Tin bowed his head.
"No, Lord Tin, I also wanted to know what had happened."
Prince Lyun nodded with a casual demeanor.
The incident occurred three weeks ago when Emperor Tsuin visited Yose, a resort near the imperial capital.
"Yose is a hot spring area. Since His Majesty collapsed, he hasn’t fully recovered… so he decided to combine a tour with hot spring therapy."
Commander Tin explained.
Yose is a hot spring area not far from the imperial capital Hanlin, well-known for its therapeutic baths.
It’s about a half-day’s travel by carriage, and there’s a villa for the royal family as well.
Emperor Tsuin had often visited there until the death of the previous crown prince, making it a familiar place.
However, a problem arose on the way there.
"We were ambushed."
Commander Tin said, grimacing.
He himself was leading a thousand men from the forbidden army during the movement.
They certainly were not careless.
However...
"The attackers were not human."
"A phantom being..."
"The forbidden army was wiped out. I was also injured and burned."
"Burned?"
"Yes. To be precise, I survived because the bodies of my subordinates covered me… but I witnessed His Majesty being taken away..."
Commander Tin looked down in regret.
During this time, no one spoke.
"After surviving, why didn’t you report to us?"
The one who quietly asked this was Prince Lyun.
At those words, Commander Tin looked up in surprise.
"I was helped by a fisherman living nearby. However, there were no healers, and it took time to recover. The fisherman told me that I hadn't woken up for three days."
"…"
"When I woke up, I immediately headed to the imperial capital. But on the way, I ran into an acquaintance who told me that His Majesty had been kidnapped and that I was being blamed for it..."
"An acquaintance? Who was that?"
"Inspector Li Wu of the Censorate."
"Hmm."
The Censorate’s role is to oversee the regions of Darwei, and an inspector is the title of that overseer.
"Inspector Li Wu is a man of strong character and someone trustworthy."
"Yes, I’ve heard of him. Speaking of which, I heard that Duke Rondo often talks with Inspector Li Wu and Minister of State Shou Shikuu."
Commander Tin explained, and Prince Lyun turned slightly to side, recalling this.
Princess Shio Fen, who was looked at, nodded slightly.
"Honestly, I didn’t know how to act. So, I confessed to Inspector Li Wu about what happened and what I thought. Then, Inspector Li Wu consulted with Minister Shou and suggested that I should stay hidden for a while."
"I see."
"And so, Minister Shou brought me to Rondo Mansion and spoke to the golems about sheltering me..."
"And you’ve been at Rondo Mansion since then?"
"Yes."
All eyes shifted to Officer No. 1 and Officer No. 2 standing in the corner of the room.
Of course, they showed no reaction.
They stared back at the eight with eyes that seemed to see through everything...
"Certainly, Rondo Mansion is the safest place in the imperial capital right now… is that why Commander Tin has come to the princely residence tonight, because His Highness has returned?"
"Yes, that’s part of it."
Commander Tin nodded in response to Chief Chamberlain Rinshun's question.
"In fact, this has just started moving today."
As Commander Tin spoke, he took out a thin card measuring ten centimeters square from his pocket.
"Alchemy tools, I see."
Captain Ruyao understood immediately and took it.
"It’s quite an old type of alchemy tool, but… it’s likely made by Master Byun Yang. It has some kind of magical power… yes, it’s a tool for personal tracking."