Published: July 5, 2025
That evening, Vice Head of State Jaja and Chancellor Zenmoshi burst into Vice Chancellor Chigoi's office, shouting.
This was quite unusual.
"Chigoi! I heard that our guards were assaulted! What is going on?"
Zenmoshi shouted as soon as he entered.
Jaja followed him in, but he didn't seem as angry. Instead, he wore an expression that suggested it was all quite troublesome.
"Yes, Lord Zenmoshi. I received that report as well."
"I see. So, you arrested the assailants, right?"
"No, we have not."
"They escaped, then. The search is underway, right?"
"No, it is not."
"Hmm, when we catch them, they will face severe punishment... What? You haven't even searched?"
Zenmoshi was taken aback, likely due to the unexpected response, rather than being angry.
"Yes, Lord Zenmoshi. We know who the assailants are, so we have not conducted a search."
"You said you haven't arrested them?"
"Yes, I did."
"If you know who they are, then why haven’t you arrested them?"
Zenmoshi grew angry once more.
"The guards who brought them to the government office were Duke Rubine and Count Ruska from the Debuhi Empire."
"Debuhi? Is there such a country?"
Chigoi explained the reason, but Zenmoshi tilted his head in confusion.
Jaja, standing behind him, also tilted his head in confusion.
"It is one of the major powers in the Central Nations."
"Central Nations? Why are a duke and a count from such a distant country here in this city?"
"You must have heard that the fleet from the Fundebie Kingdom is docked here."
"Yes, I have heard. The Pope must be aboard, right?"
"Yes. The two of them are also on that fleet."
"I see, that makes sense."
Zenmoshi nodded, still frowning.
"However, law is law. Regardless of whether they are nobles from a foreign land, they must be punished according to the law."
Zenmoshi insisted.
That is a valid point.
Just because they are nobles from another country does not mean they can be forgiven for breaking the law.
However...
"One of the parties involved, Count Oscar Lusk, is the strongest mage in the Central Nations, known by the title of blazing flame mage."
"Strongest..."
"It would be a simple task for him to lay waste to Von City in less than a minute."
"…"
"Are you really willing to provoke someone like that?"
"B-but..."
"Especially during this time when threats from the Eastern Provinces are looming?"
"M-mmm..."
Chigoi's tone was not strong at all.
Rather, he spoke softly, trying to reason with them.
"And I heard that the soldiers caused a disturbance at a dining establishment. That's why you brought them here."
"Nonsense!"
"Honestly, I don’t know which side is right in this situation. Are we really going to make a famous mage our enemy? We aren't absolutely in the right… even under such circumstances?"
"Kuh..."
Zenmoshi frowned at Chigoi's explanation.
In truth, Zenmoshi himself had no absolute conviction that the guards were in the right.
He had come here merely for the sake of appearances.
But now, he was facing troublesome nobles from another country, and moreover, a powerful mage.
Behind him loomed the Fundebie Kingdom... they were aboard their fleet.
Zenmoshi hesitated.
Jaja wore an expression that showed he was not taking this seriously at all.
After glancing at the two of them, Chigoi shifted the topic.
"By the way, what were your guards searching for?"
"What?"
"I know they were running around the city, which caused the conflict."
Chigoi asked with a smile.
"You do not need to know that!"
Zenmoshi replied in a flustered manner.
Jaja also frowned.
Seeing their reaction, Chigoi became certain.
(I’ve figured out that Ramun Fess is in this city and unable to move.)
He had thought it would eventually become known.
If it were at the government office or an inn, it would have been found right away.
(I'm really glad I was able to keep him at the church.)
Chigoi silently thanked a god he didn't even believe in, not changing his expression.
However, that night.
"We found out that Ramun Fess is at the Von Church."
"What did you say?!"
Vice Head of State Jaja and Chancellor Zenmoshi shouted in unison at the report.