1173 (Part 3)

1173 (Part 3)

After sending the letter of acceptance we waited for the envoy that they said would fetch me.

It had only been another day since then.

And three hours of getting transported, the carriage finally stopped at a manor just outside the Living Forest.

It was located at a free city, Fjor, but at the same time not bounded to it. The manor was simple and elegant, it seemed more like a vacation house away from the city if the master wanted to live in the forest.

The trees were normal here already, not being deformed with dangerous mana at all. Of course there were a few wild beasts here and there but the overall location wasn't bad at all.

"Good afternoon, Young Lord Regan of the Obiel Duchy. I will guide you inside." Is what the butler had said but there was just the living room.

It was a big space. But it was open space. There, sitting comfortably on the couch drinking tea and reading a book elevated in the air, was the blond kid Gin.

"I don't expect you to share a meeting in an open space, will you?" I asked him. It wasn't a welcoming that I expected but it didn't matter however it wasn't as if our talk was just something that everyone talks about.

"It's fine though. What do they expect kids like us to talk about anyway to even prepare a meeting room?"

He was right but this was still wrong.

There were still servants who were walking in and out of different areas of the house and I can all of them as they could with us.

This Gin kid finally closed his book and look at me, "Plus, they're all trustworthy people even bounded by a crimson gem."

"A crimson gem?"

A crimson gem is a type of contract that goes on for a millennium. The person making the promise will offer their blood during the oath taking to the person they promise to. At the last part, the blood turns into a crimson gem and gulped down the gem to complete the ritual. That was how the name turned out that way.

"Doesn't that mean they're only doing this because of their ancestor?" I didn't mean to pry but it was an honest retort.

It was strange though, how they looked at me after I said it.

The same glint of determination was found on the glowing gold eyes staring straight at me. "Don't look down on us. We're people who are trying hard to correct the wrong path."

The atmosphere got heavy with that. I just made everyone in this mansion hostile to me with those words alone.

Was I foolish? There is definitely something that I don't know. And what does he mean by trying to correct the wrong path.

"I apologize. It was mere speculation that anyone who looks at two sides of the coin have. I apologize if it offended anyone."

I didn't lower my head though. As far as I'm concerned they all weren't people I should bow my head to, after all.

Weirdly again so, some looked conflicted at that.

Some of them even had those similarly deep mustard-colored eyes glare outright. I wasn't someone who cared about titles but I know my status well. These people should too but…

Why does it feel that what they're feeling towards me was proper?

"Oh my, aren't the young master of Obiel curious." An old man's voice was heard and the attendants went back to their duties.

I saw at the entrance was the young lord Sebastian Ragnadi and an older man who resembled him. Sebastian waved at me as he stayed a bit behind his father.

"Welcome to our outdoor villa. It's named as the House of Gold."

I lowered my head in greeting, "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Duke Estimo Ragnadi."

"Ah yes. You resemble your father Paris a lot."

"I don't think so."

"Hmm it seems you only resembled the looks." And then the Duke Ragnadi of the Loyola Kingdom laughed. The young lord beside him had an awkward look but still smiled.

An air of carefree-ness and idiotism. It seems father had gotten that impression through the duke.

"Well don't mind me. I'd like to care of you as you are our family's guest but I'm just here to gather some documents. Your business does lie with Lord Gri–"

"Gin."

"Ah yes with Lord Gin." The father definitely almost blurted out the Kalil's real name if it wasn't for his son. "Well I'll be off then." He left without saying anything else, leaving the young lord here.

"Let's take a seat." The young lord offered.

I finally sat down, right across Gin. "To start off, young master Regan, we are people who have been caring for the empire."

"To the point that you make business out of it?"

"Well aside from that. We needed to get something out and meet someone…"

"Let's stop with the semantics, child. We came to meet with you, Regan Obiel." Sebastian lowered his head with an awkward expression at the words of the blond kid.

I wanted to ask who this kid too but it seems that was a bigger issue than what we were going to talk about. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"We can't trust the Cromwell but it is true that we are under a contract of partnership for this case."

"Yes. About that… there is a rumor." The young lord added.

Rumors, huh?

"What kind of rumors?"

"The rumor states that the people doesn't need the current government anymore." Gin said nonchalantly.

At that Sebastian sighed, conflicted "Yes. Just as he said, the people wants a new governing body. Just like in our Loyola. New leaders and personnel are needed."

Aiming for democracy is a suitable choice in our continent's current affairs. However, "It is sacrilegious."

"Indeed. Our side of the continent had already cut off its branches into smaller countries or states and even though we still believe in the existence of Soledad… Our whole empire already has a different kind of religion and leaders on its head." Sebastian explained.

"Since the Sacred Tree had died for many years now, there is technically no embodiment of the existence of Soledad in this generation? Is that what you're trying to say, young lord Sebastian?"

He nodded at me slowly, "Unfortunately yes."

"First of all," Gin opened his mouth, calm yellow eyes stared through us. "The Sacred Tree isn't dead yet. There is proof of that, that we know." Young Lord Sebastian nodded at his words.

"And secondly, there is also another proof why Soledad is real."

"And do you have anyone plans on telling me those proofs?" I glared at the kid. He's really hard to deal with.

"Hmmm…" The blond kid hummed. "I can give you an indirect reason for the two. But not the direct ones. First…" he opened his palm and a crimson gem appeared on it.

"That's…"

"Yes. The Sacred Guardian and I are bound by a crimson gem, if he dies then this little thing will crack and..." he gazed at Sebastian once "that's all".

"Then what about the First Ruler and Saint, Soledad?"

"Well the fact that the Sacred Tree is still alive means that Soledad was real, right? After all the main mana used to sprout the Sacred Tree was, after all, Soledad's." He said while shrugging his shoulders.

This kid seems so serious and mature then the next he doesn't seem so proper. Tsk.

"Now that you know about the people's plans, let's move to the part we need your help." Young Lord Sebastian used wind magic to call on a scroll and gave it to me.

As I opened it, there was a portrait. Drawn in detail and gently was the face of my sister, Tabitha Obiel.

"Actually we're not henchmen of your sister nor have we met her before."

"So you lied to me?"

"Technically speaking, yes however, it is by no any means wrong to say that we follow and work hard for the same goals." Sebastian continued.

"Is the place my sister went to, an area that could help the empire?"

The young lord chuckled at that, "It's not that simple either."

"The severity of her success or failure in completing her objectives will vary whether the empire would exist or not." Gin interfered this time and took a sip of his tea.

"You're going on tangents really. How frustrating." I honestly grumbled at them. They were definitely suspicious however they knew the whole piece of the puzzle that I do not know.

By how they talked, it seems like I haven't even learned a chunk of knowledge about the world.

"In conclusion, this mission is based on whether Soledad would exist to create the empire or not… is what we're trying to say".

What.

How is that a conclusion from how they were talking?!