Chapter 48
As the Emperor's words fell, the delegation gasped as one.
Although the Empire's dominance had often been forgotten, the Emperor before them was a war hero who stained the continent with blood.
"I don't dare to undermine the great Emperor who saved Garambell."
It lingered in the delegate's head again when the Emperor's aura of mana pressured him.
"What then?"
The delegate risked his life to say those words, so they must have come with some evidence.
"We understand that Farim's medicine, which was originally intended to trade, was lost on the way."
"That's right."
Originally, after deciding to take the lead in providing Farim's medicinal herbs, the Marquis' carriage had been burned.
It was the work of a swarm of bandits who showed up as soon as they left the Empire.
"Those who burned the medicine and those who got caught inside Garambell appeared to belong to the same group."
In the meantime, the delegation presented mercenary bands that were on those bandits' arms.
Hex approached and quickly checked it then wrinkled his face in confusion.
"It's from the Oak Mercenary Corps."
The Oak Mercenary Corps was a notorious group that traveled around the continent and took on all kinds of dirty work for money.
This was something the Emperor was familiar with, because during the Continental War, this huge mercenary army had been crushed many times by his hands.
"Why do you think they're from just one mercenary corps?"
Most of the bandits who burned the Marquis' carriage had been captured except for a few of the high-ranking ones.
No one had a mercenary band, and it was a difficult to get anything out of them as they did not open their mouths even after a long interrogation
"First of all, they were discovered disguised throughout our kingdom's villages distributing endemic crops."
"Hmm."
"Thanks to Your Majesty's help, we got a clue from the Captain of the Imperial Guard to trace their path."
"You mean the map."
The delegate continued to speak in a dignified manner now.
"We didn't chase them, but we went ahead and ambushed them. So we managed to capture a few people who couldn't hide their mercenary bands."
"They wouldn't be the ones who would open their mouths easily."
The Emperor expressed his wonder at the hellish moments during which he dealt with this group.
The delegate nodded firmly as if to say yes and continued.
"Fortunately, the interrogation went smoothly, because their losses were high near the Empire."
They had to urgently immobilize the new mercenaries in a hurry to maneuver in Garambell.
Many of the newly captured entrants had already confessed their plans because they did not know it was such a huge matter.
"They said they came to Garambell right after burning Farim's medicinal herbs in the north."
"And?"
"They also confessed that the client was a Northern aristocrat."
After speaking, the delegate presented a magic crystal ball. There was a magical video presentation of the mercenaries' confession.
Such methods were used in the process of confession.
Garambell simply did not have the leisure for mercy as the kingdom was at stake.
"Did the exact client confess?"
The Emperor asked if there was any manipulation in the video presented in the magic crystal ball.
Even if the video was real, there was also a way to manipulate the criminal into stating a desired fact.
"I am sorry Emperor, but the sinner did not know the exact client."
The high ranking mercenaries had already ended their own lives in such ways. Only those who didn't have a lot of information in their minds were left.
Under current continental law, it was possible to determine the trust of a confession by magic. However, it's also a crime to cast a mental manipulation spell.
"Did you bring a sinner?"
Of course these laws were enacted because there must be corrupt people savagely manipulating others somewhere.
However, an outstanding mage like Alderuan could read the traces of manipulation immediately even if the person's conversion just started.
To this, the delegation responded with a worried look.
"The criminals were soon poisoned in prison. It is believed to be the kind of poison that requires regular consumption of antidotes."
"Hmm…"
"That is, we brought the corpses of some sinners so that Your Majesty could see the traces of the mind with your mental examination."
Alderuan then nodded at the suggestion of the delegation.
Mental manipulation magic was one of the strongest to find traces.
Thanks to this, the body alone was enough to determine whether or not the mind was manipulated.
"I'll call Magic Tower Lord, Your Majesty."
"That's right."
It was a tense moment, so Hex hurriedly gestured toward the Grand Chamberlain.
Alderuan was lost in thought because this was becoming more and more of a big deal.
It was also known that Garambell's criminals were poisoned similarly to the thief who broke into the treasury.
"How did it come to this."
"I'm very sorry Emperor."
Something that could shake the continent was about to begin.
Because of this, Alderuan was even more lost in thought.
Which horrible kingdom aimed at Garambell, and who is the noble traitor from the Empire?
'I doubt it.'
But then he remembered one more thing.
During the Continental War, the Southern Kingdom had used the Oak Mercenary Corps the most.
"The Third Prince of Garambell has arrived."
"Oh, my."
A few days after the delegation arrived, outside guests visited the Princess's Palace for the first time. Until then, only Siervian's family had visited the palace.
The outside guests visiting the Princess's Palace had a prince that was about the same age as Siervian, and thanks to this, the ladies-in-waiting looked even more excited.
"Your Highness, Imperial Princess."
"Your Hwighness, Prince."
Originally, it was customary for the person with the highest status to be the head of the delegation, but this time, it was an exception.
Perhaps Siervian's age was young and rumored to be their benefactor, so they sent a prince that was Siervian's age.
Above all, the main reason was that all the royals with higher ranks were soon out of the endemic disease.