"Anti-theft, anti-theft!"
It was night.
"I'm still worried about that strange doctor staying together with His Highness." Beside the bonfire, Wya stared at another bonfire in the distance with a strange expression. There were only two figures, one big and one small, sitting around it.
This was the third night since they came to Lampard's Military Camp. Ramon claimed that he wanted to examine Thales' injuries alone, and the strange thing was that the prince agreed to it.
"He's a prince. He can do whatever he wants." Putray smoked his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke. Beside him, Wya's expression darkened. "Also, relax. Ramon's fear of His Highness is not an act."
"Also, there are so many Eckstedtian soldiers guarding the area. His Highness' safety is assured." Putray glanced at the hostile Eckstedtian soldiers who were either on sentry duty or patrolling around. He then glanced at Aida, who was not far away, and said slowly, "Also, if Ramon is really an assassin, he had too many chances on the previous battlefield … Don't forget, he was the one who saved His Highness."
Wya recalled what happened on the battlefield, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Speaking of this … What happened to His Highness?" the young attendant said worriedly. "At that time, even his breathing was …"
Putray looked at Wya, who had a doubtful expression on his face, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You've been brooding over this matter?" the thin vice diplomat asked with interest.
"It's not just this." Wya furrowed his brows. As he recalled solemnly, he voiced the doubts in his heart. "His Highness' physique is very good … In fact, it's better than I expected. No matter how serious his injuries are, the time it takes for him to recover is calculated in days …"
'But this is even more suspicious, isn't it?'
"Also, the psionic ability that His Highness said he learned from the Black Prophet … I can't ignore it." Wya lowered his head and glanced at the single-edged sword beside his hand. "After all, that's the Secret Intelligence Department. Although His Highness … he's still just a child. It's not a good thing to be too close to the Secret Intelligence Department."
'Secret Intelligence Department.
'Hmph.'
Putray raised his head and exhaled a cloud of smoke at the moon in the sky with a complicated expression.
"You think the Secret Intelligence Department is a scary place?" The vice diplomat did not look at Wya.
Wya pursed his lips and nodded.
"I've heard a lot of stories about that place. Some are ridiculous, some are bizarre, and some are unreasonable." The young attendant drew his sword, his voice filled with hesitation. "But I have to admit, the mysteriousness of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department and the reputation of the Black Prophet are frightening."
"I thought that with your age, you wouldn't have heard too much about the Black Prophet." Putray chuckled. "After all, Morat has been in charge of the Secret Intelligence Department for more than thirty years. I even suspect that when the young Aydi the Second was crowned, Morat was already working in the Secret Intelligence Department."
Wya wiped his sword and shrugged.
"When I was training in the Tower of Eradication, I heard this joke: One incident happened to each of the four major intelligence agencies in the world. The Red Witch broke a teacup, the White High Priest burned an oil lamp, Lieutenant Qing wore an old robe, and the Black Prophet broke a pillowcase while sleeping … Guess, which incident had the most serious consequences?"
Putray took a puff of his tobacco and the corners of his lips curled up. "The Gray Sword Guards broke a scabbard."
Wya and Putray chuckled together.
"Master Shao isn't as heartless and terrifying as the rumors say. It's just that as the Tower Master of the Tower of Eradication, he's more level-headed and prudent." Wya revealed a nostalgic expression and nodded. "Besides, other than his beard, there's no place on him that's gray."
"Wya, as an attendant, it's good to be concerned about the prince you serve, but …" After the joke, Putray slowly became serious.
He looked at Wya Caso with a threatening gaze. "Do you want to hear a piece of advice?"
Wya raised his eyebrows and showed an expression that he was all ears.
"Every Jadestar prince is like a separate Secret Intelligence Department. They all have a lot of secret treasuries," Putray said with a profound gaze. "Just be concerned about what you should know, and that's enough."
Wya frowned.
"Don't make life too difficult." Putray sighed. "You have to know that the princes' lives alone are difficult enough."
'Especially … when their surname is Jadestar.'
Putray said quietly.
The figure of the past appeared in his mind.
Wya stared at the crackling fire with a complicated expression.
"Sir Putray, I still remember what you said that day in the birch tree forest." Wya flipped his weapon over and said quietly, "Were you once an attendant as well?"
Putray's pipe was no longer smoking.
The vice diplomat spat out the cigarette holder and looked at Wya.
The latter raised his eyes and asked him with a calm expression, "Then … which prince did you serve back then?"
Putray's gaze, which was focused on the fire, paused for a moment.
A few seconds later, he said slowly, "Just like … your father."
"But I was more experienced and left the prince's side earlier."
Wya stared straight at him. He stopped wiping his weapon without realizing it.
"Is that so, attendant?" The young attendant's expression was complicated, but his gaze was profound. "Then, do you have a family?"
Putray turned his head and gave Wya a profound look.
'How funny.'
He said quietly, 'Constellation's famous' Cunning Fox ', the leader and signatory of the' Fortress Treaty ', can't even handle his own family properly.'
But his gaze immediately darkened.
'How much better can I be?'
"Listen, Wya." The vice diplomat stroked the slowly cooling pipe in his hand. His tone was heavier than usual.
"Gilbert is a competent and outstanding attendant. He is orderly, meticulous, and loyal to his ideals and goals from the beginning to the end. He has his own principles."
Wya gently tightened his grip on the tip of his sword.
"Even if sometimes, those principles are so callous?" the young attendant said faintly.
"Callous?" Putray snorted softly.
"Sometimes, you have to make a choice, no matter how difficult it is."
Before Wya could respond, a discordant voice interrupted their conversation out of nowhere.
"Good evening, Constellation's two esteemed guests." Viscount Kentvida, the Archduke of Black Sand Region's subordinate and his most trusted advisor, walked over from afar. He was dressed in a thick military uniform unique to Northland.
"I hope I did not disturb you!"
Kentvida smiled and sat down opposite Putray, whose gaze was contemplative, and Wya, whose expression was unpleasant.
"You did indeed disturb us." Wya stared at Kentvida with an unfriendly gaze. He flicked the sword in his hand lightly, and a clear, crisp sound rang.
"Very well, that means that I have attracted your attention." Kentvida nonchalantly took off his gloves and warmed himself by the fire. "Why don't you stay in the tent? The weather is very cold, and this is Northland. "
"We like the open wilderness," Putray replied coldly as he poured out the ashes from his pipe. His thin face flashed in the firelight. "The scenery is beautiful, and the field of vision is wide."
"Do not worry." Kentvida chuckled softly, seeing through their thoughts. "You are in Eckstedt, and Eckstedtians do not have the habit of eavesdropping on tent corners."
He turned his head and looked at the Prince of Constellation and his doctor in the distance. "The prince is very safe here."
Kentvida narrowed his eyes. "He is truly a special prince, isn't he?"
'Otherwise, the archduke would not have given such an evaluation.'
Wya snorted in disdain.
Putray furrowed his brows.
'They are starting to pay attention to the prince.
'The child probably said something strange in Lampard's tent a few days ago.
'This is not a good sign.'
The vice diplomat pulled out his tobacco pouch, grabbed a handful of tobacco, and said flatly, "Looks like we will have to depart tomorrow."
Wya raised his eyebrows.
Kentvida's expression froze. He looked at Putray warily. "You know about it?"
"It's written all over your face, and the soldiers who go back and forth through the night … Besides …" Putray nonchalantly picked up a burning branch from the fire and lit his pipe again. "Isn't this the purpose of your visit?
"To convey your lord's will?"
There was silence.
Kentvida stared at Putray seriously, as though he wanted to observe him again.
"Yes," the Viscount of Black Sand Region said calmly. "We will depart tomorrow. I will lead a troop of two thousand men, including five hundred cavaliers and the Fire Knight, Lord Tolja. We will escort Prince Thales straight to Dragon Clouds City. On the way, we will not rest in any of the suzerains' castles or towns. At most, we will set up camp in the wild."
"Two thousand men, and detour around the castles? To ensure that no one will find an opportunity to plot against them? " Putray chuckled softly. "I am really worried for your lord … It seems that Lampard is also at his wits' end. He has no clue about the mastermind who is plotting against him."
Kentvida's expression changed slightly.
"And here I thought that keeping promises and being absolutely loyal was the glorious and proud tradition of Northland," Putray said softly as he puffed out a cloud of smoke. "But look at this military camp right now. There's the smell of conspiracies and schemes everywhere. Who else can you completely trust?"
Kentvida's expression gradually stiffened.
"Do you know what this is called?" Putray snorted softly. "Even a crooked beam will have a crooked shadow … whether it's King Nuven or your lord."
Kentvida grabbed a handful of snow from the ground, gently scattered it, and watched as it fell between his fingers.
"Do not comment on Northland's internal affairs, citizen of the Empire," the viscount said coldly. "At least on the land of Black Sand Region, accidents will not happen again."
Wya sheathed his sword. He sensed that the atmosphere was not quite right.
"Accidents? That Mystic Gun trainer might have a different opinion. "Putray put down his pipe and laughed." Let me give you a suggestion, Your Grace, clueless viscount. "
Kentvida's gaze flickered. "What do you know?"
"Stop investigating Officer Hardy's connection with the archdukes and suzerains. Your efforts are destined to be in vain." Frowning, Putray tested the temperature of his pipe to make sure that it did not burn well. "Why don't you look for his business offline and start investigating the discarded Mystic Guns sold on the black market …"
Kentvida looked puzzled. "Black market?"
"Ah, Northlanders who look down on Mystic Guns." Putray sneered. "Compared to buying them directly from the Imperial Kingdom, the training of Mystic Guns is the most expensive. The completeness of the core and the freshness of the spare parts are inversely proportional to the soldiers' proficiency in operating the Mystic Guns."
Kentvida revealed a contemplative expression.
Beside him, Wya was baffled.
"The Archduke of Black Sand Region's Mystic Gun troops are very proficient. Their aim during volleys is also very good." Putray glanced at Kentvida and flicked the metal rod of his pipe. "Based on my experience, unless Archduke Lampard is willing to dismiss half of his knights and heavy cavaliers and allocate a large amount of gold coins every month to support the Mystic Gun training, he will definitely not be able to train such a troop within three years."
Kentvida seemed to be deep in thought. "He must find a sufficient source of income and maintain such a troop with a large amount of training. Only then can they be of use during critical moments …"
"Fortunately, it's only three years, and there's only one training officer." Putray added a bit of tobacco and mocked. "After three years, those troops would probably be able to carry out orders like 'turn around and attack the archduke's location' meticulously, wouldn't they?"
Kentvida ignored Putray's mockery. He continued to speak word by word, "So, he must find a way to the black market. For example, he can use the Mystic Guns that have already been scrapped and should have been destroyed according to the agreement to exchange them for money, damaged parts, Eternal Oil, or even bribe the purchasing officers who go to the Imperial Kingdom to purchase Mystic Core Cores."
Putray shrugged and lit his pipe again. "I guarantee that his contact in the black market knows him a lot better than that group of soldiers."
Kentvida exhaled and immediately asked, "Why can't the mastermind and financial backer behind him directly provide him with financial support?"
Kentvida exhaled and immediately asked, "If that's the case, all of you would have found clues about his dealings with other forces a long time ago. Why would you have to drag it out until now?" Putray said disdainfully.
Kentvida's face turned red. For the past few days, he had been so troubled by this matter that even his basic judgment was affected.
Wya frowned … He did not quite understand the conversation between the two.
There was silence.
"Lord Putray, the Secret Room provided you with information," Viscount Kentvida said slowly, having figured something out. "I'm starting to believe their words."
"Oh? What an honor. "With an intoxicated look on his face, Putray took a deep puff of his tobacco." What did the Secret Room say about me? "
"They only have information about you before you left the palace, but it's already interesting enough." Kentvida's eyes shone with great interest.
"Putray Nemain, the weaver of the web within the palace walls, the mastermind who keeps his composure."
Wya looked at Putray with a surprised and bewildered gaze.
'This guy …'
"Ha." Putray turned his head and smiled. "The Red Witch's subordinates really think highly of me!"
Kentvida had a contemplative look on his face. "No, instead, I think that it's time for their information to be updated."
Viscount Kentvida curled up the corners of his lips and put on his gloves again. "The people within the palace walls might be good at observing people's words and expressions and coming up with strategies. But some wisdom must be accumulated through experience and knowledge."
Putray made two trilling sounds through his nose and puffed out a puff of smoke.
"By the way, Lord Putray Nemain, Constellation's former Viscount," Kentvida stood up and smiled from ear to ear. "Your decision to charge in the opposite direction on the battlefield was both brave and decisive."
'Very well.'
Putray cast a deep glance at Thales and Ramon in the distance.
'Compared to you, they like me more now.'
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