'Why is he here?'
Every time he walked along the corridor of Renaissance Palace, Mallos could not help but ask himself this question.
A few rays of light shone through the narrow stone window, dividing the corridor on this floor into countless black and white fragments.
As for him, he passed through the light and shadows, flickering in the cold morning air.
Soon, the path under Mallos' feet forked before his eyes. One path led to the royal treasury and watchman's secret room, while the other led to the guard's duty room, which he hated the most.
'Why is he here?'
Mallos did not hesitate to walk down one of the paths.
Because he was destined to be here.
When he passed by the precious portrait of the Wise Prime Minister Halva from the era of the King of Renaissance, the watchman greeted the two logistics officers of the Royal Guards who passed by. But he was sensitive enough to notice that their attitude was very strange.
'It's normal.
After all, after last night, Mindis Hall has become the center of attention in the capital. '
Mallos thought calmly.
'What's more, the person who's really bearing all this pressure …'
Mallos turned a corner with familiarity, pushed open a wooden door, and walked into the guard's first duty room.
"So, Will, what are the benefits for New Year?"
Mallos stopped in front of the wall with the duty roster. He greeted the people in the room while he removed his saber and hung it on the sword rack.
'Touching weapons, meeting others.'
His Power of Eradication awakened in his body like an instinct.
The entire world became quiet.
Barren.
Dead silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Dark.
Until someone disturbed him.
"Maté tea."
At the other end of the duty room, a young man — Flag Bearer Will — put down his teacup with a bitter expression and looked up from behind a desk full of documents.
"A merchant group brought it back from the Sante Archipelago. It's so bitter that it can't be sold in the capital.
"So the Logistics Division got a large batch of it at a low price. It 'helps to refresh the mind'.
"At least, that's what they said."
Will was depressed, and the reason was unknown.
Mallos controlled his face and made a smile that made people feel that it was sincere.
"Not bad." The watchman picked up the teapot and poured himself a big cup.
"Bitter. This is the style of the Logistics Division."
Mallos took a sip, and the taste in his mouth made him frown.
"It's especially suitable for your job."
But the usually talkative Wei-ah didn't respond that time.
"Don't look at me, Sir Mallos." Will raised his hand in resignation.
"Today, I am just a record keeper."
Mallos paused when he saw Wei-ah's unusual caution.
Not only was he depressed, but he was also trying to hide his nervousness.
But why?
The sound of footsteps could be heard from inside the room.
A new fluctuation appeared in the dead world, attracting Mallos' attention.
"You're late." A voice rose in the duty room. It was steady but stern.
"Lord Mallos."
The voice was full of displeasure.
The watchman turned around. A man about his age, with a pair of thin lips and a pair of narrow eyes, walked out of the inner room and stopped in front of him.
It was him.
Mallos' expression did not change, but he sighed in his heart.
Why did he still feel disappointed?
He knew he was coming, didn't he?
"I didn't expect it to be you."
Mallos put down his teacup, flashed a smile, and faced the newcomer.
"Lord Talon."
Vogel Talon — the vice-captain cum chief flagbearer whom he had just met last night scoffed at him.
"Yes, I didn't expect it either."
Mallos nodded.
Vogel was unhappy.
'In the dead world,' he told himself.
'The other party wants something, but can't get it, so he's extremely resentful.'
The watchman turned to ask Wei-ah.
"Where's Gaitan?"
"I remember, he's usually in charge of the records?"
Behind the desk, Flag Bearer Wei-ah stared intently at the words under his pen, as if he didn't hear the watchman's words. He seemed determined not to raise his head.
"The Flag Bearer Division is very busy today. We're understaffed."
It was Vogel who answered him.
The chief flagbearer said coldly,
"Thanks to last night."
Mallos smiled faintly.
"Very busy? So much so that you, as the chief, have to do it yourself? "
The watchman turned his head and looked straight into Vogel's willow-leaf-like eyes.
"To do … paperwork?"
Vogel did not answer him. He moved to the back of the desk and pulled out a chair beside Wei-ah.
Mallos saw that Wei-ah had discreetly moved to the side.
In the next second, Vogel suddenly uttered an ancient saying in a cold voice.
"Gather the knights."
When he said that, Mallos and Wei-ah became solemn in unison.
Despite having other thoughts, the watchman had no choice but to respond with a straight face together with Wei-ah.
"By the Emperor's command!"
He did not know the meaning of this ancient ritual.
But as far back as he could remember, the royal guards had been following this rule.
As if this would restore the demeanor of the Emperor's Praetorian Guards.
He could only obey.
The atmosphere became solemn.
Vogel stared at him silently, as if to test the veracity of his words.
A few seconds later, the vice-captain nodded.
"Lock the door. Let's begin."
Wei-ah took a deep breath and got up to do as he was told.
He pulled out a black box from the locked cabinet and took out a Crystal Drop and a coarse oval-shaped stone.
Mallos' gaze froze.
"Then, esteemed watchman of the guards, Tormond Mallos, please take a seat."
Wei-ah respectfully invited Mallos to take a seat as he pulled open an iron gate behind the wall.
The wall under the iron gate was engraved with strange but intricate patterns, on which were written many ancient runes that could only be understood by scholars.
Wei-ah obviously did not understand these, but this did not affect him from following the procedure and embedding the Crystal Drop and stone into the intricate holes in the wall.
His movements were careful.
Familiar, but also reverent.
Wei-ah closed the iron gate. A few seconds later, the gap in the iron gate glowed with a strange light.
"What does this mean?" Mallos stared at the light.
"Sound Reproduction Stone," Wei-ah replied excitedly. It seemed like he also found it novel.
"Impressive, isn't it? I heard that it can be activated like this …"
Mallos interrupted him.
"I know what this is."
"I'm asking why."
Wei-ah was stunned for a moment and subconsciously looked at Vogel.
"As you know, important records in the royal guards usually need to be recorded in Eternal Files, especially the Flag Bearer Division …"
Vogel suddenly coughed.
Wei-ah immediately stopped talking and put on a serious expression.
"On the morning of the 4th of January, Year 680 of the Calendar of Eradication, in accordance with the 'Praetorian Covenant', the work of the royal guards as flag bearers begins now.
"The target of the record is the watchman of the guards, Tormond Mallos."
The flag bearer flipped open the record book. It was very standard.
"I am special-class flag bearer Wei-ah Coden, responsible for witnessing and recording this time. Accompanying me is Chief Flag Bearer Vogel Talon, who will lead today's …"
But Vogel interrupted him.
"Enough.
"Crystal Drops are very expensive, let's be frugal."
Under Wei-ah's awkward expression, Vogel took over the reins of the conversation.
"First of all, about last night in Mindis Hall …"
Vogel flipped open a page of records in his hand and looked straight at Mallos.
"Whether it was an impulsive act or a proxy duel, as the captain of the guards, you know the pros and cons.
"Why did you not stop it, but instead condone Prince Thales' impulsive act?"
Mallos retracted his gaze from the inlaid Sound Reproduction Stone and Crystal Drops on the wall. He no longer looked at the ancient Sound Reproduction Spell that had been tinkered with by countless amateurs over the past six hundred years and was now barely usable.
He returned to last night.
"I have neither the right nor the ability to interfere with His Highness' decision.
"Since he has spoken, I can't go against him in public."
Vogel snorted indecipherable.
"Is that so?
"But why do I feel that you were quite eager to disagree with your superior last night?"
'He hasn't changed.'
Mallos stared at Vogel's face, which was as suspicious, mean and hostile as ever.
Just like eighteen years ago.
At that time, Vogel, Facundo, Stanley, and Thales, including himself, were still young knight apprentices. Even Vogel, who was of the highest birth and the most experienced, was only a candidate for the royal guards, and not even an official member of the guards.
They were just a bunch of youngsters, looking up to a former legend, yearning for illusory fame.
But at an age when they were already sensible and about to become adults.
Witnessing a bloody nightmare.
He lost his head in panic.
Confusion and disorder.
Mallos shook his head.
"You must have misunderstood, Lord Talon. Last night, you and I …"
But Vogel did not give him a chance to finish.
"Danny Doyle. That's D.D. He's your first-class protector."
The Chief Flagbearer looked down at a page of documents.
"His performance last night was unbearable, even humiliating.
"For his own selfishness, he acted rashly, disregarded the prince's safety, and ignored his superior's orders."
Vogel looked up.
"Is that so?"
Mallos and Vogel stared at each other in silence.
For eighteen years, he and Vogel, the youngsters of their generation, trembled with fear as they worked hard to portray themselves as the most admired, but also the most unfamiliar.
From selected students, to trainees, to second-class officials, first-class officials …
Until now.
They thought that as long as it was like this.
That it would cover up their former fear and despair.
Become adults.
Then teach a new generation of youngsters a lesson.
"Yes," Mallos said straightforwardly.
"He was very foolish last night."
Vogel snorted, his meaning unclear.
"As for first-class vanguard, Caleb Glover …"
The Chief Flagbearer switched to another page.
"As far as I know, Doyle broke free from his grasp and endangered the situation."
"Is that so?"
Mallos suddenly felt a little sleepy.
But he could not yawn in front of them.
Not polite.
Not very polite.
"I can't deny it." Mallos picked up the maté tea beside him, covering up his yawn as he savored the stimulation of the bitter taste in the dead silent world.
This made him very excited.
The Logistics Division occasionally does good deeds, doesn't it?
"So they deserve to be punished, don't you agree?"
While Vogel interrogated, Will scribbled something on the side.
"Watchman?"
Mallos lifted his nose out of the teacup and smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Vogel looked at him for a long time, as if to confirm that this was really his reaction.
He pulled out a report and pushed it backwards in front of Mallos.
"Very well, then sign here. I'll send it to Chief Penal Officer Facundo.
"For your sake, the Flag Bearer Division will not pursue the responsibility of others …"
Mallos looked at the flagbearer's report in front of him and caught a few key words:
Dereliction of duty.
Overstepping.
Loyalty.
Dealt with.
Mallos lifted the corner of his lips.
But he still obediently grabbed the pen and flipped open the report.
"Don't worry. Although the mistake has been made, I think that both Doyle and Glover are pardoned, and will not be imprisoned by the guards."
Vogel continued to stare at him with bright eyes. His words softened considerably.
"I suggest that Facundo only demote them to second-class …"
Mallos was as indifferent as ever. He tested the ink on the draft and grunted.
"That's very generous of you."
He was not.
Vogel was eager to do so.
Mallos told himself.
To assert the power he never had elsewhere, to numb the pain he felt elsewhere, to cover the frustration he had been feeling for decades.
The world was still dead silent, allowing Mallos to sense Vogel's emotions more clearly.
But even after he did so, he was still not satisfied.
Just like how revenge could not fill the emptiness.
The future could not make up for the past.
"But there's no doubt that these two are no longer fit to stay by Prince Thales' side."
Vogel's tone changed.
"I think they should return to their original positions in the wings, reflect, and await further orders …"
Mallos nodded as he looked at the report.
"There's only one small problem …"
Vogel paused.
"What?"
The Sound Replication Spell flickered slightly. Wei-ah frowned and knocked on the wall tentatively.
"Under the witness of Prince Thales and the entire team, I have already carried out the punishment," Mallos' attitude seemed indifferent.
"Doyle and Glover have also paid the price they deserve."
Vogel was silent for a few seconds.
"When?"
"This morning."
Mallos flipped to the next page. Oh, this was the signature page.
"The specific records are with Vice Penal Officer Gray Patterson. Of course, I believe that Hugo Fuble will also report this to the Flag Bearer Division as soon as possible."
Vogel did not speak.
But in the dead silent world, Mallos felt that the pressure from Vogel was rising.
Like a stove for boiling water.
"This morning …"
Vogel exhaled.
"Isn't it a little hasty to deal with last night's incident in such a hurry?"
"It was indeed hasty." Mallos dipped his pen in ink.
"Unfortunately, Prince Thales could not suppress his anger.
"We dared not delay under a forceful order."
Vogel frowned fiercely.
Mallos, on the other hand, laid out the report meticulously. He was prepared to sign the most perfect signature in his life on the report.
After a few seconds, the vice-captain in front of him slowly forced out a sentence.
"Is that so?"
Vogel stared at Mallos.
"Prince Thales, is he so harsh, ungrateful, and unreasonable?"
At that moment, Wei-ah suddenly felt a little suffocated and had to concentrate on maintaining the Sound Replication Spell.
As if he really knew that stuff.
Mallos shrugged and chuckled as he began to write the letters.
"Ha, you can't imagine."
Vogel lowered his eyes and looked at Mallos' beautiful handwriting.
"Are you sure the punishment is appropriate?"
"I don't know." Mallos dipped his pen in ink and shook his head.
"Of course, if you feel that His Highness was unfair and needs to be re-sentenced, it is not incomprehensible …"
Bang!
The vice-captain slammed his palm on the table.
Mallos' pen stopped. He raised his head and looked at Vogel.
He did not need to stroll in his own dead silent world to sense the other party's emotions.
"No need."
Vogel stared intently at Mallos and pulled back the report in an irrefutable manner.
Halfway through his signature, the tip of his pen left a long ink stain on the paper that was pulled away.
Wei-ah lowered his head deeply — this child had been in the Flag Bearer Division for a long time and knew how to read people's expressions.
"Under normal circumstances, we do not punish him twice for the same crime."
Vogel was expressionless.
In front of Mallos, he tore the report in his hand into pieces and threw it into the wastepaper basket.
"Of course, I forgot."
Mallos put down his pen and smiled at him.
"Thank you for the reminder."
What a pity. That was his best signature.
Vogel was silent for a long time until he had digested his current emotions.
A few seconds later, when the Chief Flag Bearer looked up, his posture was perfect and his attitude was proper.
"As far as I know, you have been living with Prince Thales for more than two months."
Vogel swept away his earlier unhappiness. He took out another report and returned to his current work.
"How has His Highness' personality been these days?"
Personality.
That child's … personality?
Mallos' gaze was slightly unfocused.
"Fighting with no regard for his life."
He said slowly.
"Still reluctant to admit defeat."
Vogel frowned and looked down at the report.
"It's not just martial arts, it can also be …"
The Chief Flag Bearer paused.
"Other aspects?"
Mallos smiled faintly.
"Perhaps the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department knows more about His Highness' life in the North."
Vogel looked up.
"But I'm asking you."
There was a momentary pause between the two.
Mallos stared at Vogel quietly.
Just like when they were young.
"Bardic poetry."
Mallos spoke slowly with a nonchalant expression.
"He quite likes this stuff. He's read quite a lot and sings quite well. It's a pity that he's only good at lute …"
"Played by him like a cat in heat."
Vogel frowned again.
"He liked to talk to himself, and play chess, but his chess skills were as bad as D.D's."
"He liked to carry a book wherever he went, pretending to be a cultured person," Mallos picked up his teacup, and gradually felt that the tea inside was not so bitter.
"But he never flipped through it."
"What else?" Vogel interrupted.
"For example … some abnormalities?"
Mallos looked up.
Vogel's expression did not change.
"We all know that the prince is a genius, different from ordinary people."
'Different from ordinary people.'
The watchman stayed in the dead world that only he knew about for a while, before scoffing and returning to reality.
"Hmm, His Highness's venomous mouth is unforgiving. But strangely, his usual temperament is gentle and unhurried."
Mallos put on a knowing smile again.
"Including some of the usual moodiness and melancholy of his age.
"You know, the lack of love in childhood …"
Vogel coughed intentionally!
"Mind your words, Lord Mallos."
Mallos smiled apologetically.
'How interesting.'
The watchman stood in the dead world, looking at the boundless wilderness ahead.
Vogel had been living in irritation and emptiness, burning with anger.
But he was still in awe.
In fear.
"Anything else?"
"Yes. Although I'm not sure of the details, there is something about His Highness that worries the guards …"
Vogel raised his head and pretended to listen.
"From various signs …"
Mallos thought for a moment.
"Prince Thales, he might, hmm."
The watchman nodded and said seriously,
"Prefer men?"
At that moment, Will, who was sipping his tea, was splashed in the face by a huge splash from the teacup. He hurriedly wiped it away in a pathetic manner.
The report in Vogel's hand was torn out of shape, its folds disheveled.
The night shift room was silent and inexplicably awkward.
Only the Sound Replication Spell was still operating diligently.
"Mallos."
Vogel's face was expressionless, but his voice deepened.
"Do you know, we used the Sound Replication Stone."
He said darkly,
"This Eternal World File …"
"will be passed down for thousands of years."
Mallos smiled.
"Yes, I know."
The watchman looked at the glowing Sound Replication Spell. His smile was as fake as a New Year's greeting.
"So we try to be as real as possible, don't we?"
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