Embers (3)

Phenomenon's Headquarters, Eden Hamelot's Private Office.

Eden Hamelot, the top-ranked Pro, was enjoying the peace that had finally arrived.

No contact since then.

He had mourned his fallen comrades, reported their deaths as casualties in the battle against monsters, visited his hometown to see his parents and younger sister, and now, today

Eden finally felt like the gears of his life were turning again.

Phenomenon, the headquarters where Eden was the leader, had seen its stock price soar after the Mana Injection incident, and its image in the Imperial Palace had also improved.

Of course, Eden himself, who had gone directly to the Imperial Palace and received high praise from Empress Philly, was no exception.

I thought Her Majesty the Empress would have found out back then, but it seems thats not the case since nothing has happened.

If it had been revealed that Frondier was involved in that incident, his family would have been killed immediately. By Frondier's hand.

From Eden's perspective, where he believed Frondier held all the information, he had no way to stop Frondier from killing his family.

Of course, he could target Frondier directly, but the fear of Frondier was already deeply ingrained in Eden's mind.

It was a fight where the outcome was uncertain unless it was within Frondier's workshop, so he ended up hesitating.

Well, thanks to him hiding it, Phenomenon will grow even bigger, and so will I. As long as that bastard doesn't do anything unnecessary

As if Frondier had been waiting for Eden to think that.

Buzz, his phone vibrated.

.

Eden looked at the phone screen with a frown.

Should he say it was expected, or as he guessed? Or rather, should he say it was unexpected because the timing was too perfect?

He got a text from that guy.

[Please prepare.]

What the hell is this bastard talking about?

Does he see me as his subordinate now? And what kind of preparation is he talking about, without any context?

But the next text

[Manggot is coming.]

Eden's expression turned cold.

The messages continued.

[All of Phenomenon's forces are needed.]

[This is not a threat.]

[The lives of all the citizens of the Empire are at stake.]

Damn it.

Eden clicked his tongue.

He also knew about Manggot. And the fact that its existence was a clear threat.

Frondier was someone Eden wanted to tear apart right now, but he also knew that he was a thorough and cautious type. There was no way Frondier would have sent such a message as a joke.

Whether it was a threat or not, Eden's course of action was clear.

He pressed a button on his Sagephone and held it to his ear.

"Yeah, it's me."

Eden didn't trust Frondier anyway. And it was the same for Frondier.

But that didn't matter.

Eden had to follow Frondier's orders anyway, and Frondier would just throw out suitable excuses beforehand to make Eden obey.

"We need to hold an emergency meeting."

If the lives of all the citizens of the Empire were at stake, of course Phenomenon had to step up.

* * *

Frondier headed to the Imperial Palace.

His family wasn't with him, and he didn't bring a driver either. There was no need for that.

He had already explained the situation to Aten, and Philly, who had received the message, immediately sent someone to bring Frondier over.

Frondier arrived at the Imperial Palace in a luxurious car, receiving unprecedented escort and courtesy.

However, while the process of bringing Frondier was courteous, it wasn't flashy. It wasn't something that needed to attract attention.

"Mr. Frondier, you look grim."

Aten, who had come with him from Constel in the car, looked at him with concern.

"Is something bothering you?"

"No. I'm just a little nervous."

Frondier smiled and shook his head. Or rather, he shook his head as if he was shaking off something else instead of dust, like someone with dust on their hair.

I see.

Aten didn't believe Frondier's words. She knew well enough that he wouldn't be nervous about something like this anymore.

But she also knew that she wouldn't get a proper answer even if she pressed him.

"Welcome! Frondier."

Empress Philly greeted him.

She guessed why Frondier had come again.

Frondier bowed his head and, guided by Philly, headed to the reception room.

Philly had Aten and Frondier sit down and ordered that no one else should enter the reception room.

"I'm sorry. I was late because I was thoroughly investigating to see if any of the Shadow Unit members involved in the Mana Injection incident were still around. There was a reward for Mr. Frondier, right? Is there anything you want? I'll grant you anything within my power."

Philly thought Frondier had come for this reward.

As the Empress, she had and could handle anything, whether it was money or power.

Even though she limited it to within her power, it was almost meaningless. Especially since Philly wasn't someone who lied easily, her statement held even greater weight.

Previously, when Philly had entrusted Frondier with the Mana Potion investigation, he had received a quest at the same time.

[Sub-quest: Weeding Out]

Description: The group that planned the Mana Injection belongs to the Shadow Unit. Eliminate them as per Philly's order.

Objective: Eliminate the ringleaders and collaborators of the project.

Reward: Separate payment depending on the quest performance. Reward decreases if some ringleaders or collaborators are missed or other members of the Shadow Unit are eliminated, failure if someone who is not a member of the Shadow Unit is killed.

Failure results in losing Philly's trust.

However, this quest wasn't perfectly successful.

They were all killed by the devils before Frondier could eliminate them. The quest reward was still pending.

But this was the quest reward, and what Philly was giving was separate. From Philly's perspective, the credit for this incident naturally belonged to Frondier, and she had to give him a reward that reflected that.

Your Majesty, before that, for a moment.

"Ah, that title again."

"I apologize. Please forgive me just this once."

Frondier's voice had a different tone than usual.

Philly's eyes narrowed with interest.

"Hmm. So, what is it? Frondier."

"Please take a look at this."

Frondier took something out of his pocket.

A small object, preciously wrapped in a fine cloth.

As soon as Philly saw its size, nestled in Frondier's palm, she guessed what it was. But it was hard to believe, so her eyes naturally widened.

Mr. Frondier, don't tell me that's

Aten, who was sitting next to her, also widened her eyes.

"Yes."

Frondier unwrapped the cloth, revealing its identity.

"It's a Dragonheart."

A thin triangular ring. A massive flow of mana emanating from within it.

This wasn't an illusion created by Frondier's Replication. Nor was it a real one extracted from a dragon's body.

It was an original, jointly created by Frondier and Mei. A fake, yet a crystal of mana that could rival the genuine article.

The brilliantly shining Dragonheart radiated a transparent and elegant beauty, as if even the sound of a melody could be heard. Philly, who was looking at it, asked,

Is this really a Dragonheart?

"It's not exactly the same material. But you will be able to achieve the effect you desire, Your Majesty."

The effect Philly desired. In other words, curing Bartello's weakening condition.

With this Dragonheart, it could be done.

.

Philly stared at the Dragonheart for a moment, frozen even with Frondier's assertion.

She wasn't doubting Frondier's words. Nor was she giving up on the Dragonheart.

After Frondier had destroyed the Dragonheart to eliminate the gate with the devils, Philly had been gathering information again to find another Dragonheart.

Dragonhearts were rare, but they weren't one of a kind. Even without the dangerous act of targeting a dragon directly, Dragonhearts were sometimes found in their corpses.

Of course, the probability was low. But that wasn't a reason to give up, so Philly had been putting her efforts into researching materials and dispatching people overnight, desperately hoping to find a Dragonheart.

That's why.

Frondier.

That's why Philly, who knew its value all too well

"What is the reason you're showing this to me?"

fell into her habit.

Regardless of her trust in Frondier, she 'doubted' the situation itself, the fact that it had arrived before her.

The danger when something someone desperately desires appears right in front of them.

Since most of them were like the scent emitted by insectivorous plants, Philly couldn't reach out.

"......Your Majesty."

Frondier placed the Dragonheart on the table with a heavy voice. It was located between Frondier and Philly.

"I am about to say something to you that is more rude and reckless than anything else. I know all too well that no matter how I sugarcoat my words, you will not fail to read between the lines."

"......You're not answering, Frondier. I thought you were someone who wouldn't be scared of such things."

Even though Philly said so, he was somewhat nervous.

The Dragonheart was placed on the table, and Frondier was afraid of what he was about to say. Frondier, who is not easily scared, was also stiffened by Aten's gaze.

Frondier took a deep breath and finally said,

"I want to make a deal with you."

"......Is this the item that's up for the deal?"

"In addition to this, the deal is to give up all the rewards you promised to give me."

Philly's eyes became even sharper.

"......Let's hear it. What do you want? Something worth risking everything for."

"I need troops."

At Frondier's words, Philly tilted his head slightly. Aten's tension eased a bit.

Troops? That's something she could provide. Frondier was risking enough for that. Giving troops might require several steps, but it wasn't impossible. If necessary, she could even make Frondier a royal palace knight.

But then the next words.

"I need all the troops of the royal palace."

At those words, Philly's mouth, which was about to respond lightly, stopped.

If it had been anyone else, she would have sent soldiers to drive them out the moment they uttered such words.

No, it would be appropriate to charge them with a crime and punish them. Aten would have said something before Philly stepped forward.

But Philly became more serious. Because the person who said those words was Frondier.

"......Something is happening."

Frondier nodded deeply.

Clearly, at the same time, with cold, shining eyes, Frondier looked at Philly.

"The Manggot is coming."