In Elzmu, the Knights department was separated into 2 groups, the Black and White Knights. The one who managed them was Gion but the one who were usually mobilized was the White Knights. Why? Because the Black Knights were mostly imperial guards.

Would it be easier if it was explained that the Black Knights were the King’s personal knights? Even though it was the Vice-Leader who gave directions, it was known that he was moving under the King’s order.

The Black Knights were again, separated into 2 groups, combat and intelligence. The Combat corps were mostly guarding the castle or was the King’s personal guards and would join the war as soldiers if there ever was one. The 2 guards who stood before the Audience room and trembled at Will’s family name were under this corp.

As for the Intelligence corp, they were not widely known. What they do was as their name specify, intelligence gathering. Gion’s secret job could be cla.s.sified as so, but strictly speaking, there were slight differences.

Gion’s work was to handle those who opposed Kesamu.

The Black Knight Intelligence Corps were to handle and managed all information.

Plus, they were ‘not widely known’ which means there were still people who knew about them. As opposed to Gion, who moved in absolute secret.

That day, Zirco was summoned by the King and was given an a.s.signment. He admired the King. Kesamu, both as a King and man, was magnificent and he had decided to swear his loyalty and his life to him.

To add to that fact was that Zirco’s family, the Ninjas, had served the King for many generations. No one knew, but they had been supporting the Royal Family behind-the-scene throughout history. It was in his blood to serve the King.

Kesamu was being called as the Wise King. Zirco had been told to do some crazy things which he couldn’t understand why. It was always afterwards where the King’s action reveled their meaning.

Which was why, he do not question the King and simply move according to his directions. But this time was different. This time, he totally could not wrapped his head around what he had been told.

The usual crazy requests had been easier to understand as they were usually something that had a deeper meaning to them. This time, however, the reason was given right from the start which made it even more difficult to accept.

The one who provided the information and also the one who gave his suggestion was an 8 year old kid.

….An 8 year old kid who had seemingly defeated Abi.

Any usual King would dismissed it as a kid’s prank. Of course, not to mention to even research and follow the kid’s suggestions. It was something Zirco had never thought he would do.

His head hurt. He had, for a moment, thought to ask the King if it was what he really wanted to do. Of course, he said nothing. Kesamu had always been able to see-through his opponent’s true nature. Having doubts against such Kesamu was something only an idiot would do.

Which was why, he would have to met with the person to understand it all.

He walked along soundlessly even in the stone-paved castle where sound reverberate easily. It was meant to make it difficult for any spy to infiltrate. It was said to be the First Founder’s taste but actually, it was a counter-measure.

Williams Beryl.

The next Duke-in-waiting. Any n.o.ble would had heard of his name once before. He was said to be like an angel at his debut when he was 3, and was even praised by the famous court scholar John Veltor for his intelligence. A genius, a prodigy. He was someone who was covered in rumors.

And to add on, Gion-Sama’s son.

Gion was Zirco’s superior. He was the leader of both the White and Black Knight so it’s a given. As said, Gion, who usually lead the White Knights, had very little chance to come in contact with Zirco, who was from the Black Knight Intelligence Corp under the King.

Even so, Zirco knew how splendid Gion was. He was as admired by the people as Kesamu.

That person’s son.

Zirco knew the theory of not coming to an conclusion before investigating but he was just an 8 year old. He can’t help but make light of it. Plus this incident might be the death of this country if it was reveled to be a child’s prank.

But this child was recognized by 2 highly respected people.

Then calmness was restored to Zirco’s heart by a simple fact. Just focused on the the King’s order for now. Putting aside his complex feelings, he focused on the order he received straight from the King himself and rush out of the castle soundlessly.

The table shook under the man’s tapping of his foot. The comfy sofa, placed in front of the large table in the s.p.a.cious room, sat a man who plucked off his remaining 2 strands of hair.

Rummaging through the shelf placed to the side of the table, he took a map out. In the middle of the map were the words, ‘The Country of Hattuo’. Glaring at it, Guta mumbled in a low voice.

” Winter is coming soon. ”

The country of Hattuo, which Emperor Guta reigned over, was set at the north of the continent Ranaa. Therefor, the weather had always been cold. At winter, the ground would froze over, drift ice would covered the north sea and sea voyage was deem as sheer stupidity.

To this Hattuo, instead of farming or fis.h.i.+ng, they would breed livestock instead. And since they began breeding, they were militarize not long after.

And as compared to the other countries around them, they had a big problem. Food.

No matter how they trained the army, no matter how much they earned from magic tools, the only one thing that can’t be solved was the problem with shortage of resources. No matter how much land the country possessed, people cannot live without food.

The people would lowered their heads to people from the surrounding countries for food. Cold and hungry.

Guta had watched it happened. He wanted to save his country. It wasn’t justice. Guta desired growth for his own country for his own benefit.

Guta wanted the continent.

And for that to happened, he need a place where the soil do not freeze over.

He glanced at the map again.

Starting from the center of Ranaa, mountains ran along from northwest till the southeast. The places around the mountains were known as the [Demon Forest]. As the name implied, it was squirming with demon beasts. With the reason unknown, a large amount of demon beasts were sp.a.w.n in the forests and in there, a survival of the fitness. If anyone dared to take a step in there, it was sure that they would never come out.

And in the middle of the [Demon Forests] sat Elzmu. Their territory was squeezed in between the [Demon Forests]. Even so, they possessed good soil and their agriculture development bloomed.

Thanks to that, people who win in life and people who yearned for peace began gathering in Elzmu. They started researching magic tools and now, their magic development was almost reaching Hattuo’s standards.

The barrier between the 2 countries was the Iiza river. But, 200 years ago, no one knew that area over the river was inhabitable.

Then, it was taken over by a man who suddenly appeared. Thinking back, Guta pity the Emperor of that time. It was a precious land that they needed. The land from the south that won’t freeze over.

” Spinel. ”

Guta called out.

” ――Here. ”

Guta did not seem surprised even though Spinel suddenly appeared in front of him. Spinel was a ‘shadow’ owned by Guta.

” ….Williams Beryl…. No, stop investigating Elzmu. ”

” ….Understood. ”

At that, Spinel melted into the shadows.

It wasn’t like Elzmu could live in between the [Demon Forests] that easily. Thanks to the strong Knights, they had made it livable. Guta was not that stupid to make those Knights his enemy. Hattuo had an army but they were people after all.

But Elzmu would definitely not raise a hand against the [Demon Forests]. No matter how strong they were, there were things things they couldn’t do.

――――If you raise a hand against the Demon Forests, calamity would befall you――――

It was a phrase pa.s.sed down since the olden times. It was a tradition, a belief. The corners of his mouth raised as he grinned. He would have to developed Hattuo in order to save his people. Which was why, he would silently wait for now.

Caralsdoni tasted despair quickly.

He had reached for the top from zero. He had thought that as long as money made the world go round, he would do anything. Yes, he had thought, past-tense.

Caralsdoni, who had finally walked out from the slums, went to confirmed the place he was in. He could kinda guess where he was by looking around him but to be sure, he asked people who walked pa.s.sed. He was at a remote countryside in Dyuvu. He would reached Elzmu if he cross the Demon Forest but he would have to cross the Demon Forest again.

There were many beastmen living at the place he was in. He had no discrimination against them but he felt angry at those beastmen, who had better noses, steering clear of him.

Urg. He stinks and he knew it.

Moaning, he tried to look for a job to earn money so he could get somewhere. And at that, he tasted despair.

Caralsdoni had the talent. He turned his business into a success. That much was the truth. But he was lacking in something now. And that was youth. No matter how good he was at calculation, how good he was in business, how good was his tongue, he cannot overturn the truth about his age.

Everyone had rejected him thinking he must had had some problems to be fired at his age. His dirty robe made it worst but Caralsdoni did not realized it.

It was no use. He can’t get a job….

He hanged his head in defeat.

The country of business, Dyuvu. It was not that he hated the place. He had visited a few times on business. But this was not the place he wanted to lay his bones upon. The Maria he loved was still waiting for him in Elzmu.

He can’t give up. In that case, he would have to reveal everything. Tell the truth and he would get a job. Was what he thought but it didn’t work. A merchant who was tricked to this extend was out. And he was rejected also to protect his pride and not be seen with pity as a merchant.

Plus, not remembering what happened to him and with his fuzzy memories, no one would really accept his vague explanation.

” Ah, but it’s really itchy. ”

Caralsdoni knitted his brows together. That’s right, let’s wash himself clean first! With that aim in mind, Caralsdoni staggered over to the river.