The office of Grad Luclire, the Emperor of Arant.

The emperor was constantly bowing to the crystal ball placed in the closet.

"Yes, yes. Of course."

The figure of the man reflected in the crystal ball was a form that was difficult to see as a human.

The man with dark skin had a pair of horns growing on his head.

His red eyes were dry, and his lips were as red as if they were holding blood. It was a beautiful appearance if you could call it that, but everything about it was threatening.

"The Mage Tower Master... is doing well."

-Are you sure?

A rough voice like scraping iron.

"Y-yes, sir. I'm sure."

-Don't disappoint me again, Grad.

"...Yes. Of course."

-I'll prepare the item you mentioned and send it soon.

"Thank you."

When the emperor, who had bowed his head deeply, raised his head, only the same darkness as the surroundings remained in the crystal ball.

"Khuk... if the king finds out..."

Grad's steps as he paced the room were anxious.

"No, no..."

Then he suddenly stopped walking.

"Right, the king said he would give me that...! Right, right! There's nothing to worry about. If this matter is handled well..."

Anyone who saw the emperor's appearance would surely say he was crazy.

"Khahahaha! It's not far off. It's not far off!"

The emperor's greedy laughter filled the room.

***

"Did you hear that story?"

"What story?"

"You know. The one who was driven out to Citata a long time ago..."

"Ah, the Rodrigo County?"

"Yes, yes, they say a mine was discovered there in Citata."

The people gathered in the square were in the middle of a chat as usual.

"Pardon? A mine?"

"Yes, you know, the mine where they dig up stones. Like gems."

"Ah, but what about it? Doesn't everyone have something like that in their territory? I think I heard that there's a mine in Citata too..."

At her words, another woman lowered her voice and approached her.

"This is a secret..."

"What is it?"

The woman who had also lowered her voice asked back.

"Phew, I really shouldn't be telling you this..."

The answer was already set.

"Oh my, Lian's mom. Am I a person with a light mouth? Hurry up and tell me."

She pulled the arm of the person called Lian's mom.

"Then you have to keep this to yourself, Lina's mom..."

She, who had lowered her voice as much as she could, brought her mouth to Lina's mom's ear.

The woman who had quickly nodded her head brought her ear closer.

"Well, they say that in that mine, mana stones are coming out..."

"Pardon?! Is that true? No, then that originally belongs to the state..."

She was so surprised that her voice, which had been lowered, became high again.

"That's right! But that! Because that land is so barren... and besides, wasn't that family originally a central noble? So they say they completely gave away that land to quell the surrounding opposition."

It was right to have most of the large resources belong to the state.

The territory granted to the nobles was also the state's, so it was the law to naturally return it to the state when a large resource was discovered.

But even while granting the barren land where not a single blade of grass grew well, the imperial palace had not neglected the surrounding investigation. It was a land that had been thoroughly investigated and completely granted in preparation for such a jackpot, but such a thing had happened.

"Oh my, my goodness! Then that's all..."

"Yes, that's right. Isn't it amazing? Phew! How much money would that all be?"

The woman who was looking at the distant empty space let out a breathless sigh. As an amount she couldn't even imagine filled her head, she seemed to be having a vain fantasy that someone else's luck could someday be hers.

"Phew, where would such a thing be common? They say that the county was originally good people, right? So well..."

"That's right. That's what they said. Ah, you know, right? The one who lost his son last time..."

"Who...? Ah, there?"

"Yes, it seems that family originally worked at the county."

"Oh my, really?"

The gossip that had once started grew like a fire, with tails and words added to it.

The small rumor that had started like this grew like a snowball, with flesh and words added to it, and began to circulate throughout the empire.

Even in the restaurants and small cafes, everyone was talking about Citata.

In addition, the family that had been forgotten, a central noble but had already fallen, was also a newly emerging topic.

It was natural for everyone to not approve of the crown that had been won with blood by driving out the legitimate heir and starting a rebellion, even if they didn't say it out loud.

"As expected, good always triumphs over evil. Otherwise, wouldn't this world be too unfair?"

"That's right, that's right."

The news, like a welcome rain, that had come to the people of the empire who were living in a world where evil always triumphed, was shaking the imperial authority.

***

"What?! How is that possible!"

"We are investigating."

Kersis Renom, who stood before the emperor, was a genius who had reached the level of a sword master at the young age of 32.

At the age of 38, he was now the captain of the imperial knights and also the captain of the Black Knights, who were in charge of the emperor's escort.

The rumor of the empire that he had quickly received had already reached the emperor's ears.

It had been less than two hours since the rumor had begun to circulate in the empire.

"Absurd! There was nothing in Citata that could even be put forward as a specialty, not even a common blade of grass!"

The emperor Grad's face was distorted with anger.

"...I will investigate."

-Bang!

The emperor, who could not overcome his anger, finally slammed his fist on the desk.

"No, it doesn't matter what's in the county. Think of a way to drive them out."

"What do you mean by that..."

-Bang!

"Damn it! To not even understand such simple words! Just think of a way to drive them out of that territory and return it to the national treasury, that's what I mean!!!"

Kersis seemed to have lost his words at the emperor's primal anger and just kept his mouth shut and lowered his gaze.

"..."

"Why is there no answer? Huh?"

"I understand."

"What do you understand? What did I say to a guy who just swings a sword...! Get out. This is not a matter for a guy like you to step in."

Even at the emperor's insulting treatment, Kersis just bowed his head deeply and showed the courtesy of a knight, and then quietly left the room.

Kersis had learned swordsmanship from his father, who was a knight, since he was young, and he was a person with a strong sense of chivalry to the bone.

There were times when he had to dirty his hands to work for the emperor in the imperial palace.

But there was always a just cause for all of that.

He could do things like cutting off the buds that could be a danger to the emperor, or driving out those who would be harmful to the people of the empire, even if he didn't like it.

But the Rodrigo County in Citata now was different.

They did not threaten the emperor, nor did they do anything that would harm the people of the empire.

Citata was not a place that would be harmful at all, whether in terms of geographical location or anything else. Although it was a territory located at the northernmost tip, it did not even have a decent port, so trading ships did not come and go, and although it was close to the Raskan Empire, those heading to the imperial palace did not pass through it.

They could not seek additional income compared to other territories adjacent to the border or the sea.

The people of the territory were always hungry, and it was a fact that everyone knew that the county had worked hard to solve that hunger.

That's why the mine was a welcome rain that had finally come to the county.

But that rain was too sweet, and that was the problem.

'The Rodrigo County...'

But the emperor was trying to pin another crime on them and drive them out of this world for good.

Kersis, who had been silently loyal to the emperor until now, sensed that he had reached his limit.

'No. You can't go that far.'

Kersis, who was walking down the corridor, held his scabbard tightly.

***

"Lord, the situation seems a little bad."

"What's wrong all of a sudden?"

"I was just on my way back from the imperial palace..."

Lucas's brow furrowed as he listened to the words coming out of Aman's mouth.

"..."

"So the atmosphere in the imperial palace seems a little unsettled right now."

"I understand what you're saying well enough. More importantly, how did the rumor already reach the imperial palace?"

"Haha, you know, right? The rumor that humans spread is faster than the wind of Zephyrus."

Zephyrus was the name of the spirit king of the wind.

It was a human proverb that a rumor was faster than the fastest wind in the world.

"Right... I know. But I know that Citata is entirely the property of the county."

"So you have to be careful, don't you?"

"...You're right."

Looking back, he thought he had acted a little rashly.

The act of trying to solve the county's financial difficulties had turned into a major incident with the cheerful and cheerful dragon.

"Hoo... I didn't think of this."

"Haha! Me neither."

Even with the county's existence at stake, the cheerful dragon just laughed.

"Should we destroy the mine now?"

It was truly a dragon-like idea. The source of the trouble? Just get rid of it!

"Humans are not that stupid."

"Hmm... then should I appear and shoot a breath or something?"

Aman spread his arms to the sides and pretended to breathe fire.

"Ha, if you don't want to be confined to your lair forever and never come out, then do that."

"Huuuh..."

There was no easy answer.

Not only the mine that had already been dug, but also the minerals that had come out of that mine were now being piled up and appraised.

Aman had helped them open up a sales channel, and people had already left from Vamaras, the island country next to the empire and a hub of trade.

"Should we stop the humans coming from Vamaras first?"

"N-no."

Aman, who waved his hand at Lucas's words, even shook his head violently, and Lucas, who felt something strange, asked back.

"Why? Your reaction is suspicious."

"T-that's..."

"What's the name of the trading company coming from Vamaras?"

Aman had personally connected the trading company after the Noru Trading Company.

But what was with that fishy reaction?

"...It's the Gold Nine Trading Company."

"Gold Nine... I think I've heard that somewhere..."

"Haha, well, it's a pretty big trading company. Oh my, look at the time! I have to go now!"

Aman mumbled his words and even pretended to look at a pocket watch he didn't have.

"I've definitely heard it somewhere..."

Gold Nine. It was a name he was sure he had heard somewhere.

But as he repeated the name, he felt goosebumps on his body for some reason, and he didn't feel good.

But it would be best to let it go for now.

"Where are you going?"

"Ah, I'm planning to go back to the Esna Kingdom first and then return to the academy. I was thinking of stopping by Citata on my way back and going with Lucas-nim. Is that okay?"

"Ah, Esna."

Aman's identity during his excursion was a royal mage of the Esna Kingdom.

Since the academy was on vacation, it was right for him to visit his home country for a while.

"Yes."

"Right, it would be good to stop by on your way and go together."

"Then, I'll be going."

Aman, who winked one eye, left the room.

Aman, who seemed to have already said goodbye to the Count and Countess, was standing in front of the main gate of the county estate.

Lucas, who saw him from the window, also left the room to see him off formally.

"Professor, we'll see you again at the academy, right?"

"Of course, of course."

Aman smiled brightly with his eyes closed at Pola's question.

"Thank you again so much."

The Count grabbed Aman's hand. The Count was expressing his gratitude every time he saw Aman, as if it was not enough no matter how many times he said it.

"Y-you don't have to do this..."

Aman's stomach was churning as he looked at the Count's appearance.

Lucas's stomach was also not in a good state.

"Then I'll be going. I hope you'll be well until we meet again."

"Professor, goodbye!"

"Goodbye."

Aman left the county estate.

(End of Chapter)