Marilard Palace. It was the very symbol that personified House of Rosemieur's deep riches, and world's leading architectural design among other royal palaces. To be truth, even quoting 'no words could truly illustrate the truer grandeurness of Marilard Palace' was putting it mildly at best against its staggering magnificent.

To grasp its scale, one had to look at the measurable facts at minimum; it contained over 2,200 rooms—it includes the attached guest wings—a grand banquet hall with a seating capacity of 5,000 guests, a garage large enough to accommodate 150 coaches, stable for 400 horses, over 800 chandeliers, six pools, and over 300 bathrooms alone. 

The total floor area of Marilarde Palace spans 600,000 square meters. By comparison, a standard 3-bedroom Japanese apartment (a typical 3LDK layout) would be around 75 square meters, making this palace nearly 8,000 times that size. 

Though the palace served as the Emperor’s official residence and administrative office, there was a separate fortress—Olympus Castle—which the Emperor was meant to command from in case war ever breaks out on the capital's soil.

When the Emperor was at the apex of Rosemieur's chain of wealth and authority, it was quite understandable why the Imperial Palace had the awe-inspiring excess to it. 

"What an utter disgrace. You should've known very well that the ears of entire worlds are currently trained on the Olympus, with it being a hubbub of almost every influential person. And you're saying you can't even lead a guest properly? You've set a new threshold for incompetence, Arichi! Why would you even begin with Commercial District?! You've shamed the venerable prominence of our father."

Arichi and Grayfia had barely made their entrance to the Throne Room—it also dubbed as Emperor's Office—at the urgent summon, and their first step met with a scathing tirade of Arichi's eldest brother, Girai. 

The guest in his words was, obviously, Allen. 

It was entirely unexpected that it happened, and worse yet, Yuglia had been enthusiastically publicising the incident. The situation had spiraled out so much that he had no idea how to coordinate it. 

If he couldn't benefit from it, then he must keep himself out to maintain his image. Following his logic, Girai pinned all the blame on Arichi. 

A long line of dignitaries stood behind Girai, all observing in silence, but one could capture the veil of censure against Arichi and Grayfia in their eyes. Girai must have spun the narrative to make himself the innocent one behind their backs. 

Arichi bit on her lip. She was vexed, of course, since the precursor to their predicament was the  assault against them at the Noble District, which was supposed to have strong security. She was entirely sure that it was the handiwork of Girai before him.

But she had no evidence to back up her claim, and besides, Allen's disappearance took place at the commercial district, which had no relation to the ambush. So, while she could bring out his lack of scrutiny in his administrative district, she would've no rebuttal to make if counterargued. 

Emperor Raul, the father of Arichi, quietly watched the whole debacle. He was the type of man who preferred results above all. He had no interest in the process, and he disliked any futile quibble. Then again, she had no need to explain when the words about ambush must have reached his father already.

"Oh, dear brother, I have no words to excuse myself, except a profound apology. However, Allen-sama had no fondness of the *attraction* you'd arranged. He expressed how the guidebook never mentioned the succession war, and displayed his enthusiasm for the tourist sites of the Commercial District."

 Arichi made her rebuttal with a dramatic gesture. The Throne Room was immediately filled with the whispers, and the leisurely smile hanging on Girai's face turned fleeting. 

"What are you speaking of...?"

Girai urged for an explanation, his eyes devoid of any hint of warmth of emotions. Arichi exhaled a sigh, loud enough for everyone to hear. 

"......I would very much like to avoid a futile argument, so take the following words as mere rambling... I believe assassination is the way of the weak. I am staking everything of my own in this  race, and I am going to do it in bold strides squarely, to show people there's worth in following me."

The murmurs turned into loud chatters. It was understandable. Arichi had been staying out of the succession war, at least formally. 

The imperial succession rights weren't granted to the imperial lineage until they'd graduated from the Olympus's Magic Academy at the age of 15, reaching their coming age of ceremony. Arichi had gained her qualification this spring, and that meant she had to make a choice; would she announce her admittance for the succession war, surrender to another candidate, or keep her neutrarily, 

The phrasing she'd used, moreso against a legitimate candidate—and by extension, every other candidate, was her declaring her choice. 

"Pfft, now that's the boldness I like, Ari. But yeah, we sure had some unwanted rats sneaking around, but none of them could get past him. He even thought those hiding cowards were palace guards, and waved back with a smile. It's all over now with Yuglia promoting the news, and now, even the runts would know how he teased them under their noses."

Grayfia, standing behind Arichi, chimed in to add her words in the soloquilly. 

"You! How dare you speak so disrespectfully to Lord Girai! Do you have evidence to back your claim that Prince had been behind the situation?! Your family may be a glorious one, but do not assume you shall see no punishment, Gryfia Indina!"

"What? Did you hear me speaking any name, though? If anything, I believe the First Prince would never stoop so low as to associate with those disgraceful clowns who brought shame on the Empire. Right?" 

“…I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Girai’s voice was heavy with barely restrained rage as he slowly shook his head, silencing the room again.

And at last, there was a reaction from the Emperor, who had been on the throne all this while, his legs crossed and elbow propped like some child. Despite being in his mid-fifties, he looked barely over forty—radiating youth and vitality.

"Haha. Was he that strong, Ari?"

It was a simple phrasing, but when 'was he strong?' came from the Emperor, it harbored myriads of possible implications behind. 

The Emperor's words invoked Arichi's impression of Allen. The one thing she strikingly remembers was the shift in his demeanour, one that was entirely unexpected from seemingly a well-behaved countryside boy. And it brought chills to her. 

His emotionless eyes, in particular, were like a reflection of Grim Reaper residing within the abyss of death. And yet, there was an unmistakable resolution within those gazes.

"...He is. So much so that it chills me—"

Arichi narrated her view, her lips curling in a while as if she had recalled something fun. Emperor's grin widened as he saw her, and slowly stepped down from his throne.

◆◆◆

"You still haven't found him? What utter incompetence!"

Girai hollered at his close associates, though more of it was the boiling humiliation he had been feeling after Arichi played him like some kid in front of dignitaries. 

"I, I have no words, truly. However we have reports from eyewitnesses all consolidated. He was surprisingly seen by many in the Commercial District, however some claimed he afterward rushed in the commoner district. We have been currently verifying the—"

Girai threw the nearby book at the associate. 

"Shut your yapping, and find him before anyone else. Then drag him to me! I have enough of every other bastard mocking me."

With other factions and even foreign intelligence agents already frantically scouring the city for Allen Rovenne, secretly abducting him and bringing him into the palace was now all but impossible.

Still, Girai kept shouting impossible demands while his associates could only bow their heads, apologizing endlessly as the verbal abuse continued.

◆

“This is it… Hey, can we call it quits now?”

I finally had some autonomy over my actions, and couldn't wait to visit the Slum around, feel how it was different compared to the Kingdom, and requested Poro-kun and Rigel-kun to be guides. But neither of them immediately turned down the request.

It appeared the slum of the Empire had been under the control of «Rebel» and a «Freak» in recent years, and they hadn't wanted to risk themselves by bringing me around without their permission.

Well, Slums were a lawless land, but even lawlessness had a hierarchy. I was no ally of justice, and I wasn't going to poke around that hierarchy of another nation's slum. 

I guess my earlier explanation was lacking. I should've begun with explaining my intention to sightsee, and not to stick my nose in their business.

"Hey, now that's quite early to quit for what a big gold coin is worth, you know. Make every penny worth, isn't that how it goes, Mr. who-stole-my-waller Poro-kun?"

I hung my arm around the shoulder of Poro-kun with a grin, who almost had a sort of breakdown in tears.

"J-just listen to me, they're not someone you would want to mess with! I get it that you're strong, but curiosity kills the cat. You wouldn't want to be that cat, do you?"

Rigel, walking beside me, pleaded desperately. For what felt like the fifth time, he launched into another retelling of just how terrifying this pair supposedly was.

The bits I could gather from their conversation all revolved around the villainy of «Rebel» and the «Freak».They're strong, yes, and said to harbor an unimaginable wealth, so much so that one could only imagine the scale of crimes they'd to achieve to be on that level. There were words around them selling some suspicious medicine, then some said they're slave trades.  Too many mouths, too many dark rumours. 

And, certainly not the last, their movement had been backed by some shady organisation. But, since Poro-kun and Rigel-kun skirt around the edges of the slum, they'd not met the two infamous sons in person.

"Yea, I heard ya the first time, bro. Quite a terrifying story, I must say. But relax, Imma make haste after a quick greeting, alright?"

Frankly, I hadn't taken any of their words to heart. It was the same old story I had been hearing everywhere, as if they're the second coming of demons from hell, but every time, I got my hopes dashed, and they turned to be oh-so blowhard. 

It made sense though. I mean, it's obvious one would have enough wealth if they're as strong as the two making them out to be, and in this world where merit was everything, no one capable would bother picking up children in the slum. 

Moreover, those who acted around in packs weren't worth much. In most cases, they turned out to be some simple mediators of the kids, a pawn, if you may, being guided around by adults from behind the scene. 

And anyone who relied on slum kids to do their dirty work? You could bet they were third-rate, at best.

To be honest, there was only guy that I would say—and I mean it when I say it's by a long stretch—that kinda matches his reputation was fatty, Benze.

So really, what was I supposed to expect from this place?

If anything, I found myself kind of wishing I could meet a real villain, a charismatic mastermind who could pull people in and rule the shadows with true presence.

Was this how the proverb comes along—surprises come when you least expect it?

The expectation had run so dry inside of me that in that one moment it truly mattered, I had not a single ounce of hope in me. I certainly hadn't thought that I would truly stumble on that 'charismatic evil.'

◆◆◆

"Kathy! Is it true that Mad Hound—That Mad Hound of Yuglia has actually come to visit us?!"

"Are you sure it's not a raid?!"

"Get his autograph for me!"

As soon as the news was out, the executives suddenly filled the room with their presence, as if they're just out of their hibernation. A boy, barely age of thirteen, sharply rebuked everyone from his seat placed at the very back of the room. 

"Auhorgraph...? Are you freaking kidding me?!"

Behind him, the poster of «Mad Hound» was plastered all over the wall. —Incidentally, it happened after Allen had thrown every responsibility on Benze, and washed his hands of the situation for some time. These posters had boomed in trend among the outlaw kids, and some had even exported them out to other nations.

These posters had the depiction of Allen in heavily stylized design, with a devilish flair that made him look like a Demon King. It also had many cringeworthy flairs written around his illustration, like "The Terrifying Evil Genius," "Scripture of the True Darkness," or "The Way of a True Man."

“…True fans go for a handshake, you fools.”

The Rebel expressed with an expression of rupture as his hand softly rubbed over the poster. Immediately, the entire room scattered, dashing off to wash their hands in unison.