CHAPTER 241: CHAPTER 241: LINKS ACROSS THE SEA

Noel took his seat without a word, settling into the wooden chair with a slight creak. The table between them was simple, rectangular, and sturdy—designed more for strategy than comfort. Balthor dropped into the chair beside him, exhaling as he adjusted his back.

Across from them, Nicolas von Aldros took the seat directly in front of Noel. His movements were precise, almost ritualistic. One chair remained empty at the end of the table—quiet and waiting.

The silence lingered for a few seconds.

Then Nicolas spoke first.

"Let me begin," he said, his tone calm but direct. "It’s important that our new... investigator, Balthor, is brought fully up to speed."

Balthor gave a short nod. "Thanks for thinking of me."

Nicolas continued, lacing his fingers together on the table. "The recent attacks on the Holy Capital and the Imperial Academy of Valor are more connected than we originally thought. Much more."

He paused, scanning both faces.

"There’s a group involved. We don’t know who they are—no names, no race, no confirmed purpose. Nothing. But we know their goal isn’t noble. They target specific people, or objects, that seem crucial to whatever they’re planning."

He held up a finger. "The first incident was the Bloody Banquet. A coordinated ambush within our academy’s walls."

"Second," he continued, "was the exposure of a professor—Kaelith. A demon who infiltrated the Imperial Academy under the alias ’Lereus’. He taught for nearly a decade without raising suspicion."

"And third... was the failed assassination of the Saint in the Holy Capital. That attempt nearly wiped out the entire city. It was stopped, barely."

Balthor scratched his beard, his face more serious than usual. "I heard about the attacks, sure. Word reaches the lower districts eventually. But not like this. You’ve done a hell of a job keeping it all quiet."

Nicolas offered a faint nod. "That was the point."

He leaned back slightly.

"And now that the context is clear... let’s move forward."

Nicolas adjusted his cuffs slightly, then looked at Noel. "What I’m about to share now is what happened during the months I spent investigating—together with King Alveron IV of Valor and King Deyrion Neral of Velmora."

Balthor blinked. "Wait... both kings? Working together?"

Noel turned his head slowly. "Can you not interrupt, drunk dwarf?"

Balthor raised his hands. "Alright, alright, I’ll shut up and listen."

Nicolas cleared his throat. "We started in Velmora. Capital cities, trade ports, known criminal hubs... we combed through it all. And to our frustration, nothing connected directly to the attacks."

His voice lowered slightly. "If anything, King Deyrion seemed to benefit the most. His territory is cleaner than it’s been in decades. Crime rings eliminated. Black market purged."

Noel raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t that a good thing? Even if they’re demons, a safer continent benefits everyone, right?"

Nicolas gave a tight smile. "True. But the timing is suspicious. It feels more like controlled chaos than honest reform."

He paused, tapping a finger on the table. "That’s when we asked the important question—one I imagine you’ve already thought about."

Noel nodded. "How did Kaelith... and maybe others like him... cross over from Velmora to Elarith?"

"Exactly," Nicolas said. "It’s not easy to smuggle a high-level operative into the heart of a rival continent—not for a year, let alone ten."

He looked serious now.

Noel leaned forward, brow slightly furrowed. "There are only two real ways to cross between Velmora and Elarith, right? Either through the mountains... or by ship."

Nicolas nodded. "Correct. And the mountain route is essentially suicide. Even for someone like me."

Balthor raised an eyebrow. "That bad?"

"Worse," Nicolas replied. "There are regions up there that aren’t even charted. Mana storms, monsters... You’d need a local guide, someone with years of experience. And even then, it would take months—dodging threats the entire way."

"So that leaves the ship," Noel said.

"Exactly," Nicolas affirmed. "We turned our attention to maritime routes. Who was sailing? Who owned the ships? Who approved the travel documents?"

He paused, glancing at them both. "This is where having King Deyrion on our side helped. There’s a long-standing agreement between Velmora and Tharvaldur—established over twenty years ago. It permits a single, heavily monitored trade line. One major ship travels back and forth. It’s the same route the students from Velmora used to attend this tournament."

Balthor let out a low whistle. "So they didn’t sneak in. They just... walked in through the front door."

"Disguised, documented, and unnoticed," Nicolas confirmed.

He leaned back slightly, rubbing his temple. "This next part gets longer. Do you two want something to drink?"

Noel didn’t hesitate. "Coffee with juice."

Balthor stared at him. "...Together?"

"Yeah. Mixed."

Nicolas blinked slowly.

Balthor turned to the headmaster. "Do we... do we say something?"

Nicolas shook his head. "No. Just let it happen."

"I’ll take a beer," Balthor muttered.

Without another word, Nicolas tapped the edge of the table—silent magic already summoning their order.

"The kings had to return to their duties after that," Nicolas continued, folding his hands again. "Which left me to investigate the details alone."

He exhaled slowly. "I focused on port records—especially the logs from a decade ago. I looked for inconsistencies, name changes, crew switches. Anything."

Noel remained quiet, watching him intently.

"And that’s when I found it," Nicolas said. "The name ’Lereus’ appeared in one of the older registries. It was the identity Kaelith used when he first boarded the ship that crossed from Velmora to Elarith."

Balthor frowned. "So the bastard used that alias from the start?"

"Yes," Nicolas said. "And what’s more—the ownership of that vessel changed exactly ten years ago. The original owner vanished from all records, and a new one took control."

Noel narrowed his eyes. "That’s also when Tharvaldur changed kings, isn’t it?"

"Exactly."

Balthor grunted. "So the timing lines up too perfectly. Kaelith’s move, the ship changing hands, and a new king all in the same year?"

Nicolas nodded slowly. "We believe the transition in the throne allowed more than just political reshuffling. It gave the enemy an open corridor. Quiet, clean, legitimate."

"And you’re sure it’s not coincidence?" Noel asked.

"I’m certain," Nicolas said. "The moment I found that registry, I knew we were staring at a gateway that’s been open for ten years."

Noel looked down briefly, processing.

’That’s how they got in. Alright, something is finally answered.’

Nicolas straightened his back. "The current owner of that vessel—the one managing this entire sea route—is involved. I don’t know how directly, but he’s no innocent trader. He’s part of it."

He looked at Noel. "Now... you said you had something equally important to share. That you’ve discovered the identity of the Fifth Pillar."

Noel met his gaze without flinching. "I have."

A knock came at the door.

A young waitress stepped in quietly, balancing a tray with three drinks. She moved with professional grace, placing a white porcelain cup of steaming tea in front of Nicolas, then a massive frothy mug of beer in front of Balthor—who grinned as if he’d just seen an old friend.

Then she paused.

She stared at the third drink.

A glass mug filled with a strange mix of rich black coffee... and thick citrus juice.

She looked at Noel. Then back at the drink. Then at Noel again.

Her expression was unreadable.

She placed it gently on the table like she was setting down an explosive.

Then she walked out without saying a word.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Nicolas glanced at the mug. Then at Noel.

Balthor didn’t even try to hide his face. "Lad... what the hell is wrong with you?"

Noel took a sip. Completely unfazed.

"...It’s refreshing."

The other two said nothing.

The silence lingered a moment longer—until Nicolas cleared his throat.

"Let’s continue."