CHAPTER 612: THEIR WHEREABOUTS

Editor: Tseirp

“…Missing?”

Ryo tilted his head and looked at Abel beside him.

Of course, Abel also shook his head—he had no idea either.

“The fleet had scheduled stops at several ports along the way. But we received reports from each of those places that, even after the scheduled time had passed, the fleet never arrived.”

“Since it’s ships, couldn’t they be delayed by the weather or something?”

“Considering that possibility, we waited for a while. After waiting, reports reached the capital that they did not make port.”

“Hmm.”

Both Ryo and Abel frowned.

“After receiving those reports, the Darwei Fleet Headquarters sent out ships and searched both along the route and even in areas off the route. That was a week ago… the situation changed the day before yesterday.”

“The day of the Kyoonkai, right?”

“Yes. That day, a patrol fleet that was on reconnaissance rescued a single vessel. The people aboard that vessel were carrying letters to the capital.”

“And?”

Ryo and Abel pressed on—the connection between the missing fleet and a letter was unclear to them.

“This is that letter.”

Captain Myun said so and held out an envelope.

“Huh? To me?”

Ryo was surprised.

“The addressees are Ryo-dono and Abel-dono. When it arrived at Fleet Headquarters, they opened and checked it, so please forgive that the seal has been broken.”

Captain Myun said this as he handed over the envelope, which they accepted.

On the front was written: ‘To Ryo-dono and Abel-dono’.

Inside was a single letter.

‘Challenge Notice

I have taken custody of people from the Komakyuta Principality and the Suje Kingdom. If you want them returned, come to the location marked on the attached map.

You may come with any number of people.

Clothing and equipment are free.

The purpose is an ordinary contest. Regardless of the result, if the two of you come, I hereby promise the taken people will be returned unharmed. Also, if the two of you win, I am prepared to offer information that is extremely important and valuable to Darwei.

—From Ruri’

“…What is this?”

“It says ‘Challenge Notice’.”

“Ruri… could it, by any chance, be those two from the ghost ship Ruri?”

“I don’t know any other Ruri.”

“Rather than a challenge notice, this looks like a threat letter.”

“Well, at least it seems the fleet passengers are alive and uninjured, so that’s something.”

Ryo and Abel talked as they looked at the letter.

“A demand for a rematch means they’re stronger than before, right? They know our strength and think they can surpass it—so they ask for a rematch?”

“This is troublesome.”

Both remembered the battle on the ghost ship.

It had not been an easy fight.

Especially for Ryo—he had been deprived of water-attribute magic during that battle…

“They said it was something like a water-attribute monster. Not being able to use magic is pretty rough for a magician.”

“Yeah, not being able to use magic for an ordinary magician isn’t just rough—it’s hopeless.”

Ryo grimaced as he complained, and Abel corrected his mischaracterization.

“Even so, not going is…”

“Not an option, certainly.”

The conclusion had been decided from the start.

“Captain Myun, bringing this to us means the Darwei Fleet also knows, right? Will you cooperate in taking us to the island marked on this map?”

“Of course. There is indeed no diplomatic relation with those two countries. But if the diplomatic mission that came for the prince’s wedding was kidnapped on the way home, Darwei cannot remain uninvolved. There’s also national honor at stake.”

Captain Myun answered, nodding to Ryo’s question.

Even though it was in the southern waters off Darwei, if a diplomatic mission had been captured within Darwei’s sphere of influence, it could be said their honor had been trampled.

However, the Darwei fleet alone could not handle everything.

There was a clear addressee.

Moreover, that addressee was…

“At first, the Fleet Headquarters didn’t know that the ‘Ryo-dono’ on the envelope was the same person as Duke Rondo.”

“Do they know now?”

“Yes—because I told them.”

“Ah…”

“It was necessary to prevent the fleet headquarters from acting rashly. My apologies.”

“Rash action?”

“They were going to send people here and forcibly take the two of you…”

“I see.”

That would have been likely.

But if the target was the emperor-favored Duke Rondo, they’d be more cautious.

So Captain Myun decided to reveal that Ryo = Duke Rondo.

“We understand the matter of the challenge notice. Please send us to that island.”

“Thank you.”

“However, we’d like to notify several parties first.”

“The fleet is already beginning preparations… but all preparations should be completed by tomorrow morning.”

“Understood.”

After putting a few arrangements in order, Captain Myun returned to Fleet Headquarters.

“How much stronger have those two from Ruri gotten…I wonder.”

“I don’t know, but if something like their ‘true form’ appears, it would be beyond us. I don’t think they’ll bring that out, though. Those two probably just want to enjoy the fight, right?”

“Ryo, do you know what they are?”

“No, just speculation.”

With that caveat, Ryo told Abel a certain hypothesis.

Abel was left speechless by its content…

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“Same here.”

Ryo shared their plans for later that day.

“We’ll be making a few stops today as well.”

“From Prince Ryun’s Royal Residence?”

“Yes. After that, we’ll inform His Majesty at the Imperial Palace. The Fleet Headquarters may have already notified him, but it’s better to tell him directly.”

Ryo knew that this extra step would smooth relations later on.

“First, the neighboring Prince Ryun’s Royal Residence…”

Ryo stopped speaking and looked toward the garden.

There, a golem wearing a yellow scarf ran up and stopped.

Ryo laid his hand on its head and concentrated.

“How’s Whatchamacallit Token No.2?”

“I’ve granted Captain Lu Yao administrator privileges over Friendship Token No.2.”

Captain Lu Yao is the commander of Prince Ryun’s palace Yulin guards.

“Administrator privileges?”

“Administrator rights? Full access? Full control? Well, so any order can be issued.”

“But it has no combat capability, right? It’s about the size of a person.”

“Indeed, it isn’t armed, but it can at least act as a shield.”

“Like…if something happens while we’re away?”

“It’s a matter of possibility.”

Ryo nodded at Abel’s question.

“If Abel ever reached the point where he wanted to remove someone— so pushed that the only option left was force… what if the strong force protecting that person were gone?”

“Ah… Prince Bin might become desperate and attack Prince Ryun. But if he did such a thing, he’d surely draw the Emperor’s wrath this time, wouldn’t he?”

“Yes. In calm reflection, you’d see that. But when a person is cornered, even such obvious things become invisible. It’s best to take measures you can. If nothing happens, it can be laughed off later.”

“Exactly.”

When people are driven to the wall, you can’t predict what they’ll do.

With just a little loss of judgment, they may do things they’d never normally do.

Make decisions they’d never normally make.

Give orders they’d never normally give.

In matters of security, those who make preparations that may seem excessive… are often the ones who survive.

The two first visited the neighboring house.

Prince Ryun’s Royal Residence.

Since it was an emergency, there was no prior notice.

Prince Ryun was observing training with his attendants.

“Sorry for the sudden visit, Your Highness.”

“Duke Rondo, no need to worry. Is there a matter?”

Ryo briefly explained the situation.

At the mention of the ‘ghost ship Ruri’, everyone was surprised—apparently, the ghost ship Ruri was known in Darwei as well.

Even as a legendary ghost ship.

“I understand. If the diplomatic mission that came for my wedding was kidnapped, we cannot simply leave it be. Don’t worry about the Royal Residence—go rescue them.”

“Your Highness, thank you.”

Ryo expressed his gratitude to Prince Ryun.

However, he also conveyed a concern.

“As you may know, the whereabouts of eighty second-class adventurers remain unknown.”

“The ones employed by Lin Sui over at Prince Bin’s house, right?”

Officially, that was the case, so Prince Ryun chose his words carefully.

Even when surrounded by allies, a high-ranking prince must be cautious with his phrasing.

“We don’t know how they’ll act. Please be careful.”

“Understood.”

Before leaving the residence, Ryo told Captain Lu Yao something.

“Friendship Token No.2 will accept all orders from Captain Lu Yao. Use it anytime. If you like, you can leave it at the Royal Residence.”

“Thank you! It’s fine at the Rondo Manor instead of the Royal Residence. I’ll come by to check on it from time to time!”

Captain Lu Yao replied with a smile at Ryo’s words.

She was originally beautiful, and her smile made her all the more attractive.

As a golem, Friendship Token No.2 probably couldn’t understand the charm of a smile…

Next, the two headed to the Imperial Palace.

They did not give prior notice here either… or rather, there was no way to request an audience with the Emperor without prior arrangement…

Generally, people without an appointment cannot meet the Emperor.

However…

“His Majesty will see you. We will guide you to the Taiji Hall.”

They were granted an immediate audience.

“Duke Rondo, I heard about the matter of the diplomatic mission earlier.”

Through the Fleet Headquarters, Emperor Tsuin had also been informed of the matter.

“I came to ask for the aid of the Darwei fleet, Your Majesty.”

“Mm, of course, we will dispatch the fleet. The Fleet Headquarters sent a proposal for a detachment composition. According to it, twenty fast ships will be assembled, with Myun as commander.”

“Captain Myun?”

Even Ryo and Abel were surprised at that.

Captain Myun is the Captain of the Imperial First Ship.

Of course, they knew he had once been an admiral…

“It seems Myun personally requested it. A temporary return to admiral status. If it’s Myun, I can entrust you two to him with peace of mind.”

Emperor Tsuin said this, nodding repeatedly.

Then he sent them off with these words:

“Duke Rondo, Albert-dono, may fortune be with you.”

“Your Majesty, we will be back.”

Thus, the two set off to face Ruri with the Darwei detached fleet.

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