Chapter 196: Insight (1)

The commotion at the Merchants’ Guild prompted the Imperial Capital Guards to mobilize.

Armed soldiers sealed off access to the guild and began handling the disturbance and assessing the situation.

Because the matter was serious, Sir Ricellen, the captain of the guards, personally stepped in, and Carl reported everything that had happened in detail.

“…That’s not something I can easily believe. Even so, the vice guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild?”

“He admitted it himself.”

At Carl’s signal, Hanzen, the vice guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild, hung his head low, looking as though he had aged ten years in a moment.

“It’s true that I ordered it. That’s all I have to say.”

He admitted to the crime but intended to remain silent about the rest.

Even as the Imperial Guards, they couldn’t torture an influential figure of the Merchants’ Guild unless the charges were clearly substantiated.

Ricellen looked at Carl with a troubled expression.

“This is a grave matter. As you know, the Merchants’ Guild…”

“Has ties to many high-ranking nobles. I understand it’s difficult to investigate recklessly. What I want is evidence and confirmation.”

Securing evidence wasn’t difficult.

There was the mana bead manufacturing method retrieved from Vice Guildmaster Hanzen’s drawer (which Carl had planted as a dummy), and the hut that was used during Yuria’s kidnapping.

“The masked assailants who kidnapped Miss Cloaren and the hut have already been secured by the Madeira Trading House. Investigating them should reveal which group is involved.”

The underworld forces were one hundred percent involved.

They had already identified which organization the men who kidnapped Yuria from NOX belonged to.

“Hmm.”

Even so, Ricellen wore a displeased expression.

Both the Merchants’ Guild and the rapidly rising Madeira Trading House, thanks to mana beads, were major players.

Investigating either recklessly could result in a shrimp getting crushed in a whale fight—and Ricellen himself would be that shrimp.

‘…That’s probably what he’s thinking.’

Carl had never expected much from Captain Ricellen in the first place.

The Imperial Capital Guard’s authority wasn’t that strong to begin with.

They mainly dealt with the underworld organizations and criminals operating in the Empire’s back alleys, and were lukewarm when it came to cases involving nobles.

That was only natural, considering how entangled those above were with the Empire’s nobles like a spider’s web.

So Carl only ever viewed the guard’s role as maintaining the status quo.

‘It should be about time now.’

The reason he went through such a troublesome process was to expand the Madeira Trading House.

To grow a merchant group or trading house, it was inevitable to form ties with nobles.

That way, they could bypass various legal restrictions, quickly detect political developments or crises, and react accordingly.

In fact, all the prominent merchant groups operating in the Empire had influential nobles as their backers.

‘But we don’t need to.’

With the exclusive product of mana beads in its possession, the Madeira Trading House didn’t need to bow its head to any noble.

Unless it was the Emperor or the Imperial Family.

“Captain, sir!”

One of the guards burst into the Merchants’ Guild where the investigation was underway, panting heavily.

When Captain Ricellen asked what it was, he replied between gasps of breath.

“A messenger from the Imperial Family has arrived. Regarding this incident, the Imperial Family will personally…”

“Enough. I’ll do the explaining.”

Following the guard came a group that entered the Merchants’ Guild.

Normally, it would be illegal to interrupt an ongoing investigation.

But these people held authority capable of brushing aside the laws of the guards.

“We’re from the enforcement division of the Empire’s administration. I’m Inspector Percival. Are you the representative of Madeira?”

“I’m Galak. I oversee the Polfoardel branch here.”

Finally, the person Carl had been waiting for arrived.

However, the higher rank than expected made even Carl momentarily surprised.

‘An inspector, huh. I was expecting a second or third-class administrative officer at most.’

It meant that even the Imperial Family saw the importance of mana beads that highly.

Since things might go better than expected, Carl inwardly smiled as he shook hands with Inspector Percival.

“Captain Ricellen, may I leave the cleanup to you?”

“Of course.”

Ricellen quickly shed his earlier reluctance and pounded his chest with vigor.

“Then let’s go. Ah, where is Mage Cloaren?”

“She accumulated considerable fatigue due to the recent events and has been sent back to the trading house. I can call her if needed.”

“No need to call her. But as for her protection…”

“The trading house will devote all its resources to ensure her safety.”

“Good. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. Now, you come with me—we’re heading to the Imperial Family.”

Carl nodded.

Yuria, who had been posing as Cloaren, had been sent back to Madeira after the investigation was concluded.

Unlike Carl, she had been using an artifact to disguise her appearance.

Her acting was clumsy, so there was a risk of exposure, which is why she had been withdrawn in advance.

The mention of fatigue had been a strategic excuse, and fortunately, the Imperial Family seemed to recognize Carl, not Mage Cloaren, as the person in charge at Madeira.

Clop, clop.

Carl rode in the carriage alongside Inspector Percival.

“I must express concern over what happened. Who would have imagined such a scheme from the Merchants’ Guild, and in broad daylight at that.”

“We should have been more cautious, but because it was a guild event, our preparations were insufficient. It could have ended in disaster…”

“Indeed. Mana beads are the invention of the century. Mage Cloaren, their developer, could be considered a national treasure. Those above are greatly enraged by this shameless act.”

Schemes like this were all too common in the industry, especially with new businesses or products.

The weak were destined to be prey.

In the Upper Realm, the logic of power was more deeply entrenched than in the shadows.

‘The Imperial Family wouldn’t have cared under normal circumstances. If it weren’t for the mana beads.’

Having recognized the efficacy of mana beads, the Imperial Family had taken the initiative to commission the Imperial Magic Tower to analyze their composition and performance.

Back then, people in the Upper Realm predicted that any hidden side effects would soon be revealed, but mana beads betrayed all jealousy and showed overwhelming performance.

That’s why they became explosively popular in the Imperial Capital.

‘Naturally so.’

Mana beads were essentially concentrated pills coated into small spheres.

They were filled with only beneficial ingredients, so there was no way they could have side effects.

Except for the diminishing effect with continued use and possible stomachache or diarrhea when consumed excessively.

“Have you ever entered the Imperial Palace?”

“This is my first time.”

“Forgive my concern, but how about court etiquette?”

“I’ve fully mastered it, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Good. This incident is much bigger than you imagine. From now on, no matter who you meet, answer only what is asked, without any emotional reaction. Not a single lie must pass your lips.”

“I will bear that in mind.”

Carl nodded.

If the inspector was giving this kind of warning, then perhaps even the Chancellor might appear.

‘That’s a possibility.’

By using mana beads, the power of the knights or the Imperial Army could be rapidly enhanced.

It might even be designated as a national-level enterprise.

“Pass.”

The carriage Carl was in passed through the gates of the Imperial Palace without stopping.

Seeing that, Carl became certain that someone with authority equivalent to a Chancellor would appear.

Otherwise, there was no way he’d be granted such a free pass into the palace.

‘This is my second visit.’

When he discovered an undiscovered ruin during his club activities at Bayern, he had once been invited to the Imperial Palace by Crown Prince Yulian von Ribera, together with Laysis.

Even thinking back now, it had been a rather unprecedented event.

Who would’ve thought the Crown Prince would invite him?

On top of that, he even allowed Carl to enter the ruins of the heroes located beneath the palace.

Thanks to that, Carl overcame the trial left behind by ‘Justice’ and obtained the Divine Sword Cheonroe.

To Crown Prince Yulian, and to the Imperial Family of the Ribera Empire, Carl felt only gratitude.

Tap.

Soon, the carriage stopped.

After stepping down, he followed behind Inspector Percival.

As he looked at the path leading to the main building of the palace, he recalled its internal layout.

To the left was the administrative branch led by the Chancellor…?

‘To the right?’

That path led to the other palaces—why were they going there?

Could it be that someone other than the Chancellor, another noble, was in charge of this case?

Soon, they arrived at a drawing room…

‘Oh no.’

Carl couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile at the person waiting for him.

“It’s His Highness the Crown Prince. Galak of Madeira, show proper courtesy.”

Snap.

Though feigning a startled expression, Carl immediately knelt on one knee and bowed his head at those words.

“I greet the heir of the most noble bloodline of our great Empire!”

“Hmm.”

Yulian von Ribera.

The Crown Prince of the Empire, and the man he was now meeting for the second time.

He nodded briefly, then spoke to the others nearby.

“Would you all leave us for a moment?”

“Understood.”

“Even you, Sir Siler.”

“…….”

Crown Prince Yulian even gave the order to the knight standing behind him.

The Royal Knights were supposed to remain by the side of the Emperor and the Imperial Family at all times to ensure their safety.

Therefore, though his eyebrows twitched, he couldn’t dare defy the Crown Prince’s authority and simply gave a small nod before exiting the room.

“…….”

Soon, only Crown Prince Yulian and Carl remained in the drawing room.

Carl, still with his head bowed, gauged Yulian’s intent.

‘Clearing the room like that means this is an extremely important matter. Is this a message from the Emperor?’

Strengthening the knights and the Imperial Army.

It was a subject the Emperor would likely take interest in, so it wasn’t an unreasonable assumption.

“Raise your head and have a seat over here.”

“How could I possibly…”

“Sit.”

“I obey your command.”

Carl bowed respectfully and took a seat at the edge of the drawing room’s sofa.

“Look at me.”

“…….”

He slowly raised his head and looked at Yulian von Ribera.

The Crown Prince was smiling brightly, as if he found something amusing.

“You’re quite an interesting person, aren’t you?”

“……I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You have quite the diverse identities. Heir to the Leipzig Family serving the Empire, leader of an underworld organization that dominates the shadows, and now the master of a merchant group that’s made major waves recently.”

“…….”

Carl concealed his agitation.

The moment he saw the Crown Prince’s expression, he had considered that perhaps—just perhaps—the man might have guessed his true identity.

But the fact that his identities had been seen through more accurately than expected caused a slight delay in his response.

“I don’t quite understand what you mean…”

“Did Inspector Percival not tell you? Speaking falsehoods in front of a royal, especially in front of me—the first in line to the throne—is a capital offense. You would be executed for treason. So answer carefully.”

“…….”

Carl remained silent.

After meeting Yulian’s gaze for a moment, trying to discern his intent, he let out a bitter smile and nodded.

“What is it that Your Highness desires?”

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