Bab 685
"Benar tidak kabar bahwa Adipati Peletta sekarang berada di Charloin? Di sana juga, ia menghancurkan klub pertarungu yang ilegal dan menangkap beberapa putra bangsawan yang serakah bertaruh? Apa ini benar?
Terhadap pertanyaan ini, Putra Mahkota Katchian, menebhangnya penatanya dengan sangat dalam.
"Persis seperti yang kudlaporkan, Yang Mulia. Adipati Peletta pergi ke sana secara diam-diam untuk pribadi mengawasi rekrutmen Kavaleri. Saat itulah kejadian itu terjadi."
"Aku menyoroti kebobolanmu dengan tidak menyadari seseorang yang kuduga berada dalam Markas Kavaleri, sekarang justru berpindah ke sana! Jika kudiam tentang operasi rahasia sepertinya, enteng apa dirinya sebagai mata dan telingaanku?"
Wajah Putra Mahkota Katchian membara, sehingga penatanya buru-buru menekukakan dan meminta maaf.
"Saya sangat menyesal. Namun Adipati Peletta bersembunyi dengan personel minimal dan menyamar dirinya. Bahkan warga setempat di selatan baru mengenalinya setelah kejadian selesai. Bahkan Adipati Diarca tidak mengetahui kunjungan Adipati Peletta ke sana..."
"Apakah kamu mengusulkan bahwa wajar bagiku tidak tahu jika Adipati Diarca juga tidak tahu?"
"Bukan, Yang Mulia, bukanlah maksudku. Aku hanya ingin menyampaikan bahwa Kavaleri bergerak dengan sangat rahasia..."
"Cukup dengan alasanmu. Sepertinya kamu punya tuhan lain untuk dilayani. Sebaiknya pergi sekarang!"
Putra Mahkota lalu menciutup dan melemparkan sepucuk surat di atas meja. Penatanya, sambil meminta maaf secara lantang, buru-buru mundur, mengumpulkan kertas yang rusak dan keluar dari ruangan. Saat keluar, suara sebarang sesuatu yang hancur terdengar dari dalam kamar Putra Mahkota.
Gemetar mengira itu adalah matanya sendiri, penatanya lalu didekati oleh penatap lain yang berbisik lembut.
"Kamu seharusya lebih berhati hati ketika membicarakan Adipati Peletta atau Kavaleri. Setelah kejadian terbaru di mana ia hadir untuk makan malam dengan hanya Adipati Diarca, ia menjadi cukup sensitif."
"Aku sudah berhati hati, namun lihatlah hasilnya. Aku pikir hubungannya dengan Adipati Diarca membaik ketika ia fokus pada penyelidikan penyusup di Istana Matahari, namun ternyata ia semakin marah mendengar sebutan Adipati Diarca."
"Mungkin ini bukan hanya soal Adipati Diarca. Kamu tidak ada pagi ini, namun Kaisar mengirimkan surat mendesak mengenai penyelidikan penyusup Istana Matahari."
"Ah... Apakah kertas yang terlipat ini adalahnya?"
Masih memegang kertas yang rusak, penatanya mengeluarkan napas sepenuhnya.
"Yang Mulia pasti sangat prihatin. Ia telah membantu Yang Mulia Putra Mahkota dalam menangkap penyusup Istana Matahari, bukan?"
"Tentu, usahanya yang penting. Bukankah ia yang mengirimkan penyembuh?"
"Di mana pun bisa menemukan seseorang yang mulia seperti ini..."
Meskipun dia adalah penatap Putra Mahkota, komentarnya lebih condong ke Adipati Diarca, membenarkan kemarahan Putra Mahkota.
Kebisingan dari kamar Putra Mahkota akhirnya mereda setelah beberapa waktu. Seorang penatap berseru.
"Semoga penyembuh dapat cepat merasakan dan datang pada saat-saat seperti ini! Mereka selalu pergi ketika dibutuhkan."
"Betul juga. Jika mereka datang untuk mengobati Yang Mulia, mengapa mereka berkelana begitu jauh? Belakangan ini mereka jarang terlihat di sekitar."
"Dengar kabarnya mereka pergi untuk memeriksa akomodasi baru yang telah dibeli. Ada rumor bahwa karena mereka tidak bisa sepenuhnya menyembuhkan penyakit dalam yang dalam, mereka mungkin mencari cara untuk melarikan diri."
"Tidak mungkin. Tindakan seperti ini akan membingungkan Baron Renbow, pengawas dari mereka..."
Pada saat itu, subjek pembicaraan para penatap, Baron Renbow, sedang berada di kediaman Adipati Diarca.
Adipati Diarca, dengan cerolok tembakau di mulutnya yang mengaburkan pikirannya, tersenyum dan mulai bicara.
"Penyihir Pembangkit yang seperti rubah itu yang menggelar dirinya sebagai sang bijak, berjanji akan mengacaukan rekrutmen Kavaleri. Aku penasaran apa yang ia lakukan sebenarnya. Apakah ia tahu Adipati Peletta sedang di selatan?"
Dengan suara menganga, penatap penatap yang lalu berkata.
"Itu..."
Baron Renbow, berkeringat dingin di punggungnya, terdiam. Apa pun yang bisa dikatakannya dalam situasi ini? Dia dan sang bijak telah berencana untuk menyelinapi mata-mata ke dalam para pembayaran baru Kavaleri dan melaporkan kembali. Namun, upaya awal mereka untuk menanam orang-orang di barat gagal sambil bersorak ketika Yuder Aile muncul seperti roh, membersihkan semua para mata-mata dan menolak mereka. Para tentara bayaran yang dikirim untuk balas dendam hanya mengambil uang dan melarikan diri, dengan cara yang sangat efektif sehingga tidak ada jejak pun yang tersisa.
Namun, rencana sebenarnya akan dilaksanakan di selatan, dan sepertinya sempurna hingga Adipati Peletta tiba-tiba muncul di sana, menghancurkan liga pertarungu Awakener yang ilegal dan memperoleh rasa hormat dari warga Kekaisaran.
Meskipun demikian, sang bijak tampak aneh-aneh tidak merespons, sehingga sulit untuk berbagi informasi dengan Awakeners yang seharusnya diselinpi ke selatan, meninggalkan rencana mereka dalam kekacauan.
'Jika saja aku tahu tentang ini, aku tidak akan berada dalam kebingungan di sini...'
Sekarang pun, jika sang bijak berada di sisinya, Baron Renbow tidak harus menanggung tekanan sendiri di hadapan Adipati Diarca. Namun, sang bijak tiba-tiba pergi untuk urusan penting, meninggalkan Renbow harus datang ke sini sendiri.
Jika dia belum mempercayai sang bijak begitu dalam, dia mungkin mulai curiga bahwa dia meninggalkan Renbow untuk melarikan diri sendiri.
"Aku tidak perlu mendengarkan untuk tahu jawapannya."
Adipati Diarca menshapekan asapnya.
Baron Renbow hampir tertarik batuk dan mulai bicara.
"Ahem, aku sangat minta maaf atas kekhawatiran yang telah kudapatkan. Namun kami tidak takut. Sang bijak telah menjamin bahwa ia mengenal banyak orang di selatan dan yakin bisa menanam orang-orang di sana yang akan menjadi milikmu, Adipati. Rekrutmen Kavaleri belum selesai, jadi silakan tunggu sedikit lebih lama."
"Memang benar. Tugasmu hanyalah itu, bukan meramalkan dan mencegah kecelakaan yang disebabkan oleh Adipati Peletta. Tentu saja, jika kamu benar-benar siap, kamu tidak akan melewatkan gerak-gerakannya..."
Teman-teman itu adalah seseorang yang hanya fokus pada satu tugas saat diberikan tugas banyak. Senyumnya Adipati Diarca yang penuh dengan rasa rendah hati, terlihat jelas dalam sikapnya yang tidak mengharapkan banyak dari mereka jika mereka bahkan tidak bisa mengumpulkan informasi tentang gerakan Adipati Peletta ke selatan. Tangan Baron Renbow gemetar sedikit dari rasa malu di bawah senyumnya yang dingin.
"Renbow, seperti yang kamu katakan, rekrutmen Kavaleri belum selesai. Mari kita lihat apa yang akan dibawa. Untukku, aku tidak tahu apa pun tentang tindakanmu dan hanya menunggu hasilnya."
Makna di balik kata-katanya jelas: jika rencana Renbow dan sang bijak gagal, sisi Adipati Diarca akan mengklaim semua pengetahuan tentang urusan tersebut.
"...Ya, terima kasih."
"Di sana, bagaimana keadaan Putra Mahkota? Apakah pemulihanannya berjalan dengan baik?"
"Ah... Ya, tentu saja. Aku mendengar bahwa baru-baru ini ia tidak punya masalah dengan makanan atau tidur. Yang Mulia juga rajin mengikuti penyelidikan penyusup Istana Matahari, dengan bantuan Adipati Diarca..."
"Ah, bicara tentangnya. Tahukah kamu? Hari ini, sebuah bunga dikirimkan kepadaku dari Istana Matahari."
Tertunjuk oleh pengungkapan mendadak ini, Renbow tampak bingung.
"Benarkah?"
"Ya. Itu adalah bunga Macarea, dikirimkan sebagai tanda penghargaan untuk pelayanan yang tekun."
Hanya kemudian Renbow menyadari sebuah vas yang belum pernah dilihatnya, diletakkan di tempat di mana pandangannya Adipati Diarca tertuju. Vas kaca mewah, samar-samar dihiasi dengan lambang Istana Matahari yang digunakan oleh Kaisar, berisi bunga Macarea yang bertahan hidup. Adipati Diarca, dengan pandangan dingin, bisikkan:
"Mengirimkan ini kepadaku daripada Istana Putra Mahkota... maknanya jelas. Kaisar tahu bahwa aku benar-benar yang bekerja, sebuah perintah halus untuk tetap patuh."
Ketenangan jatuh, seperti ancaman yang penuh keberanian namun halus, semakin nyata sebagai penghargaan dari Kaisar yang tidak bisa dilepalkan dengan ringan.
Renbow teringat wajah muda Kaisar yang baru dilihatnya di suatu perayaan yang baru saja berakhir dengan kemenangan Kavaleri. Sehingga kabar sakitnya yang baru-baru ini menyebabkan pensiunnya, Kaisar telah dengan agresif menerapkan kebijakan untuk memperkuat kekuasaan Kaisar dan menekan bangsawan, melakukan provokasi seperti ini dengan pemimpin-pemimpin empat rumah bangsawan besar. Terasa seperti hari-hari itu telah kembali.
Apakah seseorang menjadi takut menghadapi kematian, atau ada alasan lain untuk tindakan seperti ini?
"Apakah rumor tentang penyakit kritis Kaisar benar atau tidak? Cukup membingungkan, bukan?"
Adipati Diarca mengulangi pemikirannya Renbow secara tepat.
Itu adalah sebuah percakapan rahasia yang tidak didengar orang lain. Namun, terkadang, bahkan benda tidak bernyawa sepertinya punya telinga, menangkap kata-kata manusia.
Dari surat yang terlipat di tangan para penatap dan bunga Macarea di depan Adipati Diarca, sebuah kabut tak terlihat tampaknya bergulir, seakan-akan dengan kesepakatan tersembunyi. Di tempat lain, jauh dari Istana Terang yang didiami Putra Mahkota, Kaisar Keilusa, duduk di depan meja kerjanya di Istana Matahari, tiba-tiba membuka matanya.
"Oh."
"Bibirmu kering, Yang Mulia. Aku akan mengisi ulang tehmu."
Penatap tua yang setia dan teliti-menuangkan teh ke dalam cupu Kaisar. Setelah minum teh, Kaisar Keilusa akhirnya berkata, dengan mata yang jelas dan tegas.
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[BL] Bermuda
Leonardo Blaine, pahlawan perang sejati dari Kekaisaran Raina Logia dan komandan Pasukan Armsilver ke-11, dihukum tidak terhormat karena melanggar perintah pada medan perang
Chapter 685
"Is it true that Duke Peletta is currently in Charloin? Moreover, he demolished an illegal betting fight club and arrested several nobles' sons who were habitual gamblers? What is this all about?"
To this inquiry of Crown Prince Katchian, his attendant bowed deeply.
"Exactly as I've reported, Your Highness. Duke Peletta went there incognito to personally oversee the recruitment of the Cavalry. It was during this time that the incident occurred."
"I'm pointing out your dullness in failing to notice a person, who I thought was within the Cavalry Headquarters, moving all the way there! If I'm to remain ignorant of such covert operations, what use do I have for you as my eyes and ears?"
Prince Katchian's face flared with anger, prompting the attendant to quickly bow and apologize.
"I am deeply sorry. But Duke Peletta moved with minimal personnel and disguised himself. Even the locals of the south only recognized him after the event unfolded. Even Duke Diarca was unaware of Duke Peletta's visit there..."
"Are you suggesting it's normal for me to be unaware if Duke Diarca is?"
"No, Your Highness, that was not my intention. I meant to imply that the Cavalry moved with such secrecy that..."
"Save your excuses. It seems you have another master to serve. Leave now!"
The Crown Prince crumpled a letter on the table and threw it. The attendant, murmuring an apology, hastily retreated, picking up the crumpled paper and backing out of the room. As he exited, the sound of something breaking came from within the Crown Prince's room.
Shuddering at the thought that it could have been his own head, the attendant was approached by another who whispered secretly.
"You should've been more cautious when discussing Duke Peletta or the Cavalry. After the recent event where he attended the family dinner with only Duke Diarca, he's become quite sensitive."
"I was careful, but look at the result. I thought his relationship with Duke Diarca had improved while he focused on the investigation of the intruder in the Sun Palace, but he seemed even more enraged at the mention of Duke Diarca."
"Perhaps it's not just about Duke Diarca. You weren't here this morning, but the Emperor sent an urgent letter regarding the Sun Palace intrusion investigation."
"Ah... Is this crumpled paper the one?"
Still holding the crumpled paper, the attendant sighed.
"His Highness the Duke must be quite concerned. He’s been assisting His Highness the Crown Prince in capturing the Sun Palace intruder, hasn't he?"
"Indeed, it's his efforts that matter. Wasn't he the one who sent the healer?"
"Where else could one find such a noble person..."
Despite being the Crown Prince's attendant, his comments leaned more towards Duke Diarca, justifying the Crown Prince's anger.
The noise from the Crown Prince's room eventually subsided after a while. An attendant muttered.
"If only those healers were quick to sense and come at such times! They are always away when needed."
"Indeed. If they came to treat His Highness, why do they wander so much? Lately, they are hardly seen around."
“I heard that they went to inspect the new accommodations they had acquired. There are rumors that since they could not completely heal the Crown Prince's deep-seated illness, they might be looking for an opportunity to flee."
"Surely not. Such an act would trouble Baron Renbow, the overseer of those men…"
At that moment, the subject of the attendants' conversation, Baron Renbow, was at the residence of Duke Diarca.
Duke Diarca, with a tobacco pipe in his mouth that clouded his mind, smiled and began to speak.
"That fox-like Awakener who called himself sage promised to mess up the recruitment of the Cavalry. I wonder what he actually did. Did he know that Duke Peletta was in the south?"
"That is…"
Baron Renbow, sweating profusely from his back, trailed off. What could he possibly say in this situation? He and the sage had planned to infiltrate spies into the new recruits of the Cavalry and report back. However, their initial attempt to plant people in the west had failed miserably when Yuder Aile appeared like a ghost, weeding out all their spies and rejecting them. The mercenaries sent for revenge merely took the money and disappeared, having escaped so effectively that not even a trace of them was left.
Yet, the real plan was to be executed in the south, and it seemed fine until Duke Peletta suddenly appeared there, destroying an illegal Awakener fighting ring and earning the adulation of the Empire's citizens.
Despite these circumstances, the sage was strangely unresponsive, making it impossible to share information with the Awakeners they intended to infiltrate into the south, leaving their plans in disarray.
'Had I only known this, I would not be at such a loss for words here…'
Even now, if the sage had been by his side, Baron Renbow wouldn't have had to endure this pressure alone before Duke Diarca. However, the sage had suddenly left on some important business today, leaving Renbow to come here alone.
Had he not trusted the sage deeply, he might have suspected him of abandoning Renbow to escape on his own.
"I need not hear it to know the answer."
Duke Diarca exhaled a deep puff of smoke. Baron Renbow barely managed to suppress a cough and began to speak.
"Cough, cough, ahem. I am deeply sorry for causing you concern. However, we have not been unprepared. The sage assured me that he knows many in the south and confidently promised to plant people there who would become your men, Duke. The recruitment for the Cavalry is not yet over, so please watch a little longer."
"Indeed. Your task was only that part, not to predict and prevent the mishaps caused by Duke Peletta. Of course, had you been properly prepared, I suppose you wouldn't have missed such movements…"
It's foolish to only focus on one task when entrusted with many. Duke Diarca's laugh, filled with thinly veiled scorn, was apparent in his attitude, suggesting he didn't expect much from them if they couldn't even properly gather information about Duke Peletta's movement to the south. Baron Renbow's hands trembled slightly with shame under his cold laughter.
"Renbow, as you said, the recruitment for the Cavalry is not yet over. Let's see what results it brings. As for me, I have no knowledge of your actions and merely await the outcome."
The underlying meaning of his words was clear: should Renbow and the sage's plot fail, Duke Diarca's side would claim total ignorance of the affair's proceedings.
“...Yes, thank you.”
“By the way, how fares His Highness the Crown Prince? Is his recovery progressing well?”
“Ah... Yes, of course. I have heard that recently, he has had no issues with either meals or sleep. His Highness is also diligently carrying out the investigation of the intrusion into the Sun Palace, aided as he is by Duke Diarca's assistance…”
“Ah, speaking of which. Did you know? Today, a bouquet of flowers was sent to me from the Sun Palace.”
Caught off guard by this sudden revelation, Renbow wore a look of bewilderment.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It was a bouquet of Macarea flowers, bestowed as a mark of appreciation for dedicated service.”
Only then did Renbow notice a previously unseen, unfamiliar vase placed where Duke Diarca's gaze lingered. The luxurious glass vase, faintly adorned with the emblem of the Sun Palace used by the Emperor, contained vibrant Macarea flowers. Duke Diarca, with a cold gaze, murmured,
“Sending this to me instead of the Crown Prince's Palace, the meaning is clear. His Majesty knows I am the one truly at work, a subtle command to remain compliant.”
Silence fell, a bold, yet elegantly veiled provocation, all the more poignant as an accolade from the Emperor could not be casually discarded.
Renbow recalled the youthful face of the Emperor, briefly seen at a recent celebration of the Cavalry’s victory. Until his recent retreat due to illness, the Emperor had been aggressively implementing policies to strengthen imperial power and suppress the nobles, engaging in such provocations with the leaders of the four great ducal houses. It felt as if those days had returned.
Does one become fearless facing death, or was there another reason for such actions?
“Is the rumor of His Majesty’s critical illness true or false? It’s quite perplexing, isn’t it?”
Duke Diarca echoed Renbow's thoughts exactly.
It was a secretive conversation, unheard by others. Yet sometimes, even inanimate objects seem to have ears, capturing the words of men.
From the crumpled letter in the hands of the attendants and the Macarea flowers in front of Duke Diarca, a faint, unseen haze seemed to swirl, as if by some unspoken agreement. Meanwhile, far from the Bright Palace where the Crown Prince resided, Emperor Keilusa, sitting in front of his desk in the Sun Palace, abruptly opened his eyes.
“Huh.”
“Your lips are dry, Your Majesty. I will refill your tea.”
The loyal, aged head attendant meticulously poured tea into the Emperor's cup. After sipping the tea, Emperor Keilusa finally spoke, his eyes clear and resolute.
[BL] Bermuda
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
[BL] Cloudless Sky
Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
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