Volume 6 Chapter 34 When I Come to Her Parents' House and Meet Her Parents, It's Kind of This, Right
Just as Lucian began to talk, Cedric appeared in the office.
"Hey, it's been a while since Waldner."
"I apologize for the intrusion."
Randy stood up and bowed his head, and Cedric raised his hand with a smile, asking, "You been well?"
"I heard Braubelg's been causing trouble too?"
"Well, it's not as bad as Waldner."
Lucian prompted them to take a seat as they were still standing, since it seemed like they were going to continue their conversation on their feet.
Cedric and Randy exchanged glances, and Randy smiled as he waited for Cedric to sit before lowering himself onto the sofa.
Lucian sat on the personal sofa, facing Randy and Cedric across the coffee table.
As the 3 of them sat down on the sofa, a maid appeared with tea.
Perhaps Sebas had arranged it, but the timing was so perfect that Randy couldn't help but grumble.
"Even you make that face."
"The level of the staff here is so high that I can't help but worry about causing a scene in front of His Excellency..."
Lucian laughed heartily at Randy's honest confession, saying, "Don't worry about it."
"The staff at Victor's are even more highly trained than you think."
Randy could only reply with a surprised "Is that so?" to Lucian's words.
All he could think of were the over-bold maids.
Pushing those images from his mind, Randy began to share the information he had synchronized with Alan about the Empire and the Pilgrim of Truth.
"By the way, about that investigation you asked me to do..."
Cedric handed Randy a report.
It contained information about Saint, who had accompanied them on that ruin investigation.
Even if it wasn't Cedric, anyone could have gathered this information if they tried.
Nonetheless, Randy had asked Cedric because he knew it would be faster than doing it themselves.
It was about the speed of the investigation, but also the speed of the subsequent conversation.
"I can't believe you're right. The Saint of ruins exploration has connections to the imperial family."
Cedric's sigh was understandable.
Both Lucian and Cedric mostly shared Alan's viewpoint, but the timing of the imperial advance differed from Randy's group.
If their goal is Lady Eleonora's body... unlike they all, they haven't solved the mysteries of the ruins, have they?
That was a line from Lucian's letter.
In reality, it was true; no matter how special the imperial forces were, they couldn't know the contents of the ruins managed by the kingdom's government.
However, it was also true that Randy had a strong feeling about it.
What supplemented this was the investigative report that Cedric had handed over.
According to Catherine, the Saint who accompanied the ruins investigation was apparently from the imperial nobility.
And after her cleansing journey as a Saint was complete, she returned to the empire, entrusting her duties to the next Saint.
Thus, Randy believed that the empire had somehow obtained the books left behind by Charlotte.
Therefore, he had Cedric look into the whereabouts of that Saint.
The Saint who returned to the empire served in the Cathedral in the imperial capital for a while, and afterward, at the request of the noble family she belonged to, spent her long later years as a tutor for her nieces and nephews.
And her niece's child was Leonius's mother.
That book left behind by Charlotte.
In the game, it was treated as a magical tome, and the game's description actually served as a hint for acquiring Ellie's body.
The person who obtained it was close to Leonius's mother and, though the purpose was unknown, was targeting Ellie's body.
This means, just as Randy predicted, Leonius is very likely in possession of that book or knows its contents.
Of course, he didn't know the contents of the book, but it was a book left by Charlotte alongside the mysteries of the ruins.
While it was treated as a magical tome in the game, it couldn't be completely ruled out that it might be a journal or record.
"If it all lines up this closely, we need to be on guard, just as you said."
"Yes. Though, our opponent has 2 heads and 2 goals, after all."
Randy's words made Lucian and Cedric nod.
The actions and thoughts of the two princes would undoubtedly affect the timing of the attack on Day X.
But that applies to them as well.
"The enemy has 2 heads, but we are divided into 3 or 4..."
At Lucian's words, Randy nodded with a wry smile.
As Lucian said, it couldn't be claimed that they are perfectly in sync.
Braubelg, Hartfield, and Waldner.
Right now, each is desperate to remove the intruder that has invaded their territory.
The enemy is moving separately in each region.
It's impossible to completely coordinate our efforts because of that.
That's why they have a government, but...
For the moment, the government's actions are sluggish.
Of course, the kingdom won't just sit back and allow its territories to be taken.
But currently, what runs rampant in the kingdom is a cult.
Therefore, they are working to eradicate the [Pilgrim of Truth], but it's also true they lack a decisive blow to link that with the empire.
And then there's that government.
Even if they are convinced of the empire's invasion, the move they make in the name of rescue may not align with our intentions.
"One could say the battle has already begun. The situation changes constantly like the ebb and flow of water."
Even Randy's predictions could change depending on the future actions of the government.
"Nine times out of ten, the Duke family is the one betraying us."
At those words, Lucian and the others nodded.
Given the activities in the north, it's certain that someone brought the empire in.
And besides Waldner, the only family close to the empire is the Duke family, which has a port in the northeast.
Despite everything, a royal bloodline is betraying us.
The government might not be aware of the betrayal, but it's undoubtedly a pawn that will cause confusion when the time comes.
That's why, even knowing they would be incompetent allies, one could say we had no choice but to pass information to the kingdom's government.
It's a warning to the Duke family.
The effect may not be much.
It's really a sigh-inducing situation, but Randy shook his head and steeled his expression.
"But there are one... no, 2 things that are certain."
"That's right. The empire is coming and──"
"Just before the attack, [Pilgrim of Truth] starts to cause a fuss."
That can be called conviction.
By hiding underground and increasing the Number of People, the cult group causes chaos everywhere, and only then can the empire send troops to the kingdom with great fanfare.
It's probably for the salvation of the kingdom's people.
Therefore, just before the main battle begins, the chaos caused by [Pilgrim of Truth] is a common understanding for everyone.
"Braubelg isn't too worried, but Hartfield, with its vast territory..."
"Well, don't worry."
Lucian interrupted Randy's concern.
Actually, Alan isn't worried about Hartfield either, but from Randy's perspective, it's a fact that Hartfield is inferior to both Braubelg and Waldner in terms of military power.
"The Count isn't a pushover, even if children worry about him."
Smiling wryly, Lucian described Count Hartfield Alfred as "a man like a fox."
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