Chapter 107 (1/2)

Although there was quite the incident this visit, it was customary to begin official activities after visiting the Forbidden Lands.

Mazelan nodded to Isaac, who in turn looked at the Security agents.

“All of you heard that? With our trip over, all of you are on leave until I call you again. Go out and play.”

“…”

It was quite the aloof order, what with the lack of any indication of how long the leave was or where they were supposed to a.s.semble once it was over. But it was vacation nonetheless.

The Security agents smiled happily at Isaac’s order, still covered in filth and oozing of a foul stench.

“Where do you plan to go now?”

Rivelia asked, and Isaac replied as if the answer was obvious.

“I’m going home. I’m taking a vacation too. Consider me on holiday for about a year.”

Mazelan immediately prattled on about how ridiculous that was, but Isaac ignored him and moved on.

“Do you know how to get back to New Port City?”

Rivelia jabbed at Isaac, and he shrugged.

“I think I can get myself a private transport if I use my authority as Director of Security?”

Rivelia sighed and commented.

“I’ll be following you.”

“Hm? What about your vacation?”

“I’m the type to finish my work as it comes in.”

She was basically saying that she’d rather deal with the headaches as they came rather than sort out a pile of mess Isaac would have made after coming back from vacation.

Isaac smirked and moved on, with Rivelia following behind. Mazelan hesitated for a moment, then gestured an apology to Kiwest as he too followed Isaac.

The agents of Security seemed quite used to being abandoned by Isaac. They sighed, gathered in their own little groups and scattered to clean themselves up. Kiwest and Taigon, whose existences went fully ignored, could only stand awkwardly.

Although Isaac intended to head for New Port City, he received a message that the Queen wanted to meet him. He was not yet in a position to ignore the Queen’s invitation, so Isaac changed his route to Gabelin.

He used the fastest transport available to reach Gabelin, and once they arrived at the Royal Palace, agents from both the a.n.a.lysis and Strategy somewhat forcefully separated Rivelia and Mazelan from Isaac, requesting a firsthand account of what had happened despite having received the report already. So Isaac headed to the Queen’s laboratory alone.

“It’s nice to see that you’re safe.”

Isaac ventured through the pa.s.sage and entered the laboratory on his lonesome. It seemed Yoo-rah had been waiting inside already, and she greeted Isaac with a smile and handed him a cup of coffee.

“It was nothing. The power of this artifact you made, Yoo-rah, was much greater than I thought.”

Isaac replied as he took the cup and sat on the sofa. Yoo-rah smiled.

“I was honestly quite impressed. That was something even I had forgotten about after creating it.”

Isaac watched closely as Yoo-rah answered his question, which suggested that she already knew of its possession, without a hint of panic. He took out the pen from his finger.

“Seems like others can’t even see this thing.”

“That’s because it’s enchanted with magic that prevents others from seeing it unless they already know of that object’s existence and use.”

“But it was likely that everyone already knew I had this with me. What was the reason you acted oblivious?”

“That’s because it doesn’t matter which hand it falls into, since it’s just a failed project.”

“A failed project?”

Isaac asked, and Yoo-rah gave him the same explanation she gave to the Grand Council. Isaac’s expression changed mildly as he listened.

“Turns out I was the richest man in the world.”

“I guess you can technically call yourself that, although you can’t get any interest or make any withdrawals by having it inside a safe.”

Yoo-rah snickered, but she found it awkward that Isaac continued to sip at his coffee silently. She coughed dryly before she spoke.

“It’ll get busy for you now.”

“That’s something I didn’t want to hear.”

Isaac frowned and took out a cigarette. Yoo-rah repeated the explanation she gave to the Grand Council once more, with a more pacifying tone.

Isaac continued to smoke as he listened, but when Yoo-rah mentioned that the Expeditionary Forces could open a Gate outside the Forbidden Lands, he coughed violently.

“Ahem! Is that true?”

“Yesh. It’ll be difficult for them to open a giant gate such as one in the Forbidden Lands, but it should be possible for them to send in an armed scouting party.”

“… Do you know what that means?”

“Of course. That’s what I’m worried about too. We must especially avoid a scenario where they form an alliance with turncoats hidden all across the Empire.”

“Then what is it you want from me?”

Isaac asked, and Yoo-rah hesitated. She continued to fiddle with her cold coffee and answered after having a sip.

“We have to avoid as many risks and unknown variables as possible, but in order to do so, we need a more forceful method.”

Seeing Yoo-rah unable to give a more direct explanation, Isaac decided to say it for her.

“Do you want an unconditional ma.s.sacre?”

Yoo-rah paused before nodding at Isaac.

“… Yes.”

“I’ll do as you want. But I have to ask. What is your plan?”

Yoo-rah shook her head apologetically.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot say.”