Royal Hospital.
Hagel was outside expressing his gratitude to Hilberu.
The Royal Hospital was not without people who could use healing magic or proper doctors, but there were many special internal injuries that were extremely tricky for them.
However, Hilberu’s Holy Arts made up for that part, and healing others with Holy Arts also helped Hilberu improve her own Holy Arts.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Hagel. It’s what I should do.”
After Hilberu declined the thanks, a Royal Knight brought word that Grin and the others were looking for them and Hilberu.
Hagel led them into a room in the Royal Hospital to talk.
Grin briefly explained the situation to Hagel and Hilberu, then asked for their consent.
“I have no problem, Mr. Grin. During this time, I’ve mastered quite a few new Holy Arts that can be useful in the coming battle.” Hilberu nodded.
“That’s a good proposal, but…” Hagel paused, then suddenly opened a Silence Barrier.
“Mr. Grin, I will accompany you down to the Hollow, but I will not participate in destroying the crystals.
After going down, I will find a hidden exit and return to the Royal Palace.”
Grin asked in confusion, “Why?”
“During this time, I’ve gathered some information about the traitor in the Royal Palace, but I’m not sure who it is yet.
When I leave, they might take the opportunity to make a move. I plan to catch them.”
“I trust that you, Mr. Grin, and Miss Alberke and Miss Hilberu have enough ability to handle this mission.”
Grin was silent for a moment, thinking of the fourteen days needed to repair the seal, which exactly coincided with the System Task time.
The people of the Scarlet Sect would certainly not stay quiet during this period, and Hagel’s plan had its reasoning.
If the Scarlet Sect had a plan, they would only act during this time.
Although Hagel wouldn’t join the team, having Hilberu join was a great help.
“By the way, don’t mention this to Her Highness the Princess or Viseliane either.
Remember my earlier speculation? There is a high-ranking traitor in the Royal Palace, so I need to keep my movements as hidden as possible.” Hagel added.
“Understood. We’ll help keep your movements secret.” Grin nodded.
Suddenly, Grin thought of something and added after Hagel stood up:
“We found the organization’s name is Scarlet Sect, and the confirmed code names are the Fourth Person, Fire Mage Deduo; the Ninth Person, Count Canko; and the Fifteenth Person, Qiling.”
“They orchestrated the recent series of events in the Royal Palace.
We reported this information to His Majesty the King before coming here.”
Hilberu frowned upon hearing the conversation, as if thinking of something.
“Does the name ring a bell, Hilberu?”
Alberke, who had been watching everyone’s expressions, noticed Hilberu’s change and asked softly.
“I have some impression of that name.
I’ve seen that organization’s name before, in a book recording heresies at the Ulin Monastery.” Hilberu replied.
An unexpected gain. She didn’t expect this organization to have some connection with the Church.
Before Alberke died, the Scarlet Sect had only been mentioned a few times, and the details hadn’t been written yet, so she was surprised to learn of its relation to the Church.
“After we part ways underground, I will go to the Monastery to see Dean Mali and look for clues about this organization.
Miss Hilberu, thank you for the information.” Hagel thanked.
Then Hagel added:
“The repair of the seal will be handled by the Royal Knights and the mages of the Mage Corps after you clear the crystals.
I’m ready to leave anytime. What about you?”
“We’re ready to leave anytime.” Grin nodded.
“I have no problem.” Alberke raised her hand.
“Same here.” Hilberu also responded.
Hagel stepped forward and patted Grin on the shoulder.
“Then let’s set off now.
No need to hide our tracks before going down to the Hollow.
We want them to see us leave.”
…
On the high wall of the Royal Palace, on a tower.
A soldier, after seeing four figures leave the Royal Palace, suddenly left his post five minutes later.
A moment later, that soldier appeared in a hidden room.
In the center was a candlestick, under which were pressed yellowed papers and a strange bloody pattern.
The soldier told everything he had seen to a person wrapped in a black robe, and after finishing, he was dismissed by the other.
After the soldier left, the black-robed person spoke to someone behind them:
“You heard that.
The Hero and the Vice Captain of the Royal Knights have both left the Royal Palace.
According to the Seventeenth Person’s information, they will go to clean up the corrupted crystals in the Past Kingdom area below.”
“Before the seal repair is complete, we need to get what we need from the Past Kingdom and leave Land…
I don’t know how they learned the name of our organization.”
As she spoke, her tone gradually became impatient, and her voice suddenly rose:
“Hey! It’s not that one of you bragged and revealed our identity, is it?
How else would they know our organization’s name!”
The black-robed speaker had a deep female voice.
Following her gaze, another black-robed person and Count Canko, who had lost his right hand and right leg, were sitting on stone stools.
Count Canko’s right hand and right leg had been replaced with twisted flesh creations, his posture extremely unbalanced.
Upon hearing the female black-robed person’s words, he cursed irritably:
“I gave up my assets and status in Land for the organization’s mission, and ended up like this for the mission!
And you, who came from Hegeholin halfway to pick the fruits, dare to question us?!”
Count Canko almost spat out blood, barely steadying himself with the support of the Fourth Person beside him.
“Fruits? What fruits? All I see here in Ulgrich is a huge mess.
As for you, your so-called status was all given to you by the organization.
Do you think it’s your own ability?”
“Such an easy mission, and you managed to mess it up.
The strong ones of the Land Kingdom were all intercepted outside by the organization.
All you had to do was take something, and you made it as difficult as assassinating the king.”
“You didn’t get the thing from the Past Kingdom area, and you didn’t even find the Holy Scroll, the relic of the Old Church Ruins.
And you made me interrupt my mission in Hegeholin to clean up your mess.”
“What, the organization painstakingly planned the Dragon Attack, such a good opportunity.
With you two and the organization’s resources deployed here, in such chaos, you couldn’t even get what the organization wanted.
Did you kindly join the regular army to put out fires instead?”
The female black-robed person’s words were merciless, darkening both their faces.
But the Fourth Person finally spoke up to ease the atmosphere:
“Qiling, that’s enough for now. Let’s focus on the organization’s mission now.”
The implication was to tell her to stop cursing.
Count Canko had almost been cut in half by Grin, barely having a prosthetic attached with Flesh Magic.
If he got too angry, it might cause trouble.
“Two old incompetents.
I’ll have someone inform you later.
You hide here like rats since you couldn’t accomplish anything and even revealed your identities!”
With that, Qiling left the room.
Watching the short figure leave, Count Canko was itching with anger.
“Damn it! That short woman…
Does she think we wanted this situation? And she’s making sarcastic remarks!
She… she even cursed us like that!”
The intact Fourth Person patted his shoulder.
Although Qiling was mainly scolding Count Canko, he had been scolded too.
He also had anger pent up, but he couldn’t show it in front of the other.
Although her curses were quite foul, the truth was the truth.
And they did need her help for the subsequent actions.
If not for the heavy losses in personnel from these operations, Count Canko would be in a wheelchair instead of continuing to participate in the next mission.
The downtime from recuperating in the Land Kingdom was over, and the other side could now spare some effort to interfere with the situation in the Capital.
The longer they delayed, the worse it would be for them.
So they had to seize this last chance.
Otherwise, they would face not only the recovered King of Land but also the Eastern Expeditionary Army that had failed the expedition but had a few surviving strong ones returning.
By then, there would be no room for them to interfere in the Capital.
“Let’s endure it for now.
She was never on good terms with us, but we share the same goal for the organization’s mission.
If we fail, not only will you lose what you want, but both of us will face the organization’s revenge and purge.”
Count Canko sighed, acknowledging the point.
But thinking of Grin, he cursed again:
“Those bastards! I’ll make them pay, for sure!”
He slammed his hand heavily on the table, producing a dull sound.