In front of the carriage.
Ezekiel temporarily stepped away to assess the surroundings, and Agnes nodded at Tether.
“Looks like we have no choice but to follow.”
“Lady Agnes?”
Tether’s bunny-like eyes widened.
“Is it really okay?”
For Tether, who was both the 2nd Princess and the Tower Master, as well as Hedera’s secretary, this reaction was normal.
While Ezekiel and the Emperor were conversing, it was clear that Hedera had no involvement in this situation whatsoever.
However, Agnes’s attitude was determined.
“It may seem sudden, but this might not be a bad opportunity. If we think about it, the Imperial Tower hasn’t even had the chance to receive an imperial order.”
Indeed, it was the Imperial Magic Tower that had finally received the imperial order they had long desired.
But that was also a fact that it was more complicated and important than what the red request letter contained.
“Looking at it positively, it could mean that His Majesty the Emperor is somewhat interested in the Imperial Magic Tower.”
“Um… that’s true, but…”
Tether still tilted her head in confusion.
She didn’t deny the idea of the Magic Tower being a good opportunity. However, there were other concerns.
“The 2nd Princess has probably not been informed of any matters. Can we proceed without her…”
Recently, Tether had experienced some troublesome incidents, including oversleeping and then lying about it, leading to severe consequences.
For her, it was a legitimate question.
“Tether, the personal secretary of the 2nd Princess.”
“Yes?”
“I’m always concerned. Every time the Inspector brings back a mission, I find it utterly ridiculous and often feel that it’s impossible to implement.”
“Yes, yes.”
“And that’s not all. During the course of the missions, questions keep popping up in real-time. So many bizarre things happen….”
“Uh, um… if that’s the case, it might be better not to do it…”
“However.”
Agnes’s tone became serious.
“What matters is the outcome. The truth is, every time the Inspector undertakes a ridiculous task, it ends up being resolved well. Not a single exception.”
“Not a single exception…?”
“Correct.”
Agnes nodded slightly.
“By nature, the person we advise isn’t someone who can be easily swayed. You know that, Tether.”
“Ah, that’s certainly true…”
Tether recalled the chaotic situation during the Treasury incident.
Ezekiel had a clear purpose, and no matter how shocking things became, he handled them nonchalantly. Even if Tether had tried to stop him, he would have continued to do as he pleased.
Clatter—!
Agnes began rotating her cube.
“No matter how much we try to dissuade him, it only causes unnecessary fuss and delays the Inspector’s actions. It’s better to ask questions but follow his intent.”
“Well, I can definitely relate to that.”
Ezekiel, indeed, possessed genius.
What good would come from confining a clearly brilliant individual within a mundane framework and doubting them endlessly? It was time to trust and support him.
Tether finally clenched her fist tightly.
“Alright then. I’ll trust and go with it!”
“Yes. Then let’s do that.”
Agnes and Tether shook hands while thinking simultaneously.
“With this, the personal secretary of the 2nd Princess has also agreed. Even if things go wrong, the Princess won’t blame just us.”
“Since it was Agnes who brought it up first, I hope I won’t be the only one getting scolded later. Please, please, please…!”
The two had very different personalities.
Yet, their instinct as secretaries was the same.
“Let’s take responsibility together!”
“Let’s take responsibility together!”
It was then that Ezekiel returned after surveying his surroundings.
He opened his mouth, chewing on sunweed.
“Looks like all the other carriages are fine.”
“Yes. There’s no problem with the carriage.”
Ezekiel then tilted his head slightly.
“Then we should leave immediately. What are we waiting for?”
“….”
A certain awkwardness spread over Agnes’s expressionless face.
Tether was already sweating profusely.
“Um, uh, Inspector… about that…”
“What?”
“Umm, well, it’s….”
“Ah.”
Ezekiel nodded as if he understood.
“Don’t tell me you confused the dates.”
The mistake of saying today when tomorrow’s event was scheduled seemed absurd, but it was one of those disasters that often happened.
“Th-That’s not it. It’s completely gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes. It’s disappeared…”
“What do you mean? Has the exchange meeting itself vanished?”
Tether’s roundabout response was rather frustrating. As Ezekiel’s expression began to wrinkle with concern, Agnes finally intervened.
“Inspector, you must know that the area of the Black Tower is surrounded by a wide moat.”
“Right. They really enjoy the scenery of the demon realm.”
Sharp spires, vast moats, black magic, eerie nights… They were all clearly of demonic taste.
“However, every bridge leading into the realm of the Black Tower has been blown up. To put it simply….”
“Every access road has disappeared?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
Agnes continued in a somewhat awkward tone.
“According to them, the bridges broke due to the immense magic they were preparing, but it’s hard to believe it’s such a pure reason.”
“Didn’t we hear that other Magic Towers have already arrived? Obvious. They must be hoping we arrive late.”
“Yes…”
Agnes and Tether observed Ezekiel’s reaction.
They had no choice.
It was now a fact that they were late, and had they hurried their departure, it might have been possible to enter before the bridges were blown up.
In other words, it was true that something ridiculous had happened at the Black Tower, but it was also easy for Ezekiel to blame his secretaries.
However.
Surprisingly.
Crunch!
Ezekiel continued munching on sunweed calmly.
“Quite a cute move they’ve pulled. Not only do they not submit the report, but they’ve also destroyed the roads.”
“Yes.”
“Interesting. This is.”
…Interesting?
…Can one even feel amusement?
“It seems that everyone was provoking us not to be late, and it worked quite well. The Black Tower folks are hoping we will arrive late.”
Phew—
Ezekiel exhaled a plume of sunweed smoke.
“Well, anyways, does that mean there’s no way to get there by carriage now?”
“They say they’ll repair the bridges shortly. However, the completion time is coincidentally a week from now.”
“A week from now….”
It was easy to draw a conclusion.
“That’s precisely when the exchange meeting will end.”
“We can’t bring that forward any further.”
“They’re quite good at their craft; how childish.”
Ezekiel quietly rubbed his chin.
“Should I freeze the whole moat instead?”
A ridiculously high-level Ice Magic Technique. It seemed that Ezekiel could actually pull that off. But even if he froze it, that wouldn’t solve the situation.
Agnes shook her head.
“…Even if it’s frozen, it would still take time to cross. We only have about 5 minutes left.”
“Right, that’s true.”
Ezekiel nodded along easily, leaving Tether and Agnes curious.
“Well then, I guess it can’t be helped.”
It was only natural for anxiety to rise.
What if he had just hastily decided to give up?
“W-What’s your plan, Inspector?”
“It’s nothing serious. I have a solution.”
“A s-solution?”
“Yes.”
Ezekiel started to move his feet purposefully.
“Just pack your things well.”
He left behind only those words.
“….”
With such a nonchalant attitude, no one could stop him.
Inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor’s Audience Chamber.
However, the sight in the audience chamber was not as usual. It had transformed into a wreck due to the destruction, more like a battlefield than a palace.
Of course, that state didn’t last long.
Wshhhhhhh—!
The space warped, and the audience chamber regained its usual appearance, rich and majestic.
The Emperor quietly looked down at his feet.
The 1st Princess, Ether, was sound asleep.
“…Remarkable. Such impressive growth.”
During the process of putting the 1st Princess to sleep, the Emperor admired her realm, noting her previously slow growth trajectory had suddenly steepened.
Could it be that Ezekiel did this?
But then, a loud bang interrupted.
Bang!
Someone boldly opened the door and entered.
The more he thought about it, the more nonsensical it seemed. This was the Emperor’s Audience Chamber—a space exclusive to the Emperor. Who on earth could waltz in here without permission?
“Can I ask for one more favor?”
“….”
Ezekiel.
The one who entered was none other than him.
“…This is the Audience Chamber, Ezekiel.”
“Please open a dimensional door to the realm of the Black Tower. It’s necessary for the successful completion of our trade.”
“….”
“If the trade ends favorably, it would be beneficial for both sides, wouldn’t it?”
The Emperor sighed deeply.
“…As long as it’s in the realm of the Black Tower, I suppose it’s fine.”
“I’ll point out the exact location on the map.”
“….”
Isn’t he asking for quite a lot?
It suddenly struck him.
The reason Ezekiel insisted on correcting the mission into a trade.
…Was this what he intended from the beginning?
“Your Majesty. Time is running out.”
“I understand. I understand.”
The Emperor threw the apple he was holding to the floor.
“Fine, just do whatever you want.”
“Just be aware, if this fails after all this…”
He mentally muttered as he thought.
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