Chapter 148: Chapter 148

I couldn't help but be shocked by the firm response. There was neither an offer to look into it further, nor even a mention of checking existing records. Just a flat refusal, without any room for negotiation. I tried to process what this meant.

"Then, I'll take my leave."

The voice behind the curtain disappeared, leaving me alone in the space behind. I unrolled the scroll and started reading about the marquis.

What kind of information was written here? Was he in this city? Was he still hunting me? While various thoughts raced through my head, my hands were breaking the wax seal. But, as soon as I read the first line, my tense anticipation vanished.

Birth: 1118 | Deceased at age 29

Title: (Former) Grand Marshal of the Imperial Forces

Affiliation: (Former) Blue Lion Order - Grandmaster

Knight Order Rank: Unranked

I couldn't process anything below that.

Birth: 1118 | Deceased at age 29

Deceased. Deceased. Deceased…?

I stared at his name and the word deceased below it. I read it over and over again, but the words never changed.

There was no chance of a namesake. Had he gone out to sea and hunted another Kraken? I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that he was dead—that someone had been able to kill him.

I forced my gaze downward and continued reading.

He was secretly assassinated while plotting a rebellion against the Imperial Family. The cause of death was officially ruled as suicide.

The scroll contained a brief biography of the marquis and details about the state funeral being held for him. The date of his death? Three days ago. His state funeral? Three days from now. If I hurried, I could make it before the ceremony.

"They covered it up as suicide." Isaac snorted.

I mulled over that ridiculous phrase before asking him, "If he plotted rebellion… shouldn't they have executed him publicly?"

A state funeral was a ceremony for heroes who made significant contributions to the Empire. Holding one for a traitor was bizarre.

"Heh. They must've debated it. He was one of the Empire's Four Swordmasters, after all. Officially, they turned him into a tragic hero who took his own life. And remember—he was the Grandmaster of the Blue Lion Order. If they publicly executed him for treason, don't you think his subordinates would panic? And this is all right before a war."

Why? Who? And why frame it as suicide? Did he really commit treason?

Nothing made sense. Isaac mused.

"It doesn't really matter. If they needed a reason, they could make one up. He was quiet and solitary, right? Call it depression. Who wouldn't believe that?"

"But hey, why are you so interested in him? Are you a fan?"

I had no intention of explaining anything to Isaac. But if the marquis was dead… Had my paranoia about being chased been just an illusion?

I memorized the date and location of the state funeral.

I crumpled the paper and tossed it into the fireplace. The flames danced wildly as they consumed it. I wanted to investigate the marquis' death, but without taking unnecessary risks.

I wasn't planning to rush to the Imperial Capital just yet. Rena, the horses—they all needed rest. But if the marquis wasn't my pursuer, then who was?

I walked in circles around the same alleyway corner three times, checking for a tail. No one was following me. There was no suspicious presence.

…Was it really just my imagination?

I stepped into a tavern. If someone were tracking me, they would have to enter after me. And in this city, there was only one tavern accessible to non-members.

A long wooden sign read: If the lights are on, we're open.

Behind the counter, a gaunt woman with a world-weary expression smoked a hookah. Her green eyes blinked lazily as she greeted me, "Welcome."

Behind her, a massive cage large enough to fit several humans stood against the wall. Inside, two resplendent birds flapped their small wings.

I glanced around the interior of the tavern. Thin, semi-transparent curtains—woven with intricate patterns—hung from the ceiling, dividing the tables. A few wealthy patrons sat together, sipping what was undoubtedly expensive liquor. Some lounged lazily, reclining as they smoked from large hookah jars placed on their tables.

I scanned the menu and ordered the top-listed hookah.

"I'll have the strawberry flavor."

"I'll have it ready soon. Your table is over here."

The price was thirty widgets. After paying three copper coins upfront, I followed the long-haired brunette who guided me to a seat. She motioned for me to sink into the deep sofa.

She handed me a disposable hookah pipe from the counter, her green eyes meeting mine. I pretended to take a natural drag.

"Pfft… You put it in upside down."

I flipped it the right way and stared at the entrance. With Detect activated, I focused my attention. Strawberry-scented smoke filled my chest, curling between my ribs.

Time passed, and no one entered. No suspicious presence emerged. More than two hours drifted by. I gazed at the glass jar on the table. The sweet smoke bubbling inside had diminished by half.

"Tch. Look at you, puffing away like a hookah addict. Some skeleton you are."

Then, I felt a gaze. My eyes snapped toward the entrance. Someone in a gray hood had their hand raised toward me.

Could that be the person tailing me?

I immediately stood up to follow. But the hooded figure had disappeared when I reached the door. I moved to exit.

"Sir, you need to settle your bill first." The woman at the counter blinked lazily and extended a pale hand.

"Bill? Didn't I already pay when I entered?"

"The lady who just left said you'd be covering his tab as well."

"What…? She wasn't coming in, she was leaving?"

"She was here for two hours."

"The total comes to nine roti, ten widgets." Her green eyes stared at me blankly.

"What the hell did she eat!?" I shouted in disbelief.

That was over thirty times the cost of my hookah.

"Let's see… a Nutty Bold with five extra golden syrup shots, a Dalmor Briagnac with three drops of Chateau Elixir, and a Sekur Ale with six Noble Sweetie scoops added—"

"She had quite the sweet tooth. And, of course, she only ordered the finest selections."

"Nonsense. I'm leaving."

"Sir? If you leave without paying, that would be… a problem."

She sounded like someone under the influence. Had she been smoking something herself while I sat here?

"Oh, and she left this for you."

She handed me a note. I unfolded it immediately. Scrawled in hasty handwriting were a few infuriating words:

You'll be thanking me soon.

I had no idea what that meant. But strangely, I felt like I had seen this handwriting before. It felt familiar. I wouldn't have handed over my money so easily if it weren't.

I paid the bill and rushed outside. Causing a scene would only complicate things. I needed to catch that gray-hooded bastard. With Detect at full power, I scoured the surroundings.

But, there was nothing—no sign of the woman. She couldn't have disappeared this quickly.

I wanted his advice. But strangely, he was silent, deep in thought.

He's loud when I don't need him but silent when I do…

There was only one possibility. The gray hooded figure who had just left had completely evaded my senses.

I fell into deep thought. Why had they made me pay their bill? What was I supposed to be grateful for? As I pondered, I kept scanning my surroundings. They could be right behind me or beyond the wall.

They might even be watching from the rooftops. Was that really the person who had been following me? Who were they?

It was frustrating how I lacked information.

I need to get Rena into T&T as soon as possible.

I needed to nurture a hidden ally. Her scenario had to be completed quickly.

The next morning, I left town with Rena. I had searched all night, but the gray-hooded woman was never found.

I glanced at Rena. "Did you get enough rest?"

Unlike yesterday, her skin had regained its glow. I recalled how exhausted she had looked the day before.

Staying the night was the right call.

Acorn wouldn't leave her side, curling up snugly against her chest.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

We rode for two days straight. There were several dungeons along the way, but we didn't stop. I didn't want any delays—I needed to arrive within two days.

Leandro von Batyenne. The Knight in Blue Armor. I wanted to witness his funeral with my own eyes. And deep inside, I had a selfish motive. If the date of his death recorded on the scroll was accurate, I would be able to absorb his essence again.

The criteria for absorbing essence was becoming increasingly difficult, but someone of his caliber should still be viable. I found myself anticipating what kind of skills I could obtain this time.

The second sunset after leaving Daliac slowly faded.

Rena slowed her horse.

"If we continue straight, we'll have to pass through Narrow Gulch."

"Yes. It's said that Emperor Seiron complained about it being too narrow when he passed through a thousand years ago. We're getting closer to the capital—place names associated with Seiron are slowly popping up."

"That gulch has only one path and it's narrow. If someone's waiting in ambush, we'd be sitting ducks."

"How long would it take to go around?"

"Four extra days. If we push it, we might barely make it in three and a half. If we're not in a rush—"

It was obvious she wanted to avoid it, but there was no need to hesitate. If we took the detour, I would lose my chance to absorb the marquis's essence.

I decided to be greedy.

"We're going through the gulch."

I spurred my horse forward. We rode for another hour. The plains ended, and a rugged mountain range stretched before us.

"Yes. Once we cross these mountains, we'll reach the Empire's capital."

The goal was in sight. The marquis's funeral was just ahead. The terrain had become too narrow and steep for horses.

"We won't be able to bring them unless we carry them."

We released all five horses back toward the plains. We moved quickly through the narrow paths. Reaching the capital as soon as possible was our top priority.

Suddenly, Rena whispered, her eyes sharp as she scanned the area through her telescope.

"They're spread far and wide. It looks like they came from the Capital and have been waiting for us."

She was right. The presence of hidden figures seeped from the forest ahead. Even outside my detection range, more kept appearing.

"Their formation is too wide for me to gauge, but they're closing in!"

This wasn't a pursuit.

It was like I had thrown myself into a net. Who could set up an encirclement this large?

Am I really worth this effort?

According to Rena's observations, they were reinforcing from the capital's direction. Once we crossed the gulch, we'd reach the capital. This meant that some force from the capital had made its move.

"Isaac, did you pull some bullshit again? This reeks of you… Could it be?"

But he had been silent ever since I left Daliac's tavern.

His answer was vague.

Rena's voice turned urgent. "We need to get out of here."