"By the way, did you catch the two magi from Higros?
In the afternoon.
You were the one behind the firefight at the east side of the city? "Claude couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked Lyklete about it.
"We didn't catch them. They were killed!"
Ricklete told Claude some explosive news, but there was more to come. "The two magi aren't from Higros. They're Shiksan nobles who went to Higros to study abroad.
He went to Higros Island to study, and after becoming a mage, he searched for precious magic materials for Higros Island in the name of traveling the continent.
They came here because our kingdom has strict control over the magic materials we produce. "
Isn't Shiks a powerful kingdom in the north?
How can their nobles study magic in public and go to Higros to study abroad?
"Then why do you say they're magi from Higros?"
"Because these two idiots went to study abroad and learned the style of those evil Mages on Higros Island. They often put on a high and mighty appearance and insult us as Black Iron lowly commoners.
After entering the kingdom, they got into a conflict with a tavern owner and cursed us like that. They even used spells to kill seven people in the tavern.
When we got the news, we thought they were magi from Higros and immediately went after them. "
Perhaps because the two Shiksan magi were already dead, Ricklete didn't hold back much. "What we're worried about now is how we're going to explain this to our superiors. They're Shiksan nobles, after all.
How great would it have been if they'd just surrendered obediently in the afternoon? Yet, they overestimated themselves and used a group spell, forcing us to open fire and injure quite a few of our men. "
"They were badly injured?
Did those five hoodlums really discover their tracks? "Claude wanted to know the details of what happened.
Ricklete nodded. "Those two idiots acted ostentatiously the entire time and only came to their senses when we chased them. They used spells to hide their tracks and sneaked into Whitewood City. They hid at a rendezvous point in the eastern district and didn't come out. They planned to make their move after the news died down.
The old one was fine, but the young one couldn't stand the loneliness and hooked up with a nearby prostitute. Every night, he would disguise himself and go to the prostitute's house to spend the night.
He didn't expect that the prostitute had a relationship with the skinny one of the five hooligans and was preparing to set a trap for him to rob them of their money.
However, the young man did not keep his mouth shut and revealed his identity as a magician in front of the prostitute. He even planned to use the prostitute's identity as a local to contact the miners and buy the goods they secretly brought out of the mine.
It was precisely because they were magicians that the skinny man and the other five hooligans did not dare to act rashly. They were even planning to get their hands on a knockout drug that could deal with magicians before making a move.
However, it was said that the colorless and odorless drug was very precious and expensive. The skinny man and the others couldn't afford it, so they decided to find an outsider to kill a fat sheep and raise enough money to buy the drug.
In the end, he was unlucky enough to find you, and then fell into our hands … "
Likert smiled. "Sometimes, I find it quite strange when I think about it. You went to a shop to buy whiteroot powder and we set our sights on you. We thought you were one of the two magicians in hiding.
"The skinny man and the other five hooligans also set their sights on you in order to raise money to buy the knockout drug. In the end, we discovered that it was a misunderstanding, but the skinny man and the other five knew where the two magicians were.
"After finding the two magicians, our captain thought it through and evacuated the surrounding residents.
However, we were discovered by the two magicians in the process. We surrounded them and shouted for them to surrender.
"In the end, the two of them took out proof that they were Shiksan nobles and said that they were only traveling the continent and didn't cause any harm to our kingdom. They demanded that we treat them with the courtesy of nobles and let the eunuch of Whitewood meet them.
"Then, they threatened us to let them go or it would easily cause conflict between the two kingdoms.
"Naturally, we refused their demands and presented them with proof of their spell-killing in the tavern in our kingdom. We asked them to plead guilty and send them to the royal capital for trial.
"So, the younger one started cursing and saying that killing a few black-iron peasants didn't matter. Then, he started throwing spells everywhere and started fighting with us.
"Since they were hiding in the buildings, we couldn't threaten them with our guns even though we surrounded them. We couldn't see them!
Nobody was a match for them in terms of spells.
"They were also very cunning. They didn't go through the windows and doors, but instead used spells to blow up the walls between the buildings and moved from one to the other before running to the building next door.
Had it not been for our captain's arrangements, they might've really escaped. "
Likert shook his head with a bitter smile. "They blew up two two-storey buildings and a three-storey building. About sixty innocent people were caught in the blast. Fortunately, they were rescued in time and no one died for the time being.
"Quite a few of my companions were injured during the chase. In the end, the older one was shot to death by the garrison soldiers and the younger one was killed by our special forces. We didn't catch a single one of them alive. Shiks will still be implicated in the future."
"They're real Shiksan nobles?
They're not fake, are they? "Claude asked.
"They're real. When we searched their belongings, we found that they were real nobles. The only evidence we have against them is their experience of studying in Higros and the magical items they brought with them. However, it's hard to say for sure. They're real Shiksan nobles, after all. The kingdom has to give them an explanation."
"Isn't magic forbidden on the continent?
Why can Shiksan nobles learn magic? "
Likert laughed mockingly. "Their kingdom is different from ours. They're located in the north of the continent near Higros and have always colluded with the magi there. It's a trend for people there to learn magic. That's also the main reason why they became the strongest kingdom on Freia with the support of the magi on Higros.
"Of course, it's all done in secret. On the surface, they've always declared that magic is forbidden. Their main mission is to prevent the magi from making a comeback on Higros.
"Compared to Shiks, we're only a small kingdom. Unless we can unify the entire eastern part of the continent, we won't be able to stand up to Shiks.
"However, Shiks is indeed a behemoth that we can't afford to offend. The only thing we can be thankful for is that we don't share a border with them. There are still two kingdoms in between.
"The two magi are Shiksan nobles. Even if they killed someone in the tavern, they'll just have to pay for it. Higros has always treated nobles well and they can pay for their crimes.
"It's completely different from the laws of our kingdom. We treat everyone equally and anyone who commits a murder, be it a noble or a citizen, has to be interrogated and punished.
"That's exactly why Shiks and ours aren't that close.
"It's said that due to the Tricolor Scepter War 50 to 60 years ago, the Shiksan nobles spoke badly about Stellin IX's ascension to the throne. They believed that the illegitimate Stellin IX didn't have the right to ascend to the throne and refused to acknowledge his legitimacy. As a result, the two kingdoms have been at odds for more than a decade."
That was information Claude had never heard of before. However, he didn't understand the reason for Lykleinte's frown. "So you're saying that Shiks has never been on good terms with our kingdom and we don't have a good relationship. Are you worried that the deaths of two noble magi will incur Shiks' wrath and cause trouble for us?
"But what does that have to do with your department? You're just doing your job. It's not like you'll be dealing with Shiks in the future anyway.
"You said it yourself. Our kingdoms don't share a border and are separated by two kingdoms. The most they can do is complain about it. Even if they want to start a war, they'll have to see if the two kingdoms in between will let their troops pass. So, what's there to worry about?"
Likert looked at him with disdain. "You're from a small place, so it's only natural that you don't know about the rumors going around in the royal capital.
Did you know that His Majesty sent two waves of envoys to Shiks in the first half of this year?
Our goal is to stabilize Shiks because they have a much closer relationship with Nasri than we do!
Even though they don't share a border and can't send troops to attack us, Shiks can provide Nasri with large amounts of funds and military supplies. Do you know how much of an impact that will have on the conflict between our kingdom and the five eastern anti-Auerian nations?
In less than three months, they sent two waves of envoys to Nasri to maintain their neutrality and not interfere in our eastern region. Do you understand now? "
"Yes, I do.
Claude sincerely admitted his mistake. "It's indeed your fault. You've caused a lot of trouble for our kingdom. I don't know if we'll be able to appease Shiks.
If they fall out with us, it'll be your fault.
But this has nothing to do with me. I'll just watch you get punished. "
"You …" Likert almost spat out a mouthful of blood at Claude's face. The kid's words were too infuriating. It was like a knife stabbing into his heart.
He only wanted to talk to someone because he was frustrated, but it only made him feel even more stifled.
He wanted to reason with him, but he felt that it was pointless. The kid's words were reasonable and it had nothing to do with him. He would only be asking for trouble if he tried to talk to him about national affairs.
Not knowing what to say, Likert stood up and said, "Then, I'll be leaving." Then, he left dejectedly.
Watching Likert leave, Claude ordered another mug of rye wine and sipped it slowly.
Even though Lykleinte had said so much, he didn't reveal a single thing that concerned Claude the most.
He only told Claude that the two Shiksan noble magi had been killed, but he didn't mention their levels, the mission they were on in Whitewood City, or the powerful area-of-effect spells they used. He didn't even mention the magic items they brought with them.
As for the relationship between Shiks and Aueras, Claude didn't really care. He didn't have the right to make decisions on national affairs, anyway.
What sort of conflict would break out between the two kingdoms due to the death of the two magi wasn't within Claude's consideration. He was just a soldier about to enlist in the army and that had nothing to do with him.
On the other hand, Lyklete said that Stellin X sent two groups of envoys to Shiks in the first half of the year. That confirmed Claude's suspicions that a large-scale war with the five anti-Auerian nations would break out next year.
Otherwise, Stellin X wouldn't have sent two waves of envoys to Shiks so early on.
Damn it, I'm so unlucky to be a soldier now. It seems I'll have to go to war no matter what, Claude cursed inwardly.