Volume 24 Chapter 4 Information Coordination And Requests
"This was entrusted to us by His Excellency Viscount Parker. I'll hand it over to you ahead of schedule."
Atop a hill overlooking the capital of Sennett, a military camp had been established. Within one of the tents—specifically, the command pavilion assigned to Prince Theodore—Al was being guided. From the travel pack slung across his back, he retrieved a carefully wrapped package.
Before departing, Al had received a thorough briefing from Baron Nicholas, including important codes and cautionary advice. And just before he left, Viscount Parker himself had entrusted him with this item.
Inside the tent, the air was tense yet composed. Besides Prince Theodore, the group included Viscount Vincent—the deputy chief of staff of the Sylvester Kingdom Knights and a former member of the diplomatic mission—as well as Lord Zora, Naresh, and Joanna. Their presence felt deliberate, yet Al couldn't discern the reason behind it.
He was curious about why those three were gathered here, but questioning it in front of the prince would be inappropriate.
That said, even if they were aware of his visit, it wasn't a matter of secrecy.
"Do you know what's inside?"
Prince Theodore gave Viscount Vincent a glance, silently urging him to receive the package.
"It contains information collected from Cole—a researcher affiliated with the Brook and Marquis Prentis families' magic laboratory under Viscount Eugene. In addition to a letter, it includes data that may help identify infiltrators within the Margrave Knights suspected of being under Eugene or the Prentis family's influence."
"I see. You may have come here on your own matters, but this is significant intelligence. It could prove invaluable. If we can expose those agents, it will change our operations dramatically. I'd heard fragments of this through the daily reports... but I had underestimated Eugene. Without Parker's warning, we might have walked straight into battle with traitors at our backs—and lost everything."
"Your Highness..."
Viscount Vincent interjected with a soft caution in his tone.
"Vincent, it's the truth. We were saved. There's no use pretending otherwise."
"I understand... but even so—"
Vincent's brows furrowed. While this exchange was informal, the candor between the prince and his staff suggested a deep, mutual trust.
Vincent unwrapped the bundle, pulling out what looked to be a letter, and handed it to Prince Theodore.
"Let's take a look at this first."
The prince confirmed the seal from Viscount Parker before breaking it open and reading. As his eyes scanned the lines, they gradually widened in shock.
"Princess Patricia... Is this true, Alfred?"
The letter must have contained a report of their last exchange. Al gave a silent nod and bowed. Once he had finished reading, the prince passed the letter to Vincent.
Vincent received it without a word and began to read carefully. Naresh and the others leaned forward, curious at the mention of the princess.
Joanna, in particular, glanced around as if expecting Patricia to suddenly appear in the tent.
"Alfred, did she tell you what she intends to do?"
Al tilted his head slightly. He too had been wondering about her thoughts.
"...I'm sorry. She's currently in hiding, as the last surviving royal, so I can't speak in detail about her plans. But she did say... she won't remain in the shadows forever."
Prince Theodore studied Al's face for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
"I see. Then, Alfred—how about this? If we win this war, would you consider joining the Royal Knights under my command? No, I want you to. You once requested your brother's ennoblement, so you're not the heir, are you? You could establish your own house. I can't offer much in terms of formal robes right now, but I could guarantee you a title—Baron, at the very least."
A direct offer—and no small one. Al felt his heart stir, but he shook his head firmly.
"I'm honored, but I feel I'm more suited to the path of an adventurer. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"Is a barony not enough? Or... is there something else you want? A magic bag is off the table. Well... if you pledged yourself to me, I might reconsider. If there's something else, just say the word."
Al thought for a moment, then answered.
"At present, I am still marked as a wanted man by the Margrave Rain household. What I hope for... is some recognition that could restore my honor—perhaps a medal. Beyond that, if it's possible, I ask that you consider offering assistance to my father, who governs Channing Village, or to my brother who still serves the Margrave Rain family."
As he spoke, Al's fingers brushed lightly against the twin pendants hanging at his neck—one from Riana, and the other from Glee. Patricia had asked him to meet with Zillion, and for that, Al wanted to understand the man better.
She had given him this pendant for that purpose. Like Glee's, it was embedded with a stealth enchantment.
Riana had proposed the idea of a medal as a solution for Al's current status. As a long-serving assistant device that had watched over the founding of the Tempest Kingdom, she had extensive knowledge of its systems.
Apparently, the former Tempest Kingdom had awarded a medal called the Tempest Cross—an honor granted to those who risked themselves beyond enemy lines to save others or avert disaster.
It was a title that carried recognition and glory without imposing obligation. Such a precedent made it an ideal choice. There were even rumors that Sylvester Kingdom had a similar custom.
Prince Theodore squinted one eye thoughtfully, then sighed.
"...Very well. I understand your request. We do have honors like that. Let us consider it. In truth, we may soon ask something of you ourselves. Depending on how you perform, further rewards may be possible."
It was clear the prince hadn't yet given up on the idea of formally recruiting him.
"For now, I'll review the details from Viscount Parker later. But as for what I'd like from you—would you be willing to accompany Vincent and Lady Joanna to investigate the Marquis Tagard estate? If possible, take a few guards with you as well. I've heard that you can fly with multiple passengers. Unfortunately, none of the magicians with the expeditionary force can do the same. While some can carry a person while flying, sustained travel over enemy airspace isn't feasible."
He continued, "You also participated in the prior diplomatic mission and are familiar with the Tagard lands. That makes you the best candidate for this assignment."
So that was the reason. Al had suspected something like this. As for why Joanna was chosen—perhaps it was because she had served the former Tempest Kingdom and could be trusted, and as a woman, would attract less suspicion. Naresh's presence made more sense now as well.
Still, what was the current situation? When did contact cease? And what methods were they using to communicate?
"First, the 'Carrier' spell disc that can be used alongside 'Fly' has a total carry capacity of about 300 kilograms. That includes body weight and gear. For knights in metal armor, two people is the limit. In lighter leather, maybe three. Please plan accordingly. Also, I'd like to know the current situation. Without that, I can't say whether this mission is even feasible. And... there's one more concern."
Al's gaze flickered toward Joanna. She looked uneasy. It was likely she wasn't fond of flying.
Perhaps she and Patricia had kept quiet about the details of their escape using the 'Fly' spell. If so, it was no surprise she hadn't spoken up.
"There are people who experience strong fear when flying. My brother's attendant is one of them—he screams the entire time. Since stealth is critical here, it's better to test everyone's suitability in advance."
Prince Theodore nodded, acknowledging the point.
"You're right. Vincent, explain the situation to Alfred."
With a nod, Vincent began his explanation.
"Ten days ago, we lost all communication with the Tagard household. We use the 'Send Mailbox' spell for correspondence, alongside physical messengers. The spell's range depends on the caster's skill, but for the knights, the system was set up with a 30-kilometer relay network. The route passes through Norma County—a neutral region like the Kingdom of Messina."
So communication relied on the same path their delegation had taken—likely about 200 kilometers in a straight line from here to Tagard territory.
Even with excellent proficiency, that distance was too far for direct transmission. Not even Al could cover that range.
"So, the relay network has collapsed somewhere?"
"Correct. Almost 80% of the outposts we built—after negotiating with minor lords in Norma—are no longer functional. We had redundancy in place, but the failure rate is worse than expected. Also, while contact was lost ten days ago, reports suggest that attacks on the outposts began three weeks ago."
Norma had allowed free passage as long as tolls were paid. If the Prentis family had mobilized, their outposts would have been obvious targets.
"In response, we dispatched magicians capable of flight to scout Tagard directly. We sent two pairs. None returned. We could confirm that they passed above the former Count Senety's lands, but beyond that... nothing."
So in essence, they knew nothing.
"Were the flights conducted at night?"
"No, during the day. I had the same thought, but the scouts were unfamiliar with the geography. They needed to navigate using landmarks, so I allowed daytime travel."
That made sense. Even with guidance from survivors like Viscount Powell, flying over unfamiliar land was risky. But what altitude had they chosen?
A Long-Range Magic Missile could reach 70 meters. Standard versions could go 30.
If they had flown at just 50 meters, they could've been shot down easily. Even bows could reach that range.
Al explained this, and Vincent's expression tightened.
"...It's possible. I never gave specific altitude instructions. When I flew once, we reached about 20 meters. I felt shaky, but they flew as if that was normal."
Maybe fear had made them fly low. But if they could handle the height, they should've gone higher.
Still, if stealth was needed and no passenger was present this time, it might be worth testing.
"If that's the case, it would be safest to fly above visual range. Let's depart after dark. Please decide on the personnel by then, and we'll test the flight beforehand."
Fortunately, the skies were overcast. Once night fell, there'd be little moonlight. Their takeoff point would be well hidden.
"Understood. I'll see you tonight."
With a respectful bow, Al turned and exited the tent.
Notes:
• Nicholas - Guard captain of Parker's border city. Known for his proud mustache.
• Naresh - He was in the same class as Alfred, and he is the second son of Viscount Lester, who was to be Baron Sennett, at the middle school in the capital of Margrave Rain's domain.
• Brook - A subordinate of Viscount Eugene, in charge of the team collecting Henry's remains in the beginning of chapters. Described as having short silver hair, about 180 cm tall, and muscular. He is leading the operation at the villa and has been in contact with the carriage group, instructing them to return quickly. He is captured by Al and the others when Viscount's pawns attacked them.
• Cole - A magician serving Marquis Prentis, described as unhinged and around 40 years old. He is one of Eric's captors in the carriage and is involved in the operation to transport Eric and others.
• Channing Village - A small village located in the region governed by Viscount Parker and Baron Marlow. It is the home of Al's family and is currently under scrutiny due to the presence of adventurers seeking rewards.
• Riana - Female. An assistant device with vast knowledge of the Tempest Kingdom's past. Her appearance is not described in detail. Her relationship with Al is advisory. Her power and combat style are unspecified.
• Viscount Powell - The commander of the First Knight Order of the Tempest Kingdom, opposed to the Marquis Prentis family's usurpation of the throne.
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