Chapter 162: The Jester

I returned to Lynas carrying the reply. Honestly, I’d like to charge express delivery fees for this job.

I landed before the entrance to Count Arkwright’s mansion and headed straight for his office without waiting for Eugen.

The knights guarding the office immediately recognized my face and opened the door without hesitation after a quick knock.

I was beginning to feel that I had been acting far too freely since the arrests began. Still, unless I let Count Arkwright take the lead while I remained in the background, I would never be able to manage this.

“Your Excellency, I have returned. This is a reply from Chancellor Brighton.”

“Thank you. And what did the Chancellor say?”

“Count Arkwright, this incident occurred within your territory. One mistake could cost you your rank—or even your title. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate your ability as a ruler by eliminating the disorder within your territory. Their influence has already spread beyond Lynas.”

“Yes… Even with their confessions about outside connections, verifying every detail has been difficult.”

“Chancellor Brighton will coordinate with His Majesty, but everything depends on the results of your interrogations. Other lords will also move against the connected groups. If you handle this properly, His Majesty can purge corruption from the kingdom, the participating lords can recover confiscated assets, and your own reputation will rise.”

“I see… As expected of Leon-dono. If you hadn’t informed us, they would have continued unchecked. I’ll ensure the interrogation is flawless.”

Yes, exactly. Otherwise my family could end up being targeted.

Work hard, Your Excellency. If you do well, you’ll earn gratitude from the crown and other nobles, and your reputation will rise.

As for me—I’ll just remain a humble postal worker.

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I slipped out of the mansion, flew beyond the west gate, and headed toward the barrier Gale had created.

“Hey, I brought food. How are things?”

“Leon-san, is it true there’s a plague outbreak in the city?”

“Are Scott and Mintz safe?”

“It’s a secret, but actually there’s been an arrest operation, and the city is sealed off. People inside can’t work, so the lord is providing compensation.”

“An arrest operation?”

“Yeah. I can’t say more. You’ll have to ask Scott and Mintz after the seal is lifted.”

“But if you’re going in and out, doesn’t that mean you’ve got some official role?”

“Oh? Sharp as always, Steve. But I can’t say anything. It’s safer not to get involved in noble affairs.”

“Fair enough.”

“We’re just lowly adventurers anyway… but we’re bored.”

“Our magic bags can’t store loot or herbs for long.”

“I’ll bring you food. Just train in the meantime.”

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Carrying Count Arkwright’s interrogation transcripts and reports, I flew to the royal capital, Leclerc, seven times.

This time, I was kept waiting for a long while in Chancellor Brighton’s office. I apparently dozed off, and the chancellor woke me.

“Leon-dono, His Majesty the King wishes to request something from you. Would you be willing to meet him?”

“Huh… the King… wants to meet me?”

“Due to this incident, we need to move against multiple connected parties simultaneously. And before the nobles involved can destroy evidence, we must move quickly. We would like your assistance.”

Even if we capture suspects, dealing with nobles is different. If we hesitate, they’ll destroy the evidence—living witnesses included.

“I understand. I’ll hear the request first before deciding whether to accept.”

“Thank you. His Majesty has also stated that since you aren’t his subject, you aren’t required to kneel.”

Well, that’s a considerate king.

Following Chancellor Brighton, I was led through heavily reinforced, overly ornate doors guarded by knights who scrutinized me.

At one royal-emblem door, a guard announced, “Chancellor Brighton and his guest,” which nearly made me stumble.

Inside was a refined chamber, where a middle-aged man stood waiting. Knights stood rigidly along the walls.

“Your Majesty, I’ve brought Leon-dono, the adventurer. Leon-dono, this is His Majesty King Wilfred Sutherland.”

“Leon, thank you for coming. Please, sit.”

He didn’t seem like the sort to rely solely on authority—but behind him stood Feiveli, the same man who had accompanied Duke Barland. So he really was connected to the royal family.

I bowed lightly and sat on the sofa. A female attendant brought tea, then withdrew.

“Thanks to your actions, we have gained a rare opportunity to purge corruption from the kingdom. However, some of those involved may flee. Merchants can be handled by the local lords, but nobles and members of their households are also implicated. We would like you to help apprehend them. As before, we have prepared 20,000,000 dara for the courier work, plus 100,000,000 dara for each noble household involved.”

“Your Majesty… rather than the payment, could you explain how you intend to capture nobles?”

“Ah… yes.”

He’s doing it on purpose, this old man.

“If we left everything to you, you might destroy the entire estate,” he said. “Feiveli, explain the operation.”

A knight stepped forward.

“If a target resists arrest, we’ll ask for Leon-dono’s assistance. Fundamentally, however, this is a formal herald operation.”

“Advance notice?”

“First, written orders specifying the charges, arrest targets, and date of enforcement will be delivered to the regional lords. Royal Knights will be positioned near each location in advance, and on the appointed day they’ll enter openly in uniform.”

“So I go first as a messenger?”

“Yes. You’ll go ahead as the royal herald, carrying the royal banner, and inform each noble house that the crown’s forces are coming.”

“And they’ll just comply?”

“You’ll carry the royal banner entrusted to you before. If anyone attacks the crown’s herald, you may retaliate without fear of punishment.”

So it’s a trap. If they comply, they’re gathered neatly. If they resist, they’re traitors.

Since Lynas is sealed, word hasn’t spread yet—but it soon will. They want to finish this before that happens.

In other words… they’ve already prepared everything assuming I’d accept.

It felt like I was dancing in the palm of their hand.

But if I refused, dangerous people would remain free—and my family could be put at risk.

That would be the worst outcome.

“…Very well. You already have the preparations ready, I assume?”

“Of course. Begin with the nearest regional lords and administrative residences, then proceed to the noble estates. Your herald’s attire will be ready in two days.”

Two days later, I received the royal banner and the herald’s uniform.

Pure white garments with black trim, a crimson-lined cape, a black leather sword belt, and a black short sword decorated with jewels.

On the chest and back of the cape, the royal crest was embroidered: a flaming ring crossed by spears, and a crimson roaring wolf.

Then came the hat.

A cylindrical black fur hat, about thirteen or fourteen centimeters tall, with a massive royal crest on the front.

I stared at my reflection and felt my face go red.

“…Is this really what a royal envoy wears?”

“It suits a handsome young man,” the tailor said with satisfaction.

Behind him, His Majesty and Feiveli were laughing.

“Is this truly official envoy attire?”

“It’s the attire of a royal advance messenger. It must carry dignity.”

“…You’re smiling too much for that explanation.”

Because I couldn’t announce my arrival beforehand, I was to travel in that outfit, carrying the royal banner, and descend directly at each lord’s mansion.

I was to deliver the documents and do nothing more.

At least, that was what I had been told.

And somehow… I already had a very bad feeling about it.