Chapter 184 – In Those Eyes

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“Ms. Leticia and Mr. Gawain were caught…?”

I paused when I heard Luke’s words.

They were my kind superiors, who always talked to me and treated me as if I was no different from them, in spite of being a commoner.

This was all so unexpected, and so everything seemed to turn dark in front of me, and I was speechless.

“They are only under suspicion. It will be fine. I doubt they would leave any evidence.”

Said Luke.

“And so they’ll be released. The high court must know that. And yet there was some reason that they had to act anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone is pulling the string. One of the great houses…”
“Albarn or Eniagram…”

Two of the three great houses were now our enemies.

We were in a more dangerous position than I had realized.

The enemy’s aim was to hold Ms. Leticia and Mr. Gawain, and keep them from acting.

Also, it would help to ruin the reputation of the Royal Magicians Order. At least, that was what Luke speculated.

The court of inquiry was held a few days later.

The incident had caused an uproar among the nobles.

“I did not realize the order was filled with such fools.”
“This is an age of peace. The Royal Magicians Order should be reduced in scale.”
“Do they not understand how this makes us look?”

The Minister of Finance, Furier Eniagram was at the center of the attacks.”

As Prime Minister Graham Albarn watched, the loyal nobles continued with their rigorous questioning.

And their anger was soon directed at the newly formed 7th unit as well.

Luke and I were called out and accused.

“Their existence is hardly justified.”
“The captain and vice-captain are much too young.”
“A mere commoner like her, giving orders? Preposterous! Think of the great shame the others must feel around her.”

(I’m the one who is being tormented here…)

But I swallowed back any urges to lash out.

They were provoking me. They wanted me to lose my cool. Trigger my rage and hope that I will say too much. They would trap and knock me down.

(I must hold back for now. In the end, we will prove that they are wrong.)

Still, the arguments escalated until they were questioning the need for the Royal Magicians Order to exist.

“We already have the Royal Knights Order and the Kingsguard. Perhaps we should consider the dissolution of the magicians.”
“It is a waste of taxes. They should feel ashamed of themselves.”
“You are a blight on this country. We don’t need you anymore.”

There was strong hostility in their words.

In order to realize their goals, they had to weaken the order.

(There must be something to it. Something related to what Luke is pursuing.)

After the inquiry, I spoke to Luke in the captain’s office.

“What should we do?”
“Meaning?”
“They were preparing all of this time, weren’t they? They must be afraid of something in order to resort to such forceful tactics. There must be something that can change this situation around.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because I have known you for a long time.”

I stared at Luke.

“Did you think that I wouldn’t notice?”
“No, I had a feeling that you would.”
“Then you should have told me from the beginning.”

I let out a deep sigh.

“Tell me. Your plan. And I will help you.”
“Thank you. I was thinking about relying on you more from now on.”

And so Luke told me about what he had been doing before the 7th unit started, and what he knew.

“The goblin emperor. The dragon. Twilight. The sealed city and even the incident with Count Wilhelm. Someone was behind it all…”
“It’s true. They have infiltrated deep into the kingdom, and are connected with the other two great houses.”

It was hard to believe, but it also explained some things.

“So that is why the nobles are attacking the Royal Magicians Order.”
“Compared to the Kingsguard and Royal Knights, the magicians have more power as individuals. Especially captains and vice-captains. But even lower-ranking magicians can have power too.”
“Are the other organizations really so different?”
“They are made so that they can accomplish tasks as a group. Leadership is everything, and so low-ranking members have little say in what happens. And so they are easier to control. As long as the nobles have a few members under their thumb, they can control the entire group.”
“While the Royal Magicians Order cannot be stopped so easily.”
“Yes.”

Luke looked out of the window.

“They must have seen us as a hindrance for some time now. But things have gotten worse with the tax exemption issue, and their opposition with the royal family. And so they are trying to find a weakness in order to dismantle us.”
“How dare they…”

The very idea that they were trying to ruin people who had worked so hard. Everything they had done, from uncovering misdeed and connections with crime organizations and dealing with nobles. It had been necessary for the country’s improvement.

(I shall expose them, and knock them off of their feet for this.)

I thought with determination. And then Luke said,

“Ms. Leticia concealed her investigation records in her office, in case something like this happened.”
“But wasn’t the office searched by investigators after she was taken?”
“Indeed. They would have taken away most of the documents there.”
“Then the records…”
“Are gone.”

Luke said calmly.

“Because I was there a few minutes before then.”
“You’re always ahead of everyone, aren’t you?”
“Barely. I probably would have been caught if Christ didn’t buy me more time.”
“Captain Chris helped you?”
“He’s been friends with Ms. Leticia and Mr. Gawain since their student days.”

Upon learning that they were in trouble, he had offered to help.

“It is impressive stuff. Information about this Order of the Dragon. And more about house Albarn and Eniagram.”

Luke took out a notebook from his pocket.

“Two nights from now. In an abandoned corner in the center of district 19. Albarn and Eniagram will send funds over to the order.”
“At the same time?”
“Apparently, they are worried about treachery.”
“I see. The other house could report them right after the transaction.”
“But it’s convenient for us. Though, it also means that security will be even tighter.”
“So it will be difficult to go in and secure the evidence.”
“It would be a deadly blow to Albarn and Eniagram. And so they will be extra cautious.”
“Then we must also prepare as much as possible.”

However, we then had a difference in opinions when it came to choosing personnel.

“The 7th unit is not enough. We should ask the others for help.”
“No. The enemy has infiltrated deep into the palace. And so they will be monitoring the others. The smallest suspicion could cause them to call the whole thing off. I know, because I’ve been chasing them for so long. They would be that careful. It is why they have been able to escape me, Ms. Leticia and even Prince Michael’s networks.”
“But it is too big a burden for the new recruits. They do not have the experience.”
“We only need information leading to the enemy, and proof of the transaction. It will not require combat. That is something I think we should avoid.”
“Still, it is the captain’s role to secure their safety if the enemy gets close. But you’re going to send them to a place where they might die if they have to fight. Do you really understand what this means?”
“I do. But that is what our job is.”
“If they die, will you be able to say the same thing to the families they leave behind?”

I glared at Luke.

“If we miss this chance, even more innocent people will be harmed.”

Luke did not look away.

“I understand the need to ensure our safety. I don’t want them to be in danger either. I don’t even want to send you there. I wish I could do it all by myself.”

He sighed and continued.

“For so long, I tried to think of other options. But it won’t work. I needed your help.”
“Not that. Never that.”

I said frantically.

Knowing him for a long time, I could tell that he really would have considered that option.
He hated to rely on others. And it would have been like him to go alone, putting himself in danger.
And I had to stop that.

“I will help you. Leave it to me.”
“But I can’t ensure your safety if it’s just us.”
“But you’ll still be with me, Luke. It will be fine. I’m tough.”
“It won’t be fine.”
“Trust me. Hardly anyone will care if I am hurt. And if you say that we must expose them in order to save others, then I can put my life on the line. I am ready to fight, just like you.”
“No. You aren’t. Your resolve isn’t the same as mine.”
“It is. If you’re going to run into danger, then I will follow you. Because we are buddies…”
“You don’t know anything.”
“What don’t I know! The fact is that you don’t value your own life enough. You drive yourself too hard the moment I look away. You carry everything on your own back. You have to take better care of yourself. A promotion isn’t worth all of that. Your life is more important. Think of the people you’ll leave behind…”
“Like I said, you don’t understand anything.”

There was a hint of anger in Luke’s voice now.

The sapphire blue eyes glared back at me.

“I don’t care about the promotion. It’s you. If you are here, then I don’t need anything else. I would risk my life for you. I know, you never asked for it. Perhaps I’m being selfish. But I don’t know any other way to live. I have nothing else. Nothing more important than you.”
“What are you saying…”
“But you don’t take care of yourself either. Deep down, you still feel that you aren’t worth much. I know. But there are people who don’t want to lose you either. People who you mean the world to.”

Luke said.

“I will protect you no matter what. We’ll plan with the rest of the unit.”

He said with finality.

And then he left the room.

I remained there, with nothing but the silence.

Next Chapter

Expelled From a Black Magic Item Craftsman Guild I Was Picked up as a Royal Magician