Chapter 25

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Kid Hiding Immense Power Searches for Dad 122

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Inside the carriage emblazoned with the Lumen family crest.

Veil spoke as he gazed at the Holy Knights surrounding them.

"They really came to pick us up. That mighty Lumen family, for us..."

"I told you, didn't I?"

Enzo stepped forward, his face flushed with excitement.

"The Total Organization Chart isn't something just anyone can look at. It makes sense they'd hush us up and take us in quietly."

Curiosity flickered across Basto's face.

"Not something just anyone can look at?"

"Well, the Holy Knight Order's Total Organization Chart is exactly what it sounds like—a special document containing the faces and personal details of every Holy Knight across the entire continent. It's supposed to be kept at the Order's headquarters."

The Order's headquarters was a key institution located right inside the imperial palace.

In other words, it was the Holy Knight Order's high command—a place even the highest nobles couldn't just waltz into.

"Normally, that document is never allowed to leave headquarters. It has the profiles of everyone blessed by the Holy Kingdom. That's why I found it so strange from the start."

When they heard Tiye's story back at the armory district, the twins had been utterly shocked.

'Is that for real? The Grand Commander Lumen really said he'd let the Captain see the Total Organization Chart?'

'Yep! As long as Tiye spills her secrets!'

'No way, even if we were dying to know the Captain's identity...'

They simply couldn't believe that Valentis Lumen had made such a deal with Tiye, even breaking military law to do it.

Valentis was the Grand Commander who led the entire Order, after all.

That's why Enzo and Raoul had urged the entire mercenary corps at the time.

Just in case, it might be best to keep quiet about what they'd agreed to view at the Grand Commander's residence.

And now.

"Look."

At Enzo's gesture, the mercenaries peered out the carriage windows.

"Whoa, there are like ten horses out there!"

Sure enough, just as Tiye had said, more than ten Holy Knights were stationed outside.

The flags they held fluttered in the wind, blocking the view inside and out of the carriage.

"More like, how far have we come anyway?"

"Can't see much. Feels like we're still in Rosewbell territory..."

As the mercenaries crowded the windows to gauge their position,

"Give it up. Looks like they've put up a barrier."

The usually quiet Nordics spoke up.

He pointed at the empty air beyond the Holy Knights, where a faint, membrane-like film shimmered into view.

"A barrier made with holy power."

"A barrier? You mean the Division Commander..."

Tiye tilted her head at Raoul's words.

"Why Bird Poop Uncle?"

Raoul stared at Tiye.

"Why? Didn't he say it before he put us in the carriage? That he's Leonardo Lumen."

Veil nodded.

"Yeah, he did. Said he's the second young master of the Lumens, sent by the Grand Commander."

"Right. He's actually the current Central Division Commander in the capital. Speaks to his Lumen blood—awakened a pretty useful holy power at a young age."

Holy awakening.

It was a special power Holy Knights could awaken through long training or innate holy power once they reached a certain realm.

Like the Grand Commander Lumen's 'Saintly Vision Awakening'.

"Leonardo Lumen's awakened power is probably 'Sanctuary Manifestation'."

"Sanctuary Manifestation?"

"It envelops the surroundings in holy power to create a sanctuary, visually and audibly blocking the inside from the outside. Think of it like a barrier."

But for some reason, Raoul's expression grew grave.

"Of course, it's not a power you can use anytime. Casting Sanctuary Manifestation puts a burden on the user too. So... something feels a bit off."

Basto spoke up.

"...Yeah. We can't just take this invitation at face value."

Tiye looked utterly puzzled.

There were too many difficult words, and she couldn't quite follow.

Meanwhile, Veil glanced at Tiye before leaning toward Basto and Nordics.

"Why is the Grand Commander going this far to invite us?"

Truth be told, aside from Enzo's point, something else had been nagging at Veil.

"Have you ever seen nobles invite a bunch of rough mercenaries to their house? The more I think about it, the weirder it gets."

Basto and Nordics exchanged silent glances.

They knew it too.

How rare it was for a noble—especially a power noble residing in the capital—to call mercenaries into their home.

"The Emperor's the same. Doesn't the Lumen Duke family care about his gaze?"

It all stemmed from the Emperor's deep-seated disdain for mercenaries.

The Emperor had long viewed mercenaries as little more than stray dogs without pedigree.

But what of the Lumen Duke family?

The Emperor's favor toward the Lumens was immense.

He regarded Valentis and the entire duke family as his closest confidants, cherishing them dearly.

"From what I know, the Emperor even keeps tabs on the people close to the Lumen Duke family."

And yet, the Grand Commander was bringing an entire mercenary corps into his estate?

Then showing them a classified document like the Total Organization Chart?

"This is straight-up illegal. Even for the Grand Commander, wouldn't he get in trouble if caught?"

Veil muttered, his face full of suspicion.

"I get that the kid made a deal with the Grand Commander. I get trading her info for access to the chart. But still..."

"Enough. Let's just watch and see."

Nordics cut Veil off.

"At least the Lumen Duke family doesn't seem hostile toward us."

Veil shut his mouth, then reluctantly nodded.

As Nordics said, the Lumen Duke family appeared quite friendly toward Agaveert.

They'd sent the second young master personally to greet them, the carriage was comfortable, and the escort was polite without excess.

Basto chimed in.

"The old man's right. And this is without even a formal invitation—what a reception."

The invitation Tiye received was, strictly speaking, a verbal one.

To the Grand Commander, it was something he could cancel with a single notice anytime.

Yet he hadn't.

Instead, he'd chosen to secretly bring Agaveert in, risks and all.

"Ha... So, that day our kid was just too cute, and it made the Grand Commander's head spin?"

Veil asked seriously.

Basto nodded as if it made perfect sense.

"Honestly, that's the most likely explanation."

For the mercenaries who didn't know the exact details of what happened between the Grand Commander and Tiye that night in the armory district, it was frustratingly vague.

Meanwhile.

Inside another carriage trailing behind Agaveert's.

Leonardo sat alone, chin propped on his hand, staring out the window.

"...That kid was the Commander King, huh."

Recalling the face of the child he'd met once in front of the Compensation Bureau, a hollow laugh escaped him.

He hadn't expected to see that kid again.

Let alone in this manner.

Leonardo suddenly thought back to the previous night.

'I've invited someone to the estate.'

It had been during a rare family dinner with everyone gathered, when Valentis dropped the bombshell announcement.

'A mercenary corps will be visiting. I made a promise to them.'

The three sons had immediately set down their utensils.

Leonardo had even asked his not-so-close father, 'Have you lost your mind, by chance?'

The Emperor despised any private contact between his favored nobles and mercenaries.

And Valentis knew that better than anyone.

So the three sons couldn't believe it, even after hearing the full story.

Valentis's encounter with the Commander King in the armory district.

The deal they'd made, and learning the hidden background of the Commander King.

But the problem didn't end there.

'They possess an unauthorized sacred artifact. Didn't seem to know its activation conditions. Tried memory manipulation on me.'

At that point, even Edmund—the most open-minded of the three sons—had been stunned.

A mere mercenary possessing an unauthorized sacred artifact?

And Valentis had let it slide?

Even after that mercenary tried to manipulate your memory?

But Valentis remained utterly calm.

'Eh, no big deal. My memory's intact in the end.'

A sacred artifact doesn't work on someone with greater holy power than its inherent amount.

So it was only natural that Valentis, one of the continent's mightiest in holy power, emerged unscathed.

But,

'Does the Church know about this?'

To Leonardo's trembling question, Valentis replied,

'No. They don't.'

Then added,

'And I plan to keep it that way.'