Kwaaang!
Suddenly, a group of gentlemen burst through the door while I was napping on the couch. Even half awake, his words caught my attention.
«Riehen Schuitz is arrested on suspicion of collusion with Noark».
Collusion, huh?
It was probably just an excuse to arrest me. They probably planned to arrest me on any charge and use it as a starting point to launch a full-blown investigation. No matter how they saw it, there must have been a lot of suspicious things about me.
But they arrived sooner than I thought.
To be honest, I was mentally prepared for this to some extent. Going around with Erwen attracted attention, and I even ended up involved in a battle with Raven. I figured something like this could happen at any moment.
Clunk.
The knights occupied the room and surrounded me in an instant. They didn't seem to underestimate me at all. They kept their distance and pointed their swords at me, their eyes fixed on the target.
«Riehen Schuitz, drop the gun», the knight who appeared to be the commander ordered me.
While all this was happening, I took stock of the situation.
Now... What should I do from here?
First of all, I didn't see any magicians. That meant that everyone who came to arrest me was a gentleman. Considering the reputation the knights had in PVP, this could be interpreted as overstaffing, but it was good news for me. It meant that, if necessary, he could destroy them all and flee.
The problem is that the moment I did that, I couldn't stay in this city anymore...
This was an option he could only choose in the worst case scenario. More importantly, it would conflict with my ultimate goal of regaining the Bjorn Yandel name.
It was time to enter the den of the wolf.
Ultimately, to get my name back, I had no choice but to contact the palace. Of course, my anxiety would be significantly reduced if I had a way to find out his intentions beforehand, but it wasn't like I didn't know anything.
«... The palace already knows the identity of the GM».
The GM was the psychological pillar of all the players. According to the information Queen of Soul gave us, the palace knew the GM's identity. No, not only did they know, but they purposely controlled the flow of information so that it would not be revealed to the outside world. That meant that the palace did not kill evil spirits indiscriminately. Even in the worst case scenario, when I was discovered as Bjorn Yandel and an evil spirit, there was room for negotiation.
It's worth getting an idea of how much they know.
Once I finished deliberating, I immediately parted my lips. «Since you say there are charges against me, I will participate in the investigation, but let me inform my comrades before I leave».
The reason for this request was very simple. They must have already known that the comrade he was talking about was Erwen. If they refused, this situation could be interpreted in a more optimistic way. This would mean that they deliberately chose a time when Erwen was away, which was consistent with the presumption that they didn't know enough about me to want to question Erwen as well.
«If you mean Spirit of Blood, there is no need. You can see it if you come with us».
My mind momentarily went blank at the commander's words.
That? Had they taken Erwen too? And Amelia, who was with her? No, let's first check if he's telling the truth.
«What's your proof that Erwen is there?»
The commander answered my question without hesitation. «I swear by the royal family of Rafdonia».
Ha, that means he's not lying...
This was not good. Arrest Erwen, who was loved by the elves? That meant the palace had enough justification and motives to arrest us both.
Damn...
I wanted to resist arrest and run away right now, but I couldn't do it while Erwen was captured.
«I will say this one last time. Riehen Schuitz, drop your gun. Otherwise, your actions will be considered treason against the palace».
At the same time as the commander's ultimatum, I felt a high-density mana strong enough to be sensed even by a barbarian without magical talent gushing out of the mansion. So they had a wizard, after all. They were just waiting somewhere out of sight.
Damn bastards.
I lowered my hammer weakly.
Slide.
For now, there was no other option. The only thing he could do was remain on guard.
After lowering my hammer, things proceeded quickly. I placed the weapon in subspace as ordered and the knights came over to pick up my subspace ring.
«Items will be returned in perfect condition once the loads have been removed». The commander's demanding tone was now polite. In fact, the treatment I received was far from how a criminal would be treated. «A carriage has been prepared».
As soon as I left, surrounded by knights, a carriage was waiting for me. It was visibly different from those used to escort prisoners. Unlike a chariot with steel bars, it was the type of elaborate carriage that only a wealthy aristocrat would use.
«Go up. We will go to the royal capital, Karnon».
My only companion in the carriage was the commander. The rest of the knights were on horseback, flanking us like an escort. It was the kind of royal treatment I never received, not even when I was Baron Yandel.
Drag, swipe.
The carriage began to slide down the main road and I studied the commander sitting in front of me.
«Is there something that bothers you?»
Do you think there wouldn't be something?
I thought it was a ridiculous question, but it wouldn't be smart to have an attitude here. «What are my real positions?» I asked cautiously.
«As I said before-»
«Don't say collusion. If that were true, they wouldn't treat me like that».
The commander pursed his lips, worried, but I assumed he realized that I would only continue nagging him if he kept quiet. «There's not much I can tell you now».
«Still...»
«You'll know when we get to the royal capital».
The commander stood his ground and ended the conversation. In the end, I could only find out two things.
«What's going to happen to me now?»
«He will decide that».
First of all, someone of very high rank was waiting for me.
«Was there anyone else with Erwen when you took her?»
«From what I heard, I was alone.»
And second, Amelia's safety was not compromised.
Afterwards, we rode without much conversation. The carriage traveled along the main road and stopped after an hour. The District Seven military platform had teleportation circles that connected you to each district. It was originally a facility designed for the rapid transportation of troops during emergencies, but was now commonly used as a means of transportation for the nobility. For reference, this was my first time here. I was able to use it when I became a baronet, but it was ridiculously expensive.
It's interesting that this is how I can use it.
Without having to get out of the carriage, we entered the teleportation circle and soon arrived at the military platform of the royal capital.
This is not the royal palace.
The carriage that was transporting me instead entered a mansion located near the palace. Thanks to that, I was able to find out who had brought me here, since his family shield was right at the entrance to the estate: a shield with an oak tree of bamboo leaves drawn on it. It was the symbol of the Marquis of Tercerion, and it was safe to say that almost everyone in the city could recognize it. For decades, the king had been absent from the public scene. Marquis Tercerion, Prime Minister of Rafdonia, performed most official duties on his behalf.
Second in command of the kingdom, huh?
Since the commander carried the palace shield, he had thought that he would be a high-ranking member of the royal family.
But this is not bad. The person I will speak to is second only to the king in terms of power.
Even as I thought that, I became more and more tense. I felt like I had entered a lion's den. You could call this a high risk and return situation. If things went well, all my problems could be solved with just a brief exchange. But in exchange, he could just as easily end up falling into the pit.
«Can go down».
When I got out of the carriage, a crowd of knights stood before me, I accepted their warm hospitality and entered the building.
Rattle.
It was clear that a lot of money had been invested in the salon.
«...Where is Erwen?» I asked after taking a cursory look into space.
The commander had a conflicted expression on his face. «I lied saying I was here».
«...What did you just say?». Alarms started ringing in my head. He was sure that this son of a bitch had even sworn in on behalf of the royal family.
When I glanced at him, he looked away in a way that suggested he had had no choice. «It was necessary to bring you here as discreetly as possible».
«You won't get away with using the king's name if you get caught».
«Then I'll be fine as long as they don't catch me».
Have you ever met a gentleman so quickly? I praised him without thinking. «You would have been a better adventurer than a knight».
«I don't care if you're being sarcastic. I only chose to be practical to carry out my master's orders».
This guy is one of those who stands you up, huh? Damn...
In a way, I did it often too. You could say that using prejudice against barbarians to take false oaths and deceive my opponents was basically the same thing he had just done to me. Since it was a smart method, it was incredibly effective. Who would have thought that a knight would use the king's name to lie? And a knight who appeared to be a member of the Royal Guard, no less.
I decided not to get too carried away by the fact that I had been deceived. Who cared if Erwen hadn't been arrested? In fact, if I approached it any other way, it was positive. At least it meant Erwen was safe.
Plus, I had to go through this at some point.
The important thing was not the mistake he had already made, but what he was going to do next.
«Now what do I have to do? Wait again? Until that person you mentioned before arrives?»
«No need». The knight shook his head and placed a crystal ball on the table. Without even having to ask what it was, I quickly figured out what was going on. No wonder there were no guards in the room. He planned to talk to me through this thing from the beginning. «Then I'll leave you». The gentleman told me to activate the crystal ball and left the room.
Now he was alone in the living room. I quickly looked around to see if anyone was hiding nearby, noticed something strange, and pushed the rug aside.
Damn.
Under the carpet were drawn colorful geometric magic circles. I got goosebumps.
Was he planning to blow this whole place up if he tried to escape or get on his nerves?
Was it because he was the second in command of the kingdom? The firepower I was seeing here was no joke. It meant that this entire mansion was a gigantic execution device in itself.
...Let's light the crystal ball now.
Momentarily horrified by the other party's thoroughness, I pressed the button to activate the crystal ball.
Shaaaaaa!
Soon, the crystal ball lit up and projected the image of a person. It was a face he remembered: the prime minister of Rafdonia and a high aristocrat with the title of marquis, Ageni Lawton Tercerion. It was the same person who had hosted my investiture ceremony on behalf of the king in the past.
«How long», his deep voice greeted, and I stiffened a moment later.
How long?
As soon as I realized something was wrong, my heart started pounding.
Boom!
Was it just psychological warfare? How much did the marquis really know? I forced myself to swallow the questions that were bubbling in my throat. There was something I had to worry about before all that. Right now, what was the best answer you could give here? It didn't take me long to finish deliberating and take action.
«Is that you...?» I spoke politely, but cautiously, «Marquis Tercerion?» I judged that this would be the natural reaction of an adventurer who suddenly finds himself dragged here by a group of gentlemen in the middle of a nap.
«I'm sure you haven't forgotten my face yet... You're unusually intelligent, unlike the rest». The marquis laughed at my response and said: «Baronet Bjorn Yandel.»
It's been a long time since I heard my full name.