The hero, Fiona Spencer, was for the first time in a while, called by the king.
The turmoil of Briton and Scottyard is nearly over.
By repaying their large debt, Briton managed to survive.
The world judged so.
About this matter, Fiona didn't know anything.
There was nothing she could do.
As soon as she felt a sense of security, she was hurriedly called.
She knocked on the door of the king's office, waited for the signal, and entered inside.
"You called for me?"
Reflected in Fiona's eyes is an irritated Richard Ⅱ.
He was walking around the room.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yeah, but that's my problem."
In order to calm down, Richard Ⅱ took a deep breath.
"I am sorry I couldn't be of any help to you during the mess this time."
"You are a fighter. There were no places for fighters during the mess this time."
"So, what business do you have for me?"
When Fiona asked him again, Richard Ⅱ said:
"It's about the matter from the other day……"
"Which one?"
Fiona tilts her head.
"The one about this man."
What Richard Ⅱ showed her was a newspaper article.
On it is Ashtal.
"About this man……"
Fiona knits her eyebrows.
Richard Ⅱ felt a connection.
However, he didn't ask her about it.
"As it was a secret investigation, you didn't proceed much, but I'd like you to do a full-fledged investigation."
"This is becoming a repeat of the last discussion, but—-"
Richard Ⅱ interrupted Fiona's introduction.
"I know. I'm telling you this well aware of the risks."
"I understand. I'll perform a serious investigation."
Until this discussion today, Fiona had already mostly forgotten about this case.
As Fiona is also active within the academy, there are times when she sees Ashtal.
Currently, she can't see any problematic behavior.
On the contrary, he's saved the country on multiple occasions.
It's true that there's a problem with his ident.i.ty being unknown.
Still, she thought there wasn't a need to investigate until she offended the other party.
However, since she clearly received an order from the king, she has no choice.
While paying attention to the changes in the king's mental state, Fiona acknowledged her orders.
Vincent woke up in his room in the royal castle.
"Why am I here?"
Vincent wipes off his night sweat.
He put some of the water from the jug by his side into a cup, and drank it at once.
"However, I saw a bad dream. Even though Briton should be unable to prepare today's money……"
Then, when he got outside of his room, he realized.
Why is he in the Scottyard Castle, not in his mansion in Briton?
Then, he understood.
That what happened was not just a dream.
He quickly walked around the castle, and went looking for the officials that accompanied him.
Hearing what happened, he asked for Edgar's whereabouts, and learned he was in the king's office.
Thinking it was perfect timing, he left for the king's office.
"Father, I have something I need to discuss with you."
As soon as he knocked, Vincent entered the room without waiting for a reply.
Inside was the king of the Scottyard Kingdom, King George Ⅲ, and the hero Edgar.
There was also one more person.
They had a pitch black cloak that covered their whole body, even their head.
Their face was covered with a mask, and they didn't showed any parts of their body.
They were wearing gloves, so naturally you couldn't see their hands either.
However, the way those gloves bulged was unnatural.
It was obvious that what they were covering were not the hands of human.
"Who is this?"
Vincent asked, stunned by the man with the suspicious atmosphere.
Until just before, he was releasing his rage.
"My name is Neville. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Neville replied with a low, clunky voice.
"Neville-dono is cooperating with us for a certain plan."
George Ⅲ said only that.
Vincent didn't ask for any more.
He'll tell me if it's necessary. It's unnecessary, he won't.
George Ⅲ was a thorough person.
"Well then, I'll leave now."
Neville read the atmosphere, and retreated.
"What do you think of him?"
"He's not a human."
"Ah, I guess that's true."
"Since he's always suppressing his aura, we don't know what race he is."
Edgar humbly added that.
There are various monsters with intelligence.
However, Neville seemed to be different from them.
"His aura is suppressed, and his figure is hidden. He's too suspicious. Why are we forming friendly relations with something like that."
"Because he brings about many things."
George Ⅲ only answered like that.
There will be no further explanation.
Therefore, Vincent changed the subject.
"This is about the matter with Briton, but."
"I heard the report. I've put you through some trouble."
Although he said that, George Ⅲ's voice was cold.
Although it was a situation which far surpa.s.sed his imagination, he received a report that Vincent showed some disgraceful behavior, so it's only natural.
"We can't withdraw like this."
When the story switched to this topic, Vincent's rage was reignited.
"I understand. However, this scheme was a failure."
Even if they continued like this, nothing would come of it.
If they continued with this plan, it's possible to make their opponent suffer.
However, by the time they go through with it, Scottyard with have lost one effective hand.
They should worry about regaining their money, and think of shaking them again in 10, or 20 years.
Many thoughts revolved in George Ⅲ's head.
"Anyways, wait for a bit. Until we use our next hand."
Although he was told until the next hand, Vincent couldn't imagine it.
There's no way he was going to use military force.
Like this, he'd just have shamed himself, and it'd be over.
While grasping his hands into fists, Vincent left.
"Hurry up and get it over with!"
With an angry expression, Vincent walked through the corridor.
In order not to scare them, he avoided the maids' sight.
What is Vincent able to do?
However, he doesn't know Ashtal very well.
Does he have a weak point?
While thinking that, he suddenly remembered.
That in the first place, he disliked having his ident.i.ty investigated.
In that case, investigating it would be the greatest form of hara.s.sment.
Vincent ordered his servants, and transferred away.
Hamilton Fortress.
A fortress near the border between the Scottyard Kingdom and the Briton Kingdom.
In the southern part of the fortress, there is a wide plain.
Kan Punoo Plain.
The land of the final decisive battle of the 6th demonic calamity.
Hamilton Fortress is the strongest fortress that Scottyard has invested the most funds in.
It was applied with all and every kinds of defensive magic, and had become the last fortress of humanity.
It's a fortress with perfect preparations for fighting against demons and opponents who fly through the sky.
Many anti-air weapons, such as ballisters, and other huge weapons were arranged around the fortress.
Currently the Scottyard Kingdom's 3rd Knight Order is stationed here.
They were deployed in order to respond to the war with Fumeless from the other day.
After that, the situation progressed, and they waited in preparation for the riots in Briton.
"Vincent-denka. What are you doing in an unsightly place such as here?"
When he heard that Vincent was coming to visit the fortress, the 3rd Knight Order Leader Curtis hurriedly welcomed him.
He was a warrior with a fearless face in his 50s.
"There's something I want you do for me."
It was an investigation of Ashtal.
The organizations with investigative abilities that Vincent can move at present is only the 3rd Knight Order.
"Hou. The person who's become a hot topic?"
Curtis knew of the name.
Vincent taught Curtis all he knows about Ashtal.
It's doubtful whether his true ident.i.ty is human or not.
"He looks perfectly human. Why is that being doubted?"
"He normally never releases any ninki(jinki). I've seen him bring it out to battle once, but it was suspicious."
It's unnatural to not release ninki(jinki) usually.
It's possible he did some kind of trick at that time.
It's easier to think that.
"I see. But if he's not a human, then what is he?"
"Finding that out is part of the mission. His true objective is a mystery, but he's afraid of having his ident.i.ty revealed. Since that's the case, we just have to expose him.
"But, is that our mission?"
By all rights, this is something that the Special Intelligence Troops should do.
"The anti-Briton spies are getting reorganized right now."
"That's true……then I'll send out some people. By the way, does His Majesty know about this?"
To Curtis' question, Vincent's face color changes.
It was obvious that he was moving alone.
"Since the other day, I have command over the 3rd Knight Order."
This was from the war with Fumeless.
Since then, his command hasn't been released.
Although it's not wartime, George Ⅲ hasn't forgotten about this matter, and has been showing glimpses of neglecting the military.
"For now, follow my orders. It's just an investigation, it's not I'm starting a war by myself."
"Roger that."
When Curtis lowered his head, Vincent was satisfied, and left.
"Oh boy, Vincent-denka is really troublesome."
An old man came near Curtis while scratching his bald head.
"Adviser Renard."
It was an old, retired general.
After retirement, he worked as an adviser, and traveled together with the 3rd Knight Order.
"Well, what will you do Curtis?"
"Would you like to ask His Majesty, or just go along with it?"
"His Majesty the king makes light of warriors. We're never given much information, and we're always just waiting for orders."
If their power is neglected, the warriors will build up dissatisfaction.
"That was something necessary to prepare for the riots in Briton."
"This fortress is the best fortress in the world, built to fight against demons. It won't fall to humans."
Renard has a distant gaze.
He seemed to be remembering the 6th demonic calamity.
Curtis knew that the person in front of his eyes was a survivor of the 6th demonic calamity.
"At that time, I was nothing but a commanding officer. I only became a general because I survived. Since it was peaceful after that, the fact that I don't have any ability was able to pa.s.s unnoticed."
Renard laughed casually.
The two of them look out the window.
In front of them was the Kan Punoo Plain.
Over there was a huge crater.
It was said to be the aftermath of a magic that the great magician Serena used during the 6th demonic calamity.
While looking at that, Curtis came to a decision.
"We should buy a favor from Vincent-denka here. His Majesty won't get angry just from an investigation."
What kind of results would come from this decision, they didn't yet know.