Episode 287: At the time when Burdel was meeting Ronian in the southern mountains, a group of people visited McRain Castle.
The group of about 30 people who cautiously entered through the side gate of the castle did not even hold a flag to identify themselves, but inside the Grand Pia, they naturally welcomed the guests as if they had already prepared.
“Special envoys from the three coalition countries have arrived.”
Logan’s eyes lit up at Dwayne’s words.
“Already? That’s fast. I think I’ve really made up my mind.”
“It looks like Ignis brought it himself. It looks like Tria’s envoy is keeping it in storage.”
“Okay. Let’s meet first.”
Logan smiled and tried to get up, but Dwayne caught him with a cautious look.
“Hey, by the way, Your Majesty.”
“hmm?”
“I understand that it is a job that requires secrecy. I even understand that Viktor volunteered to do ‘that job’. There is no one in our kingdom who would go against your majesty’s intentions, so if there is a sure way, you may as well not discuss it. “I think there is, but…”
“But?”
“If you are going to do something unreasonable, please consult with me before doing so. Not necessarily with me, but with someone close to you.”
Logan laughed at Dwayne’s anxious face.
“…What did Damian say?”
“It’s because I’m anxious! You’re making up that face again, aren’t you!”
“…No, it’s not?”
“Huh… Your Majesty? Your Majesty!”
Logan, who hurriedly left the room with an expression of distrust, was followed by Dwayne, who had an extremely anxious expression, sighing repeatedly.
* * *
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. My name is Richard Bleyer.”
The first person to bow as a representative of the three countries was the special envoy of the Kingdom of Tria. He looked like he was about forty or fifty years old, with neatly combed brown hair and blue eyes.
‘A top-class knight…’
As for Richard Bleier, Logan had also heard of him.
A knight called the right hand man of the King of Tria.
Considering that most of the people who came as envoys were civil servants, it was a very unusual case, but since the envoy was to confirm something that had already been decided, it was not incomprehensible that he would write a loyal article.
In addition, it would have had to be a transporter for special items.
As Logan’s eyes lit up as he looked at Richard, the other members of his group knelt in front of him one after another.
“I meet the ruler of McLane. I am Jordan Marlins, envoy of the Kingdom of Liberty.”
“Hello to the Sun of Macraine. This is Bred Farrell, Emissary of the Teronan.”
The envoys, who looked like bald middle-aged men and old scholars, did not look as spirited as Richard, but their eyes were alive. At least, it was the look in the eyes of those who were not ashamed of the life they lived.
“Thank you for your hard work in coming this far. For your sake, I have no intention of wasting time with pretense, so without further ado, please show me the signed treaty right away.”
The envoys could not help but be taken aback by Logan’s quick argument that ignored such straightforward diplomatic conventions.
However, Richard, a former knight who did not know such customs, quickly took out the documents he had prepared.
It was a document with flashing blue mana that could be seen even by someone who did not have extra senses like Logan.
“We have prepared a Mana Pledge according to international customs. There is no magic involved other than proving the identity of the person subject to the treaty, so you can check it.”
Although it was not subject to magical restrictions like a personal magic contract, it was an oath that even superhumans could not prevent magical evidence from being preserved as long as they directly agreed to it.
It was also the most important basis for establishing a secret treaty as it is now.
But Logan only skimmed the surface and passed the pledge to the side.
“Damian. Review carefully to see if there are any differences from what was promised. Also check the magic. How long will it take?”
“I think half a day will be enough.”
“Okay. Then let’s all meet here again in half a day. Atria’s special envoy has something to deliver to me, right?”
“…How can I keep your Majesty waiting? Please wait a moment.”
With a flattering comment that was uncharacteristic of a knight, Richard immediately bowed his head, and Logan returned the courtesy with a smile.
“great.”
As envoys from other countries looked at Logan and Richard alternately with curious eyes, it seemed like the story about Ignis had not leaked out yet.
“You guys go back and rest now. I will call you again as soon as I finish reviewing the documents.”
Logan left immediately without responding to the envoys’ curious gaze.
Approximately an hour later, Logan spoke alone with Richard Bleier at the same location.
In Richard Bleyer’s hands was an item that was truly eye-catching, and he had no idea how he had transported it without being seen.
A spear blade that is over 3m long and shines brightly as if light has been forged and held in place. Even the window sills next to it were all engulfed in a purple glow, making it awe-inspiring just to look at them.
“I thought that even the Emperor of the Empire would not allow me to act alone with this weapon… but it does not apply to His Majesty. Here is Ignis, a national treasure of our Kingdom of Tria.”
Contrary to what he said, the hand he held out with a bitter smile did not fall off easily.
“But that person over there…?”
Richard said, glancing behind Logan.
There was a grim-faced mage there, looking at Ignis as if he were possessed by something.
“He is a mage from our kingdom who was brought in to determine the authenticity of the artifact. He is one of the few close associates of mine, so you don’t have to worry about your secrets leaking out.”
“Oh yes. … but the eyes are a bit weird.”
Logan burst into laughter at Richard’s shaky voice. Even to him, Clayton had a really strange expression on his face.
That facial expression, which seemed both dazed and ecstatic, was something I had never seen before in the years I knew him.
After Logan cleared his throat a few times, Clayton came to his senses and carefully stepped forward.
“I am Clayton, the mage of McLane. I have received a title, but I have not yet decided on a last name. No, this is not important right now. Can I take a look at that Ignis?”
Richard looked at Clayton, who was half-talking gibberish, with a suspicious expression on his face, but as if there was nothing he could do, he held on to the pole and carefully held out the spear.
“Indeed… it’s amazing. How could something like this…”
Clayton’s hand caressing Ignis’s spear and his eyes became hazy again, so it seemed like there would be no problem in determining the authenticity just from his facial expression alone.
Meanwhile, Richard, who was still holding the end of the spear and looking at Clayton, looked like he was conflicted about whether to stab the spear or not, so Logan nodded with a bitter smile.
“It looks like it’s genuine.”
“of course.”
Richard, with a hardened complexion, continued to hesitate while answering Logan’s words and could hardly take his hand off Ignis.
It’s not that he couldn’t understand that feeling, and Logan didn’t bother to urge him.
“In honor of the Spear King, I heard that the knights of Tria almost all use spears as their personal weapons.”
“…That’s right.”
“Fortunately, there are very few knights in McLane who use spears, so I’m sure this won’t be noticeable to the outside world unless something special happens.”
“…Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
Only after hearing those words did Richard let go of the flash spear Ignis.
Ugh.
A legendary weapon that cries as if it knows its owner has changed.
Even after completely handing over the spear, Logan chuckled as he watched the mage caressing the spear with a dazed look on his face as if he was possessed.
‘Was the magic given here a flash of extinction of great magic? Clayton Ball. As I assured you, I hope that further progress will be made in artifact research.’
It was not for nothing that I received weapons that I would not use as collateral.
– If you can research class 6 artifacts, you can raise the level of mass-produced artifacts by one level.
In the first place, it started because I remembered Clayton’s complaints.
‘Is that enough?’
‘That’s enough.’
Logan smiled at Clayton’s intention conveyed through his eyes.
I said I would keep it out of the public eye, but I did not say I would not use it as a subject of research.
Logan hid his inner thoughts and declared with as solemn an expression as possible.
“I swear in the name of Logan McLane that this will be a guarantee of friendship between the two countries. Of course, I will also faithfully fulfill my promise to the King of Tria.”
Unless you stab me in the back first.
Richard, who had no talent for reading people’s minds, simply bowed his head with a stern expression.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Although he said hello, Richard Bleiler turned and looked at Ignis several times even before he left the room.
Even though he is not of Trian royal blood, the feeling of regret is clearly visible. Just by looking at it, it seemed like they knew the status of their progenitor, the Spear King Tria Cassel, in the Kingdom of Tria.
thud.
When Richard’s appearance finally disappeared with the sound of the door closing, Logan turned his head and looked at Clayton.
“Lord Clayton, how long does it take at least to achieve results? Even if things go wrong, I will wait for that period of time.”
“…I twisted the spiral-shaped classic mana pattern by mixing it with a complex structural formula. How is this…”
“…Lord Clayton?”
“I was wrong in predicting that materials would be the biggest problem. Then this…”
“Lord Clayton!!”
“Hmph! Ah yes! Your Majesty.”
Logan chuckled as he watched the mage come to his senses only after yelling.
“Take your research to the lab and do your best. How long will it take to achieve minimal results?”
“…I do not know.”
Logan’s expression hardened somewhat at the unexpected answer.
“But just having the opportunity to study this will allow me to interpret more from the research log. There are so many possibilities.”
“Research log?”
“Ah, that Crowne’s research journal.”
“Ah… have you been researching that yet? I think I received a report that it was a clue to researching the artifact?”
“…Same thing. I don’t know what organization this research journal was created by, but it covers all the numerous ways to imbue magic into objects.”
“It’s a group. Now that I think about it, I think I’ve said that before.”
“Yes. That is absolutely not material for individual research. No matter how genius you are, it is impossible considering the quantitative scope of the research.”
“Hmm… Well, I guess it’s good. I hope it will yield results.”
“I will do my best. Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting me an unreasonable request.”
“I just tried it once, but I didn’t know they would give it to me right away. It’s a bit uneasy.”
As Logan looked at Ignis, Ramon I’s face came to mind again.
What is he really thinking?
‘Just in case, we should prepare for the worst.’
Having made up his mind like that, Logan quickly sent away the mage who seemed anxious.
Then I immediately called Rick.
“Bring the emissaries of Liberty and Theronan.”
“Yes? But the envoys will see you in half a day…”
“I have something to tell you. All you have to do is tell them that it will be helpful to their plans.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Originally, this was what he wanted to say in the presence of all the envoys of the three kingdoms. However, Logan, who felt an inexplicable discomfort from Tria’s actions, left Richard out of the conversation for now.
Liberty and Teronan’s envoys, who encountered Logan again much earlier than scheduled, could not help but widen their eyes the moment they heard Logan’s proposal.
“…How about that?”
“Huh…”
“Of course…”
The two envoys looked at each other and swallowed their dry saliva with the same look.
