Supreme Magus

"Yeah, but... there is no way the money the Isharas extracted from the Distar Region is enough to cover the expenses for such a big lab and for an indefinite time. The project could take months for the Hydras to complete, and then the Ishara will need even longer to adapt it to their needs."

At those words, the King and Queen became pale as ghosts, and Brinja inwardly thanked the gods for being a mere marchioness.

"Winter comes for the entire Kingdom, and communications are cut off during the cold season in the vast majority of regions. I think it’s unlikely the Isharas came up with such a brilliant tactic just to infiltrate Distar."

"It would indeed be both foolish and dangerous." Sylpha swallowed hard. "They knew you live there and tried to steer clear of you."

"I wouldn’t exclude that they infiltrated Distar last, after tightening their grip on the rest of the Kingdom." Meron tormented his finely trimmed beard like a man who had just woken up from a nightmare and discovered that reality was much worse.

"We need to start parallel investigations in all the other regions, especially in the north!" The King slammed his fist against the armrest of his throne. "If the Isharas are the political plague they appear to be, we have only so much time to uproot their power base before it’s too late."

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty." Jirni’s hologram appeared on the opposite side of Brinja’s. "I’m already familiar with the Isharas’ methods and tactics. I had the opportunity to thoroughly examine the reports from Distar, and I know what to look for.

"For this reason, I’m volunteering as the lead Archon in the investigation and hereby request to be allowed to return to active duty. I have one condition, though."

"Name it, Archon Ernas." Sylpha said, using Jirni’s title to inform her that her offer had been accepted and her request granted.

"My youngest refuses to eat in my absence, and she’s already suffered while I was away for work." Jirni held her head straight. "I need to spend my lunch breaks at home to ensure my daughter is properly fed and grows healthy."

"That’s it?" Meron dismissed the issue with evident relief. "The Crown never expected you to travel across the Kingdom like a Warp Beast and conduct the investigation on your own, Archon Ernas.

"Your role will be to supervise the work of the other Constables and examine the reports of your fellow Archons to ensure they don’t miss anything. You will spend most of your time behind a desk, and perform field work only when the other Archons fail."

’Be still my heart.’ Jirni inwardly rolled her eyes. She hated being swamped with paperwork and reduced to a bureaucrat the most.

"We are glad to have you back, Archon Ernas." The Queen said. "The Crown will provide all the manpower and resources you might need. The Isharas started their coup months ago, whereas we kept losing battles we didn’t even know were being fought.

"We need to make up for the lost time and act swiftly. Most trails are already cold after so long, and after suffering today’s defeat, the Isharas will rush to cover their tracks.

"We can’t afford to give them the time to double-check their operations of the past few months and clean up any mistakes they might have made. They are going to be much more subtle from now on and careful not to leave anything that might trace back to them.

"When are you available to report for duty and lead the investigation, Archon Ernas?"

"Right now, if necessary." Jirni replied.

"It is." King Meron nodded. "What about Lord Ernas? Will he join you?"

"I will, Your Majesty." Orion rapped over his breastplate. "I’m also ready to resume my duties as General of the Army, Lord Commander of the Knight Guard, and field officer of the Knight Guard."

"Excellent." Sylpha said. "This will ease the burden on Lord Gunyin Ernas and put an end to the endless squabble about your prolonged leave of absence. Especially if the Ernas Region turns out to have been covertly overtaken by the Isharas as well."

"I’m sorry, Your Majesties, but what about Countess Lark?" Lith chimed in. "I believe she deserves some grace. If not for her, I would have never started the investigation, and we would all still be unaware of the Isharas’ scheme."

"If it’s your request, then we can extend some leniency to her, but punishment is unavoidable." The King replied. "With all due respect, Supreme Magus, being your friend is not a mitigating circumstance.

"Any noble you’ve befriended in the past would have done the same as Countess Lark, so there is no merit in that. Do you agree, Countess?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Keyla’s hologram appeared further away and even smaller than Brinja’s, making her seem weak and pitiful. "To be honest, I deserve a harsher punishment than my peers. I could have asked Magus Verhen’s help long ago, yet I didn’t.

"The other counts and countesses of Distar can at least say to their defence that they had no one trusted to call. If Magus Verhen hadn’t come to me and offered his help, I would never have told him about Ghishal’s struggle.

"If there’s someone who deserves a reward, it’s the man who informed Captain Locrias."

"We agree on that, but leniency will be extended to you anyway." The King swept the air with his hand to signal it wasn’t up for debate. "Magus Verhen asked for it, and the Crown will deliver.

"Moreover, we are glad you recognise your faults. It means you’ve learned from them. Now, back to you and your Sigil Demons, Magus Verhen. I want you to know the Crown will reward them with a part of our share of the spoils of war.

"Nothing they will receive will come out of your share."

"What do you mean, my share?" Lith swallowed hard, feeling a sudden pang in his wallet.

"Supreme Magus Lith Tiamat Verhen!" The Queen jumped from her throne.

Her furious gaze as she used Lith’s full name and title reminded him of Elina when she was about to give him the earful of a lifetime.

"You are one of the highest authorities of the Kingdom who has requested the Crown’s approval to conduct an official investigation aimed at uncovering a potential threat to the Distar region, are you not?" She asked, and he nodded for her to continue.

"Then, according to the Kingdom’s law, half of everything collected during the mission belongs to you and the other half to the Crown.

"You can’t expect the Kingdom to pay the bills of your hotels and restaurants, your many annuities, the security detail of your friends and family, and then expect us also to let you pocket anything valuable you find while working for us.

"You’ve already gotten yourself in trouble when you ’liberated’ the corpse of the Black Dragon Syrook. I expect you to deliver to us every speck of Adamant and Divine Beast corpse the Kingdom is due. Did I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Mom. I mean, Your Majesty." Lith sighed.

"Good." Meron nodded. "Magus Verhen, deliver all the evidence and the Kingdom’s share of the spoils of battle to Lutia’s branch of the Mage Association."

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