BXBX NOVEL Chapter 457 Jumping To The Pit Of Danger
"We do not know what to expect from this information, Kayden…" Leon worriedly replied.
For him, it is good for his friend to pursue the truth behind his parents' disappearance. But it is also important that Kayden would not be hurt by disappointments.
"I know…" Kayden smiled bitterly and sighed.
After a little more talk, the men decided to set the matter for tomorrow.
For now, they will face the warmth nurtured in the little cottage before braving through the matters of the past and the future.
–
Another busy morning came to the people living in the cottage.
While it was already a routine for Eli and the bunch to report in the palace first thing in the morning, this time they were summoned by the Emperor himself.
They were back yet again in the secured conference room, with all the key members of the Temple and the Committee.
While the room was tense, serious and quiet, the people inside already had a hunch of what could the Emperor possibly say for summoning them like this.
And so they waited for his announcement, anticipating another intense session of discussion and brainstorming about how they would handle the situation.
"I have gathered you here yet again, my most trusted and esteemed members of the council, for a reason all of you might have already guessed." Emperor Valentin finally opened the meeting with his address.
"The Pope's side had already sent me a preliminary communication letter explaining everything from their end and how he plans to continue the matter about investigating the curse users held captive in our Court of Sinners.
He has informed us that the proxy envoy that would facilitate the investigations would be none other than the Crown Prince of the Vanderford Empire, Ranon." He announced it to everyone.
"It's just as expected, for he might be the only one with ample status and rank amongst all the other officials that visited our Empire for the tournament." Grandmaster Andi commented.
"Did they already inform you what kind of duties he has to assume? Are they still within the reasonable range?" Grandmaster Reuben asked.
"He only nominally assigned the Crown Prince to represent him in transporting the criminals back to the holy island. The Pope surely knew where to stand without raising suspicion. He did not insist for us to treat the crown prince more than what his rank would entail but only emphasized that he would only be there to carry out a favor for him." Emperor Valentin replied.
"However, they still insist on taking out the prisoners outside the Empire." Leon raised his concern, "I think that they were still aiming for two things, to retrieve their people and lure us out of the Empire." He continued.
"That is why I called you here. After the formalizations on the holy island and the Vanderford Family were done in about two weeks' time, we will have no choice but to accommodate the Crown Prince.
According to the tentative agreement, the initial discussions and investigations would start right after his introduction and they planned to move with the transport immediately." Emperor Valentin explained.
The people in the room could not help but frown, while the enemy acted almost according to what they had imagined in the past, they were feeling something was wrong with the situation.
"Shall we impose some rules about the interaction of the Crown Prince and the prisoners then?" Mishael was one of the people who felt apprehensive about the fact that someone like the Crown Prince would transport the people captive.
"We can do that, however, I am more concerned about who will be part of the transport party to the holy island?"
A long round of discussion started with everyone in the group shooting up different views and ideas about the matter.
While it might be safe to send the strongest men to accompany the Crown Prince in the transport of the criminals, they never know if there would be an attack on those who were left behind.
They could neither send the strongest party nor leave them behind. Instead, they had to think it through and strike a balance.
Along the discussion, Eli and Kayden's names were also mentioned, however, it was quickly decided that they do not join the transport party because of the possibility that Eli might reveal her true identity as a paladin.
Following this, all who knew about her being the Paladin were tacitly disqualified, because this is to factor in the possibility that the Pope would fish information about her through the reading of minds.
The only person who could defend against that power is Leon who was strong enough to resist the power. While it seemed to be the most rational choice, Eli could not help but feel uneasy.
Especially when she knew that some girl wanted her future husband's genes!
But because there were people around who did not know of her origins and true abilities, she could only communicate her grievances through her eyes.
To which Emperor Valentin, the Grand Masters, Leon, and the rest of Eli's adoptive brothers understood.
Emperor Valentin flashed a helpless smile and awkwardly looked at Eli, then after letting the people calm down he said, "Do not worry about not having enough people to accompany us. I have already coordinated with the officials of the Green Wave Continent, and they also support us in the investigation of the curse users.
With them in the picture, even the Pope would have to think twice about making some sneaky moves. Because this time he will realize that many eyes were on him."
This statement made the people in the room calm down. If the third strongest Empires would join them in counterbalancing the obvious teaming up of the holy island and the Vandeford, it will be less difficult for Seirende Empire to hold their ground.
In the end, Leon was chosen to lead the transport party along with Anderson and Siegfried. They will be accompanied by the prestigious Imperial Sky Knights and the Temple Knights who were not privy to the information about Eli.
As for Mishael being the captain of the knights, he shrugged and only said that he will come up with a random reason why he will not be able to accompany his knights.
After all, is settled, the Emperor dismissed them and informed them that he will now coordinate with the Green Wave institute for the people they will send to watch over the entire transport.
Eli, Leon, and Kayden allowed those who were unaware of the true matters of the Asani to leave for a moment, before telling the Emperor that they had something to say.
The people left behind were only the Grandmasters, High Priest Enoch, and Governor Fidel. While initially, Governor Fidel was not involved in this matter, he had to be the only person in the room who knew about the Portia Valley well, because it lies on the farthest ends of the Northern Borders which is his domain.
Eli then explained to them what she managed to get through the Leprechaun's words. She expected that the elders might suspect the information given by the Elder Leprechaun but to her surprise, upon hearing that this came from the eccentric guardian of the library, they all just nodded and allowed her to continue.
It seems like the Elder Leprechaun's identity is far more mysterious than they imagined!
In the end, Kayden and Eli expressed their desire to go to the Portia Valley and look for more evidence. The risk was that they now know what awaits them should they manage to enter that unknown place and also could not guarantee that they could come back safely.
Hearing the information, Governor Fidel lowered his gaze into deep contemplation.
There was a trace of sadness and guilt in his eyes, something that was so subtle that only the elder generation in the room caught sight of it.
"As far as I know, we have already explored the entire vicinity of the Asani village, but we did not also see something peculiar about it. But if you insist, you can also check it as it was written in the Elder's book…" Governor Fidel commented.
"But are you sure you wanted to go there even if the journey would be fruitless?" He asked Eli and Kayden once again.
Kayden nodded with determination. At this point, nothing can stop him from going, not even a possibility of a great breakthrough coming in his current research studies.
As for Eli, she looked at Leon once more.
The two of them had already talked about it last night, and even almost quarreled.
Unfortunately, it seems like both of them must be in a place where they had to separate. Places that would surely be ridden in danger, where the two of them need to face separately alone.
Leon had a helpless look on his face, but then after a heavy sigh, he looked at Eli and nodded.
Bottling up the uneasiness in their hearts Eli and Leon accepted their roles today.
Leon and her will both jump into the cliff of danger, and they could do nothing but confront it with all their might!