REFDL 79

Criminals were dragged out one after another and tied together with ropes.

Kaelus directed the scene with a cold expression. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt.

He had gathered all of the family’s knights and headed out the moment he found the note on the white table.

Nitan had cautiously suggested that this might be a bit excessive. He warned that since it was the Founding Festival period, people might use such heavy-handed movements as an excuse to cause trouble.

Kaelus didn’t listen.

Kaelus thought it was a good thing he hadn’t listened.

Not long after the search began, he learned that Yuram and the children had been kidnapped by human traffickers.

From that point on, Nitan’s expression changed too.

“Those bastards…!”

Kaelus had realized just before the Monster Wave that an organization in the capital was kidnapping children and fair-faced commoners to sell them to territories where slavery was legal.

Back then, he wanted to wipe out those disgusting things. However, he had to hold back.

There were two reasons.

First, the core members of that organization were all in the territories, so getting rid of the low-level workers in the capital would’ve been useless.

Second, the Monster Wave was imminent.

‘The bosses seem to handle the deals directly, so their activity will be quiet until they return. I’ll leave them for now.’

He had concluded that he should handle the monsters that threatened the nation’s survival first.

But things turned out that way in Anax, and after returning, he was buried under a mountain of work. Naturally, the crackdown on the criminal organization was pushed back again.

However, he had planned to handle them as a top priority along with the vessel right after the Founding Festival, when the key figures were expected to return to the capital.

“…….”

The chance to capture them all at once was gone. For now, finding the kidnapped Yuram was the priority. He’d have to track and catch the organization’s core figures, who were likely on their way back to the capital.

Kaelus completely overturned the headquarters he had investigated beforehand.

Since he had left them alone despite knowing their location, the small fry couldn’t even put up a proper fight and were swept away once he decided to kill them.

Since they had just resumed activities to coincide with the bosses’ return, only Rotol’s group was captured. It was an ironic coincidence.

Furthermore, interesting information was revealed in abundance as they ransacked the interior.

“It was a planned crime?”

Kaelus mumbled incredulous.

The kidnappers had specifically targeted the three children. They even knew their personal details.

They had researched thoroughly, knowing the children were commoners and that their noble patron was insignificant, timid, and hated making a scene.

However, they didn’t know that the real backer was Duke Irelion’s house.

That was only natural. Nitan had handled that part himself. If he was going to get caught by such thugs, he should’ve quit the information manipulation business.

Anyway.

“There’s a spy in the Academy connected to a criminal organization,” Kaelus muttered as he flipped through the last page of the documents.

“……I’ll immediately find them.”

“Of course you should.”

Thump.

Kaelus handed the pile of documents to Nitan and asked again.

“What about Yuram?”

“…I’m sorry. We haven’t found him.”

Kaelus, who was watching the vermin being forced to their knees one by one, turned his head for the first time. His cold eyes scanned the half-destroyed base. A few knights rushed over and reported.

Kaelus drew a conclusion after combining the information.

“There’s a third party.”

“…….”

Someone had kidnapped the already kidnapped Yuram.

Was it a coincidence?

Or did someone who knew something seize the opportunity?

“……Where is the 4th Prince?”

“He left the imperial palace this morning to see the festival. The guards followed from a distance because he dismissed his escort, but they lost track of him before noon……”

A chill ran down his spine.

“Dismiss them all.”

Kaelus commanded.

Nitan hesitated for a moment before answering, “Yes.”

The people following the 4th Prince were all part of the imperial family. Kaelus didn’t have the authority to intervene in their treatment.

But he commanded it. They would be dismissed.

He put aside the thought of those who couldn’t even follow a single person and caused this disaster, despite not even facing a pack of monsters.

At this moment, Yuram was all that mattered.

There was no evidence and the possibility was low, but Kaelus’s instinct pointed in one direction.

The 4th Prince took Yuram.

‘If he did that while knowing something…’

No. That probably wasn’t it. But that made it even more annoying.

Kaelus remembered Valita during the birthday banquet.

Valita was indifferent at first, but after Yuram saved him from being crushed by a gargoyle statue, his gaze became more than persistent, it was obsessive. He didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding his greed.

‘I don’t think it could’ve been hidden even if he tried.’

Valita’s expression of emotion back then left a strong impression on Kaelus.

It was enough to make him think that he was glad Yuram didn’t have good feelings toward Denos because of the events in the Sea of Trees.

What he felt then was definitely a sense of crisis.

But now, that guy had taken Yuram in his human form.

“…….”

He’s a guy with instincts as good as mine.

Kaelus realized he had to fight not just Valita, but time itself.

‘I have to bring him back before he realizes.’

The judgment and the command happened almost simultaneously.

He left only a minimum number of personnel at the scene. He ordered everyone else to search for the 4th Prince.

Just then, the rescued children came out through the broken entrance. Led by knights, their faces had turned pale in that short time.

Rotol, who was at the front, was the first to notice Kaelus. She ran over, throwing off the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

“It-it’s my fault!”

“…….”

“I’m the one who said we should go out. I thought nothing would happen. I thought it would be… it would be fine…!”

There was no time to waste.

Kaelus ignored Rotol’s words and commanded the knights who led them.

“Take them to the mansion. Have a healer look at them.”

Then he joined the search for the 4th Prince. Rotol grabbed Kaelus.

Or rather, she tried to grab him.

Her hand missed. Her staggering body fell forward.

Kaelus didn’t even look back. Rotol grit her teeth and shouted.

“Please take me too!”

“…….”

“This happened because of me. I can’t just do nothing—”

“I thought you were smart for your age. It seems I misjudged.”

“…….”

“The price for recklessness isn’t just your own life. The worst case is exactly like this. You’re fine, but your companion pays the price instead.”

Rotol gasped. Mirim and Odan, who were beside her, froze.

“And now you want to make things even more complicated just to ease your own mind? Think. Aren’t you old enough for that? Doing nothing helps solve the situation. Do you plan to kill your companion, who’s in danger because of your mistake, by acting clumsily?”

“…….”

Rotol couldn’t even breathe properly now.

If she hadn’t panicked, she might’ve judged things rationally. But Rotol was shocked and flustered.

She woke up from being unconscious and found herself in a kidnapping situation. Only Mirim and Odan were beside her. Yuram was nowhere to be seen.

She thought the kidnappers might treat Yuram well because of his beauty. However, the situation was urgent, so even that was uncertain.

Rotol felt she had to take responsibility.

She couldn’t think of anything else.

Kaelus guessed as much. Even so, he spoke coldly.

“Be grateful you learned this without paying with anyone’s life. Go back to the mansion quietly.”

Knowing someone’s feelings didn’t mean he had to be considerate of them. He didn’t have the luxury for that.

“I-I want to look for him too!”

“…….”

Normally, he would’ve overlooked the foolish mistake of children. It wasn’t because he was generous, but because he didn’t care.

Since they were Yuram’s acquaintances, he might’ve even shown an unusual amount of generosity.

But right now, Kaelus was like tens of thousands of sharp, broken glass pieces.

He maintained a cold exterior, but he had already reached his limit.

The tension was ready to snap at any moment. And Rotol provided the trigger.

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

Kaelus asked with an even more emotionless face. Rotol flinched for a moment but eventually nodded.

“What about you two?”

“……I can’t let Rotol go alone,” Mirim answered.

Kaelus’s eyes moved to the last person. It was Odan, who was paler than anyone. Perhaps because of the kidnappers, his hair dye had faded, showing his original blond hair.

“I… will go too.”

And yet, he said he’d go. Kaelus’s reason, which was tougher than a bull’s tendon, snapped, but not entirely.

“Fine.”

The three had made a choice.

The responsibility for that choice belonged to them.

Kaelus had just said it. The price of recklessness might not be one’s own life. He had warned them.