Chapter 80: Royal Favoritism and a Multi-Guide’s Secret

“The new matching tester developed by Moore Corp has arrived at the Antares Unit,” King Genoa murmured slowly, receiving the report. Devon interjected.

“While it is equipment for military units, it differs from the devices we’ve used until now. Shouldn’t the Center verify it once?”

Herace, who had been delivering the report, retorted coolly.

“So, are you suggesting that equipment primarily used by the military, even if also utilized by the Center, should only be verified and used by the military?”

“At the very least, we are using identical products. However, I’ve heard this new matching tester has a different appearance altogether.”

“Equipment developed by the Center would also vary depending on its specific needs.”

The King, observing their exchange, curled the corners of his lips as he watched Devon, who could no longer respond to Herace’s words.

“He couldn’t even break even.”

“…Your Majesty.”

Devon’s expression, which had momentarily stiffened at the King’s overt insult, quickly recovered. The King’s stance was becoming increasingly clear. Though he appeared to treat both equally, without discrimination, as the time approached for him to effectively hand over the throne due to his illness, he was overtly favoring Herace.

While his actions weren’t precisely ‘favoritism,’ it was exasperating to witness the scales subtly tipping whenever the three of them were together.

Fortunately, he never revealed his true intentions in public or in the presence of other nobles. However, this also implied that the King’s own heart, unswayed by others’ opinions, was purely with Herace, a fact he only allowed to surface when the three were alone, seemingly to grant Herace a psychological advantage.

“…The autonomous region lords have arrived in the capital quite early this year.”

At Genoa’s remark, both Devon and Herace flinched. Garnering the support of the autonomous region lords, who wielded more power than central nobles depending on their territories, had been a long-standing effort.

Many had already declared their allegiance, revealing who supported Devon Green and who supported Herace. Yet, some still claimed neutrality, carefully weighing the benefits they might gain.

“…Isn’t it for the tax rate adjustment and the official end of the territorial war, which will proceed right after the festival?”

Genoa let out a hearty laugh at Herace’s textbook answer.

“Riga, Veliki, Zaisler. The crucial question is which one gets the high-purity Ekaneum vein.”

“Zaisler already has…”

Devon, who had hastily begun to speak, cut himself short, realizing his mistake. The King’s sharp gaze pierced him, but Devon’s expression was now completely composed, revealing nothing further.

“Zaisler may have occupied half of it, but that land belongs to Veliki.”

The King even knew that Veliki had assisted Zaisler in an attempt to acquire Riga’s vein, all to secure rights to the vein that stretched across their own land. Devon’s lips subtly twisted, as he had been discreetly supporting Zaisler to expand his own influence.

‘Hah. You shouldn’t be acting this way.’

****

There was a reason for renting such a large hall with high ceilings and excellent natural light. When the intricate topiary of the Spring Goddess, specifically her upper body, was placed in the center, the previously empty hall suddenly felt complete.

The goddess statue, which had already begun to sprout in many places, was expected to be entirely covered in soft green grass, clover, and small wildflowers by the time the festival commenced.

“Since it’s a wreath to be placed on that enormous head, it would be better to use large-petaled flowers as the primary bloom.”

Ethan selected several rough designs for wreaths, presented by the empire’s largest flower distributors, featuring peonies or tulips as the main flowers. The official in charge grinned as he sent the chosen designs to the relevant department.

“Lord Ethan, you will also be wearing the same type of wreath yourself.”

Ethan jumped in surprise.

“No, you never said I’d have to wear a wreath too!”

“I suspected that if you knew, you’d choose one adorned only with tiny wildflowers, barely noticeable as flowers at all.”

Kyle and Maxon suppressed their burgeoning laughter at the official’s smug smile, which clearly implied he had Ethan’s personality completely figured out. It seemed the official, who had often been swayed by Ethan’s eloquent rhetoric whenever decisions needed to be made, had finally come to his senses. He had successfully ensured that the wreath—the most crucial element of Ethan’s role as the ‘Flower of the Empire’ during the event, a role Ethan detested—would be a proper, ‘wreath-like wreath’ for the occasion.

“Since you insisted on a plain ivory outfit for the ceremony, shouldn’t you compromise on this much, Ethan?”

“Didn’t we also remove almost all the decorations?”

As if Maxon and Kyle had voiced his own thoughts, the official nodded in deep agreement.

“The Protocol Department has been quite eager. After lunch, please visit them to hear about the parts of the ceremony you’ll be conducting, Lord Ethan. We also need to schedule a rehearsal date, considering your schedule.”

Ethan, having been detained by the official for a considerable time, exited the hall with a weary expression.

“Cheer up. At least you don’t have to come on the day of the matching test.”

“How comforting.”

Ethan, gloomily mumbling at Kyle’s less-than-comforting words, stepped onto the moving walkway heading towards the restaurant district and pulled out his tablet. He entered Scott’s number, which he had dialed countless times, and pressed connect, yet still, the other person’s voice remained unheard.

“…Ethan, what do you want to eat? The palace restaurants are delicious, no matter what you choose.”

As Ethan’s mood sank, Maxon’s bright voice was heard, attempting to divert his attention.

“Indeed. Those who work here must be fortunate to enjoy such excellent quality food every day.”

Seeing Kyle also chime in, Ethan offered a resigned smile.

“I suppose it’s understandable for Espers who eat two or three times as much as I do, but you two seem like people who just come to explore the palace restaurants these days.”

“While it might not compare to the food actual royals eat, it’s enviable that such excellent restaurants have been carefully selected and brought in for the staff. Especially after years of eating military cafeteria food, which, no matter how it’s prepared, never quite escapes the category of ‘decent soldier’s meal’ or ‘tasty soldier’s meal.'”

Listening to Kyle’s emphatic assertion, they entered the restaurant district, where quaint eateries lined both sides of a small pathway. Within the sprawling palace, which was often described as a miniature city, this area was designed for staff to dine without the inconvenience of leaving the premises, making it a frequent haunt for nobles who disliked hassle.

“Let’s talk for a moment, Mr. Ethan.”

However, it was certainly not the kind of place where a prominent figure like Enoch Cloud would typically appear.

“Ethan!”

Kyle and Maxon cried out sharply. Ethan, who had been silently watching Enoch appear from an unexpected corner as if waiting for him, then pointed to the restaurant they were about to enter and spoke.

“Buy me a meal, then.”

Enoch frowned briefly at the sight of the restaurant, which lacked any private rooms, then proposed an alternative.

“…I’ll have my secretary arrange for it to be brought to a rented room.”

Upon inquiring about the rented room’s location, it turned out to be conveniently close to the Protocol Department. Ethan glanced at his guards behind him, who had been praising the food in this district all along, and then casually placed an additional order.

“A variety of dishes, please. Enough for my guards as well.”

“…Very well.”

A voice, seemingly suppressing something, finally responded after a long pause.

****

“Are you truly alright?”

“…If I’m not alright, can I then find out where Scott is?”

Enoch’s appearance, as he muttered self-deprecatingly, had deteriorated further in a matter of days. The praised demeanor from his acting career was gone, replaced by the typical pre-seizure symptoms: his entire body was focused on forcefully suppressing his surging power, making him increasingly sensitive and irritable.

“I conveyed everything I knew through Bliss.”

“…I know.”

“In that case…”

“I’m having the bunker in the mansion prepared.”

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. Given Enoch’s usual temperament, he would have expected him to try and recover his unstable condition—either by hiring a private guiding agency or bringing in another Guide with an electrical affinity—all to actively search for Scott.

Logically, that would have been far more efficient. Yet, he was preparing for a seizure.

Enoch offered a cynical smile to Ethan, who was staring at him with disbelief.

“If I enter the bunker in this wretched state, I’ll likely be in turmoil for about three days, not just two. That’s precious time I’d be losing to find Scott. I don’t know who orchestrated this, or how, but the fact that there’s no trace of him suggests more strongly that Scott wasn’t merely missing, but was abducted.”

“Have you spoken to Bliss about this? He might be able to help more than I can…”

“Bliss is probably looking into it as well. But I asked to see you today for a different reason. Why did that damned tablet change its number?”

“…”

Maxon and Kyle, dining at a table a short distance away, flinched. Enoch, seemingly oblivious, leaned close to Ethan and whispered, too low for them to hear.

“Mr. Ethan, I know you’re a multi-Guide.”

“…!!”

Ethan, frozen in shock, slowly turned his head to glance at Maxon and Kyle, shaking his head subtly.

They had been awkwardly rising from their seats, uneasy at Enoch’s close proximity, but now settled back down. Ethan drew away from Enoch and replied naturally, in a tone everyone could hear.

“So what? Did you ask me to come here to receive my guiding?”

Enoch, his face momentarily surprised, looked between Ethan and his guards. He then exhaled slowly, regaining his composure.

“Damn it, I wasn’t the only one who knew. Hah. It feels anticlimactic, somehow. Does Bliss know too? It took me months to be certain.”

“Bliss knows as well. So, for guiding…”

“I’m not asking for guiding. Scott is enough for my guiding. Since Bliss knows, I suppose coming to you, Mr. Ethan, was pointless.”

He irritably turned on his tablet and showed some data.

“I found out about one of the experiments Devon Green was conducting through my brother.”

“…A multi-Guide’s influence… leads to a guiding amplification phenomenon in surrounding Guides…”

“You said Scott had a late manifestation. As did a fellow named Milo.”

“…!!”

“Stimulating latent factors to amplify and induce manifestation… If my hypothesis is correct, you can also increase my and Scott’s matching rate.”

Clang— It wasn’t Ethan who dropped the fork he was holding, but Maxon.