Chapter 500! This has been a very long ride. We’re in the last leg now.

Big thank you to all my readers, especially my Patreons who are the pillar supporting the continuation of this series.

Editor: Tseirp

Captain Gorick left the table to report to the embassy what he had just conveyed to the two of them.

This left only Ryo and Abel behind.

“Abel, how exactly are we supposed to help them gain autonomy?”

“No idea.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Huh? What do you mean, no idea…?”

“In the end, wouldn’t it be fine if you stormed into the Atinjo Grand Duchy embassy again?”

“That’s outrageous…”

“This time, I’ll be waiting outside the gate with the citizens…”

“You’re terrible. I’ll freeze everything and live strong and alone from now on.”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

Abel clarified it was a joke as Ryo glared at him resentfully.

“Well, I don’t have a specific plan to make them recognize autonomy yet.”

“…So, we’re waiting for the chairman three days from now?”

“Yeah, that’s the idea.”

“After all that contemplation? I expected you’d come up with some brilliant idea, Abel. I was a fool. Return my expectations!”

“Hmph, you were the one who got your hopes up and got disappointed. That’s not on me.”

It seemed mutual understanding between people was very difficult.

Still, Ryo wasn’t discouraged.

Giving up on trying to understand each other would mean the end of the effort.

“I have an alternative proposal.”

“Hmm?”

“Last time, I stormed into the embassy of the Grand Duchy. Well, I was pressured by the accompanying swordsman, so I had no choice.”

“What?”

“Never mind that part. This time, I think you should charge into the midst of the Grand Duchy’s navy, Abel.”

“Rejected.”

“Why not!”

“Because I’m a pacifist.”

“And you dare say that with a straight face!”

“Yeah, and you’re the last person I want to hear that from!”

Again, they failed to understand each other.

“Well, setting that aside.”

“Setting it aside…?”

Ryo made a hand gesture to indicate putting the matter to one side.

Abel seemed to get the meaning somehow.

It appeared gestures could bridge the understanding gap.

“I think that island Captain Gorick encountered is at the center of all these problems.”

“Yeah, I agree.”

On this point, both Ryo and Abel shared the same perspective.

Being able to agree was wonderful.

Perhaps this understanding stemmed from their extensive encounters with non-human entities.

Behemoths, griffons, Akumas, Djinns, and even ghost ships like Ruri in the Eastern Countries—both had dealt with many beings beyond humanity.

This experience had made them understand, both logically and intuitively, that a world separate from the human one existed.

When understanding is intuitive, it manifests as instinct.

“The Free City fleet has supposedly turned into zombies.”

“The captain did mention that.”

“As for the universal question of why they’d want to grow their numbers… the answer lies in some law of this world.”

“Yeah, I don’t care about that.”

“Don’

Ryo pretended to be deeply hurt by Abel’s remark.

Of course, Abel ignored him and continued.

“Hey, Ryo.”

“What is it, Abel?”

“Duke Helb said he was amassing power, didn’t he? That must mean…”

“Yes, it’s related to that island. Preparing for a confrontation with it seems the most likely explanation.”

Abel thought for a moment before continuing.

“In other words, Duke Helb knows exactly what that island is.”

“Yes.”

“But he has no intention of telling us.”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t think Duke Helb is an ally, but…”

“As far as the Free City citizens are concerned, he won’t sacrifice them. To him, the people are subjects to rule over. While I don’t think he’s a good person, and he reeks of being our enemy, he does have the pride of a ruling class.”

Ryo also viewed Duke Helb more as an enemy than an ally.

“If we’re going to demand autonomy from someone like him…”

“We’d better have an appropriate bargaining chip.”

“And that would be…?”

“That island, perhaps.”

Abel and Ryo agreed on the fundamental approach.

Both were adventurers at heart.

They wanted to learn about the unknown, to see what they’d never seen before.

That’s what adventurers do.

“Looks like I’m going to get dragged into another mess with Abel.”

“I haven’t said a word about that.”

“But you’re thinking it, right? That we should go to that island?”

“…I am.”

Hearing Abel’s response, Ryo shook his head slightly.

But Abel wasn’t fooled.

“You want to go too, don’t you, Ryo?”

“N-no way! I don’t do reckless things…”

“You’re grinning.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

Caught off guard, Ryo hurriedly covered his face with both hands.

The plan was set.

Though it leaned heavily on their personal preferences, that was their little secret.

Next, they needed to figure out the specifics.

“If we can get close, we can storm the place with the ‘Neil Andersen’.”

“Oh, the second ship of the Rondo-class.”

It was a ‘submarine’ Ryo had created with alchemy.

They’d once used it to defeat a Kraken.

“But since we don’t know the exact location…”

“We’ll have to rely on those who’ve been there to guide us.”

“Not that they’d be willing to go back.”

“Of course not.”

The two let out small sighs.

They didn’t want to coerce anyone.

But right now, it seemed the most realistic option.

“For now…”

“Yeah, let’s head to the Suje Kingdom Embassy.”

With that, the two left the ‘Freedom Breeze Inn’.

At the diplomatic island of the Free City, Suje Kingdom Embassy.

Ambassador Randassa faced Captain Gorick of the Lone Dark.

“So, based on Chairman Sukhwe’s demeanor, you suspect the Supreme Council was aware of and even approved this annexation in advance?”

“Yes.”

Captain Gorick nodded in response to Ambassador Randassa’s confirmation.

During their discussion at the ‘Freedom Breeze Inn’, Captain Gorick had become certain of it.

“Treason… might be too strong a word, but to go that far… Unbelievable, no, I don’t want to believe it.”

“However…”

“No, it’s not that I doubt your report, Captain. I’m just speaking from my emotions.”

Cutting him off, Ambassador Randassa continued.

He understood the situation.

He understood the circumstances.

He understood the reasoning…

But even so…

“If the citizens were to find out about this…”

“Indeed.”

“That said, there is little we can do. We are merely an embassy.”

“From a military standpoint… even if a resistance movement were to arise, providing weapons is one thing, but for our kingdom’s people to actively support it…”

“Ah, that’s impossible. The Suje Kingdom’s embassy is located in the Grand Duchy as well. Even though it has some degree of fortification, if the Grand Duchy were to get serious, the embassy would surely fall. In a way, we are effectively hostages.”

Ambassador Randassa shook his head slightly.

If the Free City citizens were to resist, he wanted to help them.

But overt support was impossible…

That frustration was palpable.

At that moment, the secretary entered.

“Abel-sama and Ryo-sama are here to see you, Ambassador. They’re waiting outside.”

“The two of them?”

There had been no prior appointment.

Besides, just a moment ago, the two of them had been speaking with Captain Gorick, who was still present…

“Captain, do you have any idea what this might be about?”

“No, none…”

Captain Gorick tilted his head in confusion.

There had been no indication they would come here at all.

Ryo and Abel entered the room.

“Welcome. Captain Gorick is here as well, but what brings you here today…?”

Ambassador Randassa asked with a polite smile.

“Ambassador, we have a favor to ask of you. It also heavily involves Captain Gorick.”

“Go ahead.”

“Excuse me?”

Randassa said politely, and Gorick asked, puzzled.

“To get straight to the point. We want Captain Gorick to take us near the island he encountered.”

“What…?”

Gorick was struck speechless at Abel’s request.

For a while, there was only silence, but upon closer inspection, sweat could be seen on Gorick’s face.

“Even just near the island is fine; we don’t need to get too close. Somewhere where the island is just visible on the horizon. Or near the area you mentioned earlier, where the seawater turns black, would suffice.”

Ryo added.

“And what exactly… do you plan to do there?”

“We won’t know for certain until we get there, but most likely, we’ll try to land on the island.”

Abel replied to Randassa’s question.

Ryo nodded beside him.

“Uh… once we get you as far as the horizon, how do you plan to proceed from there…?”

“We have a method.”

“Wait… are you going to make an ice bridge or something?”

“No, that’s probably too far even for me.”

Ryo replied, tilting his head thoughtfully.

The horizon was likely more than two hundred meters away…

“Still, we have no idea what’s actually on that island.”

“Indeed.”

Ambassador Randassa nodded deeply at Abel’s words.

“But there’s one person in this Free City who does know what’s on that island.”

“Wait, someone knows?”

“Yes. Duke Helb does.”

“What…?”

Abel affirmed, and Gorick was again left speechless.

A heavy silence filled the room for a while.

Until Ambassador Randassa broke it.

“Abel-san, are you certain of this information?”

“Yes, absolutely. Which is why we’re going to ask him directly.”

“I see…”

After a moment’s thought, Ambassador Randassa continued.

“However, Duke Helb is not currently at the Grand Duchy Embassy.”

“What?”

“Yesterday… well, the destruction of the main embassy building likely played a role, but he is currently staying at the Prime Minister’s Residence.”

“Yesterday… because of Abel’s charge, then.”

Ryo said, nodding grimly.

Abel said nothing.

He simply sighed quietly.

“The Prime Minister’s Residence is part of the Free City. You can’t just waltz in there.”

“Indeed… even Abel would find that challenging.”

“Ryo, be quiet for a moment.”

Abel said, silencing him.

“If Duke Helb is at the Prime Minister’s Residence, then please arrange a diplomatic meeting for us.”

“Understood.”

Abel requested, and Randassa nodded.

“And make it urgent. If possible, right now.”

“That might be difficult…”

Diplomatic channels always take time.

“Just tell them we’re coming to discuss ‘that island’. No need to negotiate. Just inform them one-sidedly.”

“What…?”

“We’ll handle the rest.”

“But if you…”

If Abel and Ryo caused a ruckus after formal diplomatic notification… it would put the Suje Kingdom Embassy in a bad spot.

They wouldn’t be able to feign ignorance as they did the previous day.

“Yesterday, we didn’t injure anyone until we got to Duke Helb’s room. We’ll manage this too.”

Abel said, smiling.

But Ryo knew better.

When Abel smiled like that, he couldn’t be trusted.

He could lie with a smile…

“Ryo, don’t say a word.”

Abel said, cutting him off before he could protest.

“Well, I’ll trust the two of you. I’ll contact the Prime Minister’s Residence immediately. Let’s see… you should head there in about 15 minutes.”

“Thank you, Ambassador.”

Ambassador Randassa decided, and Abel replied with gratitude.

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