kscans

Chapter 133 - Chapter 4. The Crimson Vent

"That concludes the current survey results for Tuvil Mountain. We have confirmed the output of ore and rock salt."

The head of the reconnaissance unit reported to his superior officer's back. Maytyl was hunched over her desk, her pen gliding across a magical chart.

"In other words, you still haven't identified the crimson source."

Maytyl looked up. She bit her nail lightly, and the man tensed.

"We believe it is likely small in scale. Not only is its color different from those in the Empire, but we are also having trouble with observations using the Prism. The crimson light travels in a very straight line, so it's difficult to detect unless we get close."

"Do you think I don't know that? Berit, what's the remaining capacity of our magic crystals?"

Maytyl looked at the aide beside her, the one in charge of military supplies.

"The remaining magic crystal capacity has dropped below five thousand. We spared no firepower to break through the wyvern territory at the Great River and to take Kurtheite quickly."

The aide replied. Maytyl scowled.

"What's the status of supplies from the homeland? It's pointless to secure supply routes if nothing arrives."

Maytyl's gaze fell upon the map on her desk. Several Imperial flags were planted, stretching from Kurtheite in the east to the Great River in the north.

"We've received word that they will arrive in three days. However, the transport itself will consume magic crystals to cross the Great River, so we must subtract that amount."

"Now that Dagobard has been defeated, they should be committing everything to us. In the first place, we're suffering because his and Biral's preliminary surveys were sloppy. If they had just properly finished the initial survey of Tuvil Mountain, by now we would have..."

Maytyl condemned her captured rival. Her aide remained silent.

The defeat of the western invasion force had significantly undermined the Empire's strategy. While the number of soldiers lost was small, the main force suffered catastrophic damage. A stake with a flattened tip cannot be driven into the ground.

Furthermore, the homeland feared losing any more horse-dragons, so the western invasion force had been forced onto the defensive.

"It's one thing to just defend, but going on the offensive will be tough."

"This is difficult to say, but... at this rate, it will also hinder the analysis of the bearings you ordered, Magus."

The aide trailed off. A not insignificant amount of magic crystals had been consumed because Maytyl was insistent on recreating the special carriage bearings.

Maytyl averted her gaze from her aide. Then, she looked again at the man in charge of the Tuvil Mountain survey.

"Tell me how we can find it quickly."

"Sir, if we could search from three directions instead of just from the north and south, then perhaps..."

"...Understood. I'll reassign personnel from two other squads. Locate the Crimson Vent immediately. If an adult dragon was drawn to it, one must exist in Tuvil Mountain. As soon as you find it, we'll begin installing the furnace."

"As you command."

"Once we install the furnace at the magic vent, we can become self-sufficient in magic power. All that's left is the matter of the pollen that defeated Dagobard... Has Lisabet not arrived yet?"

Maytyl said with irritation.

"She is scheduled to accompany the supplies from the homeland in three days."

"On that matter, Magus. An agent that Count Biral had placed in the Royal Capital is requesting an audience," her secretary, Ally, said.

"I'm in this mess because of that Biral's failure."

Maytyl waved her hand as if shooing a fly.

"He claims to have obtained several pieces of critical intelligence. He also says he has a report on those carriage bearings."

"That does sound interesting. Very well, bring him in at once."

At the mention of bearings, Maytyl's expression changed completely.

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"So, what information do you have on this?"

Maytyl asked the robed man as she spun a bearing in her hand.

"To think you had already taken notice of it. But first..."

"Of course I did. Listen, it's not just the object itself. The method used to create it would be beneficial to the Empire. Do you understand what I'm saying? The Kingdom has surpassed the Empire's standards of alchemy, even if only in a specific area."

Maytyl said, as if scolding the agent.

"I am ashamed of my ignorance. But first, please look at this. It is unbelievable information concerning our country's magic veins."

The agent was intent on conveying his point to the highest-ranking Imperial official in the Kingdom. Maytyl frowned. But at the word "magic veins," she held out her hand. The man offered a piece of paper with a column of numbers. On it were seventy numbers, written alongside corresponding years.

Maytyl looked at the numbers dubiously. When her eyes were two-thirds of the way down the list, she placed a hand on her chin. After she traced the numbers to the very end, her fingers trembled.

"...What is this? This is the long-term pattern for the magic vein near the Imperial Capital. Even we only have forty years' worth of data at most," Maytyl said, her voice challenging the agent.

"It belonged to a noble from the Second Prince Faction whom we were subverting. I obtained it just before our invasion of the Kingdom. It was apparently presented as material during a conference to decide policy towards the Empire."

"...I knew something was off. So the Kingdom was prepared for our invasion, which explains Dagobard's defeat. A country that had been dormant for fifty years. Now I finally get it. Anyone with eyes could have guessed the Empire's intentions if they had this data."

"Incidentally, the person who had this did not understand its significance."

"A traitor in the Empire... No, that's impossible. There's no one in the Empire capable of collecting data that even I can't."

"It is said to have been measured by a mage known as the Great Sage in the Kingdom."

"Fulsy. His research deducing the connection between magic vein fluctuations and monster floods was brilliant. It's plausible. But that was an achievement from decades ago. Besides, how would you even measure the past from seventy years ago? While the Empire was desperately developing its sorcery, the Kingdom made no progress whatsoever."

Maytyl continued, glaring sharply at the agent.

"Even I thoroughly investigated the Kingdom's level of magic after taking this city. I found almost nothing of value. I was quite disappointed, in fact. And this city was utterly powerless against our attack. And yet, Dagobard was defeated in the west. And now these bearings, and this data. Why is everything so contradictory? You were stationed in the Royal Capital, weren't you?"

Maytyl's harsh gaze pierced the agent.

"It all seems to have emerged suddenly from circles connected to the Grand Duke of the west, rather than the Third Prince himself..."

"The bearings are being made in a city called Bertold, correct?"

"According to our investigation, it's a primarily agricultural region. This new technology has suddenly appeared there. And, as Your Highness says, Fulsy was nothing more than a forgotten old recluse until recently. The alchemist said to have created the mold for the bearings was also just a student. Both are thought to be part of the western Grand Duke's faction."

"Furthermore, you people failed when you sicced those insects on them. Then Dagobard tried to take the place and was utterly defeated. There's a world of difference between the Grand Dukes of the east and west."

Maytyl glared at the agent who had drawn the short straw in the east.

"...Actually, we've found that there is an up-and-coming merchant company involved in all of these matters. It's a company under the patronage of the western Grand Duke that deals in honey. There are also rumors that the son is extremely close to the Oracle Princess, Alfina. Furthermore, the timing of this company approaching the western Grand Duke is close to when Prince Craig conducted his monster extermination in the west. In the Kingdom, it's unheard of for a new company to gain the favor of a Grand Duke without some extraordinary circumstances."

"A merchant, you say. That means he shouldn't have any involvement with magic."

"Yes. We investigated when Princess Lisabet invited the merchant's son, but he possesses no aptitude whatsoever. However..."

"So you're saying he likely has some information regarding these mysteries originating from the western Grand Duke. Very well. Investigate him with the highest priority. What do you need?"

The agent slowly approached Maytyl. Her secretary, Ally, moved to intervene, but Maytyl stopped her.

"By abandoning the Grand Duke of Kurtheite, our usable connections in the Royal Capital have dwindled. And with the eastern Grand Duke's downfall, the Second Prince's position has become extremely unstable."

"I imagine he must be quite resentful." Maytyl let out a scornful laugh.

"Yes. But based on our few meetings, my assessment is that he is a man of narrow vision. He has lost his backer, while his rival brother, Craig, is the only one to have defeated an Imperial army, and his fame is now skyrocketing. On top of that, the Empire has taken Kurtheite in the east and occupied everything up to Kazel in the west, putting the Royal Capital in a pincer. If we offer him some kind of bait now, it may not be impossible to make him forget his anger toward the Empire..."

The agent lowered his voice.

"Fine. If it means we can uncover the secrets of these bearings and the magic vein records, most any price is a cheap one."

Maytyl nodded.