After Count Mori finished speaking, Count Havent walked over to the map and said a few more words about the formation of the temporary extermination legion.
With no further questions, the noble lords left the meeting room one after another to make their own preparations.
Havent sat in the meeting room, watching his father and Count Mori arrange for messengers to come and go.
After quite a while, all the orders had finally been delivered. The two men sat in their seats, picked up their wine cups, and drank quietly.
"Do you really not need me to stay and help? I'm actually pretty amazing when I get serious."
"Hehehehe~
No need, little Havent. Your father and I are enough here, though you would be a great help if you stayed."
Count Mori lounged lazily in his chair, taking small sips of mead.
"Alright, then is there anything I need to watch out for? When am I leaving?"
Count Mori pondered for a moment before speaking.
"There is, actually. We had originally planned to send a squad of cavalry to escort you to the Imperial Capital, but the attack on you just now made us realize a few things."
Thinking back to that attack, if Raven had not risked his life to save him, and if he had not instinctively used the ability the Red Dragon had given him, he would probably have been washed, boxed up, and ready for the feast by now.
"What problem?"
Havent sat cross-legged in his chair, doodling on paper with a feather pen.
"The Northern Frontier has probably been targeted. A plot against us has likely already begun. It seems those people hiding behind the scenes have run out of patience.
My father once said that when everything just happened to occur around you, you could think with your ass and still know someone was plotting against you.
And we really have had far too much rotten luck lately.
Starting with the demand that I go to the Imperial Capital to give the nearly three-year financial report on the Armor Defense Line.
Then Count Levin, who should have returned from Manda with equipment at the end of last month, was attacked by an unknown force and is currently stationed in Falling Leaf Town awaiting rescue.
Then the Church of Death rapidly revived a large number of ghouls, which began ravaging the Northern Frontier, followed immediately by the attack on you.
Looking at this chain of events, it was a complete plan targeting the Northern Frontier. More things would certainly happen next.
So, once Marquis Charlton returns tomorrow and we finish our final discussion, you will take the letters and quietly leave Baiman City for the Imperial Capital alone."
Havent, who had been slumped bonelessly in his lounge chair, suddenly flipped upright when he heard Count Mori's words.
"What? By myself?"
The two counts stared back at Havent's wide eyes like the coldest men in the world and nodded together in perfect understanding.
"I've never traveled far before. I don't know the way."
"It's fine. Believe that you can overcome difficulties. Young people of the Northern Frontier are all brave enough to venture into the world."
Watching Count Mori spout that useless nonsense again, Havent turned to Count Havent.
Old man, I'm your biological son.
Count Havent ignored his son's pleading gaze and said calmly,
"Since there has already been an attack on you, whether Dalot acted on a sudden impulse or someone arranged for him to do it, it means you are also part of their plan.
So listen to Count Mori. Going alone will be safer."
After hearing his father's words and thinking it over, it did seem to be the case.
"Fine, then I'll go alone. Alone it is. Baiman City is pretty far from the Imperial Capital, isn't it? Won't it take me several months to walk there?"
Count Mori gave Count Havent a speechless look at Havent's words.
"Ahem~
Go find your teacher. He'll teach you some adventurer experience."
Borgnezh Magic Tower
"So, Teacher, don't you think they're being incredibly unreasonable? I'm only a child of more than 180 months, yet they want me to go to the Imperial Capital all by myself.
I can't even imagine how hard that journey will be. What if I run into bandits on the road?
Oh my, how terrifying. I think I'm having trouble breathing now. How about you come with me, Teacher?"
"Here."
Havent reached out and accepted the medicine bottle Solis handed him.
"What is this?"
"A heat-clearing potion. It helps restore abnormal bodily conditions. I just developed it, and its effects include difficulty breathing. You can try it."
Looking at the little green bottle in his hand, Havent felt the malice of this world.
"You cold, heartless adults! I'm not eating dinner tonight. I'll make you regret this."
Havent glared at Solis indignantly, but the high-ranking mage clearly had no interest in playing along with the young master and continued mixing potions on his own.
After waiting for a long time and seeing that the high-ranking mage was not buying it, Havent could only give up awkwardly and sit beside Solis ingratiatingly.
"Teacher, give me that. What else do you need? I'll fetch it for you."
The high-ranking mage pushed up the glasses that had slipped down his nose. Looking at Havent's grinning face, he shook his head helplessly.
"Lord Kevin means well. The situation in the Northern Frontier is very strange right now. Many factions want to reach in.
If you stay in the Imperial Capital, your grandfather's influence will keep you much safer."
Listening to Solis's earnest advice, Havent nodded obediently.
"Oh, and once you arrive at the Royal Academy, visit my teacher, Master Lafa, for me. I'll write a letter; please deliver it to him.
After you finish what Lord Kevin has arranged for you, study properly at the Royal Academy. Don't waste your talent. Otherwise, one day, when you want to change something but realize you lack the ability, you'll regret it..."
Whether Havent had taken it in or not, Solis simply continued speaking.
"Alright, enough of that. When people get old, they always like to ramble on about things from the past.
Let me tell you about the things adventurers need to watch out for, as well as what you need to be careful about while traveling alone..."
The night wind swept through Baiman City, and pine needles rustled as they struck one another.
With both hands clasped behind his head, Havent wandered through the city. Ever since the attack that morning, Count Havent had arranged for two knights to follow behind him.
Looking at every familiar blade of grass, every brick, and every tile, Havent eagerly greeted every subject he knew.
"Hey, Bodi, how's business lately?"
"Oh, may the Goddess of Luck bless you. Thanks to you, business has been alright. Oh, right, I recently traded for a few ranger biographies for you. A little later, I'll hand them over to Butler Ankut."
"Aunt Babans, have you come up with any new flavors lately?"
"Hehehe~ May the Goddess of Harvest bless you.
Young Master Havent, I made the filled bread you mentioned. The snowberries taste unexpectedly wonderful after being heated."
"..."
After wandering all the way to the blacksmith shop at the military camp, he found a wooden stump to sit on. With the snowberry bread Aunt Babans had given him in hand, he watched blacksmith Carmen teach his foolish apprentice how to forge horseshoes with a grin.
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