Silver Maple Inner Guard

Viscount Borey arrived at the Maple Leaf Palace by carriage, which was also Mora's renamed residence. It was far from the Executive Palace, and he would stay here when there was no court assembly.

The palace was guarded by the First Regiment of the Imperial Guard Legion. These soldiers did not let him pass immediately upon seeing the Legion Commander, but instead sent someone to report to the palace first. However, Viscount Borey did not take it seriously.

Although he was the Legion Commander of the Imperial Guard Legion, half of the Imperial Guard Legion was under the control of members of the Ducal House; he only had command authority during combat.

The First Regiment was a reinforced Infantry Regiment with over 6,000 men, consisting of five full-strength Heavy Infantry Battalion and an independent Cavalry battalion. They were all Freemen men recruited from the Duchy's direct territory, and were well-treated, receiving rewards from the Grand Duke during festivals. Their Regimental Commander, Kailio, was also Grand Duke Mora's cousin.

Borre knew the situation of this regiment, so he didn't put on airs as Legion Commander in front of them. Instead, he took the initiative to hand over his weapons to the soldiers. Borre knew that Mora didn't care whether he brought weapons when he visited him, but Borre's cautious nature didn't want his lord to have a negative impression of him over such a small matter.

The soldier who had gone inside to report quickly returned to the gate. "Legion Commander Borei, Grand Duke Mora requests your presence in the palace."

"Thank you, please lead the way."

"Legion Commander Borei, this way please."

Viscount Borey followed the guards directly into the inner palace and arrived at a Garden. Although it was already autumn, the Garden was still lush and green, and warm as spring. Borre saw a group of maids leaving the Garden, each with a charming face and covered in fragrant sweat.

Soon, Borre found Grand Duke Mora in his pajamas at the flower pavilion in the Garden, washing his face with the help of palace servants. Borre noticed a few lipstick marks on Mora's cheek, but he just frowned and stood quietly to the side waiting for the Grand Duke to finish washing up.

Mora quickly finished washing up with the help of his attendants, and then sat down in front of Borei. "My Legion Commander, what is it that you are so eager to report to me?"

Viscount Borey immediately knelt on one knee and reported to Mora the disappearance of the envoy from the Raine Kingdom and the loss of the secret agreement.

Upon hearing this news, Mora's relaxed mood vanished, and he looked at Viscount Borey with a grim expression.

"I have entrusted such an important task to you, Viscount Borey, and you have truly disappointed me!"

"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty and my guilt is unforgivable. Please allow me to relinquish my position as Imperial Guard Legion and serve as an ordinary soldier to continue fighting for you on the battlefield."

After speaking, Viscount Borey handed over his Legion Commander's Scepter and seal.

Mora watched Viscount Borey's actions, her lips twitched, but she didn't take it.

"Do you think I'm the kind of person who would punish you without even knowing what happened? Who are you trying to impress!"

Perhaps it was Borre's sincere apology that calmed Mora down considerably. He turned to the servants waiting around him and said, "Go and inform the Prime Minister Lagos to come to the Maple Leaf Palace immediately. It is important."

"I remember you entrusted this mission to your second son, Borei, and even dispatched the First Battalion of the Heavy Cavalry Regiment. How come the rendezvous mission is still not completed?"

Viscount Borey recounted the entire situation reported by Rasul to the Grand Duke.

"Damn it, Baron of Woven Fern gone missing too? That Mosley, I entrusted him with such an important mission, how could he repay the great favor I did for him when he was helping him inherit the title? If he's alive, I'll make him pay."

Mora kept pacing around in the pavilion, clearly disoriented by the disappearance of the secret pact. Viscount Borey remained kneeling on the ground, not getting up.

Two quarters of an hour later, the Count Lagos arrived.

He was probably jogging along, and his once neatly styled white hair was now disheveled by the wind.

Seeing his grandfather dressed like this, Mora's previously agitated mood suddenly calmed down a lot.

He quickly ordered his servants to bring a leather sofa for the Count Lagos so that he could sit and rest.

"Old man, you don't need to be in such a hurry. If my old arms and legs fall down, there will be no one to help me manage the duchy."

Count Lagos was drinking the water handed to him by a servant when he turned to say, "I heard that Viscount Borey came to report to you. I suppose it's something very important. Is it related to the envoy from the Raine Kingdom and the secret agreement? That's something we can't afford to miss."

"Yes, it's a terrible situation. The envoy has disappeared in the Woven Fern Territory of Ent County. When the rescue team sent by Borei arrived there, they found that the entire Baron of Woven Fern's castle had been burned down. The envoy, the secret pact, and Baron of Woven Fern have all vanished."

When Lars heard this, he looked surprised, but he quickly calmed down.

"Help Viscount Borey get up first. What's done is done. We should think about what to do next instead of arguing here. Besides, this matter should have nothing to do with Viscount Borey."

Mora nodded; at times like this, he was quite willing to listen to his grandfather's advice.

"Get up, Borei."

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Borei stood up from the ground. Although he had been kneeling for almost an hour, he still stood steadily, which showed that his physical condition was still excellent.

Lagos then had Borei reiterate the information he possessed, and after listening, he said, "Unfortunately, the information sent via carrier pigeon is still too brief, and we still don't know the specifics. Here's what we'll do: Viscount Borey, send your troops back to Silver Maple City as soon as possible. I want to inquire about it personally. Also, Your His Grace the Grand Duke, I suggest sending the Imperial Guard to the Woven Fern Territory to see if they can find any clues in the ruins."

"Yes, Prime Minister Excellency, I will send a letter immediately instructing them to return to Silver Maple City as soon as possible." Perhaps because Count Lagos had spoken well of him, Viscount Borey's attitude had improved considerably.

"Inner Guard, I'll make the arrangements over there right away." Mora waved his hand, and soon an ordinary-looking man in black emerged from the side.

Yes, it was as if it appeared out of thin air. Neither Borei nor Lagos reacted. They had always known that each Grand Duke Silver Maple had a special force called the Silver Maple Inner Guard, which was responsible for intelligence and personal protection and had some unusual abilities.

Mora instructed the man, "Send someone to Ent County to investigate the matter of the Woven Fern Territory, and report back after a thorough investigation."

The man in black bowed to show he understood, and then left the pavilion.

Borei and Lagos quickly realized they had forgotten what the man looked like, and a chill ran down their spines, adding to their impression of the Silver Maple Guards' strange abilities.