Morat Hansen (Part 2)

Chapter 46: Morat Hansen (Part 2)

Inside the reception hall on the second floor of Mindis Hall, the guards ushered the visiting guest inside, then neatly closed the doors behind him.

"Say what you have to say, then leave." Under the light of the hall's Eternal Lamps, Jinnie stood before Tales, her expression stern and unyielding as she faced the old man in black.

Tales watched the aged figure in black robes, leaning on a cane and seeming frail enough to collapse at any moment, suspicion churning in his mind.

"Still so cold, Buckweir Warden," came Morat's hoarse, rasping voice from the other side of the empty hall, grating on Tales's ears and stirring an inexplicable tension. His tone dripped with mockery. "After all, we've worked together in tacit understanding more than once."

"Tacit understanding?" Jinnie sneered. "Who would cooperate with a viper? That was by His Majesty's command—I had no choice but to obey."

"How disappointing," Morat said, shaking his head with feigned regret, as if genuinely hurt. "I thought we were on the same side. You know—I've always seen you as a daughter."

His eyes glinted sharply as he spoke. "You know, as my own 'flesh-and-blood' daughter, raised by my own hand."

He stressed the word "flesh-and-blood" lightly.

Tales was startled to see Jinnie, always so proud and sharp-tongued, freeze for a moment, as if someone had gripped her throat.

The usually haughty, commanding Court Official turned her head away, hiding her expression from view.

"If I may interject!"

Gilbert cut in, bowing slightly with a grave face. "Lord Hansen, you are well aware of how crucial this matter is to the kingdom. Please spare us the unnecessary probing and pleasantries."

Tales grew even more surprised. The ever-proper Gilbert seemed almost—angry?

"We all know you are the 'Intelligence Chief,' master of the dreaded Kingdom Secret Bureau, and the Starfall Kingdom owes much to your contributions," Gilbert said, his face cold and his words sharp. "So it's only fitting that you pay an early audience to your future 'liege.' Please, no more delays—this is Mr. Tales."

He emphasized "Intelligence Chief" and "liege."

Tales suddenly understood: the former was for his benefit, the latter a warning to Morat.

The top spymaster—Tales filed that information away.

The atmosphere was truly tense.

Solemn-faced, Gilbert stepped back, fully exposing Tales to Morat's view.

Morat's eyes swept past the others and fixed on the boy.

In that instant, Tales felt a strange power in those pitch-black pupils.

As if they could bore right through him.

He even had the illusion of being short of breath.

Morat slowly stepped forward, the tap of his cane on the floor carrying an ominous rhythm.

Tap... tap... tap...

Behind him, the masked guard Yordel also advanced.

"That's close enough," Gilbert said coldly.

"Earl of Caso, the royal family's most trusted Attendant Officer," Morat said, his gaze still locked on Tales as he walked, his hoarse voice carrying through the footsteps and cane taps. "I truly admire your loyalty to your liege—whether to the Former King, or to his 'successors.'"

Tales noticed the stress on "successors."

In that moment, Tales felt Gilbert's sharp-tongued presence falter!

Gilbert's brow furrowed deeply, as if recalling something unpleasant.

The eloquent, quick-witted Former Foreign Minister, Earl of Caso, clenched his jaw and fell silent, letting Morat draw near.

Watching the black-clad old man approach, Tales felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

What kind of figure was this?

With just a few words and a couple of stressed syllables, he had made the formidable Jinnie and the seasoned Gilbert both step back, speechless?

"So, young sir," Morat said, his wrinkled face pulling into a gentle yet chilling smile, "escaping from Red Quarter, from the hands of a Magic User—that must not have been easy."

Magic User?

Jinnie and Gilbert both looked up, exchanging glances of surprise at Tales.

Tales's heart pounded wildly.

He instinctively looked up, glancing behind Morat.

The masked secret guard, Yordel, stood silently, saying nothing.

But Tales keenly sensed that the guard's posture seemed stiff and tense.

Yordel.

Did you—tell him everything?

About my secret?

"In fact, I have a few small questions for you," Morat said, smiling again, his eyes sharp amid the wrinkles. "In private."

Tales swallowed hard.

"No, Tales can't be alone with him!" Jinnie was the first to react. She looked gravely at Gilbert, as if seeking support from the Earl.

Gilbert also eyed Morat with displeasure. "Mr. Tales holds a noble status. He has the right to choose whether to meet the kingdom's Intelligence Chief with his attendants present."

Tales frowned, looking at Morat.

What exactly did he want to ask?

"Of course, of course, even," Morat said at that moment, leaning on his cane and bowing with feigned deference, a grin spreading across his lips, "whether or not to speak with me should be his own choice."

"After all, in the future, he will be my liege—if these old bones last that long."

Gilbert shot the Black Prophet a strange look, as if puzzled why the head of the Secret Section was being so agreeable. Only Jinnie's expression shifted as she turned to Tales.

Tales breathed a sigh of relief.

But just as he was about to say, "I'm not feeling well today," Morat's next words made him pause.

"In fact, I'd also like to report a few things to you—only in private."

Morat bowed again, submissively:

"...For instance, the three children in the Lower City District, and a young bartender..." When the old man raised his head again, his face was still full of smiles: "According to my intelligence, the Brotherhood seems to be handling an internal escape incident and..."

In that instant, Tales clenched his right fist.

Three children in the Lower City District?

A young bartender?

Tales's pupils shrank violently.

Synti, Lane, Colia, and... Yala.

"Fine!"

Ignoring Jinnie's anxious look and Gilbert's surprise, Tales stepped forward and said decisively, "We'll talk in private."

Morat's wrinkles bunched up from his smile as he slightly turned aside: "Please, move to the study."

But at that moment, a voice cut through the group out of nowhere.

"Talk here."

Tales turned back in surprise.

The speaker was Yordel, who had been silent all evening, standing behind Morat.

"We can withdraw," the Masked Weirdo's hoarse, muffled voice came from behind his mask, "Only then can I guarantee his safety."

Morat seemed to freeze for a second. When he turned back, his brows were furrowed.

After a brief daze, Gilbert exchanged a glance with Jinnie, and both nodded firmly: "Talk here."

"Thump."

Morat tapped his cane, tilting his head to look at Yordel.

"Why does everyone think that I, who have served the Brilliant Star and the Star Kingdom for decades, would endanger the sole heir, the Bloodline of the Kingdom?" Morat's eyes turned cold, but he quickly twisted it into an uncomfortable smile:

"Fine, then we'll talk here."

Yordel gave a slight nod, releasing the Supreme Sword he had been gripping in his sleeve all evening.

"But don't try any tricks, Servant of Shadows," Morat smiled at the Masked Guard, pointing to his own head, "No matter where you hide, I can always sense your presence."

Watching Morat's eerie smile, Tales clenched his fists.