If you asked a Starry Sky Person which department under the king was the most frightening, nine times out of ten, they would blurt out, "The Kingdom Secret Bureau."
But if you asked what made it frightening, they would surely draw a blank.
For Tales alone, however, this department was practically an old acquaintance. Whether it was his first meeting with the Black Prophet in Mindis Hall, being imprisoned in Dragoncloud City, or their hurried encounter at Bladefang Camp, he had dealt with them far too many times.
Unfortunately, none of those encounters had been pleasant.
Now, this mysterious department that had begun operating in the era of the King of Revival—the highest intelligence agency in the Starfall Kingdom—stood right before him.
"This is the Kingdom Secret Bureau?"
Tales stepped down from the carriage and surveyed the estate in the southern outskirts of Everstar City: a small river encircled it, the fields lay neglected, the low walls were plain and ancient, and the manor was dilapidated.
There were even farmhouses, warehouses, and patches of woodland that had obviously been abandoned for years and left to grow freely.
Ordinary. Unremarkable.
If not for its vast grounds and sparse population, it would have been a standard aristocratic estate on the outskirts of the city.
Maybe it really was confiscated from some noble family after they were wiped out, Tales mused.
"At least, it has been for the past ten-odd years."
Raphael waved to the carriage driver. The latter said nothing and disappeared from Tales's sight along with the sound of hoofbeats.
Like an ordinary traveler on a country road.
The Aridbone man gestured for the Prince to proceed, indicating the estate's iron gate not far away.
Yet the entire estate was silent, nearly deathly still.
Like a grave.
"I don't see many