Sensing the hesitation in Higashino Makoto's words, Leinas asked him further.
What happened to those men?
"That master dotes on his subordinates, treating them like his own children. Even if I were to attack him, he would fight back fiercely. As for the others... they can only wait to die."
Higashino Makoto spoke calmly, then seemed to remember something and spoke seriously to Leinas.
"But if it were you, and you encountered a monster you couldn't fight back against, you could try mentioning my name; it might save your life."
Leinas's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"I understand. So, you advised the Foresight against it because you were afraid they would offend him?"
"Right."
"You know the owner of the grave, so you know how he would treat intruders?"
"Know."
What will he do?
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
"You really want to know?"
"Your Majesty wants to know."
Higashino Makoto chuckled softly.
"Then tell the emperor he will kill them. Not just kill them, but torture them. Make them suffer, make them despair, make them regret ever being born."
"There's a saying circulating among them that I wholeheartedly agree with: Death is the greatest mercy."
Leinas's lips tightened slightly.
"You've seen him?"
"No."
How did you know?
"Because I know him."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
He showed no mercy to his enemies.
Leinas fell silent.
She leaned back in her chair, her deep blue eyes gazing at the ceiling, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.
She was thinking.
The question isn't whether Higashino Makoto's words are true or false, but rather what the Baharuth Empire should do if what Higashino Makoto says is true.
"Your Majesty has one more question."
"Explain."
"If the Baharuth Empire accidentally offends the owner of that tomb, will you help the Baharuth Empire?"
Higashino Makoto stared at her for a long time.
"No. But I'll try my best to prevent him from implicating too many people."
Leinas's fingers stopped.
"Why?"
"Because that's your own fault. You made the trouble, so you have to bear the consequences."
Leinas lowered her head.
"I see."
She stood up and put her hood back on.
"I will relay your words to His Majesty verbatim."
"Okay. But let's talk about it tomorrow. As for today, I'll collect the payment first."
Higashino Makoto didn't let Leinas leave immediately; instead, he reached out and took her hand.
With a gasp, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her towards the bedroom behind him...
That night, Higashino Makoto was very satisfied.
Although it was Leinas's first time, her stamina was quite good due to her knightly physique.
Perhaps due to her aristocratic education, she was quite knowledgeable about many things and cooperated very well.
The next day, Leinas didn't get up until almost noon, and under Illya's sullen gaze, she was forced to put on a new set of clothes.
The old outfit was so tattered and worn that it was completely unwearable.
They had lunch together, some of the delicacies she had never seen before.
It tastes quite good, several times better than anything made by the Bloody Emperor's chef.
After finishing their meal, Higashino Makoto didn't try to keep them any longer, Leinas walked towards the door.
He took a few steps, then stopped without looking back.
"Mr. Higashino."
"Um."
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for healing my face. Thank you for answering these questions. And..."
She didn't say anything more, and Higashino Makoto didn't ask.
Higashino Makoto simply sat there, his dark eyes gazing at the moonlight outside the window.
Leinas stepped out of the hotel.
The door closed behind her.
The night wind blew, stirring her cloak and her golden hair.
Sunlight shone on her, casting her shadow on the stone path, solitary and slender.
She raised her head, looked at the sun in the sky, and remained silent for a long time.
Then she stepped forward and headed towards the imperial city.
The Imperial City, the Emperor's Study.
Jircniv sat behind his desk, a quill pen in his hand, a document spread out in front of him.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, Leinas walked in.
She removed her hood, and her long, golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, gleaming softly in the candlelight.
His deep blue eyes looked at Jircniv, his face reflected in his pupils.
"His Majesty."
"Sit."
Leinas sat down opposite him, her hands on her knees, her back ramrod straight.
Jircniv put down his quill, leaned back in his chair, and looked at her with his deep purple eyes.
What did he say?
Leinas repeated Higashino Makoto's words verbatim.
The tomb, its owner, their relationship, and the fact that he wouldn't help the Baharuth Empire if it offended the tomb.
After listening, Jircniv remained silent for a long time.
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, the rhythm sometimes fast and sometimes slow.
He was thinking.
The point isn't whether Higashino Makoto's words are true or false, but rather what they mean.
This means that to the east of the Baharuth Empire, there exists a threat capable of destroying Baharuth Empire.
This means that the source of the threat was a friend of Higashino Makoto.
This means that if the Baharuth Empire offends that master, Higashino Makoto will not help.
This means the Baharuth Empire needs to be careful.
"His Majesty."
Leinas's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Um."
What are your plans?
Jircniv was silent for a moment.
"Do nothing."
Leinas frowned slightly.
"Do nothing?"
"Yes. Do nothing."
Jircniv stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the crescent moon outside.
"The tomb is within the Re-Estize Kingdom's territory, not the Baharuth Empire. The tomb's occupant did not show any hostility towards the Baharuth Empire."
The Bloody Emperor was not as calm as he appeared.
After all, Higashino Makoto said that the "children" of the master in that Great Tomb of Nazarick might pose a threat to the Baharuth Empire because of their own thoughts.
That's a completely uncertain factor, and quite dangerous.
But he had no other choice.
Assuming that master's Higashino Makoto's, doesn't that mean the other could also easily destroy the Baharuth Empire?
I must speak with Higashino Makoto in person.
He had to go in person.
He turned around and looked at Leinas.
"So what we need to do now is not provoke him. Inform the Earl that the previous exploration of the cemetery is canceled."
Leinas nodded.
"The matter of those Foresight— "
"They abandoned the commission. That's a good thing."
Jircniv walked back behind his desk and sat down.
"If they hadn't given up and had died, the Earl would have had a hard time explaining himself. Now that they've given up, the Earl can only look for other squads. If those other squads also die, that's their problem, not the Baharuth Empire's."
He paused.
"The Baharuth Empire only needs to do one thing: avoid that grave."
Leinas looked at him, a complex light flickering in her deep blue eyes.
"Your Majesty, aren't you... worried?"
Of course I'm worried.
Jircniv chuckled softly.
"Is worrying useful?"
Leinas fell silent.
Worrying is useless.
Jircniv answered for her.
So, don't worry. Just do what you're supposed to do. Leave the rest to fate.
He paused.
"Or, give it to Higashino Makoto."
Leinas lowered her head.
"I see."
"Go back and rest. It's very late."
"Yes, sir."
Leinas stood up, bowed slightly, then turned and walked towards the door.
After taking a few steps, she stopped without looking back.
Jircniv leaned back in his chair, his deep purple eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Higashino Makoto... his grave..."
He read the words aloud, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
How many things in this world are still unknown to me?
No one answered.
Only the wind outside the window rustled the curtains, making a soft whisper.
Singing Apple Garden, Higashino Makoto's room.
Higashino Makoto sat on the windowsill, one leg dangling outside, gently swinging.
Illya sat beside him, her long, silvery-white hair gleaming softly in the moonlight, her crimson eyes gazing at the crescent moon in the sky.
She was wearing a white nightgown, barefoot, her toes gleaming like pearls in the moonlight.
"Big brother."
"Um."
Why did you tell Leinas so much?
Higashino Makoto took a sip of red wine.
"Because she asked."
"That's all?"
"That's all. Besides, Leinas's problem reminded me of something I haven't done yet."
Illya tilted her head.
"What?"
"I should have told Ainz about my decision to treat humans like my own Garden. Otherwise, if that brat ruins our Garden, we might end up having a fight."
Higashino Makoto isn't afraid of Ainz, but there's no need to.
Ainz didn't care about the lives of humans, and the guardians of Nazarick cared even less.
Humans are insignificant to Nazarick.
There's no need to make a big fuss over something that can be resolved with a simple word.
"Naughty kid?"
Hearing that word, Illya felt as if she'd been shot in the knee.
Higashino Makoto noticed that Illya was a little uneasy and offered her words of comfort.
"I wasn't talking about you. My Illya is a good girl."
Illya's mood instantly brightened.
I love older brothers the most!