The Rikaner Glory newspaper used masterful lies to convince the public that they had the upper hand in the war against Free City. To honor the paper's talent for deceiving the nation with a straight face, the Royal Palace commissioned the Court Painter to create an oil painting for the Newspaper Office titled "Glory Shines on Reekan."
On the day the painting was finished, the Court Painter invited an official to inspect it.
Pointing at the Newspaper Office packed with soldiers in the painting, the official asked, "What's this?"
"The Newspaper Office."
"What are they doing?"
"Looking for the Blade of Freedom."
"Then where's the editor-in-chief?"
"In the Dungeon."
Annan and Evelyn worked from both sides. He manufactured scandals in the New Royal Capital, and Evelyn spread them in Free City.
Evelyn said she liked it that way: when there was no news, make some.
Barr was a member of the Royal Family, after all. To prevent any last-minute complications, Annan sent Barr and the stand-ins for the other witnesses to the Gallows early. As usual, he had their bodies mutilated beyond recognition with torture devices. Even Barr's own mother would not have recognized him.
Having just overseen the Hanging, Annan hurried back to the Purification Court. Terry had not returned, but a peculiar message awaited him: Khaelberos had arrived in the Royal Capital.
"Khael... Hmm, that sounds familiar."
"Grand Duke Babatod's contracted Mage."
"Who's Babatod?"
"He's a Legendary Mage. He once went to the Northern Frontier with Lord Mel, the Eighth Holy Grail Knight, to look for you. He likes wearing a black Cloak..."
"Oh, him."
Annan could not immediately place Khaelberos's name. But the moment someone mentioned Little Bat, he remembered.
He had even sent him a New Year Gift back then.
Still, Annan was not sure they