September 23, year 10009 of the Yulan Calendar.
Outside Chiyan City's eastern gate, thousands of imperial soldiers stood in two ranks.
The pedestrians on the streets had long since been cleared away.
A red carpet stretched from the city gate all the way to the imperial palace.
Joanne stood in person before the city gate.
Behind him stood the imperial knights and two Saint Realm experts from the War God Sect.
"The Yulan Empire's special envoy has arrived."
A soldier on the city wall spoke in a low voice.
In the distance, a fleet of ships slowly approached along the Chiyan River.
The ship at the front flew the Yulan Empire's purple heraldic flag.
The ship docked at the pier.
A woman in a pale purple dress stepped off the deck.
She had long golden hair and delicate features, but her expression was very calm.
An elderly man in a long robe followed behind her.
His hair and beard were white, and he exuded the aura unique to a Saint-level Magus.
Behind them were an enormous black bear and a giant eagle with silver-gray feathers.
The Yulan Empire's delegation this time was of exceptionally high standing.
The woman walked up to Joanne and bowed slightly.
"Delia, special envoy of the Yulan Empire, greets Your Majesty Joanne."
"Saint Magus Longers."
Delia introduced the elderly man behind her.
Longers merely nodded.
His gaze swept over the city gate and the troops on either side of the road, and he said nothing more.
Joanne welcomed them with a smile.
"Welcome to Chiyan City, Miss Delia."
"This meeting between our two countries' delegations will surely become a celebrated tale."
Delia smiled. "I hope so."
Her gaze, however, passed over Joanne toward the imperial palace.
Someone she truly wanted to see was there.
It had been ten years.
She had imagined their reunion countless times.
Perhaps Linley had already become a middle-aged man with a full beard.
Perhaps he was still in secluded training.
Perhaps he was unwilling to see her at all.
But she had not expected to arrive in Chiyan City after news spread that Reynolds had "died in battle."
Still less had she expected that Linley had actually found Reynolds and brought him back.
"Thank you for making the long journey, Special Envoy," Joanne said. "The delegation should first enter the palace and rest. We will hold a welcoming banquet later."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Delia bowed again.
There was not a single flaw in her movements.
Only the fingers at her side tightened briefly.
After the delegation entered the palace, Joanne arranged a reception with the highest honors.
Nobles, ministers, and War God Sect disciples were all present.
Delia sat below the seat of honor, listening to officials from both sides discuss border trade, merchant shipping, and the jurisdiction of the two countries' outposts.
She spoke occasionally.
Each time, she went straight to the heart of the issue.
"Three groups of Yulan merchant ships disappeared on the Chiyan River last month."
"Two of them were last seen less than a hundred li from the O'Brien Empire's border outposts."
"Yet the O'Brien Empire's military records state only that the merchant ships encountered river pirates."
A minister responsible for border affairs said, "River pirates have always been rampant along the border. Perhaps the Yulan Empire's merchant ships failed to hire enough guards."
"One of those merchant ships had three Level Seven Mages aboard," Delia said.
The minister fell silent.
"Would river pirates attack a merchant ship guarded by three Level Seven Mages?"
"That is precisely why I am here," Delia said. "Three groups of merchant ships, twenty-seven crew members, and seven guards all disappeared. There were no bodies and no remnants of their cargo."
"If it was merely river pirates, why did they not rob the other merchant ships along the route?"
The great hall gradually grew quiet.
Joanne glanced at Delia.
"How does the Yulan Empire wish the O'Brien Empire to handle this?"
"Establish a joint investigation team," Delia said. "Each country will provide a team to investigate the areas where the missing merchant ships were last seen."
"At the same time, we will exchange records of missing persons and contraband along the border over the past six months."
"This cannot be treated as a mere case of river piracy."
Joanne pondered for a moment.
"I will have someone compile the relevant records."
"Have them delivered to the embassy once they are compiled."
"Agreed."
Delia raised her teacup.
"Then allow me to thank Your Majesty in advance."
The welcoming banquet lasted four hours.
Only after night fell did Delia leave the embassy arranged by the palace.
In the embassy's rear courtyard, Longers sat beside a stone table.
Hadon the Earth Bear lay in a corner by the wall.
Parei the Wild Thunder Swiftwind Eagle perched on the eaves, his sharp eyes surveying the surroundings.
Delia took out a black crystal shard and placed it on the table.
The shard was only the size of a fingernail.
Yet extremely fine white patterns were engraved on its surface.
"Teacher, take a look at this."
Longers picked up the shard.
The moment his spiritual energy touched the patterns, the shard trembled slightly.
"Traces of Light Element magic."
"Not ordinary magic," Delia said.
"I found it among the wreckage of the first group of missing merchant ships. By then, the river had scattered the wreckage, and only this thing remained caught beneath a ship's hull."
Longers frowned.
"You suspect the Radiant Church?"
"I suspect someone is using channels left behind by the Radiant Church."
Delia said, "The Holy Union has already been destroyed, but they once controlled many trade routes and underground bases. Those people would not immediately disappear just because something happened to the Holy Island."
"This cannot be included in the diplomatic letter," Longers said.
"I know."
"Nor can all the O'Brien Empire's officials be allowed to learn of it."
"I know that as well."
Delia put away the shard.
"That is why I need someone who can mobilize forces in the imperial capital without letting word reach the remnants of the Radiant Church."
Longers looked at her.
"You came to see Linley for more than just him."
"I never said it was just for him."
Delia spoke calmly.
Longers did not try to dissuade her further.
"He is very powerful now."
"I know."
"There is also great danger around him."
Delia raised her head and looked at the night sky.
"That is why I must see it clearly for myself."
The next morning, Linley came to the embassy.
He wore no formal noble attire, only a black robe.
Bebe crouched on his shoulder.
Doehring walked beside him.
The attendant at the entrance welcomed the three of them into the rear courtyard.
Delia was already waiting there.
She sat beneath a tree, with two cups of tea on the table.
Hearing footsteps, she turned her head.
They had not seen each other for ten years.
Linley was much taller and more strongly built than she remembered.
His shoulders were broader, and his features were sterner.
He had none of the ostentation of a young nobleman.
Simply standing there, he gave off a sense of heavy pressure.
Delia looked at him for a moment.
Linley looked at her as well.
"Delia."
"Linley."
The two of them said only each other's names.
Then both fell silent.
Bebe jumped down from Linley's shoulder and crouched beside the stone table.
He looked at Delia, then at Linley.
Linley reached out and stroked his head.
"This is Bebe."
Delia smiled.
"I know."
Her gaze settled on Doehring.
"And this is?"
"My teacher, Doehring Cowart."
Doehring nodded to her.
"Miss Delia."
"Mr. Doehring." Delia rose and bowed. "I heard Linley mention you long ago."
"What did he say about me?"
"He said you taught him a great many things."
"That much is certainly true." Doehring stroked his beard.
Linley glanced at him.
Doehring immediately added, "Of course, he worked very hard himself."
The smile in Delia's eyes deepened a little.
She knew Linley's teacher must be a very interesting old man.
At least he would not be like Linley, who could only stand there after seeing an old friend.
"Please sit," Delia said.
They sat down.
"I heard something happened to Reynolds," Delia began.
Linley nodded.
"He is still alive."
Delia's hand stilled around her teacup.
"Really?"
"Teacher Doehring and I found him in the Bonai River."
"Where is he now?"
"Chiyan City."
"How are his injuries?"
"Two fingers were injured. They've already been treated. He still can't hold a sword or cast spells."
Delia let out a long breath.
"That's good, then."
She looked at Linley.
"The news I received in the Yulan Empire was that Reynolds had died in battle."
"A lot of people thought so," Linley said.
"I also received another piece of news."
Delia's expression grew serious.
"There was just a wedding at the imperial palace in Chiyan City. Afterward, Prince Yulin died, and the military reports from Nier City were rewritten."
"Were you involved in those things?"
"Yes."
Linley hid nothing.
He recounted how Reynolds had been ambushed, how the city gates had remained shut, and how Prince Yulin had ordered that no rescue be sent.
He also told her how he had found Reynolds.
Delia listened the whole time.
She did not interrupt.
Only when Linley finished did she ask, "Did you kill Prince Yulin?"
"Yes."
"Her Majesty Joanne didn't stop you?"
"The War God didn't stop me."
Delia's gaze shifted slightly.
"You've met the War God?"
"Teacher Doehring went with me."
Delia looked at Doehring.
She could sense no powerful aura from the white-haired old man.
Yet Linley had spoken quite naturally when he mentioned the War God.
This teacher was clearly not as simple as he appeared.
"I merely accompanied him," Doehring said. "Linley was the one who actually held the token."
"He won't make decisions for Linley."
Delia spoke.
"But he will stand between Linley and danger."
Doehring looked at her.
For an instant, the sound of the wind in the courtyard suddenly stopped.
"You've already seen through that?"
"I gathered it from the account just now," Delia said. "If you had merely accompanied him, Linley wouldn't have mentioned you repeatedly."
"And you also had something to do with Reynolds being found in time."
Doehring did not deny it.
Delia continued, "Protecting someone doesn't just mean dealing with danger for them. It also means letting them know where the danger lies."
Linley's brow twitched slightly.
He had heard something similar before.
Last night, when Doehring presided over the Baruch Clan's family ceremony, he had told Wharton the same principle.
Doehring fell silent for a moment.
"You have a point."
"But?" Delia asked.
"But knowing about danger doesn't mean being able to withstand it."
"Even so, that should be for the person himself to decide."
Delia's voice was quiet.
"Even before Linley became your student, he would walk into danger on his own. Now that he's your student, he certainly won't give up his own choices just because you're by his side."
Doehring glanced at Linley.
Linley said nothing.
"This girl has a point," Bebe suddenly said through Soul Transmission. "Boss, you always did like recklessly doing things on your own."
Linley's expression darkened.
"Shut up."
Delia hadn't heard Bebe's Soul Transmission. She only saw Linley suddenly glare at Bebe.
She couldn't help laughing.
Doehring laughed as well.
The sharpness of that brief moment dissipated.
"Miss Delia," Doehring said, "did you really come to Chiyan City solely for three missing merchant ships?"
Delia's smile faded.
She took the black crystal chip from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
"I suspect someone is using the border trade routes between the two countries to transport missing magi."
"This chip came from a missing merchant ship."
Doehring did not reach for it.
He merely glanced at the white patterns on the chip.
"Something from the Radiant Church?" Linley asked.
"Possibly," Delia said. "I'm not certain."
Sessler had once told Linley that the Radiant Church had many secret nodes in various places.
Some nodes weren't even under the bishops' direct control.
After Holy Island was destroyed and the angel descent plan failed, those people might not all have died.
"How do you plan to investigate?" Linley asked.
"First, I'll obtain the O'Brien Empire's border records."
"Then I'll investigate where the missing merchant ships were last seen."
"If remnants of the Radiant Church really are involved, I'll take the evidence back to the Yulan Empire."
Delia looked at Linley.
"I won't barge straight into dangerous places."
Linley fell silent for a moment.
"You can have my people assist you."
"Your people?"
"Sessler knows the Radiant Church, and Yale knows the trade routes. Bebe is suited to tracking."
"And Teacher Doehring," Delia said. "Will he go too?"
"I won't enter every location," Doehring said. "But I can help you identify traces of the Earth Element and traces left underground."
"That would be excellent."
Linley immediately said, "I'll come with you."
Delia looked at him.
"This is a diplomatic investigation by the Yulan Empire."
"I know."
"In what capacity would you participate?"
"As the head of the Baruch Clan."
"Then you have even less freedom to interfere," Delia said. "Once you act on behalf of the O'Brien Empire, this will turn into two great empires jointly accusing the Yulan Empire."
Linley frowned.
He disliked these complicated rules.
But Delia was right.
"I can act in a personal capacity."
"You're an earl of the O'Brien Empire."
"Then I'll act on behalf of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce."
"You're still the head of the Baruch Clan."
Linley looked at her.
Delia did not back down.
"Linley, I didn't come here to hand my assignment over to you."
"I want your help, but that doesn't mean I want you making decisions for me."
The rear courtyard fell quiet.
Doehring stroked his beard without speaking.
Linley gazed at the black crystal chip on the table.
After a while, he said, "Then I'll handle the investigation within Chiyan City and stay out of your delegation's operations."
"Agreed."
"Bebe will go with you."
Bebe immediately let out a cry.
He didn't want to leave Linley, but when he remembered that they were investigating the Radiant Church, he nodded anyway.
"Sessler will handle identifying traces of undead and souls," Linley continued. "Yale will handle the trade routes and accounts. Send what you find here first, and then I'll judge whether I need to act."
Delia looked at him.
"Can you really keep yourself from charging straight in?"
"I told you, I'll put your assignment first."
"Good, then."
Delia put away the chip.
Her expression finally relaxed a little.
Their reunion this time had gone beyond a simple "How have you been?"
They had each arrived here along their own path.
And precisely because of that, they were qualified to stand together again.
Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard gate.
Yale strode in.
"Third Brother."
When he saw Delia, he quickly stopped.
"The Yulan Empire's special envoy?"
"Mr. Yale of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce?" Delia rose.
Yale immediately bowed as well.
"Greetings, Miss Delia."
"I was just about to look for you," Delia said. "Does the chamber of commerce have records of the three missing merchant ships?"
The smile vanished from Yale's face.
"Yes."
"And it's not just three."
He took out a thin stack of paper rolls.
"Over the past six months, a total of twelve merchant ships registered with the Dawson Chamber of Commerce have gone missing."
"Eight of them passed through the Chiyan River, three passed through the O'Brien Empire's southeastern border, and the last left no complete record of its route."
Delia took the paper rolls and quickly looked through them.
"Why are we only learning of this now?"
"They were previously treated as attacks by river pirates and magical beasts," Yale said. "But three days ago, I retrieved the chamber of commerce's old files again and discovered that these ships had something in common."
"What?"
"Every ship had at least one high-ranking magus aboard."
Delia's gaze fell on the paper rolls.
Linley looked at Doehring.
Doehring reached out and pressed down on one of the sheets.
"Here."
"What?" Linley asked.
"The mud print on the paper," Doehring said. "It isn't ordinary river mud. There are extremely fine grains of black crystal sand in it."
"Where does this crystal sand come from?" Delia asked.
Doehring raised his head and looked southwest of Chiyan City.
"The old waterway outside the city."
Yale's expression changed slightly.
"Chiyan City has an old waterway?"
"An abandoned underground waterway," Doehring said. "It was once used to drain accumulated water from the city. It was later sealed off."
"Someone tampered with something there."
Linley stood up.
"Let's go take a look now."
Delia stood up as well.
"I'm coming with you."
Linley looked at her.
Delia said calmly, "This is my diplomatic investigation."
"And it's my city," Linley said.
The two looked at each other for a moment.
Linley raised no further objections.
Doehring looked up at the sky.
"Prepare torches, ropes, and a map first."
Linley paused in surprise.
"Grandpa Doehring, we can just fly over."
"An underground waterway isn't the sky," Doehring said. "And since you agreed to let Delia handle the investigation, don't use your divine sense to look through everything right at the start."
Delia glanced at Doehring.
"Does this count as your support for me?"
"It does," Doehring said. "And as a restraint on Linley."
Linley felt somewhat helpless.
But he did not argue.
"All right."
He put away the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
"We'll investigate by the rules."
Yale looked at the roll of paper in his hand.
Delia slipped the black crystal chip into her sleeve.
The old waterway southwest of Chiyan City was brought up again for the first time.
And in that underground area, sealed off for years, an exceedingly faint trace of light aura was slowly seeping out from the depths of the darkness.