Chapter 521

As Viscount Lucknis found himself in a dire situation, everyone else present froze in shock. Suddenly, Illyna, seemingly appearing out of thin air, threatened him by piercing his shoulder with a menacing gesture. This act sent the crowd into a frenzy of terror, causing them to scream and hastily retreat.

"My God!"

"What on earth?!"

Attacking a noble meant that everyone at the scene was potentially at risk.

"Aaaaaah!" The sight of Viscount Lucknis writhing in pain, strangely enough, had a touch of dark humor to it.

"Dave..."

[Silence]

In an instant, a silence spell silenced him, preventing any further speech. Boris's eyes widened in astonishment, but he quickly realized the gravity of the situation and refrained from speaking.

[Let's ignore it. We'll see how this unfolds. Revealing our hand, especially to ordinary people, offers no advantage, even if the dark mages are unaffected.]

This was a common issue with the knights from the Last Wisp's Alpha Reinforcements. While they were accustomed to battling instinct-driven monsters, they often found themselves at a disadvantage in human conflicts, particularly in politics and information warfare. In simple terms, they lacked expertise in handling disputes within their own kind. Despite his considerable power, Boris was as naive as a child when it came to political maneuvering.

[However...]

Boris attempted to speak, but Viscount Lucknis's guards were quicker to react. "My Lord!"

"You insane witch! How dare you not recognize who he is!" The unarmed attendants moved toward Illyna, seemingly intent on prying her away from Lucknis.

However, they barely managed to take two steps before Davey delivered a fierce kick to one guard's shin, shattering the bone, and quickly subdued another by twisting his arm. Within moments, the guard with the broken bone was writhing in pain on the floor.

Crash!

Suddenly, as if on cue, several guards rushed in from outside. "Who dares to create a disturbance within the territories protected by the Contas Empire?"

Two soldiers wielding halberds, accompanied by a man who appeared to be the head of the guard, surveyed the chaotic scene. Upon recognizing the brooch on the fallen Viscount Lucknis, they aimed their weapons at Illyna. "Halt! If you don't cease immediately, there will be bloodshed!"

The tension escalated rapidly. The soldiers made their first move to subdue Davey, reaching for his arm. However, before they could do so, Illyna's aura froze everyone in their tracks.

Swiftly...

"Arrest them all! I'll personally interrogate them to uncover their backers... Wha-?! Princess? What are you doing here?" Viscount Lucknis, who had been writhing in pain on the floor, suddenly paled upon seeing Illyna.

Illyna, who had been silently observing him, finally spoke. "Your Highness, I ask for your understanding."

"By the name of the Emperor, do as you wish." All eyes shifted toward the entrance, focusing on the man who had just spoken.

"Who..."

"It's not a crime not to recognize me, but blindly siding with Viscount Lucknis in this situation doesn't reflect well on you." The man with a dusk-colored complexion removed his mask and offered a sly grin.

"Emperor!" The startled head of the guard turned pale. His thoughts were clear: 'Why are you here?'

"Lower your heads." Another man with a bushy beard standing by the Emperor's side glared menacingly, prompting the head of the guard to bow deeply in fear. Following Davey and Illyna was none other than the Emperor of the Contas Empire, the predominant power among the three empires in the western continent.

* * *

Meeting the Emperor of Contas had been an extraordinary stroke of luck. What were the odds of encountering the Emperor of the Empire on a bustling street? It seemed that in the world, absolutes didn't exist. Davey's encounter with him was a sheer chance, something he had never anticipated.

After entrusting Io with the oversight of the underground dungeon and arriving in this small territory with Illyna to join the Knights, Davey collided with a man in the busy street. The issue arose when this man attempted to pilfer Davey's wallet. Given his pressing obligations with the Knights, Davey aimed to avoid a scene. Consequently, he handed over a purse filled with rocks and swiftly acquired the man's wallet. Little did he know that this wallet belonged to the Emperor.

Although Davey had some familiarity with Emperor Contas, the Emperor was employing a unique mana wave to conceal his distinctive aura and was wearing a mask devoid of any devices. On the other hand, both Davey and Illyna were concealed beneath masks and robes. Hence, this amusing situation unfolded due to a series of coincidences. Even though it appeared as if Davey had swiped the Emperor's wallet, he had numerous questions about the incident. Why would an Emperor, of all people, be carrying money and attempting to snatch someone else's wallet?

So, how did Davey recognize the man's true identity? It was simple. Imperial emblems and platinum coins associated with Emperor Contas spilled out of the wallet. Realizing he had been duped, the Emperor personally set out to apprehend Davey, leading to their subsequent encounter in a secluded area.

"You audacious fellow! Did you dare to meddle with the Emperor's wallet?" the Emperor thundered.

"Choose your words wisely, Your Majesty. You were the one who attempted to pickpocket first," Davey retorted.

Initially, the Emperor's attendants displayed hostility when they were unaware of Davey's identity, but upon recognizing him, they froze. No one in this small territory could have predicted that the Emperor of an empire and the continent's most powerful saint would engage in pickpocketing each other.

Davey later learned that the Emperor had come here incognito to test law enforcement, albeit in a rather unorthodox manner. To Davey, it was clear that this young, eccentric Emperor had acted impulsively for amusement.

Davey remarked, "There's a saying about the rich getting richer, Your Majesty."

The Emperor chuckled, "You've enlightened me with your actions today. Now, will you return the wallet?"

Davey teased, "It seems Your Majesty possesses some pickpocketing skills. I assume you're familiar with the rules of the trade?"

"Haha, you're quite the character. How do you know such rules?"

"Do you know why there are no thieves or troublemakers in the Heins territory?"

"That's true. The Heins territory was remarkably devoid of criminal activities."

To be precise, he was a conqueror and a great emperor. Although Davey had employed techniques learned from Emperor Astrea of Paladia, renowned as a master of divine spear arts... Any money pouch already in hand was considered the property of the one who took it. That was the mindset of pickpockets found in any slums, regardless of their location. That was how the incident unfolded. In the end, after a minor altercation, Davey returned the money pouch and, with an incredulous Illyna in tow, turned his back on the man. However, the man seemed to take an interest in Davey, as instead of continuing his covert activities, he began following him. And that had persisted to this day.

Viscount Lucknis was undoubtedly the embodiment of bad luck.

Woosh!

"Ahhhhhh!"

When Illyna unsheathed her greatsword and sliced through his contracted muscles, Lucknis trembled violently, tears streaming down his face. He could only faint in shock. In this small territory, it was nearly impossible to encounter both the princess of their own nation and the emperor of the empire at the same time, especially for lower-ranking nobles who rarely even met their own king. It would have been more entertaining if Davey had intervened personally, but for now, he simply waited.

"These... these people threatened me!"

At Lucknis' shout, Illyna's expression turned even colder. "Viscount Lucknis."

"Princess! I've been wronged! I was merely victimized, and they intimidated both me and my entourage!"

"Stop with the nonsense!" Unable to bear it any longer, Shayir shouted.

"Shut up, wretch!" Lucknis quickly moved to slap her, but Boris stepped in instantly to stop the blow. Flustered, Lucknis tried to escape from the situation.

"Princess! Your Majesty! Believe me! It's not right to compare me, who has always been loyal to the Pallan Empire and the continent's peace, with these dirty and barbaric mercenaries!"

At his shout, members of the 268th Knight Squad gritted their teeth, but Illyna remained silent.

"Coming to another country and behaving like this, and claiming innocence?"

"I, I mean..." Suppressing his bleeding nose, he quickly shouted, "Indeed! Even if there were a mistake, it's inappropriate to threaten like this without proper procedure!"

Illyna's expression darkened at his outcry. Every nation had its own norms. In the case of the Pallan Empire, considering Illyna's rank, there was no immediate cause to punish him, at least under normal circumstances.

Illyna, who had been coldly staring at him, clicked her tongue.

"..."

"Heh, heh. Although I've been injured, how could I protest against the princess? If only you could overlook this matter..." Believing the worst had passed, Lucknis exhaled in relief. Of course, that relief was short-lived.

"Do you have something to say, Prince Davey?"

"I may not have the authority to intervene in the Pallan Empire's internal affairs, but seeing an unfamiliar noble act so arrogantly, especially using my name, isn't pleasant." Catching onto her intent, Davey chuckled and pulled his hood down, causing Lucknis' eyes to widen in even greater shock.

"Gah?! What?!"

Within this comedic scene of all the continent's losers crammed into a small restaurant, Davey spoke calmly. "I didn't expect the Pallan Empire to misuse my name in such a manner. I believed that the Rowane Kingdom and the Pallan Empire, whether economically or as military allies, trusted and relied on each other."

The more Davey spoke, the paler Lucknis' expression became, belatedly realizing what was being said. "My name is quite valuable. I demand the punishment of Lucknis, the Pallan Empire noble who impersonated me."

"Punishment?"

"If you don't accept the demand, our new business deal..." Davey cut himself off with a grin. "...you can tear it all down."

"No, wait!" Shocked, Lucknis attempted to rush toward Davey. He too realized how this situation was evolving.

A domestic political issue could easily escalate into an international one with a few slips of the tongue. It was he who had first falsely implicated Davey by using his name and territory. The outcome depended on how Davey reacted to the false accusations. The Pallan Empire was currently compensating for war damages by selling a lot of goods to the Heins territory. Davey had negotiated with Prince Sullivan to make the Pallan Empire, his ally, prosperous. But if Davey decided to halt the trade due to this issue?

While it might not critically shake the Pallan Empire, the nation was not so benevolent that it would allow their relationship to sour just to save an insignificant viscount. In such a case, the Pallan Empire's decision would likely be to use Lucknis as a sacrificial pawn.

That was enough. Viscount Lucknis, realizing the gravity of the situation, paled and clung desperately to Illyna. "I-I'm so sorry! Perhaps I lost my mind for a moment! Please, have mercy!"

"Mercy?" Illyna responded. "I don't have the means to punish you any further. So shouldn't you be seeking mercy from Prince Davey instead?"

The influence that the Rowane Kingdom and the Heins territory had garnered in less than a year was strong enough to shape this situation. Upon hearing Illyna's words, Viscount Lucknis crawled over to Davey and clutched the hem of his trousers. "Holy one from the sacred continent, please show mercy..."

"Viscount Lucknis," Davey said, locking eyes with him and grinning, "I've seen how you overpower and humiliate those weaker than you and your relentless attempts to slander. You seem to enjoy bullying the innocent. It looks fun. Let's give it a try."

This issue went beyond the problems with the knights. If they did not address Lucknis' comments, there would be issues in the future. They could not overlook it, nor did they want to. The audacity of Lucknis to look down upon someone and act this way to a teacher! While the knights of the 268th division and teacher Boris kept their composure thinking about their discipline, Davey had every intention of using his authority.

Unnecessary displays of power using rank and authority were meaningless. Yet, there was no reason in the world not to use it when needed. Davey's laughter caused Viscount Lucknis to stiffen, and out of sheer terror, he wet himself.

"Emperor, lend me some soldiers," Davey commanded.

"Very well, Muek, you go this time."

"As you wish, Emperor."

"Transfer this man to the imperial treasury immediately. Report the international incident that almost erupted here and let him be judged according to our empire's laws."

It was more than just an issue, as Davey had witnessed Viscount Lucknis impersonating both the Heins territory and the saint of the continent. A man with tanned skin, Muek, nodded in agreement. The punishment that awaited Lucknis in the empire was not likely to be lenient. Given Davey's standing in the Pallan Empire, a light punishment was out of the question.

Considering Prince Sullivan's fiery temper, even if Lucknis was not officially executed, he was likely to meet a terrible unofficial end. After all, for the peace of the continent and Illyna's safety, Prince Sullivan would go to any lengths.

The politicians, though not as formidable as Sullivan, would not ignore this situation either, especially if it provided a pretext for their own agendas. They would likely seize this opportunity to eliminate any loose ends.

"No! This is a trap! Save me! Princess! Princessss!"

As Lucknis was dragged away screaming, his voice faded.

"This is why in politics, you shouldn't speak carelessly," Davey remarked.

"Didn't you challenge me directly during the last war?" the Emperor responded.

"Do you think I did that without a plan?"

The Emperor chuckled, seemingly amused. "It's always entertaining with you. Your arrogance befits a person of power, and you know how to wield it."

One of the guards whispered to the Emperor. "Do you believe that without my guards, I can't do anything? Stop the unnecessary worries and stabilize the surroundings. The people here shouldn't be disrupted from their daily lives."

With the situation resolved and most people gone from the restaurant, only the four knights of the 268th division, Boris, Illyna, Davey, and the Emperor of Contas remained.

In the ensuing silence, Davey spoke up. "Let's fill our stomachs first."

Emperor Contas smirked. "I've heard you're quite the drinker. How about we have a drinking contest?"

"I don't do it for free."

"Davey?!"

While Illyna and the Alpha Reinforcements appeared shocked by the sudden change in mood, Davey was not one to back down from a challenge. He had orchestrated this setting for a reason.

"You're materialistic, but there's fun in making bets. I'll raise the stakes. If you can outdrink me, you can have this," the Emperor said, presenting a necklace that appeared to be a royal treasure.

Illyna's eyes sparkled at the sight. "That's..."

Davey didn't recognize the item, but it seemed valuable. In response, he brought out a gauntlet. "This is my creation. I've heard you're quite skilled in hand-to-hand combat."

"Very impressive. It could take a place in my collection."

Illyna then presented her bracelet.

"Can I join in too?" Illyna intervened with a sly smile.

"How about it, mercenaries? I highly value your guts and courage. Care to give it a try?"

"Ye-yes!"

"Lucia! I told you drinking is prohibited during the abstention period!"

"It's already too late. Ah, please forgive me, dear Daphne, for my many sins."

"I've never seen her succeed in that." Although Fildyr tried to restrain her, Lucia, with her sparkling eyes, seemed unstoppable.

On the other hand, Boris looked at Davey with an expression that suggested he couldn't understand Davey.

[Davey, what on earth are you up to?]

[I set a trap on our way here. We just need to wait for it to spring.]

Boris seemed puzzled by Davey's telepathic magic.