Chapter 568: As Truthful As Possible

Why was he here?

Every time he walked along the corridors of Renaissance Palace, Mallos could not help but ask himself that.

Rays of light leaked through the narrow stone windows, splitting the corridor on this floor into countless black and white striped fragments.

He walked through the light and shadows as his figure was sporadically lit amid the chilly morning air.

Soon, the path at his feet diverged in front of him: one led to the royal family's treasury and the watchmen's chamber that he frequented, another led to the guards' night shift break room that he despised.

Why was he here?

Mallos turned into one without hesitation.

Because he was destined to be here.

When he walked past the prized portrait of the 'Wise Prime Minister' Halva from the era of the King of Renaissance (whose sagacious demeanor was striking as ever), the watchman greeted two logistics officers of the royal guards who were passing by, but he was acutely aware that their attitude was peculiar.

'It's only normal.

'After all, after last night, Mindis Hall has become the center of focus of the entire capital,' Mallos thought calmly.

'What's more, the person who is really bearing these pressures is...'

Mallos turned a corner habitually and pushed open a wooden door, entering the guards' first night shift break room.

"So, Will, what goodies do we have this new year?"

Mallos stopped in front of the wall where the roster was hung and greeted the people in the room as he removed his weapon to hang it on the sword rack.

Just as he placed his hand on his weapon, he met another.

The Power of Eradication within him roused instinctively.

The whole world became quiet.

Desolate.

Silent.

Frosty.

Heavy.

Dim.

Until someone disturbed it.

"Maté tea."

At the other end of the break room, a young man—flag bearer, Will—put down his cup with a look of revulsion and looked up from behind a table stacked full of documents.

"A merchant group brought it back from Shalte Archipelago. It's bitter enough to make someone choke, it's not selling well in the capital.

"So the Logistics Division bought a huge batch cheap, because it 'refreshes' you.

"At least that's what they told me."

Will looked depressed for some reason.

Mallos contorted his facial muscles to put on what others would perceive as a sincere smile.

"Not bad." The watchman picked up the teapot and poured himself a large mug. "Bitterness, very characteristic of the Logistics Division."

Mallos took a sip and frowned hard from the taste in his mouth.

"It suits your work to a tee."

But Will, who was ordinarily talkative, did not continue the topic.

"Don't look at me, Lord Mallos." Will raised a hand helplessly. "I'm just a note-taker today."

Seeing Will being abnormally wary, Mallos paused.

He wasn't just depressed, but also trying hard to mask his anxiety.

But why?

The sound of footsteps approached from further within the room.

A ripple appeared in the world of dead silence, attracting Mallos' attention.

"You're late," a voice from within the night shift break room said, calmly but somberly, "Lord Mallos."

The voice sounded displeased.

The watchman turned around. A man who was of a similar age to him, with narrow eyes and thin lips and an unpleasant air of nobility about him, walked out from the inner room towards him.

'It's him.'

Mallos' expression remained unchanged but he sighed a little inside.

Why did he still feel disappointed?

He knew the man would come, didn't he?

"I didn't expect you to come." Mallos put down his cup, smiled, and faced the man. "Lord Talon."

Vogel Talon—the vice-captain cum Chief Flagbearer that he had met just last night, scoffed in response, "Yes. I didn't expect it too."

Mallos nodded.

'Vogel doesn't look happy,' In the world of dead silence, he told himself, 'He wants something but can't get it, so he's expressing his discontent with anger.'

The watchman turned around and asked Will, "Where's Jayden?

"I remember he's usually the one responsible for recording?"

Behind the desk, flag bearer Will stared intently at the words he was writing and seemed oblivious to the watchman's question, as if he had made up his mind to not look up.

"The Flag Bearer Division is very busy today. They're understaffed."

It was Vogel who replied.

The Chief Flagbearer continued coldly, "Thanks to what happened last night."

Mallos smiled.

"Very busy? To the point that you, the chief, has to personally attend to this?"

The watchman turned around and looked directly into Vogel's eyes that resembled willow tree leaves.

"To do...paperwork?"

Vogel did not answer. He moved behind the desk and pulled out a chair beside Will.

Mallos saw from the corner of his eyes that Will shifted a little to the side.

In the next second, Vogel coldly recited an old saying, "Knights congregate."

Mallos and Will fell silent at these words.

Even if he had other thoughts on his mind, the watchman had no choice but to respond solemnly together with Will, "To obey the Emperor!"

He did not know the meaning behind this ancient ritual.

But ever since he could remember, this was the rule enforced by royal guards.

As if by this, the glory of the Emperor's Praetorian Guards could be revived.

All he could do was follow.

The atmosphere became tense.

Vogel stared silently at him, seemingly gauging the veracity of his words.

After a few seconds, the vice-captain nodded. "Lock the door. Let's begin."

Will took a deep breath and did as ordered.

He took out a black box from a locked drawer. From the box, he retrieved a piece of Crystal Drop and a rough stone shaped like an egg.

Mallos's gaze froze.

"Respected guard watchman Tormond Mallos, please take a seat."

Will respectfully invited Mallos to sit while he pulled open an iron grille by the wall.

There were strange but delicate veined patterns carved on the wall under the iron grille, an ancient script that could barely be understood even with a lifetime of study.

Will did not seem to understand any of it, but this did not stop him from adhering to the procedure and embedding the Crystal Drop and stone into the holes in the wall that held the complicated patterns.

He was careful.

Accustomed, but reverent.

Will closed the iron grilled. After a few seconds, a strange and subtle glow radiated from the gaps in the grille.

"What does this mean?" Mallos stared at the light.

"It's a Sound Replication Stone," Will replied enthusiastically. He seemed equally amazed by it.

"It's impressive, isn't it? I'm told it will work just like that..."

Mallos interjected, "I know what this is.

"I want to know why."

Will froze and looked towards Vogel subconsciously. "I'm sure you are aware that major records in the royal guards generally need to be logged as Eternal Files, especially those of the Flag Bearer Division..."

Vogel suddenly coughed.

Will immediately stopped speaking and put on a solemn expression.

"Morning of January 4, Year 680 of the Calendar of Eradication. In accordance with the 'Sacred Covenant of Praetorians', the work of the flag bearer of the royal guards hereby commences.

"The target of record is the guard watchman, Tormond Mallos."

The flag bearer opened his notebook and kept to procedure. "I am special-class flag bearer Will Korden, responsible for witnessing and recording, accompanied by Chief Flagbearer Vogel Talon who will lead the..."

But Vogel cut him off.

"Enough.

"Crystal Drops are expensive. Let's be brief."

Under Will's embarrassed gaze, Vogel took the lead.

"First of all, about the incident at Mindis Hall last night..."

Vogel turned to a page in the notes before him, stared at Mallos, and asked coldly, "Whether rushing towards the scene or dueling as a proxy, as personal guard captain, you knew about the relevant consequences.

"Why did you not stop him, but instead indulged Prince Thales' impulsive actions?"

Mallos retracted his gaze from the wall in which the Sound Replication Stone and Crystal Drop were embedded and no longer looked at the ancient Sound Replication Spell that had been touched up by countless amateurs for the past six centuries and was now only barely useable.

He returned to the previous night.

"I have neither the right nor the ability to interfere in His Highness' decision.

"Since he was speaking, I could not go against him in public."

Vogel scoffed but its meaning was unclear. "Is that so?

"But why did I feel that you were more than eager to go against your superiors last night?"

'He hasn't changed.'

Mallos stared at Vogel's face; as ever, there was distrust, harshness and animosity on it.

Just like eighteen years ago.

When Vogel, Falcondor, Stanley and himself were fresh-faced knight apprentices. Even Vogel, with the most prestigious family background and experience, was just a royal guard candidate, and technically not even an official guard.

Just a group of young men, captivated by the legends of yesteryears and longing for illusory honors.

But who were at the brink of adulthood and already mature.

After witnessing the nightmare of Bloody Year.

They panicked.

And were at a loss.

Mallos shook his head. "You must have misunderstood, Lord Talon. Last night, I..."

But Vogel did not give him a chance to finish his sentence. "Danny Doyle, that D.D, the first-class protector under you."

The Chief Flagbearer lowered his head to review the document. "His performance last night was terrible. Humiliating, even.

"Acting rashly out of personal interest, putting the prince in danger, ignoring the orders of his superiors."

Vogel looked up.

"Isn't that right?"

Mallos and Vogel exchanged a silent look.

In those eighteen years, he and Vogel, the youths of their generation, albeit with trepidation, fought diligently to become who they most admired, but also became a complete stranger to themselves in the process.

From candidates, to trainees, to second-class officers, to first-class officers...

Till now.

They thought that by doing so.

They could bury the fear and desperation they once had.

And become adults.

Then train a new generation of youths.

"Yes," Mallos replied straightforwardly, "His actions last night were stupid."

Vogel scoffed ambiguously.

"As for first-class vanguard, Caleb Glover..."

The Chief Flagbearer turned over the page. "From what I gather, Doyle broke away from him and consequently endangered the situation.

"Isn't that right?"

Mallos suddenly felt a little sleepy.

But he couldn't yawn in front of them.

That would be impolite.

Not very polite.

"I cannot deny it." Mallos picked up the maté tea and covered his yawn while enjoying the stimulation of bitterness in the world of dead silence.

This made him exhilarated.

The Logistics Division does good things occasionally, doesn't it?

"So they should be punished, do you agree?"

During Vogel's interrogation, Will was scribbling away beside him.

"Watchman?"

Mallos took his nose out of the cup and smiled plainly. "Of course."

Vogel stared at him for a long while, as if trying to confirm whether the latter really reacted this way.

He took out a report, inverted it and presented it to Mallos. "Very well. Sign here then. I will send this to Chief Penal Officer Falcondor.

"Out of respect towards you, the Flag Bearer Division will not hold anyone else accountable..."

Mallos glanced at the flag bearer's report before him and caught a few keywords.

Misconduct.

Overstepping.

Loyalty.

Deal with.

Mallos curled his lips.

But still obediently grabbed a pen and opened the report.

"Don't worry. Although mistakes have been made, both Doyle and Glover's actions were understandable and it's unlikely they will be sent to the guard detention hole."

Vogel was still looking at him with a blazing gaze, but the words that came out of his mouth had softened by much, "I suggested to Falcondor that they merely be demoted to second-class..."

Mallos was calm as usual. He tried the ink on some draft paper and grunted in agreement. "How magnanimous of you."

'He isn't.

'Vogel is eager to do so,' Mallos told himself, 'To flaunt the power that he had not been able to obtain elsewhere, to numb the pain that he felt from something else, to conceal his decades-old irritability.'

The world was still deadly silent, allowing Mallos to clearly perceive Vogel's emotions.

'But his doing so will not satisfy him.

'Just like revenge can never fill the void.

'And the future cannot make up for the past.'

"But without question, these two people are no longer fit to stay beside Prince Thales," Vogel said in a sharp change of tone, "It is my opinion that they should return to their initial divisions respectively, reflect and await orders..."

Mallos nodded as he read the report, and said casually, "There's just one slight problem..."

Vogel paused. "What's that?"

The Sound Replication Spell flickered slightly. Will frowned and knocked tentatively on the wall.

"I have already carried out punishments, which was witnessed by Prince Thales and the entire unit." Mallos seemed unbothered. "Doyle and Glover have paid the price."

Vogel was silent for a few seconds.

"When?"

"Just this morning."

Mallos turned over the page. It was the page where his signature should be.

"The specific record is with vice penal officer Gray Patterson. Of course, I believe Hugo Fuble will report to the Flag Bearer Division as soon as possible."

Vogel did not speak.

But in the world of dead silence, Mallos could feel the pressure coming from Vogel rise.

Like a stove boiling water.

"This morning..."

Vogel exhaled. "The incident happened just last night. Don't you think it might have been too hasty to have rushed into sentencing?"

"It was hasty." Mallos dipped his pen in ink.

"But we had no choice. Prince Thales was incensed.

"Under his forceful order, we did not dare delay."

Vogel frowned hard.

Mallos smoothed out the report meticulously as he prepared to sign the neatest and most perfect signature he had ever signed in his life on this report.

After a good few seconds, the vice-captain uttered slowly, "Is that so?"

Vogel glared at Mallos. "Is Prince Thales so harsh and merciless?"

In that moment, Will suddenly felt a little frustrated, and had to concentrate on maintaining the Sound Replication Spell.

As if he understood what it meant.

Mallos shrugged and started to write with a smile. "Hah, unimaginably so."

Vogel lowered his gaze and glanced at Mallos' elegant handwriting.

"And you're sure the punishment fit the misconduct?"

"I don't know." Mallos dipped his pen in ink and shook his head. "But of course, if you feel that His Highness has been unfair and there is a need to re-sentence, that would be understandable..."

Bam!

The vice-captain slammed a palm on the table.

Mallos stopped writing and looked up at Vogel.

He did not need to stroll in his world of dead silence to sense the latter's emotions.

"There's no need."

Vogel glared at Mallos and irrefutably withdrew the report from Mallos.

The signature was half signed. The pen left a long trace of ink on the paper when it was yanked away.

Will bowed his head low—this kid has been in the Flag Bearer Division for long enough; he knew how to read the situation.

"Generally, we don't penalize the same wrongdoing twice."

Vogel was expressionless.

In front of Mallos, he ripped the report into pieces and chucked it into the paper bin.

"Yes of course. I forgot." Mallos put down the pen and smiled at Vogel. "Thank you for reminding me."

What a shame. That was his best signature.

Vogel remained silent for a long time until he was done processing his emotions.

After a few seconds, when the Chief Flagbearer looked up, his posture was perfect and proper.

"From what I understand, you have been with Prince Thales for more than two months."

Vogel brushed away the prior upset and took out a new report, returning to his duties at hand. "How has His Highness' character been during this time?"

'Character.

'That kid's...character?'

Mallos' pupils went slightly out of focus.

"When he fights, he goes all in," he said slowly, "And when he loses, he's reluctant to admit it."

Vogel frowned and lowered his gaze to read the report.

"It doesn't have to be about martial arts. It could be..." the Chief Flagbearer paused, "Other aspects?"

Mallos smiled. "The kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department would know more about His Highness' life in the north."

Vogel looked up. "But I'm asking you."

They shared a pause.

Mallos stared silently at Vogel.

Just like how it was when they were younger.

"Bardic poems," Mallos started slowly, looking nonchalant, "He quite enjoys those. He reads plenty of them and sings them well too. Too bad his lute playing...

"Sound like a cat in heat."

Vogel frowned again.

"He likes to talk to himself. He likes chess too, but his skills are as bad as D.D's.

"He likes to have a book with him wherever he goes, pretending to be cultured." Mallos lifted his cup and gradually felt that the tea in it was no longer that bitter.

"But he never reads them."

"What else?" Vogel interjected, "For example...anything abnormal?"

Mallos looked up.

Vogel's expression remained unchanged. "We all know the prince is a genius, and different from ordinary people."

'Different from ordinary people.'

The watchman stayed a while in the world of dead silence that only he knew about before returning to reality.

He snorted. "Yes. His Highness has a mouth that's laced with venom, making him overbearing. But strangely, his usual temperament is gentle and calm."

Mallos revealed another knowing smile. "He's also prone to moaning and bouts of melancholy, not uncommon for youths his age.

"I'm sure you understand, lack of affection in childhood..."

Vogel coughed deliberately!

"Pay attention to your words, Lord Mallos."

Mallos smiled apologetically.

'How interesting.'

The watchman stood in the world of dead silence and stared at the infinite desolation before him.

Vogel continued to live within irritation and emptiness, burning with anger.

But he was still reverent.

Still fearful.

"Anything else?"

"Yes. Even though I don't know the details, but there is one thing about His Highness that worries the guards..."

Vogel looked up and started to pay attention.

"From various signs..." Mallos pondered for a short while. "Prince Thales seems to maybe, erm..." the watchman nodded and continued with a solemn expression, "Prefer men?"

Will, who was enjoying his tea, ended up being sprayed in the face by the waves that formed in his cup. Embarrassed, he hurriedly cleaned himself.

The report in Vogel's hands was crumpled beyond recognition.

The break room was silent and awkwardness filled the air.

Only the Sound Replication Spell was left operating stalwartly.

"Mallos."

Vogel had a blank expression, but the tone of his voice deepened, "Are you aware, that we are using the Sound Replication Stone?"

He continued chillingly, "This Eternal File...

"Will be preserved for thousands of years to come."

Mallos smiled. "Yes, I'm aware."

The watchman looked at the glowing Sound Replication Spell and put on a fake smile as if greeting someone during the new year. "Isn't that why we're trying to be as truthful as possible?"