Chapter 26: Graduation Ceremony (3)

"Let's hear that story a bit later."

Just as the conversation was about to drift, the Duke interjected.

With everyone's attention on him, the Duke slowly looked around the room, a slight smile on his lips.

"Wouldn't it be more interesting to see it later?"

"You're right."

Though he said it with a smile, there was an inexplicable weight to his words. The Captain and Vice-Captains bowed their heads in unison.

The playful atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Even Phiri, who seemed a bit disappointed, showed a clear sense of hierarchy.

Thinking about it, the Duke was a bit more lenient with us.

He was strict with Marhan and Lena, after all.

It seemed more because of his position as a Duke rather than our age. Phiri's attitude alone was a clear indication.

'Does this mean he takes care of his own people?'

Anyway, I was planning to tell him I wanted to go to the Empire.

There was no need to beat around the bush, and I thought Phiri might take better care of me if I said so.

Well, it didn't really matter either way.

From the Duke's perspective, it was a considerate gesture. It was an awkward moment for me as a subordinate.

I met his eyes in gratitude, and he nodded slightly in response.

A small laugh escaped me inwardly.

Since Mohen, who ruined the graduation ceremony, had gone to the Empire, I wasn't too worried.

Still, receiving such attention made me feel much more at ease.

Marhan stood up.

"The task for this graduation ceremony is..."

Marhan paused for a moment.

We focused intently on Marhan's words. Would it be a sparring match like last time?

"To find the branch of the intelligence unit you aspire to join."

Huh?

I was taken aback by the unexpected announcement. Glancing around, the others seemed just as surprised.

"Meaning, you need to find the branch of the intelligence unit you want to join among those that want you."

Marhan repeated himself.

I understood what he meant, but it was outside the scope of what I had expected.

I thought we would do something here, whether it was a sparring match or demonstrating our abilities.

Suddenly, the Duke's earlier words came to mind. He said we would 'see' it later, not hear it here.

'He gave us a hint in advance.'

I had been fixated on the graduation ceremony from the past. Even though I had only seen one graduation ceremony.

Perhaps the Duke subtly taught us something?

Hmm. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

Either way, I learned a lesson, so I can view it positively.

"Considering your evaluations so far, all the intelligence units have expressed a desire to take you in. I'll give you a clue, and you can choose the one you want."

A question suddenly came to mind. If this was the case, was it really necessary to gather everyone like this?

Intelligence agents value efficiency. Would such important figures gather just for this?

'If you think about it, the graduation ceremony itself might be meaningless...'

No. Perhaps the graduation ceremony isn't the main purpose.

How often do the four major intelligence units meet? There's a difference between what can be discussed in writing and what can be discussed in person.

They might have added the graduation ceremony to this meeting.

In any case, the tension that had been building up suddenly eased.

At that moment, Denif spoke up.

"Everyone said they would be nice to Kallin, but is there no one who will be nice to me?"

...Crazy. A moment of silence followed. His bold words made me look around nervously.

But the Captain and Vice-Captains burst into laughter simultaneously.

"There's another one like Phiri."

"I agree."

"Why? What did I do?"

Phiri flared up, and laughter spread again. Did Denif and Phiri have a similar vibe?

Thinking back to when I first met them, they did seem to have a similar aura.

"That was just about Kallin. You're all outstanding, so we'll take good care of you equally."

"Understood."

Denif bowed to Captain Haisen in response, but he didn't look entirely satisfied.

His face was filled with an indescribable passion.

At first, I was a bit worried, but I thought he would be fine.

Even if he got on the wrong side of the higher-ups, his appearance and talent would surely turn the evaluation around.

To change the subject, I turned to Marhan and asked,

"You said to find a branch. Is it starting now, and what's the clue?"

"We'll set out in the evening. I'll give you the clue then."

The Duke stood up, signaling the end of the graduation ceremony.

"It's been a while since a graduation ceremony."

Right. It's the first one in three years.

A long time, yet it felt like a long time ago.

Maybe it's because I've changed so much since then?

"Thank you for your hard work. It wasn't easy, but you did better than expected."

The Duke smiled, met our eyes briefly, and then continued seriously.

"Of course, it will be even harder from now on."

We chuckled at his playful follow-up.

"Please do your best in the future. Keep an eye on and neutralize all threats to Haisen. I'll keep this short."

The Duke stood up and turned around. The Captain and Vice-Captains followed.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

Indeed, they might have gathered for other discussions besides the graduation ceremony. They had been talking before the ceremony.

Marhan gathered us.

"Pack your bags and wait. We'll set out after a brief meeting with the Duke."

* * *

Actually, I had packed my bags roughly the night before, so it was essentially a waiting order.

We went to the dining hall, gathered some food, and waited.

Not long after, Marhan called us in one by one for a meeting with the Duke.

Orhen went first, followed by Denif.

I don't know what they talked about, but they all returned with serious expressions.

It seemed they had gained a sense of responsibility and resolve.

And I was the last.

The Captain and Vice-Captains were already gone by the time I arrived.

"Father, I'm here."

I used to hesitate to call him 'Father,' but now it feels quite natural when we're alone.

The Duke smiled and told me to sit.

"Do you still want to go to the Empire?"

"Yes."

"Why the Empire, specifically? I think it's time you told me."

I had heard this before. I shrugged.

"As I said before, there's no major reason. There's a lot to learn in a tough place, and it just feels right."

"Is it not because of past events?"

The Duke said it casually, but his eyes were sharp. It felt like a spear.

Even though I hadn't done anything wrong, I felt a bit guilty.

"What do you mean...?"

Of course, I felt guilty because I had other information. I tried to keep my expression neutral.

The Duke suddenly changed the subject.

"Do you know where Orhen wants to go?"

"I heard it's Altre."

"Why?"

"I have a guess, but I'm not sure."

The Duke's eyes sparkled.

"Tell me."

"Based on my guess, Orhen is from a noble family in Altre and wants to take revenge."

"Your reasoning?"

"From his usual behavior and what I've heard about his nanny."

"Reasonable. Accurate."

The Duke nodded.

"However, don't tell Orhen that I gave him a definite answer."

"Understood."

"I'm serious. I'm telling you because it's you, Kallin."

"I'll keep it in mind."

If it had been Denif, he might not have told him at all.

I smiled at his playful words, and the Duke surprised me.

"So, do you have memories from before you came here?"

"No."

I answered immediately, and the Duke looked into my eyes for a moment.

"I investigated after bringing you here. Your talent was too exceptional to be just a commoner's child. I looked into the nobles who had disappeared or been wiped out when you were young."

"I had a hunch."

I had worried about who my parents were, fearing future problems.

I expected an investigation into me.

"However, I couldn't find anything. Haisen doesn't have a complete grasp of the entire continent."

I already knew what the Duke was going to say. I remained silent.

"I thought you might be a commoner, but I also thought it was more likely you were from a noble family."

The Duke was thinking about me the way I had thought about Orhen.

If I were the Duke, I would have done the same.

"You thought there was a reason for me to go to the Empire."

"Given your intelligence, it wouldn't be strange if you had memories from when you were young."

The Duke looked at me silently.

He was waiting for my response. Hmm. I had planned to talk about the Empire eventually.

But not now. Not like this.

Without any solid information, it would be hard to gain credibility. I thought quickly.

"Well, since you're my father, I'll be honest."

The Duke remained silent, but his pupils dilated slightly.

"It's not the reason you're thinking. I don't have any old memories."

"..."

"It's not a lie. The main reason is the challenge and the opportunity to learn in a tough place. If I must say, it's because of the princess."

"Princess?"

The Duke seemed a bit taken aback by the unexpected answer.

"Isn't she one of the top three beauties on the continent? I thought I might get to see her if I go to the Empire."

It seemed like a decent excuse for a quick thought.

I could have said I had no reason, but it was better to use a cover story than to leave room for suspicion.

It was plausible for a boy my age.

"Sorry to give you a trivial reason. It's just curiosity, and the main reason is the challenge and the opportunity to learn."

I looked away slightly, and the Duke chuckled.

"Sure, that's possible."

But his eyes were serious. I maintained a calm exterior, but I was sweating inside.

He's the head of an intelligence unit. He might have noticed something off about me.

"Just be careful. Emotions can cloud your judgment."

"Understood. Glory to Haisen. I'll always prioritize Haisen."

I don't think he fully believed me, but he let it go because it made sense.

I'll need to be more careful when I go to the Empire. The Duke tapped his desk.

"I have one more thing to say."

"I'm listening."

"If you encounter problems during your mission, always prioritize your life."

"Excuse me?"

It was different from what I had learned. I was told that the mission's success was more important than an agent's life.

"You're an important asset to me. I know all my subordinates prioritize Haisen, but you shouldn't die easily."

It was a bit cold, but not wrong, given his mysterious background and the fact that the Duke had personally trained him.

"I'll keep it in mind."

"That's all. See you later. Stay safe."

"Thank you. Take care, Father."

I left the Duke's room and walked for a while before taking a deep breath.

The head of an intelligence unit is indeed a head of an intelligence unit.

Maybe because I was out of his domain, he suddenly probed me, and I was a bit taken aback.

I had let my guard down a bit because he had treated me well and I had been doing well.

'Well, trust is something to build from now on.'

There's still a lot of time before the main story. The time for growth is over.

Now, my actions will have a significant impact on the future.