Chapter 46

A relatively ordinary appearance. A good atmosphere for blending in. Not particularly noticeable and seems diligent. In other words, it was the perfect condition to be a spy. Latil firmly remembered the suspicious person who was thinking alone but did not immediately pick them out on the spot.

‘He probably didn’t act alone.’

What Latil wanted was not the perpetrator but the mastermind lurking beyond, who dared to desecrate his father’s grave and drop a strange letter.

‘Tlal. I hope it’s not you. If it’s not, then you’re really trash.’

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

When Latil’s expression turned cold, a few people worriedly asked. They seemed taken aback by his sudden stern look and his talk of spies.

“Of course. I feel very good.”

“Are you looking for a suspicious person?”

“It seems so.”

“Who is it?”

Instead of answering straightforwardly, Latil put his finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.

“This is something to keep secret. I’ll tell you later, so be patient.”

“!”

The few people were surprised that Latil didn’t even tell them. Given the strong trust between Latil and the few, this was a natural reaction. Moreover, Latil had entrusted them with several tasks.

“Just in case. I’ll tell you when it’s certain.”

In fact, the reason Latil didn’t tell the few about the spy was that he didn’t want to reveal the basis for identifying the spy. He could bluff to others, but it wouldn’t work with the few, who were always by his side. Of course, being honest would solve the issue, but he didn’t want to. Latil had no intention of revealing his ability to read minds to others. It was a great ability for catching suspicious individuals and future traitors, but it also made people uncomfortable.

“I’m feeling very hurt now. I feel like I’ve been pushed out of Your Majesty’s inner circle.”

Latil smiled, patted the few on the back, and turned away.

“You hesitated between my brother and me before, so it’s a tie.”

* * * Latil chose Tashir to help with this task instead of the few.

“Tashir.”

When Latil suddenly visited, Tashir, who was drawing strange designs with his attendant, quickly smiled and bowed.

“Your Majesty, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“What’s that?”

“I was designing.”

“Designing?”

“A design for a costume that will flutter and fall to the ground with a single gesture from Your Majesty.”

Don’t make that. Latil’s eyes and mouth formed a square as he stared, but Tashir, without blinking, pulled out a chair and invited Latil to sit.

“Would you like to take a look? I can reflect Your Majesty’s taste. Which exposure do you prefer? As a hint, my shoulders are very attractive.”

Latil looked at the professionally drawn design and asked sincerely.

“Can’t you do this kind of thing secretly?”

Tashir folded the design, saying it was possible, and the attendant, who had been blushing, quickly collected the design and ran out. Unlike the shameless Tashir, the attendant seemed very embarrassed to have been caught by the emperor. But Tashir, having passed his share of embarrassment to the attendant, smiled and leaned in to ask Latil.

“Would you like tea? Or coffee? Or... me?”

“Coffee.”

“You answered so quickly. You’re cold.”

“Oh, I like cold things. Since you mentioned it, I’ll have iced coffee.”

“Not iced Tashir?”

“Alright. Ah, add cream too.”

“Can I add cream to iced Tashir too?”

“Please, just coffee.”

When Latil said this seriously, Tashir sulkily got up and walked to a small table in the corner. As he selected coffee beans, making a pleasant rustling sound, Latil stifled a laugh. But when Tashir brought the coffee with ice, Latil’s smile had already disappeared.

“Thank you.”

“If your feelings change, let me know. I can offer iced Tashir, hot Tashir, cream, honey, sugar, and all options.”

“The coffee is good.”

“Are you just ignoring me?”

Latil chuckled and said, “No, I’m not,” then waited for Tashir to take a sip of coffee before asking.

“Actually, I came to ask for a favor.”

“You don’t seem to be in the right attitude for asking a favor.”

“Actually, I came to give an order.”

“...Go on.”

“The Black Forest kids, they’re all good at stealth, right?”

“It’s their specialty.”

“I want to have someone follow a certain person.”

Latil described the suspicious guard’s appearance in detail, and Tashir immediately understood and smiled.

“You must mean Pol from the 1st Guard Unit.”

“I don’t know his name.”

Latil could have found out the name just by pointing, but he didn’t want everyone, including the suspect, to know he was watching. So he remembered the suspect’s face and deliberately didn’t ask for the name.

“It’s probably Pol.”

“Right, then have Pol followed and keep an eye on him.”

“How long should it go on? If it’s a long-term operation, it’s better to have two or three people.”

“It won’t take long. He’ll come to me soon.”

“?”

“Just watch. If he moves outside the guard quarters, let me know.”

“Are you going to catch him?”

“No.”

Latil said firmly, finished the remaining coffee in one gulp, and smiled.

“I’ll track him myself.”

“!”

* * * The desecration of the grave couldn’t have been done by the guard Pol alone. Even if the grave was in an accessible location, it wouldn’t be easy to avoid other people’s eyes. Moreover, the large graffiti that covered one side of the small building. Could one person draw that between shifts?

‘That’s impossible.’

But when Latil subtly questioned the other guards, they were all anxious about who the culprit might be, but no one reacted. This suggested that the other culprit might not be a guard but another insider. This is why Latil decided to track the culprit himself. It seemed faster to take direct action in this situation. The problem was...

“Are we on a date?”

“No.”

Somehow, he ended up bringing Tashir along. Latil sighed, looking in another direction to avoid Tashir, who was standing next to him with his arms crossed and sparkling eyes. Tashir knew about the former emperor’s grave, the suspicious letter, and Prince Tlal. He didn’t know about the high priest, but he was still one of the most informed people. Moreover, as the leader of a notorious assassination group, his stealth skills were exceptional. Latil brought Tashir along for these reasons, to be of help.

‘He’s really noisy.’

But Tashir kept talking during the tracking, which distracted Latil. He slightly regretted bringing Tashir.

“It’s fine. It’s less suspicious to move while talking. Besides, there’s someone already tracking ahead of us.”

The “someone already tracking” Tashir mentioned was an assassin from the Black Forest, the person Latil asked to follow Pol. To prepare for any situation, this person was tracking while remaining hidden, while Latil and Tashir were following in plain clothes, pretending to be passersby. However, about five minutes after Tashir finished speaking, Pol, who had been walking quickly, suddenly stopped and turned around. Latil and Tashir almost simultaneously dodged to the side. After regaining their breath and peeking out, they saw Pol walking again, but he kept looking back, suggesting he suspected someone was following him.

“If we chase him now, it will be obvious.”

Seeing this, Tashir clicked his tongue and muttered. Latil agreed.

“Should we spend some time here and then go? Or take a shortcut and get ahead?”

Thinking Tashir was more of an expert in stealth, Latil asked, and Tashir, after pretending to think, pointed somewhere with his thumb.

“Why don’t we spend some time over there? It will look more natural.”

Latil looked in the direction Tashir pointed. It was a luxurious building almost three stories high, with a shiny silver sign. The name on the sign was...

“Anges Trading Company?”

The trading company Tashir was the heir to. * * * Latil had seen the head of Anges Trading Company a few times in the audience hall when she was the princess. He had also seen him at Tashir’s swearing-in ceremony when Tashir entered the palace and at subsequent meals. However, due to Latil’s position, the head of the trading company didn’t dare to look closely at the emperor, so he didn’t recognize Latil, who was wearing a deep cap.

“Son!”

The head of Anges Trading Company, seeing Tashir, ran over happily without even glancing at Latil, asking various questions like why he came, if he could just come out, and if he had caused any trouble. During this time, Latil pulled his cap even deeper and looked around the trading company.

‘It’s shiny.’

Indeed, it was a fitting interior for the best trading company in the country. Latil recalled that Tashir was the heir to the trading company, though he already knew it. Since learning Tashir was the leader of the Black Forest, he had somehow started to think of Tashir more as the leader of an assassination group than as a trading company heir, partly because of his face, which had a drug dealer vibe. After almost 30 minutes of standing and talking to Tashir, the head of the trading company finally noticed Latil and asked his son.

“Who is this?”

“He’s a servant Your Majesty assigned to me, Father.”

“What about Hierran?”

“Hierran can’t do everything alone.”

“That’s true.”

The head of the trading company’s interest in Latil ended there. He then led Tashir to a large dining room, inviting him to have a meal with his favorite dishes, and Latil was also brought along