Chapter 98

"Who would have thought that I would be the one to come to the rescue. However, I didn’t expect that by just poking the nest a little, a missing high-ranking alchemist would appear. This land exceeds my expectations. Is this the 'Flutist Demon'?"

Kreutz, still holding the unconscious child, sighed deeply.

Before his eyes lay the upper body of Jildome, submerged in a pool of blood.

"Jildome Jireinas... Why would a high-ranking alchemist like him join an anti-state organization... He should have been recognized by many people and lived a life without any financial worries."

"Lambert, you said you are one of the kingdom's troops."

Lambert called out to Kreutz from behind.

"Who are you, really? What is your purpose? I shouldn’t have failed to recognize the name of a swordsman of your caliber. And that armor... You easily deflected Jildome’s magic. Could it be...?"

"Right now, it shouldn’t matter who I am. We already know our goals aren’t that far apart. Time is precious. The Viscount Lagar will either attack or retreat; he will take some action. Give me the information. Kreutz, what were you investigating here?"

"It’s not something worth keeping quiet about now that I’ve revealed myself."

Kreutz lowered his gaze to the child he was holding.

"Viscount Lagar is too eerie. Initially, I was just checking if there were any traces of involvement with the 'Flutist Demon'... But following the lord’s orders, I discovered a large-scale kidnapping of children."

Lambert had seen this with his own eyes.

A quick search of the slums would reveal it easily.

"More troubling is... Despite the large-scale kidnapping, there are no signs that the children were taken out of the territory. Transporting dozens or hundreds of children over long distances would require significant preparation. Naturally, there should be traces of such activity, but none are found. Moreover, if they were being sold as slaves within the territory, the buyers would be limited. There are no reports of a large number of wealthy people from other territories coming here. It’s unclear where the kidnapped children are."

"Indeed, a disturbing story."

There is no apparent reason for the lord to kidnap children.

It is clear that the 'Flutist Demon' has already infiltrated the territory in large numbers, with Jildome leading them.

The 'Flutist Demon' wants the children, and Viscount Lagar is acting on their orders.

(An anti-state magical organization gathering children... I can’t imagine anything good.)

Lambert’s mind turned to Domicione, a sage and alchemist of the Regius Kingdom during the Eight Nations Unification War. She had destroyed several villages to create golems using corpses.

"Anyway... I will return to the capital with my subordinates and request assistance from other units. You, who are not an ordinary person, should not act recklessly. Anything could be lurking in this land..."

"Waiting will only let the enemy escape. Rather, I don’t understand why you are so relaxed. If we leave them alone, they will continue to harm the people. The enemy is not foolish. I believe the head of the 'Flutist Demon,' one of the Eight Sages, is hiding here. This is the only chance to strike them."

"Eight Sages? They are not opponents that can be handled by individuals! They are living calamities! You must know about the Baraila incident. A single city was brought to the brink of destruction by one of the Eight Sages, Manji, and his few subordinates! This is not something that can be handled by a single audit team!"

Lambert had indeed defeated Manji alone, but Kreutz had no way of knowing this. In Baraila, the story of a hero riding a headless horse was woven, but outsiders did not believe it. It was widely believed that the lord’s private army and adventurers had combined their efforts and paid a heavy price to defeat Manji.

"You seemed like a man of principle, but I’m disappointed."

Kreutz clenched his lips in frustration at Lambert’s words.

"Courage and recklessness are different. Provoking the Eight Sages could lead to unpredictable consequences. It’s more important to secure control from Lagar and focus on rescuing the victims. Don’t you agree?"

Lambert did not respond and started walking away, clearly showing his lack of interest in Kreutz.

"Wait, where are you going now!"

"Information gathering. I want to know where the kidnapped children are and about the Eight Sages who came here."

"But... My private army doesn’t know much. We have captured some low-ranking members of the 'Flutist Demon'... but they are tight-lipped. My subordinates are currently investigating where the children have disappeared to. They might have found something. I could tell you if I find out anything..."

"I can’t wait for such leisurely information. Besides, I have found the perfect person. Someone who knows the 'Flutist Demon's' plans in this territory... and is also extremely cowardly and self-preserving, prioritizing their own safety over secrets."

"There’s no way such a convenient person exists..."

"Viscount Lagar. I will go to his manor and speak to him directly."

Kreutz fell silent for a moment, unsure if Lambert was joking or serious. After a while, Kreutz looked Lambert over and realized he was serious.

"No, no, no! It’s impossible, that’s far too reckless! It’s the enemy’s stronghold! There could be members of the 'Flutist Demon'... or even the risk of encountering the Eight Sages! I told you, the Eight Sages can almost single-handedly destroy a city!"

Lambert resumed his walk, ignoring Kreutz’s cries.

"Can I, the 'Phoenix Eye' Kreutz, leave this to ordinary people! Then, I will go too!"

Kreutz, holding the child with one hand, drew his rapier with the other... but dropped it the next moment. His fingers were spasming.

The cause was the sudden strain on his arm from the techniques used in the battle with Lambert.

Normally, even the 'Double Piercing' technique is not good for the arm.

By the time he reached 'Triple Piercing,' Kreutz’s arm was in excruciating pain.

However, thinking that stopping would mean being killed by the enemy, he continued with 'Quadruple Piercing,' 'Quintuple Piercing,' and even 'Septuple Piercing.'

"Once I meet up with the white mage among my subordinates, they can suppress this level of arm damage. So, please wait a little longer..."

"Rather, I want you to take this child to their family."

"Huh?"

Leaving the confused Kreutz and the unconscious child behind, Lambert quickly walked away.

Kreutz, the second captain of the kingdom’s audit troops 'Phoenix Eye,' never imagined that he would end up being a babysitter, even by chance.