By Zephyria At Abraham’s statement, everyone who had been chattering stopped talking and turned their heads. Hugo looked at Abraham, who was sitting right in front of him, with a face as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have. As everyone focused on him, Abraham continued to speak.
“Everyone is aware that large-scale demon beasts have recently reappeared on the Elder Millie Peninsula, causing many problems. Subjugation has been needed there for a long time, but both the Council and the military have been shifting responsibility to each other, knowing that it requires a lot of manpower and time.”
“Hmm….”
“Then, how about taking this opportunity, with Leonardo Blaine under the Council’s umbrella, to subjugate that place? We can verify his abilities, and the Council can achieve results before the military. I think it’s beneficial in many ways.”
The Elder Millie Peninsula was located at the southernmost tip of the empire, in the southwest. Although it belonged to Laina Rogia in terms of territory, it was essentially a deserted land sandwiched between Laina Rogia and Paren, which directly bordered it.
The reason was that the area was so heavily infested with demon beasts that ordinary people could not live there, and it was a hot and humid volcanic zone formed by underwater volcanic eruptions.
Although it remained state-owned land due to the abundance of rare minerals, various raw materials, and valuable resources, it was a dangerous place where tomb raiders illegally trespassed and lost their lives every year.
Regarding this area, the Imperial Army argued that it was a matter within Laina Rogia’s territory and should be handled by the Council, while the Council argued that it was a matter of the border area and should be resolved by the military. They only shifted responsibility to each other and couldn’t take action, so it remained a nuisance for a long time.
In that respect, Abraham Lancaster’s proposal was quite innovative. If they could use Leonardo Blaine to subjugate that place, they could solve one of the heavy burdens they had been putting off and enhance the Council’s prestige at the same time.
“That’s a good idea.”
The councilors seemed to like Abraham’s proposal quite a bit. Other officials nodded in agreement, as if they felt the same way.
On the other hand, Hugo quietly closed his mouth. He felt that they were taking this issue too lightly.
Gladias Agrizendro, one of the senior councilors of the Council, watched Hugo’s expression and suddenly asked him.
“Commander Agrizendro, what are your thoughts?”
Hugo raised his head and looked at her. She wore a seemingly gentle voice and smile, but the atmosphere itself was cool and cold. Hugo felt that her intention was so obvious that he pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.
“In my opinion, Leonardo Blaine will not follow us so easily. Even if we include him in the subjugation force and leave, it is uncertain whether we can control him.”
Hugo’s words were true. It was already a big deal to bring him here, but to use him to subjugate an area that was dangerous even without him? It was said to be the best method, but it would only increase the danger. Hugo couldn’t understand why Abraham had brought up such a thing.
As Hugo Agrizendro, who could be said to be the most powerful among the combat personnel, said that, those who had been excited and talking fell silent again. And then, as if to refute that, Abraham Lancaster smiled and said to Hugo.
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You can go with him, can’t you?”
Hugo felt like he had been hit in the back of the head by an ally. He looked at him with a face that seemed to have a lot to say, but Abraham pretended not to notice the gaze and only wore a calm smile.
Hugo suppressed what he wanted to argue as much as possible and asked politely.
“Didn’t you tell me to come back quickly because I have a lot of work to do?”
“This is also one of those tasks.”
“But Chief Councilor, I also have matters concerning my territory….”
“Commander, don’t worry about that.”
Gladias Agrizendro interrupted him in the middle of his sentence. Her voice was still gentle, but it carried an authority that should not be defied.
“Agrizendro territory is not a place that will collapse just because the commander takes his eyes off it for a while, is it?”
Silence fell in the hall after her words.
Hugo felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere. He felt the thorns in those words, which made it even more so.
Everyone in the conference room had clearly grasped the divided power structure of the leading Duke family of the Laina Rogia Empire, even if they didn’t say it out loud.
As several pairs of eyes waited for him, all focused on him, Hugo felt the pressure that everyone in this place wanted him to say he would go.
There was no change in his expression, but he clenched his fist tightly. Loren, who was next to him, quietly watched the ice that spread from there onto the desk.
Hugo lowered his gaze and sighed softly, then raised his head as if he had made a decision. He looked at the center of the Council seat and said with a cold face.
“I will go. With Leonardo Blaine, to the peninsula.”
At that, the faces of the Council members, including Gladias Agrizendro, brightened.
“You’ve thought it through well.”
As soon as the answer was given, Hugo added.
“However, there is a condition.”
* * *
Hugo, who came out of the Council Hall, headed straight to the underground prison where Leonardo was imprisoned.
It was himself who ordered him to be moved to the prison in preparation for his rampage, but as he went down, the air became heavier and the poor environment caught his eye, making him feel uneasy.
The warden led Hugo to the prison where Leonardo was held, passing through a maze-like door.
Before long, when they arrived in front of the last door, Hugo frowned at the prison number written on it. He knew that one of the guys locked up here had come in three times for the same problem.
Leonardo must be quite sensitive right now, and since he has such a striking appearance, Hugo was worried that the other prisoners wouldn’t leave him alone. However, as soon as he opened the door and entered, contrary to his worries, the inside was surprisingly quiet.
Hugo dismissed the warden as he was and strode to the innermost part of the hallway where Leonardo was imprisoned.
Leonardo beyond the bars was leaning against the wall, his head bowed and sitting still. The thick Magic Stone handcuffs on both of his wrists and the black choker wrapped around his white neck, the identity of which he had just learned, caught his eye, and he felt a little sorry for him, who seemed to have no energy.
There was untouched food in front of him, so Hugo hid his troubled mind and opened his mouth in a low voice.
“I heard you’re not eating.”
“…….”
“Leonardo, it’s better not to be stubborn.”
After saying a few words, he, who had been motionless all along, slowly raised his head.
His face looked much more haggard, but even so, the light in his eyes that looked at this side was still not extinguished. His golden eyes, blazing with flames resembling him, allowed one to guess his twisted state of mind.
Hugo knew that his feelings toward him were not good, but he had something to tell him, so he continued.
“Don’t you want to get out of here?”
Leonardo didn’t answer the obvious question, but rather frowned even more beautifully.
“You must know about the Eldermilli Peninsula.”
“…Why that.”
His cracked voice flowed out from between his chapped lips.
“At the Council meeting that just opened, it was decided to include you in the peninsula’s subjugation force.”
Leonardo’s eyebrows furrowed subtly at Hugo’s words. He seemed to be chewing over what he had just heard, then shook his head as if he had heard something absurd, and let out a burst of laughter. Then, he suddenly burst into laughter like crazy.
Hugo knew very well that the laughter was not because it was funny, but because it was absurd.
“Ah, nothing is different from what I expected.”
Leonardo shook his head, swept up his golden hair, and let out a sneer, then suddenly turned cold and serious. Then, he glared at Hugo with fierce eyes and shot back one by one.
“First, they told me to attend and register my identity, then they suddenly grabbed me and extracted my magic, and now what? They’re including me in the subjugation force? Hey, don’t you think you’re being too brazen?”
Hugo didn’t say anything for a while at Leonardo’s mocking words. Soon, he sighed and looked down at the floor, then raised his head again and said in a bitter tone.
“Yes, I understand. They are brazen people. Both them and me.”
Leonardo raised one eyebrow at Hugo’s unexpectedly easy acceptance and gauged his intentions.
“But, this is really the last time. If you want to get out of here, you have to follow the subjugation force to the peninsula and carry out the mission. That’s how you get out of here.”
It sounded like there was no choice in the first place, so Leonardo suddenly changed and rushed toward Hugo as if he couldn’t listen anymore. However, with a clang―, the chain was pulled taut and he could no longer move forward.
The only place he could go was right in front of the bars. However, that distance was enough to feel each other’s expressions and breaths as they stared at each other across the bars.
Leonardo said in a very excited voice.
“Hey, do you really think I’m going to do what you want? Okay, just take me to the subjugation force. As soon as I get out of here, I’ll kill them all and run away.”
His eyes were filled with madness and rage. Hugo looked at him without any particular reaction, then shook his head.
“No, you won’t do that.”
“How do you know that!!”
Leonardo, enraged, shouted excitedly, and his voice echoed loudly inside the prison. A hot energy spread around, surging as if threatening the opponent he was facing. However, his appearance with his blood vessels standing out looked very precarious, so Hugo continued calmly so as not to provoke him.
“A few days ago, the guy who used wood-attribute magic that confronted you in the middle of the Imperial City is Andreas Frederick, the commander of the 4th division of our Council Central Branch.”
“…….”
“His left arm was broken by your blow.”
“So what? Did he become disabled or something?”
Leonardo sneered as if it were nothing. However, Hugo calmly replied.
“You know best that that’s not the case.”