The delegation soon arrived in Karnak, Twilightland’s largest city. Since it was near the border, it also served as the nation’s trade hub with Knightley.
They couldn’t have been more grateful to find an inn that accommodated all of them.
Rosalia, who’d effectively defected, was able to stay in a room, albeit under guard. The rest, including Natalia, remained frozen solid in the inn’s courtyard.
That night, one of Ryo’s oldest dreams came true. As he lay in his plush bed in the luxurious inn, the water magician heard a creak. He sat up and shouted, “Who goes there?!”
It was straight out of a period drama—the moment a high-ranking official confronts a ninja who had sneaked into their bedroom in the middle of the night. Ryo was over the moon, but he kept his face solemn. These were always serious scenes, after all.
But the “intruder,” unfortunately, turned out to be nothing more than a messenger.
“I’ve come to deliver a message from Phelps A. Heinlein.”
“Thank you,” Ryo said.
The shrouded figure approached, handed him the letter, then left the room without another word. The letter contained information exchanged between Phelps and his father, Alexis.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next morning, Ryo handed the letter to Abel.
“Last night, I received this missive,” Ryo said loftily.
Abel sighed. “Dude, you can just call it a letter.”
Ryo ignored him.
Abel read the letter.
“High chances of a civil war breaking out? Count Contreras is on the government’s side, and Marquis Espier is with the rebels—yet the government hasn’t noticed the signs? Why are only the nobles making moves? And Contreras was the one who asked for the Kingdom’s delegation? What is all this?” Abel muttered as he read through the letter, unable to wrap his head around it all.
“Some sort of coup d’état, or perhaps naught but overgrown children playing at war,” Ryo drawled dramatically, a wicked smile on his mouth, as he continued acting the part of the nonchalant villain.
“Coup duh what? Forget it. Anyway, all we can do is be careful. Does anyone else know?”
“No, just you.”
“Got it. Then let’s go tell the others.”
They held a meeting shortly after, where they shared this information with the entire delegation.
That night, in the inn’s dining room, the water magician looked up from his plate of grilled fish. “Abel, if you were on the rebels’ side, what would be your plan of attack?”
“Huh?” Abel thought about it for a moment, then realized that Ryo was talking about the potential civil war brewing in Twilightland. He eventually shrugged. “There’s no thinking about it, right?”
“Mmm, but...but our delegation was invited as part of a plot by Count Cont-whatever, who’s on the government’s side. At this rate, we’re definitely going to get dragged into a civil war.”
“A plot, huh? Well...that’s possible. I suppose we’re just pawns.”
“Exactly!” Ryo declared with a frown. “If we’re present when Marquis E-something and his rebels launch their attack, the government may use us as a shield!”
“Yeah... I can see that, actually.”
The rebels would most likely hesitate to attack an official delegation. If they accidentally hurt them, they risked antagonizing the Kingdom. With that in mind, the defending government could try to use the delegation’s presence to its advantage...
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” Abel said with a shake of his head.
“That about sums it up,” Ryo said with a nod.