After ending the tea party abruptly, Ruri headed for Jade’s office. Understanding the impact that Beloveds had in this world, she was hurrying to report the news of the new Beloved right away.
In addition to giving a direct report, Ruri also wanted to have Kotaro investigate the Nation of Furgal, the Beloved in question, and the transmigrators. However, she couldn’t find Kotaro or Rin, so she asked the lower-level spirits around her to pass on the message to the pair to come to Jade’s office.
Telepathic communication over long distances was such a convenient trick. However, once you considered the fact that they could even hear the other spirits’ noisy chatter, it was difficult to gauge whether that was a positive or negative. Then again, they were well-adjusted to simultaneously listening and not listening, so it was probably nothing to worry about.
Ruri knocked on the office door and opened it. Not only was Jade there, but Euclase, Claus, and Finn were as well. Ruri realized that saved her some trouble.
“Jade-sama, do you have a moment?”
“Yes, of course. What did you need? Weren’t you having tea with Lady Lydia and Lady Seraphie?”
“Well, something came up, and I couldn’t nonchalantly drink tea while it’s happening.”
“Something like what?”
As Ruri was processing things in her head, deciding where she should start, Kotaro and Lin came into the room.
“You called, Ruri?”
“Yeah. I have a little favor to ask you, Kotaro. But first, let me explain to everyone,” Ruri said, turning to face Jade and the others. “I received a letter from my grandpa via Lydia. And according to it, a lot of transmigrators appeared in the nation bordering the Nation of the Beast King.”
There was some mild shock, but no one interjected, waiting for her to continue.
“And there seems to be a Beloved among those transmigrators.”
Euclase was the first to react, unable to contain their shock at the new revelation. “A Beloved? Are you sure about that?”
“Grandpa said that he doesn’t have any definitive proof and that he only heard it as a rumor. They tried to get Chi to look into it, but he said that it wasn’t his forte and turned him down. He said that Kotaro would be better at investigating since he’s the spirit of the wind.”
Ruri accepted that Chi saying it wasn’t his forte meant that he couldn’t do it, but she assumed that he had no interest in making the effort. That was very Chi-like. It was no surprise that Lydia said he operated on mood and instinct.
“That is why you called for me?” asked Kotaro.
“Yeah, that’s right. The transmigrators seem to have shown up in a nation called Furgal, which is next to the Nation of the Beast King, so I figured it’ll be an issue if they have some sort of impact there, and it won’t hurt to investigate whether the newcomer is really a Beloved,” Ruri replied. A Beloved was like a bomb that might go off at any time. “Kotaro, can I ask you to handle it?”
“Indeed. I mean, if that is your wish, Ruri,” Kotaro said, showing little interest like Chi but never being the one to refuse a request from her. “It is just going to take some time.”
“Okay. That’s okay, right, Jade-sama?” Ruri said, turning to Jade for a decision. She found him and the other retainers with grimaces all around. “Jade-sama? Was it bad that I started making plans on my own?” she asked. After all, Beloveds were not supposed to get involved in politics. However, Ruri wasn’t quite sure what was safe and what wasn’t. Was asking Kotaro to investigate another country safe or not? Where did that fall?
Jade, so deep in thought that wrinkles formed on his brow, snapped out of it. “No, there’s no problem. In fact, I would like to ask you to do so myself, Lord Kotaro. There is no entity more skilled at information gathering than the Spirit of the Wind.”
“If Ruri wishes it, I’ll do it,” Kotaro replied.
He was only taking action because Ruri asked. It felt as though he was saying that he wouldn’t act because the Dragon King asked—that spirits wouldn’t simply obey the will of a mortal. However, Jade and the rest of his retainers were fully aware of that already, so Kotaro’s reminder was unnecessary.
Kotaro walked to the window and opened it. Wind flowed from him, softly spreading. It barely took a few seconds and then Kotaro was right back at Ruri’s side.
“This will do. I sent the order to the wind spirits, so information will gradually come in.”
“Thank you, Kotaro,” said Ruri, petting his fluffy head in appreciation.
Kotaro went along with it, fairly pleased. Rin watched with a raised eyebrow.
In the midst of this, Jade said, “Claus, bring Joshua here.”
“Very well, sire,” Claus replied as he bowed and exited the room. He soon returned with his son, Joshua, in tow.
Joshua’s face tightened upon seeing all of the people gathered in the office. “Uh-oh, I’ve got a really bad feeling.” That feeling was correct.
“Joshua, I need you to go to Furgal and gather intel about the transmigrators there at once,” Jade ordered him.
Ruri tilted her head, perplexed. “But Jade-sama, isn’t Kotaro doing that for us?”
“Yes, he is, but nuance might vary when it comes to info from a spirit versus a mortal. The senses of a spirit aren’t easy for a mortal to understand,” said Jade.
“Now I see. So, it’s sort of like...if you ask two groups to gather information on food, one group will look for restaurants that serve ramen and the other will look for restaurants that serve rice,” Ruri concluded.
“Uh, what? I’m not sure we’re quite on the same page here, but I suppose that’s close enough,” Jade replied, her example being hard for him to grasp.
Whatever the case, Joshua’s trip to Furgal was unavoidable, and his face could not get any more melancholy.
“I’m counting on you, Joshua,” Jade told him.
“As you wish, sire.”
The mood of the room dictated that any reply other than an affirmative one would have spelled disaster, so Joshua walked out of the office, saddled with his “I don’t want to go” aura.
“Supposing there actually is a Beloved in Furgal, will the Nation of the Beast King be all right?” Claus asked, concerned.
Ruri couldn’t wrap her head around his reaction. “Is a Beloved being in Furgal that much of a problem? I’ve come to understand that Beloveds have a huge influence on the world.”
Euclase answered her question. “It’s a big problem. Furgal has been openly hostile to the Nation of the Beast King for a long time. They are a dangerous nation that always schemes to overthrow them. Lady Celestine’s presence has been a deterrent so far, but if Furgal has a Beloved themselves, I wouldn’t be surprised if they figure this is their chance and engage in war.”
“Then will they be okay?” Ruri asked, images of Celestine and Arman running through her mind.
“I’d like to think they’ll be okay with Lady Celestine around, but...” Euclase trailed off ominously as the conversation ground to a halt.
Since there was only so much that they could do from far away, they had no choice but to wait for more information.