Chapter 202 : Chapter 202
Chapter 202. You Say I Have Another Follower?
Leon was gathered with his followers.
The place they gathered was the meeting room of the Black Falcon Dormitory.
They even posted a lookout outside the door just in case someone eavesdropped.
That was how important today's meeting was to them.
On the meeting room blackboard, this was written:
‘The True Nature of the 8th Prince and Those Around Him.’
Leon stood in front of the blackboard with a somewhat tired face.
And he asked, looking around at his followers who looked as tired as him but somehow overflowing with passion.
“Are you all ready?”
Then, Leon’s followers nodded fervently.
“Yes, Prince!”
“I did my best!”
“Just leave the presentation to me!”
There was only one reason why they gathered here.
It was to help Leon analyze the information gathered about the 8th Prince and his gang.
With the mindset that one must know the enemy to achieve victory, Leon’s followers tailed people for the first time in their lives.
It was a clumsy appearance, neither noble-like nor befitting of magic supremacists, but it didn't matter.
If it were for Leon Silvert Cretian!
It was a situation where even the noble Prince was struggling to dig up information on the despicable 8th Prince.
As followers, they couldn't just stand still and put on airs.
Among them, the follower in charge of tailing the 7th Princess, Inette, stood up from his seat.
“I will speak first.”
Leon nodded as a sign of permission.
He began his presentation triumphantly.
“First, I will present about the 7th Princess. Her real name is Inette Dastion Cretian, and her maternal family is the Dastion ducal family. Her mother is the 3rd Imperial Consort, Celiana Dastion Cretian. She is a person who exerts tremendous influence in the Imperial Court social circles.”
Leon’s expression, as he listened to the presentation, hardened.
Then, other followers criticized him.
“Did you come here just to tell the Prince such basic information?”
“Isn't that information every Imperial citizen knows?”
The presenter was flustered and quickly moved on to the next point.
“Of course, this is not the end, Prince.”
The information he spoke of was as follows:
7th Princess.
A strong candidate for the next Emperor and receiving support from old noble families.
However, when near the 8th Prince, she acts like an ordinary girl and tends to be annoyed by her own followers.
Why she is together with the 8th Prince is unknown.
The next presenter was similar.
Gusto Zebro.
A person from the slums with strong divine power who became an Apprentice Holy Knight.
Despite belonging to the Supreme Deity Order’s temple, he tends to act like the 8th Prince’s escort knight.
Why he helps the 8th Prince is unknown.
The next presenter was no different.
Tunia Fiore.
Acting president of the Dice Shop, where the 8th Prince is the president.
Frequently spotted working at the Dice Shop in Marcellent on weekends.
Other information unknown.
At this point, complaints burst out among the followers.
“Why is there so much unclear information?”
“Did you investigate properly?”
“Especially the last presentation, it was too insincere!”
But the presenter in charge of investigating Tunia also had something to say.
“No, I am telling you it is really strange? While following her, she disappears before I know it; I thought she was bewitched by a ghost or something.”
“Does that make sense? It must be that your skills are lacking.”
“I am telling you it is real. Inside the Academy, it is almost impossible to catch up. Maybe at the Dice Shop.”
Leon, who was listening to the followers' presentations, frowned.
“......Dice Shop?”
The shop mentioned just now as being related to the 8th Prince somehow bothered Leon.
“Yes. As I mentioned earlier, it is the place where the 8th Prince is the president.......”
“Wait. That guy runs a shop? Seriously?”
Leon furrowed his brows.
It was information he had glossed over when he heard it earlier.
There was no way that guy would really open a shop, right?
It was highly likely he just lent his name or only invested.
However, the followers gave a completely different answer.
“Pardon? Yes, that is correct. It is quite rumored in Marcellent in its own way.”
“I also went there, and it was quite decent.”
“The House of the Undead next door is also famous.”
Stories Leon was hearing for the first time poured out.
That the Dice Shop was quite a famous general store in Marcellent.
That there were many times Radel went there to work personally.
He knew about the House of the Undead story.
However, he thought it was just an explicit expression of intent by the Supreme Deity Order. That the Supreme Deity Order was unofficially supporting the 8th Prince.
He only thought they designated the Dungeon that guy cleared as a sacred site at best.
But they actually developed it into a tourist attraction?
Perhaps he might have ignored it even if he had heard it in the meantime.
Because remembering just that guy’s weakness was enough.
‘So I knew nothing.’
Seeing Leon’s expression worsen rapidly, the followers quickly moved on to the next presenter.
“Prince, we obtained information that the 8th Prince’s followers gathered at the Academy not long ago. The central figure is presumed to be Edward Paradik.”
Edward Paradik.
Follower of the 8th Prince and successor of the Paradik Earldom, a great noble family.
A family with a position in social circles, recently active noticeably.
Knows many people and is well-informed about news in the Academy and social circles.
“It is speculated that he became a follower after the 8th Prince saved his life, and it is said he frequently attends parties with friends.”
The other followers agreed with the presenter’s words.
“Edward came to our house party during vacation too.”
“You too? Me too. The adults secretly like that guy.”
“My younger sister also likes him. Says he is fun once you get close.”
It seemed true that Edward Paradik was popular in social circles.
Leon paid attention to the information that the 8th Prince’s followers had gathered at the Academy.
‘Follower gathering? Has he already formed a faction?’
Once he knew about the existence of a faction, the information so far looked different.
‘Is the shop operation for funds to support that?’
Figures.
He was also a royal; there was no way he would seriously run a general store or something.
Leon’s face darkened.
He was not an ordinary guy, more than he thought.
“I am going out to Marcellent during this outing week.”
If his prediction was correct, the Dice Shop would be the base that guy had hidden.
He needed to go personally and check with his own two eyes.
* * *
“I am a little late.”
Radel muttered while going to take the next lecture.
Integrated Major, Defensive Magic, Basic Physical Fitness, Mana Training, various liberal arts.
Even planning to catch heretics in between and training Imperial Swordsmanship to prepare for when the 4th Princess, Estina, attacks.
Furthermore, he couldn't leave out devising ways to catch the Enhancement Magic Professor.
Every day really passed busily.
SPLASH.
Radel now familiarly crossed the lake and entered the Transmutation Magic Workshop.
When he arrived at the lower floor riding a disc, the first-year Transmutation Magic majors were gathered.
Armandy’s figure was also visible.
Radel approached him immediately, glad to see him.
“You came early, Armandy.”
Then, Armandy’s expression changed upon discovering Radel.
It was a face that had something to say.
He approached Radel and whispered quietly.
“Prince, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Armandy’s eyes scanned the surroundings quickly.
And after confirming that person wasn't there, he lowered his voice and spoke.
“It seems Prince Leon is doing a background check on you, Prince.”
What Armandy confirmed was Leon’s presence.
Because lately, he seemed to be tailing Radel secretly to a strange degree.
It was truly nonsensical, but.......
He couldn't avoid the sharp eyes of Armandy, an elite agent of the Ability Management Bureau.
However, Radel only answered nonchalantly.
“I see.”
“No, really, his movements are suspicious these days. I am telling you it is unusual?”
“Okay, okay.”
Even at Armandy’s urgent words, Radel shrugged his shoulders once and even changed the topic.
“More than that, did you write the report on infiltrating the Esven Marquisate?”
“That is not what is important right now.”
Armandy felt frustrated.
Information exchange had taken place once regarding the incident where the 8th Prince was attacked by the 4th Princess and the 9th Prince, after meeting with the Ability Management Bureau agents a while ago.
It was the policy of the Ability Management Bureau not to intervene in matters occurring between royals.
It meant that even if Radel were targeted by royals, there was nothing Armandy could do.
For him, making Radel careful was the best he could do.
“What situation you are in right now, Prince....... Gasp!”
Armandy, who was about to nag Radel, inhaled sharply upon discovering Leon.
Although he was far away, the gaze glaring this way was terrifying.
Furthermore, when Radel moved, wasn't he moving accordingly?
It wasn't like the usual dignified 9th Prince.
This was almost like he was tagging along behind Radel.......
‘No, that can't be!’
It was true he was following secretly, but tagging along?
How dare I think such a thought!
Armandy wanted to hit himself very hard for thinking an irreverent thought about the perfect 9th Prince, even for a moment.
“What's wrong? Did you see something scary?”
“......It is nothing.”
However, he couldn't even suffer to his heart's content in front of Radel.
Armandy clenched his teeth and said.
“Reall...... You must be careful. He is even going around asking who your followers are.”
Then, Radel asked back as if asking what that meant.
“Huh? You say I had another follower besides Edward?”
Truly, words that made Armandy’s insides burst.
He couldn't even say there was a gathering of the 8th Prince’s followers a while ago.
But there was something else that made his insides burst even more.
Wasn't Edward smiling triumphantly behind Radel?
As if he were the only follower recognized by the 8th Prince!
Armandy felt his mood worsening rapidly.
* * *
DING.
[Skill, Superhuman Intuition activates.]
[Someone’s killing intent is felt.]
A notification sound rang in Radel’s ear.
It had been ringing every time Leon was nearby for a few days, but Radel didn't pay much attention.
Rather than actually attacking, it was better for him to hide and glare like that.
Because sometimes there were times he just glared without killing intent.
“Almond, could you move aside for a moment?”
Edward pushed Armandy aside and approached Radel.
“Ahem, Prince. I have something to tell you regarding the followers.”
The content was that the followers were finally organized to some extent.
He also added advice that the prospective followers wanted to see the Prince, so Radel should meet them personally and decide whether to accept them as followers.
“When should we set the meeting day? The upcoming outing week would be good, right?”
At Edward’s words, Radel recalled the schedule for the outing week.
This outing week was also a time when a grand festival was held in the Marcellent shopping district.
Radel was also preparing a small event with the Dice Shop employees.
“It just so happens I plan to be busy that day, so I don't know if there will be time to meet them one by one.”
Radel, who pondered for a moment, said to Edward.
“No. Just tell them to come hang out in Marcellent.”
Come to think of it, there was no need to change the schedule just because he had work.
Because there was a way to work and meet people at the same time.
“Tell them to stop by the Dice Shop while they are at it.”