On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 25
The whaling ship’s crew waved frantically at us the moment they emerged from the mist.
“Oh! You’re already here!”
“……?”
I was baffled by their manner—as if we’d arranged to meet beforehand.
Unlicensed hunting of Crystal Whales was illegal and subject to severe punishment under imperial law.
Aster and I were in terrible shape, but we were wearing Ecology Investigator uniforms, and here an illegal whaling ship was greeting us warmly after seeing both the research vessel and us.
They drew alongside us, aligning their bow with ours, and began exchanging pleasantries.
“Is Mrs. Cameli well? We heard Aster was visiting Melgote.”
“……Aster?”
All eyes fixed on Aster—including mine.
“W-what on earth…….”
Aster faltered, his expression more flustered than I’d ever seen it.
In that moment, a single document flashed across my mind.
‘Crystal Whale Private Protection Facility……?’
The Mrs. Cameli they mentioned seemed to be Cameli Chil—the investor from that document.
I couldn’t say exactly what was happening, but something told me Aster and this whaling ship were connected to that document.
Had the manager’s name written there really been Aster Chil?
‘There’s no way a protection facility run jointly with a whaling ship is actually meant for protection.’
If that was true, there was only one person here who could legally detain an illegal Crystal Whale whaling ship.
I stepped forward so all the crew could hear me clearly.
“I am Vivian Solling, Ecology Investigator with the Imperial Government’s Magical Beast Ecology Division. Captain, come forward and submit to questioning.”
Yet even after hearing my introduction, the whaling crew seemed delighted.
“What? Solling? You mean that Solling?”
Their reaction was exactly like the Director’s when he first learned my surname.
One of the sailors made a fuss, waving his hands frantically.
“Aster! You finally brought Solling! Good to see you, Solling!”
“Solling? You mean……me?”
“Stop!”
Aster urgently cut off the crew’s words and shook his head firmly.
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. Not from the beginning to the end.”
“W-what? What do you mean……? Damn it, turn the ship around!”
It seemed the crew finally realized something was wrong, but it was already far too late to turn back.
“Tower Master! Help us detain the whaling ship. That much can be done without an official document, right?”
In response to my rather brazen request, Cade let out a low, prolonged whistle—as if he’d stumbled upon an entertaining spectacle.
“A civil servant ordering me to detain a whaling ship, is it?”
At his casual gesture, the wizards shot forward like arrows.
The whaling ship, suddenly restrained by magic, couldn’t leave the research vessel’s side and came to a halt.
It took mere moments for the wizards to seize control of the whaling ship.
They disabled the helm, ransacked the deck, and hauled out every suspicious-looking object.
Meanwhile, I boarded the whaling ship myself, freed the Magical Beast that had been bound, and quickly calmed it using my Attunement Ability.
The creature was so badly abused—its fur matted and its nose dry.
Soon the crew was herded onto the deck, bound tightly with rope, on their knees.
I stepped before them, hiding the tremor in my hands.
This was the first time I personally handed over whalers to the guards.
And this was the first time I’d spoken aloud words I’d only learned from texts.
“All crew members will be transported to the Imperial Capital and processed according to imperial law. Since you committed this act knowingly and against the law, I trust you’ll have no complaints.”
The moment I finished speaking, the crew erupted in fury. But their anger wasn’t directed at me.
“Aster! You traitor! What kind of game is this?!”
“Co-manager not enough for you? You had to stab us in the back like this?!”
Aster, his face gone pale, let out a gasp from where he was hiding on the research vessel.
“What are you saying? Don’t pin this on an innocent person! Vivian, I have nothing to do with them. It’s a frame-up.”
“We recognized you from the letter you sent saying to meet here! Do you think we can just find another business partner that easily?!”
“A letter? I really don’t know anything about this!”
This time, Aster genuinely sounded wronged.
When both decks grew unbearably chaotic, Cade opened his mouth with an “Ah.”
“You see? I intercepted it along the way.”
In his hand was a letter stamped with a sailfish crest.
Aster’s face drained of color the moment he saw it.
“Why so surprised? Two civil servants suddenly showing up at the Magic Tower looked suspicious to me. Didn’t you expect I’d investigate?”
“It’s not unusual for the Imperial Government to send two officials, is it?”
“I simply didn’t like the look of you, either.”
“Wait! This is that business I mentioned at the dock. The kind of thing you’d find interesting, Tower Master.”
“Making a fool of the Imperial Government? That’s always welcome.”
“Then help me with this situation right now……!”
“Why would I?”
Aster, who’d seemed momentarily relieved, flinched at Cade’s cryptic smile.
“……Pardon?”
“I hate being used. And it’s tiresome to have someone badger me with sob stories they’re not even curious about themselves, all to get in my good graces.”
Watching the situation unfold in silence, I whirled on Aster with shock.
“So that’s why you called me a parachute appointment in front of Cade? What were you really trying to do?”
“Isn’t this exactly what you were trying to do?”
Cade unfolded the letter, revealing the map coordinates, dates, and message written inside.
「Corrupted Mana residue detected at specified coordinates. Net installation planned in surrounding area.」
It was brief, but clear enough to understand.
‘So they’re planning to use Crystal Whales as bait. The whales will gather here to purify the corrupted Mana, and they’ll catch them in the net.’
I examined the nets and equipment prepared on one side of the deck and clenched my teeth.
‘This isn’t even a proper net. Are they trying to……farm them?’
They weren’t content with mere hunting—they planned to use a section of the sea itself like an aquarium tank.
‘These people running a Crystal Whale protection facility? It’s absurd.’
Looking at the size of the containment structures, I could see they intended to capture young whales first to make it easier to confine the adults.
It was a vicious approach, exploiting the Crystal Whales’ gentle nature—their reluctance to attack humans despite possessing magical power.
If Aster was genuinely involved in this, I couldn’t let it pass.
I dislike Crystal Whales myself, but I don’t abuse them. An Ecology Investigator who can read a Magical Beast’s emotions abusing them would be unthinkable.
“Tower Master, there’s a document I want found on this ship.”
Cade twirled a short sword while leaning against the rail.
I’d thought it even when we first met at the Magic Tower—the way he played with the blade at his fingertips looked as natural as wielding magic itself.
He studied me for a moment, then gestured to Ben before I could even say which document.
“Tower Master.”
In a flash, Ben rifled through the crew’s pockets and handed Cade a single document.
Cade unfolded it to check, then flinched and nearly dropped his short sword.
He narrowed his eyes and stared hard at one spot.
Sensing something was wrong, I held out my hand and asked to see it. Reluctant, he finally handed over the document.
「Crystal Whale Private Protection Facility Establishment Plan (Revised)」
The suspicious document from yesterday—mostly burned away except for the top portion, which I hadn’t been able to examine fully.
Exactly what I’d been looking for.
I first checked the names I hadn’t seen yesterday.
「Investors: Cameli Chil, Owen Parsus, Bradley Gordon, Elena Smither.
Managers: Aster Chil, Thompson Miller.
Consultants: Samuel Solling, Vivian Solling」
‘So Aster really was a manager. The captain mentioned “co-manager,” so Thompson Miller must be the captain’s name. And…….’
As I scanned further down the document, I froze.
‘What……is this?’
Thump.
My heart seemed to plummet.
Samuel Solling. And Vivian Solling.
My father’s name and mine. Why were they written here?
I’d never consented to any of this, and I’d only heard of this business yesterday for the first time.
My father could never have consented to something like this.
It went against the values he’d hammered into me over and over again. More than that, my father had vanished.
Presumed dead—something everyone had accepted without question.
“Aster. What is this?”
I thrust the document forward with a trembling voice. Aster showed a troubled expression before sighing as if irritated.
“I told you already. Marry me, and I’ll explain everything.”
“What nonsense have you been spouting since yesterday? I have absolutely no intention of marrying you.”
My grip on the document tightened; the paper crinkled under the pressure.
“I’ll let the misuse of my name slide. But why is my father’s name listed here?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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