That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 121

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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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That’s not what kissing means!
Episode 121

Whenever I found documents related to the Holy Kingdom, the other knights diligently packed them into boxes for organization.
“Just put everything in. These must all be necessary materials—that’s why they were hidden away so carefully.”
At Vanessa’s words, I burst into laughter.
“Do you think so?”
All the hidden documents were methodically placed into the boxes.
“This should be enough.”
It was as I was thanking the knights.
While examining the transaction records with the Holy Kingdom, I noticed ledgers I had previously overlooked.
I pulled one out and flipped through the pages rapidly.
“What is this?”
Oben Territory had not dealt solely with the Holy Kingdom. Covert transactions were occurring with other territories and kingdoms as well.
They were researching plants primarily used in dark magic—those inducing brainwashing, poisoning, and hallucinations.
The ledger meticulously documented records of human experimentation with the developed plants. My brow furrowed as I witnessed the horrifying contents.
Oben Territory had been committing atrocities while masquerading as a horticultural enterprise.

Meanwhile, on the upper floor, Theo was pointing his cursed blade at Chase’s throat—the bound man defenseless before him.
With each deliberate step Theo took forward, the sword’s edge bit deeper into Chase’s tender flesh.
A thin line of crimson blood traced down his neck.
“So then.”
Theo asked quietly.
“Where exactly is Sarun Flower produced?”
“….”
Chase swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Even under such tension, he refused to speak easily.
As if he’d expected this, Theo continued.
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding. There are plenty of other people I can ask.”
At those words, Chase’s mind immediately conjured the image of Oben’s lord—a man whose cowardice far outweighed his greed.
Theo’s words pressed on.
“A significant portion of the Ashford Knight Order is already en route to the lord’s castle. The longer you delay your confession, the heavier your sentence becomes.”
Just then, someone entered the bookstore.
Chase had reached the point where merely seeing the bookstore door open made him want to lose his mind.
Julian approached Theo without sparing a glance at Chase and his men kneeling on the floor.
“The lord has surrendered the location of the Horticultural Research Institute. It appears they’ve developed not only Sarun Flower, but also hallucinogenic herbs and numerous toxic plants.”
“Is that so? He confessed faster than expected.”
“I told him that if he confesses now, all the wealth he’s accumulated will be used for Oben’s benefit.”
“Oben? You mean the lord’s family?”
“Of course not. It will be used to rebuild Oben Territory and its people, who had no part in the wrongdoing and knew nothing of the toxic plants. I’m not sure how he interpreted it himself.”
Chase’s pupils dilated sharply as he listened to the exchange.
It seemed the lord would receive not a shred of mercy. Moreover, he had already abandoned Chase and his subordinates.
Now that his own crimes had been laid bare, cooperation with the investigation was his only path to a reduced sentence.
Chase finally opened his mouth heavily.
“…I will guide you to the Research Institute.”
Then, a clear voice came from behind.
“I’ve secured the transaction records with the Holy Kingdom. Many are written in ancient language, so I’m planning to translate them.”
Evelyn’s eyes gleamed as she spoke of diligently interpreting them before handing them over to the Royal Court.
Theo gazed at her with tender eyes, his violet pupils overflowing with affection.
At the sudden shift in atmosphere, Chase—who had been staring blankly at him—found a cold gaze turned back upon him.
“Are you still sitting there?”
At Theo’s question, Chase hurriedly scrambled to his feet.

* * *

At that same moment, the Envoy sat in his office, grinding his teeth.
No word had come from the Priests he’d sent to conduct the immortality ritual.
Simultaneously, his holy power continued to deplete, its reserves dwindling toward empty.
Sometimes silence breeds more tension than bad news ever could. He found himself increasingly consumed by anxiety.
Lionel had never once failed in his duties.
From conducting the immortality ritual to acquiring the poison and hallucinogenic herbs—he’d handled everything flawlessly.
But when days passed without so much as a single letter, his nerves grew razor-sharp.
This time, they’d been sent to the Ashford Estate. The fact that it was Theo Ashford’s domain troubled him, but he trusted Lionel.
Or rather, with nowhere left to retreat, he’d had no choice but to send him north.
While the Envoy waited for word from them, he’d also dispatched someone to Oben Territory, but even that messenger had vanished.
Something was going wrong.
The moment he realized it, his patience shattered.
“Colin!”
The Envoy’s voice boomed outward from his office.
“Yes, yes! You called for me!”
Colin, who’d been tending to the Sarun flowers, hurried into the office.
“Is there still no word from the Solaris Empire?”
Colin answered cautiously, sensing the sharp edge in his voice.
“That’s correct… His Majesty the Emperor has yet to send a reply…”
Crash!
Before Colin could finish, the Envoy seized a sculpture from his desk and hurled it.
Colin barely stifled a shriek as fury came hurtling toward him.
“How dare the Emperor defy me…!”
The Envoy’s eyes blazed with fury.
He had saved a man who was useless, capable only of weeping.
He had shown him miracles and restored his peace of mind.
And yet he dared to betray me…?
‘The brainwashing shouldn’t unravel so easily!’
No matter how much Duke Ashford might have persuaded him, the Emperor shouldn’t have been susceptible to such influence.
Was there someone else offering him another form of stability?
The Envoy shook his head violently.
This was no time for such questions. He needed to plan his next move.
Just then, a Holy Knight appeared at the office door.
The Envoy asked with an irritated expression.
“…What is it?”
“Well, that is…”
The Holy Knight hesitated at the sight of the wide-open door and the murderous atmosphere, but soon spoke.
“A letter has arrived from Sara.”
Sara—she was the operative he’d planted in the Imperial Library. She regularly sent covert messages obtained from the Emperor’s servants.
The Envoy snatched the letter urgently.
He skipped past the praise and greetings directed at him, focusing instead on the critical matter at hand.

[Lionel Priest and the Senior Priests have arrived at the Royal Court. I don’t know the details, but it seems they’re undergoing some sort of investigation. However, Lionel Priest’s condition appears… unusual.]

The Envoy crumpled the letter in his grip. How could those who had gone to Ashford Estate now be at the Royal Court?
“The Emperor refuses to follow my lead.”
Everything was falling apart.
The Envoy’s hand tightened around the paper.
“….”
His face hardened as he contemplated something.
The longer the silence stretched, the more Colin trembled with fear.
After some time had passed, the Envoy finally spoke.
“Those who have experienced miracles are not few in number.”
Powerful figures across the continent were bowing to him.
The Envoy spoke in a measured tone.
“Colin.”
“Yes, Envoy.”
“Lionel said so himself. Now is not the time to expect a complete ritual.”
He tapped his fingers against the desk—tap, tap.
Then, as if reaching a decision, his voice became firm.
“We go to the Eastern Region. We will complete the Immortality Ritual.”
Colin stammered in shock.
“The, the Eastern Region? But the Northern Ritual remains incomplete….”
“Then you suggest we wait? It seems you’d also like to be dragged into the Imperial dungeons.”
Colin’s eyes squeezed shut at the horrifying implication.
The Envoy had made his decision.
“We go to the Eastern Region and complete the remaining ritual. After summoning Calimedes, we will negotiate with him.”
He recalled the ancient texts. Calimedes, who appeared alongside the ritual, had communed with his followers and bestowed life upon them.
Summoning the God of Death was the immediate priority.
Even an incomplete ritual would suffice. If Calimedes’s incarnation appeared, if he could speak with him….
He would find a way, no matter what.
“Retrieve the soul from underground.”
Besides the box Lionel had taken, there was another one.
He intended to bring it to the Eastern Region.
Preparations were insufficient, but retreat was no longer an option.
“Once the ritual is complete, we cross into foreign lands immediately.”
At this point, even the Holy Kingdom was no longer safe.
He needed someone to protect him from the Empire to the foreign lands beyond.
The Envoy began writing a letter.
To those I have trained… those who have tasted miracles.

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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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