Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 182

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

It’s a café operated by the successor of the Dark Guild.
Chapter 182
“If you let us live. Can you bring back the Empress who fled with your own hands?”
“That, that’s….”
Arthur’s pupils dilated sharply as he looked up at Biedler.
“I’ll give you several days. Step down from the Crown Prince’s position yourself and bring the Empress. Then I’ll spare you and the princess.”
“No matter what, how could I… with my own hands against my mother….”
Biedler pushed the stammering Arthur away coldly.
As he turned to leave the palace, his eyes met those of the princess hiding beside the staircase.
Seeing her heavily swollen belly as she fought back tears, he felt a pang of sorrow.
“Your Highness. Please have mercy on us—on me and my child. My baby has done nothing wrong.”
“Is that truly so?”
There had been many chances to turn back until now.
The current situation was the result of choices the princess had made in her misguided pursuit of power.
But what fault could an unborn child possibly bear?
In the princess’s figure, Biedler saw a reflection of his mother as she had held him in his childhood, and he clenched his lips.
“If you want to live, persuade him. There’s still a chance.”
This was the best mercy Biedler could offer them.
He turned away coldly, hoping that Arthur and the princess would not throw away this final kindness for the sake of their child.
***
Days passed.
Biedler continued an intensive investigation into Juliano and the Strophane Clan.
He searched the mansion and Juliano’s private study, arrested the believers who followed him, and secured evidence.
In particular, he discovered a diary that Juliano had written as a child, which revealed the motive behind all this.
“To think he’d do all this merely out of inferiority. I cannot fathom it.”
“Any emotion pushed to its extreme can transform a person. Desikan simply knew how to exploit that.”
However, Juliano would not open his mouth about when or how he had made contact with Desikan, so that remained unknown.
“Several newspapers have requested interviews. Shall I arrange a schedule?”
“Yes. There’s no point delaying further.”
Biedler, who had been lost in thought, spoke with sharpened eyes.
“This matter must be recorded not as Juliano’s independent action, but as something orchestrated by the entire Strophane Clan. Do you understand?”
“Of course. We’ve captured remnants of Sailing and have more than sufficient evidence.”
In truth, given that the clan head had been murdered, the incident could have been concluded as Juliano’s unilateral act.
If that happened, Empress Clione and Arthur would slip through the cracks.
To prevent this, he had entangled Sailing, which the Strophane Clan had employed, in the matter as well.
Linking the fact that they possessed an organization from a fallen empire with this incident provided overwhelming evidence of treason.
Raven and Aide worked together to capture most of Sailing’s scattered members as they fled.
At last, the Strophane Clan had begun its complete descent into ruin.
***
Once all the facts had been clarified, representatives from the Temple, Mage Tower, and Imperial Palace gathered in the Imperial Conference Room.
It was the first time since the war six hundred years ago that representatives had come together in one place.
Especially the representatives of the Mage Tower and Temple had always kept their distance, sending proxies instead of participating directly.
Meyson’s dislike of such occasions and his near-total absence from official proceedings had contributed greatly to this.
In these exceptional circumstances, the High Priest, Meyson, and Biedler had met several times already, forming a rather cordial atmosphere.
By contrast, the Emperor, representing the Imperial Court, could not keep pace with this mood and merely observed everyone’s expressions.
“Is there anything lengthy to discuss? Let’s finish quickly.”
“Yes. The matter is already concluded. We need only agree on how it shall be recorded in the historical annals.”
“Shouldn’t we allocate credit appropriately?”
The Emperor, trying to grasp advantage among the various factions, hastily closed his mouth as all eyes turned toward him.
“Do you wish to anoint a hero like six hundred years ago?”
“Ahem. Not that, but everything should be made clear to avoid future complications. If contradictory accounts surface later, it will become messy….”
“Let each faction look after their own people. Who receives what reward and who receives what punishment. Including supervision.”
Thus, under Meyson’s direction, everything proceeded smoothly.
The Emperor worried whether the Temple and Mage Tower would interfere in the empire’s politics going forward.
But Meyson and the High Priest had not the slightest interest in the empire.
They agreed to share intelligence as fully as possible to prevent such incidents in the future, and settled on dividing any gains equitably.
All matters concerning Juliano and the Strophane Clan were left to the Imperial Court’s discretion.
The content to be recorded in the historical annals—the primary reason today’s gathering had been called—was also quickly finalized.
Everyone who had aided in resolving this matter would have their names included in the record, regardless of their affiliation or station.
Everyone, that is, except Rosia, who had played the greatest role in solving the matter, and Raven, the organization she belonged to.
***
After all agreements had been settled, Biedler proceeded with an interview with a journalist.
Since this was an official announcement, he provided a prepared statement and engaged in brief question and answer.
The pre-arranged questions and answers were exchanged quickly, but one journalist broached a topic not on the list.
“I… Your Highness. May I ask something personal?”
“Go ahead.”
“There are rumors of a woman who took the lead in this matter. There are multiple accounts of her being seen, yet her name doesn’t appear on the list you provided.”
The journalist watched for Biedler’s reaction, trying to extract any information.
But since Rosia did not wish to be revealed, Biedler could say nothing.
“It was probably Seniel you saw. People often mistake her when they catch sight of her appearance.”
“Ah… that must be it. I wondered if there was a hidden hero, but I was mistaken. Oh, forgive me. Of course, the empire’s hero is yourself alone, Your Highness. You wouldn’t believe how proud everyone is of the fact that you resolved this matter. I truly don’t know how much.”
As Biedler managed a bitter smile, a raven flew to the window and perched on the sill.
“A raven.”
“I’m sorry?”
Biedler let out a quiet laugh and added to the bewildered journalist.
“There was a raven that was with us all along. It played a significant role in the middle of all this, and I would very much appreciate it if you would mention that fact in your articles.”
“A… raven, you say?”
Neither Rosia nor Raven wished for their names to be known.
Yet still, he wanted it known that a raven had flown alongside them everywhere.
The journalist nodded, bewildered though he was.
“I will see to it.”
“Thank you.”
The journalist was momentarily spellbound by the bright smile of Biedler, who rarely smiled.
***
To restore the damaged empire to its former state, the Knights Order and soldiers were being dispatched to various regions every day.
“Seniel, you’re heading out now?”
“Want to come along again?”
“Yes.”
“No matter how much you insist otherwise, you’re still a woman. You don’t have the same stamina I do. Why not take a day of rest?”
“There’s nothing to do here. I’m bored.”
“Fine.”
I had expected as much, but Biedler had taken control of the Imperial Palace so easily and swiftly that there was nothing for me to do here.
For the past several days, I had been joining Seniel’s Knights Order, wandering the capital helping clear debris and construct new buildings.
When we arrived at yesterday’s work site, crowds had already gathered all around.
“Such beauty is not of this world. My eyes are too dazzled to even look.”
“You’re a true hero now. All I can see is light.”
“Goodness, why is the divine so unfair? With such a face and the strength to save the world besides. To possess everything. I truly wonder who will have the fortune of marrying you.”
Seniel’s already high popularity had soared to the heavens now that she was being treated as a hero from this affair.
I felt goosebumps rise on my arms as I listened to the spectators’ praise, hauling bricks.
With all eyes on Seniel, the working environment was actually not bad at all.
I was carrying various things in my gloved hands when I picked up a sack full of soil.
“Is it too heavy?”
It was a bit burdensome, but I was managing just fine, when suddenly someone beside me grabbed my sack away.
Wondering what it was, I glanced to the side and saw a man in a hat pulled down low over his face.
His face wasn’t clearly visible, but by now I could recognize him as Biedler simply from his build and silhouette.
It wasn’t just me who recognized him; the knights cast sidelong glances.
I shook my head and hurried after Biedler, who had moved ahead.
“What are you doing here?”
“Carrying baggage. As you can see.”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking. You must be busy. You haven’t even had time to rest.”
“It’s all over now. I met with the journalist today.”
“You came here in the brief moment you had to catch your breath? Whatever for?”
I knew Biedler hadn’t been sleeping and was worn out from work, so I couldn’t understand why he would seek out more hardship.
Biedler stopped for a moment and turned to face me.
“There’s something here I wanted to see.”
Then he met my eyes and smiled softly. In his crimson gaze, I was all that filled his vision.
“…What was that just now?”
For just a moment, my heart gave a great thud, and the blood in my body seemed to reverse its flow.
I stood gazing after Biedler’s retreating figure in a daze when I heard a voice beside me.
“Sister!!”
“You startled me.”
Seniel stood with her arms crossed firmly, regarding me with a displeased expression.
“Who is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Between the High Priest and the Crown Prince. Which one do you like more?”

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