Chapter 4: Night Infiltration of the Chancellor’s Mansion

The palace, which had been so quiet you could hear a pin drop, was now shattered by a sudden, angry roar. Before Mels could get a word out, four burly men in warrior attire pounced on him and his companions like wolves and tigers.

Just as Mels and the others were caught off guard, unsure how to react, Xiu Lante stepped forward from the ranks of the military officials and addressed Ivan V: "Your Majesty, wait before acting! These youths are new to the palace and unfamiliar with court etiquette. Seeing Your Majesty's imposing presence has already filled them with terror, causing them to neglect proper protocol! I beseech Your Majesty to show your magnanimity by forgiving those who know no better and sparing them from the death penalty!"

Before Ivan V could respond, a portly, middle-aged man from the civil officials' ranks stepped out with a sly smile and said, "Lord Marquis, you are mistaken! Everyone knows you introduced these youths to the Empire, so of course you'd speak for them!

Our Relkes Empire has stood firm on the continent for centuries. The foundation of its enduring strength lies not only in the civil administration and military exploits of past emperors but, more importantly, in treating others with courtesy and disciplining ourselves with propriety! Today, these youths, though entering the palace for the first time, cannot be excused for their insolence before His Majesty on that account! As the saying goes, 'Give an inch, take a mile.' If we set this precedent today, anyone who acts disrespectfully toward His Majesty in the future could use the same excuse. Where then would the Empire's dignity lie? Where would His Majesty's divine authority be?"

Only now did Mels learn that Xiu Lante, besides being the Imperial Dragon Knight Commander, also held the title of Marquis. This revealed Xiu Lante as a true hero who cared little for fame and fortune. However, in this war of words, Xiu Lante was clearly no match for the portly, middle-aged man. Though Xiu Lante argued on principle, he was left speechless and flushed with anger by the other's rapid-fire accusations.

Just as the muddle-headed and aged Ivan V seemed about to be persuaded, Xiu Lante suddenly spoke again: "Left Prime Minister, according to you, should all who act disrespectfully before His Majesty be punished?"

"Of course! The Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as the common people! Before His Majesty, everyone is equal!" the obese Left Prime Minister declared smugly.

"In that case, does speaking and arguing here without His Majesty's permission also fall into that category?" Xiu Lante retorted.

The Left Prime Minister clearly hadn't anticipated that Xiu Lante would drag himself down to protect a few youths. For a moment, he was at a loss for a retort.

Before he could speak, Xiu Lante raised his voice again: "Master of Ceremonies, what is the punishment for shouting in court without His Majesty's permission?"

Xiu Lante's words left no room for retreat. As soon as he finished, the reluctant Master of Ceremonies stepped forward and said to him, "In reply to the Marquis, unauthorized shouting in court is punishable by at least thirty strokes of the cane, or at worst, having one's tongue cut out!"

"Good!" Xiu Lante exclaimed, then turned to face Ivan V. "Your Majesty, both the Left Prime Minister and I have committed this offense. I humbly request that Your Majesty punish us both by having our tongues cut out!" With that, Xiu Lante removed his golden helmet and knelt to plead guilty.

Seeing the situation escalate to this point, the entire court of civil and military officials was stunned, unsure whether to plead for mercy. Ivan V, looking at Xiu Lante and the panicked Left Prime Minister, also didn't know what to do.

Seeing this, Mels pulled his companions down to kneel before Ivan V and said, "We pay homage to Your Imperial Majesty. May the Emperor live ten thousand years!"

After these words, Mels immediately looked up, clasped his fists, and said, "Your Majesty, my four companions and I are rustics from the countryside. Although we were informed of court etiquette by the chamberlain before the audience, upon truly beholding Your Majesty's imperial presence, we were so awed and overwhelmed that we momentarily forgot. This fault lies solely with us and has nothing to do with Lord Xiu Lante or the Left Prime Minister. We beseech Your Majesty to punish us and not hold two of the Empire's most important ministers accountable!"

Upon hearing Mels's words, Ivan V, who had not spoken until now, suddenly burst into laughter. He said, "My two esteemed ministers, after hearing this youth's words, do you not feel ashamed? The Empire's enduring strength on the continent certainly relies on propriety, but more importantly, it depends on the unity of ruler and subjects! I know there is inherent rivalry between civil and military officials, but why must it reach such an irreconcilable state? You are both my trusted aides and pillars of the Empire. Remember, only through unity can there be peace and prosperity! Rise now."

After hearing Ivan V's words, both Xiu Lante and the Left Prime Minister apologized and returned to their respective ranks.

Seeing that Xiu Lante and the Left Prime Minister were no longer at odds, Ivan V smiled slightly and said to Mels and the others, "You may rise as well. The Marquis is right—ignorance is no crime! You are new here and have not received formal imperial etiquette training. It is only natural to make mistakes when meeting me. I would never punish you for such a minor matter!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hearing that Ivan V no longer blamed them, Mels and the others immediately expressed their gratitude and stood up.

Watching them rise, Ivan V smiled and said, "I have heard about your deeds from the Marquis. Not only are you skilled in martial arts at a young age, but after becoming Probationary Knights, you immediately served the Empire loyally by eliminating the magical beasts that have plagued the western border for years. I am truly gratified. Today, seeing each of you handsome and dignified, I am even more convinced that you will become pillars of the Empire in the future.

Today, I summoned you firstly to commend your achievements in serving the country, and secondly to grant you the rewards you deserve! Step forward, all five of you, to receive your titles!" At this, Ivan V beckoned to the chamberlain beside him.

The chamberlain standing behind the emperor stepped forward and unrolled an edict, proclaiming: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Recognizing the wisdom and bravery of the Empire's Probationary Knights Mels, Rek, Sol, Akafir, and Bagina, and rejoicing in their service to the state and their meritorious deeds in pacifying the western magical beasts, they are hereby promoted to the title of Imperial Knight and incorporated under the command of the Dragon Knights Regiment. Furthermore, they are awarded ten thousand gold coins. May they never forget today's honor and achieve further extraordinary feats for the Empire!"

"We humbly thank Your Majesty for your great grace!" Mels and the others knelt in gratitude.

Such rewards immediately turned the faces of the Left and Right Prime Ministers ashen. From their eyes, it seemed they harbored deep hostility toward Mels and the others!

After receiving the emperor's rewards, Mels and the others were ordered to leave the main hall! Although they were now knights, their official rank was still insufficient to attend the deliberations of the court's important ministers. Therefore, after collecting their new knight armor, the group left the palace and returned to the noble guesthouse where they were temporarily staying.

Shortly after they arrived at the guesthouse, Xiu Lante arrived with several soldiers. According to the custom of the Relkes Empire's knight regiments, they were required to move into the regiment's barracks. However, due to Xiu Lante's special consideration for them, they only reported to the regiment as a formality before returning to the noble guesthouse.

That night, Mels and the others stayed up all night, repeatedly analyzing potential dangers on the capital map Xiu Lante had given them. According to Xiu Lante's plan, from now on they would no longer make contact with him, to avoid arousing suspicion from the civil officials led by the Left and Right Prime Ministers.

"Boss, are we really okay doing this? Those civil officials we saw in the palace today don't seem like fools. Would they easily launch a coup in the capital tomorrow? If it were me, I'd wait until Uncle Xiulan was engaged in battle with the enemy before staging the coup. At least by then, Uncle Xiulan would be at the southern border, and even if he wanted to return to aid, it would take a long time!" Sol said after hearing Mels's plan.

"Uncle Xiulan has already considered that. Actually, we're just preparing to deal with the coup starting tomorrow, not launching the attack tomorrow itself! Uncle Xiulan will order two of his trusted generals to lead the army toward the southern border first thing tomorrow morning. Whether a coup occurs in the capital or not, the five hundred thousand troops will arrive at the border on time. Uncle Xiulan will hide first and then decide whether to attack the Commercial Cities Alliance's army based on the situation!

If Uncle Xiulan's guess is correct, then the Commercial Cities Alliance must have been incited by someone inside the Relkes Empire. The reason they haven't advanced inland yet is that they're waiting for a coup in the capital to profit from the chaos! If the capital remains stable and a large army gathers at the border, the Commercial Cities Alliance's army will surely retreat without a fight! So we only need to worry about the coup in the capital, not the situation at the border!" Mels explained.

"But these are all Uncle Xiulan's conjectures. What if the capital remains perfectly stable, and the commander of the Commercial Cities Alliance's army is truly pig-headed? If the Relkes Empire's expeditionary force has no commander and the battle goes awry, Uncle Xiulan's crime would be grave!" Rek said with a worried frown.

"Ah, that's what makes Uncle Xiulan admirable. Such a risky plan is something most people would never stake their official positions on for an uncertain outcome. Yet Uncle Xiulan firmly stated that as long as the Duke's safety is ensured, he wouldn't hesitate to lose his position or even his life! So now we must focus all our efforts to ensure Uncle Xiulan's plan doesn't go awry!" Mels sighed, addressing the youths around him.

"Whatever, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Are we afraid of those petty thieves?" Sol said dismissively.

"For now, we can only take it one step at a time. In any case, we must ensure Uncle Xiulan's safety!" Mels said.

After hearing Mels's words, everyone nodded. Indeed, since they first met Xiu Lante, he had helped them greatly. Although the mastermind behind the destruction of the Blue Whirlwind still hadn't appeared, Mels and the others were deeply grateful to Xiu Lante. Now that Xiu Lante was in trouble, they would of course help him overcome it without hesitation.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Xiu Lante led the five hundred thousand troops and the Dragon Knights Regiment, marching grandly toward the southern border. Since Mels and the others had just joined the Dragon Knights Regiment, Xiu Lante, citing their unfamiliarity with combat, ordered them to remain in the capital.

Mels and the others weren't idle either. As members of the Imperial Dragon Knights Regiment, they could freely enter any military facility in the capital. Under the pretext of familiarizing themselves with the environment, the youths constantly visited the camps of the Capital Guard Army and the Imperial Guards Knights, gathering intelligence in hopes of finding clues about the military coup.

Just as Rek had predicted, five days passed, and the capital remained calm, with no sign of a military coup. The various armies rotated as usual, and none of the military commanders showed any unusual behavior.

"Boss, do you think Uncle Xiulan might be mistaken? The Capital Guard Army commander Mark and the Imperial Guards Knights commander Salade show no abnormal signs at all! And these past two days, I've been monitoring the Left and Right Prime Ministers—they haven't acted strangely either. They haven't even met with Salade and Mark recently, whom they usually contact frequently.

I think we should notify Uncle Xiulan to cancel the plan and lead the army to focus on fighting the Commercial Cities Alliance!" Rek said anxiously to Mels.

"Not yet!" Mels firmly refused upon hearing Rek's words. He continued, "Rek, think about it. If you and I usually met often, under what circumstances would we reduce our meetings?"

"Hmm... I guess if we had a conflict, we might meet less," Rek said after a moment's thought.

"Right, you're correct! If we had a conflict, we'd naturally meet less to avoid worsening our displeasure. However, there's another possibility: if we had reached some agreement, for an unknown purpose and to avoid suspicion, we would also reduce our meetings!" Mels said with a smile.

"Boss, are you saying the Left and Right Prime Ministers and the two generals have already secretly agreed, and everything they're doing now is just to deceive others and avoid suspicion?" Sol suddenly interjected.

Before Mels could respond, Bagina chimed in, "Very likely!"

"Yes, that's what I mean! But it's just my conjecture; there's no evidence yet. Rek is also right—the army has been gone for five days. In ten more days, they'll reach the southern border. If we can't find evidence within three days proving the Left and Right Prime Ministers intend to rebel, then we should have Uncle Xiulan return to the army. Otherwise, he really might miss the decisive battle with the Commercial Cities Alliance. So, I've decided to infiltrate the Prime Minister's residence tonight!" Mels declared.

Hearing Mels's decision, everyone was shocked. Rek was the first to object: "No! Although we're knights now, entering important officials' residences without permission is forbidden! Whether the Left and Right Prime Ministers are truly plotting rebellion or not, their residences must be heavily guarded. If we act rashly and get caught, the consequences will be unimaginable!

Besides, even if they are plotting treason, I doubt we'll find any evidence in their residences. At the very least, they wouldn't be foolish enough to leave evidence where we could find it!"

Hearing Rek's words, Mels smiled dismissively. "Rek, when did you become so timid? Remember when we were at the mountain stronghold—was there any place we didn't sneak into for fun? Our martial skills are far beyond what they were then. Are we afraid of a mere Prime Minister's residence now?

Moreover, even if we can't find direct, compelling evidence, as long as we can prove they're preparing for rebellion, we can notify Uncle Xiulan to proceed to the next phase of the plan. If we find nothing tonight, then tomorrow we can still tell him to leave the capital for the southern border.

In short, as long as we act carefully, I believe there won't be great danger. From now until the critical moment, success or failure depends on tonight! Don't try to dissuade me. Tonight, Akafir and I will infiltrate the Left Prime Minister's residence. Rek, you protect Sol and provide support from the perimeter. Bagina, you and Emma wait here for our news!"

After hearing Mels's words, though everyone had their own thoughts, they knew that once Mels made up his mind, he wouldn't easily change it. Besides, the current situation was indeed as Mels described—they were in too deep to back out now.

If they delayed further, not only would Xiu Lante, hiding in the city, grow anxious, but the army heading to the southern border might also realize their commander was absent, leading to low morale and other issues. Considering all this, everyone could only agree with Mels's approach and began preparing for the night's infiltration of the Prime Minister's residence.

With everyone's combined efforts and leveraging their special status as knights, a detailed floor plan of the Left Prime Minister's residence soon lay on their desk.

In the Relkes Empire, the Left Prime Minister was the highest-ranking official below the emperor, overseeing all internal affairs. The person holding this position truly stood above ten thousand, below only one! Given the Left Prime Minister's importance, his residence was among the most luxurious of all imperial officials!

Located north of the capital, adjacent to the imperial palace, the Left Prime Minister's residence covered over ten hectares. Its pavilions, towers, and terraces were arranged in picturesque disorder, with exotic flowers and rare plants scattered throughout. Just looking at the map made Mels and the others dizzy; they couldn't imagine how they would distinguish directions once inside the residence tonight!

By the time Mels and Akafir had laboriously memorized the layout of the Left Prime Minister's residence, it was already evening. After a hasty dinner, when night had fully fallen and the streets were nearly empty, Mels and the others, dressed in dark night attire, quietly left the noble guesthouse and made their way toward the Left Prime Minister's residence in the northern part of the capital.

Originally, Mels wanted Bagina and Emma to stay behind at the guesthouse, but the two girls, unwilling to be left out, insisted on accompanying them to the Left Prime Minister's residence.

Knowing Bagina's temperament well, Mels understood that if he refused, she might take Emma and venture to the residence on her own. Rather than let her risk danger alone, it was safer to have Bagina with Rek and the others. Considering this, Mels reluctantly brought Bagina and Emma along, leaving Sol behind at the guesthouse instead.

Leaping across rooftops and evading the Capital Guard Army patrols, they soon reached the eastern wall of the Left Prime Minister's residence. Hiding in a dark corner, Mels whispered to Rek, "Stay hidden here. If we come out pursued by enemies, use throwing knives to hold them off, then quickly break through to the city outskirts and head to the designated rendezvous point!" Hearing Mels's order, Rek nodded slightly to show he understood.

In truth, Mels was quite confident in Rek; what worried him were the haughty Bagina and Emma, who only grasped things partially. If enemies appeared, these two women might not follow Mels's orders, potentially causing incalculable trouble. Therefore, even as he prepared to scale the wall, Mels cast a worried glance at Bagina before leaping over the wall with a resigned look, cautiously making their way deeper into the Left Prime Minister's estate with Akafir.

Mels had chosen to enter from the east side because beyond the wall lay a garden filled with exotic flowers and rare plants, where rockeries and ponds could serve as hiding spots. Such complex terrain naturally provided great convenience for their movements. More importantly, after crossing the garden, they would reach the Left Prime Minister's private study—the primary destination of their nighttime reconnaissance.

In the darkness, Mels and Sol moved cautiously, one after the other. Although they had memorized the layout of the estate, once inside, they still felt completely turned around. Fortunately, Akafir spotted a pavilion next to the study, allowing the two to confirm their direction and quietly approach the Left Prime Minister's study.

Although the study was now in sight, Mels and Akafir, lurking outside, found no opportunity to enter. Four guards stood rigidly outside like wooden statues. While Mels and Akafir could easily overpower these four with their martial skills, they noticed the estate's tight security: three patrols passed by the study entrance within ten minutes.

Tugging gently on Akafir's sleeve, Mels led his companion under the pavilion and whispered, "Akafir, we have no chance to enter the study now. Let's split up: you head west to distract the patrols, and I'll take advantage of the chaos to slip in. Once you leave, don't return here. Escape to the city outskirts and take a roundabout route back to the inn! Understood?"

After listening, Akafir nodded slightly and vanished into the night. Mels knew that with Akafir's speed and counter-tracking abilities, only a top-tier expert could catch him. Moreover, in a crisis, Bagina and the others lying in wait outside would provide cover. Thus reassured, Mels quietly returned to the study, waiting for the guards to fall into disarray.

Sure enough, Akafir moved swiftly. Less than ten minutes after his departure, the estate lit up with lanterns, and a commotion erupted from the western courtyard. Guards swarmed like ants, rushing toward the courtyard—dozens passed right in front of Mels.

However, the four guards at the study entrance remained motionless, showing no intention of leaving. Their demeanor and actions suggested special orders: no matter what happened, they were not to abandon their posts!

This situation left Mels extremely anxious. If they were ordinary soldiers, Mels was confident he could knock them out instantly. But their true capabilities were unknown. Any misstep would lead to Mels being surrounded. Even if he could overpower them, it would leave traces of infiltration!

Caught in a dilemma, Mels suddenly had an idea. He quietly picked up two stones, threw one to the right side of the entrance, and then, even faster, threw another to the left. As expected, when the stones landed one after the other, all four guards lunged left. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Mels leaped up like a bat, landing on the roof. He then quietly removed a tile and slipped inside.

The Left Prime Minister's study was not as lavish as Mels had imagined. It contained a rosewood desk, a few armchairs, a bookcase large enough for four, and several calligraphy and paintings on the walls. Mels had thought that with such tight security, the study must hold earth-shattering secrets. However, after a careful search, he found no clues related to treason or rebellion.

"Could it be the Left Prime Minister truly has no intention of rebelling?" Just as Mels was filled with doubt, the guards outside suddenly spoke in unison: "Your Excellency, the Left Prime Minister!"

"Damn!" A series of danger signals flashed through Mels's mind, and he immediately searched for a hiding spot. However, the study was small with limited furnishings, and he couldn't find a suitable place. As the Left Prime Minister was about to enter, Mels suddenly noticed the large rosewood desk.

"Whatever, I'll take the chance!" Mels made up his mind, curled up into a ball, and hid under the desk. Fortunately, the desk had wooden panels on the front, left, and right, with only the side near the chair open for legroom. Since the desk was large, as long as the Left Prime Minister didn't stretch his legs, Mels's presence wouldn't be detected.

Just as Mels settled into hiding, the study door gently opened. Although Mels couldn't see how many entered, he could tell from footsteps and breathing that four people had come in, two of whom were highly skilled warriors! Realizing this, Mels became even more cautious, regulating his breathing to avoid attracting their attention.

"Your Excellency, were there any intruders in the estate earlier?" a deep-voiced man asked. "Heh, just some petty thieves. For days now, people have been trying to sneak in, but they'll find nothing! General Mark can rest assured!" the Left Prime Minister replied.

"Ah, I understand. May I ask why Your Excellency summoned us so late?" Mark, commander of the Capital Guard Army, inquired.

"Heh, today I invited you, General, along with Commander Salade and the Right Prime Minister, to make final preparations for our uprising in three days!" the Left Prime Minister said as he walked toward the desk.

The Left Prime Minister's movement immediately put Mels on high alert. By now, Mels understood the four were Mark, commander of the Capital Guard Army; Salade, commander of the Imperial Guards Knights; and the Empire's Left and Right Prime Ministers! In other words, aside from Duke Bolt and Xiu Lante, the four most powerful figures in the Empire were all here!

"Haven't we already discussed everything? Why gather here at such a critical moment and draw attention?" the Right Prime Minister's tone clearly carried dissatisfaction.

"Please remain calm, Your Excellency. I called everyone here because Duke Bolt will return to the capital in five days. When we act in three days, we must consider his power. Although he is alone, you've all heard how he single-handedly destroyed a small country over twenty years ago!" the Left Prime Minister said gravely.

Destroying a small country alone? That's sheer fantasy! Mels thought under the desk.

"That's all in the past! Didn't you say that according to recent intelligence, Duke Bolt's Eight-part Dragon King is difficult to activate? Why bring up such concerns now?" the younger-sounding Salade questioned directly.

Just as the Left Prime Minister was about to answer, Mark suddenly spoke: "What are you all talking about? Isn't our ultimate goal to force His Majesty to strip Duke Bolt of his power? Why are we suddenly sidelining his threat as if it's not a concern?"

After hearing Mark, the other three burst into laughter. The Left Prime Minister sneered, "Mark, don't you understand yet? Bolt is nothing but an insignificant pest to us. Overthrowing Ivan V is our ultimate goal! It's just that Bolt is trying to interfere, so we need a strategy to capture him in one fell swoop!"

"What? Overthrowing the dynasty! That's completely different from what you told me! Usurping the throne is despicable! As an imperial general, I eat the Empire's grain and receive His Majesty's salary—how could I commit such a vile act!" Mark had clearly been deceived.

"Haha..." The three laughed again.

Then Salade said viciously, "Mark, you're too naive! Do you think you can just back out now? Even if that old fool Ivan V spares you, do you think Bolt will let you off? Don't forget, it was because of you that Xiu Lante nearly died at the hands of his longtime brother! Given their bond, do you think he'll forgive you? Hmph, even if they're fools who hold no grudges, think about your wife and children! Let me tell you, all thirty-six members of your family are under my surveillance. If you make any suspicious moves, I guarantee they'll join you in death!"

"You... you..." A dull thud reached Mels's ears, suggesting the pale-faced Mark had slumped weakly into his chair. Clearly, the three had first tricked Mark and were only now revealing their true intentions!

"Don't look at us with such sorrowful eyes. Overthrowing that old fool Ivan V benefits you greatly too! Think about it—all these years, you've risked your life for the Empire, but what have you gained? Just a viscount title and command of the Capital Guard Army!

In this city, hundreds hold higher ranks. You're just an insignificant nobody! The dog emperor only remembers you when he needs you; otherwise, he treats you like a watchdog. If you cooperate with us, I promise you'll become Imperial Military Commander!" The Left Prime Minister and Salade worked in tandem, using both carrot and stick.

Hearing this, Mark remained silent. His heart must have been torn apart by the conflict between desire and loyalty. Although Mels couldn't see his expression, he could sense Mark's turmoil from his heavy, chaotic breathing.

Perhaps confident in their plan, the Left Prime Minister turned to Salade. "Has that fellow Xiu Lante truly left the capital?"

"According to our intelligence and spies in the expeditionary force, Xiu Lante doesn't seem to be with the army. At least in the past five days, no one has seen him. All matters are handled by his two trusted generals. However, we haven't found any trace of him in the city either. He's likely hiding somewhere in the capital," Salade said gravely. Clearly, they viewed Xiu Lante as a significant threat.

"What about the Dragon Knights Regiment? Have any of their soldiers appeared recently?" the Right Prime Minister asked.

"Not at all. My subordinates have thoroughly searched the capital and found no evidence. However, one point is worth noting: according to spies, although there's a camp for about ten thousand Dragon Knights in the army, the area is heavily guarded, and no one is allowed near! Therefore, they estimate part of the Regiment may not be with the force, but their whereabouts are unknown," Salade continued.

"Hmm, if we search carefully, we're sure to uncover the mystery! Xiu Lante alone is hard to find, but thousands of soldiers can't hide without a trace. These next two days are critical—you must redouble your efforts to eliminate all dangers in advance!" the Left Prime Minister said sternly.

"Of course. If we confirm they are indeed in the capital, we can charge him with deceiving the emperor and disobeying orders, bringing him before a military tribunal! At that point, heh heh..." Salade and the Left Prime Minister sneered in unison.

Bastards! They even came up with such a sinister plan! I must inform Uncle Xiulan and warn him about the spies around him! Mels seethed with anger.

"Mark, have you made up your mind? Will you cooperate, or do you want to die alongside the dog emperor's entire family?" the Left Prime Minister suddenly said.

"...Your Excellency, I've thought it through. As long as you don't harm my family, I'll cooperate," Mark said.

"Haha, a wise man knows when to yield. Good, I knew I wasn't wrong about you! Cooperate, and the position of Imperial Military Commander awaits! Now, that's enough. Mark, wait here. Your Excellency, and Commander Salade, come with me!" The Left Prime Minister led the two to the bookcase. After gently pulling a mechanism, the large bookcase slid left, revealing a secret passage! The three entered, and the bookcase returned, leaving only Mark and the hidden Mels under the desk.

What do I do? That guy is staying put! Looks like I'll have to hide longer! Mels thought under the desk.

Just as Mels was considering escape, Mark suddenly spoke: "Whoever you are, come out now!" Mels never expected that Mark, despite his mental turmoil, could detect his presence!

Is he talking about me? Should I come out or keep hiding? With his martial skills, I can't knock him out silently. What should I do? Mels hesitated.

Clang! A clear, resonant sound echoed—Mels knew Mark had drawn his sword!

With heavy footsteps, Mels could feel Mark approaching step by step!