Chapter. 93. Sticks and Carrots (1)
“Who are you and why do you keep hanging around here? Huh?”
Ian thought for a while. What would be the best response? Would it be better to quickly subdue him?
‘No, perhaps.’
Finally, Ian’s head began to shake.
There was no reason to use force while in a hostile territory. It was more prudent to approach in a more natural way.
“Ah, I’m…..”
The guard was still looking rough. It was more of looking down on him rather than guarding. He was displaying a more conceited gesture.
“I am here to request a visit to Sir Oburn Parker.”
“Do you think he is some sort of inn keeper?”
“If you would relay a message that I have something to share with him with respect to the Order…..”
“Ord- Order?”
The guard finally changed his countenance. It seemed as if even they knew about the Order of the Dragons.
“The 5th prince has sent me.”
Although there was no clear evidence, there were circumstances in which Ragnar has borrowed the influence of the Order. Yet, there was a high possibility. Ragnar certainly could not handle the flower of Landeor all by himself.
“By the- the lord, the prince?”
Therefore, he subtly threw in the name of the ‘5th prince’. It appeared to be working on the guard. He was certainly in sudden shock. He will soon find out whether it is because Ragnar was involved, or just simply because the name of the imperial family was mentioned.
“Please, please wait a minute.”
There was certainly no longer the appearance of looking down on him. Ian smiled brightly and replied.
“Please, I’ll be waiting.”
The smile would have earned people’s interest in normal situations. However, the current appearance did not attract it. Of course, Ian did not realize that. He simply gave a habitual smile.
“The- Then…..”
The guard came out of the mansion without much delay after having entered the house with half embarrassed and half sour expression upon seeing the ugly smile.
“Strange.”
Oburn Parker, the middle aged man, murmured, following behind the guard.
“Who are you?”
“As I’ve said, the 5th prince has…..”
“So, I’ve asked you who you are, bastard.”
Oburn Parker’s countenance was one that was full of suspicion and arrogance. It was a very different attitude than the cowardly display that he had shown before Evantus. It seemed that he was holding a strong position within the Order.
“There should be a designated person for all the things related to the 5th prince?”
Oburn Parker said that much. He sent a signal to the guards. The guards followed up by drawing their swords. It was a display of them being wary.
“You would be smart to tell the truth.”
“…..”
It was rather a sudden threat. Ian decided quickly. The speculation that he was sure of, the time has come to utilize those speculations.
‘Dumpil Moret, the captain of the 1st Imperial Knights.’
Dumpil, the old knight, who was guarding the emperor’s chamber. He definitely saw the work of the 5th prince. The move in which the leaves were dropped into the herbal medicine. However, there wasn’t any reaction to it. There was one thing that can be speculated.
‘That he was in bed with the Order of the Dragons.’
Perhaps, the 5th prince’s designee that Oburn Parker has spoken of. Moreover, it would be Dumpil Moret, the emperor’s body guard.
“At this moment, Sir Dumpil is in the middle of a very important task.”
On the mention of Dumpil, Oburn’s eye brows twitched and Ian did not miss that opportunity.
“Therefore, my lord is seeking Sir Oburn’s assistance to resolve the current issue.”
“The current issue?”
“Is it OK to reveal it right here, right now?”
Ian looked at the body guards. Oburn also followed his eye sight.
“Hmm…..”
‘The current problem’ that the 5th prince is addressing now’
Oburn knew what it meant as well.
‘This guy must be truly sent by the 5th prince.’
Oburn gave a hand gesture to the guards. It was an instruction to withdraw their weapons.
“Follow me.
Ian followed Oburn into the mansion. The inside of it was truly the standard of ‘extravagance’. Even the imperial family’s wealth would not be envied in this place.
“So, what have you come to discuss?”
“I’ll get right to it sir.”
Ian took out something from his inner pocket. The items that he had picked from the flower of the Landeor. They were one of each leaf and petal.
“Need more flowers.”
“What? Wasn’t it sufficient?”
“Since my lord has made several mistakes…..”
“What? What is so difficult that he made mistakes.”
Ian kept up with his winning moves. They were the moves solely based on feeling and speculation. Yet, there was no hesitation. What if it does not work? He will simply resolve it with power. It was only that he wanted to save mana.
‘At least until he would face the dragonian.’
There was a high possibility of facing him. He will keep his distance just like the fairy queen. It was only that magic must be used to subdue him. That was the reason for conserving mana as much as possible.
“He was going crazy, asking for the one method, saying it was the only time of opportunity and so on. The leader has provided that much, so he should have been better at it! What do you mean mistakes? Mistakes.”
Oburn even dared to complain about the 5th prince. His place within the Order was imaginable. At the same time, the possibility has just been increased.
“If the position in the Order was at such a level,’
He can certainly be in touch with Evantus. Ian thought that he came to the right place.
“My lord has also instructed me to relay that he was sorry to dragonian, the master of the Order, and to you, Sir Oburn Parker as well.”
“Apologies? To me?”
“Yes. He had certainly told me that.”
“Haha! Is that so? To me, Oburn Parker?”
With thrills, Oburn Parker smiled. No matter how high one’s place was in the Order, the other party was still a prince. Such individual has lowered himself first by apologizing to an aristocrat. Unspeakable satisfaction and achievement have stoked Oburn’s ego.
“Hahaha! I see. Considering the 5th prince’s urgent situation, I will ask the leader in person. Stay here and wait.”
“Thank you. Sir Oburn.”
Oburn Park was thrilled. He entered the library inside the mansion. He didn’t forget to bring along a body guard. Even in such a situation, he was a man of details.
“Is it in the library?”
That is, the way to get in touch with Evantus. Now, what would be the best thing to do?
‘Let me just wait a little longer.’
After subduing the body guards that were around, it was possible to follow behind him. But, this does not seem to be the right time. He felt the need to observe how the situation would unfold.
‘Is it a communication conduit? Or a portal?’
Ian attempted to speculate their communication modes. There were two methods that came into his mind right away. The book or portal that the previous tower lord, Herbert, has used and the high powered communication conduit that Ian also has. Or even a higher powered communications conduit.
‘Maybe, not a portal.’
It was so, based on Ian’s knowledge. By connecting the mana repository tool, it was possible for ordinary people to use communications conduits, but portal artifact was a different story. That is not a product of Mado engineering. Rather, it was an artifact that only the sorcerers can initiate.
‘Hm?’
But then someone, putting everything upside down, has appeared. It was ‘Faburn Parker’, the son of Oburn Parker and a sorcerer of the Ivory Tower, who was at one time an apprentice of Ian. He came down from the 2nd floor of the mansion. Based on his appearance, it seemed as if he has been called on.
“Sir Faburn.”
One body guard approached Faburn.
“Sir Oburn is using the library at this time…..”
“I know, I know. I was called upon.”
Faburn Parker pushed the guard as if he was being a bother. At the same time he met the eyes of Ian, who was waiting. Of course, with the big changes on Ian’s face, Faburn could not recognize him.
“What is that?”
After throwing a word in Ian’s direction, Faburn went into the library. Six years ago, at the age of 12, he had consistently acted in an impudent arrogant way towards Ian. It was also the same bastard that went all out brown nosing Ian once he had learned that Ian had become a high level sorcerer. That bastard? What the heck is that?
‘Three year old habits last till eighty as they say.’
However, it wasn’t the arrogance, but the fact that that bastard has entered the library that was important. Faburn Parker, the son of Oburn Parker, was definitely a sorcerer. What does this imply?
‘The artifact can be initiated.’
When Ian’s thoughts reached that point, The decision on what to do next was made. There was no longer a reason to observe the situation. That was the decision reached ultimately.
“Sleep, feather fall.”
With a single, quiet spell, the guards fell down all around. To dampen the sound, even the spell of feather fall was kindly added. In order to avoid unnecessary killings and to conserve mana at the same time, he only used lower level magic.
‘Sleep for a while.’
Ian approached the library. After stopping by the door, he held his ears closer to the door. He has enhanced his hearing by using mana also. It was to listen to the sounds inside the library.
“Faburn. Hurry and open that portal for me.”
“Who is that guy outside? I’ve never seen him before.”
“He came from the imperial palace. He was sent by the 5th prince, according to him.”
It was as Ian had suspected. Their mode of communication was an artifact of portal. Of course, Faburn could not have made the portal. Evantus probably gave them the artifact.
“I’ll open it then. Father.”
“Sure, please do.”
Soon after, a portal was formed inside the library. It was similar to the one that Herbert, the tower lord, had used. That is, no one would argue even if it was claimed that the same one was being used. The dark blue cylindrical portal was what appeared.
“Dear descendants of the dragons.”
Oburn Parker’s voice came next. It was a call meant for something beyond the portal.
“Oburn Parker, your lowly servant, requests your presence.”
(Speak. What is it?)
“Yes, Ragnar, the 5th prince, which the descendant of the dragon has personally chosen as the emperor of the Greenriver, has requested…..”
The ends of Ian’s lips were raised. It was the moment that confirms the suspicion at lighting speed. Visiting Oburn Parker was the right answer. It was the right way to drag out Evantus from hiding.
Kwwang-!
The closed library door opened roughly. It almost reached the point of breaking. It was expected due to the influence of magic.
“Hey, listen! What have you done now…..!”
Oburn Parker quickly stood, blocking Ian. How dare you, it is the place of one to one communication with the master. It was no place for a lowly member of the Order to be present.
“You are not at the level to receive him…..”
“Move away.”
Ian has entered the library. He pushed Oburn Parker out of the way. It was same for Faburn Parker as well. A simple magic was all that was needed.
(…..!)
Ian stared at the portal. The portal began disappearing at the same time. But, Ian’s movement was quicker. In fact, it wasn’t even moving at all.
“Blink.”
With the ‘blink’ spell, a short distance spatial transport magic, Ian has entered the portal. At the other end was Evantus as expected. His children that only had a few hundred years of life were with him there also.
(You…..?)
The space that he has reached after passing the dark blue portal. The space inside was certainly very different. It was high land that was even close to the clouds. Overall, it was in a caved in shape. The earth was very soft and beautiful. What expression would best describe it?
‘A nest.’
That’s right. A bird nest came to mind. Perhaps, most likely a very, very large bird nests. Even Ian would know such a life form. He even met in person, not too long ago. Although it was limited to a form of the spirit. It was not a big bird. Ah, there were wings though.
‘Dragon.’
Dragon’s nest.
The dragon’s lair.
He has also heard that even the fairies homes have definitely been inherited from the dragon’s lair. Then wouldn’t these dragonians have sought out similar locations for their homes?
‘I would know when I ask.’
Ian has put a series of thoughts in order. He then gave a smile to the three dragonians.
“It has been one hundred days since my last visit.”
And he also sent greetings in a quiet voice.
“Sir Evantus, and the dear children.”
Re-edited by FlawFinder, May 19th 2020
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