"Considering what happened in the Blackmoon Region a while back, someone must have relayed the news to Blackthorn City. Perhaps the queen dispatched an inquisitor to investigate," Linetta speculated with surprise.
The lowest-ranking inquisitors in the kingdom were at least Earl-rank nobles.
"Surely not, right?" Lillias doubted before adding, "The situation in Blackmoon Region was indeed very dangerous for us back then, but even if many people died, it shouldn't be serious enough to summon an inquisitor… probably."
Lillias became unconfident the more she thought about her reasoning.
"It's hard to say, Lady Lillias. I'm not in a position to comment on the queen, but it doesn't need to be a big issue for our sovereign to dispatch an inquisitor for investigation," Captain Rhys inserted his opinion.
"Right… If it's about our sovereign, anything could happen," Linette agreed with a nod.
No one could guess the thoughts of a Transcendent Witch, especially the Transcendent Witch of Black Rose, who was considered a little eccentric.
When it comes to managing the kingdom, whether they were big or small, everything was up to the ruler's whims.
"What do you think, Vaan?" Linette turned to him and expressed her interest in his opinion.
"What do I think?" Vaan paused for a moment before he replied with a mysterious smile, "Well, let's just say the City Lord of Blackmoon City is in big trouble, my Lady."
"Why's that?" Linette pressed with one of her brows raised, hoping Vaan would provide a more detailed answer.
"Because of you and Lady Lillias, my Lady. You neither announced your arrival in Blackmoon City nor did you bring any subordinates from your household for protection. Who do you think will have the biggest reaction to the disaster in Blackmoon Region?"
"It wouldn't be the City of Blackmoon City herself, right?" Lillias wondered.
Vaan glanced at Lillas for a moment before asking her with amusement, "If you did something wrong as a lord, would you take the initiative to report the problem, my Lady?"
"Don't you think it would be the same as shooting yourself in the foot with a risk of potentially burning down your house in the process?" Vaan added.
"Err, maybe… I think…?" Lillias scratched her head wryly before asking, "What's up with the weird analogy?"
"An inquisition won't just look into the problem they are tasked to investigate. They will also dig up every problem they can find within the lord's territory and determine whether the lord is managing their territory adequately," Vaan stated.
"If there are too many problems within the territory, the inquisitor may deem the lord unfit for the role and pass the word to the queen. In that instance, the queen will usually strip the lord of their territory and give it to a more capable lord to manage."
The Transcendent Witch of Black Rose was generous in handing out territories to her loyal subjects to manage.
But at the same time, the Transcendent Witch of Black Rose wouldn't hesitate to pass their territories onto another if she found them incompetent.
A single word could determine the rise and fall of a household.
"City Lord Istana would be the last person to make a report to Capital and alert the inquisitors," Vaan stated.
"I get it," Linetta's eyes flickered with enlightenment before saying, "Our Delarosa Household would have the biggest reaction."
"Why's that, sister?" Lillias turned to her with confusion. "Mother is bedridden, and all authority and management is currently in Aunty's hands. Would Aunty kick up a fuss when she is trying to get rid of us?"
"That's the point, Lily. Even if Aunty wants us dead, she has to put up a front to make others believe she cares about us," Linetta stated.
"After all, it would be too strange if the entire Delarosa Household remained silent when they knew the two flowers of the Delarosa Household passed through the Blackmoon Region during its most dangerous period."
"And if the Delarosa Household is voicing a complaint, the queen would definitely dispatch an inquisitor to investigate. That is why Vaan mentioned that the City Lord of Blackmoon City would be in trouble."
"Even if City Lord Istana didn't provoke the Dark Hellhounds in the Blackmoon Region, it still happened under her rule. She wouldn't be free from blame," Linetta explained.
"Ooh~!" Lillias finally understood the reasoning. It was very plausible.
"Anyhow, let us enter the city. The night watchers are giving us odd stares since when are just standing outside the gate," Linetta mentioned.
Shortly after, Vaan and the two ladies hopped off the Earth Salamander before Linetta unsummoned it. Afterward, everyone passed through the gate without being stopped by the guards.
Nevertheless, Vaan felt something scan his entire body like everyone else.
'This must be one of those magic tools used for identifying and recording information of people entering and leaving the city,' Vaan determined.
Along with the advancement in magic engineering, magic tools were essential to daily life in the present era.
However, not all cities and towns were developed enough to incorporate them like Redpine City. Some were more backward like Sunpeak Town.
Small villages with primitive lifestyles also existed in some secluded regions.
The development and application of technology was not uniform throughout the kingdom.
'Security is quite high,' Vaan thought with a casual look.
As a first-timer entering Redpine City, Vaan's information was newly generated and saved in the city's database.
The more advanced identification-type magic tools could record a person's name and status, while the less advanced ones would only record their appearance and criminal record.
As no one came forward to record his name and status into the city's database, Vaan quickly determined Redpine City's identification-type magic tool to be one of the less advanced ones.
"We'll resupply for necessities in the city. Then, we will continue on our way and head to the next city through the night," Linetta said with a sigh.
Redpine City was where they would be parting with Vaan.
Linetta glanced at Vaan and wanted to say something when a group of servants led by a fairly important-looking witch suddenly approached them with hasty steps.
"Welcome to Redpine City, Lady Linette, and Lady Lillias. Lord Helia would like to invite both of you to her castle. And if you may, please allow me to escort you two there," the leading witch informed humbly.
Linetta and Lillias glanced at each other with furrowed brows.
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