Chapter 375

A solemn attendant moved quietly through the grand and majestic imperial palace. Upon entering the Crown Prince’s chambers, he whispered something to the prince, who furrowed his brow and responded with a questioning look.

The attendant lingered for a long moment, murmuring quietly into the prince’s ear. The guards nearby, though clearly noticing the exchange, averted their gazes as if they had seen nothing.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness.”

After exchanging a few words, the attendant announced his presence at the Crown Prince’s door. With permission granted to enter, he stepped inside and immediately faced Jin, who was seated at his desk, flipping through documents.

They say other people’s children grow up fast. It had only been a few days since they last met, yet how much he had grown! The attendant muttered this quietly to himself, bowing his head deeply.

“What is it? Has Minister Tweller sent word?”

Minister Maxim Tweller was currently leading troops southward, sending dispatches twice daily. Naturally, Jin assumed this message was related to him. But the attendant shook his head.

“No, Your Highness. This is a message from the border guards. They reported that a pass issued by Minister Ian Hielo was used, but the identity of the user couldn’t be confirmed, so they just wanted you to be aware.”

At the mention of Ian’s name, Jin tilted his head in curiosity. Xiao Xi, who had been listening nearby, also perked up, focusing intently on the attendant’s words.

“Ian issued a pass? Under ministerial authority?”

“Yes, yes. But they’ve identified who used it—it was Timothy, the envoy from Burgos.”

“Wait a moment.”

What was this about?

Jin stood abruptly, running a hand through his hair. If Ian had given Timothy a pass, that was unusual. Timothy was already a high-ranking member of Burgos’s diplomatic corps, free to come and go in Bariel without special permission.

So why issue a separate pass?

“How did you find out Timothy used it?”

“He came to the palace. He wishes to have an audience with Your Highness.”

Xiao Xi slowly closed Jin’s documents and began tidying the desk, signaling the end of the day’s work.

That Timothy, a foreigner and an active participant in the war, had come directly to Bariel’s imperial palace was no small matter. Jin gestured for the attendant to bring him in immediately, and the attendant hurried out. Jin appeared to be trying to grasp the gravity of the situation.

“What could this mean? Why would Timothy come to Bariel? Xiao, retrieve the note Ian sent earlier. Did it mention Timothy? Why did I assume he was still in Clifford?”

“There was no direct mention, but there was a note about Burgos confronting the border, insisting on bringing an envoy. Given the importance, Timothy may have been involved. I believe that’s what you inferred.”

“But why come all the way to the palace?”

“You’ll understand once you meet him. Please don’t worry too much. I think…”

Xiao Xi trailed off, taking a breath. From experience and intuition, if Timothy had come alone to the Bariel palace, there was only one likely reason.

“When someone flees their master, they seek out someone stronger. I suspect Timothy did the same.”

During the days of slavery, Jin had often witnessed such escapes. Those who fled recklessly through mountains and fields were caught and killed. Those who showed their worth to other powerful figures and pleaded for mercy survived and escaped. Whether that could truly be called escape was uncertain, but that was how it went.

Knock, knock.

Before Xiao Xi could finish, footsteps approached.

With Jin’s permission, the door opened, and a strong scent of exhaustion filled the room—the smell of someone who had ridden hard day and night.

Timothy appeared, bowing deeply. His face was still damp, though Jin couldn’t tell if it was sweat or tears.

“Sir Timothy.”

Jin rose in surprise. They had once shared tea in the Ministry of Magic’s courtyard, but this was a far cry from the man he had known. Despite being an enemy, Jin’s first feeling was one of human compassion.

Where was the fierce, stubborn beast he remembered? Now, he looked broken, like an old, powerless predator cast out.

“I come to see Crown Prince Jin.”

Timothy bowed respectfully—not in the Burgos style, but in Bariel’s.

Jin sat back down, eyeing the bundle of documents Timothy carried, yellowed and stained with dirt and dust.

“I have many questions, but I trust you will satisfy my curiosity. You know of the war between Burgos and Clifford. You have come to the heart of Gaia.”

“Yes, the heart of Gaia—the palace. Though I may have lost my way, I have found it. Thank you for granting me an audience.”

Jin sensed immediately that Timothy had turned his back on Burgos. Xiao Xi shared the same impression. Timothy cautiously recounted his story.

“I devoted my entire life to Burgos. It was my homeland and more. The royal family’s path was the one I followed. But no longer. Crossing the border, I left behind everything but memories of my family. Now, I wish to live for Bariel.”

“I find it hard to believe. King Damon harmed your family without proof?”

“I can hardly believe it myself.”

Timothy’s downfall came from internal betrayal.

He insisted on his innocence, tears streaming down his face. Jin thought he had seen the last of those tears, but as long as he lived, they would keep coming.

Bowing his head to the floor, Timothy pleaded.

“Your Highness, I beg you—accept me as a citizen of Bariel. Otherwise, when my entry permit expires, I will become an illegal immigrant, unable to enter any other country. Treason is the gravest of crimes everywhere. King Damon will issue a warrant for my arrest abroad, and my body will wander only through dead lands.”

Ordinary citizens could naturalize through proper channels, but Timothy’s case was complicated.

He was from Burgos, a nation at war. He held a high position. His entry was irregular, granted as a ministerial favor. And his reasons for naturalization were political.

Only Crown Prince Jin could override all this. With a single word, the process could be expedited, and Timothy would receive Bariel citizenship.

Jin tapped the documents lightly, looking down at Timothy’s bowed head.

“…Why should I believe you?”

Timothy claimed he was no traitor, but there was no direct proof. What if this was all a lie? A bold Burgos ploy to infiltrate the palace? If Timothy truly was a defector, Burgos would demand his extradition.

Yet refusing that request was equally problematic. Accepting him unarmed posed too great a risk to Bariel.

With a knowing look, Timothy withdrew something from his bundle. Xiao Xi picked it up and lightly dusted it off before handing it to Jin.

Though written in Burgos language and not immediately understandable, one thing was clear: the royal seal of Burgos was stamped on it.

“This is a diplomatic document between Burgos and another nation. It details what was exchanged, what promises were made for the future, and what was agreed to be forgotten from the past.”

“Xiao, bring in someone who can read Burgos.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Bring at least two.”

Just in case.

Xiao Xi quickly relayed Jin’s orders to the attendants, and the palace grew restless. Still, Timothy remained steadfast, waiting humbly for Jin’s goodwill.

‘If Timothy’s story is true…’

This was invaluable intelligence.

Knowing what deals Burgos had made was more than just information. It revealed what they lacked, what they had in abundance, and by analyzing the nature of these exchanges, one could infer their goals—and perhaps even internal affairs. Not just Burgos, but neighboring countries as well.

“Your Highness, these are the officials who can read Burgos.”

“Bring them in.”

Two officials bowed and entered.

Jin withheld the full contents, allowing them to examine only the front portion first. Given the importance, their identities needed verification. He couldn’t risk revealing everything prematurely.

“Confirm whether this is an official Burgos document.”

“Yes, Your Highness. One moment, please.”

They carefully examined the papers. As Burgos diplomats, they knew well how official documents were formatted and distributed.

Despite the dirt and damage, their hands moved busily. Soon, they reported back.

“Your Highness, this is indeed an official Burgos document. These are the names of those responsible, and below is the report’s title. The format matches that used by Burgos’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the names are familiar. Most importantly, the seal is genuine—at least to the naked eye. We recommend bringing in an expert for a thorough examination, but from our perspective, there is no issue.”

Timothy remained motionless on the floor. Jin’s gaze fell on something poking out from his bundle—it was a child’s toy.

Jin ordered the officials to step back, lightly tapping Vargas’s documents as he brushed off the dust.

“Just one question.”

“Please, Your Majesty.”

“If you naturalize here, what do you intend to do for a living? Someone who’s spent their whole life on the government’s dime might find it hard to adjust to anything else.”

A Bariel Empire citizenship was the bare minimum qualification to work in the palace. If he were to pass the exams and become even a low-ranking official? That would be quite a sight. Of course, the higher-ups would make sure no one ever saw it.

“If you grant me permission to naturalize, I won’t set foot near the palace. I just want to live. To survive…”

All he wanted was revenge against King Damon, who had slaughtered his family so cruelly and mercilessly. If the palace stood in his way, so be it—but even if not, there were many paths to take.

Timothy bit the inside of his cheek until it bled. Just thinking of Damon’s face twisted his heart as if it might break.

“There will be a process to verify the truth of what you’ve said.”

“I will cooperate wholeheartedly.”

“And for the time being, you will have to remain within the palace.”

At that, Timothy lifted his head.

Why would they want to drive out a high-ranking official like Vargas, who had just fallen into their hands? They needed to thoroughly examine everything etched into his mind over a lifetime.

That was probably more valuable than these stained documents.

“…The price seems fair enough.”

Jin set the papers down and nodded. His eyes betrayed no doubt—Timothy’s naturalization was a highly favorable development.