Episode 98: Evidence (2)
Alexander Apple was in his domain, receiving updates about the subjugation force.
The news was consistently favorable, and a smile never left Alexander’s face.
“Leona, is it true that the subjugation efforts are repeatedly failing?”
“Yes, it is. I received word from my siblings this morning.”
“Ha ha ha, that’s delightful news.”
Leona possessed a magical communication device that operated through dark magic, allowing her to receive constant updates from the field.
According to the dark mages, the current state of the subjugation force was disastrous.
They charged in, thinking only orcs were present, only to suffer heavy casualties at the hands of orc warriors.
The poison scattered around the castle had significantly weakened the knights’ strength and morale.
And those who recklessly rushed into the forest were massacred by ogres.
“Oliver, when do you think that fool will give up on the subjugation?”
“My siblings believe it won’t be long. They estimate within three days at most.”
“Good, very good.”
Leona’s prediction was spot on. Three days later, news arrived that a royal messenger had reached the capital.
—The criminal reports. The resistance from the orc horde is too fierce, and an unknown plague is spreading, causing great losses among the knights…
The letter was filled with self-justifications, but in short, it meant the subjugation had failed.
“Ha ha ha, ha ha ha!”
Alexander Apple was overjoyed upon hearing the news. He had never laughed so heartily in his life.
“That fool! His greed was too much, and now he’s failed!”
“Congratulations, Your Excellency. You will finally achieve what you desire.”
“It’s all thanks to you and your sisters! I will never forget this service!”
Alexander Apple began preparing to leave for the capital.
He intended to go as soon as possible to criticize Oliver Apple for his failure and remove him from the position of crown prince.
“Will you come with me?”
“My siblings are on their way back… I should meet them first.”
“Then join us at the capital after reuniting with them! I’ll be waiting!”
Leona left the domain ahead of Alexander Apple.
She headed to the location her sisters had mentioned through the communication device.
As she got closer, her anticipation grew.
Leona had spent a long time with Noctis and Marina, sharing both joy and sorrow.
Having been apart from her siblings for so long, she planned to spend some time with them once they reunited.
But when she arrived at the meeting place, it wasn’t her sisters waiting for her.
“Right on time.”
Damian Haxen.
The unexpected guest left Leona’s mind in turmoil.
“It was a trap.”
Leona spoke briefly. Damian Haxen remarked with curiosity.
“You’re sharper than I thought. And calm, too. I expected it would take you longer to figure it out.”
Leona took a deep breath. In truth, she was still shaken.
But with the enemy right in front of her, she couldn’t afford to show weakness. She maintained a facade of calm.
“Are you saying all the communications from my siblings were fake?”
“Smart.”
Leona felt a chill run down her spine.
It meant she had been dancing in the palm of the enemy’s hand from the start.
“How long have you known about us?”
“I’ve known for quite some time.”
Damian’s response was brief, and he didn’t seem inclined to elaborate, so Leona didn’t press further.
“Where are my siblings?”
“Want them back? Then you’ll have to answer my questions.”
Leona bit her lip in silence.
She had always been the one making threats. Being on the receiving end was a first for her.
“Ask whatever you want. But you must guarantee my siblings’ safety.”
“Disgusting.”
Damian said suddenly. Leona nodded slightly.
“Seeing scum like dark mages caring for family makes me want to vomit.”
Despite Damian’s insults, Leona showed no reaction.
To survive as a dark mage, one had to become indifferent to such contempt.
“Why did you approach Alexander Apple?”
“To establish a base. So my sisters and I could be safe…”
“A base? Were you planning to establish a Pandemonium base in the Apple Kingdom?”
Leona sighed inwardly at Damian’s words.
She had suspected her siblings had been interrogated, but she hadn’t expected them to reveal so much.
”…Yes. We allied with Alexander Apple to create a Pandemonium base.”
“That’s a lie.”
Damian cut her off sharply.
“Pandemonium was organized to bring down the Empire. While dark mages affiliated with Pandemonium have appeared in other kingdoms, they don’t establish bases.”
Leona couldn’t believe her ears.
“How do you know that…?”
“Pandemonium-affiliated dark mages always bear a visible mark. But I don’t see one on you.”
Leona felt a chill.
Pandemonium was an extremely secretive organization. Paradoxically, it was both the most famous and the least known.
Yet the man before her knew too much about Pandemonium.
“Shall I tell you my theory? You’re not part of Pandemonium. You’re just a candidate.”
Even this was accurate. Leona’s sense of dread intensified.
“To join Pandemonium, you must commit significant atrocities. You planned this to gain entry.”
”…How do you know so much about Pandemonium?”
“I’m the only one asking questions.”
Damian’s tone was firm, leaving Leona no choice but to remain silent.
“When did you start working with Alexander Apple?”
”…About five years ago.”
“What did you do to assist him?”
“Nothing major. We would cause incidents, and Alexander Apple would handle them.”
“You repeated this to expand Alexander Apple’s power and influence.”
Damian Haxen nodded as if he had expected this.
“Why did you interfere with Oliver’s subjugation?”
“Because Alexander Apple wanted the throne. If Oliver Apple failed, he planned to use it as a pretext to remove him from the position of crown prince.”
Leona answered honestly. It was obvious her siblings had already revealed everything. There was no point in trying to hide it.
“I think I’ve answered enough questions. Now release my siblings.”
“Thank you for your cooperation. But I’m afraid I can’t grant that request.”
Leona sighed deeply. She hadn’t trusted Damian’s words anyway.
She had answered to gather information herself.
While responding, she had discreetly spread her dark magic to sense if anyone else was nearby.
She discovered that Damian was alone.
“This much truth should be enough to bring down Alexander Apple.”
“Do you really think that’s possible?”
Leona unleashed her dark magic. Countless magic circles appeared beneath her feet.
“Don’t you care about your siblings’ lives?”
“There’s no guarantee I can save them by following you. It’s better to kill you here and rescue them with my own power.”
Leona belonged to the School of Destruction.
It was a school of dark magic known for its immense destructive power.
With a single gesture, she could reduce the man before her to ashes.
“It seems a waste to kill you so easily… but the situation is urgent.”
Leona snapped her fingers. The magic circles on the ground began to glow.
At that moment, a flash of light descended from the sky, and a blade embedded itself in the magic circle.
With a thunderous crash, the ground shattered, and the magic circle vanished.
“Ahhh!”
Leona screamed involuntarily. Immediately after, someone landed where the sword had struck.
Upon seeing the man’s face, Leona gasped in shock.
“Liam Bluegreen!”
Even after defeating the orc horde, Damian didn’t return immediately.
He used the dark mage’s communication device to send false reports, buying time.
It was all to corner Alexander Apple and the dark mage by his side.
“Your Highness, you must go to Sir Liam Bluegreen.”
“Trust me. I will persuade Sir Liam.”
And when the time was right, Oliver Apple was sent to Liam Bluegreen.
”…Why have you come here when you should be focusing on the subjugation?”
Initially, Liam Bluegreen was not pleased with his visit.
Even as the crown prince, he was known to be aligned with Alexander Apple. Such a meeting could easily be misunderstood.
However, as Oliver Apple revealed the truth, Liam’s expression began to change.
“Don’t speak nonsense. Why would His Excellency Alexander do such a thing?”
Of course, Liam Bluegreen didn’t believe Oliver Apple at first.
He had never thought highly of Oliver Apple, considering him an incorrigible scoundrel and losing all hope in him.
Concerned only for the future of the Apple Kingdom, he believed that a slight deviation from protocol was acceptable.
The person he turned to instead was Alexander Apple.
He believed Alexander could succeed the king and become a great ruler, contributing to the kingdom’s growth.
So when he heard that Alexander Apple had conspired with dark mages to cause various incidents, he couldn’t believe it.
“That’s why I brought evidence.”
Oliver Apple had brought in two captured dark wizards this time.
Liam Bluegreen’s expression hardened as he sensed the dark magic emanating from them.
”…Are you saying they were with the orc horde?”
“If you doubt my words, you can ask Sir Michael and the other knights.”
Conflict flickered across Liam Bluegreen’s face. He struggled to make a decision.
Oliver Apple relayed the last words he had heard from Damian.
“If you’re still unsure, come here. Then you’ll have to accept the truth.”
Oliver Apple provided Liam Bluegreen with the location where Damian Haxen was waiting.
When Liam Bluegreen arrived, Damian Haxen was in the middle of questioning Leona.
“When did you start working with Alexander Apple?”
”…About five years ago.”
“And how did you assist Alexander Apple during that time?”
“I didn’t do anything extraordinary. We would cause incidents, and Alexander Apple would handle the aftermath.”
“So, by repeating that, you helped expand Alexander Apple’s power and influence.”
Listening to their conversation, Liam Bluegreen felt dizzy.
“It’s a shame to kill them so easily, but… the situation is urgent.”
But the situation was too dire for hesitation. Liam Bluegreen quickly hurled his sword at the magic circle.
The ground shattered under the force of the magic-infused sword, erasing the circle and canceling the dark magic.
Liam Bluegreen landed where his sword had struck. He pulled the sword free and turned to Damian.
“Is this what you wanted to show me by sending for me?”
“Indeed. Quite intriguing, wasn’t it?”
Damian’s words left Liam Bluegreen with a troubled expression.
“Let’s start by interrogating the dark wizards.”
With that, Liam Bluegreen turned to face the dark wizard. The wizard’s face twisted in defiance.
“You think you can capture me that easily?”
The dark wizard unleashed a surge of dark magic. In an instant, Liam Bluegreen vanished and reappeared in front of the wizard.
”…Gah!”
He seized the wizard’s jaw, preventing any incantations, and crushed both hands to stop any spellcasting.
“Ugh! Ughhh!”
The dark wizard writhed in agony on the ground. Liam Bluegreen struck her neck, rendering her unconscious.
”…What’s the next plan?”
Liam Bluegreen asked, turning to Damian. Damian gestured with his chin as he replied.
“We’ll head to the royal castle and hold Alexander Apple accountable for his crimes.”