Free Web NovelChapter 423: Chapter 420: Rolling Spring Thunder: Prologue
The spring thunder rolled. The many events of this spring were like lightning strikes, falling one after another, startling the birds and beasts of the forest and leaving the people of the Ferolun Continent in a state of panic.
Rorschach received a dizzying stream of news:
The Empire admitted to a military defeat for the first time, triggering a massive shock in the domestic market. Empire Marshal Count Srefen stepped down, and his student, Helmut—a friend of the Crown Prince—took over as Marshal and Chief of the General Staff. Valois sacrificed a once-noble head to become a Republic. Otto paid a secret visit to the Bayern Kingdom.
This Otto was not the Prince, but the reigning Prime Minister of the Empire. The Prime Minister’s itinerary had not been publicly reported.
At the airship landing site in Munich, the Eldest Prince stood beside his father, the King. The Bayern First Legion and Second Legion, which he nominally commanded, had already returned to the Kingdom.
The Prime Minister’s personal airship, indistinguishable from any other, descended from the clouds. The Giant Beast slowly crouched to the ground and opened its belly. The Prime Minister’s private carriage, mottled horses, a team of secretaries, servants, and Bodyguards all emerged from its "stomach."
The horses had to be mottled, a nod to the Lord Chancellor’s reputation for being incorruptible and close to the people. However, the horses absolutely had to be transported by air, because these "mottled" horses were all purebreds. They had undergone strict training from the moment their four hooves first touched the ground, obeying every command without fail and refusing to spook even if the sky were to fall.
Four such horses were fitted with harnesses and began pulling the carriage toward the welcoming party.
Amidst the sound of drums and music, the Eldest Prince’s expression soured, for he had not seen the Empire Prime Minister emerge from the airship. ’Does he plan to meet us from inside his carriage? If so, that would be incredibly arrogant and rude. Furthermore, such an attitude would be interpreted as the Empire’s stance toward Bayern...’
The old King, Albert, however, remained unmoved. From that moment on, he had a strong premonition: Prime Minister Otto was not on the airship.
Before the carriage could reach them, a secretary in a Civil Servant’s uniform trotted across the carpet to the King and the Eldest Prince. The secretary bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Prime Minister was not aboard this airship. His Lordship insisted on entering Bayern by other means, for which I offer my deepest apologies..."
"Then how does he intend to arrive?"
The secretary’s head remained bowed. "It was all very sudden, I’m afraid I do not know. The Lord Chancellor asked me to inform Your Majesty that he will be sure to offer his most sincere and endless apologies when he has his official audience with you."
"Very well. We shall await him at the Royal Palace." The King stroked his cane, already having formed a guess as to how his guest would arrive, and where he was now.
The bowing secretary offered another string of thanks. The Eldest Prince, who had been struggling to control his emotions, could not hide his astonishment, as if to say, ’And that’s it? We’re just letting it go?’
...
In front of the Magic Guild Building in Munich, a strange vehicle was parked. It was painted a gleaming, bright red, with a luster and texture that could rival the finest and most expensive porcelain from the Far East.
The vehicle’s design was dominated by curves, giving it a generally rounded shape. As for aerodynamics... its current speed didn’t even warrant considering wind resistance.
There was no biological power source in front of it, whether two-legged or four. In short, even parked at the entrance of the Magic Guild, the vehicle was an oddity.
The people inside stepped out: Rorschach in his Mage Robe and Andre in his Apprentice Robe. It had been a long time since they had worn the "formal attire" of a Caster. Today, they were here to welcome a Mage from the Tower of Forest who was coming to supervise the spring plowing. According to a reliable tip from a certain shriveled old man, the visitor was none other than the Great Mage Alexander von Humboldt.
’Supervising the spring plowing is probably true, but who would believe that a Great Mage of his stature would come all the way to Bayern just to poke around in the fields?’
Andre’s use of the [Communication Skill] was growing more and more proficient. "The spring plowing is almost over... what is the Master coming here for?" He didn’t know what to make of it. "If you say the Tower of Forest values us, they’ve already sent a wave of Mages to all corners of the Empire. Bayern must be the last stop, right? But if you say they don’t value us... then why send a Great Mage?"
"So... never mind. Don’t let anyone overhear you." Rorschach had experience being caught while using the [Communication Skill]. The Magic was unreliable in the presence of someone with high perception. It was one thing to chat freely in mundane fields, but they were in the Magic Guild now.
Rorschach presented Kou Bo’s token to a staff member. After it was verified, the two were led down to the basement level, to the Guild’s Communication System hall. Business in this department had slowed for a time after Bayern’s telegraph system was established, but now that the world’s nerves were on high alert, these "synapses" were once again busy transmitting information.
However, they weren’t here to receive a letter, but a living person. The matter was confidential. All non-essential staff were dismissed, the Teleportation Array halted all other transmissions, and it began communicating with the other end at full power.
Andre’s eyes went wide. It was the first time he had ever known, or seen, the Guild’s Teleportation Array being used for its original purpose. Rorschach took the opportunity to repeat the information he had gotten from Kano: "The Teleportation System can transport people when operating at peak power. Currently, only a Great Mage has the authority to use it, and it can only transport one person at a time."
Then, an iridescent light flared and faded, revealing two figures on the Magic Array.
"..." ’No, wait. That’s a dangerous maneuver. How is that any different from two people squeezing through a single turnstile at a station?’ Rorschach silently made a mental note. ’Master Kano is going to hear about this.’
Of the two who had teleported, one was, of course, Master Humboldt. He looked the same as the last time they met and greeted Rorschach with a smile.
"This is my Apprentice, Andre."
"A pleasure." Humboldt extended a hand as broad as a sheet of birch bark—smooth, yet with a palpable toughness. It was Andre’s first time shaking hands with a Great Mage, and he was a little excited.
It was Humboldt’s turn to introduce his "extra baggage." The Master simply said, "This is a guest of Bayern."
Rorschach had already been observing the old man. His white, handlebar mustache was well-groomed, and his gaze was resolute, though it flickered from time to time as he glanced around with his peripheral vision. ’Just like Andre,’ Rorschach thought, ’everything here must be a first for him.’
Humboldt offered to help the old man, but he was refused. The man supported himself with his own hands as he stepped down from the platform of the Magic Array. His build and face resembled that of an old man from the Bayern countryside who enjoys his beer, but his bearing and mustache gave him an aura of authority without him needing to be angry.
By observing his Spiritual Light, Rorschach could tell he wasn’t carrying any Casting Materials. However, there were gleams of light from his cufflinks and ring, and a faint glow on his chest, likely from a pendant worn underneath his clothes. Such hidden, glowing ornaments were probably not for show, but were passively triggered Magic Items—most likely a defensive accessory to protect his torso.
Rorschach recalled the rumors circulating among the public and formed a guess about the identity of this uninvited guest. He gave the old man a slight bow. "I never expected you would come to Bayern via the Guild’s teleportation. Welcome, Lord Chancellor."
"Rorschach Mage, I heard your name even back in the Imperial Capital." The Prime Minister, who had hitched a ride with Master Humboldt, gave Rorschach a nod.
