BXBX NOVEL Chapter 102 Multilayered Mission
"Alright.." Leon nodded without minding the fickle mindedness of the crimson blades. He knew that whatever choice they would pick, they would surely carry out the tasks wholeheartedly.
"Then I'll task Olivier to handpick the team who will be guarding my future wife and my son. The rest will join us to collaborate with my older brothers and General Eugine for the operations." Leon announced in finality.
"The Crimson Blades comply with the will of our Wielder!" The blades knelt and shouted in unison.
"Good! You are dismissed. Olivier, Blaze, prepare the groupings a little later, come with me for a while." He then beckoned the vice captains to the meeting room.
In the meeting room, the trio wordlessly sat and assumed an astute expression befitting of a soldier.
"Blaze, I wanted to know the progress of the investigations."
As he was already expecting the order, Blaze immediately stood up and produced the report he had from the investigation of the Spectre while articulating the salient points.
"For the southeast territory, we are able to trace a total of seven possible bases of operations, while we have found an astounding number of twenty on the southwest side!" Blaze calmly explained.
"The majority of the southwest territory was under the Astaze influence. Just like our initial investigations, it seems like the Astaze March has been particularly infested with the sinister activities of the Specter."
"We couldn't help but be suspicious if the Astaze had been cooperating with them secretly. However, it is still hard to say."
Blaze worriedly looked at Olivier. He knew that Olivier was a third young master of the Astaze Family. He wondered if this would affect Olivier's mood.
Leon nodded with a contemplative expression in his face, "Yes, it is too hard to say. Good job for you and the team for the results of the investigation."
Leon looked at Olivier with assurance, as he could notice the subtle tension in his body.
"The possible link to the Astaze March is not a hard possibility, however, we need to also check the links to the Vesala themselves. Anyone maybe in cooperation with the Spectre, we are not to discriminate and suspect everyone just because of the numbers."
Hearing this Olivier heaved a sigh of relief. Even though he was ostracized as a Astaze Household because of his decision to join the Third Prince's forces, he was still concerned in the welfare of the family.
Hearing that the Astaze family might be involved with the Spectre scared him so much that even though he tried to contain his nervousness and worry, the two men with him felt his uneasiness.
"But the two of you, listen to what I will say next and keep it for yourselves as much as possible. Even the Roaming Blades will not have access to know this matter."
Leon's expression immediately turned a few degrees colder. He snapped his fingers and immediately activated an isolation array for the three of them.
Blaze and Olivier focused their attention on what Leon would be relaying to them. Seeing that he activated an array, their hearts leaped because they could feel the graveness of the matter.
If it is something that the Roaming Blade, the most reliable investigative and information arm of the Third Prince, himself, didn't have rights to know, then it is clearly a dangerous piece of information.
"Listen, the two of you, this is a grave matter. The Emperor had only allowed the two of you to know these under the oath of secrecy. Do you accept it?"
"We accept, Third Prince! Under the eyes of the guardian of the skies." The two responded solemnly.
Leon nodded and took his time to carefully choose his next words.
"We suspect a linkage of the use of sinister curses with the Vesalas. To date, we have three instances of curses being used on people." Leon flashed hatred in his eyes.
"The first one was used on our very own Emperor. This was verified by the Emperor himself, the curse came from a member of the Vesala Clan. You all know the incident behind the sudden assasination attack on his wedding night."
Blaze and Olivier couldn't help but gulp in fear.
This info is about the Emperor himself! What's more, it was the secret behind a famous incident on the Emperor's wedding night. Even during the classes in their knight's training, this was one of the most famous unsolved mysteries in Seirende!
Who would have known that this mystery was caused by a sinister curse with a verified link to the Vesala!
"The second case does not have a concrete linkage, however it happened under the territory of the Vesalas." Leon slowly explained with a low, dangerous voice.
"I witnessed it with my own eyes. The very person who suffered that curse was my future wife Eli. It is a curse that kills the victim if he or she will not engage in an intimate activity. With this info, now I'm sure that you'll figure out the rest."
The two were again shocked by this revelation.
Now, they understood why the Prince had been deadset to look for the future madame. It turns out, he happened to be there when the future madame was stricken by the curse. With this little info, they figured out the rest of the story.
"The last instance just happened during the trip to the Silver Dew Forest, to none other than my Queen Mother, Tehila..."
"Olivier, you have witnessed the scene itself. This curse will activate once Mother Queen touches someone aside from the members of the Imperial Family."
Olivier nodded, although he didn't involve in this matter closely, he still witnessed the event with his own eyes.
"That curse almost hurt the pregnant Madame during that time." He explained to Blaze.
These pieces of information made the two vice captains feel the heavy burden placed on their shoulders. For an unauthorized person to know these things, they will surely be executed on the spot!
These things are damaging to the members of the Imperial Family!
Nodding as he saw the understanding in the eyes of his two vice captains, Leon then continued. "I want you to do a preliminary investigation for this matter."
"In two days, the Emperor, along with the Empress and Queens will be visiting the Temple. I will be assigning you two to be guards to my Queen Mother by that time. While I will go to the temple high priest to ask for permission to research curses in their archives."
"I want the two of you to observe the movements of the Empress as discreet as possible, and also be vigilant to ensure that my mother Queen will not fall into the same ploy again."
"Blaze, I will warn you ahead. This curse was able to bypass the detection of three legendary S classes, that includes me. If not for your Future Madame's contracted beast, I would actually be mourning right now." His eyes squinted with a dangerous glint as he was saying this.
Blaze couldn't help but breathe deeply in surprise. He understood Leon's intention, to be extra vigilant even in small matters.
There was only one reason why it bypassed the detection from three legendaries. That would be because they had all let their guards down and didn't get extra vigilant on things happening within their territories.
"Although this is also an urgent matter, the clean up operation is still our first priority. Only, we will now do it with an added intention. Two of the three instances point to the Vesalas. Keep that in mind and search for any clues during the operation."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Olivier and Blaze answered in unison. Deep seriousness appeared in their eyes. They were sure to pour out everything they had on this matter.
"All right that's it. I'll go to the grounds to keep up with the blades for today. Tomorrow is the set discussion for the clean up operation. We have to determine the groupings today." Leon then dismissed the two and left them to deliberate for the groupings in the room for a while.
He on the other hand, went outside to interact with the blades, one thing he ensures to do every time. He didn't look at them as mere subordinates, but brothers in the battlefield.
He would spend a day or two giving them pointers and spar with them, just like what he intended to do today.
However, as soon as the crimson blades saw the Third Prince walking towards them, they immediately rushed towards him in a fanatical manner.
Twenty full grown muscle men cheerfully skipped their way towards Leon with dewy eyes, like girls who finally saw their bestie coming.
It made the corners of Leon's ever expressionless lips twitch in exasperation.
"Your Highness, tell us about Madame!"
"How is the young master? Is his health alright?"
"How did you and Madam fall for each other?"
"Your Highness! As soon as we finish our mission, we'll immediately help you prepare for the marriage!"
"We'll help you propose beautifully!!!"
"YEAAAH!!!"