Chapter 249: You Know Me, Right? (3)

In the Tower of Wishes’ reception room, specifically the luxurious private lounge reserved for high-ranking guests like Guild Masters and nobles, a group of people had gathered.

Douglas and Floria sat on one sofa, with all the Masters assembled behind them. Across from them, two figures occupied another sofa, flanked by guards who appeared to be Imperial Guards.

A tense silence hung in the air, the tension radiating from one man in particular: Haideel Pominick, Premier of the Meldey Kingdom and one of its two Dukes. He was the man who managed the kingdom’s budget, oversaw its affairs of state, and controlled the flow of all its taxes and finances.

Despite its immense wealth and formidable reputation, the Tower of Wishes was ultimately just another organization within the Meldey Kingdom. A single word from the Premier could cripple all its ventures and funding.

Countless Guild Masters and nobles had visited before, but never had such a prominent figure arrived. The Masters couldn’t help but feel a surge of tension. Moreover, he hadn’t come alone; he had stormed in accompanied by the entire Imperial Guard, signaling that he was carrying a royal decree.

The Masters’ faces betrayed a sense of inevitability at his arrival.

I suppose this was bound to happen eventually…

“Duke Haidel himself is taking action?”

The Lord of the Tower’s recent actions were anything but ordinary. He had utterly annihilated an entire ducal house. Moreover, Count Syron, their financier, was renowned as the Royalist Faction’s main source of funding. If not for the presence of Douglas and Floria, the atmosphere would undoubtedly be far more tense. The only reason the situation remained somewhat contained was due to the presence of the two Grand Masters.

For a long moment, the two factions simply stared each other down, locked in a tense silence. Finally, Duke Haidel broke the silence.

“Well… I never imagined I would ever meet Grand Masters in my lifetime. It’s truly an honor to be in your presence.”

“Glory? What’s so glorious about seeing an old man with one foot in the grave? Anyway, it’s good to see you. I had some connection with your predecessor, Duke Pomine. Was it Duke Darsian…?”

“Ah, he was my great-great-grandfather.”

“Hmph, a man of unwavering principle.”

Their conversation flowed smoothly, yet everyone present sensed the subtle tension simmering beneath the surface.

After a few more exchanges, Floria, who had been quietly observing, interjected.

“You must be exhausted from your long journey. By the way… who is this gentleman beside you? Shouldn’t you introduce him?”

At her words, the eyes of the Tower of Wishes members shifted to the man on Duke Haidel’s right.

A middle-aged man with a mustache sat beside Duke Haidel, a Duke of a sovereign nation. Everyone in the Tower of Wishes was curious about his identity. They had all witnessed Duke Haidel treating the mustachioed man with considerable deference.

As if anticipating their question, Duke Haidel answered with a smile, “Ah, this is Duke Danyer.”

“Duke Danyer?” Floria’s brow furrowed slightly. She thought she knew the names of most of the prominent nobles in the kingdom, but she had never heard of anyone named Danyer, let alone someone with the title of Duke. No matter how hard she tried to recall, there was no Duke Danyer among the current dukes of the Meldeanik Kingdom.

Floria wondered if he might be from another kingdom, but even that didn’t seem to fit.

As if anticipating her confusion, Danius smiled and said, “There’s no need to trouble yourself. I’m not from this continent.”

”…?”

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Danius Hauler, Premier of the Dominant Empire of the Winter Continent. It’s a genuine pleasure to meet such renowned Grand Masters in person.”

The unexpected mention of the Dominant Empire caused the expressions of the Tower of Wishes delegation to shift.

Floria’s brow furrowed slightly as she asked, “The Dominant Empire… I’ve heard of it. The powerful nation that controls the eastern part of the Winter Continent, correct?”

“We are deeply honored that such a legendary figure would recognize us,” Danius said.

”…So, what brings you all the way here from such a distant place?” Floria asked.

Duke Haidel intercepted her question. “Ah, I’d prefer to discuss that with the Tower Lord himself. Given the gravity of the situation, it’s something he should hear directly.”

A flicker of intrigue crossed Floria’s eyes.

Duke Haidel’s words implied that his visit to the Labyrinth wasn’t solely related to Count Syron.

Or perhaps it was connected to both matters.

Still, Haidel’s overconfident demeanor inexplicably unsettled her.

With a cryptic smile, he glanced around the entrance. “So… when might we have the pleasure of meeting the legendary Lord of the Tower?”

The Masters standing behind Douglas and Floria stiffened at the dismissive tone.

But Douglas merely chuckled. “Crahaha! So rumors of our Tower Lord have already reached the capital?”

“How could they not? After the commotion he caused, who wouldn’t have heard?” Haideel replied, his words carrying a subtle edge.

Douglas returned Haideel’s sly grin with one of his own. “Kluk, just wait a little longer. I sent for him—he should arrive shortly.”

As if on cue, the reception hall doors swung wide open.

“Looks like he’s here,” Douglas said, rising to his feet.

Though it was merely a meeting with the Lord of the Tower, Haideel and Danius were compelled to rise as well, given the man’s reputation.

Haideel turned his curious gaze toward the doorway.

Let’s see what kind of fool this is.

For the first time in over 250 years, the Lord of the Tower of Wishes had revealed himself.

This was the same figure whose sudden appearance had sent shockwaves through the Duke House.

It was impossible not to be curious about this mysterious individual.

Danius, which is the Duke of Danyer was no exception.

Duke Danyer had crossed the sea on the Emperor’s command, driven by a specific objective.

He bore the immense responsibility of securing maximum advantage from this encounter.

The success of his mission hinged entirely on the true nature of this newly emerged Lord of the Tower of Wishes.

Of course, Duke Danyer was confident. He believed he could extract the greatest possible benefit from any opponent.

But his confidence wouldn’t last long.

”…Huh?”

The moment his eyes met the Lord of the Tower’s, Duke Danyer’s heart froze.

Meanwhile, Louis noticed the wavering pupils staring at him. A sly grin curled the corner of his mouth.

The voice reverberated in Danius’s mind, sending his body into a violent shudder, as if struck by lightning.

As Duke Danyer’s mind went blank, Louis strode into the reception room, a wide smile plastered across his face.

Duke Haidel, observing Louis, couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

He looked more like a boy than a young man.

Could someone like that truly be the Lord of the Tower of Wishes?

Duke Haidel, who had imagined an elderly man with a long, white beard, was understandably perplexed.

However, he quickly regained his composure. Louis strode confidently toward him and asked, “Are you Duke Haidel?”

”…”

Duke Haidel’s brow twitched at Louis’s sudden informality.

But he quickly regained his composure.

“Haha, you’re quite the character.”

“Yeah, I guess I am. Have a seat.”

Louis casually settled into a chair.

Duke Haidel nonchalantly sat across from him, acting as if nothing were amiss.

In contrast, Duke Danyer’s movements were stiff and unnatural, like those of a wooden puppet.

Louis crossed his legs, leaned back, and asked Duke Haidel, “So, what brings you here?”

”…Are you truly unaware?”

“Yep, completely clueless.”

“Haa…”

Finally, Duke Haidel sighed.

The previously mild glint in his eyes sharpened into a fierce glare.

He leaned forward and lowered his voice.

“Very well. There are two reasons I’ve come to the Tower of Wishes today. First… it’s time you stopped this charade.”

”…”

“Haven’t you gone far enough? Issue a proper apology and release the Duke and his heir.”

“Why should we?”

“Syron and the Tower of Wishes have always coexisted harmoniously, haven’t they? If the Tower would consider the honor of our kingdom and step back, the Royal Family will ensure no harm comes to the Tower. But if you continue to overstep this boundary… we can no longer mediate on your behalf.”

In this kingdom, power rested with the king and nobles. Yet, an unprecedented event had occurred: commoners from the Tower—despite lacking any official position—had apprehended a noble, a regional Lord no less.

The first step is always the hardest; the second comes much easier.

The Royal Family and nobles were vehemently opposed to setting such a precedent.

If not for the Tower of Wishes, the Royal Family’s military forces might have intervened directly, rounding up and executing everyone involved instead of opting for mediation.

In essence, the Royal Family’s assurances of protection were merely veiled warnings to avoid escalating the situation further.

Louis’s eyebrow twitched.

“An apology? Mediation?”

“Precisely.”

“Apologize to the enemy who targeted our Tower and withdraw? Abandon the Tower’s pride for nothing more than the Royal Family’s patronage?”

A sneer crossed Louis’s face.

Duke Haidel returned the sneer.

“‘Nothing more than the Royal Family’s patronage’? Well, well.”

”…”

“Given the current state of the Tower of Wishes, I’m not sure we can dismiss that as ‘nothing more’ at all.”

With that, Haide glanced sideways.

“This is Duke Danyer from the Dominant Empire, a land far across the Winter Continent.”

“Oh? The Dominant Empire?”

Louis wondered what kind of person could make his pupils dilate like that. Turns out, it was someone from the Dominant Empire. What a small world, he thought.

Meanwhile, Haide mistook Louis’s reaction as awe at the Dominant Empire’s prestige and said with a hint of arrogance, “Do you know why he’s here?”

“How would I know?” Louis replied.

“Haha, of course not.”

Haide stole a furtive glance at Danyer, but the Duke, already in a state of panic, showed no reaction whatsoever.

Misinterpreting Danyer’s silence as an unspoken transfer of negotiating authority, Haide continued his explanation.

“Recently, the Dominant Empire reported that the Transcendent units they purchased from Your Tower have malfunctioned and ceased to function. And it’s not just one or two units, but the vast majority of the Empire’s Transcendent fleet.”

“Preposterous!” Master Harold retorted, his face flushed with anger. “There’s simply no way our Tower could produce defective Transcendent units in the first place. For so many to malfunction simultaneously? What kind of outrageous lie is this!”

Haide, however, seemed to relish Harold’s fury, speaking with deliberate calm. “It’s no lie, Master. Our Royal Family dispatched an investigation team to verify the Empire’s claims, and their findings were undeniable. Over two thousand Transcendent units had been reduced to scrap metal, all exhibiting the same symptoms. Consequently, the Dominant Empire is demanding compensation from the Tower of Wishes.”

”…”

“Ah, by the way, the second reason I sought out the Tower of Wishes… is to discuss the Dominant Empire’s proposed compensation plan with the Tower itself, right here today.”

Louis couldn’t help but scratch his cheek at Haide’s words.

Hmm… so it’s come to this?

The EMP blasts they’d unleashed on the Winter Continent had crossed the sea, transformed into a typhoon, and made landfall on the Autumn Continent.