Chapter 82

"Always, why --"

"It's fine, Karnak."

"Why do you always say that! What's fine! Murdoch is the one who's trapped!"

"Karnak, calm down. I understand you're upset, but--"

As if demanding a detailed explanation, he clung to my arm, but I shook him off.

Illegar was surprised by his action.

"You always say it's fine. You say everything will work out, that you'll do something about it... Is that the case this time too? Will Murdoch return safely because of that?"

"Karnak."

"It's their fault, isn't it?"

Karnak's gaze turned to me and my lord with a look of enmity.

"Why do you let them do as they please? What authority do you have to do this!"

He clenched his fists in anger and walked towards us with a firm step.

My lord stood in front of me, shielding me.

"What do you want?"

"What do you want!? I want the outsiders to get out! That woman went in on her own. She suddenly came and talked to Murdoch! Murdoch got involved because of her!!"

I was startled, and at the same time, a small sound of frustration came from above.

Looking up, I saw my lord's eyes burning with a fierce light.

"What are you doing, you incompetent one?"

The words he muttered spoke volumes. My lord, who seemed slightly irritated.

Rosamond had come.

However, my lord had instructed her to be monitored before he left.

How she managed to evade that surveillance is a matter for later. Right now, we need to deal with this situation.

"Let's go."

My lord took my hand and started walking, but Karnak blocked his path.

"Wait! This is all because of your meddling!!"

"Karnak, these two have nothing to do with it!"

Illegar grabbed Karnak's arm and reprimanded him.

"How do you know that! They look like his companions!!"

"Let me make it clear, there is no connection."

My lord immediately denied the word 'companion.'

Indeed, if asked if they were companions, one would want to deny it. Especially my lord.

After all, they are not from our territory, not subordinates, and just people from another territory...

However, whether they are companions or not, they are acquaintances, and there is a relationship.

"Karnak, what this person is saying is correct. Stop lashing out."

Illegar affirmed my lord's words.

He is, after all, a person from this territory.

Moreover, being from a branch family, he likely knows about Rosamond and the relationship with my lord.

"Indeed, if asked if we are acquaintances, that is true, but they are also a nuisance."

I couldn't help but glare at my lord, who so casually pushed the responsibility of dealing with this nuisance onto me.

To Karnak, who looked at me with a questioning gaze, I sighed and explained.

"Indeed, we acted together yesterday, but we are not that close. However, if this incident was caused by Rosamond, we do bear some responsibility. Don't you agree, my lord?"

Hmph, he snorted and raised an eyebrow, looking down at me with eyes that clearly showed his displeasure, but he didn't deny my words, indicating he understood.

"By the way, why are you here? Shouldn't you be doing something before yelling at us?"

"I don't need your orders!"

"Then we don't need to be ordered around either, and I don't see the need to wait."

Before Karnak could say anything more to my lord's cold words, I took my lord's arm and started walking.

It would be a waste of time to argue here any longer.

Illegar was holding Karnak back.

"Don't pick a fight with a child."

"Isn't Reisha not much younger than him?"

"Reisha and he grew up in different environments. I think you are quite composed for your age, my lord. Do you want to be called mature?"

"Stop it, I'm not that old."

Once outside, my lord immediately gave orders and started moving.

We hadn't gotten all the details from Karnak, but it seemed Michelle had already gathered information.

I always wonder, who is Michelle?

She knows a lot, but I'm curious about how she gathers information.

"Let me report to Claude. It seems someone guided Rosamond. We can't imprison people from other territories, so that's how they got in."

"Excuses aside, is Rosamond the cause of the collapse?"

"We haven't confirmed the facts yet, but it seems she was inside. We need to act quickly to avoid responsibility issues."

If a noble from another territory is involved in an incident, the local lord can be held responsible.

In this case, it's unclear, but if it becomes public, people who want to undermine this territory or my lord might take advantage of the situation.

And Rosamond's relatives as well.

"The longer it takes, the lower the survival rate. Also, check if anyone else was involved. Ideally, I should go directly, but--"

"I can't allow that, my lord. It's too dangerous for the lord to go to an unstable area. Besides, it's important to leave someone in charge."

"By the way, I can't allow Reisha to go either. If you're thinking of going in Claude's place, forget it."

Michelle preempted.

"An inexperienced person would just get in the way."

Given the logical argument, there was no choice but to back down.

But leaving someone behind would help with communication.

And I'm still concerned about Rosamond.

"For now, it would be helpful if Claude returned to organize the response. We don't have enough people here, and it would be better for the lord to return to dispatch reinforcements. If you intend to save them, that is."

"For now, they are still my subjects. Knowing and not helping would be a problem for a lord."

Please, stop making excuses for every action. I understand the importance, but this is a time-sensitive situation.

"Michelle, stay here and take command--"

"You know that's not possible, right? I'm Reisha's dedicated assistant, so if she returns, I have to go with her."

At this assertion, I finally understood what Michelle was getting at.

My lord, of course, understood as well.

Michelle! You're the best, my friend!!

"But you know, Claude, I'm the most suitable for information gathering and command here. What do you think?"

"Was that your plan from the start?"

"Either way, it's fine."

It seems he considered whether to leave me here or take Michelle with him and chose Michelle.

"Absolutely do not let her do anything dangerous."

"Of course, I understand that."

Michelle nodded firmly and said to me.

"If anything happens, it will be a responsibility issue. If you don't want me to be killed, don't act on your own, Reisha."

With that stern warning, I nodded solemnly.

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