"Could it be an attempt to frame someone for smuggling?"
"Such bold individuals would be rare, but... if they could penetrate the barrier, they're not ordinary. Commander, are there any footprints around?"
"Besides the footprints of wild animals like deer or foxes, there are no noticeable traces. We're continuing to search the area, and we'll report as soon as any meaningful traces are detected. For now, would it be better for you to move to the mansion?"
The knight commander bowed his head with an apologetic expression, but was concerned for his lord's safety against potential dangers. The investigation results of the incident, presumed to have targeted the pro-emperor faction, had just been publicly announced this afternoon. The discovery of a corpse of unknown origin within the heavily guarded Duke's estate grounds was a considerably ominous sign.
It could be the work of someone from the same faction who didn't accept the investigation results, or a warning from terrorists targeting the Duke's family. If it was a conspiracy to tarnish someone's honor, as Flynn suggested, that would be somewhat better. If reported through proper procedures, it could be resolved without major issues despite some noise.
The problem was who had penetrated the barrier and fortifications protecting all sides of the mansion, and how.
The defense line surrounding the Duke's mansion boasted a fortress-like security posture comparable to the imperial palace. So if only an anomaly in the barrier had been observed, he would have entrusted the verification of its authenticity to the knights and guards and moved on.
But this time, Hugo couldn't easily say he would do so. With evidence of a vulnerability right before his eyes, the possibility of assassination couldn't be ruled out.
Though he had always faced threats to his life, it had been a long time since such a threat had infiltrated near the mansion.
Hugo, who had dissipated the ice spear he had been stirring with, suddenly turned his head. Looking at the dog-shaped divine beast waiting alongside the knight, he asked:
"Even after searching for about two hours, the divine beasts couldn't catch a scent?"
"It seems they blocked the flow of air for a certain period. They appear to have prevented the spread of scent and presence to buy escape time. There was also a magic circle drawn on the sack to suppress the energy of the corpse."
The knight commander added that it hadn't been long since the wind started blowing in this area. Right after that, the divine beasts caught the scent, and when they followed the patrol team, they arrived here.
"The opponent is likely a mage."
"I suppose so. If they can control the wind, they must be skilled. It would also be advantageous for finding gaps in the barrier."
"Is it right to assume they infiltrated from outside when security is this tight? I..."
Flynn was about to mention the possibility of an insider's involvement, but quickly closed his mouth after receiving a look from Hugo. Knights conducting the search operation were stationed all around. Statements doubting allies, even if contextually reasonable, could lower morale and damage trust.
Flynn seemed to understand and nodded silently. Hugo, who had taken off his gloves and handed them to him, looked around at the knights and instructed:
"Cross-reference the testimonies of the guards protecting the tower to specify the main infiltration route. The intruder won't be in this vicinity. I don't sense the presence of outsiders in the fog."
"Understood."
Then the blue eyes stared at the crooked magic circle drawn on the sack.
"If there were, I would have noticed."
"As a precaution, I'll stop the operation of all temporary portals installed within the grounds. What should we do about controlling the main entrance you just passed through?"
"Seal everything. I won't be going out today. By the way, is there any record of the intruder using a portal?"
"Not yet. We've also completed checking all portals within a 500-meter radius outside the castle walls."
"That means teleportation is also possible."
"Commander, there's something that looks like a letter here—!"
Suddenly, someone's voice was heard from the thick fog. Hugo and the knight commander, who had reflexively responded, immediately moved toward that location. Knights who received the commander's signal ran ahead, forming a barricade to protect their lord.
As Hugo strode straight through them with his white cloak fluttering, the floating water particles parted to the left and right, widening the previously blurry field of vision. Thanks to this, he could immediately identify the source of the sound: two knights and a search dog wagging its tail and barking loudly were standing in front of a large tree.
Behind them were additional sacks that had been discovered, and a silver dagger was embedded in the tree trunk at a height reachable with an outstretched arm. Below it was a brown envelope with camouflage coloring.
"Over here."
When the knight who had been waiting to preserve the scene pointed to the envelope, Hugo wiggled his fingertips as if asking for it. The knight pulled out the dagger, picked up the envelope, and carefully handed it to his lord.
"My lord, for safety, let me check it first."
"No, it's fine."
"But, ah, Master, you should at least wear gloves..."
The knight commander and Flynn urged in succession, but Hugo had already torn off the golden sealing wax with his bare hands.
'A warning letter? Blackmail? An assassination notice?'
Malicious phrases he had received once in a while flashed through his mind. But whatever the content, it didn't matter. He intended to capture them, uncover their identity, and completely uproot them to their core, making them kneel before him.
Hugo unfolded the folded paper with a hardened expression. Those gathered around watched their lord's cold eyes while holding their breath. The blue eyes scanning the content were so deep in the fog that it was impossible for anyone to identify the letters reflected in them, no matter how closely they looked.
Only Flynn stared at the elegant eyebrows that usually revealed his master's emotional state.
But Hugo's eyebrows, as he scanned the letter, gradually rose. His expression, as if he had seen something strange, became complex and subtle in an instant.
"What's wrong?"
When he stared at the piece of paper without moving, Flynn cautiously asked. Hugo didn't respond and continued to examine the content with narrowed brows.
His gaze went over the sentences, which were more concise than expected, and the poor handwriting that seemed awkward at holding a pen. Nevertheless, he read each of the characters that seemed to have been written with effort to be neat and clear.
Unlike what he had braced himself for before opening it, the impression of the first sentence was both bewildering and quite sweet.
My Dear Lord
Happy early birthday
gift for you
―Your Lion―
"...This."
The blue eyes narrowed.
'Lion?'
Hugo, who slowly raised his head, looked again at the sacks spread out nearby.
The dragon corpse and its parts preserved to maintain their product value. If converted to currency, they would be worth quite a lot of money. ...Could it mean those were the gift?
The magic circle drawn on the surface of the sack caught his eye again. The strokes forming the crooked magic circle somehow resembled the poor handwriting contained in the letter. With that thought, this grotesque and chilling scene appeared in a different light than before.
After momentarily losing words and moving his lips, Hugo unconsciously glanced at the tree where the letter had been hanging.
After approaching the side of the trunk, he stretched out his arm to roughly gauge the height.
'At this height, certainly...'
The reach of the 'Lion' he was imagining was long compared to his height, so if he had stood here and fixed the letter himself, the height seemed about right. If it was his doing, then the dragon's corpse being spread near the mansion, the absence of footprints on the ground, the skill to control the wind, and the knights' failure to discover him all made some sense.
How could his knights encounter someone whom only he could find in this world?
Judging by the extraordinary scale of the items left as gifts, there was only one person who came to mind who could make this possible at present.
Hugo rubbed his lower lip with his hand. It was an instinctive attempt to hide his expression, but he couldn't conceal the smile that leaked out.
"Ha."
Since that was the first reaction to the letter, his subordinates stared blankly at their lord's chuckle, not understanding the situation. Though they knew it was disrespectful, no one could turn their eyes away from the handsome face that had softened warmly.
Hugo, as if making his tension seem pointless, muttered calmly with his eyes lowered:
"You should have shown your face before leaving. How heartless, when you say it's a gift."
He hadn't expected such a cute act after months without contact. He had felt no emotion when talking with Flynn earlier, but a birthday congratulatory message. If it became a medium through which he could hear news of him, the upcoming birthday might be considered somewhat special.
By the way, even for the king of the jungle, how and from where did he enter this far inside?
Just as he was wondering, he discovered part of the answer he had almost missed in the lower section of the folded letter.
P.S.
"...Strengthen the southwest?"
Flynn, who had been listening quietly, quickly turned his head to stare in the direction of the southwestern tower. After scanning the contents of the sack again, he asked Hugo in a tone as if to say "could it be":
"Could it be Leo?"
Hugo, who had rolled his eyes slightly, nodded once. Flynn, with brightened eyes, smiled with a blossoming face. The knight commander, who had been tactfully observing the two's reactions, cut in:
"My lord, may I ask about the content? Is it perhaps a notice?"
"A notice?"
Hugo, who had been keeping his gaze on the letter, turned to look at the knight commander.
"...A notice, that's not wrong."
There was a gentle laughter in his voice.
His fingertips gently rubbed the phrase 'Your Lion,' which had daringly transferred ownership without knowing fear. Suddenly, the Emperor's voice mentioning 'my cat' came to mind, but that was only for a moment. There was no one who could match his destructive power to be called a small, cute creature. How could a being that dismembered a terrifying dragon be anyone's pet?
He was a free person, and only this letter and gift sent by his own will were valid.
The touching heart that felt pressed firmly into the short sentences was the very evidence of that.
So even if he wanted to lure the mischievous intruder a bit in response, it would be a more humane measure compared to arrest.
Hugo concealed his smile and murmured softly:
"We'll meet soon."