Chapter 267: The Abnormalities of the Southern Empire
The oppressive atmosphere of the Royal Palace of El was completely different from that of the Imperial Palace of the Southern Unified Empire.
In particular, a garden located in the heart of the kingdom, bathed in sunshine and adorned with various exotic flowers and plants, resembled a meticulously maintained garden, utterly devoid of any trace of a power center.
Kurtz frequently visited the palace to discuss matters concerning the Magic Association with Fidel. Fidel would never receive him in the main hall, but instead chose a small pavilion in the garden, which seemed more casual and intimate. Of course, this was also a better place to discuss topics that were not convenient for outsiders to hear.
Hot tea and delicate pastries were laid out on the stone table. Fidel deliberately dismissed all the maids and personally served tea to the black-haired youth across from him.
That black-haired youth was none other than Lord.
Although from Fidel's perspective, Kurtz was merely Lady Serie's apprentice, he did not need to maintain such a humble attitude towards him. But for some reason, when facing this excessively young man, Fidel could always sense a faint but powerful aura emanating from him.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but it was a vague sense of awe.
Moreover, putting aside that feeling, the fact that the other party could make decisions for Serie alone was enough to warrant Fidel personally pouring her tea.
"Mr. Adel, thank you again for your and Lady Serie's help to the Kingdom of El."
Fidel spoke with genuine gratitude, his tone warm. "The Magic Association not only imparts knowledge selflessly, but also does not restrict where its students go. This magnanimity is truly admirable."
Kurtz took the teacup and nodded slightly. He set it down carefully on the saucer.
'To be honest, I'm really not used to hearing the Emperor call me Adel all the time. Besides, do I really need to hide my identity now?'
Kurtz thought about it and realized that there really wasn't a compelling reason anymore.
"Your Majesty flatters me. However, there is something I need to tell you. My real name is not Ade, but Kurtz ."
"Ku...Kurtz !?" Fidel's mouth dropped open. His teacup paused midway to his lips.
Like most people, Fidel immediately grasped at the most obvious conclusion, his expression shifting between confusion and wonder. "I never expected that Kurtz would share the same name as that Godslayer, and that he would be taken as a disciple by Lady Serie. Is this a strange arrangement of fate?"
Kurtz shook his head slightly. Sure enough, apart from a few people, most believed that they were just people with the same name. He leaned back in his seat, his expression calm.
Forget it, he was too lazy to correct it anyway. Even if he exposed his identity, it wouldn't do him any good other than making Fidel more respectful. The Magic Association has been established, and Fidel has indeed provided the greatest assistance; for the time being, there is no need for him to do anything more.
It's not too late to reveal your identity if you need to use it again in the future.
But then, Kurtz was about to give Fidel a little lecture about his ancestral comrades. He leaned forward slightly, his demeanor shifting seamlessly back into the role.
"Indeed, but the smooth operation of the Magic Association is also inseparable from His Majesty's support. Serie is also very grateful for His Majesty's help."
His words and actions were just right, and no one could find fault with him. It was a perfect performance.
Fidel smiled, seemingly unconcerned about Kurtz's earlier mention of Serie by her first name. He set down his cup and changed the subject. A shadow fell over his smile. "If we're talking about thanks, it should be me who's thanking you."
He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. "After all, the situation on the mainland is developing in a different direction now."
He sighed softly, his gaze drifting to the flowerbeds outside the pavilion, as if he were organizing his thoughts before speaking something troubling.
"Kurtz, you have spent many years studying under Lady Serie, so perhaps you haven't paid much attention to what's happening in the south," Fidel said slowly, his tone becoming serious.
He turned back to face him directly. "The emperor of that unified empire, Leggett, his recent actions have been very unusual."
Kurtz paused slightly with his teacup, then looked up at Fidel with renewed attention. "Oh? What do you mean?"
"Large quantities of gold and treasure, as well as a large amount of magical ores from the Southern Unified Empire, especially strategic resources such as Star Silver and Mithril, have been secretly transported to the territory of the Western Dwarf Kingdom in recent years in astonishing quantities."
Fidel leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Both Star Silver and Mithril are superior materials for crafting equipment and magical items. More importantly, both can be continuously refined. When refined to the extreme, Star Silver and Mithril are in no way inferior to legendary materials like Eternal Ore in terms of rarity."
"However, due to the enormous losses and costs involved, coupled with the fact that ordinary countries do not have furnaces capable of continuous refining, they are mostly used as ordinary rare materials."
He gestured with his hands as he spoke. "The fact that the Southern Unified Empire was transporting large quantities of Star Silver and Mithril to the Dwarven Kingdom, the only country on the continent with the technology to refine these two ores continuously, made it hard for me not to suspect something significant was happening."
Fidel lowered his voice even further, his words becoming more deliberate. "My intelligence agents have confirmed it multiple times, there's no mistake. The sheer quantity is enough to empty a country's treasury, and it has even affected the normal supply of magical equipment to the Southern Unified Empire.";
A flicker of surprise crossed Lord's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. His hand stilled on the teacup.
He didn't care about the flow of resources between human empires; to him, those were merely worldly riches. After all, when they killed that famous dragon from the mythical era and found mountains of treasure in its lair, they only took a small portion of it.
"The dwarves are skilled at forging all kinds of weapons, equipment, and magical items. Perhaps the Emperor wants to build an elite magical army? After all, hasn't he been forming a court of mages lately?"
Kurtz offered a reasonable conjecture, his tone thoughtful and measured.
"At first, I thought so too." Fidel shook his head firmly, his brow furrowed. He set his cup down with deliberate precision. "But the cost was too high, far beyond reason, and such a scale of materials was somewhat superfluous just to equip an army. What puzzled me even more was the dwarves' attitude."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression intensifying. "Kurtz, you may know that my ancestor, the Holy King Norn, was a close friend of the Dwarf King Somo, and the forging of the El sword also benefited greatly from the help of the Dwarf race."
Kurtz nodded, indicating that he knew about it. His gaze grew distant for a moment.
Or rather, he not only knew it, but also experienced it.
"Thanks to this historical connection, our country has always maintained good relations with the Dwarf Kingdom. But this time..." Fidel's face showed obvious confusion. He spread his hands in frustration.
"I wrote letters myself and even sent envoys to try to find out Leggett's purpose from the dwarven masters."
He paused, shaking his head slowly. "But no matter who it was, they all kept quiet about it! They only acknowledged receiving payment from the unified Southern Empire for a great undertaking, but refused to reveal a single word of the details."
Kurtz's expression shifted slightly, a shadow crossing his features at the implications.
"The dwarves certainly value their promises, but such a level of secrecy, to the point that even our country is unaware of it, is extremely rare." Fidel continued, his frustration evident.
"It is true that dwarves value promises and contracts, but they also have a well-known characteristic of greed. Sometimes, just a few barrels of fine wine are enough to make the dwarves obediently reveal everything."
He gestured with a hint of exasperation. "I had wondered if I hadn't offered enough benefits, which was why the dwarf masters were unwilling to tell me the truth. But given the historical ties and the amount I offered, that seems unlikely."
Fidel's shoulders tensed slightly as he concluded, "Something significant is being forged in the south, Kurtz..I cannot shake the feeling that it poses a threat to our kingdom."
[End of Chapter]
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