The atmosphere in the Imperial Embassy's grand hall was heavy, the air thick with the scent of gunpowder.
A long table was crowded with people on both sides. On the Kingdom's side, Hogg led a delegation that included several officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives from the Palace Guard. Opposite them, Venus sat in the seat of honor, with Vina, Baron, and several core members of the imperial delegation lined up beside her.
Silence was the primary theme of this emergency meeting. Since the session began, the number of times either side had spoken could be counted on one hand.
The tea on the table had been replaced several times, but this was no casual gathering for small talk. The situation was dire.
Members of the Empire's delegation had been attacked within the royal capital, leaving seven of them seriously injured.
The incident occurred last night. Several imperial students participating in the academy exchange were returning to the embassy when they were ambushed in a nearby district.
Among the victims were the Allen siblings, who had been staying at the academy as exchange personnel.
The assailants were formidable. At least one Rank 6 expert was involved, and there was certainly at least one shadow assassin.
If nearby patrol guards hadn't arrived in time, and if the imperial guards stationed outside the embassy hadn't rushed to support them upon hearing the commotion, the consequences would have been far worse.
Even so, by the time help arrived, several people were already on the ground. Of them, the Allen siblings were the most severely wounded.
After a night of medical treatment, everyone was temporarily out of danger, but they were far from waking up. While their conditions had stabilized, regaining consciousness would not be a simple matter.
News of the attack reached the old King that very night. His roar of fury echoed through the palace, and every major noble in the capital received an urgent, secret decree.
It was said that the King smashed several items in his study before summoning the leaders of the City Guard Station, Intelligence Department, and the Imperial Guards overnight. He ordered a total lockdown of the capital’s entrances and a thorough investigation of every suspicious individual seen near the embassy the previous night.
The Kingdom’s reaction was undeniably swift, but what truly caused unease was the Empire’s attitude.
From last night until now, the imperial delegation had issued no public protest and submitted no formal diplomatic credentials. Aside from requesting that the Kingdom send healers to assist, they had remained silent.
This silence was more unsettling than any outburst of rage. The Empire was not some minor nation that could be easily placated; it was a superpower with a population of two billion, two Heroic Spirit rank powerhouses, and a territory spanning ten thousand miles.
Based on raw data alone, the Empire was undoubtedly the strongest power in the world today.
Hogg sat at one side of the long table, his gaze sweeping over Venus.
From the moment she sat down, Venus had kept her eyes half-closed. One hand rested on the armrest while the other propped up her head, as if she were dozing. Her face was devoid of emotion, making her impossible to read.
But Hogg knew that if this matter wasn't handled correctly, it would escalate into a catastrophic diplomatic incident.
The imperial delegation had been brutally attacked in the royal capital. Even if the situation was eventually resolved, the Kingdom bore an undeniable responsibility.
The silence stretched for a moment longer before Hogg finally broke it.
“Your Excellency Venus.”
His voice was steady and composed. Everyone in the hall looked up.
“The Kingdom will uncover the truth behind last night’s events as quickly as possible and provide the Empire with a satisfactory resolution.”
Hogg paused, his expression solemn.
“However, I also hope the Empire understands that this attack was absolutely not the work of the Kingdom. Whether from the perspective of the royal family or the interests of the nation, we have no reason to target the Empire’s exchange personnel at a time like this.”
As he finished, the members of the Empire’s side turned their eyes toward Venus almost simultaneously.
Venus’s eyelids fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes and looked toward Hogg, her expression lazy.
“I know,” she said calmly.
Her tone was so flat that it was impossible to gauge her true thoughts.
Hogg’s brow twitched. Venus sat up a bit straighter, her voice still lacking any significant inflection.
“If I believed the Kingdom was involved, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you right now.”
The faces of the Kingdom’s officials shifted instantly. Hogg did not offer a rebuttal, for he knew that for someone like her, this was simply a statement of fact—a Heroic Spirit rank powerhouse never needed to worry about social niceties.
Venus continued, “But this happened in your capital, under your very noses, and in such close proximity to the embassy.”
Her gaze swept across the Kingdom’s representatives.
“The Kingdom bears an undeniable responsibility.”
Hogg nodded.
“I acknowledge that. The Kingdom does indeed bear full responsibility. The investigation began last night, and I believe we will have leads soon.”
Venus didn't show any reaction to Hogg’s answer. She simply rested her head back on her hand and said with half-lidded eyes,
“I want an answer before the exchange ends.”
This was not a “hope” or a “request.” It was a direct ultimatum delivered to the Kingdom.
Her words represented the stance of the Empire.
Hogg remained silent for a few seconds before finally nodding.
“Very well.”
He then looked toward the foreign affairs official beside him, who immediately presented a prepared list of restitution and supplies.
“These are the potions and materials the Kingdom has prepared for the injured. This includes high-grade healing potions and everything else required for their recovery. Should the Empire have any further needs, the Kingdom will cooperate fully.”
Vina stepped forward, took the list, and gave it a quick scan before handing it to Venus. Venus didn't even look at it, merely giving a slight nod.
At this point, there was no need to continue the meeting. The next step was a full-scale investigation to hunt down the culprits and hand them over to the Empire.
Hogg rose from his seat and gave a slight nod to Venus.
“Then we shall take our leave.”
He led the Kingdom’s delegation out of the hall. For the foreseeable future, the Kingdom was going to be very busy.
Venus stood up from her seat and turned to Vina, issuing a command.
“Recall all the Adjudicators. We can’t rely entirely on the Kingdom for this.”
Vina was taken aback. “All of them?”
“Every single one,” Venus replied without hesitation.
“The original mission is temporarily suspended. Shift all priority to investigating the attack. I want every single one of those bastards who dared strike at our Empire rooted out.”
Vina’s expression tightened. She hesitated. “But the mission His Majesty assigned...”
She didn't finish her sentence.
While Venus was the overall head of this delegation, the task of finding the person had been personally ordered by the Emperor. They finally had some leads; if all Adjudicators were recalled now, the previous investigation would certainly suffer.
Venus raised a hand to rub her brow, a trace of a headache finally showing on her face.
“We can take our time finding the person.”
Her voice dropped slightly, sounding more frustrated by the sudden turn of events than anything else.
“First, we deal with the people who dared to challenge the Empire’s authority. His Majesty’s task didn't come with a deadline.”
The imperial members in the hall exchanged glances, but none dared to respond. Only Venus would dare to interpret a personal mission from the Emperor in such a way.
Then, Venus’s gaze shifted, a cold, undisguised chill erupting from her eyes.
“Daring to kill right under my nose... it’s been a long time since anyone was that bold.”
She turned toward the window, looking out at the overcast sky. A cold sneer touched her lips as her voice dropped low.
“I’d like to see exactly what these rats are relying on to be so arrogant.”
Since she had put it that way, Vina could only obey. She bowed her head.
“Understood, Your Excellency Sage.”
Vina turned and hurried out of the hall. The other members of the delegation also withdrew to handle their respective tasks.
Soon, Venus was the only one left in the hall.
After standing there for a moment, she turned and walked toward the rear corridor.
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