450 The Raid (1)

Regaleon and I were in the twin’s room playing with them. I have told him about my dream with the Almighty One and what he said about these creatures.

“We need to deal with them as soon as possible, Leon.” I told him. “These creatures are not like the sirens and Lycans. The Almighty One said that these creatures have no conscience, that they are a danger to people.”

“As can see what you mean, Lili.” Regaleon replied. “These creatures have the taste for meat, and not just only meat. They crave for human flesh as well.”

The wyverns here in Tarmac were said to prey on livestock and humans as well. They seem to be like any carnivorous animal, but hunting humans pose a much bigger threat to people living near their lair. But the wargs we encountered were kind of different. They were coordinated and looked like they followed orders from someone.

“Do you think the wyverns here are the same as those wargs we have encountered in the Lycan settlement?” I asked Regaleon.

“Hmm...” Regaleon was deep in thought. “They differ in some aspect like the wargs were visibly following orders. These wyverns seem like wild carnivorous animals and are only a threat due to them hunting livestock and humans. But as you have said from the words of the Almighty One, these creatures are from the ancient times that should not even exist to this day. We cannot rule out that these wyverns can also follow the orders of that man we heard in the Lycan settlement.”

“I think you have a point.” I said. “I have a feeling that these wyverns can be a threat to our little ones as well. What the count is doing is extremely dangerous. He does not know the intensity of the danger these wyverns they are breeding can bring.”

“You are correct Lili.” Regaleon replied. “And that is why we need to strike fast.”

“Have you talked to the shadow guard that is standing guard outside the facility?” I asked.

“Hmm.” Regaleon nodded. “It looks like they have plans to depart later in the night. The shadow guards said that big metal carriages have arrived in the facility together with the horses that Raymond was preparing earlier. The wyverns will be traveled by land towards the temporary port in Atlantia. It seems like they have an inside person in the ports that are going to help them ship the wyverns to Xing.”

“They are dealing with illegal trading.” I said._{p????-?(0??)?.???}

Illegal trading has been a norm in the course of history. When Alvannia still had the seaports going to the eastern countries across the sea, all items should be booked and accounted for with the appropriate taxes paid. I believe that Grandcrest had such process as well.

Now that the empire has been established and Atlantia have just risen from the depths of the sea, the seaports are still temporary while Atlantia is still recovering. The people running the temporary seaports are the ones that deals with the coming in and going out of items and goods. Taking advantage of Atlantia still not having a stable government is easy as of now.

“We will strike now just after they get the wyverns out of the facility.” Regaleon said. “We will catch them in the act and confiscate the wyverns they have. We will raid the facility as well.”

“Do we have the manpower to do so?” I asked. “We only have just a few of our imperial knights and shadow guards traveling with us.”

“I have already sent a word to your brother Richard in Alvannia earlier in the day and informed him we need troops for the raid.” Regaleon said. “The city that can send troops faster is under your brother’s authority. I have sent one of our imperial nights to the city with my letter signed with my imperial seal and get the troops we need. They will be arriving just in time before the wyverns depart tonight.”

“How about the illegal trading in the temporary seaports?” I asked. “We need to deal with them as well.”

“Now that we have learned about illegal trading and what is happening in the temporary seaports, we can take action.” Regaleon said. “I will send a letter to Chris and make the necessary plans to catch the people in the temporary ports in the act. Such actions are not acceptable in my empire.” He said with cold eyes.

“Huu... huuu... hwahhh...” Aerith who was in Regaleon’s arms started to cry.

“You scared Aerith with your expression.” I said. “Look, you scared her.”

“Ohh, sorry... sorry.” Regaleon’s cold expression changed instantly to a loving father. “I am sorry my baby princess. Daddy is not mad at you.” _{p???? ?(O)???}

“Humm...” Aerith started to calm down while Regaleon soothed her.

“Umm...” Alphonse looked at his father with crunched eyebrows as if he got angry with him making his twin sister cry.

“Are you mad that daddy made Aerith cry?” I asked my little one. “Do not be mad. Daddy did not mean to make her cry. He is not mad at her.”

“I am sorry Alphonse.” Regaleon patted little Alphonse’s head. “I am not mad at your sister.”

Alphonse expression change and began to smile. He held his little arms up towards Regaleon wanting to be carried.

“Oh, you want me to carry you as well.” Regaleon smiled. “Come here.”

Regaleon took Alphonse from my arms and carried him in his other arm. Alphonse and Aerith were each in their father’s arms.

“Can you carry them both?” I asked worriedly. “They are now big you know.”

“Do not worry Lili. You know I am strong.” Regaleon gave me a wink. “I can carry them both with ease.”

The twins started to giggle and play with their father’s clothes and hair. I smiled seeing that my family that I love are happy. _{ρ?????(?)?? ?}

*KNOCK KNOCK*

“Your majesties.” A maid employed by the Forger family called from outside.

“Come in.” I replied.

The door opened and the maid stayed by the door and bowed her head.

“Dinner has been prepared in the dinning room.” The maid said. “The count and his family is already waiting.”

pa??? ?<0>??? “I see.” I replied. “We will be there shortly.”

The maid bowed and closed the door.

**

Regaleon and I entered the dining room and saw Count Forger sitting at the other end of the dinning table. His wife Countess Elena was sitting by his side. Arnold and Angelica were sitting at the other side of the count. I realized that Raymond was absent in the room.

Regaleon pulled a chair for me, and I sat down. He took his seat by the other end of the table beside me.

“It looks like Raymond will not be joining us for dinner?” Regaleon asked.

“Yes, your majesty.” Count Forger replied. “He has been caught up with work outside.”

“I see.” Regaleon said.

Dinner was served and we started to eat. The countess and I conversed in small talk about the high society back in the capital and topics about noble women.

“How is the business, Count Forger?” Regaleon asked. “Is it what is young lord Raymond is working on outside?”

“Ah... oh, oh yes.” Count Forger was surprised with Regaleon’s change of topic for discussion. “The business had a bit of a problem, but I guess my son Raymond had it resolved. Now he is busy for the shipment.”

The count was not very careful with his words. It is either he thinks that the business is running legally, or he is just not particularly good in masking his words.

“I heard that your business has not yet been registered yet.” Raymond said. “If it has been a year, you would need to register it to be legal. You would not want your business to be illegally tagged now, would you?”

“O-Of course, your majesty.” Count Forger replied. “My son Raymond will be the one to make the necessary procedures. I had full faith in him.”

“It looks like your son Raymond is the one mainly managing this business.” Regaleon said. “Will the business be named after him?”

“Well, we have not talked about that yet.” Count Forger replied. “But the business is a familial one, so I guess there will be no problem to that.”

“I bet you are so proud of your eldest son, Countess Elena.” I said. “Do you know anything about the business he is running now?”

“Oh yes. I am so proud of him.” Countess Elena replied with a smile. “As for the business, I do not have any idea. I am terribly busy with managing the house and really do not have the time to delve in my husband and son’s business. And Raymond does not want to be questioned about it either. I just know that he is working hard to achieve remarkable things, so I just leave him with his work.”

“I heard that he had a hard time in the academy in his early years there.” I said. “I am happy that he had overcome it and came out to be such a successful young man. Did he change drastically after overcoming his difficulties in the academy?”

If there is a change in Raymond in the recent years as Arnold said, who would see it more clearly but his mother. That is why I am asking this to see if the countess is really ignorant in her husband and son’s shady business.

historical

“W-Well...” Countess Elena’s eyes started to shake. She looked at her husband and to me. “My son Raymond had changed after he started in the academy, but he still is my sweet lovable boy. B-But now... I am not quite sure.”

“What my wife means is that my son has always been an achiever.” The count interjected. “He had quite some failed works and frustrations at first, but now he is succeeding in this business. If he had changed, then it would have been for the better.”

“I see.” I replied and smiled.

It looks like the countess really does not have any idea about the wyvern business that her husband and son is running, I cannot blame her if she was ignorant.

I looked at Regaleon and we made eye contact. With this conversation, we now know who are to be persecuted and who are innocent.

We continued the dinner with other topics to discuss until it ended, and we needed to retire for the night.