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“These guys……, what’s going on?”

Karl muttered with a bewildered expression. He couldn’t help it.

In the end, the attackers were captured as if their attempt to retreat had been a lie. From Karl’s perspective, it was only natural to think this way. If they had barged in recklessly, failed to achieve their goal, and couldn’t even escape properly, what was the point of even attempting the attack?

However, from the captured attackers’ point of view, Karl’s assessment was incredibly unfair.

From a common-sense standpoint, their retreat preparations and attempts were at least passable, if not sufficient. If their opponents had been ordinary, it might have worked.

The smoke they deployed, possibly concocted by a skilled alchemist, contained substances that absorbed or scattered light and disrupted smell and hearing. It was even capable of nullifying the heightened senses of warriors trained in the Reverse Muscle Technique and the detection spells of spellcasters trained in the Reverse Brain Method.

But coincidentally, their opponents were masters of the Heart Sword, where mental clarity was fundamental, and the Wu Xin Dong, possessing a perception unified with the world’s logic. Since concepts like the Heart Sword and Wu Xin Dong were esoteric secrets known only to a select few in this world, expecting the attackers to prepare for such things was asking too much.

Interrogating the captured attackers proceeded smoothly.

“Hey. Are you guys after the princess?”

“…….”

“Hmm, I see.”

“What……!?”

When the Ethereal Brain and Ethereal Muscles develop beyond a certain point, they begin to influence a person’s ability to see, hear, and feel. While the mechanisms differ, the result is enhanced perception.

The human body reacts in various ways depending on psychological states. Whether telling the truth, lying, being surprised, feeling urgent danger, or at peace, changes occur in the iris, hormone secretion, breathing, intestinal movement, vascular constriction and relaxation, body temperature, sweat, heart rate, and more.

If one can properly handle the enhancement of the five senses by the Spirit Entity, detecting these subtle bodily changes isn’t impossible. Moreover, a master of Wu Xin Dong can exhibit insight aligned with the laws of heaven and earth, combining sensory information to discern psychological states and the truth of statements.

Adding to this, Conra’s bone-piercing technique, which causes minimal physical damage compared to the pain inflicted, and Brantley’s subtle illusions and suggestions, which ostensibly help the captives regain strength, make the interrogation even more effective.

Occasionally, Maria steps in to comfort the overwhelmed captives, which is the icing on the cake.

When a beautiful girl with a gentle and compassionate demeanor comforts them in their exhausted state, it’s only natural for closed hearts to open wide. Especially when the girl is the very target of their conspiracy, it stirs guilt, making the role distribution perfect.

If Sophia had seen this, she might have said, “Good cop, bad cop, huh?”

After a few repetitions, the attackers’ mouths opened like the wide doors of a newly opened store, and they began to spill confidential information cooperatively.

“Count Joaquin of Balaguer……”

“Baroness Abril of Artesa……”

“Ha, these people must be crazy!”

As the names of the masterminds flowed out, the core members of the delegation couldn’t hide their anger, though many also felt bewildered and awkward.

The relationships between noble families are more complex than one might think, and it’s rare for them to be clearly divided as if cut by a sword.

It’s not about blood relations. While it’s said that the noble families of the continent are somewhat related if you trace back a few generations, in reality, noble bloodlines are just records in a family tree or claims based on them, nothing more, nothing less.

What’s more important is something else.

Fundamentally, noble family businesses are based on real estate income. They lease rights to farmlands, forests, mines, public facilities like mills, warehouses, ovens, irrigation channels, and roads or sea routes, collecting usage fees.

But as those in the know understand, like with trade or workshops, real estate income requires significant investment and development before yielding profits. Most real estate, unless utterly useless, becomes more profitable with proper investment and development.

Some unique lords try to attract workshops or trade guilds to their territories, but this also requires a certain level of infrastructure, making initial investment crucial.

So, where do lords who want to develop their territories get the budget for clearing land, building roads, or setting up new profitable infrastructure? The income from existing models wouldn’t be enough.

The answer is simple. They convince neighboring lords with promising new profit models to invest and give them corresponding shares.

This “noble exchange” of shares has its advantages for nobles. While it might not bring immediate wealth, it allows them to maintain their dignity without having to flatter merchants of lower status to borrow money.

With interests so intertwined, even if they have a sword to wield against rivals, it’s burdensome to swing it recklessly. The complex web of interests means that a wrong move could not only harm their own interests but also entangle others’, creating enemies within families.

Thus, the royal faction nobles of the delegation, who suddenly had a sword to strike their rivals, after much deliberation, decided not to take any special measures.

To be precise, they sent a messenger with detailed news to the royal city of Barcelona in Catalonia, under King Ramon Berenguer IV, effectively passing the buck.

The Barcelona court likely had no objections to this decision. If they had to cut out the rot, they needed to consider the scope and repercussions carefully, executing it swiftly and precisely.

For that, it was best for the official court to gather officials and high-ranking officials to plan and execute.

The delegation’s mission was never internal political strife. That was for the kingdom’s seasoned politicians. Their duty was elsewhere. As the name suggests, their mission was to hurry and reach the Asturian Grand Duke’s inauguration ceremony, the Vardenas Reales, without delay.

The Vardenas Reales was a significant event tied to the birth of a king who would receive loyalty from all of Hiberia. The influential members of the delegation were not soft enough to be swayed by the misdeeds of a few regional nobles of a small kingdom.

After finishing the interrogation, the delegation entrusted the captured attackers, except for a few witnesses, to the nearby County of Fraga and continued their journey.

And about five days later.

“Is that Zaragoza? It definitely has a different vibe from Barcelona.”

“It has to be different. Even though it’s the royal city of the same small kingdom, unlike Catalonia, which is a maritime nation, Aragon is an inland country.”

The Catalonian delegation arrived at the royal castle of Zaragoza in Aragon, ready to enter the gates.

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Around the time the Catalonian delegation arrived in Zaragoza, the Aragon delegation was mostly ready to depart, thanks to following the established manual.

The Asturian Duchy, where the inauguration ceremony takes place, is located at the northernmost tip of Hiberia, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Naturally, when the Vardenas Reales approaches, nations sharing the road to Asturias usually travel together.

From Asturias’s perspective, the southeastern road includes Aragon and Catalonia. Sharing the same road, the Aragon and Catalonian delegations have a tradition of meeting in Zaragoza before traveling together.

In any case, with preparations mostly complete and only the departure date left to decide, the arrival of the Catalonian delegation meant King João II of Aragon wanted to meet the neighboring delegation.

“So, who will attend the audience and what’s the schedule?”

“According to precedent, the chief envoy and consul should suffice to pay respects to the king.”

“Then I’ll stay behind. From now on, we need to coordinate schedules with the Aragon delegation and replenish supplies.”

At the words of Consul Shirdas Rampal, familiar with diplomatic precedents, Secretary-General Ramon Pérez, Count of Manresa, promptly expressed his opinion. Shirdas nodded but didn’t immediately respond, instead looking at Maria.

“Ultimately, the highest authority here is Her Highness the Princess. What does Your Highness wish to do?”

As if implying that Maria’s wishes would take precedence, Shirdas likely prioritized her decisions, as did Ramon Pérez.

……, precisely because of this, Maria decided to respect the experts’ opinions.

“If that’s the precedent, let’s follow it. I and Count Rampal will handle the audience with King João II. Secretary-General Ramon Pérez, I entrust you with coordinating the delegation’s schedule.”

“As you command.”

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.”

Thus, the Catalonian delegation scheduled their audience with King João II, but it was slightly delayed. Coincidentally, it was the day of the Aragon court council.

The council, lasting a day and a half, involved comprehensive reports, discussions, and resolutions on Aragon’s state affairs.

While actual work was done by various departments, the overall framework of state affairs was shaped in this council, making it an unmissable event for the Aragon Kingdom. Given the likelihood of sensitive or confidential matters being discussed, foreign envoys were rarely allowed to attend.

For this reason, Maria and Shirdas had their audience with King João II the following late afternoon, after the council concluded.

As the council ended and Aragon’s court officials dispersed to their respective duties, Maria and Shirdas, summoned by King João II, entered the audience hall under the guidance of the chamberlain.

Seated on the throne at the highest position in the audience hall, King João II straightened his posture as the two representatives of the Catalonian delegation entered.

After entering the hall and kneeling ten steps away, Maria and Shirdas bowed their heads and offered the customary greetings to King João II.

““A humble servant from a foreign land pays respects to the great King of Aragon.””

“Thank you for visiting our humble country. Enough with the formalities, you may rise.”

“We are grateful for Your Majesty’s generous consideration.”

“No need for such formalities, Count Rampal. You’re not a subject of Aragon, after all. And most importantly……”

King João II, smiling amiably at Count Shirdas Rampal, then turned his gaze to Maria beside him. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, interest, and an indescribable, peculiar light.

“Princess Maria, in a way, is like a niece to me, so there’s no need to be so stiff. Isn’t that right, Chamberlain?”

“Your Majesty’s words are most wise.”

In the audience hall, they engaged in discussions ranging from official matters to more personal conversations.

King João II seemed particularly curious about Maria. It was understandable. After all, King João II and Ramon Berenguer IV were cousins.

Moreover, stories about Maria had become popular among Hiberians, regardless of status. The narrative of a missing princess returning to reclaim her rightful place was an extremely appealing tale for those starved for entertainment.

Especially since the princess, of noble and legitimate lineage, defeated a fake princess propped up by scoundrels and even restored the ailing king’s health, it was as if a fairy tale had come to life.

King João II, sharing this sentiment, naturally wanted to hear the story firsthand from the person involved.

“……, and so, I was able to attend the inauguration ceremony.”

Maria responded sincerely to King João II’s interest without any hesitation.

It wasn’t that she particularly enjoyed talking about herself. Objectively, Maria wasn’t the type to relish sharing her own stories.

However, Maria answered King João II’s questions earnestly for another reason. This, too, was part of the crucial diplomatic affairs of the kingdom.

Whether she liked it or not, Maria, as the princess of the Catalonian Kingdom, bore the legal responsibilities tied to her noble lineage. And this lineage’s blessing directly influenced her.

Since the incident where she first became aware of the lineage’s blessing, Maria had to closely examine how this blessing worked.

After all, the cultivation she had built after opening the realm of Wu Xin Dong was shaken by a single blessing. Despite her exceptional talent allowing her to adapt her senses to her transformed physical condition, the sense of crisis she felt was extraordinary.

Even if she reorganized her techniques to optimize her changed state, another whimsical blessing could easily disrupt her cultivation.

In such a situation, Maria needed to clearly understand how the blessing functioned.

‘The blessing of lineage. Even if it’s called a blessing, it ultimately stems from the lineage I was born into. So, it’s part of me, right?’

It was a thought with some basis.

Wu Xin Dong is about placing one’s original mind and body entirely within the known, governing it with techniques aligned with the logic of heaven and earth. Thus, the variables caused by the lineage’s blessing should also be within her known.

Based on this, her contemplation of the lineage’s blessing led her to discover something.

‘The more faithfully I fulfill the legal responsibilities tied to my innate lineage, the greater my control over the blessing becomes.’

When she realized this, Maria sensed she had found a way to overcome her predicament. Greater control over the blessing meant she could eventually control its influence on her.

This was a step closer to the essence of Wu Xin Dong, potentially opening new horizons for Maria.

For this reason, Maria responded earnestly to King João II, though her approach might have been different otherwise.

Of course, unaware of these inner thoughts, Count Shirdas Rampal felt reassured by the ideal royal demeanor, while King João II looked at Maria with a satisfied gaze.

 

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