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chapter 53
Reto himself didn’t know the full story.
All he could do was piece together the events so far, the secret information Laxo had smuggled out, and the unlucky king’s personality to make an educated guess.
Still, it was a reasonable deduction, grounded in facts.
“The king seems to be getting serious about rooting out spies and traitors hiding in the country.”
It was credible enough.
“That common knight who committed treason back then—he was cultivating and manufacturing narcotics on the outskirts of the capital.”
“Wow.”
Noah let out a sincere-sounding exclamation. Even if nothing else, the man’s sheer audacity deserved recognition—or so she said with a light raise of both hands. Naturally, she wasn’t serious.
“And those drugs were distributed into the Empire through that pirate crew we took down a while ago.”
“So it all ties together like this?”
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Noah ran her tongue across her dry lips. Reto reached out and gently wiped the moisture from her lips with his thumb.
“So you came here to meet your comrade and that pirate group?”
“Just the comrade.”
“And the pirates?”
“They’re still around.”
Fortunately, Tenebre had simply requested to be kept informed of the outcome, rather than demanding direct involvement.
Reto, who had worried that they might try to wrestle over jurisdiction, felt relieved at least on that front.
“They probably figured they don’t have the capability to sail out into the vast sea and ambush the pirates’ hideout, so they left it to us.”
“So even going to the church saying they’d been attacked by pirates—that was intentional?”
“They must’ve expected that the pirates would come into the open once they lost their revenue stream from the drug trade.”
That’s why they had been monitoring nearby fishing boats, and when they witnessed one being seized by pirates, they rushed to the church.
“…Those bastards are insane.”
Noah ground her teeth.
“Wait—don’t tell me they were wiretapping every ship in the south? That’s illegal…!”
“Illegal or not.”
Reto smirked with something close to contempt.
“Tenebre doesn’t care about means.”
They had anticipated everything, sneaking into the south and planting bugs on any fishing vessel capable of sailing.
Then they waited.
Waited until fishermen were inevitably attacked by pirates.
“This is classified, but one of the rescued boats was found with a bug on it.”
“This is exactly why my family always said Tenebre couldn’t be trusted…!”
“So you had plenty of reason to oppose them.”
Reto could easily imagine the mental toll Noah and her family must have endured.
No one denied the necessity of Tenebre’s existence.
They protected the king’s safety, which in turn was tied directly to the survival of the nation.
But their willingness to use any means necessary to achieve results was indefensible.
If one claimed to act for the sake of the country, then one’s methods should be transparent and honorable.
“…Anyway, we’ve already dispatched troops to what we believe is the Fingers’ hideout. Brigadier General Kirko will be leading them.”
Reto added that, for now, there was no need to worry too much about Tenebre’s movements.
But that was easier said than done.
“This really is a serious matter.”
In just a few months, incidents entangling both the military and enemy spies had kept breaking out.
And now her own brother had joined Tenebre and appeared in the south.
Noah voiced her suspicion.
“Could it be someone inside the military—a high-ranking official—collaborating with the Empire?”
“Honestly, that’s the most likely scenario.”
Fred Relly.
That knight, the hidden instigator behind the treason incident, was certainly not someone to be underestimated.
He had managed to deceive people’s eyes, contact the Empire, and even cultivate and manufacture drugs—a dangerous figure indeed.
But in the end, he had only been a pawn.
“Would someone with real power risk that much by getting directly involved?”
The true mastermind remained hidden, quietly watching events unfold.
“…This is driving me insane.”
With a heavy sigh, Noah brushed her bangs back with one hand, then abruptly stood up and pulled a change of clothes from the drawer.
“I’m too irritated. I need a bath. I’ll soak in the tub and reset myself.”
“Want me to join you?”
Reto slid over with a sly grin, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her toward him.
“Mm…”
Noah hesitated.
“Brother-in-law!”
Clare, who had been searching the living room, returned with a tearful expression.
“I looked everywhere, but I can’t find the present…”
“You couldn’t? It’s really big, though?”
“What is it? What present?”
“It was my heart, of course!”
Reto lifted his hands, forming a heart shape and pressing it to his chest with a flourish.
“…”
Clare’s expression froze into stone, full of betrayal.
“…Pfft.”
The child cut ties with her brother-in-law on the spot.
Reto may have lost Clare’s trust, but while he was distracted, Noah managed to take a bath and recover her energy.
With her body refreshed, she also slept soundly. By morning, her irritation from the day before had vanished, leaving her in high spirits.
“My sister-in-law won’t even look me in the eye…”
“Well, that’s what you get for lying…”
“Isn’t spiritual sincerity more important than material things?”
“You shouldn’t have lied in the first place.”
Noah reminded him that, if anything, children were the ones who valued material gifts the most.
“Pick up something for her after work. Anything will do.”
“Okay…”
“Nothing expensive.”
“Then help me choose.”
The two finished getting ready and stepped out the front door.
Asa was already outside, preparing a bicycle to take Clare to school.
“Hmph.”
When Clare locked eyes with Reto, she puffed out her lips like a duck’s beak and let out a huffy breath.
“You little rascal.”
Noah spoke gently.
“Your brother-in-law was just teasing you because he likes you. Forgive him, okay?”
“He mocked a child’s heart. That’s betrayal.”
“Why do you only use difficult words at times like this?”
So clever, honestly.
Noah kissed her little sister on the cheek.
“Let’s make peace with him tonight, okay?”
Across the yard, Reto looked like he might burst into tears—his massive frame drooping, shoulders hunched, fidgeting fingers, stealing nervous glances at Clare.
“Don’t you think we should forgive him? He looks pitiful.”
Even Asa quietly added his own request.
“…”
After some thought, Clare slowly nodded.
“Fine. I’ll forgive him when he comes home tonight.”
“Thank you.”
“I also feel a little bad about spitting at him.”
“Right. You mustn’t make spitting noises at people.”
Noah hugged her sister warmly before climbing into the car. Reto quickly followed, starting the engine.
“Brother-in-law!”
Clare waved courageously.
“Come back safe! Earn lots of money!”
“Sister-in-law…!”
Reto shot up, deeply moved.
“Stop stalling and go already!”
You’re going to be late!
Only after Noah scolded him did the big man finally drive off in his bright red car, still waving furiously until the last second.
“Brother-in-law is such a child.”
Clare sighed.
“He’s no different from a kid, honestly.”
“You’re right.”
“But he’s kind and a good person. Don’t you think?”
“And he earns lots of money.”
“Asa, you really do like money.”
When I grow up, I’ll make lots of money too.
With that firm little resolution, another energetic day began.
At headquarters, Noah changed out of her worn shipboard uniform into a crisp white summer service dress.
Selene, who had brought along cosmetics, personally helped her with makeup and styled her hair in the locker room.
“Sigh, you really go through a lot…” Selene said while brushing her hair into place.
Today, Noah was scheduled to take promotional photos for recruitment.
She had modeled for academy entrance campaigns throughout her cadet years, and the work had followed her even after commissioning.
“They should at least pay you to do this…”
Though she grumbled like it was her own problem, Selene’s hands never stopped moving.
“Why do you keep doing something so thankless every year?”
“It’s not every year. I haven’t done it that many times.”
“If it were me, I’d avoid it out of sheer laziness.”
Selene gathered Noah’s blonde hair into a low bundle, twisted it neatly, and tucked it into a yellow mesh cover.
“There, perfect.”
She smiled proudly at her handiwork.
In the mirror, Noah looked every inch the model officer in her immaculate white uniform.
The shining steel medals, the black epaulets trimmed in gold braids—all announced that this young woman was a highly capable officer.
A young talent who had risen to the rank of captain in just two years.
Her beauty wasn’t just in her looks; it radiated through her neat composure, unshakable aura, and upright character.
“How do I look?”
Checking her reflection, Noah smiled brightly.
“Better than I did at my wedding, maybe?”
“I thought the same thing yesterday at the pool…”
Selene handed her a pair of low-heeled black shoes. Noah swapped out her sneakers for them.
“Did you learn smooth talk from the admiral? You’ve gotten awfully good at it.”
“What else could I have learned from that man?”
“Honestly, seeing you put him in his place at the pool yesterday was refreshing.”
They stepped out toward the photo set.
Every soldier who passed by couldn’t help but look in awe at Noah.
But whenever Selene—secretly carrying out Reto’s orders—warned them, “Careful, there’s a mad dog watching from somewhere!” they quickly backed away and hurried along.
“Speaking of, the admiral should be arriving soon.”
Selene looked pleased, having completed her assignment.
“This is the first time he’s been gone this long.”
“He must really love being at sea.”
Normally, only field-grade officers served shipboard tours. Admirals, once they pinned on stars, usually served ashore. But Admiral Advelo took every chance to board vessels and sail the seas.
“That’s why everyone says all the Advelos are eccentrics.”
The thought of the vigorous, youthful admiral made Noah smile unconsciously.
“Ah.”
Just then, her shoulder brushed lightly against someone passing by.
It was only a small bump, but the man stumbled awkwardly and fell backward onto the floor.
He didn’t even groan. He was a young-looking corporal, his face still retaining a hint of boyishness.
“Are you alr—”
“Ah, let me handle it. Are you okay there? Can you stand?”
Before Noah could offer her hand, Selene pulled it back and extended her own instead.
The young man hesitated, then took her hand and stood up.
“…”
Noah narrowed her eyes.
The corporal couldn’t even meet her gaze, speaking with his eyes downcast.
“Th-thank you. And… sorry.”
“People bump into each other all the time.”
Selene was about to dismiss him with a reminder to be more careful next time.
“Wait.”
Noah suddenly grabbed the soldier’s wrist as he tried to scurry off, rolling up his sleeve without warning.
