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Chapter : 36
The interior of the massive stone structure was as complex as a maze.
Blue-glowing lamps were mounted along the walls.
The building itself contained the accumulated aura of past Swordmasters.
A chilling energy emanated from the aura lingering in the blade-like air—
which was why the temperature was so low.
Adelhardt walked ahead.
It had been five years since he abandoned the life of a prince and chose the path of a knight.
In all that time, he had never once used his royal status.
But because of Roela—
he was breaking that promise for the first time.
“Adelhardt. This could determine the fate of the Empire. Look at this chart! Does this look like a joke to you? Someone tampered with Poseidon! And what if it doesn’t stop at once? What if it happens again? More people will die!”
Even Adelhardt—
who had forsaken both the imperial palace and his own family—
had no choice but to give in to Roela’s plea.
The two moved deeper along the corridor.
They were getting close to the Central Control Room.
Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed.
The two quickly hid behind a pillar.
Even though they had entered officially—
it somehow felt necessary.
Adelhardt pushed Roela into the corner and observed the situation outside.
Two heavily armed guards passed through the hallway.
“Nothing unusual today, right?”
“Of course not. Poseidon is perfect.”
“But they say monsters have been moving south lately…”
“Just pointless rumors. As long as Poseidon exists, monsters can never cross over.”
“Didn’t Archduke Kaisa disappear? People say he’s dead.”
“Even without a Swordmaster, the aura stored here is enough to last a hundred years.”
After the guards moved away, the two resumed walking.
At last, they arrived before a massive door.
The words “Central Control Room” were engraved on it.
Adelhardt placed his ring, bearing the imperial seal, against the door.
The lock disengaged.
Inside was far larger than expected.
The ceiling alone stood over ten meters high.
At the center stood a massive energy compression device, connected to a complex network of pipes and control panels.
It was the core of Poseidon.
“That’s…!”
Roela swallowed hard.
The enormous cylindrical metal device emitted a faint vibration—
but upon closer inspection, steam was leaking from multiple points.
The needles on the gauges trembled irregularly.
“That’s strange.”
Adelhardt frowned.
He approached the machine.
His finely honed senses as a knight warned him—
something was wrong.
Meanwhile, Roela began examining the control displays along the wall.
The guards stationed here didn’t usually enter the Central Control Room itself, so she could inspect more freely.
The screens were filled with Poseidon’s operation logs.
“Adelhardt, look at this.”
Roela pointed at a specific section.
[Imperial Year 1122, March 15 – Routine inspection. Energy reserves at 88%]
[Imperial Year 1122, March 15 – Routine inspection. Energy reserves at 71%]
“The energy dropped drastically within a single day. That’s not normal.”
Adelhardt stepped beside her and examined the records.
[Imperial Year 1122, March 15 – Energy reserves at 45%]
[Imperial Year 1122, March 15 – Energy reserves at 23%]
Then—
on the following day, the energy levels had returned to normal.
[Imperial Year 1122, March 16 – Energy reserves at 86%]
Roela ran a hand through her hair.
Her body trembled with tension.
March 15.
How could she ever forget that date?
It was the day the Blue Pigeon vanished into the sea forever.
“Someone manipulated this deliberately.”
Roela spoke, her voice strained.
Adelhardt stared blankly at the data.
Without external interference—
this would have been impossible.
“We need to see His Majesty the Emperor, Adelhardt.”
Roela said desperately.
She knew full well what Adelhardt had abandoned.
He was her cousin—
born as the Emperor’s illegitimate child and subjected to oppression his entire life.
The Emperor had stood by and done nothing—
only favoring the Crown Prince.
In the end, Adelhardt—
who carried the blood of a minor baronial family—
was neglected and abused.
All of it was the doing of the Empress.
She was endlessly kind to Roela and the Crown Prince—
but could be merciless to others.
Roela knew exactly what her aunt had done.
And yet—
the reason she and Adelhardt remained close—
was because her mother had taken him out of the imperial palace and raised him.
The Empress had not interfered with that.
Adelhardt spent his youth in a marquis household before becoming a knight and gaining independence.
That was also why—
he was especially soft toward Roela.
“Adelhardt!”
Roela called out sharply when he didn’t respond.
“…The Central Control Room can only be opened with an imperial seal, Roela.”
Adelhardt muttered.
“What do you think that means?”
He turned to look at her.
Roela’s face had gone pale.
“It means only someone with imperial authority could access this.”
“……”
“The one who tampered with this system—and caused the monsters to move south—is a member of the imperial family. Either they came here themselves… or lent out their seal.”
Roela bit her lip tightly.
She already knew that.
“Then we must go to His Majesty—!”
“How can you be sure… that my father isn’t the culprit?”
Adelhardt spoke quietly.
“Do you know who did this?”
Roela’s breath caught.
The Emperor.
The Empress.
The Crown Prince.
All three had always shown her nothing but kindness.
When she was young and recovering from illness—
they had embraced and protected her.
And yet—
“…That can’t be.”
Roela muttered.
Even knowing Adelhardt might be right—
she couldn’t accept it.
“It shouldn’t be…”
She held her head.
‘Search operations are prohibited by the imperial court…’
‘Go somewhere high…’
The voice of the shipping company president echoed in her mind.
She had thought it was because the monsters had begun moving south earlier than expected.
What if… the Emperor knows everything—and is trying to cover it up?
What if that’s why the search was halted?
If the one who tampered with Poseidon were revealed—
they would face the harshest punishment.
Even if they were of imperial blood—
they would not escape justice.
Even if—
it was the Emperor himself.
“Roela.”
Adelhardt called her name.
She slowly turned her head.
“Royalty are selfish by nature. To them, their own interests are worth more than the lives of others.”
He gave a bitter smile.
The very proof of the royal family’s sins—
stood right beside her.
Adelhardt himself.
Roela buried her face in her hands.
By the time Rayban led the knights down to the harbor—
it had become a scene straight out of hell.
Rayban raised his sword, his face burning with fury.
“Today—monsters have invaded our land!”
The knights’ eyes sharpened.
“We are Keister! Guardians of the sea! Can we abandon the land our ancestors protected for a thousand years?!”
“No, we cannot!”
The knights shouted in unison.
They too were shaken—
caught between fear and adrenaline as they faced the hell before them.
Will we survive this?
Everyone sensed death looming.
And yet—
none of them would give up.
They were—
the proud knights of Cyern.
