ch 18; Foreboding (3)

D-Day

 

There's not much Reita has to do since he came to this land. Except for an agreed-on activity within an acceptable perimeter, Reita could literally doze off and no one would complain. These seven days, he would consistently tagged whenever his employer goes. Sometimes directly by his side, sometimes not. 

 

And although it's boring for the most part, Reita partly grasp what his employer mean by 'ambush' after tagging along for so long. 

 

By design, it was better to be called as an act of luring. Fishing, if you fancy. Ambush contextually correct too, but Reita personally believe luring would be more accurate. Because these seven days, his employer's movement is akin to dangling a piece of meat in front of a pack of hungry jackals. 

 

Placing him and his team to the various points in their destination beforehand, and then wait. Until the jackals took the juicy bait. 

 

Or they would wait forever, until client finished his schedule and move to the next destination. 

 

Incredible. Such steel-like courage. 

 

It was simple yet ingenious, he admit. 

 

There must be some kind of signal which would signifies as 'safe' or similar, or at least, Reita deduce so. It would makes much more sense that way. In which, after receiving the signal, he would move to the next destination, either leisurely or in a rush. 

 

For this incomprehensible behaviour, Reita couldn't deduce much. 

 

Maybe to throw them off guard, or any else purpose which he didn't catch up. Whatever it is, his plan genuinely amazed Reita. 

 

Physiognomy is just a myth, after all. 

 

Today, in particular, he was assigned to be close to him, as close as possible. His client even directly request tight-knit protection from him, in his characteristically serious tone. 

 

"This one is almost a hundred percent." he said thus. 

 

And of course, Reita, who could finally showing off his skill after newly knighted, accepting it readily. It was a no-loss deal for him—he could show of his skill, and fulfill his mission from homeland of escort. He did not need to dwindle or slacking around. Gear and food was completely provided by Philip, sparing the agents additional cost in this foreign land. 

 

"So, are there anything you want to ask, sir Reita?" snapped from his thought, Reita belatedly remember what's he doing currently. 

 

"Ah, no. Everything is clear, Your Majesty." 

 

"Is that so? Very well." the king of Vedora, after shortly briefing Reita in the operation to come, began to rest his back completely to the shaky carriage. Uncomfortable as it is, Philip was already adapted sufficiently. Furthermore, the utter lack of sleep and the mountain of on-site tasks he had to tackle, making it impossible to ward off the sleepiness. 

 

"I'm going to nap a bit. Shake me on when we arrived. I could be difficult to woke up even when still in REM sleeping." 

 

"Pardon?"

 

"Nevermind. Just make sure to wake me up later."

 

"...understood."

 

Reita nods, he wasn't sure what's REM means, but acting as a biological alarm was easy enough to understand. 

 

Shortly after, only the sound of horses hooves echoes across the carriage interior. 

 

For a moment, Reita thought Philip was half-joking when he said he's about to nap. But not even a minute later he could see Philip genuinely dozed off. With a rigid sitting posture, back straight, like some kind of flesh statue rather than a sleeping man. 

 

He could sleep in this rowdiness? Incredible. 

 

Guess he truly need that rest. 

 

From the beginning, Reita had never unraveled the whole stage of plan that Philip designed, strictly briefed his mission only. However, this doesn't mean he didn't fully understood the situation locally. 

 

As a full-fledged knight, his superhuman hearing could even penetrate ten meters deep underground. Eavesdropping some conversation was nothing to him. Those Interior agents placed around him knows quite a bit. Since they didn't realize he's a knight and not just some highly usable mercenary, just sitting there reaps informational benefit. 

 

At first, he was audibly confused that they didn't use any kind of noise-cancelling magic artifact or spell. But then he realized this is not the Empire, where magic thrives the most and talent isn't as rare. 

 

This is still a backwater place, after all. 

 

It was once again an oversight on his part. 

 

The quality of information gathered itself isn't that much. Mostly, general information. Things such as who their enemies, possible collaborator, and more often than not these Interior agents conversation always circle back to how this would possibly affect the entire country. 

 

Greater part of them seems confused, or outright refuse to continue the ominous possibility. Yet none of them seems to badly critique Philip, the new king championed by the Empire. 

 

Which, to be quite honest for Reita, a shocking turn of situation. 

 

Usually, they would at least hold a minimum amount of suspicion at this time, isn't it? Just think about it. Suddenly, the nation who just thrashed at you, deposed the king, and installed a new king in place. Although yes, the justification is entirely valid, as the deposed king was actually a coup leader and Philip was the last bloodline of the couped royal family, Reita, who just found out the story thanks to his friend, an Empire agent, southern native, still couldn't wrap his head around almost zero hostility in Philip's fame.

 

But in fact, it was natural for Reita to feel bewildered by how good Philip's reputation, despite his sudden rise to the throne. 

 

For one, those who actually understood the whole picture from A to Z are minority. Not even Interior or Foreign Affairs agents, who handled the information firsthand before passing it to their superior, understand it. 

 

Yes, they know the Empire had a hand in Philip's rise to the throne, but to what extent, that was unknown to them. And decisively, the masses itself was completely in the shadow. They only knew Philip was carrying the blood of royalty, which was deposed by the tyrant. This alone gained him trust of many, with the majority of common people putting their hopes in him. 

 

However, what's more important than that, is his track record itself.  

 

Initially looked down upon by upper classes, the first thing he did is plugged the economic downturn and soon-to-widespread famine caused by lack of locally grain production, borrowing them time to at least three to four month. And in this precarious months, he moved aggressively. 

 

Bringing the Empire to the negotiation table was minor, contrary to what most thought, compared to what he gain which is grains, a deep alliance, and international security in south. 

 

Of course, except for Philip, Chamberlain, Ludwig, and Empire's high seats, no one knows about the deal. But what's on the surface was enough to prove Philip's capability for the world to see. 

 

Not to mention almost the entire cabinet flocking to him after what the Vedora agents hushed as 'Eye Opener' first assembly. Where, as the street says in whisper, the first time where their king stormed out in rage after scolding the new administrations to boot. 

 

And it was shortly after that, the cabinet which were collectively shaken by shame, once again pledged their loyalty to the new, capable king. 

 

With such fact overlooked from Reita's knowledge, it was rather normal for him to react the way he does. 

 

Who could've thought… he was more capable than I estimate. Hm? Ah, come to think of it, that appearance, that shabbyness, would be natural to occur if he truly move while lowering his self, in priority, compared to the nation. 

 

Once again, he find an admirable quality of this seemingly unremarkable man. 

 

It could be seen as arrogance and more importantly, insolence, that Reita, a knight, valuating the king of a nation. 

 

Well. I won't blabber about this anywhere, so it's fine. 

 

Overhearing Vedora's agents everyday talk like that for several days, and even a monkey would understand the big picture. 

 

By Reita's understanding, the current country was split, or more accurately, about to split, thanks to the effrontery of some pompous, self-centered nobles who was also exasperatingly opportunistic, which planned to break away from the country while also collaborating with another kingdom, apparently. 

 

Deeper matters on this such as which kingdom responsible wasn't discussed in the conversation, but it was enough for Reita to understand the whole situation. 

 

Having recognized this, he could easily conclude the overall plan of Philip by this operation's name and the actions so far. 

 

Most probably, he ponder, that sir Philip found out about the plan to harm his life beforehand from untraceable source unknown to Reita and prepared to use that information to fish out any traitor inside his inner circle. This would explain his wandering, the infinite waiting, and brief explanation of key points and positions before each location. 

 

That also explains his initial joy when meeting me. 

 

And today, after wandering from place to place with no engagement of combat whatsoever, he was finally given a definite green light. 

 

He couldn't help but look forward to it.