Chapter 81
It had been about a month since they had begun investigating Elder Brother Filemas's movements.
"The more we investigate..."
Having said that, Gafol fell silent. He was probably reluctant to continue in Tsetsedra's presence.
"You can continue. I have steeled myself for what I may hear."
It would be inefficient to continue the discussion while everyone took care to spare Tsetsedra's feelings. Besides...
"Elder Brother really is preparing a rebellion..."
Having said it aloud, Tsetsedra felt a heavy weight settle upon his heart. Yet Elder Brother had begun acting in a way that left no other possibility.
At present, because of the incident involving Luluria, Greedle and Rudek were in a delicate lull. However, Elder Brother Filemas, as the person responsible for the invasion of Rudek, was supposed to be making all sorts of preparations for the war against Rudek.
But recently, he had holed up in his own territory, distanced himself from his usual close aides, and focused on replacing the people around him.
Outwardly, he seemed to be claiming that, because the invasion of Rudek was not going well, he was searching for a new strategy. Yet he had kept most of his soldiers in his own territory and was taking only the minimum measures against Rudek.
The more closely they examined the aides he had replaced, the clearer it became that, by and large, those most loyal to Greedle had been removed.
Those who had come in their place, to borrow Gafol's phrasing, were apparently all "the untrustworthy sort."
As for Laboka Lighthouse, which they had initially singled out, people had begun coming and going more frequently, while security in the surrounding area had also intensified.
By slipping past the heavy security to investigate the visitors, they had confirmed that one of them was a subordinate of Basol, the minister suspected of being a coconspirator.
Unfortunately, investigating the area around the lighthouse had become quite difficult, so Gafol had ordered the intelligence operation to end.
They had been fortunate to identify the lighthouse so early. Without Luluria's insight and Roa's information, it might have been far more difficult to discover what was happening.
Other signs pointing to a rebellion had been reported one after another. At this point, there could be little doubt that Elder Brother was plotting something sinister.
"Then, what did Father say?"
At Luluria's urging, once they had gathered enough grounds for suspicion, Tsetsedra informed his father, Drak, of his concerns. A reply from his father at the front arrived, and he gathered Luluria, Gafol, and Bridget.
"Here you are."
He opened the letter Bridget had handed him.
It read, "As you declared, you will resolve this yourself. Failure will not be tolerated." Tsetsedra thought it was exactly the sort of reply Father would give.
"It was exactly as Luluria predicted."
As he said this, he handed the letter to Luluria. On the day they had decided to investigate the lighthouse, she had made one other proposal.
"If Filemas-sama truly has something wicked in mind, wouldn't it be a problem if Tsetsedra-sama didn't strike him down?"
Indeed, she had a point. Elder Brother Filemas and Tsetsedra had the same mother. That was precisely why the two of them had been appointed to conquer Rudek.
If Elder Brother started a rebellion, there was a significant chance that Tsetsedra would also be suspected of being his accomplice. Luluria had urged him to make the first move so that would not happen.
Tsetsedra, as well as Gafol and Bridget, could not hide their astonishment that a girl who had only recently arrived in Greedle had pointed this out.
In response to Luluria's words, he had added to his report to Father, "If my own elder brother takes up arms against our country, I am prepared to strike him down with my own hands."
In other words, Father had granted him permission to put Elder Brother down.
"Shall we raise the troops?"
Gafol grinned fearlessly. He was a fierce general who loved the battlefield, and could be relied upon at times like this. If they were going to make their move, it would be best to do so before the other side was ready. In that sense, starting immediately seemed reasonable.
"No, but considering the disparity in our forces, we should proceed cautiously," Bridget objected.
Filemas, who oversaw the southern military, and Tsetsedra, who was merely a local lord, had very different forces at their disposal. Since failure would not be tolerated, Tsetsedra understood Bridget's concern.
"But if we take our time, His Majesty will return."
As Gafol had said, Father's letter also stated that he would be returning to the imperial capital soon. Tsetsedra understood this to mean that they were expected to settle the matter before then.
But as the three of them pondered what to do,
"Um, may I?"
Luluria nonchalantly raised her hand.
Neither Gafol nor Bridget underestimated Luluria anymore. They listened intently, ready to hear what she had to say.
As Luluria reread Father's letter,
"Rather, why don't we wait until His Majesty returns?" she declared.