Fiene's Anger

"Ambassador Fiene. We apologize for our limited understanding of the Empire's internal affairs. However, I hope you will also understand that this was partly due to the succession struggle in your country. Even if we keep a close watch, information does not always reach us."

"I will not hold that against you. Nor will I accuse you of endangering the Empire. In the end, the Spirit Turtle was defeated because two SS-rank adventurers affiliated with the Adventurers Guild cooperated. Besides, the Spirit Turtle operation was a joint effort by the Empire and the Guild. I will not go so far as to hold the Guild responsible."

"Thank you. Then what is it you'd like to ask?"

"It concerns the selection of the S-rank adventurers dispatched to the Empire. The commemorative ceremony and the rebellion that followed left me no opportunity to protest, but... what was the intention behind that selection?"

"The intention? We thought we'd selected capable individuals."

Trosin said this matter-of-factly.

His expression suggested that he would simply brush off the questioning of some young girl.

But would it really be that easy?

"Then what about their conduct? Two of the parties dispatched to the Empire came from the Kingdom. I sense deliberate intent in that."

"At the time, the S-rank adventurers who were available and capable of handling the mission happened to be active mainly in the Kingdom. They have no connection to the Kingdom."...