Chapter 46

The energy knights possessed was fundamentally different from that of mages.

While their nature was similar, knightly energy accumulated throughout the body, whereas a mage’s energy concentrated only near the heart.

In particular, knights’ energy—called “vital energy”—was dispersed throughout the body, often serving as a kind of natural armor.

However, if it wasn’t properly controlled, that same energy could leak out and destroy everything around them.

Young Aivert had been a prime example of this. Because of his innate overflowing energy, people had claimed he was born with the talent of a knight.

Those who possessed such energy also had strength and stamina far beyond that of normal people.

“Can we even stop him? Judging by what he’s done, his energy level seems pretty high,” Lanark said with some hesitation.

After all, this was someone who killed without hesitation and had survived the monster war as an active-duty mercenary. His strength would be considerable.

But Latine frowned. “He’s not beyond what we can handle.”

Even Lanark—dubbed the shield of the Azure Knights—had a significant amount of vital energy spread throughout his body.

Especially now, thanks to recent training with Rodella, he had refined his control of energy and strength with even greater precision.

“But we do need to stay alert,” Latine said, folding his arms.

“The Vice Commander will lead the operation on-site, and I’ll organize teams centered around the senior knights I designate.”

Normally, Latine allowed knights to volunteer for assignments based on their condition. But this time, his unusual decision to assign members directly made it clear that the opponent wasn’t to be taken lightly.

A tense air swept through the knights as they realized that fact.

“First, we’ll begin with a strategy meeting.”

Latine’s voice rang with authority.

The target was a violent thief who specialized in robbing jewelry workshops.

Then he would go to another city, pick a shop he knew would buy stolen goods in bulk, and sell them off.

Whether those shop owners sensed danger or had another way to benefit, the shops that agreed to the trade mostly survived.

But those who refused? Almost none of them lived.

It was a brutal pattern of crime.

“And the shops he targets…” Rodella studied the traits of the workshops he had hit.

Even though he was selling large quantities of stolen precious metals, he only approached small-scale jewelry workshops.

Moreover—

“They almost all deal in artifacts.”

What made this operation difficult was that while they could predict which city he might target next, they couldn’t pinpoint which workshop he’d hit.

Since he killed without hesitation, requesting cooperation was out of the question.

Even if they told shops to close, he’d just break down the door, trash everything, steal what he wanted, and leave. The only real solution was to catch him.

But the problem was… they didn’t know which shop he would hit first.

Even the scouting party had sent over multiple possibilities for the next target.

But Rodella had a hunch.

Especially because she had recently visited the city in question.

“He doesn’t necessarily target only artifact-selling shops.”

She pointed out several shops that had been hit.

Their names were familiar—she had heard them before while working in the Quartermaster’s office due to frequent transactions with nobles.

Things like: So-and-so bought a gift from this place…

And what all those shops had in common, regardless of whether they sold artifacts, was that their owners were rich.

They were businesses that had concluded it was better to sell a small number of luxury goods in modest buildings than to run large operations that were hard to protect.

They mostly dealt with noble families and were, of course, wrapped in layers of protective artifacts.

“A regular thief would’ve been repelled by those protections—but not this guy.”

Because, after all, artifacts were just magic. Against someone with overwhelming energy or magical power, they were often useless.

“So hitting smaller, unguarded places like this is actually to his advantage.”

Lots of money. Lots of valuables. With no one watching.

From his perspective, they’d be the perfect targets.

“That means in Mirpol, the city he’s heading to now, this one shop is the most likely target.”

Mirpol was a city that, whether by luck or skill, had never fallen during the monster war. Its people were mostly peaceful, having rarely experienced real threats from outside.

The buildings were aged, marketed as ‘antique charm’—but really, it was a run-down city.

However, it was quietly known as a gathering place for artisans.

Which is why Rodella had been able to buy Cecilia’s gift there.

Most people likely overlooked the city’s worn appearance and assumed there was no money to be found, but this criminal had clearly realized it was a hidden goldmine.

Maybe he was a noble himself. Or at least from nearby.

Because only someone who had either lived near Mirpol or had long experience dealing with nobles would know that it was a safe haven for master artisans after the war.

An opponent who was clever and probably knew the geography of the area well.

But Rodella was someone who knew how to turn crisis into opportunity.

“If the city is Mirpol… I have an idea.”

At the end of the meeting, Rodella presented a plan.

A city full of old buildings and people unaccustomed to danger—but who hated any disturbance to their peace.

They had almost certainly heard of the Azure Knights’ “prowess”… particularly how good they were at smashing things.

They wouldn’t exactly be eager to help.

But Rodella spoke with confidence.

“There’s a way to get their cooperation while also catching the guy.”

“What is it?”

Latine asked, and Rodella smiled as she began to explain.

As she went through her plan, Latine’s face took on the peaceful look of a monk renouncing the world…

While Aivert clenched his jaw.

The moment reminded him of when Thousand Faces had come after her.

Seeing her now, clearly ready to go into the field again, he pressed his lips into a tight line.

‘If you believe that I’ll never be harmed, then I will believe that not a single hair on your head will be touched.’

‘That will be the truth of my world.’

He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white.

With the strength only he could bear.

***

“Excuse me? Where did you say you were from?”

At a jewelry workshop in Mirpol.

The Azure Knights, posing as customers, had come to request cooperation, and the shopkeepers all responded more or less the same way.

Very different from when she had visited as a regular customer recently.

At first, they just asked, “Where are you from?”

“One of the Empire’s two knight orders—the Azure Knights.”

As soon as they heard Azure and not Red, their faces hardened.

This was especially true for those who had a lot to lose.

Such people usually reacted with:

“Get out, now! What do you think you’re doing?”

Trying to kick them out to protect their assets.

At that point, Rodella and Aivert stepped forward.

“I’m Rodella Syberic, newly appointed Quartermaster of the Azure Knights. This is my fiancé, Vice Commander Sir Aivert Royden.”

At her words, the shopkeeper’s expression relaxed a bit.

“Oh, you’re the Quartermaster?”

“Oh, yes! I heard you stopped by recently!”

I asked them to keep that a secret, for heaven’s sake…

Merchants really did spread gossip fast.

Rodella ignored the expectant looks from knights silently wondering if she had come here to pick out an engagement gift.

Ever since she led the successful support mission at Thomas’s Beruba farm, people had come to realize that wherever this Quartermaster was, civilian damage tended to be minimal.

Especially during the “Thousand Faces” incident—only the third floor of the guard building had been destroyed. Just that!

People could hardly believe the Azure Knights were responsible.

“Are you sure the Azure Knights were behind this? It seems more like the Red Knights’ work…”

In fact, so many people had said that—

“We should just put up a huge sign: WE did this!”

“But Commander, that’ll make us look desperate…”

Aivert had barely stopped Latine from going through with it.

“There’s help you’re looking for, yes?”

Anyway, now that Rodella had stepped forward, the shopkeeper was finally willing to listen.

And that was when Rodella pulled out the trump card that had made Latine renounce all worldly attachment.

“By any chance… are you thinking about remodeling your shop?”

How about a complete makeover—courtesy of state funds?

She smiled confidently.