I Will Fulfill the Role of the Villain

“It is true that His Majesty takes this matter seriously and has entrusted the military with the investigation, but that doesn’t mean he disregards the importance of relations with Welharun.”

During the last meeting, the Emperor had shown trust in Theo's assessment that something unusual was happening in Welharun. At the same time, he had expressed understanding for the ministers' concerns, who emphasized the need for precise verification due to the diplomatic implications.

“In other words, under no circumstances must Welharun catch wind of our military's attempts to investigate this matter.”

The atmosphere turned markedly solemn. If any indication that the Empire suspected a friendly nation were to leak before solid evidence was found, it would not only render the investigation futile but also put the Empire in a highly vulnerable position.

“So, what you’re saying is that we’re to find evidence of their covert violations as quickly as possible, without letting them catch on?”

At Luke’s pointed question, Theo nodded.

“Precisely. That’s exactly what His Majesty said.”@@novelbin@@

In this regard, Cedric was undoubtedly correct. Theo and Luke had already captured Benji in Calum and discovered clues suggesting Welharun was involved with Nox, a shadowy organization. However, those clues were insufficient to shake the foundations of international relations or accuse a sovereign state outright.

Moreover, Nox’s leader had severed all communication the moment Benji was apprehended, destroyed evidence, and even prepared to frame Benji for everything. Under such circumstances, demanding explanations from Welharun would yield nothing but denials and excuses.

If Welharun, in turn, expressed dissatisfaction at being doubted, relations between the two nations would inevitably deteriorate.