Childhood Friend of the Zenith

After my schedule was set, I checked the letter again to go over the details.

‘Departure in three days...’

I would be heading straight to Shanxi in three days. That part was clear.

Now—

‘What’s the justification?’

What reason was I being given to travel to Shanxi? I needed to confirm that, too.

‘Huh?’

My eyes caught an unexpected phrase.

‘…Return of a precious artifact. Along with a classified mission.’

The justification was vague. The return of a precious artifact? And—

‘A classified mission?’

Something so confidential that it wasn’t even written in the letter? That was the official reason for my departure.

‘What exactly is this classified mission?’

What required such grand wording?

What was being used as justification for this?

‘What did Father do?’

What kind of conversation had my father and the Sword Master had for this wording to end up in my orders?

"...Strange, isn’t it?"

As if reading my thoughts, the Azure Dragon Division Leader chuckled.

"It’s strange for me as well. But of course, when it comes to him, rather than questioning it, I simply follow his decisions. That is..."

Creak.

He leaned back deeply in his chair.

"...Why I value you so highly and grant you unnecessary leniency."

"…"

"So, please..."

The Division Leader’s expression remained relaxed, but his voice dropped to a whisper.

"Do not do anything reckless."

A quiet, yet crystal-clear warning.

"Understood."

I responded. But even as I did, my thoughts were restless.

‘How the hell did this man die?’

Someone this powerful wouldn’t have died so easily.

What exactly happened in the past that led to the Azure Dragon Division Leader’s death?

It was a mystery that nagged at me.

**********