novelraw Chapter 29 : Chapter 29
Chapter 29 : Chapter 29
Chapter 29: Keford Airport
‘Did Marcus disperse his people elsewhere even during all that?’
Ered was inwardly impressed.
Then again, for someone like Marcus, mobilizing a large number of personnel would be a trivial matter.
‘Marcus had considered the possibility that the security officer wouldn't be in Engrove.’
He was truly a thorough individual.
Railway stations, airports, and so on.
He likely placed observers at every location with high foot traffic.
“I’m told Heni’s likeness was last confirmed by a Beholder installed at Scatoon Station.”
Marcus clicked his tongue.
Irritation flickered across his face.
It was understandable.
Scatoon Station was a major railway hub serving as the starting point for the transcontinental train that crossed the Empire's northern territories.
Conversely, their current location, Engrove, was in the southern part of the Empire.
The exact opposite direction.
They had been played quite beautifully.
“Heni Van. Does that man intend to crawl into the snowfields where blizzards rage all year round?”
Marcus muttered, furrowing his brow.
Listening to his muttering with one ear, Ered fell into thought.
‘What is Heni’s goal? Where is he trying to go?’
Scatoon Station wouldn't be the final destination.
It would merely be a layover.
‘Focus.’
Ered gathered the scattered puzzle pieces and organized them into one.
“From the perspective of the collaborator who shared the secret with Heni—that is, the mastermind—they would have wanted Heni to vanish from the Empire entirely.”
Eventually, he opened his mouth.
If Heni’s mastermind was truly a member of the Imperial family?
The moment the secret of his connection to Unnormal was revealed, they would take a massive hit.
It wasn't something even a member of the Imperial family could easily suppress.
‘One question remains here.’
Even though Heni is a high-ranking official, with the power of the Imperial family, eliminating him wouldn't be difficult.
‘Then why go through the risk and take the difficult path instead of just getting rid of him?’
That part alone was incomprehensible.
Regardless, the priority now was to deduce Heni’s whereabouts.
The place that came to mind was...
“Keford Airport.”
“The reason?”
Marcus gestured toward Ered with his chin, as if telling him to continue.
“The only neighboring country in the northern part of the Empire is the Cabrique Federation. Heni is trying to defect to Cabrique through Keford Airport. As you know, there are no ice-free ports in the north of the Empire. The seas in the northern region would be frozen solid. Therefore, Keford Airport is the only way.”
After pouring out words without pause, I caught my breath.
‘Is there any flaw in this reasoning?’
I chewed over it twice, thrice.
‘What if Heni’s destination isn't Keford Airport?’
What other options?
‘What if he boarded the Northern Transcontinental Train?’
Ultimately, the transcontinental train is designed to return to Scatoon Station.
Scatoon Station was both the starting point and the terminus of the train.
Even if he got off the train midway, it wasn't a place where people could live.
There were only soldiers defending the northern front, a few magic stone mining sites, and scattered villages of minority tribes who had adapted to the extreme cold.
‘If an outsider like Heni rolls into a place like that, he’s bound to stand out immediately.’
Furthermore, that place was within the Empire’s territory.
If Marcus mobilized manpower, he could find Heni within days.
On the other hand, the moment Heni crossed into another country, things would get complicated.
The procedures to exercise investigative powers in a foreign nation were cumbersome.
Even if the Federation was a weaker nation compared to the Empire, worsening relations with them would be a loss for the Empire.
Therefore, searching Keford Airport had to be the priority.
“Indeed.”
Fortunately, Marcus reacted with satisfaction.
Ered’s shoulders instinctively straightened.
The feeling of being recognized by a member of the Imperial family.
“Suspend all flights at Keford Airport immediately. I will take responsibility for the consequences.”
Marcus broadcasted the instruction through his communicator.
As of this moment, Keford Airport was about to be paralyzed.
It was a decision not easily made, even for a Prince of the Empire.
Nevertheless, not a shred of hesitation could be found in him.
“Let’s move. There’s no time to delay.”
Will it be alright?
While following behind Marcus, Ered suddenly felt worried.
Even if they headed to Keford Airport right now, it would take at least half a day...
‘...I was worried about something stupid.’
Marcus’s private airship.
I had momentarily forgotten the existence of the Ghostwing.
“This is the first time I’ve taken a guest on my Ghostwing.”
Standing at the entrance of the Ghostwing, Marcus signaled for him to follow.
To board a Prince's private craft.
It was something I couldn't even have imagined before entering Redstone.
‘I get to enjoy this kind of luxury because I became a Prominence.’
Ered cautiously stepped inside the Ghostwing.
Immediately after, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the luxury of the interior.
A space where sophisticated aesthetics and precise functionality were perfectly combined.
Beyond a mere means of transportation, it was like a mobile residence.
The lights installed throughout the walls were emitting a soft, warm golden glow.
“Sit.”
“Excuse me.”
Only after Marcus offered did Ered quietly take a seat.
‘The seats are top-tier too.’
It was high-quality leather.
Click.
Meanwhile, Lensis, who had climbed into the pilot's seat, was preheating the Ghostwing.
As he flipped the switches in sequence, holograms were activated and 3D images appeared in layers.
So that the current status of the device could be easily checked at a glance.
“Lensis. Estimated time?”
“Two hours should be enough to reach it.”
Lensis answered Marcus's question immediately.
It took a full six hours by train from Neustadt to Engrove.
Moreover, Keford Airport was much further than Neustadt.
If they had taken a train, it would have taken twice as long.
“How is it? Your thoughts on riding the Ghostwing?”
Marcus asked Ered tentatively.
He had an expression that seemed to enjoy Ered’s reaction.
“It is magnificent.”
“The review is shorter than I expected.”
“No matter what flowery language I know, I wouldn't be able to express it properly.”
Only then did Marcus express satisfaction.
Fortunately, it seemed I hadn't offended him.
“Fasten your seatbelt. We’ll be traveling at ultra-high speeds.”
***
Keford Airport was like a single large fortress.
It was a sturdy structure reflecting the cold climate of the northern Empire.
The exterior of the airport was made of steel frames and thick glass.
Beyond the glass windows, snow-covered mountain ranges stretched out endlessly.
Whirrr.
Lensis landed the Ghostwing.
There wasn't a hint of a tremor.
The performance of the craft was one thing, but his piloting skills also played a part.
‘I have to admit it.’
Ered was secretly impressed.
Even at Redstone, his piloting skills were top-tier regardless of the type of craft.
‘To be precise, it wasn't just piloting; he had top-tier grades in all subjects.’
As they disembarked from the Ghostwing, they found a man waiting.
His armed state was excellent.
It was top-of-the-line.
In terms of equipment alone, he was comparable to a Prominence.
He was likely Marcus’s direct subordinate.
As Marcus revealed himself, the man gave a respectful salute.
“Ivan.”
“Yes.”
A man with an upturned handlebar mustache, Ivan, immediately responded to Marcus's call.
“What is the current progress?”
As Marcus asked, Ivan began his report.
“As you ordered, I have dispersed and deployed troops in each area of the airport. A total of 32 people are in ambush, centered around the main movement routes from the terminal entrance to the commercial district inside the airport, and we have included emergency stairs and underground passages in the surveillance range.”
“The number of heads is insufficient to monitor the entire airport.”
“I apologize. I gathered troops in a hurry, but in the process of tracking the security officer's whereabouts, the majority of the personnel are scattered in various places. I have assembled those nearby as quickly as possible.”
“Since we moved in haste, it’s only natural. There is no need for self-reproach. You’ve worked hard.”
Marcus patted Ivan on the shoulder to comfort him.
“I assume all flights at the airport have been frozen?”
“Yes. I have completed the cooperation as you instructed. However...”
“However?”
“The airport officials are expressing dissatisfaction.”
“That’s only natural.”
Marcus cast his gaze to one side.
A few people dressed in uniforms were standing hesitantly.
They looked like airport officials.
“Thank you for responding to the sudden request for cooperation. I hear there is dissatisfaction?”
“Dissatisfaction? That is out of the question! We consider it an eternal honor to follow Your Imperial Highness’s command. However, the protests from the passengers were more fierce than expected...”
He spoke in a long, roundabout way, but in a word, it meant the losses on the airport’s side were considerable.
“The matter was urgent, so I had no choice but to issue such an order. I will bear all financial damages caused to the airport and the passengers today, so I hope this provides at least some small consolation.”
“Oh! We are merely struck with admiration by your vast grace!”
Only then did the officials' complexions brighten.
From their perspective, these were the words they had most looked forward to.
“However...”
Marcus continued with meaningful eyes.
“I have heard that Keford Airport is a place where departures and delays of airships are as frequent as daily meals due to frequent weather deterioration and heavy rain. Since passengers are also fed up, I heard it is rare for them to express dissatisfaction to the airport officials.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“T-That is...”
As his chilling gaze swept over them, the airport officials rolled their eyes, not knowing what to do.
The officials had craftily shifted the dissatisfaction they harbored onto the passengers.
Marcus had grasped their intentions at once.
“I suggest being more honest next time. Coincidentally, my mood is unpleasant because it’s right after someone dared to practice falsehood in my presence.”
That "someone" referred to the Mayor of Engrove.
“I-I have committed a sin deserving of death!”
Marcus passed the officials, who were bowing incessantly, with indifference.
As if he had no more time to spare for them.
The central terminal of Keford Airport was a high and open structure.
Particularly, the 3rd-floor lounge had no walls obstructing the view.
Only a waist-high railing made of glass.
Thanks to that, the entire airport could be looked down upon at a glance.
Marcus judged the 3rd floor to be the optimal surveillance location.
He headed straight to the 3rd floor.
Ered scanned below from the edge of the lounge.
One by one, he could find Marcus's private soldiers lying in ambush throughout the airport.
They were hidden quite cleverly in blind spots.
To the eyes of an ordinary person, their existence would be completely unknown.
‘Still, I can’t be complacent.’
Heni is a security officer.
He’ll be used to this kind of thing.
His perspective will be different from that of an ordinary person.
Furthermore, as he’s in the position of a fugitive, his nerves will be much more sensitive.
“For now, we have no choice but to wait quietly.”
Marcus entrusted his body to a chair placed in the lounge with his arms crossed.
One hour passed since then.
Ered began to feel gradually anxious.
‘Marcus came all the way here by accepting my opinion.’
Even to the point of concentrating a significant number of personnel at Keford Airport.
In such a situation, what if Heni appears elsewhere?
The mere thought was terrible.
‘...No. Marcus is not the type to rely entirely on the opinions of others. He also felt the credibility in my reasoning, which is why he came here.’
Moreover, there would be a fallback plan in Marcus's mind.
‘He would have also considered the possibility that Heni might not show up here.’
He would have prepared sufficiently for that. Hadn't I already seen his side in Engrove?
“You have many idle thoughts.”
Lensis's voice disrupted Ered’s musings.
“If the security officer boarded a train at Scatoon Station, where he was last seen, it takes more than 3 hours to reach Keford Airport. Since exactly 3 hours have passed, it’s still within the margin of error. So there’s no need to bite your fingernails already.”
“Who says I'm anxious?”
I spoke like that, but I couldn't help but be startled.
“You became a Prominence from the bottom and now you’ve grabbed an opportunity to catch the eye of none other than His Imperial Highness. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it’s the best opportunity in your entire miserable life. So it would be a lie if you weren't anxious.”
“Do you only feel satisfied when you pour out every word inside you?”
“It depends on the opponent.”
“You think I'm easy, don't you?”
As Ered got angry, the corners of Lensis's mouth moved subtly.
“That’s an old story...”
Lensis trailed off in the middle.
While staring intently at one place.
“Why stop talking in the middle...”
Ered also soon realized the reason.
A man who had just entered the airport lobby, mixed in with the crowd.
I didn't even need to pull out a photo and compare.
Since I had seen the photo so much I was sick of it, it was familiar to my eyes.
Heni Van.
The demoted security officer finally revealed himself.
“Target has entered the airport lobby. All personnel to operational positions.”
Ivan, who was assisting by Marcus's side, quickly broadcasted the command through the communicator.
It was still too early to pounce.
‘I’ll be able to catch him for sure only when he comes deeper in.’
Ered watched Heni quietly.
Even from his gait, I could tell that his wariness had reached its peak.
I quietly looked for an opportunity.
I intended to spring out as soon as he came within radius.
‘Come closer. Just a little more.’
While he was exercising patience calmly.
Suddenly, Heni stopped walking.
As if time had stood still.
Abruptly, Heni began to dash in the direction he had come from.
He had noticed something.
‘...As expected of a former security officer, he’s quick to catch on.’
Ered immediately jumped down from the 3rd-floor lounge.