Chapter 427: The Jaded Speculation

The sound of Saleino’s hands probably indicated a predetermined signal.

Soon, the sound of scraping metal filled Ann’s ears. Ann could see that Saleino’s old eyes were looking at her with a heavy color.

The color reflected in his eyes was not one of acceptance, but one of rejection. Ann distorted her tongue inside her mouth without showing it on her face.

Her gamble backfired. Saleino wouldn’t easily fall for her tricks. Though she did hope that he would agree to talk a little more.

Shifting her gaze from side to side, Ann noticed that Saleino’s soldiers slowly approached her and Telsarat, holding swords and spears in their hands.

「I understand what you’re implying. Largud Ann. But it might be uncomfortable, so I’ll stay in this camp for a while. I think it’s much safer than being in Philos.」

Ann watched as Saleino’s old lips quivered when his voice leaked out. Judging from his words, it didn’t seem like he was going to decapitate her any time soon. Well, maybe the plan was to send Telsarat back to the city and then kill Ann.

Now, what should she do? Ann tilted her head while forming those words on her lips. Saleino looked at her proposal with distrust. In order to dispel that skepticism, all it took was one word to turn the board over.

Ann’s eyelashes fluttered, thinking that she had little time.

Saleino used to look at Ann with peculiar eyes, even when they were still teacher and student. Was it because he discovered Ann’s talent, which showed that her way of thinking and beliefs were different from his own?

There was always an emotion close to apprehension lurking in his eyes when he looked at Ann. And the same went for Ann. The more they understood each other’s thoughts, the more their wariness grew.

That hadn’t changed even after Ann left Saleino’s wing. Now, the only thing that bound the former teacher and student was their mutual suspicion and hostility.

「Yes, I understand. However, I have one other request…」

Ann was in the middle of saying that phrase when the sound of metal echoed loudly. Did one of the soldiers act hastily? Saleino’s eyes, which were looking directly at Ann, also widened in response, becoming slightly more dangerous.

When Ann followed his line of sight, she saw that a soldier’s spear was completely broken. The person who did this was not Ann, nor was the civilian officer Ann brought with her.

Telsarat Rwana said with her dark skin swaying.

「…I guess I was right after all. Largud Ann. A meeting is a place where you stab each other in the throat. 」

Telsarat’s legs were bouncing up as she put them in the chair. While depicting her beautiful legs, Telsarat’s black armor was crushing the spear nearby. She didn’t use all her strength to crush it. In fact, she did in a light and airy manner.

Ann heard the sound of someone swallowing saliva. She didn’t sense any open hostility from Telsarat’s face. A look of relief was shown on her face instead. That was even more strange. The soldiers were also undecided as to whether they should thrust their spears against Telsarat.

Were all the Elizardians like this? Just as Ann had embedded such prejudice in her mind, Telsarat continued speaking.

「Elder Saleino. Am I allowed to speak here? 」

Telsarat clenched her fingers in front of the soldiers’ faces, who braced themselves in return. However, her action was a declaration that she wouldn’t do anything serious since she used her arms and legs as weapons instead of her armory. Although her legs could inflict much damage like she did earlier.

Saleino opened his mouth while narrowing his eyes for a moment.

「Of course, there’s no problem. As long as it doesn’t go against each other’s interests. 」

Telsarat interlaced her fingers and nodded with satisfaction.

This situation was so intense that Telsarat, who was originally only a witness, was speaking out in front of those around her.

Surprisingly, Saleino was calm about this strange development. Since Ann had brought her to this meeting, Saleino was fully aware that Telsarat was not here just to prevent him from using forceful measures. There was also a good chance that Telsarat would have something to say.

Even so, Ann was the only one who was caught up in her thoughts after witnessing Telsarat’s bizarre behavior.

Of course, Ann never asked Telsarat to say anything, nor did she ask her to accomplish anything at this meeting.

This was a matter within the Heraldic Order after all.

If by some chance Ann allowed Elizard to intervene in this kind of internal conflict, the Heraldic Order would suffer a huge blow that could be exploited in the future. There was no way Ann could ask that much from Telsarat which could expose the organization’s weakness.

Then what? What was Telsarat going to say? Ann bit the corner of her lips, trying to keep her expression straight. Her teeth seemed to be chattering at this unexpected situation.

「Largud Ann’s proposal from earlier. I would like you to accept it willingly. I’m saying this as Elizard’s emissary. 」

After hearing Telsarat’s words, the inside of the large tent trembled slightly. Ann desperately tried to hold back the words that were about to escape from her mouth.

What did she say? Ann understood that for some reason she was supporting her side. As an emissary of Elizard, that meant nothing but a request from the nation.

Those words should never be taken lightly no matter how much of an emissary she was.

Why did she say it so effortlessly? Leaving Ann’s doubts and surprise behind, Telsarat smiled gently and fluttered her eyelashes. It was a gesture that showcased her peculiar beauty.

「…It’s an internal matter within the Heraldic Order. Normally, it’s not for you to say anything about it. But why would Elizard want that? 」

Telsarat responded to Saleino’s question, which was only natural, with a small movement of her mouth. For just a moment, Ann felt Telsarat’s eyes stare at her.

「Let me be frank. Elizard does not think well of the old Gharast nation, much less you. However, we also believe that cooperation between nations and forces is necessary to fight the catastrophe caused by magical beasts, or rather, demonic beings. 」

Telsarat explained, interlacing her fingers, and tilting her arms slightly.

The current disaster. The foe who captured Arche, the capital of the Gharast Kingdom. Also, in the southern country of Elizard, one of the seven major cities fell to the hands of demonic beings. Ann had received reports that a similar damage was occurring in the western countries and also in the eastern Bolvat dynasty.

Ann could understand Telsarat’s intention of needing cooperation in the face of this disaster, but it was also known that she had a longstanding grudge against the old Gharast nation. Ann curled the corners of her lips slightly upon feeling suspicious.

「If anything, I would like to cooperate with the forces that were traditionally hostile to the Gharast nation. However, I don’t want those forces to fight each other internally because it will weaken them. I would like them to become independent forces. Am I incorrect? 」

What Telsarat was saying made sense, and it may not be wrong from Elizard’s position. The fact that Ann and Saleino were at odds was obvious from the content of this meeting. No wonder Telsarat understood.

But not all of that was true. Telsarat was definitely lying about one thing.

Ann silently swallowed her saliva. She didn’t understand why Telsarat would tell such a lie. Was this method her defense of Ann, or was she trying to gain something for herself? Ann narrowed her eyes as her thoughts heat up. She then looked directly at Telsarat.

Telsarat only looked at Ann with a mischievous smile.

At least, it was a look that Ann had never seen on her journey to this point.

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Telsarat is a mysterious but interesting character…I bet the author has a lot in store for her 😀 (*cough* Lugis *cough*).

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