đźź Chapter 54:
While the king and his entourage were discussing the planned raid on EconPulse, the king's eldest son—and the first prince destined to inherit the throne—Prince Elnar, entered the hall.
Having overheard talk of a raid, he spoke with confusion and concern:
"Father… what is this raid you are talking about?"
His voice was firm despite the exhaustion written across his face; he had just returned from a long journey outside the kingdom.
King Orik looked at him with a mixture of surprise and relief.
"Elnar? You've finally returned?"
Elnar bowed lightly and replied,
"Yes. I've returned from the Kingdom of Valdera. The negotiations were difficult, but we secured a promise for limited financial support.
Still… it seems a storm has struck in my absence."
This was, at least, a sliver of good news to the king and his entourage—someone was willing to support them in the crisis.
Silence lingered for a few seconds before the king answered with a heavy tone:
"Yes… the storm has begun, Elnar."
Elnar stepped closer, unable to hide his confusion.
"What do you mean? Why are we launching an assault on EconPulse?"
The king approached the table, and everyone watched him carefully as he began:
"EconPulse is the very same gang known as the Numbers—the gang with bounties on their heads, the same ones stealing our Vitalis Crystal. They are the reason behind our economic collapse."
Elnar's expression froze in shock.
He never imagined that the company meant to drive the nation's economy… was the same force destroying it.
"Father, you must be joking. This company is essential to our economy—they manage our exports!"
The king replied firmly,
"I know, Elnar. And that is exactly why we must raid them.
We will not destroy the company—but we will crush those operating behind it."
A clear declaration of war—one that signaled a conflict not of economics alone, but of who truly held the power to rule an entire kingdom.
Elnar raised his head again, still trying to understand.
"Your Majesty… what proof do you have that this company is the gang?"
The king nodded.
"There is proof. About an hour and a half ago, the company was attacked. Do you know who carried out that attack?"
Elnar hesitated, unease creeping into his voice.
"Who was it?"
The king answered steadily:
"It was Ryo. He attacked the company to rescue Elithius."
Elnar's face twisted in pure shock, as if he had been struck.
"My younger brother? What is happening here? Father, explain this clearly."
King Orik inhaled deeply, then continued:
"Elithius has been targeted by the gang for some time. They kidnapped him while he was outside the capital with Ryo.
When Ryo went to retrieve him, he discovered that the gang's headquarters and EconPulse were the same place."
Elnar swallowed hard at the revelation.
"And where is my brother now? Is he here in the palace? Did Ryo bring him back?"
The king nodded.
"Yes. He brought him back… but Elithius is currently in the medical wing. He was unconscious when he arrived."
The moment Elnar heard this, he bolted out of the hall, sprinting toward the medical wing without looking back.
No one tried to stop him—not the king, nor any member of the entourage.
Though among those watching… someone observed him with a faint, knowing smile—
a smile that concealed far more than it showed.
When Elnar reached the medical wing, he began searching room after room.
Every room he entered was the wrong one—until he reached a room with some faint noise coming from inside.
Without thinking twice, he opened the door and called out desperately:
"Elithius! I found you—!"
But the people inside were not his brother.
Instead, he found two strangers eating bananas. They didn't look like palace staff—or even like citizens of the kingdom.
Elnar frowned.
"Who are you two? Are you new palace workers?"
One of them glanced at Elnar and said:
"Elithius, you've grown bigger. Did your intelligence grow too?"
The second one smacked him.
"You idiot, that's not the prince. Obviously, he's someone from the army. And that prince is still asleep."
Elnar ignored their chatter.
But then his eyes were drawn to a third bed in the room—someone lay there, fully covered.
He hurried over, lifted the blanket—
And found someone even stranger than the first two.
"Oh… what is this? Why is this person tied with rope and white tape?"
One of the two answered casually,
"That guy? We call him Mr. Mummy. Looks silly, but he's more dangerous than he seems. That's why we tied him up."
Elnar's frustration exploded.
"Enough! Who are you, and what are you doing here!?"
The other tried to calm him down.
"Relax, soldier. No need to yell. We're here because we're injured… and the bananas are healthy. Want one?"
Elnar took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Listen… I'm not a soldier. I am the prince of this kingdom—Prince Elnar.
I came looking for my brother. Now tell me where he is."
The two instantly froze.
"You're Prince Elithius's brother? Well… that explains the resemblance. Sorry about earlier. Please don't execute me."
"I won't. Just answer—who are you, and where is my brother?"
"Right. I'm Takeru, this is Haizen, and that guy is… well, you can call him Mr. Mummy like we do.
As for Prince Elithius? He's in the room right across from ours."
Elnar thanked them quickly and rushed out toward the opposite room.
Inside, he found his younger brother lying unconscious on the bed.
He approached him quietly.
Words failed him.
Though his body was still, Elnar's heart was burning.
He sat beside him and began to speak, even knowing Elithius couldn't hear him:
"You know, Elithius… sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if we were just an ordinary family.
Playing, fighting, then making up like nothing happened.
Not to escape responsibility… just to feel like a real family for once.
Ever since Mother died… I've been losing that feeling.
We drifted apart, ignoring each other—until we ended up here.
Whoever did this to you… I promise I will make them pay.
Ryo saved you from them… and I will destroy them for what they've done."
As he spoke, whispers drifted from behind the door:
"Heeey… did you hear that? He said Ryo saved the prince."
"That lizard took all the credit."
Elnar yelled instantly:
"You two—out! Stop eavesdropping!"
Takeru and Haizen stepped inside awkwardly.
Elnar gestured for them to return to their room.
"Please… leave me alone."
Takeru bowed apologetically.
"Sorry. We were just curious to see the brotherly moment."
But Haizen didn't move, replying:
"This is unfair! How can our part in saving the prince be ignored? Didn't that lizard mention us at all?"
Elnar stared at them, stunned.
"You two… saved Elithius?"
And at that moment, Elnar realized he needed the full truth.
"You two… what exactly are you?"