Chapter 299: Search Warrant
While I was bewildered by this unexpected situation, Airhart switched his expression and turned back to us.
“Now then… I have already heard the talk, but it seems there is a suspicion that my Royal Family is concealing private assets…”
“That is correct.”
Answering so, Panamera stepped forward.
“We have information that the Yelenetta Royal Family possesses private assets without reporting them, and this information is reliable. Hence, we have resorted to such hardline measures.”
“…Well now, all castles and mansions owned by my Royal Family should have been investigated, but do you intend to investigate a mansion in another city?”
Airhart answered Panamera’s words looking puzzled. As if he couldn’t believe he was being suspected in the first place. It looked natural and didn’t seem like acting.
However, our trust in our information source wouldn’t waver at that level. If Prince Freightliner’s frightened state was a lie, it was a performance worthy of a Best Actor Award.
It seemed Panamera shared the same opinion; she looked straight back into Airhart’s eyes and answered.
“No, there is no need to go that far. King Airhart Asbach Yelenetta… What we are going to investigate is the underground of the Cathedral located in this Royal Capital.”
When Panamera announced that with a smile, Airhart’s cheek definitely twitched. It was a slight change, but there was no mistake that it was clearly an unfavorable reply for him. And, since many nobles were also present, some of them let out voices of surprise.
“I-Impossible…!”
“Why [do they know] that place…”
Panamera isn’t naive enough to miss such voices.
“Oh? I thought it was the Royal Family’s hidden assets, but was it wealth concealed with the involvement of those other than royalty as well?”
When Panamera muttered with interest, silence immediately returned to the hall. In the space that had become dead silent, Panamera snorted and shook her head.
“Now then, have one person chosen to accompany us. Someone who can guide us inside would be good; who will accompany us?”
Asked by Panamera, Airhart sighed deeply and pulled his chin back.
“…My son, Cosworth, shall accompany you.”
When Airhart announced that, a large man revealed himself from the back. He wasn’t particularly tall, but he had broad shoulders and a sturdy build. Seeing the bulging muscles visible even over his clothes, I almost instinctively apologized for not working out myself.
And there was one more most distinctive part of his appearance. A white cloth covering half his face.
“Your Highness Cosworth. Well, well… Should I say it has been since we met on the battlefield?”
When Panamera asked, Cosworth brushed up his dark green hair and made a bitter face. Then, he glared at me along with Panamera with his single visible eye.
“…I am Cosworth Yelenetta. I will guide you.”
Cosworth walked alone in front, and we followed behind him with Panamera. Behind us, Dee, Macan, and the members of the Chivalric Order formed a line, so I wasn’t scared.
Cosworth is walking with his shoulders squared aggressively, but I’m not scared at all, you know.
Advancing for a while with such thoughts, we arrived at a large round building located about halfway between the Royal Castle and the northern castle gate.
It was a strange building where three shapes, like ellipses cut in half and stood up, were overlapping. Is this the church?
“This way. It gets narrow inside. I want you to limit the entry to ten people.”
When Cosworth said that, Panamera immediately narrowed down the personnel. Of course, that included me, Dee, and even Khamsin. The rest were Panamera’s subordinates.
Opening the wide double doors at the front and entering, simple long benches were lined up in the dim room. And at the far end stood a man in a white robe who looked like a priest.
“Oh, my, my…”
The man looked at Cosworth with a gentle smile.
“…Bishop. The door to the underground.”
When Cosworth said that, the man called Bishop wiped the smile from his face in an instant and turned his gaze toward us.
“…Understood.”
While feeling slightly terrified that the atmosphere had changed completely from just a moment ago, I psyched myself up and endured without averting my eyes. Then, the Bishop furrowed his brows slightly and exhaled a thin breath.
“Well then, everyone, please do not move…”
Saying that, the Bishop moved toward the wall. When Cosworth took a step back, we stepped back to match him. Watching to see what would happen, the Bishop operated something on the wall. Immediately after, the sound of something moving was heard from the other side of the wall.
Then, a part of the floor where the long benches rested disappeared with a noise. It was dim and hard to see, but it seemed the floor had lowered beneath the ground.
“Everyone, please watch your step.”
When the Bishop said that, Cosworth raised one hand and stepped forward.
“…Then, I shall go first.”
