Chapter 579: Ron’s Performance

Editor: Tseirp

“Huh? Your Majesty?”

Even Ryo was startled when Emperor Tsuin suddenly appeared while he was reading in Chouonkaku.

After the Choouchi Empire’s envoy departed, Emperor Tsuin visited Chouonkaku.

Because he had heard that Duke Rondo—Ryo—was there.

The biggest reason was that there were various matters he wanted to communicate personally.

Normally, even within the palace, there would be prior notice if the Emperor were to visit.

That is, through the eunuchs, it would be announced that the Emperor was coming.

However, this time, without any of that, he appeared at Chouonkaku unannounced.

Ryo was not the only one surprised…

“Your Majesty!”

Ron Shen, the Workshop Chief, immediately stopped practicing the violin and bowed deeply.

The eunuch from Shouhoukan also came rushing in to bow, clearly unaware of the Emperor’s visit. (TLN: Shouhoukan – The organization with eunuchs that oversees Chouonkaku and other facilities in the imperial palace of Darwei)

“I heard Duke Rondo was here. I came to inform you that we have decided to return that prisoner of war… and then I heard the sound of a violin.”

Emperor Tsuin said this and looked directly at Ron.

“Was that you playing just now?”

“Yes… I was practicing under Albert-dono’s instruction.”

“I see. So, you finally have an instructor of similar build, as you had long hoped.”

Tsuin glanced between the bowing Ron and Abel, who was standing beside Ryo.

And then, with a small smile, proposed:

“Ron, could I hear your performance for a bit?”

“W-With pleasure!”

Ron nodded happily.

Thus began an impromptu recital by Workshop Chief Ron.

He played three pieces.

All of which were unknown to Ryo originally.

However, over the past few days, Ryo had heard them repeatedly during Ron’s practice and had memorized them…

None were technically demanding pieces.

Rather, they were slow, gentle tunes.

What stood out the most was Ron’s expression as he played.

He looked so genuinely happy, so thoroughly absorbed, so clearly enjoying himself.

He truly loved the pieces.

Truly loved the violin.

Truly loved music itself.

“His playing is on an entirely different level from before your instruction, Abel. It’s amazing how much he’s improved in just a few days.”

Ryo whispered to Abel, standing next to him.

“It’s because he spent weeks, even months, practicing constantly before I started instructing him. He kept at it daily without giving up, even when he saw no immediate results.”

Abel’s expression softened as he continued.

“He must have tried various approaches, thinking through what worked and what didn’t. That accumulation allowed my instruction to trigger his breakthrough.”

“A breakthrough…”

It was an expression often used for athletes.

A small trigger can suddenly make something impossible possible.

But that only happens because of the buildup of experience and thought.

It is never something that happens all of a sudden… without effort.

One continues to practice,

to think,

to challenge oneself—

and despite failing repeatedly,

Even if results don’t appear, one repeats the process again and again.

And one day, you simply break through.

“Well, honestly, his technique is still quite rough… but above all, the way he plays with such joy is wonderful.”

“Agreed! ”

Abel said with a laugh, and Ryo nodded.

It’s the same with anything.

Seeing someone do something with joy, with a smile, makes those watching feel good, too.

It makes them want to cheer them on for some reason.

Human emotions are strange that way.

As a calm time flowed by…

Ron’s performance came to an end.

“Splendid.”

Emperor Tsuin praised him with a warm smile.

“Thank you!”

Unable to place both hands together in a formal bow due to holding the violin, Ron bowed his head deeply instead.

His cheeks were flushed with joy,

and a sense of satisfaction was visible.

“You have practiced well. Workshop Chief Ron Shen, I grant you permission to perform on the Chouonkaku’s outdoor stage.”

“Huh…?”

Ron froze in shock at Tsuin’s words.

“Hm? Weren’t you told you could not perform on the outdoor stage before?”

“Yes, I was told so.”

“From now on, you may perform there.”

“Th-Thank you very much.”

Ron glanced briefly at the eunuch,

Who nodded happily.

At last, Ron’s performance was officially recognized.

Then Emperor Tsuin turned toward Ryo and Abel.

“Duke Rondo, Albert-dono, I thank you for instructing Ron.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. I am glad we could be of service.”

Ryo answered with a smile.

Everyone was smiling.

“Indeed, Ron is a craftsman. However, I firmly believe that even craftsmen can create better instruments if they themselves are skilled performers.”

“I agree completely.”

Ryo concurred with Tsuin’s words.

It is precisely because one is a skilled player that one can understand what is needed and what is critical.

Whether you acquire that understanding as data or through your own sensory experience…

Makes a big difference when feeding it back into production.

And when inspecting the final product… those who can play well will also be better judges, wouldn’t you agree?

“Your Majesty, it is nearly time for the Censorate to arrive.”

The one who whispered this to Emperor Tsuin was the shadow-like figure who was always at his side.

Ryo had previously learned from the eunuchs in the Shouhoukan that this was the Chief Eunuch.

The boss of all the eunuchs.

“Ah, yes. Duke Rondo, I came here today because I have a request.”

Prompted by the Chief Eunuch’s words, Tsuin seemed to recall the reason for his visit.

“About that general frozen in ice at your mansion—we have decided to return him to the envoys. The Censorate will handle the escort, but I would like you to unfreeze him.”

“Understood. I will return to the mansion immediately.”

Thus, General Yun, who had been held prisoner, was returned to the envoys staying at the Ryusen Residence.

The next day at the Ryusen Residence.

“What is the meaning of this!”

“Y-Yes…this is all the information we were able to extract from General Yun…”

“It’s completely insufficient.”

The man who shouted wore glasses and had long black hair tied in a single bundle.

His hands trembled with anger as he glared down at the report…

Anyone who had been at the Taiji Hall yesterday would have recognized him as one of the envoys who had accompanied Special Envoy Berke.

“What is wrong, Juran?”

It was Berke who entered the room and spoke.

“Y-Yes, Berke-sama. We have completed the analysis of the information extracted from General Yun… but we failed. I am terribly sorry.”

Juran said this as he handed over the report.

Berke skimmed it and furrowed his brows slightly.

“Hmm. Less than one-tenth of the information we had hoped for. And we were unable to obtain the most important magic formula for the ‘Starry Veil’.”

“My deepest apologies.”

Juran bowed in response to Berke’s words.

Sweat was pouring down his face.

He understood the gravity of this failure.

“It is fine. It is likely not your fault, Juran. The magic formula embedded in General Yun was written by me. It is possible there was a flaw in it.”

“Impossible! There could be no error in something created by Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”

“Even I make mistakes. Well, many matters concern me… perhaps I should ask him directly. Summon General Yun.”

Two minutes later, General Yun entered the room and knelt before Berke.

“Seven Star General Yun Chen, reporting as summoned, Your Highness.”

“Ah, General Yun… on this visit, I am here as a special envoy. Not as Crown Prince Berke. Here, it is fine, but near the Darwei people, refer to me as Special Envoy.”

“Understood.”

“Given how Darwei operates, they likely have no real grasp of our country’s information anyway.”

Berke laughed heartily.

Then, after collecting himself, he questioned Yun.

“General Yun, we analyzed the information you gathered, but it was far less than expected.”

“What…?”

General Yun’s face fell in shock at Berke’s words.

And it was only natural.

This mission was literally a life-risking infiltration.

The plan was to attack the palace, forcing Darwei to recognize their country as a challenger.

General Yun would rampage within Darwei, get captured by the Darwei army, and be imprisoned in the high-security prison of the Censorate next to the palace.

While imprisoned there, the magic formula inscribed within Yun would activate, gathering information about the alchemical defenses known as the ‘Starry Veil’ that protected the palace.

Because the ‘Starry Veil’ covered the Censorate, it should have been possible to gather sufficient information from within the prison…

Then, while the special envoy conducted negotiations, Yun’s body would be retrieved, and the information extracted.

That was the plan.

And yet, it had failed?

“Indeed… the place I was held was not the high-security prison.”

“Oh? Then where was it?”

“I do not know where it was. After I was captured on that plain, I was only conscious for the two days of interrogation. During that time, I was kept in the garden of a mansion. However, as I could hear music constantly during the interrogations, I believe it was a mansion within the palace grounds.”

“Hmm.”

Berke tilted his head slightly.

Understanding that the lack of information made it impossible to reach any meaningful conclusions.

“General Yun, do you remember how you were captured? While capture was part of the mission… it was also your duty to assassinate any royal who appeared on the battlefield, correct?”

“Yes. I was stopped by a powerful water-attribute magician. While in captivity, I was apparently frozen in ice. During interrogation, only my head was free…”

“A water-attribute magician, huh? Among the Darwei, the only water-attribute magician of such power would be Sir Rowon of the Six Saints. To think he would still appear on the battlefield even past seventy…”

Berke nodded repeatedly as he spoke.

“Most likely. However, when he stood before me, he appeared more like a young boy.”

“Hmph, for a magician of that level, appearance is easily manipulated.”

Berke laughed.

Juran, who had been listening silently, asked Berke.

“What shall we do?”

But it was General Yun, not Berke, who answered.

“Your Highness, please remove my eyeballs.”

“Hm? Ah, yes, the magic formula was inscribed within your eyes. You wish me to extract it?”

“Yes. Please remove them and bring them to the negotiation table. The negotiations will likely take place within the palace, so information can still be gathered.”

It was a harsh and severe proposal.

Berke gave a small smile and answered.

“I deeply appreciate your loyalty, General Yun. However, keep your eyes as they are.”

“But…”

“You can simply accompany me to the negotiations yourself.”

“Eh…?”

Both General Yun and Juran were left speechless at Berke’s words.

Juran was the first to find his voice.

“But General Yun has already been captured by Darwei once. Bringing him to the negotiation table may harden Darwei’s stance, may it not?”

“It matters not, does it? After all, I have no intention of making these negotiations succeed.”

With that, Berke laughed.

It was no longer a warm, gentle smile… but a sinister, ominous laughter.

“After all, Darwei will be destroyed eventually anyway.”

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