Chapter 28

Interlude: The Darkness Begins to Stir
With the conclusion of the Kingdom’s Parliament, new developments had begun to unfold regarding Justin’s fate.

Within the Knights Order, a strong opinion had emerged that no further investigation was necessary. Without a doubt, this stance reflected the firm influence of Knight Commander Solard.

“What’s going on here…?”

Vice-Commander Bellows let out a sigh as he tilted his head, staring at the report compiled by Gary and Miracca, who had conducted an independent investigation into Justin’s alleged misconduct.

The investigation’s conclusion stated: “No physical evidence was found to prove Justin’s innocence.”

In other words, at this stage, Justin’s name could not be cleared. However, the two who had conducted the investigation were deeply dissatisfied with this outcome.

“I apologize… We did everything we could, but we were repeatedly denied permission to access relevant documents…”

“Even using my name didn’t work… which means Solard, the Knight Commander, is definitely pulling the strings.”

The only person with higher authority than the Vice-Commander was the Knight Commander himself. The real mystery was why Knight Commander Solard was trying to bury the truth of the incident.

“What is his goal…?”

It was Miracca who voiced this uneasy question to Bellows.

Miracca had been involved in this case to clear the name of her fellow knight and friend, Justin. However, she couldn’t help but wonder—had others in the past been unjustly expelled from the Order in a similar manner? And if so, would she one day suffer the same fate?

Perhaps sensing Miracca’s growing unease, Bellows addressed the matter directly as he shared his own thoughts.

“The Knights Order has always suffered from a shortage of personnel. It’s not a job just anyone can do, and there’s always the risk of losing one’s life. In reality, the number of aspiring knights has been decreasing year by year…. That’s exactly why it makes no sense to drive out a promising knight like Justin in such a sloppy manner.”

A certain atmosphere had begun to permeate the kingdom—one that suggested, “Do not get involved in this matter any further.” Someone was applying pressure behind the scenes, and the topic itself had begun to fade from public discussion.

As efforts to let the case quietly disappear became increasingly evident, Bellows and a small faction of knights refused to accept such an outcome. They sought undeniable proof—evidence so compelling that no one could refute it.

However, those orchestrating the cover-up were not careless enough to leave any vulnerabilities behind. No matter where they searched, nothing turned up.

—That said, there was one knight who aroused their suspicions.

“Vice-Commander Bellows… I strongly suspect that Hank is deeply involved in this incident.”

It was Gary who spoke up.

“That guy has always treated Justin as a personal enemy. Especially—”

“Especially after Elina was assigned to Justin’s squad, correct?”

Bellows had already sensed as much. Within the Order, many knights, disregarding merit, praised Elina to win favor with her influential father. Some even went so far as to pursue her as a potential wife. Among them, Hank’s behavior stood out as particularly notorious.

Elina never openly criticized Hank, as she did not wish to disturb the Order’s discipline. However, even from an outsider’s perspective, his advances had been persistently unwelcome. Bellows could only imagine how irritating it must have been for her.

“I haven’t seen his behavior toward Elina firsthand, so I can’t say for certain… but from what I’ve heard, he was quite persistent.”

“She never paid him any mind—rather, I believe she never considered him worth her attention at all.”

Miracca bluntly cut to the heart of the matter.

Her words reflected Elina’s honest and impartial opinion of Hank.

“Still, given his family’s wealth and influence… I imagine he’ll keep trying various approaches.”

“That’s why I placed her under Justin’s command. I knew he wouldn’t judge her based on favoritism, and above all, I knew it would be a healthy environment.”

““Ahh…””

Both Gary and Miracca immediately understood.

Justin had ambition, but he despised corruption. It was inconceivable that he would ever engage in dishonest conduct. Those who believed in his innocence did so precisely because they knew his character.

At the same time, they couldn’t help but sympathize with Elina. It was obvious to anyone watching—she clearly harbored feelings for Justin beyond that of a mere subordinate. Yet within the Order, Justin himself was the only one oblivious to it.

“I will keep an eye on Knight Commander Solard’s movements. Gary, I want you to investigate Hank with the help of others. He is the weaker link, and there’s a high probability we’ll uncover something incriminating. We need to chip away at their fortress before the second Assembly.”

“Understood.”

“Uh, Vice-Commander Bellows, what about me?”

“I have a different task for you, Miracca. Head to the Abbott region and inform Justin of everything that has transpired. Depending on the situation, we may need his testimony.”

“Understood.”

And so, the members of the “Justin Reinstatement Committee” each set their plans into motion, advancing to the next stage.

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