After leaving the Crown Prince's room, Claude stops the General and the Director of Magic.

''If you don't mind, let's have a little chat.

　They rolled their eyes, but they didn't think to refuse Yagami Akira's (Levatain) invitation, but they readily agreed.

''How about you guys if you don't mind?''

　Claude questioned the three members of the same Yagami Akira.
　Manuel silently shrugged his shoulders and left, leaving Val and Meena alone.

'Then you might want to come to my room.

　It was Reichenbach.
　As a sorcerer in the palace service, he had been given his own private room in the castle.
　Others would be provided with a private room if they asked for one, but no one has asked for one.
　Reichenbach's private room was large enough to remind one of a nobleman's room, but more than eighty percent of it was filled with bookshelves, research instruments and materials, and there was very little space for animals to walk in.

'A typical sorcerer's room, I suppose.

　Val evaluates him and Meena softly ears him.

'No, I thought you were still in moderation for a sorcerer.

　He chuckled at this answer.
　It was the kind of thing that had to be done.
　When they sat down on the red sofa, which was about to be used for guests, two 15 or 6 year old boys in white robes, apparently disciples of Reichenbach, brought tea to the luxurious guests.
　Both of them were stiff with tension, but it was inevitable.
　When the apprentices had withdrawn, the owner of the room spoke to Claude.

'So what can I do for you?'

'Frankly, I did not expect you to support His Highness Adrienne. If you don't mind me asking why, I'd like to know why.

　Claude's expression and tone of voice were calm, but his yellow eyes were sharp.

''What, is that so? Prince Rüdiger had no understanding of our research. We find it extremely unbearable for someone who cannot distinguish between seeking the abyss of magic and magical tools and the wastefulness of the nobles to become the emperor. Fortunately, His Highness Adrienne was a man of understanding. That's all.

　The old sorcerer replies, wrinkling his face with a wry smile.

'I see,'

　It was Meena who said that.
　Apparently, she could sympathize with the fact that the decision was based on whether or not there was understanding for them.

''Prince Rüdiger may have a good reason for not being chosen, but he and those around him don't understand it. Wouldn't it be a disaster if left unchecked?

　She showered more words on Reichenbach, Claude and Weinberger.

'I'm aware of that,'

　It was General Weinberger who responded.

But if we deal with Prince Rüdiger now, it will worry the other princes and princesses, who may be united for fear of being killed. The fear of being murdered may cause them to unite and revolt. That is the concern of your Majesty.

'Neither Your Majesty nor His Highness Adrienne likes to lay a hand on flesh and blood.

　Claude, following the general, says

'If you obey, we'll give you the position you deserve. But if that's not enough to convince them to rebel, they will not be tolerated. If they obeyed, they wouldn't be killed, or at least the status quo would be maintained, the other members of the royal family and their cronies wouldn't be willing to disobey for nothing.

　Meena's twin emerald eyes glowed with conviction as Val expressed her personal views.

'I just wanted to make the fact that it's okay if you obey, and if you don't condone it when it comes down to it, then you have no objection to me.

　When she was satisfied, Claude asked the general.

'I don't think I need to ask you about Lord Weinberger's support for His Highness Adrienne.

'You're right. I don't want a fool who thinks that the death of our people is just another thing to sit on the throne of this country.

　Weinberger is martial and unapologetic in his content without any decorations or reservations.
　It's not like a nobleman to say it, but he doesn't deserve to be surprised now, since his background itself is not like a nobleman to begin with.
　He asks Claude further.

''Lord Claude, you didn't call on this member just to talk about this, did you?

Of course. I'm going to talk about the people who are behind the scenes in our country these days.

　Claude replied, and turned the conversation over to Val.

'You saw it too, Bartolomeus, didn't you?

Yeah. You transitioned fifty trolls, the black robes. He noticed my name and Meena's name and died as soon as he was doomed. Meena says it was a discarded piece of spell casting.

　Reichenbach makes a reluctant face as he replies.

'I'd hate to think that someone who can summon fifty ...... trolls and have them transferred to a transition is a discarded piece.

'I'm good at magic, but how difficult is it?　How many of our nation's proudest court wizards can do the same?

　Claude then asks the old Director of Magic.

'I can do it. I'm sure there are five or six others who could do it, but that's about it.

　He, Val and Weinberger frown at Reichenbach's answer.
　Less than expected is the thought they share.

'What if it was a being specialized in transference magic, or a being specialized in summoning magic?

　Val mentions his doubts.

'...... not roughly decent. Any decent sorcerer would have mastered more than just summoning and transference magic.

　Meena, not him, responded to Reichenbach's answer.

'Can we expect what you call decency from those who cast a spell on fellow members of the same organization and discard them?

　Her words pierced the old Director of Magic with painful sarcasm.

'Meena, you're out of line.'

Excuse me.

　As Val chastised her, she apologized to the Director of Magic.
　Reichenbach knows that this is not a sincere apology, but accepting it and letting it go by the wayside is a mature response.

''It would be a different story if you were raised to specialize only in summoning and shifting magic. Any court magician in our country would be able to do it. In terms of adventurer rank, it should be down to the equivalent of the fifth level.

　Claude nodded at Reichenbach's question.

''That seems highly probable. I don't think we have the strength to discard one of the five court wizards in our country as a discarded pawn.''

The possibility that our forces are strong but our commanders are just plain stupid is undeniable. But if that's the case, I have a feeling we can do better than that.

　Weinberger also reacted in the affirmative.

'Isn't it simply that Her Majesty's reading is correct?

　Val offered a cautious opinion.

'Like the ogre herd, I wonder how much damage the fifty trolls would have done if we hadn't been there. I don't even want to imagine it.

I can see that. His Highness Adrienne is a brilliant man. However, he will not yet be able to match His Majesty. If only we could get to the enemy's stronghold and identity before there is a change of throne: ......

　Claude muddled the end of his words with a wishful thinking.

'Unless the enemy is very stupid, they'll learn their lesson and do nothing for a while. In the meantime, we should proceed with a review of our defensive forces.

　They all nodded at Weinberger's idea.
　The clues are too few and they are currently limited in what they can do.

''Bartholomeus and Wilhemina should keep that in mind as well.

　Val was quick to respond to Claude's words, and Meena shook her head a moment too late.