The Bard’s Visit and a City’s Secret

A new day dawned.Having delivered Hecate’s breakfast, Iordera turned to find Sir Olcott, intending to present him with a gift.

Although it was merely a small pencil, Iordera had meticulously prepared a gift box for it, recalling the old adage: ‘It’s the thought that counts.’

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Sir Olcott adjusted his attire, and as he looked up, he saw a white-haired loli (TL Note: A Japanese loanword referring to a young, innocent-looking girl, often used in a cute or endearing context) standing at the doorway.

“Why, it’s you?”

“Ah, well, I…”

“Never mind, it doesn’t matter. Come in,” Sir Olcott beckoned her, “and find a place to sit.”

Iordera was puzzled, yet she decided to obey for now and observe the situation.

No sooner had her small bottom settled onto the somewhat high chair than another knock sounded at the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Sir Olcott adjusted his collar for the second time: “Enter.”

A corpulent man, richly dressed and wearing a fawning smile, entered, “Lord Olcott, it is an honor to see you.”

Sir Olcott was taken aback once more. “Poli, why is it you?”

Iordera subtly lifted her gaze.

‘Where had she heard that name before?’ ‘Ah, yes,’ ‘the last time she was at the library, reading the city’s essential textbook, *The Last Battle of the Sword-Picker*, the author had been named Poli.’

Poli chuckled as he stepped further into the room, his peripheral vision catching sight of the pretty loli (TL Note: A Japanese loanword referring to a young, innocent-looking girl, often used in a cute or endearing context) beside him, and his eyes betrayed a flicker of admiration… and something peculiar.

He quickly averted his gaze, approached Sir Olcott, and produced a glittering golden box from his sleeve. “Lord Olcott, please forgive my unannounced visit. This small token is merely a humble gesture, which I hope you will accept.”

Sir Olcott’s brow furrowed. “What is the meaning of this?”

“It means nothing,” Poli said, his eyes crinkling with his smile. “Just a small token of my esteem (TL Note: A phrase used in Chinese when presenting a gift, implying it’s a small gesture without deeper meaning, often a polite formality).”

“Take it back; I don’t want your things.”

“Oh, Lord Olcott, it’s truly just a small gesture.”

The two men exchanged several rounds of polite refusal and insistence, which Iordera found remarkably insightful.

‘Well, now,’ ‘it seems even in other worlds, gift-giving involves such intricate rituals.’

Finally, Sir Olcott’s patience wore thin, and he spoke plainly: “Poli, I will not grant you an interview, nor should you seek me out again. I shall be departing from Junefort before long.”

Poli paused, stunned. “Lord Olcott, this…”

“Furthermore, do not presume to fabricate a story yourself. Though I am but one man, I represent the honor of the Royal Knights,” Sir Olcott declared coldly. “Take your belongings and leave.”

“Very well,” Poli said, reluctantly retrieving the golden box. “Lord Olcott, should you change your mind, I am always at your service.”

Sir Olcott ignored him, and Poli, left with no choice, quietly turned and departed.

****

Iordera spoke up. “Is he Poli, Junefort’s most renowned bard?”

“Indeed.”

Iordera pursed her small lips, feeling a touch of disillusionment.

In her imagination, a true bard ought to be a graceful young woman, delicate as a willow swaying in the breeze, holding a zither, and possessing the fragile beauty of Xi Shi (TL Note: One of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China, often depicted as having a delicate, sickly charm).

The reality, however, was a corpulent man adorned with jewels.

“He wishes to write a biography about me, to sell it for profit and achieve a second peak in his career,” Sir Olcott said with disdain. “A grand delusion, indeed.”

Iordera blinked beside him. “Then why did you ask me to sit here?”

“Others are coming to see me about a matter of some importance, but I have pledged not to interfere in any affairs of Junefort,” Sir Olcott explained. “I wanted you present to listen and serve as a witness.”

Iordera stood up, patting her clothes. “Then I can just listen from behind the screen, can’t I? There’s no need for me to sit here.”

‘Poli’s gaze earlier had been quite odd,’ ‘as if he had misunderstood something.’ ‘Sir Olcott was a good employer,’ ‘and Iordera did not wish for him to be plagued by rumors of being a “Child-Lover Knight” (TL Note: A derogatory term referring to someone who has an inappropriate interest in minors) because of her presence.’

“Very well,” Sir Olcott agreed, adding casually, “The person seeking me is the wealthiest individual in this city.”

‘The wealthiest… could it be one of Junefort’s two great families, who occupy the VIP seats in the plaza?’

Iordera moved her stool behind the screen, settling down quietly. After a moment, the door was knocked upon once more.

Sir Olcott adjusted his collar for the third time. “Enter.”

This time, at last, the correct person had arrived, and even the Black Knight, Lord Olcott, couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Seated behind the screen, Iordera could see nothing, hearing only footsteps and the scrape of a chair being pulled out.

‘She did, however, notice a book lying on the desk nearby: *Ten Years of Exams, A Hundred Years of Mock Tests: Your Easy Path to the United Academy*.’

‘Good heavens,’ ‘he had claimed he was merely browsing it at the library,’ ‘yet now he had purchased it outright.’

Meanwhile, the host and guest had already begun their conversation.

“What is the meaning of this?”

‘Sir Olcott’s voice, and the content of his words, sounded eerily familiar,’ ‘identical to when Poli had presented his gift.’

“Just a small token…”

“Spare me these formalities; you know my identity,” Sir Olcott stated directly. “Speak your mind plainly.”

“…Very well.”

The newcomer’s voice was not youthful, indeed, it carried a hint of age.

“Half a year ago, troublemakers suddenly proliferated within the city, and at that time, the city’s defenses were unprecedentedly depleted, with many having departed. Even the mages employed by our two families left, claiming they were joining the Mage Association for external academic exchanges, though that was clearly nothing more than a pretense.”

“Moreover, the Alchemist Guild within the city ceased all operations, and all alchemists were dismissed by the Lord. The reason the Lord provided was that a witch was imprisoned in the city, and all alchemists were her adherents.”

The representative from the two great families paused for a moment, then continued: “Now, the Lord claims he has a plan and demands a substantial sum from us for resources, yet we remain only vaguely aware of the plan’s details. What’s worse, public opinion in the city has turned heavily against us.”

“Is that not perfectly normal?” Sir Olcott remarked. “You’ve profited handsomely; are people not allowed to voice a few complaints?”

The other party was left speechless.

Sir Olcott continued, “If you are questioning the veracity of these claims, I can only tell you one thing: the witch is indeed imprisoned here.”

“Of course, this is no secret, at least not to those of your standing. Many among Junefort’s upper echelons are aware of this, otherwise the Mage Association would not have slipped away overnight.”

Sir Olcott chuckled. “Many of them used to side with the witch. Had they remained in the city, they would undoubtedly have faced targeting and persecution. Their instincts are quite sharp.”

“But I still feel something is amiss. The Lord’s plan is set to succeed in a week,” the newcomer said bitterly. “If there truly is a problem, by then it will be too late.”

Sir Olcott scoffed lightly. “Since you’re so concerned about a problem, why didn’t you simply refuse back then? Without your funds, it wouldn’t be easy for him to do anything, would it?”

“We had no choice; we couldn’t hold out,” the newcomer replied with a wry smile. “Most of the city’s public transportation facilities and commercial street properties are ours. Now, with transportation paralyzed and the commercial district largely deserted, our family assets are shrinking daily. We truly had no other option.”