The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 42: The Imperial Seal

Hearing the masked man’s respectful declaration, Maxwell raised his brows, and his blue gaze, although less intense, was still fixed on the leader who’d introduced himself as Gelru.

Maxwell tilted his head.

’The Emperor?’

The young man’s brows furrowed, and his expression seemed as though he was contemplating something.

’Is this because I cleared the red valley?’ He mused. ’Most probably is, because I’m almost completely certain that Kelmont and I never crossed paths in my past life.’

But still...

Maxwell blinked, the intensity completely dissolving from his gaze now.

Gelru breathed out a sigh of relief.

"First," Maxwell uttered, "you will raise your heads. Do not bow to me. I am not your leader."

Gelru blinked, sweat forming at the edges of his forehead.

When had he even bowed? He didn’t notice it, it just seemed... natural, like he was in front of a presence deserving of such a gesture... a presence heavier than even the Emperor, the man whom he respected the most.

Frantically, Gelru raised his head, clearing his throat. And the smile under his mask widened as his words took on a tentative, sheepish tone:

"Pardon me, Sir–"

"You will tell your subordinates to do the same," Maxwell declared bluntly, eyes still fixed on Gelru’s bowing subordinates, clad in black, unrevealing robes.

Gelru’s brows furrowed under his mask as he turned his neck. And his eyes widened, seeing the sight of his bowed colleagues.

"Raise your heads, are you all deaf?" He whispered. Maxwell didn’t know if the man thought he’d be unable to hear his whispering; they were just a few widths apart, after all.

The men all raised their heads, masked faces focusing on Maxwell.

Gelru turned to gaze at the blue-haired man, who had a small, calm smile on his lips now.

Gelru blinked. The young mage looked a lot less intimidating now. It felt like the pressure that had weighed on him a few seconds ago had suddenly vanished completely.

The masked leader was about to speak again, lips parting.

"Sir," Maxwell said. "That word, ’sir,’ don’t call me that anymore. I am not a man in a high or exalted position. I am not a lord nor am I a noble."

Gelru, with a shaky countenance, nodded once.

"Yes, si– Yes."

Maxwell nodded, satisfied.

"Good. Call me Maxwell."

"Then," Gelru began, gesturing with one hand as his words flowed, "is there any way we could move to a more—" He gazed around at the streets. Scanty, it was, but people still moved about, "–Secluded area?"

At this point, Maxwell crossed his arms.

"And why should I do that? Why should I follow you all to a secluded area?"

Just before Gelru could respond, Maxwell continued:

"You know, I’m having trouble believing that you’re a representative of the Emperor. Why would the Emperor’s representatives stalk me and follow me down an almost lonely road on my way home from work? Why would the Emperor need to send a stealthy group? How sure am I that you aren’t a bunch of thieves or assassins?"

Gelru only smiled, nodding. He understood Maxwell’s contemplations. And to be fair, it was completely his fault. He should’ve just been direct in the beginning. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Still, he reached for the inner pocket of his robe, prompting a subtle facial reaction from Maxwell.

The masked leader brought something out of his pocket.

Maxwell looked quite taken aback. He even had to blink a couple of times just to confirm what he was seeing.

Finally, Max closed his eyes and let out a resigned exhale.

Gelru was holding an official imperial seal. One that identified that the holder had imperial authority. It was a seal that could only be given by the Emperor himself.

"Apologies, Maxwell," Gelru said, returning the seal from whence it came, "But His Grace preferred this mission to be a covert one, thus the reason he sent me and my group, the best there is in stealth in the Empire. He didn’t want the Cardinal authorities to march to Ludia on an imperial order, lest their flashiness risk attracting the attention of every citizen. And it’d taken them much more time to get here from the capital. It only took us a week."

Maxwell opened his eyes and placed his hands in his pockets, listening to Gelru.

"And once we located you, we decided to follow behind you to your house, a more secluded location to discuss, but... who would’ve thought your senses could pierce our stealth so easily."

What a load of bullshit.

Maxwell turned, his back greeting Gelru and his accomplices.

And he began to walk.

Gelru stood there, frozen. Stunned. Shocked. If it weren’t for the mask covering his face, saliva would’ve dripped down from his agape mouth.

The man just left?

"Maxwell?"

Maxwell paused.

"Why are you standing there?"

Gelru blinked.

"You came on behalf of the Emperor, right? You say you seek an audience with me, and thus the reason you and your bunch had been walking behind me stealthily, right?"

"Yes, Maxwell."

Maxwell shrugged.

"Then keep following behind me, I’m heading to my home," Maxwell continued walking. "Let me hear the reason why the Emperor sent his most capable spies to meet me."

Gelru gulped, breathing out. How did Maxwell know that he and his group were part of the Imperial intel organization?

No, did Maxwell even know that they were spies? It only seemed like he did. He called them spies, after all.

And technically, that was what Gelru and his group were. But what pricked him wrong was the fact that he hadn’t introduced himself as the captain of the Intel org to Maxwell. So how did the man possibly know that he was a spy?

After some quiet consideration, Gelru shrugged it off, judging that anyone might’ve deduced as much, seeing the fact that they’d used the Windcloak spell.

The masked leader shrugged, gesturing at the four masked men behind him to follow Maxwell as they began walking.

Max let out a slow exhale as he walked back home with five Imperial sent spies following behind him.

He fixed his gaze upward, staring at the now setting sun.

’I wonder what Eithan and Vin are doing at my house.’