If you ask, Ferus Manus will tell you bluntly – for him, thinking, is now a painful and torturous punishment.

Especially when Roger Dorn and Fogham are talking non-stop.

"They shut you out?!"

The Chemus's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can they do that?!"

"Considering that they never do anything superfluous, I think it was a father's order." Roger Dorn replied with a blank face.

"Father just doesn't explain some things at most, when did he lock us all out and never even see each other?!"

Fogrem jerked his head. "Ferus!"

“...... Well. ”

"Smash the hell open the door! If it's really my father who doesn't want to see us, he should also say it himself, instead of letting his own guards do it for him! ”

“...... Maybe we should wait. ”

Ferus Manus looked away so that he didn't have to look at Vogrim or see his expression at the moment.

The Iron Hand spoke with sincerity and sincerity in a very different and calm manner than before: "As Rogge said, the Praetorian Army only obeys his father's orders, so ...... We'd better wait. ”

"Conrad has gone down!"

Fogrem frowned with implicit anger. "We don't know what the forbidden army is going to do now, they don't say it, and my father doesn't say it...... Await? Do you really have to wait until things turn out for the worst before making a decision? ”

"Father won't let what you imagine will happen, Fogen." Roger Dorn shook his head calmly.

"But ......"

"Wait." Roger Dorn whispered. "Be patient and keep waiting for ......"

"No need."

The door to the study opened, and the giant in gold armor walked out slowly. He walked slowly with his hands behind his back, and the laurel wreath fit lightly against his skin.

"Father!" Fogrem almost shouted. "What the hell is going on?!"

The emperor glanced at him, but did not rush to speak. Just let his other two sons give their opinions.

"Father."

Roger Dorn didn't speak, just bowed his head in greeting, showing his respect—and he didn't say anything else. Fogrem gave him an annoyed look, as if he didn't understand why Dorne was so submissive.

As for Ferus......

The Iron Hand sighed slightly.

"Father, Conrad ......"

"I know." The Emperor nodded calmly. "Let him go, it's fine."

"But what did you send your guards down for?"

Fogrem asked restlessly. "Is it to help Karil Lohals clean up that nest? But he obviously refused our offer of help. ”

"Nope."

The Emperor shook his head calmly.

He was taller than his sons, and he looked down on them all—but in this moment, Roger Dorn saw a very strong sadness in the eyes of their omnipotent father.

"Not to help him clean up the nest...... It's to help him. ”

He pauses, then repeats. "He needs help, otherwise, I will never interfere."

"But you've interfered." Ferus frowned. "How should the rest end? Also, your guard said you were just in the study...... Combat. ”

"I do."

The emperor bowed slightly. "But this is not a war that you can see, and it should not be seen by you......"

"Aren't you going to explain that to us?" Fogrem asked. "We've been standing outside your study for so long."

"I've explained enough."

The emperor closed his eyes, and in an instant, a slight exhaustion flashed. Dorn frowned, his expression serious, but still didn't speak.

"But—"

"—Fogham."

The emperor looked at his beloved son, and for the first time there was a slight fluctuation in his expression, but the meaning was extremely complicated, even so complicated that it was completely incomprehensible.

“...... Father? The Chemus looked up blankly.

"Don't ask about it. Don't investigate it, don't collect the bits and pieces, don't try to piece together the truth. You shouldn't know about it, no one should know about it. ”

He paused for a moment again, and Roger Dorn saw him gasping for breath, while the other two simply took it as a deliberate pause to deepen the majesty of the sentence.

Dorne pursed his lips.

"Forget about it." The emperor said in a commanding tone. "Understood?"

Ferus nodded after a moment of silence, he didn't know why, but he would comply. The same is true of Fogham, but he seems somewhat unwilling.

As for Roger Dorne......

He was silent and didn't say a word. While his brothers were immersed in their father's words, only he and their father made eye contact.

Dot's face flashed with hesitation as he stared into those eyes.

And the emperor ......

He just shook his head gently.

Needless to say, Rogge. You know the need for silence......

He turned and re-entered the study, the door slamming shut.

-----------------

Carlil woke up in a jolt as he felt a rising gravitational pull tugging at the wound, and the pain ensued, forcing him to open his eyes.

- Where am I?

Less than a second after the question was born, a familiar, pale face appeared in front of him.

"Ah, ghosts. Good evening"

Carlil smiled and nodded, having already obtained the answer. He hissed in greeting.

"Good evening."

Midnight Wraith nodded dryly, trying to keep his face expressionless, but Carlil could see the emotions he had hidden in the details.

He's always been like this, he's always been okay.

"I'm fine." He whispered. "It's just a minor wound—what about the spear?"

“...... It's been returned to the Forbidden Army. The ghost replied in a low voice. They have already left. ”

"That's ......"

Carlil turned his head and glanced inside the cabin.

Sheet metal, seats, seat belts...... and clouds passing at high speed outside the porthole. The sight was familiar and unfamiliar and he was almost in a trance for a moment, but in the next second, Carlil pressed it down.

"I saw you in a vision." The ghost turned his head and said in his softest voice.

"Really?"

What else could Carlil say? He wasn't surprised.

"You ......" the ghost took a deep breath. You're out of control, aren't you? ”

"Yes." Carlil admitted.

"How so?" The ghost asked.

"Because...... I was negligent. I have an arrogance that I have to carry everything on my shoulders. ”

Carlil said thoughtfully, and then laughed. "And I didn't realize I was so arrogant and funny."

"Arrogance?"

"yes, arrogance...... In other words, it is a sense of responsibility that 'I have to be'. Something must be wrong with my psyche, Ghost, that's not good. ”

"Questions? What's the problem? The ghost asked, and at some point he twisted his head back, staring into Carlil's eyes without blinking.

"Why, you ask this, do you want to help me solve it?" Carlil winked at him and chuckled softly.

“...... Yes. The ghost replied dullly. I want to help you. ”

Carlil sighed - he could already see his growth from the ghost's reaction.

It was only a few days before there was such progress...... But he was still so vulnerable when it came to him.

That's not good, Spirit. Carlil's eyes narrowed.

"You can't help me." He replied calmly.

The ghost pursed his lips, but didn't rush to retort, instead waiting for Carlil's next word. He knew that Carlil would explain.

Sure enough, a moment later, Carlil spoke softly.

"There's a hole in everyone's heart, a ghost."

"Some people choose to fill it with the ashes of the deceased, and some people choose to fill it with alcohol or indulgence. And most people just ignore its existence. As for me...... I haven't found a solution yet, and I don't even know a solution myself, so how can you help me? ”

"But you should at least say it......?"

"Words can't describe it."

Carlil shook his head. In fact, most people don't even notice a hole in their hearts...... Like you, ghost, do you perceive it? ”

Midnight Ghost replied to Karil with his characteristic expression, and the latter smiled dumbly, rolled over, and stood up from the ground.

The ghost tensed unconsciously, its eyes following his movements, wondering what he was going to do.

Carlil, however, just came to the back of the cockpit and greeted him politely.

"This ......"

"Acudona, Lord Carlil Lohars, I am from the Legion of the Emperor's Sons."

"Ah, that Foggrim's legion? Also, please don't put the word "adult" in my name. Just call me by name, Mr. Acdona. ”

“...... Am I misunderstanding Gothic? Why does the word "sir" sound so distant? ”

Carlil chuckled softly, patted the back of the driver's seat, and whispered, "Thank you for giving Conrad a ride." ”

"It's just a trifle, my lord......"

"Why are you called an adult again?"

"It's etiquette." Acudona said softly but firmly.

“...... Okay, but I'm not going to call you sir, Cudona. You're an interesting person. ”

"Thank you, Lord Carlil."

With a chuckle, Carlil clutched his chest and turned around, picking a chair to sit down. He slowly buckled up his seatbelt and raised his chin at the still standing ghost.

“......”

Conrad Coetzes let out a rare sigh, turned around, and sat down as well, quickly buckling his seatbelt.