The Returned Lord Is a Genius of Gun Law - Chapter 18
chapter 18
The First Princess’s Report
The Returning Lord is a Gun Law Genius – Episode 18
Episode 18
In the Rose Palace, one of the many imperial residences that form the heart of the Amir Empire—the capital city of Aimer—lies a magnificent garden.
Under the evening sun, which cascaded like a carpet, flowers of every color bloomed in profusion, seemingly oblivious to the seasons. Their perfect beauty, cultivated by the gardeners’ skilled hands, filled the air with a sweet fragrance that made it seem as though the fierce political intrigues unfolding at the empire’s core had no connection to this place.
But the reality was different.
“Report, Pavel.”
In the center of the garden stood Isabella von Zaren Amir, the First Princess, her skin as white as snow and her amethyst eyes holding an unfathomable depth. She elegantly raised her teacup and spoke.
Before her stood none other than Pavel Armandi, the third son of the Earl of Armandi.
Kneeling on one knee, his face tense, his gaze was fixed on the hem of the princess’s robes.
Soon, Pavel spoke. “By your command, I met with Lord Eugene of Crocus, Your Highness.”
Pavel began his report calmly. His voice was low and rapid, but his words were clear. “As you instructed, I proposed restoring the Earth artifact. Lord Eugene immediately recognized its true name and confirmed it was of Earth origin.”
Next, Pavel detailed the practical challenges Eugene had raised: the astronomical restoration costs, the unavailability of necessary parts, and the required technical expertise and time.
“His knowledge went beyond what could be explained by mere Earth origin. It was as if… he had firsthand experience operating it.”
“Is that so?”
A faint smile touched Isabella’s lips at his words.
Slurp
The sound of her sipping tea punctuated the silence. Pavel paused briefly to gather his breath before continuing.
“However, he evaded a direct answer. Only after I confirmed the specific price you promised did he say he would consider it, leaving himself an opening. He is a thoroughly pragmatic and calculating individual.”
Pavel then added his comprehensive assessment.
“Even with my limited judgment, I can tell that Lord Crocus is no easy opponent. He possesses a depth of knowledge, seasoned skill, and a cool, rational mind that cannot be dismissed as mere inexperience. Though he rarely revealed his true intentions, I suspect he has considerable experience on Earth. He will not be easily manipulated.”
After finishing his report, Pavel lowered his head again.
A moment of silence settled over the garden as Isabella set down her empty teacup with a satisfied smile.
“We must accept that level of risk. If it means securing the talent we need.”
Her amethyst eyes gleamed coldly.
“The steel golems of the Earthlings were merely… a simple test to gauge the depth of his knowledge. I wonder how Baron Crocus will fare in this trial? And if he passes…”
Isabella’s voice dropped even lower.
Finally, a dark and dangerous word escaped her lips, one that seemed utterly out of place in the garden’s serene beauty:
“It’s time to see if he’s worthy of wielding the flames of the devil.”
The flames of the devil.
Hidden deep within the Empire lies an artifact from the Great War era, a forbidden power.
The moment Pavel heard the words, he involuntarily held his breath.
A flicker of anxiety and fear crossed his face.
“Your Majesty, the Devil’s Flame is far too… dangerous. If it awakens, the Empire—no, the entire continent—will…”
“It is a risk we must take for the survival and dominance of the Empire.”
Isabella cut him off sharply, her eyes blazing with ambition.
“It could bring ruin, but it is also our last hope. And among all the talents in this Empire, only Baron Crocus has even a sliver of a chance to understand it. Only someone from Earth can… find the key to comprehending and wielding it.”
The Princess’s voice, as she continued speaking, was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation.
Pavel could no longer argue and fell silent. His loyalty was powerless against the Princess’s grand ambition.
“Pavel,” Isabella said, opening her mouth again. “Intensify your surveillance of Baron Crocus. Uncover everything about him—his capabilities, knowledge, loyalty, and ambition.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Pavel answered, her gaze, which had momentarily paused, shifted beyond the garden to another section of the imperial palace.
“But for now, avoid any further contact. Wait until he proves his worth and takes action himself. Never forget that the Crown Prince and Zeon have eyes and ears everywhere. Our plan must remain hidden.”
“I will obey your command, Your Highness.”
Pavel bowed deeply once more.
In the tranquil garden before the Rose Palace, a dangerous plan that could shake the fate of the empire was quietly taking root.
Deep in the night.
The bedroom of the Lord of Crocus Castle was filled with the faint blue light emitted by the magic stone lamp.
It was already past midnight.
Normally, Eugene would have been fast asleep by now, but instead, he sat at his desk rather than in bed.
His gaze was fixed on a small box on the desk.
The box, which the newly appointed butler Crawford had given him last night.
Its surface, as if woven from dragon scales, shimmered with an eerie luster, and the engraved, indecipherable characters seemed to emanate a mystical aura even in the dim light.
Even Eugene, a native of Earth, immediately recognized that this box was no ordinary object.
And clearly engraved on it was none other than the crest of Crocus.
Father… Vian Crocus.
Eugene’s gaze lingered on the crest of the box.
At that moment, his father’s name came to mind:
Baron Vian Crocus.
He had already thoroughly researched both his father and the Crocus family in the castle library. But there, he found no information about Eugene himself.
Why had he been sent to Earth, another dimension? And why hadn’t his father searched for him afterward? It was as if someone had erased all traces of Eugene’s existence.
The dragons’ magic is flawless, so I must be their blood relative. Then why was my existence erased?
The secrets the Crocus family and his father had hidden, and the truth behind his birth…
Perhaps the key to all these mysteries lay within this small chest.
As this thought crossed his mind, Eugene’s heart began to pound faster.
First, I need to open it.
With that resolve, Eugene carefully lifted the chest. A heavy weight and a cool sensation spread through his fingertips.
But…
Is it locked?
He strained to open the lid, but it remained as unyielding as if sealed with steel. Given the complete absence of any lock or keyhole, this was clearly no ordinary physical lock.
It must be sealed with magic.
This was an unfamiliar method on Earth, but common in Amir.
The problem is, I have no way to break it.
Yujin’s eyes narrowed.
If it were a normal lock, he could have picked it in no time. But if it was sealed with magic rather than Earth’s technology, the situation was entirely different.
I’m not completely ignorant of magic… but I lack the ability to break it.
To dispel magic, one needed either knowledge of magic or the ability to control magical energy. Unfortunately, he possessed neither.
Yet he couldn’t ask anyone for help either.
What lay inside this box was undoubtedly a secret, a part of it that couldn’t be revealed outside Crocus.
Hmm.
His gaze fell again on the Crocus family crest on the box’s surface—a blue flower on a shield.
At that moment…
I heard there’s a saying in Amir…
Memories of his mercenary days, specifically a secret operation in Amir, flashed through his mind.
Blood holds power.
At the time, he’d scoffed at such primitive notions, dismissing them as relics of a bygone era. But now, having become part of that civilization, he could no longer laugh them off.
Perhaps… that saying holds some truth. Some of Amir’s ancient magic uses blood as a medium.
Even if it didn’t, it was worth testing.
Swish—!
With his resolve hardened, Eugene drew his greatsword from the combat belt he’d laid out on the ground.
He brought the blade to the tip of his left index finger.
Slick—
The razor-sharp edge of the greatsword grazed his finger, drawing a faint sting and causing crimson droplets to bead on his skin.
Without even a flicker of hesitation, Eugene pressed his blood-stained finger against the symbol carved into the chest.
Click.
As a crimson droplet formed on his finger and fell onto the crocus symbol—a design of flowers and shields—
Whoosh!
The chest began to undergo a bizarre transformation.
Fwoosh!
The blood seeped into the symbol as if being absorbed, and the mysterious characters etched onto the chest’s surface began to glow with a brilliant blue light.
Ssssh!
Then, with a strange sound like a snake shedding its skin, the tightly sealed lid of the chest slid open silently.
Before the awe-inspiring spectacle, which seemed utterly mystical compared to Earth’s technology, Eugene’s gaze was drawn to the contents inside the gaping chest.
Inside… it’s ordinary.
There were no treasures or intricate devices one might expect to find in such a secret box.
What caught his eye was a small, folded piece of parchment lying alone on the faded, dark velvet cloth.
Is this all?
Suppressing a flicker of disappointment, Eugene picked up the parchment.
As he carefully unfolded it, he saw the common language of the Amir Continent written in messy, hurried handwriting.
But the message itself was astonishingly brief:
Argent of Dragonia
Yet, the implications it carried were anything but simple.