The chamber had fallen into complete silence.
Not a single official dared to speak.
Some looked as though they wanted to defend themselves, yet whatever words they had prepared seemed trapped in their throats, while others kept their heads lowered, afraid that even the slightest movement might draw the Crown Prince’s attention toward them.
Javier calmly returned his sword to its sheath before walking toward a nearby chair and sitting down.
His posture remained composed, almost completely at odds with the tension surrounding him, but somehow, his silence only made the atmosphere inside the chamber feel heavier.
After allowing the silence to linger for several moments, Javier turned his face toward the Chief Minister.
“Gardo.” The man immediately straightened his posture and answered, “Yes, Your Highness?” Javier rested one hand against the armrest.
“What exactly happened to Srivi? I have seen enough since entering this city to know that what we found in those records cannot be dismissed as simple administrative mistakes. Money has disappeared, medicine purchased for the people never reached them, and several transactions were made without proper authorization.” His voice remained measured, revealing none of the anger he had shown moments earlier.
“There is no need to hide anything from me. Tell me everything honestly.”
Cold sweat slowly gathered across Gardo’s forehead.
He lowered his head, but before answering, his eyes briefly moved toward the officials standing behind him and met Dolan’s gaze.
The exchange lasted no more than a second, so brief that most people in the chamber would have thought nothing of it.
Gardo quickly looked away and said, “Your Highness… I believe some of my subordinates may have acted without my knowledge.”
A faint movement came from among the officials before Javier could respond.
One of the men stepped forward and immediately dropped to his knees.
His body trembled as he lowered his head, both hands tightening against his thighs.
“I… I am Dolan, Deputy Head of Srome.” He drew a shaky breath, struggling for a moment before forcing himself to continue.
“I was responsible, Your Highness. I altered the records and misused the city’s funds. The unauthorized transactions were arranged under my supervision, and I took advantage of my position for my own personal gain.” His voice weakened slightly as he reached the final part of his confession.
“Chief Minister Gardo knew nothing about what I was doing. I acted without his knowledge, and I am prepared to accept whatever punishment Your Highness deems appropriate.”
Javier remained motionless while Dolan waited for his response.
Several seconds passed in complete silence, yet the Crown Prince offered no immediate answer.
Behind Dolan, the rhythm of Gardo’s breathing gradually steadied, and some of the tension seemed to leave his shoulders.
It lasted only briefly before he suddenly stepped forward with anger spreading across his face.
“You bastard, Dolan!” Gardo seized him by the collar and dragged him partly from the floor.
“I trusted you! And this is how you repay that trust?!” He shoved Dolan away, sending him back onto the floor, before immediately turning toward Javier.
“Your Highness, please allow me to punish this traitor myself. As Chief Minister, I should take responsibility for failing to notice what was happening beneath me.”
His face remained turned toward Gardo as his Mana Detection quietly traced the man’s posture, the subtle movements of his body and the rhythm of every breath he took.
The longer Javier remained silent, the more Gardo’s breathing began to lose its earlier steadiness.
Only then did Javier lean slightly forward and say, “No. Dolan committed crimes against the people of Srivi while serving under this administration. If punishment is necessary, I will decide it myself.”
Gardo hesitated before slowly lowering his head.
“Of course, Your Highness.” Javier then turned his attention toward the remaining officials.
“The same applies to everyone who has confessed involvement in these records.
Until I determine the full extent of what happened here, none of you will be allowed to leave Srome.” Several officials immediately lowered their heads and answered in uneasy unison, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Alaric, take Dolan and every official who confessed involvement to the underground prison. Keep them separated. No visitors, no communication between prisoners, and no contact with anyone outside Srome without my permission.” Alaric immediately understood the order and stepped forward.
“Yes, Your Highness.” At his signal, the guards entered the chamber and began escorting the officials away one by one.
None of them resisted.
Some looked terrified, while others kept their heads lowered as they passed Javier, seemingly afraid to discover what punishment awaited them.
Dolan remained silent when a guard finally took hold of his arm and led him toward the doorway.
He had almost crossed the threshold when Javier’s voice stopped everyone.
“Wait. Dolan stays for a moment.” The guard immediately released him, and Javier rose from his chair before turning toward the others.
“Alaric, give us some space.” Alaric studied him briefly before nodding and ordering the guards to continue escorting the other prisoners down the corridor.
Gardo remained behind for a moment, seemingly uncertain whether the command included him.
“Your Highness?” Javier turned his face toward him.
“You may leave as well, Gardo.” The Chief Minister’s lips parted slightly, but whatever he had intended to say never came.
He lowered his head and answered, “As you wish, Your Highness,” before following the others out of the chamber.
Alaric remained near the doorway, far enough away to give Javier the privacy he had requested while still remaining within reach should anything happen.
Only Dolan remained before the Crown Prince.
The Deputy Head kept his gaze lowered as Javier slowly approached him, his body becoming increasingly tense with every step.
When Javier stopped directly in front of him, Dolan seemed to brace himself for another accusation or perhaps the punishment that had merely been delayed.
Instead, Javier leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear.
“Dolan, I know you are not the culprit.”
“Your Highness…?” Javier had already straightened himself, his expression revealing nothing of what was going through his mind.
“Say nothing,” he continued quietly.
“There are too many people involved in what is happening here, and too many things I still don’t understand. If the person responsible believes I have accepted your confession, they may finally lower their guard.”
Dolan stared at him as realization slowly replaced the confusion on his face.
Javier had never believed his confession.
From the moment Dolan had stepped forward, the Crown Prince had already suspected that something else was happening.
His false confession had not deceived Javier at all.
Instead, it had given him an opportunity to make whoever stood behind the corruption believe that the investigation had reached its end.
“Do exactly as I ordered,” Javier continued.
“Say nothing about this conversation to anyone.
For the next three days, remain inside the prison and behave exactly as they expect you to.” He paused briefly before adding, “Trust me.”
Countless questions filled Dolan’s mind.
How had Javier known?
How much had he already discovered?
Why was the Crown Prince willing to trust him despite the confession he had just made before everyone?
Dolan wanted answers, but he understood that this was neither the time nor the place to ask for them.
After a moment, he slowly lowered his head.
“Yes, Your Highness. I understand.”
Javier turned toward the doorway and called for Alaric.
The former commander immediately stepped back inside and approached them.
“Take him,” Javier ordered, and Alaric placed a firm hand against Dolan’s shoulder before telling him to follow.
Dolan obeyed without hesitation, though before leaving the chamber, he glanced back once.
Javier remained standing beside the desk, surrounded by the documents that had exposed the first signs of corruption within Srivi, his face turned toward them in quiet contemplation.
Dolan said nothing more and allowed Alaric to lead him away.