It had been three days since Yulia last slept.

 

Ever since Ascal was imprisoned in Zulat Prison, Yulia had been running around tirelessly.

 

She mobilized all her connections to find out that the emperor's confidants were behind this, ensuring that the news reached the crown prince's ears.

 

But that alone wasn't enough.

 

For Ascal to be safe, many more people needed to know the truth.

 

So the confidants wouldn't dare lay a hand on him.

 

Yulia first headed to the Evaluation Department.

 

"The protest preparations are already complete. What kind of organization would casually abandons their superior?"

 

Even before Yulia got involved, Department 1 Manager Kane had rallied the Evaluation Department.

 

Following them closely were members of the Cat tribe.

 

They began their protest in the square.

 

 

 

Those who always plot in the shadows typically avoid having their names directly exposed.

 

Under normal circumstances, Duke Sebes and Count Galtanar would've quickly suppressed the protest. However, this time they couldn’t.

 

The crown prince was tolerating their protests. The emperor of the empire was not on their side this time.

 

The time was bought.

 

So now, she had to overturn the situation at its root.

 

Yulia headed for the White Tower.

 

****

 

‘Stay calm. Yulia.’

 

She took a deep breath.

 

Her master had once told her during their training sessions,

 

While many spiritualists in the world believed that the mind could overcome the body, the reality was often the opposite.

 

Without a healthy body, one couldn't do anything.

 

Touching her withered hair, Yulia felt her master's teachings more deeply than ever.

 

Honestly, she now doubted herself.

 

This move was a gamble for her.

 

She had mobilized the White Tower, one of her most significant connections as the Third Princess Yulia.

 

A move that could change the situation itself, but the risks were also immense.

 

What if the gem frog had no efficacy at all?

 

If it became recognized by the White Tower...

 

‘No.’

 

Yulia shook her head.

 

It wasn’t someone else, but Ascal Debrue himself who had said it.

 

There is something unseen in the gem frog.

 

Thinking this way, Yulia could find relief.

 

She realized.

 

How much of a blessing it was to be able to trust someone other than oneself.

 

Yulia closed her eyes.

 

Sleep overcame her.

 

A deep sleep, the first in three whole days.

 

 

“Get up, Yulia. Get up and see what I’ve discovered.”

 

Yulia was roused from her slumber by someone shaking her shoulder.

 

A face with deep wrinkles came into view.

 

It was her master, the White Tower’s Lord, Berman.

 

“That frog you brought, the one you called the gem frog. Where on earth did you find this?”

 

Even the old magician had a sense of innocence.

 

Upon making an unimaginable discovery, he’d become as excited as a child.

 

Having taken even a brief nap, Yulia, with a slightly clearer mind, spoke up.

 

“Could you first explain what you’ve discovered, Master?”

 

“Oh, right, my apologies.”

 

Berman cleared his throat.

 

“You’re well aware of the role a wand plays for a magician, aren’t you, Yulia?”

“Yes. It acts as an intermediate medium for magic, increasing its stability and accuracy.”

 

“Exactly. Some rare wands can even completely alter magic, but that’s generally the case.”

 

Berman tapped his own wand with his fingers. 

 

Once a mage like Berman reached an advanced level, they could use magic as if it were almost natural even without a wand.

​

Yet for a magicians, a wand that had been by their side for countless years, almost like an extension of themselves, was undeniably precious. It could also assist when climbing mountains for health.

 

“However, not just any wand can become a medium for magic. Take this one, for example. It was crafted from the ancient trees grown in Elvenwood Forest, entrusted to a wand craftsman, and underwent a special magical process. Probably worth as much as a grand mansion, I’d reckon. Hehe.”

 

“So, what does this have to do with the gem frog?”

 

Yulia subtly brushed aside her master's veiled bragging.

 

Berman, scratching his head, responded,

 

“This one can also act as a medium.”

 

With his finger, Berman gently stroked the back of the gem frog. The frog did not reject the touch but embraced it.

 

 

Suddenly, the gem frog leaped onto Yulia’s arm.

 

She was taken aback.

 

“Stay still.”

 

A white light flashed from the gem frog, enveloping Yulia.

 

“Rather than a hundred words, it's much better to show through demonstration, right? How do you feel?”

 

“My fatigue has lessened.”

 

“Yes. Some rare wands can hold magic. And this gem frog is no different. The magic that each individual receives is slightly different, but they all serve as a medium.”

 

“I see.”

 

Berman replied with an incredulous tone,

 

“Do you not understand how monumental this discovery is? Without a wand, just with this frog, one could store magic here and send it to the mermaids on the continent.”

 

“Like a scroll?”

 

“Scrolls are much more expensive, aren't they? And require a month's worth of effort. Plus, only a magician can use them.”

 

It was a magical revolution.

 

Berman dared to dub this gem frog as a 'revolution'.

 

“So, tell me, my disciple, where did you discover this gem frog? Where does it inhabit? How many are there? And who is the discoverer?”

 

“With this?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Yulia straightened up.

 

She recalled her original intent.

 

Her visit here wasn't as a disciple to a master.

 

She came as the Empire's 3rd Princess.

 

To obtain full authority over the gem frog.

 

“Shall we begin our negotiation, Lord of the White Tower?”

 

Negotiating was Yulia’s forte.

​

​

 

 

 

Crown Prince Kain swiftly scanned the newspaper.

 

It was information he had already received through special channels.

‘You’ve succeeded, Yulia.’

 

When Yulia first said she was going to the White Tower, Kain thought it was a futile endeavor.

He believed that the cards they already had were enough to release him from prison and pressure the courtiers.

 

He had discouraged her from taking such a gamble, but Yulia had succeeded splendidly.

 

Now a storm was brewing.

 

This was not merely an effort to release Ascal Debrue.

 

In the high-stakes political warfare using a single figure as a pretext, Kain and Yulia had just won.

‘Finally, I can get rid of those pesky eunuchs.’

 

It fully proved that Ascal had been right all along, and the absurd charges of market manipulation had been exposed.

 

Thanks to the newspapers just distributed to the public, the opinion of the nobles had completely flipped.

 

No one was left supporting Duke Sebes and Count Galtanar.

 

'From the start, the very reason Ascal Debrue couldn't be promoted to a rank higher than a 5th-grade official was due to the interference of those treacherous advisers.'

 

The crown prince had praised Ascal's achievements numerous times, but the traitors always found absurd reasons to nitpick.

 

It was because of them that Ascal couldn't be promoted beyond a 5th-grade official.

​

Now, with the power to get rid of those treacherous officials, Ascal's rise would likely happen at an unbelievably rapid pace, as if a dam that had been building up had finally broken.

 

'Hold on, did he anticipate this situation?'

 

After all, the root cause of this situation was Ascal's challenge.

 

If he had anticipated even the movements of the traitors and used his own life as a pawn...

 

'What an extraordinary man.'

 

Kain felt goosebumps on his arm.

 

Now that the treacherous officials would soon disappear, the competition for succession would intensify.

 

He wasn't sure how much leverage each had gathered, but Kain was confident.

 

However, the most valuable card in this game would be Ascal Debrue.

 

He absolutely needed to bring him to his side.

 

For the sake of becoming the emperor, and for what came after being the emperor.

 

****

 

"Check this out. I've created this fish-shaped knitting. Cool, right?"

 

That was a lie. It was a skill Ascal learned in his previous life. Using his cunning, Ascal won the knitting game against Jerobe.

 

"That's impressive, Ascal. Teach me too."

 

"Alright, the way to do it is..."

 

Just then, numerous guards surrounded Ascal. Following them, Warden Cheshire appeared.

 

At a glance, it was an unsettling atmosphere.

 

Ascal sighed.

 

So, this day had finally come.

 

He had tried his best to avoid this moment, but it seemed it was inevitable.

 

"Bury me in my hometown's backyard..."

 

"Congratulations on clearing your name, Mr. Ascal."

 

"Congratulations!"

 

As Ascal was muttering his last will, the guards bowed simultaneously. It was a salute filled with respect.

 

"As soon as you're ready, please leave. We will escort you comfortably to the mainland."

 

Cheshire had received a special report this morning.

 

----

 

Upon receiving the report, Cheshire was convinced.

 

From what he had observed over time, Ascal was never a man who would commit wrongdoing. He had diligently served his sentence in prison, always setting an example, even when he hadn't committed any crime in the first place.

 

"I believe you will shine as an official of the empire, bringing light to our nation."

​

While Ascal was dazed, the discharge procedures proceeded at the speed of light.

 

Finally, having retrieved all his confiscated belongings, Ascal was ready to return to the empire.

 

At that, Jerobe spoke, a hint of sadness in his voice.

 

"Congratulations, Ascal. But I'm a bit lonely. Throughout my life, everyone flinched in fear when they looked at me. But with you, Ascal, nothing changed. Won't we see each other now?"

 

"Jerobe, you're being discharged too."

 

Cheshire showed the paperwork.

 

"I'm not sure if it's someone's prank, but it seems you were also wrongfully accused. You're a bit naive, so you were probably easily imprisoned. Now that your name is cleared, you can return home."

 

"Home? But I don't like home. It's damp and dark."

 

His eyes resembled those of an abandoned puppy. Ascal recalled how Jerobe had once protected him from an aggressive prisoner.

 

"There's a vacant guard position at the evaluation department. Will you come, Jerobe?"

 

"Really? Can I?"

 

"Yes."

 

Actually, he couldn't. It was nepotism. But what could be done? Ascal was the director of the evaluation department. He could always fire him if needed.

 

"Before we go, I want to send a letter."

 

"Take your time."

 

Ascal gazed at the gentle waves of the shore. Knowing that today would be the end made him a bit nostalgic. 

 

'It had been an enjoyable time...'

 

Soon after sending his letter, Jerobe returned, and the two boarded a ship heading to the empire.

 

 

"How do you feel about returning to the empire? You've been exonerated and have safely returned, what are your thoughts?"

 

"It was revealed that you were the first to discover the specialty of the gem frog. How did you come to know about it?"

 

"Whom do you support as the successor to the empire?"

 

Upon his return to the mainland, Ascal was met by a throng of journalists from all over the world.

 

Such was the magnitude of the impact of the incident.

 

It wasn't just the empire; this event made Ascal Debrue's name known worldwide.

 

From afar, Ascal spotted the crown prince waving. Yulia was behind him.

 

"Just send me back to prison."

 

It took Ascal a grueling two hours to finally free himself from the press.