Just as various factions across the European continent were mobilized by the sudden assassination, an even more inflammatory piece of news emerged from Vienna.
On the morning after the assassination, the Austro-Hungarian government officially released the preliminary findings of its investigation into the assassination to the world.
The result instantly sent shockwaves through the political arena of all Europa.
“Based on the examination of the assassination scene and interviews with survivors, we have reason to believe that this assassination was a premeditated and organized terrorist attack.”
“The assassins were not acting alone, but were part of an assassination team composed of multiple high-level spellcasters.”
“One of the assassins, whose operation was exposed, chose to sacrifice himself alongside a brave Royal Arcane Guard who attempted to capture him alive.”
“Near the location of his suicide, we found a fragment of a used [Fireball] spell scroll.”
“After verification by the Imperial Royal College of Spellcasters, this scroll…”
The Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, standing at the Vienna press conference, deliberately paused here, his gaze sweeping over the journalists from all nations present.
Then, with a voice filled with profound sorrow and indignation, he announced the answer that astonished everyone.
“Printed on this scroll is the emblem of the Holy Britannian Empire’s High-Level Mage Corps!”
He then gestured to his assistant.
The assistant immediately displayed a developed photograph to the audience.
The photograph showed a half-burnt parchment scroll.
On the intact end of the scroll, a complex emblem—composed of a stone circle, a thistle, mountains, and a Celtic knot—was clearly visible…
The scene instantly fell into a complete dead silence, which was then broken by a tremendous uproar.
The High-Level Mage Corps!
That name represented the oldest, most powerful, and most mysterious magical force on the European continent.
They were the most loyal guardians of the Holy Britannian Imperial Family, one of the cornerstones of the Empire’s global hegemony…
Now, the Austro-Hungarian Empire claimed that the spell scroll used by the assassin who killed their Crown Prince originated from the High-Level Mage Corps?
This was no longer a subtle hint; it was practically pointing a finger at the Britannians and saying: You did this!
The news reached London, and the entire high command of the Holy Britannian Empire went into a frenzy.
“Slander! This is outright slander!”
Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey roared furiously in Parliament.
The Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to London had already visited him, launching a barrage of ‘fierce complaints.’
Edward Grey swore he had never been so publicly humiliated in his life…
Since when did our great and holy Empire need to resort to such low-life methods to assassinate the Crown Prince of another nation?
“We must immediately lodge the most severe protest with Vienna!”
“Demand they immediately retract these irresponsible statements and apologize to the Empire!”
“Exactly! The Austrians must be insane! They are trying to dump the blame for this war onto us!”
The members of Parliament were collectively incensed. The entire Imperial Parliament was as loud as a marketplace.
At Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria’s face was extremely grim upon hearing the news—her ancient attendant had never seen the ‘Eternal Queen’ look this way.
She immediately summoned all of the Empire’s high-ranking officials, along with the members of the High Council of the High-Level Mage Corps, for an emergency meeting.
“Archmage Graham, I require an explanation.”
The Queen’s gaze was like a piercing sword, directed at Archmage Alistair Graham, the 9th-Circle Mage of the High-Level Mage Corps.
“Why did one of our spell scrolls appear in the hands of an assassin in Sarajevo?!”
The question carried a deeper implication: Did the High-Level Mage Corps conceal a political assassination from the Empire’s high command?
“Your Majesty, I swear upon my honor and my life that the High-Level Mage Corps had absolutely no part in, nor did it orchestrate, this assassination in any form!”
Archmage Graham bowed slightly, his voice utterly firm.
“All our external operations must be sanctioned by you and Parliament. You are aware of this, Your Majesty.”
“I do trust your loyalty…”
The Queen took several deep breaths. Her tone softened slightly after composing herself.
“But the problem now is the photograph the Austrians released. All of you have seen it… Is that emblem genuine?”
Archmage Graham paused, then nodded with great difficulty.
“Yes.”
“…”
“Your Majesty, the High-Level Mage Corps emblem is imprinted using a special magical sigil that is impossible to forge. Therefore, that scroll can be confirmed to have originated from the High-Level Mage Corps.”
This answer caused everyone present to draw a sharp breath.
If the scroll was genuine, the problem was even more severe.
It meant that either there was a massive internal issue within the High-Level Mage Corps, and they carried out the assassination without anyone else knowing.
Or, a scroll somehow fell into outside hands through unknown means and was obtained by the assassin.
Neither scenario was good news.
“The Mage Corps’ scrolls are always managed with the strictest controls. Every single one has a detailed record of its allocation… How could it have been leaked?”
A Cabinet Minister attending the meeting asked, puzzled.
“This is not the time to assign blame.”
Queen Victoria cut off the discussion. In the face of the sudden crisis, her eyes regained their usual sharp focus and composure.
“The most important thing right now is to immediately find out how that scroll was leaked!”
“If someone is deliberately trying to frame our Empire, we must find them and root them out immediately!”
“Grey… immediately organize a public statement. Declare this to be a vile slander against the Empire and the High-Level Mage Corps.”
“At the same time, through non-official channels, urgently contact the Austro-Hungarian Empire…”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
After the meeting, Queen Victoria privately detained the six Archmages of the High-Level Mage Corps.
“Now… tell me, what exactly happened?”
The atmosphere in the spacious council chamber was suffocating.
The six Archmages stood with their heads bowed before Queen Victoria, none of them speaking first.
“I will ask again. Was the High-Level Mage Corps involved in this matter in any way?!”
The voice of the ‘Eternal Queen’ was not loud, but the contained majesty seemed to lower the temperature of the room.
“Your Majesty, we assure you again, by the Oath of the Mage, that the High-Level Mage Corps had absolutely no involvement in orchestrating this matter.”
Chief Archmage Graham reiterated firmly.
“Good.”
Victoria nodded. “I trust you… but now, that is no longer the point.”
The Queen leaned back on the throne, covering her forehead with one hand, and let out a long sigh.
“The point is that our scroll appeared in the wrong hands, killing a person who should not have been killed. Now, all of Europa is watching us.”
“I suspect Vienna is already on the verge of losing control… and the Saxons are also restless.”
“If we cannot provide a reasonable explanation quickly and clear ourselves of suspicion, a war that could engulf all of Europa will be ignited because of us.”
The Queen turned, her gaze fixed sharply on the six men.
“Gentlemen, I don’t care what methods you use… but I must know how that scroll was leaked!”
“Was there an insider? Who did this? What was the motive? I need to know everything!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The six Archmages knew very well that the Queen had truly been provoked into a fit of rage this time.
If this matter was not handled properly, not only would the Empire be dragged into a vortex, but the six of them would also become eternal sinners of the Mage Corps.
Leaving Buckingham Palace, the six Archmages immediately returned to the Mage Tower.
They immediately summoned all Mages responsible for scroll management and archives and initiated the strictest internal investigation.
In the Mage Tower archives, every Mage was on high alert, meticulously cross-referencing every scroll requisition record and usage report.
The High-Level Mage Corps maintained detailed records for the creation, inventory, and issuance of every single spell scroll.
The result was found quickly.
“I found it! I found it!”
A young Mage shouted loudly. All eyes immediately fixed on him.
Archmage Graham quickly walked to the young Mage and snatched the file from his hand.
“Code AX-734 Fireball Scroll…”
Archmage Graham mumbled, his finger quickly sliding to the requisition name section of the file.
When his eyes landed on the signature at the bottom of the file, his pupils sharply contracted.
“How could it be him…”
“Who is it?”
Another Archmage of the Council crowded over. When he saw the signature, the usually composed man gasped in disbelief.
“Eldridge? High-Level Tutor Eldridge?!”
“But wasn’t he killed in Seville? His life flame was extinguished. That cannot be fabricated.”
Archmage Graham did not speak. He silently stared at the requisition record on the file.
It clearly stated that before receiving orders to deploy to the Kingdom of Aragon, the High-Level Tutor had formally checked out a batch of scrolls for his and his colleagues’ use.
This Fireball Scroll was one of the batch he had requisitioned…
“What exactly is going on here?”
Graham knew very well that Eldridge could not have been involved in this matter.
The latter was a High-Level Mage he personally mentored, with a bright future after becoming a High-Level Tutor.
Furthermore, his participation in the Aragonese campaign was due to Graham’s recommendation to the military, not the High-Level Tutor’s own wish…
But now, a spell scroll requisitioned by Eldridge had appeared in Sarajevo?
At this thought, Graham suddenly realized a question.
Was this Fireball Scroll truly activated in Sarajevo?
(End of this Chapter)