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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Much had changed since the suicide bombing at the Imperial University.
While the attempted bombing on Magic Day hadn’t caused much of a stir, this attack, striking at the heart of the Empire, was a different matter entirely.
Everyone entering or leaving the university was now subjected to strict surveillance. Their movements were tracked, their reasons for entering and leaving documented.
The increased security measures drew sharp criticism from the noble students.
As a result, Emilia was completely cut off from the intelligence agency.
With the Imperial Police and the Investigation Department monitoring all communications, any suspicious magical transmissions from the residence would immediately draw unwanted attention.
I, however, was exempt from the surveillance. I had been assigned to the investigation team.
“The reporters will swarm you. Don’t say a word. Just tell them it’s classified information and send them away. If they persist, threaten them with obstruction of justice.”
“What if they still persist?”
“Then you may subdue them and hand them over to the Imperial Police. Don’t kill them.”
Sergei had taken these measures to prevent me from speaking to the press.
I wasn’t likely to reveal anything, but reporters were persistent. They would resort to any means to obtain information, and I, a mere student, was an easy target.
By assigning me to the Investigation Department, I was granted authority equivalent to that of the Imperial Police, allowing me to easily dismiss the reporters.
With Emilia cut off from the outside world, I had a place to visit.
“This is it.”
I arrived at the slums on the outskirts of the old district. I had changed out of my uniform into shabby clothes to avoid being recognized.
‘The story is deviating significantly from the original.’
The attack on the Imperial University by the fanatics hadn’t been part of my plan. The suicide bombing even less so. It wasn’t in the original story.
The reason for my miscalculation was simple. I was too ignorant of the underworld’s affairs.
While I knew more than the average citizen, I was no match for the locals.
While I had been controlling the flow of events in the open, the butterfly effect had been taking hold in the shadows, growing until it could no longer be ignored.
I was late, but I had to start controlling the underworld as well. Complete control was impossible, even the Imperial family had given up on that.
I just needed enough influence to predict the future.
There were three individuals I could contact.
I was currently on my way to meet one of them, Hertlocker.
Knock, knock…
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
“…”
Silence.
I had a bad feeling about this.
BAM!
“Damn it.”
I kicked the door open. The small room was empty. The window was open, the tattered curtains fluttering in the breeze. He had already run.
“Haa…”
I sighed and prepared a spell. A fire spell. Powerful enough to incinerate the entire room.
Flap!
Something flew in through the window.
“Wait. I’ll talk.”
“…”
It was Hertlocker.
He had crashed headfirst into the wall, his momentum carrying him forward. He seemed to be in a hurry.
Did he have something valuable hidden in this room? It wasn’t my concern.
“Why did you run?”
“You… you suspect us. It wasn’t us. Of course, no criminal would admit to their crimes, but we really didn’t do it. Even if we were planning an attack, we wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack head-on.”
“Who said it was you? You’re being paranoid…”
“Weren’t you suspecting us?”
“No, you idiot.”
“…”
Hertlocker glared at me.
If he attacked me now, what were my chances of winning? Judging by the speed he had flown in with, he was much faster than before.
I would have to use ‘Selection and Concentration’ on agility to have a chance.
The odds were stacked against me. If Hertlocker wanted me dead, I would be dead. He wasn’t the same pushover I had toyed with in the sewers.
There was only one reason he hadn’t attacked me yet.
“How is Emilia?”
I was holding Emilia hostage. Or rather, I had convinced him that I had planted an explosive spell in her heart.
It was a risky gamble. If he found out I was lying, he would tear me to shreds. But as long as it worked, I had to use it to my advantage.
“She’s fine. Why are you asking me? Why not ask her yourself?”
“Because I can’t meet her. Security at the Imperial University is too tight.”
“You’re aware of the incident that caused this increased security, I presume.”
“Not as much as you, but…”
“I have another request for you, Hertlocker. Investigate the attackers.”
“How can I investigate them if I don’t know who they are? Don’t tell me you want me to find that out first? Don’t be ridiculous, Schlus Hainkel. If the Imperial Police can’t find them, how can the intelligence agency—”
“I’ll give you a list of names.”
“…”
I threw a piece of paper on the floor. It was a list of some of the fanatics who had attacked the university.
I had chosen only those I was certain of.
“They worship a Majin. This is a list of their followers.”
“If you know this, why not start the investigation immediately?”
“It’s not that simple. They’re all low-ranking members. If we target them, the cult will simply cut its losses and disappear into the shadows.”
“So you want me to—”
“Yes. Infiltrate the cult and gather information.”
“…”
Hertlocker’s face crumpled.
I was asking him to become a double agent. But he had no choice.
Emilia was my hostage. And since he couldn’t contact Emilia, he couldn’t verify my claim about the explosive spell.
“Cheer up. I prevented the Investigation Department from blaming the intelligence agency and wiping you out.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you think it was strange? How lax the counter-intelligence has been?”
“…”
“Think about who made that possible. You can decide who to bite later.”
“Schlus Hainkel… what are you planning?”
Hertlocker asked, grinding his teeth.
What was I planning?
Such a simple question.
I had to answer honestly. Hertlocker was as skilled at reading people as Emilia. He would see through my lies.
“It’s for the peace of the continent.”
“What…?”
Hertlocker’s expression turned strange.
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‘For the peace of the continent?’
Hertlocker scoffed.
Schlus’s face showed no signs of deception. Was he a skilled liar? Or did he actually believe what he was saying?
‘He’s just crazy…’
Hertlocker realized he had misjudged Schlus Hainkel. He wasn’t working for someone else.
He genuinely believed he was working for world peace. That explained why he wasn’t interested in fame or fortune. Such things held no appeal for a madman who believed himself to be justice incarnate.
“So, what exactly… are you doing for the peace of the continent?”
“I’m working to eliminate the threat to peace.”
Schlus’s empty gaze sent a shiver down Hertlocker’s spine. He looked like a madman.
“I’ll tell you a secret. The true enemy is that cult.”
Schlus crossed his legs and began to examine the books on his desk, as if he were making a casual remark.
That insane cult was the true enemy? That was absurd. No matter how secretive they were, the Imperial Police and the Investigation Department would find them and eliminate them.
The Empire, the continent, wouldn’t be destroyed by a mere cult.
“They will grow in power and eventually destroy the entire continent. The Empire and the Kingdom shouldn’t be fighting each other. You have an important role to play, Hertlocker. You need to prevent the Empire from turning its attention to the Kingdom. Do you understand?”
“Are you asking for my loyalty?”
“Save your loyalty for your king, you idiot. Just do your job. You and I are going to save the continent. Got it?”
“…”
‘What a lunatic.’
Hertlocker felt a surge of pure terror. It had been a while.
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“Don’t move. I warned you.”
Thump…
I left Hertlocker’s residence. He had been acting strangely today. He seemed… scared. Had my previous encounters finally broken him?
If so, it was a welcome development.
I had also given him information about the cult. Despite his flaws, he was a man with a strong sense of justice.
Knowing that it was for the peace of the continent would make him more likely to trust me. I hadn’t told him about the Majins.
If I had mentioned the war between humans and Majins, he would have thought I was completely insane.
I had also received the information I had requested about Marie. It was just basic information, but it contained her son’s name.
Phalanx Aile.
That was his name. Now that I had a name, it would be easier to find him. I would hire an investigator.
“Hmm?”
I received a magical transmission. It was on the Investigation Department’s frequency.
I immediately deciphered the code and listened in.
-Requesting backup. Emergency situation at the Imperial University. Danger Level 3. Requesting the return of Professor Sergei von Freud.
Danger Level 3?
The highest level, indicating a threat to the students’ lives.
Don’t tell me…
‘Damn it.’
I immediately started running towards the Imperial University.
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