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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Uh…”
“You’re here, Hertlocker?”
Walter Bank Underground.
Entering another base of the Intelligence Agency, Hertlocker stopped with his mouth open.
In front of his eyes was a bloody lump of meat bound in iron chains.
That thing, which could be believed to be a corpse, was making occasional breathing sounds.
“He’ll die at this rate.”
“Don’t worry. People don’t die that easily. Don’t you know I’m an expert in this field?”
“… Anyway. Did you find out anything?”
Hertlocker turned his head away from it.
Although he had seen countless corpses on the battlefield, it was the first time he had seen a body so horribly disfigured, making him feel like throwing up.
“I found out a lot. The problem is that guy is still lying.”
“Pardon? Even in that state?”
“Yeah. He’s saying nonsense about Schlus Hainkel burning the data.”
Eric shook his head.
If Schlus Hainkel had taken the Intelligence Agency’s information from him, there would be no reason to destroy it.
Just by handing it over to the Imperial Police, he would become a national hero and receive a tremendous reward.
Even if he didn’t hand it over and just kept it, it would become a good bargaining chip to blackmail the Kingdom.
Yet he burned it on the spot?
There was no lie as obvious as this one.
“But… why would he lie to that extent until becoming like that?”
“That’s unknown. I haven’t gouged out his eyes yet, right? Let’s do that and ask him again.”
“It might not be a lie.”
“What do you mean? That Schlus Hainkel really destroyed the data?”
“No. At least he believes that, don’t you think? Maybe Schlus Hainkel used magic to show him an illusion, and he thinks the data was burned after seeing that.”
“Ooh… That’s plausible?”
Eric clapped his hands, and Hertlocker sighed, dumbfounded.
Did he not have this simple idea while making this person into that state?
At this point, it felt like he was deliberately pretending not to know because he wanted to continue torturing.
“Ah. I’m a bit sorry about this. If I had thought of that a little earlier, there would have been no need to cut his tongue.”
“Can a person live with their tongue cut…?”
“Yeah. If you cut it and immediately cauterize the cut surface, the blood vessels get cooked and blocked. Then the bleeding…”
Hertlocker listened with one ear and let it flow out the other.
It was information he didn’t particularly want to know.
“Anyway. What should we do about Schlus Hainkel?”
“Ha… That’s the thing…”
Eric and Hertlocker sighed deeply at the same time.
Schlus Hainkel had the personal information of the Intelligence Agency’s agents.
Considering the Imperial Police hadn’t raided this place yet, it seemed he hadn’t squealed to them.
That meant he wanted to negotiate with the Intelligence Agency.
While holding a weakness that could annihilate the Intelligence Agency.
“Shouldn’t we eliminate him now? I’ll kill him even if it costs my life.”
“No. Schlus Hainkel isn’t stupid. He must have set it up so the data gets released if he dies.”
“Then…”
“There’s no way to deal with him. We have no choice but to wait and see what he demands.”
“…”
Hertlocker clenched his fists.
Schlus held the lifeline of the First Intelligence Agency.
They were essentially put in a position where they had to submit to Schlus.
What would he demand and come forward with?
Just imagining it sent chills down Eric and Hertlocker’s spines.
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“Ha. Haha.”
I kept letting out hollow laughs.
The sun was shining warmly now.
The current time was 11 o’clock.
And the medal conferment ceremony started at 1 o’clock.
Even if I caught a carriage now and rushed to the Imperial Palace, I would barely make it in time.
But the problem was-
“Ehehe. I’m fucked.”
The state of my clothes was a mess.
The side of my torso was ripped, probably grazed by Hertlocker’s knife earlier.
How could I stand before the Emperor wearing this?
No, would that be better than being absent without notice?
There was no other way.
I had no choice but to go like this for now.
Thinking I should catch any carriage, I was looking around the street when-
“Huh?”
I heard the fierce sound of horse hooves coming from behind.
The moment I turned around, with a screeching sound of wheels, a carriage stopped right in front of my nose.
Literally right in front of my nose…
I almost got run over by the wheels and turned into a pancake.
“Mr. Hainkel!”
At that moment, the carriage door opened and Emilia appeared.
Did she come to pick me up?
But how did she know I was here…?
“Emilia. How did you know-”
“How did I know?”
“…”
At the voice of the person appearing behind Emilia, my mouth shut tight.
It was Iris, the girl in a nun’s habit with an outwardly benevolent smile.
She had seen the future and come.
I was grateful, but I didn’t like constantly owing debts like this.
Because it seemed like she would demand something big later…
“What are you doing? Hurry up and get in. Or are you not getting in?”
“… I’m getting in.”
Feeling uneasy, I got into the carriage.
The carriage carrying me soon started gliding through the streets at full speed. Towards the Imperial Palace.
By the way, the carriage wasn’t just ordinarily luxurious.
The interior was spacious enough for 6 people to ride comfortably, and it even had plush sofas.
No matter how much the Imperial Family provided the travel expenses, there was no way the thrifty Emilia would arrange such a carriage.
Then the owner of this carriage was narrowed down to one person.
“It’s the Flechette family’s carriage.”
“Oh my. I thought I removed the family crest, but how did you know…?”
“Thank you. I express my gratitude.”
“What did you say? I didn’t hear it properly.”
“…”
Iris gave a playful smile. She heard it all, but she was doing that.
I really wondered what she was thinking, constantly making me owe her debts to make me do something later…
She was someone whose thoughts I couldn’t understand at all.
“Really. It was just as you worried, Lady Saint. It’s good that I brought a change of clothes!”
Emilia looked at my torn side and took out a shirt from her bag.
It seemed Iris had tipped her off.
Something like, just in case, take a set of clothes…
She probably couldn’t tell Emilia about her future sight.
“Thank you. I’d like both of you to close your eyes.”
“Y-You’re changing now?”
“Time is short. I have no choice but to change while moving.”
Iris gently closed her eyes, and Emilia hurriedly covered her face with her palms.
I didn’t expect to do this shameful act in front of these two either…
The situation was unfavorable, so there was no other choice.
I changed out of the torn shirt as quickly as possible.
But somehow, I think I can see Emilia’s eyes through her spread fingers. Is it just my imagination?
“I’m done now.”
“Phew. Then can I ask now?”
“What is it?”
“Where on earth were you and what were you doing all night?”
“…”
I was at a loss for words at Emilia’s direct question.
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I beat up her brother until all his bones were dislocated and then threw him into shit water.
But what should I do about this?
She would find out everything later when she contacted the Intelligence Agency’s agents.
“It’s a secret.”
“Ah…”
Since it would be exposed soon anyway even if I lied, I decided to give a vague answer.
I was a bit afraid of the aftermath when Emilia found out about today’s events.
After riding for about an hour more.
The carriage suddenly stopped.
When I pulled back the curtain and looked outside, we were already in front of the Imperial Palace.
There were about 30 minutes left, unexpectedly.
Should I go early?
Just as I was about to open the door with that thought-
“Mr. Hainkel. You forgot something.”
“What is it?”
Emilia pulled my sleeve.
Leaving me puzzled, she rummaged through her bag and took out a box.
When she opened the box, inside was…
Makeup tools.
“You forgot? You promised to let me do your makeup.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes. You did.”
… Now I remember.
Why did I agree to that?
I must have been crazy at that time.
Okay.
Let’s say I don’t mind getting my makeup done.
But Iris, who was snickering next to me, was so annoying.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing at all, hehe.”
“…”
She had a knack for saying annoying things.
I had to hold back the urge to smack her on the head.
If I moved now, the makeup would get messed up.
About 10 minutes passed.
“All done, Mr. Hainkel!”
Emilia smiled, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
She brushed something on my cheeks, touched my eyebrows, and applied something to my lips, but honestly, I didn’t even know what she did.
But when I looked in the mirror Emilia handed me-
“Hmm. Not bad.”
“Right?”
I couldn’t help but feel quite satisfied.
Nothing had changed drastically.
Although I don’t know much about makeup, I could at least tell that it had the effect of making my features stand out more.
Looking like this, Schlus’ face seemed quite handsome.
I thought it was just an ordinary face.
“For men’s makeup, it’s enough to just highlight the points like this. How about doing it every day? I’ll do it for you.”
“I’ll have to decline that.”
No matter what, doing it every day is a bit too much…
Moreover, it felt unpleasant, as if Emilia thought of me as a makeup doll.
“Then let’s go out now.”
“Wait a moment…”
When I tried to open the door, Emilia grabbed and pulled my sleeve again.
Looking back, Emilia was taking rough breaths, her hand on her chest.
Was she acting like she was nervous?
That’s what I thought at first, but the idea that it wasn’t an act gradually grew stronger.
Last time when Aria visited. I didn’t notice it then, but thinking about it now, Emilia’s reaction was too exaggerated to be an act.
Who would wrongly serve tea to the Crown Princess while pretending to be nervous?
Perhaps Emilia really had a hard time dealing with people from the Imperial Family.
“It’s okay.”
“…?”
“If you’re really nervous, just look at me. Don’t look anywhere else. You came to assist me.”
“Yes…”
Before I knew it, Emilia’s trembling subsided, and her breathing gradually stabilized.
It seemed her nervousness was slowly easing.
“Shall we get off now?”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
“Thanks for lending the carriage. I express my gratitude once again.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes…”
When I got off the carriage, Iris’ reaction was lackluster, which was strange.
Normally, she would have tried to make me feel uncomfortable while taking credit.
Judging by her widened eyes, she seemed a bit surprised.
Why was that?
The answer to that question was quickly resolved when I saw Emilia glancing at me.
‘Ah.’
I realized what I had just done.
I had patted Emilia’s head.
Like a habit, unconsciously.
Naturally.
And in front of Iris at that.
Wow.
Fuck, this is so embarrassing.
I want to go die.
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