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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Hector, the head of the Information Bureau’s Asset Management Division, was well aware that the Security Division had been investigating him for months. However, he had siphoned the money off-planet through a private satellite, leaving no trace. Therefore, he believed there could be no evidence.
Naturally, he had managed to remain safe and sound under their tight surveillance. …But the problem arose a few weeks ago.
When Conte Magnici, a longtime technician in the Information Bureau’s Satellite Management Division, blackmailed Hector for money, the Asset Management head killed him without hesitation. Just in case, he even collected the computer’s main unit to destroy any evidence. Unfortunately for him, the Security Division discovered evidence related to the satellite.
Still, the connection was too weak to uncover his corruption with just that, so he hadn’t been overly worried. But then, a secretly whispered rumor sent chills down his spine.
We found the slush fund.
Slush fund? No way, could it be my money? My life’s work?
Hector tried to remain calm, but a frantic call from the Satellite Management head set him off. He, too, had risked his life and gained a significant share in this corruption, so naturally, he seemed terrified that all the money might disappear.
That’s what I said. From the very beginning, I told you to kill all the witnesses, not leave a single one alive!
Of course, Hector knew that, but if he killed too many people, he was afraid it would raise suspicion, so he wanted to bide his time. …But that ended up backfiring.
“It might not be ours.”
Anyway, let’s check it quickly. Do you know how I got that money? If it’s gone, I’m dead!
Hector, who had been trying to maintain his composure, finally crumbled under the pressure from Longpatt, the Satellite Management head. He, too, was terrified.
“Then set a launch date. I’ll check it out.”
I’ve already set it. Three days from now. Board the ship like last time.
“Alright. Let’s hang up then.”
The call ended abruptly. Hector sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. Unable to contain his anger, he slammed his fists on the armrests.
“Damn it, damn it!!”
He couldn’t understand how they had found him out. …It seemed that the Security Division hadn’t been wasting their time those past few months. They had probably been scouring the surrounding planets, tracking the large sum of money that came from Arcmancina.
Could that be done so easily?
That didn’t make sense either. They would have to get permission from each planetary headquarters, which was a hassle. It was illogical to do that on dozens of planets in just a few months.
The thought that this might be a trap crossed his mind. Since they couldn’t catch him either way, they were throwing out bait.
Although his head understood this, his heart couldn’t accept it. If it was true, he would lose all that enormous sum of money in an instant. He couldn’t bear that.
The money he worked so hard to acquire!
Still, he needed to be cautious. There was always a possibility, however small.
So, Hector entrusted the verification task to a trusted relative. His family might be followed, and if he moved carelessly and got caught, he’d be truly trapped.
…He desperately prayed that the money the Security Division found wasn’t his.
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Three days later, as promised.
Late at night, Hector paced restlessly in his bedroom, unable to sleep. His wife watched him with a worried expression.
The division head anxiously awaited a call from his relative who had boarded the cargo ship. He prayed fervently that there would be no problems.
“Honey, is everything alright?”
“Shut up.”
“Honey… what if something bad happens…?”
Hector glared at his wife and yelled.
“I told you to shut up!”
This was a matter of 50 million Jenny. A sum large enough to make taking a life or two, or even abandoning family, seem trivial.
Naturally, Hector was half-crazed. He couldn’t think straight, consumed by the worry of what he would do if the money was truly gone.
It was a slush fund he had created by meticulously manipulating the books for almost ten years. Perfect money with no hard evidence, only slight suspicion.
It was money that wouldn’t cause any problems as long as it wasn’t discovered. That’s why he had used a private satellite to make it completely disappear from this blue planet, Arcmancina, but that ten-year plan was now on the verge of collapse. It would be strange if he were in his right mind.
Please, please, please, please.
“Damn it, damn it!”
Hector kicked the bed and the wall to vent his frustration.
Why isn’t this bastard calling?!
He waited and waited for the call. After about an hour, his silent phone finally rang.
!!
The caller ID was blocked.
It had to be his relative. He quickly answered.
“Ray?”
[Yes, Uncle. The money is there.]
“Really? It’s there? No problems?”
[No problems.]
Phew.
Hector felt as if a ten-year-old blockage had cleared. The demonic grimace on his face softened.
“Good, good job. Take care of things without any problems. Understand?”
Understood.
The call ended.
He sighed deeply once more, then started to chuckle.
“He said it’s there. No problems. …Phew. That’s a relief, isn’t it?”
“Yes, honey.”
“I’m sorry I yelled earlier. I was so stressed.”
“It’s okay. I understand. You were so worried.”
With his worries gone, he felt a surge of desire.
“Honey…”
The middle-aged couple made love.
Afterward, Hector fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
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The next day, early dawn.
Hector was awakened by the insistent ringing of the doorbell at the crack of dawn. He told his wife to go check and pulled the covers over his head.
His wife, wearing a gown, left the bedroom. A short while later, she returned and woke him up urgently.
“Honey, honey…!”
“What?”
“There are people outside…”
Hector suddenly became fully alert, as if he hadn’t just been asleep.
“People? Who? Who is it?”
“The Security Division of the Curble Knights.”
!!!!
Hector felt his strength drain away. His mind went blank.
Suddenly, unknown individuals burst through the bedroom door. His wife shrieked, asking how dare they barge into the bedroom without permission. But the knights didn’t flinch. They glared at Hector with menacing eyes and spoke ominously.
“Hector Johnson. You are under arrest for embezzlement. …Apprehend him.”
“Em, embezzlement?! I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything!”
“Save it for later. What are you waiting for? Arrest him!”
The mobilized police officers approached Hector. He protested, claiming it was absurd, but the knight just stared at the division head without a word. In the end, the head was handcuffed, wearing only his underwear. His wife’s cries and pleas that there must be a mistake were ignored.
The knight, who had gotten into the backseat with the arrested head, told the female knight in the passenger seat that they could leave. Soon, the car carrying the division head sped off.
“I haven’t done anything wrong. I haven’t done anything wrong! Embezzlement? You’ve made a huge mistake. You think you can get away with this?! Huh?!”
The man sitting in the backseat with him, Karl, smirked.
“We know your methods. You secretly sent the money through a private satellite. Last night, you sent a cargo ship to check the money. It’s already been confirmed.”
!!
Hector was speechless, his mouth agape in shock.
“You hid it so thoroughly, it’s almost a shame. 50 million Jenny, gone down the drain.”
He mentioned the exact amount. That meant the slush fund had definitely been discovered.
Oh, oh…
Hector felt his world darken. His will to live vanished.
No, no, no, no.
“We’re also going to arrest Longpatt Gamoshi, the Satellite Management head. You two can rot in jail together. With that amount, you won’t get out before you die.”
No, no, no, no.
“Don’t even think about appealing. Just accept it. The evidence is solid, so there’s no way out. Instead of making things worse and ending up in a crappy prison, just beg for leniency.”
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!!!!
“Aaaaaaaaagh!”
Hector started banging his head against the front seat. Karl pushed against his chest to restrain him.
“Fuck, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!”
Seeing Hector’s outburst, Karl smiled grimly.
Greedy bastards like this always fail.
The months-long corruption case came to an end.
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