Chapter 21: In the End, It's All About the People (2) Whirrrrrrrrr—! Whirrrrrrrrr—!
At the foot of the Rommilton Mountains—a rugged, desolate expanse where beasts and monsters roamed freely—a magi-engineering drill was boring into the solid bedrock.
Creeeeeak—!
Giant trees that had stood for centuries were snapped like sheets of paper. Slopes collapsed, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.
Rumble—!
"Aha! So this is where you've been hiding."
Mayor Jensen of Hermes approached the mining site with a beaming smile. His hostility from a few days ago had vanished; he was, after all, a politician who knew which way the wind blew.
"Administrator Dieter, how is the work progressing?" Jensen asked as he donned a hard hat.
"Smoothly."
"Haha, I certainly hope so. There have been some nasty rumors lately about the southern mines drying up, so we've been quite worried. I truly hope you hit the jackpot."
Dieter remained skeptical. Maximilian's first order had been land acquisition, followed immediately by exploration and excavation.
As far as Dieter knew, mana stone exploration was a high-risk, low-probability gamble. Even if one detected faint traces of mana on the surface, it didn't guarantee a large-scale mana ore vein.
However, Maximilian had seemed half-certain, and as an employee, Dieter followed his instructions.
"Um, Administrator."
Just then, a field expert walked over, wiping sweat from his brow.
"At this depth, if we dig for two more weeks and find nothing, you can assume there's nothing there."
"I see."
"Oh, come now. I'm sure it's there. It'll turn up. Hahaha…"
Jensen laughed, while Dieter silently watched the site.
They needed to find a vein within three months at the latest. That was the deadline, considering the initial capital, the sunk costs to date, and the future operating expenses.
*
Zebestian received the report from his butler, Engie. It concerned Maximilian's first business venture.
"The business that boy started was nothing more than mining?"
Tsk, tsk. He clicked his tongue and tossed the documents aside.
"He's causing all this commotion just to dig a few holes?"
There had been quite a few petitions from the southern part of the Empire. Of course, the moment they realized the target was House Ebenholtz, they tucked their tails and ran.
Engie spoke cautiously. "It seems the young master has a vision of his own."
"Vision? Nonsense. He probably picked up some trashy rumor somewhere. He's always been gullible. His ears are thinner than tissue paper."
Zebestian was a man of both the pen and the sword. He had more than doubled the assets of House Ebenholtz compared to the previous generation and was recognized as one of the Empire's top swordsmen. Naturally, his standards for others—especially for his heir—were incredibly high.
"If, by some chance, a good result comes of it—"
"Engie. Do you know why people who dig in the dirt are treated like fools?" Zebestian continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "Because they don't know when to quit. Once they start digging, they aren't satisfied until they've torn up every inch of the land they bought. They waste time and money poking around here and there, deluding themselves into thinking they haven't failed until they finally put down the shovel. They're nothing but moles."
Engie gave a bitter smile. "The young master is changing, little by little."
"…It's already too late." Zebestian cut him off coldly, staring out the window. "I've watched him for over twenty years. That's more than enough."
*
"…Maybe I shouldn't have taken this on."
Right now, I was conducting an undercover investigation as a Sentinel Knight.
The location was the noble district of the Imperial Capital. Specifically, Kerios Mansion—an extremely affluent neighborhood. It was a place where I strongly suspected—no, was certain—a Head-Eater resided.
I was watching the place from inside a car.
Without a doubt, an Izenheim known as a 'Head-Eater' was lurking in there.
"Hmm."
I stepped out of the car and stood a short distance from the entrance of Kerios Mansion.
"Who are you?"
A security guard immediately stopped me. I was in civilian clothes, after all.
"…I'm here to look at a house."
"A house?" The guard looked at me suspiciously. "Please present your identification."
"—Oh? Sir Maximilian?"
Just as the guard's tone turned stern, an overly greasy voice called my name.
"What brings you here?"
It was Jun Kandel. You know, that guy who let me have the white porcelain last time.
"—Salute!"
The guard saluted him and then bowed to me, apologizing for the rudeness.
I was, at the very least, an acquaintance of Jun's.
But seriously, how can a guy's name be Jun? It's annoying.
"I'm looking for a house."
"Another house? You seem to have developed quite an interest in real estate."
Jun Kandel brushed back his long hair. I really didn't like the way he looked, with that face as long as a horse's.
"I heard you recently purchased a property as well."
"Yes. It's a foregone conclusion that land prices in the capital will rise. It's a good business."
"Haha, I wonder what kind of fault you'll find this time to snatch one up... but there won't be any listings in Kerios. And those low-level methods you used before won't work here."
I smiled at Jun Kandel's mocking words. Getting angry at this snake-tongued man would only be my loss.
"If there are no listings—"
"Ah, right. You became a Sentinel Knight recently. I should have congratulated you. My apologies, I've been busy with Magic Tower business lately."
For the record, this man was a mage.
"Well, congratulations aren't really—"
"But then again, isn't it enough for us to just hear the news as it passes by?"
"That's—"
"Then, please, come in. Though I doubt anyone is looking to sell in Kerios, I'll show you around since you're already here. For your information, it took me quite a long time to acquire a unit in this mansion myself."
You son of a bitch, let me get a word in.
"First of all, the interior of Kerios is enhanced with expansion magic."
Jun led me into the mansion. There was a spacious park inside.
"The park is more than three times larger than it appears. It's a perfect place to soak in the sun and meditate. Though I'm not sure what someone who spends their time gripping a sword would think about, for a high-ranking mage like myself, it's very important..."
As I walked along, half-ignoring the idiot's rambling—
Thump.
Suddenly, my heart raced.
Thump.
It was a signal from the virus.
Thump.
I quickly looked toward a certain direction.
Thump.
A woman was gracefully descending the central staircase. She had skin as white as snow, jet-black hair flowing down to her waist, and deep, unfathomable blue eyes. A necklace shimmered at her collarbone, and a ring sparkled on her finger. She stood about 173cm tall, with slender ankles and wrists. Her body was in the perfect golden ratio.
All that information poured into me.
"…"
Jun Kandel also stopped in his tracks.
For a split second, the two of them exchanged glances.
Jun knew this woman.
And the woman knew Jun.
Look at these two.
The woman tactfully passed us without a word, but I asked Jun, "Do you know her?"
"…I've seen her face around."
"She's beautiful."
For a moment, Jun's brow twitched. This guy really couldn't control his expressions. No wonder he was always being outshone by his younger brother.
"I thought you were here to look at houses. Are you here to look at people instead?" Jun asked with a thorny tone. His usual air of noble sophistication had shattered because of that woman.
I hid a smile and nodded.
"Ah, I've developed a bit of a hobby lately."
"A hobby?"
"Yes."
I suddenly felt amused. My heart felt lighter.
"There have been a few articles about it recently."
I nonchalantly put my hands behind my back.
"Lately, I've become quite adept at catching those who 'pretend' to be Imperials."
That woman was an Izenheim. In a place where only pure Imperial nobles could reside, an Izenheim was staying.
Did Jun know that?
"…And?"
"I was just wondering if there might be... that kind of filth in this mansion as well."
"…What?"
"If that's the case, a listing will naturally open up soon."
Jun was silent for a moment. He scanned my face from top to bottom, then curled one side of his mouth upward.
"As if. This is Kerios."
"You never know. Not unless we do a full-scale investigation."
"A full-scale investigation of the nobility? Are you insane?"
He was suddenly getting worked up.
I gave a bitter smile and ran a hand through my hair.
"I was just speaking hypothetically."
"What kind of—"
"Well, I've seen enough for today."
I tilted my head slightly. I caught one last glimpse of the woman's receding figure in the distance.
"I'll be going now."
Step.
I turned away from Jun. He glared intensely at my back.
Thanks to this, I learned a new fact I hadn't known before my regression.
Jun Kandel was surprisingly a romanticist.
*
I returned to the office. I turned on the computer and researched the residents of Kerios Mansion.
[Name: Pexy von Arjen]
[Birth: November 1, 1012, Imperial Calendar, Capital Arcadia]
[Status: Eldest Daughter of House Arjen]
[Occupation: 5th-Tier Mage of Sentio Magic Tower]
"Target identified."
I had also accidentally stumbled upon a rival's weakness.
Why had the Head-Eater suddenly stopped killing? The answer was simple. It had gained the opportunity to operate at a higher level.
"I've identified her, but..."
No matter how I thought about it, I wasn't enough on my own. A Knight isn't a field agent, and I can't be in multiple places at once.
Dieter was capable enough to match Engie's administrative skills, but he lacked martial prowess.
"People."
I needed people. Investigators, or informants. Someone to handle the field. Someone to lead the front lines in the shadows.
I rubbed my chin. My stubble had grown quite prickly.
"…Wait."
Suddenly, the [Inmate List] on the computer caught my eye.
Knights are allowed to form their own private organizations. There's a gray area in the Imperial statutes that grants Knights a certain degree of discretion, and it's entirely possible to utilize incarcerated criminals as informants through 'limited amnesty.'
I leaned forward. I scanned the list of inmates displayed on the computer screen.
Scroll. Scroll.
I searched for a name as I turned the wheel.
If there was a name I recognized... there was.
"Found her."
*
Imperial 13th Prison. The thirteenth prison of the Empire, located in the western region.
"You've arrived, sir. Salute!"
As I stepped out into the parking lot, the warden and guards greeted me. I merely gave a slight nod.
I'd realized lately that when dealing with subordinates, an authoritative demeanor is much more convenient. It's not that they try to act as equals if you're soft, but they keep bothering you with unnecessary questions.
"I've heard the general news from your administrator. That you're considering limited amnesty..."
"Please lead the way."
"Yes, sir."
The warden guided me into the prison.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
Heavy security gates opened one after another as I walked with the warden.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
After passing through multiple layers of gates, the exercise yard, and the ordinary barracks, we reached a separate building.
"These are the solitary cells. They hold inmates whose crimes were particularly heinous or who have caused disturbances."
People were locked away individually in small, honeycomb-like rooms. Inmate numbers, crimes, and names were written on the iron doors.
I walked down the hallway, scanning them with my eyes.
Step. Step.
I stopped at a certain point.
"…"
Beyond the iron bars was a woman with a sharp gaze. Her wild, black hair half-covered her face, and the look in her eyes visible through the strands was incredibly piercing.
She was the one I was looking for.
I pointed my finger at the row of cells, including hers.
"I'll conduct interviews. This entire row."
If I singled out just one person, it might arouse unnecessary suspicion.
"Yes, I understand. Number 771, Number 3910, Number 391..."
However, the warden's behavior was strange. He skipped the very number I wanted.
I asked him, "Why are you skipping Number 330?"
"Ah, well... Inmate 330's crimes are extremely severe. She shows absolutely no remorse, and she's involved in several other cases that haven't been closed yet... She even has remaining trials. For your own safety, sir, it would be best to exclude her."
The warden suddenly began piling up strange excuses. I said impassively, "I'll be the judge of that."
Something smelled fishy. For some reason, it felt like one of the Empire's 'high and mighty' was involved with both this prison and this inmate.
"But, Sir Knight..."
"Silence."
So what?
Unless that 'high and mighty' person was the Emperor himself, they wouldn't be higher than me.
I had no intention of entertaining the stories behind their corruption.
Therefore:
"Don't talk back to me."
"…Yes, I understand."
The warden bowed his head and quietly bit his lip.
"Up to Number 330. Have them all ready."
Clang! Clang!
With heavy metallic sounds, the iron bars of the solitary cells began to open one by one.
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