WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Reluctant Imperialist

Chapter 40

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The Logic of the Strong (3)

「Akarius」 was a mercenary corps based in the Kanillan Independent State, an island nation in the western part of the continent where mana engineering was especially advanced.

"One million imperial dollars......"

Its commander, Ren, was a pure Aran from the Empire, and most of their regular backers were Imperials too. That was exactly why they had planted themselves on an island nation independent from the Empire.

"...A million dollars just to find one old man."

She had become a mercenary commander at just twenty-three, a self-made figure in this line of work.

"He even has two names."

She quietly read the names on the request form: [Giorgio Kirico, Lorenzo Carione].

"Should we accept it?" her secretary asked.

"Wait."

Before taking any contract, 「Akarius」 always ran a thorough pre-check. Imperial nobles treated mercenaries like disposable tools, but to her, every member was a valuable asset that cost millions to raise.

"A lot of members want this one. A few already went into the Empire and started sniffing around."

"I heard you. Shut up."

She scratched at her red hair and picked up the request sheet.

"An old man escaping alone is strange. This cheapskate putting up a million is strange too. Something stinks. What else do we have?"

"We already pinned down the location. South, Hermes Province."

"Hermes is southern backwater country. Any other news from there?"

"Uh...... one second."

Secretary Jecon worked the computer. The Kanillan Independent State, with its advanced magical science and mana engineering, tracked every move the Empire made, so imperial news was always distributed through their network.

"Ah, here it is. A mana stone deposit erupted in the Rommilton Mountains in Hermes Province."

"A mana stone deposit erupted?"

"Yes. They say it's massive."

"Lucky bastards. Who struck it rich?"

"Mm...... that part wasn't disclosed. Oh right, the members who already went into the Empire got the ledger from the target's mana shop."

"Show me."

Jecon printed the ledger photos and handed them over. Ren scanned the records and sales.

Anyone who could help an old man with two names had to be a sponsor first. So she focused on recent large payments......

One name caught Commander Ren's eye.

"Maximilian."

She did not know exactly which one. The Empire was full of people with the same name, and Maximilian was fairly common. Still, only a limited number of people could drop this kind of money in one shot.

"...Ebenholtz."

Maybe not. But if it was Ebenholtz, stepping in meant getting yourself killed.

Sure, her twisted contrarian streak made her want to stir trouble, especially if the other side was Sebestian.

But not yet.

"We're out for now. Tell the ones already there to come back unless they want steel in their guts."

* * *

The logic of the strong was the logic of power.

The strong oppressed the weak. Because they were strong, they could.

But that logic could not be applied only when convenient. If you were strong enough to swallow the weak, you had to accept that someone stronger could crush you the same way, at any time.

If you could not accept that, it was not logic. It was sophistry.

Even so, most strong people could not accept the moment they themselves became the target. They called it unfair and felt wronged.

It was laughable.

A young knight of Ebenholtz officially ordered a retrial in the old Giorgio Kirico case. Facts buried for over ten years in a dusty archive rose back to the surface, and the Imperial Central Court set a retrial date with unusual speed.

From the moment that news spread, Listman Company began to collapse.

"...I don't think we can continue this deal any further, Chairman."

The president of Terra Metals, Listman's key supplier for core parts, announced the end of their business. His usual flattering tone was gone, replaced by a much colder, more official one.

"President Gunter."

"I'm sorry, but our hands are tied as well. Oh, and about the bill of exchange you issued last time, we'd appreciate cash payment as soon as possible."

"You said six months. Are you playing games with me right now?"

"...Games? The original term was next month."

Gunter gave a dry snicker, as if he found it pathetic. Blood vessels burst in Valerius's eyes.

"Chairman. The rumors around you are getting ugly. People are saying you put in some strange mercenary request, and it blew up in your face......"

His longtime business partner was looking down on him. Some lowborn commoner who made a little money dared to look down on me-

"If possible, you should let go of your greed."

President Gunter stood with a chuckle.

"Then I'll be going. Please don't forget that bill of exchange."

Left alone, Valerius gripped his glass hard.

......

The judge who had ruled in Valerius's favor in the Giorgio case over ten years ago, along with some of the police and prosecutors who handled that investigation, submitted resignations. As if by prior agreement, every one of them cited personal reasons.

Officials who once favored House Listman turned their backs in an instant, and a court notice arrived for Valerius. It was a formal summons ordering him to appear as a witness in the retrial.

At the same time, his arms and legs were cut off one by one. Loan extensions were blocked. Deals were canceled. Allied houses cut contact. Even the restaurant, social club, and golf course he frequented refused his reservations.

Rumors spread that the Imperial Tax Department had launched a targeted special audit of Listman Company.

Now no one even dared to be associated with him.

Valerius Listman was isolated in an instant.

All because of a single sheet of paperwork sent by an Ebenholtz knight.

Valerius let go of everything. In the end, he went to Sir Maximilian himself, if only to learn why this was happening and what the knight wanted from him.

"Sir Maximilian!"

Valerius barged straight into his office.

Under sunlight spilling through the window, Maximilian calmly poured tea.

"S-sir, you can't do this. Breaking into a knight's office is a crime-"

The administrative officer rushed over to stop Valerius, but Maximilian gave a light gesture to show it was fine. The officer stepped back.

Maximilian spoke.

"Please sit."

His voice was flat, with no rise or fall. Valerius hesitated, sat down, adjusted his clothes, and steadied his breathing.

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

Like hell I want tea.

Valerius asked Maximilian, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"

"..."

Maximilian drank quietly. Even that small gesture carried effortless class.

Valerius watched for a moment, then spoke again.

"Giorgio Kirico is purely my own bad blood. Then why are you, Sir Knight, taking that old man's side-"

"Mm. The reason is."

Maximilian cut him off.

"Because I want to."

A reason with no reason.

That one line shut Valerius's mouth.

"Is that a problem?"

"..."

Valerius felt like a sword had been driven into the crown of his head. His brain rang.

A house that could pressure and crush the Listmans just because they did not like him. A man who could stay this calm while looking down from a distant height, far removed from someone being strangled dry.

"Of course, this retrial will become one of my accomplishments. In points, one point, maybe two."

Valerius felt a giant wall.

A vague wall he could not touch, could not reach, could not even properly look up at.

"Still far too little compared to the theory you stole from Giorgio Kirico."

Tap. Maximilian set down his teacup.

"Mr. Valerius. I hate people who lie."

Valerius's body jolted.

"So let me ask you. Did you really not steal Giorgio Kirico's theory?"

"..."

Valerius could not force his mouth open.

Maximilian waited a long time.

"Th-that......"

Inside his mouth, so many words gathered into a lump. Fear for the future, shame toward himself, anger toward others, regret like snowflakes. None of it formed complete speech.

Watching him, Maximilian twisted the corner of his mouth.

"I hope you can speak in court."

By then, a staff officer had approached and pulled Valerius to his feet.

"Please escort him out politely."

"Yes, sir."

Supported by the staff officer, Valerius left the office.

-Thud.

Staring at the closing door, he felt as if the ground had collapsed beneath him.

A thought crossed his mind.

Had this been how his old master felt?

* * *

The retrial opened. Present were lawyers, prosecutors, judges, Lorenzo, and many other witnesses.

I attended in civilian clothes. I even wore a hat and mask so I would not be recognized.

I planned to watch from a corner of the gallery and see how the trial unfolded.

"From this moment, Imperial Central Court, Case No. III R 1317/4103, retrial hearing for defendant Giorgio Kirico, is now in session."

The judge opened court.

Lorenzo's lawyer first argued that the defendant was innocent in the old [Attempted Thesis Theft and Disciple Abuse] case and requested new witnesses. The judge accepted.

"...Over ten years ago, I gave false testimony in this courtroom."

Many old faces took the stand. They were colleagues who had once testified against Lorenzo.

Prepared to face perjury charges, they testified that Valerius's theory had in fact been Giorgio Kirico's original achievement. They also confessed that Giorgio had not abused his disciple, and had instead done good by giving part of his own salary as scholarship support.

"Your Honor, we submit peer review records as physical evidence."

The decisive evidence was the peer review record. At the Magic Tower, before announcing a new theory, scholars customarily discussed it with peers. Giorgio had liked exchanging ideas with colleagues, so before Valerius had even entered the tower, he had already sent out a draft of that theory and asked for review.

One of those witnesses came to the stand with the original document he had kept all this time.

From the gallery, I watched them. There was a familiar face in the very front row too.

"...Why is she there?"

Ezel. Wearing round glasses, she seemed to be taking careful notes on the trial in her notebook.

"I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry, Giorgio!"

This witness was Jerome. He cried out while repeatedly bowing toward Lorenzo in the defendant's seat.

"Back then I was blind...... consumed by jealousy...... and afraid......"

His apology was not only for Lorenzo. It was also a desperate struggle to save his own life.

Lorenzo watched his former colleague's ugly state with a stiff face.

"After recess, we will proceed with the second hearing."

Court entered a short recess.

I walked out to the back of the courthouse.

Tap. Tap. Lorenzo came too, leaning on his cane.

"Valerius Listman will be here soon."

Lorenzo gave a bitter smile at my words. Valerius would attend this trial as a witness.

He would come and say whatever he had to say.

"Sir Knight. The new workshop you built for me is much better than the lab I used at the Magic Tower in the past. How much money did you pour into it?"

"Not much. Time just passed. Equipment from fifteen years ago is junk now anyway."

I felt pleased. The truth was, I had spent a lot. I built every piece of equipment with the best available quality.

Lorenzo and Armand were talents worth that much.

"Thank you, Sir Maximilian."

His gratitude was sincere.

"At this point, I think I've been compensated enough."

I looked at Lorenzo.

Listman's downfall was already set. Mana coils had already become ordinary technology, and those laughable patent royalties would not last much longer.

On top of that, he would have to pay Lorenzo astronomical damages. Even selling his house would not cover it.

"I understand your intent, Sir Knight. The strong submit to the stronger, and power is broken by greater power......"

Lorenzo smiled softly. Under the sunlight, leaf-like wrinkles deepened around his eyes.

"But I am only an old scholar raising one disciple, and Valerius was once my disciple too."

He looked like a kind grandfather.

Like the sort of man who, if you met him in the neighborhood one day, would offer a cookie and a glass of milk to hungry children, or to a runaway like I had been before regression......

"So I want nothing more than this."

I smiled lightly and nodded.

"Yes."

If someone wanted to break free from the chain of hatred, then once they finally became the strong one, they had to cut that chain with their own hands.

Most people are dazzled by the fruit called revenge and cannot summon that courage,

but good people always try to find a better way.

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