WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

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◈ The Reluctant Imperialist

Chapter 55

──────

Favor (2)

We saw Tower Master Nicolaus off.

“I had a good time today.”

“Yes.”

Nicolaus climbed into his car with a flushed face and left, and I was left alone with Kairon.

“...Ahem. Max. Thank you.”

Kairon spoke first, looking awkward.

“No. Thanks to you, Sir Kairon. You read my intentions quickly, so I could handle things smoothly.”

“Ha ha. Then, as I thought, you too think Deputy Commander Anton...”

“Yes. We cannot let that happen.”

Kairon lowered his head and chuckled.

Anton was not a man fit to lead the Order. He was too upright, too stubborn. At the very least, he was not someone who could bear this era.

“By the way, Sir Kairon.”

I looked at Kairon. More precisely, at the watch on his wrist.

“May I ask one favor?”

“...A favor?”

Kairon asked, suddenly tense.

Maybe it was the alcohol. It had been bothering me for a while, and I could not ignore it anymore.

“What kind of favor?”

“It is nothing major, but if we ever meet alone later.”

A wristwatch.

“I would appreciate it if you did not wear one.”

The tick tick tick of the movement bothered me too much. I did not know why. If I had to guess, maybe watches could not keep up with “absolute time,” and they kept slipping against some kind of “sense of time” in my head.

“Ah... right. Understood. I will do that.”

Kairon looked flustered, but nodded.

“Thank you. Then we should be going now.”

“Very well.”

Kairon gently patted my shoulder twice. I gave him a slight bow and got into the car.

* * *

Flash! Flash-flash!

Camera flashes went off one after another in the press briefing room. As a knight of the Sentinel Order, I stepped onto the podium. The Head-Eater case had drawn major attention lately, so many reporters had gathered.

“...The suspect known as the so-called ‘Head-Eater’ has been confirmed, through Sentio Magic Tower’s detailed analysis, to have used the forbidden Chaos magic 「Chimera Brain」.”

The old serial killer, Head-Eater.

Sentio Magic Tower had concluded, from magical analysis, that Pexy was Head-Eater.

“As for the details of the Chaos magic 「Chimera Brain」, the mage who gave my investigation her full support.”

I pointed to one corner of the briefing room.

“Fourth-Rank Mage Ezel of Sentio Magic Tower will explain.”

At last, Ezel came up to the podium. She looked very nervous.

“Yes. I am Fourth-Rank Ezel. First, I will explain, explain the materials I prepared.”

She stumbled, but kept going.

“The Chaos magic 「Chimera Brain」 is a horrific spell that consumes, no, consumes another person’s brain energy and steals their body. It is forbidden under Imperial law. It is not that only this one spell is banned, no, but all magic that can ‘cause disorder in the Empire’ is prohibited.”

Even while trembling, Ezel handled the briefing well.

“We performed a detailed test on the cerebrospinal fluid of the suspect detained by the Sentinel Order, presumed to be Head-Eater, and detected many different types of brain energy. Therefore, this suspect is not Pexy von Arzen.”

I took the microphone again.

“At this time, it is presumed to be an unidentified ‘subspecies’.”

Subspecies. The moment I said that, Ezel glared at me. Her brow twitched sharply.

“Further details will be announced after the investigation proceeds. That concludes today’s briefing.”

I ended the press conference as if I noticed nothing.

Grip. As I stood from my seat, Ezel grabbed my collar.

“Why?”

Ezel looked up at me.

“How are you so sure it is a subspecies?”

Her question was reasonable, but I had no choice except to answer with prejudice.

“Because if it were an Imperial Aran, it would never do this.”

“...”

Ezel held my gaze, then quietly let go.

“Good work, Max.”

“Yeah. You too.”

I left the press room. I did not bother turning back to look at Ezel standing there alone.

* * *

I returned to the mansion. I was tired, but there was still a mountain of work to process. Some items needed approval, and others were reports on work already completed.

I opened the documents.

[Gennen Branch Office Completed]

[Wiretap and Surveillance Logs]

The Gennen branch office was complete, and last night Schatz added intelligence that one Revolutionary Faction base had been identified. Solid evidence had also been secured.

There was no reason to drag this out, so I decided to deploy tomorrow.

──[Official Authorization]──

Subject: Final Approval for Establishment of a New Educational Institution

Institution Name: Special Magi-Engineering Academy......

────

A new school and dormitory had been completed on the landlocked plot I had purchased.

We had also received formal permission from the Empire. Lorenzo became the academy head, and Armand became its first student.

That was good news.

[Hermes Province Airport Completion and Request for Operating Permit]

[Signature Required]

The airport in Hermes Province, where the Rommilton zone was located, had been completed. I signed the document announcing the start of operations.

Southern Hermes would now become my firm stronghold.

[Mana Stone Purity Grade Table]

This was a mana stone performance report. The new equipment, A-Kkaengi, had been introduced to Rommilton, and mining efficiency had risen instantly.

We also installed a workshop to process mined mana stones on site. Not only for the “Mana Carving” Lorenzo mentioned, but also as a space for ultra-precision processing that could raise high-purity mana stones to top purity.

[Request to Hire Mana Stone Processors]

[Approval Required]

I signed right away.

From top-purity mana stone processing onward, skilled master craftsmen were necessary. Naturally occurring mana stones with over 96% purity were almost nonexistent.

But training masters required enormous cost, and failure was inevitable.

Only after ruining precious 96% purity stones again and again, breaking them down to 70% while carving, dozens or hundreds of times, did true craftsmen capable of producing 98% and 99% purity finally emerge.

I would not spare that expense.

[Administrative Officer Dieter Schmidt: Golden Grain Inspection Proposal]

Golden Grain. A company with patented technology that repeatedly distilled and fermented top-grade grain from the eastern breadbasket of the Empire after feeding it mana fluid. Through that process, the grain was altered into a special mana substance, then sold as expensive elixirs.

The kind of “youth tonic” nobles could not get enough of.

But they neglected their obligation to treat mana wastewater and dumped it illegally into nearby drains. As a result, nearby villages were contaminated, and many residents suffered unexplained illnesses and deformities.

Below that was a proposal written directly by Dieter.

──[Plan: Acquisition of Golden Grain]──

According to research by Academy Head Lorenzo, Golden Grain’s grain distillation technology has very high potential for development beyond simple elixir production into a battlefield recovery drug that stabilizes wounded soldiers’ mana circuits and maximizes recovery speed.

────

Medicine was critical on the battlefield. Not just as treatment, but also for morale.

Even if a soldier was shot, even if he was cut by a sword, the belief that the army could save him directly improved combat performance.

Such valuable patents and facilities were being wasted by vermin like them to make luxury goods.

I called Dieter.

“Dieter.”

“Yes.”

“Work the Golden Grain case. If you find other good patents, report them too.”

“Understood.”

Ebenholtz did not care about means or method.

If there was something we wanted, we took it. If there was something we wanted broken, we broke it.

Thud.

Just then, I heard a pebble hit the study window.

Thud.

I opened the window. Freya was below in the training yard.

“Hey! Why are you not coming out!”

“...Ah.”

So today was lesson day.

“I will come immediately.”

I jumped straight down from the study window. Freya frowned at once.

“Fifteen minutes late. Double tuition.”

“Yes.”

“Acting up because you have money, huh.”

“...When did I ever?”

“Stop talking and swing your sword.”

I took up the longsword. No preparatory motion was needed. I simply swung in quiet stillness.

......

Now my sword made no unnecessary noise.

And the Ebenholtz quick-draw had become familiar enough that, with one step planted on mana, I could advance dozens of meters.

If I added that “sense of time” of mine to it, would I not be fairly threatening even against Freya?

“Oh ho. You polished it well. Try it on me too.”

Freya raised her sword.

“Yes.”

I poured mana into my blade. A silver trail spread out. It rushed at Freya. No, it flowed into her.

-! ---! --!

A silent sword form unfolded at full power. Freya deflected it with minimal movement. She looked relaxed, but a deep smile had already settled at the corners of her mouth.

When I lowered my sword, she said,

“You have become natural.”

“Like flowing water?”

“And like moonlight.”

“By the way, what happened to your appearance? Your beard is coming in dark too.”

“I have been busy lately.”

“Did I not tell you? Even in things like that, Ebenholtz must never leave gaps.”

“If I have no time, it grows anyway.”

“Then grow it properly instead. Like Duke Sebestian.”

“...I hate beards.”

I had lived like a total beggar while on the run. I hated beards now.

“Remember this. Keep your mindset and bearing diligent at all times, and harden your spirit. Become an unshakable noble.”

I looked at Freya. She always remained a question to me, this woman who knew Ebenholtz better than Ebenholtz and lectured Ebenholtz about Ebenholtz.

I wanted to ask who she was, but I probably should not.

“Yes. I will remember. But I will never become purely noble.”

“Why?”

Moonlight suddenly settled over the training ground. Tonight was a full moon. It had already become a full moon.

Time was moving this fast.

“...Because I have to kill many people.”

I was already resolved.

Before long, my foundation would be complete, and when that “time” finally came.

I would willingly swing my own heart.

“If that is your conviction.”

Freya said to me,

“If you set your conviction straight and never abandon it, that itself is noble.”

* * *

Golden Grain, the company that owned the golden breadbasket of eastern Ementle.

Its chairman, Chamber von Wagner, looked at the papers the man across from him had handed over and let out a dry laugh.

“Huh. What is this?”

The man with glasses answered in a stiff voice.

“It is an acquisition proposal, Chairman Wagner.”

“I asked what this is. Looks like someone added about six zeros wrong.”

“No company in this Empire holds a value of fifty billion dollars.”

The amount on the check was only fifty thousand dollars. Chamber glared at him, face twisting.

“...Where did this lunatic bastard crawl out from?”

“Before that, please read this as well.”

The man placed another bundle of papers on the table. A component analysis report of wastewater illegally discharged from Golden Grain’s factory. Evidence that the drinking water nearby villagers had consumed all this time had been polluted by mana waste.

“In return, we will bear the damages from this criminal conduct and the cost of restoring the entire village.”

“...”

Chamber’s face went rigid.

“Hey, you. Do you even know who I am?”

“You are Chairman Chamber of Golden Grain.”

“Right. Eastern Ementle is my turf. No one here can say a thing to me. I, my family, have fed this city for three generations. Huh? Do you know how much tax I pay, you idiot bastard?”

The man nodded.

“I see. I am Dieter Schmidt.”

“Oh, look at that, just a commoner-”

“Administrative officer to Sir Knight Maximilian Ebenholtz.”

At that moment, Chamber froze.

It felt like he had just heard a name that should not have come up.

“...What? Who?”

“If you accept this proposal now, besides Golden Grain’s criminal actions, Sir Knight is willing to overlook all charges committed by Chairman Chamber, including tax evasion, embezzlement, and bribery.”

“No, who are you, what are you even-”

Dieter pulled out a new document and handed it over.

[Correction Order]

It was a correction order from the Sentinel Order, signed by Maximilian.

Ebenholtz’s signature was unmistakably scrawled on it.

“...”

Chamber swallowed hard. Cold sweat had formed on his forehead before he realized it.

A forgery? No, what kind of insane swindler would impersonate Ebenholtz to seize a company?

“If you refuse this proposal.”

Dieter watched Chamber and spoke dryly.

“You will likely see Sir Knight’s face in person.”

Chamber’s breathing quickened. With a trembling hand, he picked up the acquisition proposal. He licked his dry lips and glanced at Dieter.

Dieter calmly stood up.

“I will give you three days. Please decide by then. Keep this in mind. This is the ‘last’ favor Sir Knight is specially extending.”

Step. Step. Watching the administrative officer walk away, Chairman Chamber clutched his chest as hyperventilation hit him.

...Two days later, Veritas acquired Golden Grain’s facilities and patents. Proper compensation was paid to the villagers, and Lorenzo and Armand began developing equipment to process mana wastewater.

Once the wastewater processor was complete, Golden Grain would later be redesigned into a wartime pharmaceutical factory.

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