Chapter 21: In the End, the Problem is People (2) | Semi-Coercive Imperialist
Kiiiiiiiiing──! Kiiiiiiiiing──!
At the foothills of Lomilton, where the terrain is rugged and human presence is rare, beasts and monsters frequently appeared.
A magi-tech drill was boring through the solid bedrock of that place.
Kkaduduk──!
Ancient trees, hundreds of years old, were snapped like paper. The slope crumbled, and dust rose into the air.
Kwaduduk──!
"Ah~ so this is where you were."
Jensen, the mayor of Hermes, approached with a bright smile at the mining site in full operation within the mountain range. Just a few days ago, he had been hostile, but he had turned around in an instant. Indeed, he was a politician well-versed in practical affairs.
"Secretary Dieter. How is the work progressing?"
Jensen asked as he put on a safety helmet.
"It is going smoothly."
"Haha, that's good to hear. There have been disturbing rumors lately that the southern mines have completely dried up, so we were quite worried. Hopefully a bi~g jackpot hits."
In fact, Dieter had his doubts. Maximilian's first order of business had been land acquisition, followed by exploration and mining.
As far as Dieter knew, mana stone exploration was an extremely risky gamble with low odds. Even if a faint mana presence was detected on the surface, it did not necessarily lead to a large-scale mana stone vein.
However, Maximilian had been half-convinced, and Dieter, as an employee, followed his orders.
"Excuse me, Secretary."
Just then, a field expert approached, wiping sweat.
"At this depth, we should dig for about two more weeks. If nothing comes out by then, it's safe to assume there's nothing there."
"Yes."
"Oh come on. There will be something. It'll come up. Hahaha..."
Jensen laughed, and Dieter quietly watched the site.
At the very least, a vein had to be found within three months. That was the deadline, factoring in the initial capital, the sunk costs so far, and the future operational expenses.
***
Sebestian received a report from the butler Enzi. It was about Maximilian's first business venture.
"His's big new venture was just mining?"
Tsk tsk. He clicked his tongue and threw the documents away.
"He's making all this fuss just to dig up a mine?"
There had been several petitions raised from the southern Empire. Of course, as soon as it was revealed that the party involved was Ebenholtz, they had all backed off.
Enzi spoke cautiously.
"It seems the young master has his own vision."
"Vision, my ass. He probably picked up some random, half-assed rumor. He's always been easily swayed. His ears are thinner than paper."
Sebestian was both a scholar and a warrior. He had doubled the Ebenholtz family's assets compared to the previous generation, and he himself was recognized as one of the most powerful swordsmen in the Empire. Accordingly, his standards for others, especially for successors, were extremely high.
"If, by any chance, a good result comes out-"
"Enzi. Do you know why people who dig the earth get treated like morons?"
Sebestian continued with a tone of disdain.
"Because they can't give up. Once they start digging, they have to tear up every inch of the land they bought to feel satisfied. They poke around here and there, wasting time and money, and deceive themselves into thinking they haven't failed until they put down the shovel. They're no better than moles."
Enzi gave a bitter smile.
"The young master is changing, little by little."
"...It's already too late."
Sebestian cut coldly as he looked out the window.
"Twenty years of watching is more than enough."
***
"...Shouldn't have taken this job."
Right now, I am conducting an undercover investigation as a knight of Sentinel.
The location is the noble district of the Empire's capital. Specifically, a very expensive wealthy area called Kerios Mansion. A place strongly suspected- no, confirmed to be the residence of a Brain-Eater.
I am observing the place from inside a car.
No doubt about it, there's an Ezenheim called a "Brain-Eater" lurking in there.
"Hmph."
I got out of the car for now. I stood some distance from the front entrance of Kerios Mansion.
"Who are you?"
A security guard immediately stopped me. Well, I was dressed in plain clothes right now.
"...I came to see the house."
"House?"
The guard looked at me with suspicious eyes.
"Please present your identification."
"-Hmm? Sir Maximilian?"
Just as the guard's tone turned stern, an overly smooth voice called my name.
"What brings you here?"
It was Jun Kandel. The man who had yielded that white porcelain to me last time.
"...Loyalty!"
The guard saluted him and bowed to me, apologizing for the rudeness.
Well, I was technically an acquaintance of Jun's.
Still, who the hell names someone 'Jun'? How irritating.
"I'm looking into properties."
"Another house? Seems like you've taken an interest in real estate?"
Jun Kandel brushed back his long hair. That horse-headed hairstyle of his really rubbed me the wrong way.
"I heard you recently purchased one, too."
"Yes. The rising land prices in the Capital are a given, aren't they? It's a good investment."
"Haha, so what pretext are you using this time to buy another one... But there won't be any listings in Kerios. And that low-level trick you used before won't work again."
At Jun Kandel's mocking tone, I smiled.
It'd be my loss if I got angry at this snake-tongued bastard.
"If there are no listings-"
"Ah~ that's right. You became a Sentinel knight recently. I should have congratulated you, my apologies. I've been busy with Tower matters."
For reference, this guy's a wizard.
"Well, there's no need for congratulations."
"But still, with the news going around, we both hear enough, don't we?"
"Right."
"Then come in. There may not be anyone selling in Kerios, but since you're here, I'll give you a tour. For your information, it took me quite a while to acquire this mansion myself."
You fucking bastard, let me say something for once.
"First off, this Kerios mansion includes spatial expansion magic."
Jun began guiding me through the mansion. Inside was a spacious park.
"The park is more than three times wider than it appears. It's perfect for reflective thinking under the sun. Though I'm not sure what kinds of thoughts someone like you would have while holding a sword, for a high-ranking wizard like me, it's very important..."
As this moron's words drifted into the background, I was strolling when,
─Thump.
Suddenly, my heart pounded.
─Thump.
It was a signal from the virus.
─Thump.
I quickly turned my gaze somewhere.
─Thump.
A woman was elegantly descending the central staircase. Skin white as snow. Jet-black hair flowing down to her waist. Deep blue eyes of unknowable depth. A necklace shimmering over her collarbone, a ring glinting on her finger. She stood about 173cm tall, with slender wrists and ankles. The golden ratio of the human form.
All that information flooded into me.
"...."
Jun Kandel suddenly stopped walking too.
In that instant, the two exchanged glances.
Jun knew this woman.
And she knew Jun.
Well, well, look at these two.
The woman, tactfully, passed us without saying a word, but I asked Jun,
"Do you know her?"
"...I've seen her in passing."
"She's beautiful."
For a moment, Jun's brow twitched. This bastard really can't keep a straight face. No wonder his little brother always runs circles around him.
"Thought you were here for house hunting. Come to sightsee instead?"
Jun asked with a thorn in his tone. That high-class pretense of his had cracked just now because of that woman.
I nodded, suppressing my laughter.
"Ah. I've recently developed a bit of a hobby, you see."
"Hobby?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, this all became fun. I felt lighter.
"There were some articles recently."
I casually folded my hands behind my back.
"These days, I'm particularly good at sniffing out people who 'pretend' to be Imperial citizens."
That woman is Ezenheim. In a place where only pure Imperial nobles are allowed to reside, an Ezenheim is staying.
Does Jun know that?
"...So?"
"I just thought, maybe... this mansion, too, might have some of those types lurking around... Just a thought."
"...What?"
"If that's the case, well, I guess listings will naturally open up, won't they."
Jun was silent for a moment. He scanned my face up and down, then twisted one corner of his mouth.
"Surely not. This is Kerios."
"You never know. Unless we conduct a full investigation someday."
"You want to conduct a full investigation on nobles? Are you insane?"
Suddenly, he was getting all worked up.
I gave a bitter smile and ran a hand through my hair.
"I'm just saying."
"What are you-"
"Well, I've seen enough of the place now."
I tilted my head slightly, stealing one more glance at the woman's retreating figure in the distance.
"Well then, I'll be going now."
Step.
I turned away from Jun. He glared intensely at my back as I walked off.
Thanks to that, I learned a new fact I hadn't known before the Regression.
Jun Kandel, unexpectedly, was a romantic.
...I returned to the office. I turned on the computer and began checking the list of Kerios Mansion residents.
[Name: Pexi von Arzen]
[Birth: November 1, Imperial Year 1012, Capital Arcadia]
[Status: Eldest daughter of the Arzen Family]
[Affiliation: Sentio Magic Tower, 5th-tier Wizard]
"The culprit has been identified."
By chance, I also found a weakness in my rival.
Why had the Brain-Eater suddenly stopped killing? The answer was simple. She had gotten the opportunity to operate from a higher place.
"I've identified her but...."
No matter how I thought about it, I wasn't enough on my own. Knights aren't field agents, and I don't have multiple bodies.
Dieter was capable enough to match Enzi on administrative matters, but he lacked combat ability.
"People."
I need people. Investigators, or informants. People who can handle things on the ground. Someone to lead the shadowy frontlines from the dark.
I rubbed my chin. My beard had already grown rough without me noticing.
"...Wait."
Suddenly, my eyes landed on the computer's [Prisoner List].
Knights are allowed to form their own private organizations. The Imperial law contains a gray area that grants knights a certain degree of discretion, and using imprisoned criminals as informants through "limited pardons" is fully possible.
I leaned forward. I scanned the prisoner list displayed on the computer screen.
Click. Scroll.
I moved the mouse wheel, searching through the names.
If there was even one familiar name to me... and there was.
"Found her."
***
Imperial Prison No. 13. The Empire's thirteenth prison located in the western region.
"You've arrived. Loyalty."
As I stepped into the parking lot there, the prison warden and guards came out to greet me. I gave a slight nod.
Lately, I've realized something. When dealing with subordinates, acting with authority is far more convenient. It's not that they suddenly think they're equals if I act soft, but they start pestering me with annoying questions.
"I heard roughly from the knight's secretary. You're considering a limited pardon..."
"Please guide me."
"Yes, sir."
The warden guided me into the prison.
Thunk─! Thunk─! Thunk─!
Heavy security gates opened one by one, and I walked forward with the warden.
Thunk─! Thunk─! Thunk─!
Layer upon layer of gates. We passed the yard and ordinary living quarters and arrived at a separately constructed building.
"This is the solitary ward. Prisoners with slightly worse crimes, or those who've caused trouble, are held here."
In small, beehive-shaped cells, one person was locked in each. On the iron doors were listed their inmate numbers, crimes, and names.
I walked down the corridor, scanning them with my eyes.
Step. Step.
I stopped at one point.
"..."
A woman behind the bars, with sharp eyes. Unkempt black hair partially covering her face, and through it, a piercing gaze.
She was the one I was looking for.
I pointed with my finger to the row that included her solitary cell.
"I'll interview them. This entire row."
If I singled out only one person, it could raise unnecessary suspicion.
"Yes, understood. Number 771, 3910, 391..."
However, the warden's behavior was strange. He skipped over the number I was actually targeting.
I asked the warden,
"Why are you leaving out 330?"
"Ah, well... Inmate 330 has committed extremely serious crimes. She shows no sign of remorse, and is also involved in several other unresolved cases... She even has a remaining trial. For your safety, Sir Knight, it would be better to exclude that one."
The prison warden suddenly began offering strange excuses. I replied dispassionately,
"I make the decisions."
Something smells rotten. Somehow, I get the sense that both this prison and this inmate are tangled up with some 'high-ranking Imperial figure'.
"But, Sir Knight..."
"Silence."
So what?
Unless that high-ranking Imperial figure is the Emperor himself, they're not above me.
I have no intention of politely tiptoeing around whatever filth these people are hiding.
So.
"Don't talk back."
"...Yes, understood."
The warden bowed his head and quietly bit his lip.
"Including 330. Get them all ready."
Thud! Thud!
With heavy sounds, the iron bars of the solitary cells began opening one by one.