Chapter 30: If You Ask of the Empire's Future Whirring— Whirring—
Deep within the Rommilton Mountains, a magi-engineering drill let out a thunderous roar as it bored into the earth.
"..."
Dieter wiped the sweat trickling down from beneath his hard hat as he watched the drilling site. In his hand, he held the ledger for the company, Veritas.
This month was the deadline.
The initial capital Maximilian had invested was nearly exhausted. The sheer scale of expenditures—including land acquisition, equipment rental, and labor costs—dwarfed the 'allowance' his master had set aside.
If there were no visible results within the week, the company would go bankrupt.
Just as Dieter swallowed hard and the Mayor of Hermes, standing right beside him, began to glance at him nervously—
"It's… it's mana fluid!"
A frantic shout erupted from the site supervisor near the mine face.
"Mana fluid has been discovered!"
Mana fluid. A liquid saturated with high concentrations of mana that gushes from deep underground. It was the clearest evidence that a mana stone vein existed.
Dieter sprinted toward the source. The site was already in a state of pandemonium. Workers were swarming the area, cheering, and at the center of it all, the mana fluid geysered upward like a fountain.
"Everyone, stand back."
"Back! Everyone, get back!"
Mayor Jackson echoed Dieter's command through a megaphone.
"..."
"..."
The two men stared blankly at the sight. Through the cracks in the borehole, the mana fluid surged and began to solidify.
It was a mana stone.
"Mana stones! It's mana stones, Secretary! Secretary—!!!"
Jackson cheered and pulled Dieter into a hug.
"...Haa."
Dieter let out a sigh of relief despite himself. It was a mystical sight—the earth spitting out mana stones as if it were breathing. A strange sense of ecstasy washed over him. His legs felt so weak he nearly collapsed.
So this is why people dig into the earth.
With trembling hands, he picked up his terminal.
* * *
"I've confirmed it. That's a relief."
I had secured a source of funding. The Rommilton region would serve as an inexhaustible well for quite some time, and I decided that the first destination for the investment from this massive mana stone mine would be Hermes Province.
"Dieter. I'm going to make Southern Hermes one of my foundations."
I often wondered about this.
Why were high-ranking nobles and the ultra-wealthy so greedy? Why were they always so stingy, even toward those on their own side? Why did they treat their subordinates so poorly that they practically begged to be betrayed?
There was only one conclusion.
It was because most of them were idiots.
They were steeped in the rotten ideology that others should serve them simply because they were born into a noble family… Ah, I have no intention of making excuses for myself.
I was one of those nobles, too.
Regardless.
They pinched pennies when it came to others just to accumulate wealth, but I had no need for that. I would spend it as fast as I earned it.
Once the world ends, it all becomes scrap paper anyway.
"I'll leave the related investments to you so that both parties can benefit."
—Yes. I will report the details to you soon.
"Right. And if he ever oversteps his bounds, let me know immediately."
—Understood.
As long as he was satisfied and focused on his duties, Jackson would likely be re-elected as the Mayor of Hermes until the day he died.
I hung up the phone.
"...Hmm."
I was currently in the backseat of a car, on my way to analyze a murder scene that occurred just last night, and thanks to my driver—an administrative officer—the ride was comfortable.
"Congratulations, sir."
The officer seemed to be in a good mood as well.
He was still a bit lacking in professional conduct, though. Normally, he shouldn't even let on that he was listening.
"Does the training start this weekend?"
"Ah, yes. That is correct."
The staff, including Schatz, would now head to the Ebenholtz ancestral castle every weekend to receive vocational training.
I had decided to leave that task to Engie.
Tick—
I looked at the wristwatch on the officer's wrist as he gripped the steering wheel.
Tick—
Time was flowing rapidly.
That perfectly natural fact felt like a weight of pressure on me.
"Don't wear a wristwatch from now on. You have a terminal."
"Yes. Understood."
In the meantime, we arrived at the crime scene. I stepped out of the car.
The area was cordoned off with yellow tape, and police officers were standing in a line.
"Greetings, Sir Maximilian! It is an honor to meet you."
"Where is the scene?"
I acknowledged them with a nod and got straight to the point.
"This way, sir."
The police led me inside. The crime scene was a mage's workshop. In the center of the room, thick with the scent of reagents, lay a corpse that had been blown apart.
"It hasn't even been a day since the incident. The victim is Jeremy Keshun. A 4th-tier mage with no specific affiliation."
"..."
I scanned the room. The residual traces of mana were vivid—so much so that a mage could practically smell them.
It was unmistakably a murder committed through magic.
"Do you think… you can analyze it? The traces are a bit chaotic."
He was right. Honestly, these weren't traces a first-year knight could typically interpret.
Meaning, the difficulty was extremely high.
"Let's see."
I placed my hand near my collarbone. I channeled mana infused with my will into the virus.
'Analyze the incident based on the residual traces left at this scene.'
Immediately, my retinas were dyed blue. The messy traces of mana scattered throughout the space lit up like fluorescent lights.
Sssssss—!
The particles rose into the air. It was a phenomenon that manifested regardless of my conscious will. I almost took a step back in surprise but calmed myself with a deep breath.
Soon, the mana traces began to pour down over my eyelids like rain. They surged in complex patterns like sea spray before forming specific shapes to reconstruct the situation.
——It was a lingering image of the event, recalled through Active Residual Traces.
I quietly shifted my gaze. In the blue-tinted world, the outlines of the culprit and the victim stood tall. Unfortunately, I couldn't see their faces, but the silhouettes were clear.
When a caster uses magic, mana overflows explosively, and during this process, it inevitably clings to surrounding objects.
In other words, I could see the culprit's shadow.
"The suspect is between 178 and 184 cm tall. Shoe size is 280 to 300 mm."
I relayed the information I gathered from the traces.
"A mage capable of using explosion-type magic. And..."
I omitted the rest for a moment.
"Pardon? How did you…?"
The officer asked blankly.
"I just told you. 178 to 184 cm. Shoe size 280 to 300 mm. I captured the residual traces of mana with my eyes and traced back the information contained within them."
"...Is such a thing even possible?"
This was data obtained by my virus. Its accuracy would be absolute.
"Does it sound like nonsense to you?"
"Ah, no! No, no. I was just impressed. Wow. To think such a thing is possible."
I took a step forward. I knelt down to examine the corpse closely.
...Thump.
A faint pulsation. It was weak, but it was definitely there.
The victim was an Izenheim.
"Have the body autopsied now. Tell them to look particularly closely at the heart."
"Yes, sir."
"Also."
I had seen something quite decisive in the traces just now.
"Investigate if any member of the Imperial Guard passed through this vicinity between last night and the time of the incident."
Magic releases mana, and that mana clings to objects, remaining for as long as two days or as short as a few minutes.
For people like 'us'—that is, knights—our dress uniforms are extremely expensive. Mana doesn't stick to them.
But the Imperial Guard is different.
In particular, mana clings very well to the silver eagle medals they wear on their chests.
"A member of the Imperial Guard... you say?"
"If you find anyone, do not contact anyone else. Report to me first."
I had something to say to them. I was curious who was bold enough to commit murder while wearing their uniform. I couldn't exactly call it a stroke of genius, but I had essentially stumbled upon a murderous robber and rapist while looking for something else.
"Here is my card."
I handed my business card to the officer.
"Yes! Understood. I will keep that in mind."
"Then, I'll be going."
"Salute!"
I left the scene and got back into the car.
The driver quickly informed me of the next schedule.
"We are heading to… Empire Point now. It's a simple visit today."
"Right. To give the cadets some encouragement."
I leaned back into the seat.
Being a knight was grueling work. After stopping by Empire Point, I'd have to return to the office and work overtime.
"Yes. We are departing."
"...Fine."
This administrative officer had transferred from being a guard at the Western Prison to being a driver. I didn't know how he felt right now, but he would likely be very satisfied come payday.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
"—Sir. We have arrived."
I must have fallen asleep.
He's a good driver.
Anyway, outside the window was Empire Point. The Empire's finest knight academy. The cradle of knights where only Imperial Arans could enroll.
"Max!"
As soon as I stepped out of the car, Leon, who had arrived earlier, waved his hand. Tiana was with him.
I gave them a slight nod.
"...Whew."
I took a deep breath. I grabbed a handful of the red soil from the training grounds of Empire Point.
"It's been a while."
"What are you talking about? We were all rolling around here just two years ago," Tiana interjected, but for me, it had been over a decade.
"Max. I didn't think you'd come since you usually find this kind of thing tedious," Leon asked.
Today was a minor event where seniors who had joined the Sentinels gave advice to junior cadets and helped with their training. As the proverb goes— If you ask of the Empire's future, lift your head and look at Empire Point —it was a fitting place for me to visit, given that I had to brighten that future.
"You never know."
"Know what?"
"Another sub-species might be hiding here."
The two of them let out a short laugh.
I looked up at the central building.
The curriculum at Empire Point was divided into three stages: Middle (3–4 years), High (2–3 years), and Elite (2 years).
Not many cadets could endure the grueling 7 to 9 years of training, including those who were held back.
Only those in the top 30% of the academy's final grades were eligible to be knighted, the top 10% could join knight orders based in the Imperial Center, and the Sentinels took the top 3%.
Those who failed to make the top 30% usually enlisted as officers in the Imperial Guard or the military, or they spent an indefinite amount of time retaking the knight exams.
"Sirs, this way."
An Empire Point staff member guided us.
"The Elite cadets are currently out on field maneuvers."
"Man, they must be suffering. Field maneuvers in this weather?" Tiana smirked.
"Haha, yes. It seems the High School cadets just finished their training, so let's head over there."
We walked down to the opposite training ground. Hundreds of High School cadets were lined up, drenched in sweat, facing us. They all looked quite nervous, likely having been warned of our arrival.
I was like that once. I used to think Sentinel knights were incredible people.
"..."
I scanned them. There was no reaction from the virus.
Then again, this was the heart of the Empire. It meant it was extremely difficult for anyone who wasn't an Aran to even set foot here. To infiltrate, one would need a perfectly fabricated background.
From Izenheim's perspective, Jacob had been a truly precious resource.
Fortunately, he wasn't as smart as he was valuable.
"Mmm~ Nice to meet you all. I'm Tiana of the Sentinels. Most of you are in the final stages of High School, and you all know it only gets tougher from here, right? That's only natural, so just don't give up."
"I'm Leon. What I want to say is... sorry. I don't have much to say other than to work hard. Instead, I'll be staying here for the day. If you have any questions, feel free to come and ask."
Tiana and Leon offered various words of encouragement.
"Now, next. Sir Maximilian von Ebenholtz?"
Leon pulled me forward. The cadets stared at me.
To them, the name Ebenholtz was likely far more familiar than the name Maximilian.
"Devote yourselves to your conduct and your mindset. You are the future of the Empire, and many eyes are upon you."
I didn't have much to say.
As I turned to leave, the instructor shouted to the cadets.
"A round of applause for the knights!"
Just as their short break was ending and training was about to resume—
A certain male cadet caught my eye. It was a face I had seen in a photograph.
I walked toward him slowly.
"...Wait."
I called out to him. The cadets around him all stopped.
"...Yes?"
Meeting my eyes, he looked at me with a flustered expression.
"It's you. Lucas."
The boy's shoulders flinched.
"Lucas Limperk."
"A-Ah, yes! Yes, sir! That is correct!"
Every eye on the training ground turned toward us. Tiana, Leon, the High School instructors, and even the high-ranking officials of Empire Point who had appeared out of nowhere were all watching.
"W-What can I do for you...?"
The son of Judge Klaus Limperk, Lucas Limperk.
He stood straight, facing me with a look of fear.
"I know your father well."
I had checked Lucas's grades beforehand; they were excellent. He had nearly straight A's across the board. His grades were competitive even among the Elites, but that was exactly why he was someone who would be targeted for suppression.
Even among nobles, if your family lacked political clout, you couldn't enter the Sentinels.
"He is a man worthy of respect."
"A-A-Ah... Thank you! Thank you, sir!"
Since I had received help from Judge Klaus, I intended to return the favor.
"Continue to devote yourself as you are now."
Thump. I raised my hand and placed it on his shoulder. Lucas's eyes looked like they were about to pop out, and the other cadets wore expressions of utter shock.
The heir of Ebenholtz had personally called him out and acknowledged him. This was a clear, intentional political act.
"If you don't lose your drive, I expect to see you at the top in two years."
"Yes, yes! I will work desperately hard, sir!"
I needed a faction of my own, and someone like Lucas wasn't a bad start.
However.
I leaned in and whispered softly into his ear.
—And stop going to those strange reading clubs that worry your father.
Your career has been given wings thanks to your father's sacrifice.
"..."
Lucas's expression froze instantly. Pulling my mouth away from his ear, I smiled again and spoke aloud.
"It means work even harder."
"Sir Maximilian."
At that moment, the Commandant of Cadets at Empire Point approached.
His rank was Brigadier General. His name was Dane Rascal. He was a middle-aged man with a thick black beard, a typical native of the North.
"May I have a word?"
He requested a private meeting in a very serious tone.
"Yes. Of course."
"Good. This way."
He was a soldier whose voice and conduct were as heavy now as they had been in the past. I followed behind him. I could feel the gazes of countless cadets on my back.
Whether Judge Klaus wanted it or not, his son Lucas had gained me as his backing.
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