Chapter 54: Favor Deep darkness clung to the Knight Order's dungeon. I stared at the monster that had once been Pexy.
"Brain energy—what many magical engineers call a fragment of the soul..."
Cr-crack.
Before I could finish, a grotesque sound erupted from Pexy's body. Her white skin split like a parched riverbed, revealing pulsing, dark red muscle and veins beneath. Her once-lustrous hair had sloughed off along with her scalp, and a fetid, heat-laden stench wafted through the air like a haze.
"...This is the side effect of devouring it so recklessly."
I thought of the Izenheim. To exterminate humanity, they assumed the form of a perfect race, but in doing so, they inherited human weaknesses as well.
Pexy's brain was already ruined—shattered by the vengeful spirits of the countless victims she had consumed.
"Pex... where did you put my Pexy... that hideous thing..."
Jun panicked at the sight of Pexy's true form, refusing to accept that the creature before him was the woman he knew.
"Actually, Sir Kandel, you are partially correct. That is not the Pexy von Arjen you knew. The real Pexy died long ago; her brain was devoured by that thing."
Jun Kandel sat slumped on the floor, staring blankly at the creature.
"Look closely. That is a sub-species."
I pointed at the Izenheim. With its skin peeled away and eyes bulging, it finally wore a shape befitting its true nature.
"A monster wearing a human mask."
"Ju... Jun... Professor..."
Even in that horrific state, it spoke as if it were still Pexy. It was a truly bizarre sight.
The creature's voice grew increasingly distorted, sounding like melting lead. As the skin on its wrists peeled away, the handcuffs fell off. It reached through the bars and grabbed Jun's collar.
"Pro... fessor."
Only then did Jun snap back to reality.
"L-let go! Get it away from me!"
He thrashed his limbs as if having a seizure, scrambling backward on all fours.
"Jun... Professor..."
Despite his rejection, the thing continued to call his name and reach for him. Jun eventually doubled over and retched onto the floor.
I retrieved the camera hanging from the neck of the reporter Jun had brought along.
"This is a sensitive matter, so I'll be confiscating this."
The reporter swallowed hard and nodded.
* * *
I led Jun Kandel to the knights' office. He stumbled into a chair, looking like a man who hadn't yet escaped the nightmare he'd just witnessed.
"Sir Kandel."
I called his name. He lifted his head.
"...It's a bit awkward to call her 'Pexy' now."
Jun Kandel listened to me with a hollow expression.
"Regardless, you are the one who gifted the Kerios Mansion to that criminal. Once the investigation proceeds, that fact will come to light."
He didn't even seem to be processing my words.
"This is a grave matter. Kerios is a residence reserved strictly for the Empire's nobility, yet a sub-species—and a criminal at that—"
Knock, knock.
An administrative official entered after a brief knock.
"A legal representative from the Kandel family has arrived."
I nodded, expecting a typical lawyer.
Click. Click.
The sound of heels echoed against the marble floor. Soon, the door opened, and a woman with long, blue hair tied neatly back entered. She was tall and wore a perfectly tailored suit.
"I am Sonette Kandel."
She introduced herself and took the seat next to Jun. Jun stared at her blankly.
"I trust I may attend as my brother's legal counsel?"
"Yes. Of course."
I handed the relevant documents to Sonette.
"Sir Jun Kandel gifted the Kerios Mansion to Pexy. He was also the one who strongly recommended her as a 5th-Circle mage. If the investigation proceeds, this could escalate into a major scandal."
Sonette read the documents intently, but there was no need for her to worry.
"I have no intention of pursuing accountability for such things in this case."
Sonette looked up. I caught Jun Kandel's eye.
"Sir Kandel, are you listening?"
"Speak to me," Sonette interjected. "My brother seems quite overwhelmed at the moment."
"...Overwhelmed?"
Jun Kandel suddenly leaned forward, looking offended.
"Yes. I would also prefer to speak with Sir Kandel himself if possible. My proposal is as follows."
I handed him a document.
"Jun Kandel was an innocent victim deceived by Pexy, with absolutely no intention of obstructing the investigation or harboring her. Of course, Sir Kandel did actively try to interfere with my investigation and used the media to pressure the Knight Order, but I am willing to act as if that never happened."
"..."
Jun stared at me, his lips pressed into a tight line.
"As for the rest of the history, if we manipulate it appropriately, the public will filter the information themselves."
The Kandel and Ebenholtz families were Great Houses. Whatever they agreed upon would generally be accepted as the truth.
"I am showing you the utmost consideration. Just as you showed me consideration with that single piece of white porcelain during the Rodriguez incident."
Jun swallowed. He glanced down at himself and squeezed his eyes shut.
There was blood on his collar.
"That filthy thing touched me. I feel sick, Sonette."
"I know. I'll handle the rest."
Jun Kandel stood up unsteadily. I rose as well and saw him to the door.
"Get some rest today. We can discuss the details once you've recovered."
"...Maximilian."
At the door, Jun turned back to me. He placed a hand on his forehead as if about to say something he found deeply distasteful. He hesitated for a long time, clearly loathing the words he was about to speak.
"What is it?"
He really was an irritating fellow to the very end.
"...I offer my sincere apologies for my aggressive words and actions."
Jun let out the apology like a weary sigh and extended his hand.
"I understand. Think nothing of it."
I shook his hand.
For now, there was no need for Ebenholtz and Kandel to point their swords at each other. Our true enemy was outside, and in a few years, war would break out.
All blades had to be pointed in that direction.
I returned to my seat after Jun left. Sonette asked as she looked over the details of the document.
"Shall we coordinate the specifics now?"
"Let's."
This Head-Eater case was just another incident. However, the more people involved in it, the more I found myself in a position to grant them favors.
"First, the Kerios Mansion and the relationship between my brother and Pexy will likely be the main focus."
Sonette Enciela von Kandel.
The true core of the Kandel family and a major player in the Underground City, she was also a mage of extraordinary talent.
"That's fine. We can just craft a story."
I would gladly grant her my favor.
* * *
Chiron, a knight of the Sentinels, had been in an excellent mood lately. Circumstantial evidence that Pexy was a 'Head-Eater' had been secured, and the Sentio Magic Tower had become deeply disappointed in Anton.
Indeed, the last meeting had been very effective. While Anton sat still like a cripple, Chiron had moved personally to soothe the Magic Tower's temper.
"Sir Knight. We have arrived."
Furthermore, he had a second meeting scheduled today with Nikolaus, the Master of the Magic Tower. This time, the Magic Tower had arranged it themselves.
He had a strong feeling that a very productive conversation was about to take place.
[Aurea]
The location was Aurea, a restaurant known as the most difficult place to book a reservation in the Empire.
"Wait here."
"Yes, sir."
Chiron stepped out of the car and entered through the restaurant's back door. It was a VVIP-only passage where a waiter was already waiting.
"This way, please."
At the waiter's words, Chiron straightened his clothes. Whew. He took a deep breath before opening the door to the private room.
"It is a pleasure to meet..."
There was one more person there than he had expected.
Knight Maximilian was sitting there alongside Nikolaus, the Master of the Sentio Magic Tower.
...
I had received a contact from the Sentio Magic Tower. It was a request for a meeting from the Tower Master, who wanted an in-depth discussion regarding this matter.
[Aurea]
A private room in a luxury restaurant that was notoriously difficult to reserve.
There sat Nikolaus, the Master of Sentio, dressed in his robes.
"Good to see you, Knight Maximilian. Is this our first meeting since the Ebenholtz gardens?"
It seemed we had met once before.
Then again, so many people cycled through the Ebenholtz main castle.
"Yes, I believe so. It's a pleasure."
"Haha. Have a seat."
A legal representative for the Magic Tower was also present.
Nikolaus glanced at his wristwatch.
"Well, we shall discuss the details in a moment. We have one more guest arriving."
"Understood."
Tick—tock—
I sipped some water.
Tick—tock—
The sound of the second hand echoing from his wrist was a bit grating.
Knock, knock.
Right on time, the door to the private room opened.
"It is a pleasure to meet..."
Standing outside was an unexpected guest—Chiron.
"...Maximilian?"
Chiron looked visibly flustered, as if he hadn't been told I would be here.
"Come in, Knight Chiron."
"Ah... yes."
He sat down hesitantly next to me. Nikolaus smiled as he looked back and forth between Chiron and me.
"Well, as a matter of fact, Knight Chiron helped mediate this time. He mentioned that you, Maximilian, have no personal ill will toward the Magic Tower?"
I certainly didn't recall ever saying that to Chiron.
"..."
I quietly looked over at Chiron. Cold sweat was beading on his forehead.
Nikolaus raised an eyebrow.
"He said that if we just show a little patience, this incident will be settled amicably without causing significant damage to the Sentio Magic Tower..."
I could guess roughly what was going on.
Chiron had tried to gain his own advantage in this situation, but unfortunately, Tower Master Nikolaus was a man well-versed in that brand of politics.
"Knight Chiron, that is what you told us, isn't it?"
Chiron gave a bitter smile.
"Haha..."
In my past life, the reason Chiron relied on the power of the Imperial Guard was partly due to his own lack of influence, but ultimately it was because of his slightly lacking pedigree. Chiron's family was part of the new nobility that had risen rapidly in just two generations—essentially, they were nouveau riche. Consequently, traditional aristocrats looked down on him.
Tower Master Nikolaus was the epitome of traditional nobility. From the moment Chiron approached him to mediate, Nikolaus had never intended to respect him.
If anything, he was likely offended by the pathetic attempt to use him.
"Hmm? Why the reaction?"
I knew this kind of low-brow politics well.
It wasn't about achieving a practical goal; it was about damaging the other person's pride and finding joy in watching them be crushed. It was barely politics at all.
"Could it be that your thoughts differ from Knight Chiron's words?"
Nikolaus asked with feigned surprise.
Chiron avoided my gaze and bit his lip. Silence filled the room.
Tick—tock—
The silence was annoying.
More specifically, the sound of the watches on Nikolaus's and Chiron's wrists was annoying.
"Sigh..."
I let out a sigh. A faint, oily smile crept onto the Tower Master's lips.
However.
"If your intentions differ from Chiron's—"
"—No. My intentions are the same."
The moment I spoke, the Tower Master's expression froze. Chiron snapped his head toward me, struggling to hide his shock.
"I am grateful to Knight Chiron. When I was unable to move hastily..."
I met Chiron's eyes for a moment before continuing.
"He personally sought out the Tower Master to open the doors of communication on my behalf."
While my mouth offered a 'favor,' my mind was calculating.
I was twenty-one. By the time the war broke out, I would be in my mid-to-late twenties at the latest. No matter what I did, I couldn't become the Commander of the Knight Order at such a young age.
But the Sentinel Knights had to be mine.
Anton was not suited for the position of Commander. He was too kind and soft to navigate this hellish world.
"Thanks to Knight Chiron."
In other words, I needed a puppet.
I would have to observe him further, but someone like Chiron might not be a bad choice.
For him, being my puppet would be far more beneficial than being a puppet for the Imperial Guard, as he had been in the past.
"I was able to meet the Tower Master in a setting like this. Thank you."
"Hahahaha!"
Chiron finally couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Max, why put it like that? I simply did what I had to do."
"...Haha."
Nikolaus forced a smile as well.
Regardless, it was a good outcome. I had no intention of making an enemy of the Sentio Magic Tower either.
"Tower Master. We currently have Pexy in custody, but we need the Magic Tower's assistance to extract definitive evidence."
The creature was still locked in the Order's dungeon in that grotesque form.
"Of course, I could ask a tower like Novus for help, but I didn't want to. This case requires verification from the Empire's finest Magic Tower."
Nikolaus glanced at his lawyer. Receiving a nod from the lawyer, he smiled and nodded back.
"Very well. I will provide all the facilities and mages of the tower. I never imagined such a horrific creature could be among our ranks."
"Also, an agreement with Sir Jun Kandel is nearly finalized."
"Oh? Already?"
"Yes. You may hear the details directly from the Professor. There will be no damage to the Sentio Magic Tower."
Suddenly, Chiron stood up.
"Ah, one moment. Please wait just a moment."
He stepped out and returned with a bottle of very fine liquor.
[Snow Perique 50]
A legendary spirit brewed by mixing mana with the meltwater of the northern mountain range's eternal snow. It was a rarity that even surprised the Tower Master.
"Oho~ Knight Chiron, such a precious drink..."
"Haha, I've been saving this specifically for a day like today."
Chiron seemed to be in high spirits.
Pop.
He pulled the cork of the Snow Perique and poured the white spirit into the glasses of the Tower Master, the lawyer, and myself.
"This is meant to be drunk on a good day. What's the point of buying it just to look at it?"
"How bold. Truly like a knight, truly..."
"..."
I watched them silently as they chatted and smiled at each other.
Politics is about not making enemies easily. It is about granting strategic favors. It is also about flexibly accepting and utilizing the things that arise from my actions, even those I didn't foresee.
It might seem frustrating to play at politics when the world is on the brink of ruin, but that is exactly why politics is necessary.
Politics—no, only politics—can unite the blades of the Empire toward a single point.
In that regard, I held a massive advantage. My single word and gesture carried dozens, hundreds of times more weight than the countless artificial efforts Chiron made as he scurried about...
"Well, shall we toast, Max?"
Chiron suddenly raised his glass toward me.
"Yes."
I raised mine as well.
Clink.
The crystal glasses rang with a clear, resonant sound.
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