Chapter 65: The Unknown Slice.
Arustel's head was severed from his body.
My blade had claimed him.
Thud.
His torso slumped onto the table, and his head rolled across the sewer pavement.
And just like that, an Izenheim died. Their breath was extinguished just like a common human's. They never revealed their true nature as Izenheim, serving their race's cause until their final moment.
Since their cause was the 'extinction of humanity,' they were a trans-dimensional species bound by the most toxic of convictions.
"You killed him," Sonette said.
Her expression didn't change. She wasn't the type to be flustered by something like this. Perhaps my action had even been within her range of expectations.
Her reaction stirred an unconscious fear within me.
It was because I wasn't 'the real deal' like her.
Even as a regressor, I had never navigated the deepest shadows of the Empire. I had no experience tearing down enemies through fierce political intrigue.
My power was merely borrowed from a 'future' that might not even exist anymore.
Neither my exterior nor my interior was yet the true Ebenholtz.
I was still nothing more than a noble brat who hadn't fully grown, someone who couldn't even fully trust himself.
However...
"Yes. Your business venture was a success, Lady Kandel."
I just had to ensure I wasn't caught. I had to keep this precarious inner self from being exposed.
Shaking is merely a vibration visible from the outside.
If I could calmly contain everything happening inside me, that would be enough.
"I will pay you ten million dollars."
I composed myself with feigned indifference. I smoothed my hair and adjusted my sleeves, which had been ruffled from swinging the sword.
"His head was well worth that price."
Don't lose, Maximilian.
At the very least, in the 'moments I am seen,' I must maintain the bearing of a noble before any opponent.
"The information might have been worth ten times that."
"Then I shall offset the price by calculating the probability of him being a double agent."
"Even a double agent's information can be used. A spy gives up truths to buy trust, after all."
I looked at Sonette.
No matter how much I tried to read her, her face remained inscrutable.
If I couldn't understand her, I shouldn't try to.
If she was an unpredictable person, then I, too, had to become unpredictable.
Everything I did had to be ambiguous, and all my intentions had to remain unknown.
I had learned a rather good lesson from Sonette today.
One must be unknown to be feared. The greatest fear comes from uncertainty.
"There is no nourishment in that kind of truth."
"..."
Sonette said nothing more.
Was she acknowledging me, or was she simply letting it slide?
Or perhaps she now viewed me as the 'type that cannot be persuaded.'
"I will deliver the ten million through a more suitable method."
It would suffice to ensure her ledgers showed a net profit of that amount.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
Sonette shook her head.
"No. There's no need for a reward. The Kandel family already owes you a great favor from the Head-Eater incident."
She stood up and stuffed Arustel's head into the bag she had brought.
"Take it."
With that, she trudged back into the depths of the sewer.
Until the very end, she didn't reveal a shred of emotion.
"..."
I watched her retreating back before turning my gaze to Arustel's corpse.
Twitch—
The Virus moved. It reached out toward the corpse.
Slither—
It began to siphon the Izenheim mana remaining in the body. A dark red energy climbed up my arm.
"...Are you done?"
Once the absorption was finished, I slung the bag containing Arustel's head over my shoulder.
I was about to turn and leave when I hesitated.
Arustel.
I could certainly claim this revolutionary leader as my achievement, but it might not actually be of much help to my personal safety.
"I have no need to flaunt military merits."
Because this was solely for the sake of the Empire.
I pulled Arustel's head out of the bag.
Splash.
I threw it into the stagnant sewer water along with his body.
Leaving them to rot, I climbed back up to the surface.
I passed through the corridors of the Underground City, where eyes and ears were a dizzying blur, and boarded the elevator to the 9th floor.
The chaotic lights from the other side seeped through the closing doors before vanishing.
Today, I learned a fact about the Izenheim that was perhaps obvious.
They were a lot that would sell out the Revolutionary Group, other allies, or even their own kin if it served their 'own' interests. All so they could gain trust, become the head of a group, and wield 'conviction' according to their will...
Ding—
The moment I returned to the surface.
"Sir Knight!"
Near the exit of the Underground City, Resident Ashton spotted me. He was clutching two large duffel bags tightly to his sides.
"Sir Knight!"
Seeing him hopping toward me, his small frame looking strangely endearing.
"Sir Kniiight—!"
"I see you."
I approached him with a raised hand.
"Good work."
"No, it was nothing. Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No."
Ashton handed over the duffel bags and stared at me intently.
I wondered why, then remembered the promise I had made him.
"Pick anything you want."
"Thank you!"
He unzipped a duffel bag and fell into deep thought for a long time.
He had said it was fine before, but now that the opportunity was here, he seemed paralyzed by choice.
"Uh..."
"..."
"Hmm..."
This one? This one? Or this one? He muttered to himself, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Uh..."
"..."
Damn it. This was taking way too long.
I picked up a compass.
"Take this."
"No, wait, I haven't—"
"It cost fifty thousand when I bought it, but it'll likely sell for two or three times that."
"Thank you!"
After offering his thanks, the resident headed back down the elevator to the Underground City.
"...Sigh."
I walked alone through the lower districts of the Empire.
Many things were broken, and people clung to the ruined ground like moss.
Even in a place like this, life is born, dies, and is born again. That flow felt like a natural phenomenon, like the ebbing and flowing of the tide. It felt so distant, as if it had nothing to do with me...
But their lives are lives nonetheless. They are certainly living.
It's just that there is no country where everyone can be comfortable.
This place might be one of the many pieces of evidence that the Empire is flawed, but the greatest reason why the Empire must function regardless swallows all these absurdities.
Because we must survive.
The beggar whose eyes have lost their light, the child begging for bread while drinking grime—these are scenes that are only possible if the human species endures.
That is where my cause lies.
A revolution for everyone to live well is impossible.
We must fight simply to survive.
* * *
The blind spot of District 35 in the Imperial Center.
The area surrounding the completed Lorenzo Academy was now brimming with vitality. Dormitories, cafeterias, and research buildings had cropped up around the academy. On the outskirts, security forces to protect them from monsters, housing for the guards, and outposts had been installed. Furthermore, infrastructure like parks, restaurants, and bars for the residents had been expanded, significantly increasing the floating population.
It was gradually taking the shape of a city.
"There are more students than I expected."
I visited the Dean's office at the academy today. Lorenzo gave a bitter smile, looking both proud and embarrassed.
"Yes. I expected a capacity of about a hundred, but word got out, and talented youngsters are coming in from all over."
I had seen them on my way in. There were children as young as Armand, those in their mid-to-late teens, and even adults who had come to chase their dreams of invention.
They researched practical things. For example, ways to treat the mana sewage from 'Golden Grain,' which we had acquired. Equipment to convert it into a pharmaceutical factory. Interior facilities for tanks and new shell designs, and so on.
"I will leave the academy entirely to you, Dean. By the way, I heard a new masterpiece Cube was created in the workshop?"
"Yes. It's a Master-grade, about half a step lower than the one you use, Sir Knight."
I nodded.
A Master-grade Cube. It felt a bit off to give the second masterpiece of my workshop to that guy, but...
"Is it possible to add wiretapping and surveillance functions to that Cube?"
Wiretapping and surveillance.
Such mechanisms were absolutely necessary for the person I was going to gift this Cube to.
"Wiretapping and surveillance?"
"Yes. In a way that no one can detect."
"...It should be possible, but the output will decrease slightly."
I looked at Lorenzo. There was a subtle hesitation in his answer just now. Likely because he was a man of conscience.
"Mr. Lorenzo. This should serve as sufficient justification."
I handed Lorenzo the criminal records of 'Reutern II.'
Though he wasn't an Izenheim, he was at the top of my hit list. However, he was simple, dim-witted, and had a guaranteed lineage, making him useful. Buying his favor was also easier than with other palace officials.
The evaluation of Reutern II could be summed up in one line:
'Loves things that are pretty, rare, and expensive.'
He was the very symbol of the corrupt Imperial Palace.
"..."
As Lorenzo read through Reutern's records, his expression gradually grew grave.
"This is how I see it. Sub-species can be handled if they are controlled and isolated... with the exception of the Izenheim. However."
I pointed to the documents detailing Reutern II's crimes.
"There is no dealing with a scoundrel like this unless he is kept in check. His brain structure and thought circuits are already hardened this way."
Lorenzo looked up at me.
Lately, there were a few people I hoped would become my accomplices. More than just accomplices, I wanted people who would trust me no matter what I did and follow my orders as if they were just performing their daily routines.
Lorenzo was definitely one of them.
"Yes. I will make it. I'll see if I can add similar functions to other Cubes as well."
Seeing things progress that way, I smiled.
"Ah, and also."
I picked up the duffel bag. I laid out all the magic and mana-related inventions I had purchased at the underground black market.
Lorenzo looked bewildered.
"Use them as teaching materials. I believe order and regulation are necessary, but sometimes, such chaotic creativity blooms in places where regulation is absent."
Lorenzo is a genius. So is Armand. If they dismantle and analyze the inventions my Virus deemed 'High-grade,' they might be able to write meaningful textbooks or gain new insights.
"Yes. Thank you so much. I actually needed physical samples like these."
"If there's anything else you need, just say the word."
I pulled out my checkbook again.
"There is no limit to the financial support."
I donated ten million dollars as Maximilian's scholarship.
A bright smile bloomed on Lorenzo's face.
* * *
Reutern II had been in a foul mood lately. He was absolutely furious.
It was because of a new trend blowing through the Imperial Palace.
Not just the palace knights, but even those with mediocre rankings were walking around with a copy of the 「Aura Sphere」 theory manual tucked under their arms.
This happened after rumors spread that it was 'extremely effective for preparing against potential assassinations'...
"Sigh."
Reutern II did not have that manual.
The guy who said he'd give it to him, that son of a bitch, hadn't sent it.
"That bastard... he didn't even keep his promise."
To Reutern II, Maximilian was a dog. He even disliked the way the man had been treating the direct agencies of the palace lately.
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
"Please calm yourself, Lord Reutern."
"No! I'm not just angry about what he did to me."
Reutern II looked at the person sitting across from him in his private room.
It was 'Lutz,' a department head of a direct agency in the palace.
"That son of a bitch couldn't even properly suppress Arnold! What is he doing, that yellow-feathered brat!"
This time, the palace had tried to crush the 'academic world' led by Arnold, but Maximilian had blatantly stabbed them in the back.
"Honestly, Lutz. What does it matter if you're a commoner? That guy is someone his own father turned his back on."
Department Head Lutz struggled to swallow a burst of laughter.
"I guess he thinks he's hot shit lately just because he made some money from mana stones or whatever."
Reutern was so vulgar and immature that it was hard to believe he had royal blood.
It was because his father was a close confidant of the Emperor, giving him a high rank in the palace, and he had been spoiled rotten as an only son born after two miscarriages.
"Just trust me, Lutz. I'll crush that guy for you."
"No. I—"
"Uh-huh! Just trust me. From today, I am your backer. I declare it!"
Reutern II stomped out of the room.
"How dare he look down on the Imperial Palace."
As he walked down the hallway, a butler suddenly approached and called out to him.
"Lord Reutern—"
"What!"
"A package has arrived from outside."
"What is it this time!"
"The sender is Sir Maximilian."
"What?"
A package shaped like a book. A square box. And some kind of letter.
Reutern first tore open the book's packaging. It was indeed the 「Aura Sphere」 theory manual.
"Hah. The insect. I'll take it for now, but tell him it's already too late."
"Yes. What should I do with the rest?"
There was another item. It was a small treasure chest made of what looked like rosewood, with a faint luster.
"What's this now?"
The design wasn't bad. What could it be?
The moment he grumbled and opened the lid of the box.
Flash—
An exquisite light, almost blinding, poured out.
A pure, sapphire radiance that could only be seen in crystals of pure mana.
Suddenly, Reutern's eyes glazed over as if he were intoxicated by ecstasy.
"...Wow."
The anger and impatience that had covered his face just moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a hollow, pure admiration, like that of a newborn child...
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Read 96 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
https://noveldex.io/series/semi-coercive-imperialist
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━