Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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>Translator: Lord First
>Chapter: 28
>Chapter Title: A Night of Counting Stars (2)
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*
Yujin was desperate. He spoke nonstop, trying to prove his usefulness.
“What about that one?”
“Lily Downer. A sophomore in the Knight Division! Level 32. Just about average, Sir!”
“Then that one over there.”
“Who? Ah, the black-haired one next to her? Marie Phillipson, also a sophomore in the Knight Division! Level 29. Looks like she’s not much of a student!”
Ivan looked at Yujin with a newfound sense of wonder.
To find the transmigrator, Ivan had once skimmed through the profiles of every student at Saint Yansk University. While he couldn't remember every detail, his long career in the Annihilation Squad had made him adept at memorizing personal information.
He realized this kid’s accuracy was nearly one hundred percent.
‘A walking profile page…?’
Ivan and Yujin were currently walking across the campus. With the semester in full swing, the university grounds were bustling with countless students.
With plenty of test subjects available, Ivan was able to get a more detailed understanding of Yujin’s status window.
‘It organizes what can be perceived.’
This kid was like a database with restricted access levels.
It showed information that Yujin could know, or access, at this point in time. Things like the opponent's level, name, and title.
To learn more, an ‘understanding’ of the target was required. This meant that the closer he got to someone, the more detailed a profile he could obtain.
In other words, this kid…
‘This guy was born for espionage…?’
His background was excellent. A clergyman from a ducal family. An individual who would face no issues in any nation within the Allied Kingdoms.
And if the only condition for acquiring high-level information on a target was something as simple as ‘familiarity,’ it was even easier. It meant that information could be gathered simply by entering high society, without even needing to attempt any intelligence operations.
Furthermore, there was another way to utilize this ‘restricted information access’ status window.
This kid's status window couldn't perceive information he couldn't access.
In other words, to put it differently…
Any information this kid couldn't perceive belonged to a target who was beyond the scope of a mere student. How many people at Saint Yansk University could the son of a duke not know?
So, this kid was…
‘He's specialized in rooting out spies, at least on campus.’
After figuring this much out, Ivan took Yujin with him and scoured the entire university. As a result, they discovered that a total of seven individuals had names different from their admission papers.
“Their levels are either too high or not visible, their names are different, and their titles don't show up at all.”
“Good.”
Ivan walked on, thinking. The number was smaller than expected.
There were three main groups that would plant personnel at Saint Yansk University.
The Crown Prince's faction, spies from the Allied Kingdoms' allies, or demons.
Since these three groups would have infiltrated with their own objectives, the seven they had uncovered was by no means a large number. After all, the Allied Kingdoms alone consisted of ten nations.
‘They’ve planted agents among the general student body as well.’
Either raised as agents from a young age or planted without even being aware that they themselves were government agents.
If he excluded a few of those countries…
‘The ones with excessively high levels are likely demon collaborators.’
The key figures in the Crown Prince's faction who were classified as ‘strong’ were already under the surveillance of the Counter-Intelligence Command.
Considering Princess Elizaveta’s resourcefulness, the Crown Prince’s faction could never secretly train powerful individuals.
“Um… Sir. But her name really is Yuri. She’s Yuri Franck.”
“That's not a problem. Didn't you say my name also shows up as Ivan?”
“Ah, that’s true. Then how are we supposed to find out?”
“Persuasion.”
Ivan nodded and walked toward the campus courtyard.
Three female students were nibbling on sandwiches on a bench under a tree-lined path.
“Oh, mister!”
“Hiiik!!”
The two students had opposite reactions. Ivan's suspicion deepened.
There was a good chance she wasn't a transmigrator. Suspecting someone based on just a name was mere speculation.
However, that student's reaction was clearly suspicious.
Ivan was a thoroughly trained agent, highly skilled at feigning an ordinary appearance.
In other words, for someone to be frightened by the sight of a harmless, average-looking gardener was suspicious.
“Isabelle, have you been well?”
“Ahaha, has it been long enough to ask that? Our first class was just the other day!”
“Mm.”
“Have you eaten, mister? Does anyone take care of you? Our cafeteria food is really bad, would you like some of this?”
“Ah, ahh…”
As Isabelle took out a sandwich and handed it to Ivan, Esidis let out a sigh.
Taking the sandwich from Isabelle’s hand and taking a bite, Ivan stood before them.
“Oh, you know her, right? Yuri Franck. She's in the Knight Division. And this is Esidis. She’s a music major.”
“Mm.”
“Ahaha, right. Mister. Wait a moment… hmm.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes as she looked at Yujin, who was standing beside Ivan.
*I’ve never seen him before, who is he? Is he a government agent too?*
“Shall we talk for a moment?”
“Hiiik?! B-Bella! Wait a second!”
Brushing aside Yuri's strange, flustered attempts to stop her, Isabelle walked with Ivan.
Only after they were some distance from the group did she speak.
“I really wanted to talk to you after class, but you suddenly disappeared. Are you out of your mind?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, you’re a government agent, mister. Weren't we supposed to keep this a secret between us?”
Isabelle whispered, her expression serious as she scanned their surroundings.
“I don’t know who else Tilles sent besides Sir August. But they must have sent at least one more. How could you be so blatant in a situation like this?”
“Blatant?”
“With your skills! You’re a secret agent!”
Ivan tilted his head, looking down at Isabelle.
Even standing straight, the small girl only came up to his chest. With her head slightly bowed, she darted her eyes around and spoke in a tense voice.
“I don’t know what the Krasilov government is hiding here, but since I owe you one… hmm. Should I try to find out a bit myself?”
“Find out what?”
“Jeez, the spies sent from Tilles! I don't know if there are any among the freshmen, but let's try and find them!”
Isabelle nodded firmly, her eyes full of trust.
Ivan watched her and shook his head.
*To betray her motherland so easily. Does she have no sense of patriotism?*
Then he thought for a moment and realized that he, too, had never acted out of patriotism.
He had never been loyal to the Krasilov monarchy. He had simply respected the late king as an individual.
“There’s no need for that.”
“Huh? This is a really rare opportunity. You’ll regret it if you miss out. I’m going to rise to a very high position in Tilles after I graduate, you know? Don't you manage your human resources? And you call yourself a government agent?”
*What on earth does this child think the word ‘agent’ means?*
He knew she had been coddled at the royal court, but wasn't this a bit too far from his first impression?
Ivan nodded with a deadpan expression.
“Do as you wish.”
“…Well, that’s a pretty bad attitude.”
Isabelle shook her head and then suddenly asked.
“By the way, what on earth are they hiding here that the elves are still carrying on like that?”
She gestured with her chin toward the sky.
More than a week had passed since the new semester began. In other words, it had been nearly a month since the entrance ceremony.
Callion’s warship was still anchored in the sky above Saint Yansk University.
While it had been chaotic at first, most students were now dismissing it with a simple, ‘Elves being elves.’
But to Ivan, it was rather strange. That ship was, after all, a foreign nation's warship. And Saint Yansk University was located in the heart of the capital.
The Crown Prince might have other intentions, but Elizaveta would never have let such a thing slide. Furthermore, weren't the Royal Household Department and the capital region under Elizaveta’s influence?
“Who knows. Who can understand the minds of elves?”
*
“So, Sir Veilchest. What is the report for today?”
“We have failed, Your Excellency.”
“I see. Failed again today.”
Oneste nodded with a subtle smile.
“What did the Krasilov monarchy have to say?”
“They threatened to shoot us down if we do not vacate within three days.”
“They said the same thing three days ago. Pay it no mind and continue with your duties.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
After dismissing the technical officer, Oneste, now alone, took out a handkerchief and dabbed at his cold sweat.
“Just why…?”
All warships undergo a thorough technical inspection before departure. His ship, the ‘Boyle’s Glory,’ was no exception.
Of course, it wasn't wartime, nor were they heading to the front lines. It was a simple show of force… a light one at that, not even enough to spark a diplomatic dispute. So the inspection had been at the level of routine maintenance.
Even so, this was one of Callion’s aerial warships.
The ruler of the skies that had reigned as a terror to the demons during the last war. There could be minor functional glitches, but never had there been an issue that hindered the ship’s navigation.
Just then, a knock came from beyond the captain’s cabin bulkhead.
“Your Excellency, we have a visitor from the Krasilov Royal Court.”
“Tell them I will visit separately in the evening. Did you not tell them I have a schedule this afternoon?”
“W-Well, I explained that, but…”
A bustling noise came from beyond the bulkhead, followed by an officer's urgent voice. ‘You can’t do this.’ ‘This is a diplomatic breach!’
Elves generally have sensitive hearing, especially in an enclosed space.
A clanking metallic sound, followed by footsteps. The sharp click-clack of high heels echoing through the ship.
Instinctively knowing who had arrived, Oneste let out a deep sigh.
“Come in.”
“I intended to.”
The bulkhead door flew open without any courtesy, and a woman with beautifully flowing silver hair appeared.
Elizaveta. The leader of this country’s monkeys.
Oneste forced his expression to remain neutral and cleared his throat.
“How rude. Are you perhaps aware that a warship is considered foreign territory?”
“Of course, I am. That's why I haven't shot you down for hovering in my nation's airspace.”
Elizaveta strode confidently forward and plopped down in the seat opposite Oneste. Her ornate Krasilov general’s uniform gleamed under the cabin lights.
With a flick of her gloved hand, a man standing at attention behind her walked over and opened a black case.
He took out a cigarette, placed it in her hand, and then retreated a few steps with a respectful posture.
Before he could protest the rudeness of smoking in the captain's cabin, Elizaveta’s sharp eyes glinted.
“So, tell me. How should we… no. How should *I* deal with you?”
“What…?”
“Our government has already conveyed its official position. ‘We will give you three days.’ But that is not my position. Elf. You must choose one of two options.”
Elizaveta waved her fingertips. *Fssshk.* A magical reaction lit the end of the cigarette.
*Inhale, exhale.*
With a deep breath, white smoke seeped out. For a moment, through the thick cloud of smoke, her violet eyes shone like a predator’s.
“One, explain what you are plotting right now and request my cooperation.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I'll send a lumberjack.”
As the cigarette smoke dispersed, what appeared was the face of a beautiful royal with a gentle smile.
As if her earlier intensity had been a lie, Elizaveta spoke with a smile.
“Fortunately, your country's warship is a wooden vessel, is it not?”
“An insult…!!”
A lumberjack to an elf…? Within the bounds of diplomatic rhetoric, there could be no greater insult.
As Oneste grew furious, Elizaveta shrugged and stood up.
“An insult. I suppose I have my answer.”
“You alone cannot represent the will of the monarchy. Do you truly believe you can get away with this?”
The conflict between the Crown Prince and the Princess was already internationally famous. It had escalated beyond a simple power struggle to the point where civil war was considered imminent.
In such a situation, was it wise to make a complete enemy of one of the Allied Kingdoms' major powers? If Callion sided with the Crown Prince, the Princess’s position would inevitably be shaken.
As he growled with that implication, the Princess smiled faintly.
“Threatening the Lord Chamberlain in Frichenkaya, of all places. What an amusing joke, Captain.”
“Grr…!”
“And, Captain. Remember this.”
Opening the cabin door, Elizaveta glanced back over her shoulder.
Her violet eyes, like those of a bird of prey, glinted.
“I *am* the will of the Royal Family.”
*
“Your Excellency, the Foreign Minister is said to be returning to the palace in a hurry.”
“For one of royal blood, he is so impatient.”
Walking across the deck, Elizaveta chuckled.
He never failed to meet her expectations. That brother of hers.
“We'll proceed as planned. Summon Vanka.”
“Will you meet him yourself?”
“Sir Cherkatov. Have I not said it before? That we must reunite at a more appropriate time, in a more appropriate place.”
*You have no sense of romance.*
Elizaveta shot Dmitry a sideways glance and continued on her way.
*