Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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>Translator: Lord First
>Chapter: 60
>Chapter Title: Saint Yansk University and the Chamber of Secrets (3)
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*
Elizaveta was spouting nonsense, like considering a bill to tax male body hair for public health and hygiene,
or chattering on about some useless foreign tale of a princess, whose succession to the throne was all but certain, surprisingly entering the marriage market regardless of social status.
“Hmm. I understand.”
>“Oh, that’s a story I’ve been dying to hear.”
>“Ah, I see.”
>“Yes, Your Highness is correct.”
Ivan, being a sociable man, was demonstrating his ‘empathy’ by generously employing the modern art of conversation—a masterclass in ‘Hmm,’ ‘Oh,’ ‘I see,’ and ‘Yes.’
Elizaveta, who had been watching him with a look of utter pity, let out a deep sigh and finally adopted a serious expression.
Ivan, who had been letting her words go in one ear and out the other (in truth, almost all of them) while maintaining a consistently serious face, realized the real conversation was about to begin and focused his attention on her.
“You know the dwarves launched a massive attack on Frichenkaya, don’t you, Vanka?”
>“Yes, Your Highness.”
>“And you know they brought an excavation artifact with them?”
>“Yes.”
Though he hadn’t seen it himself, he had pieced together the situation on the streets of Frichenkaya that rainy night.
Widespread ground destruction. A dwarven weapon of devastation capable of burying an entire city if fully activated.
The Excavation Engine, the Excavation Artifact. Whatever those folk called it, it was a massive structure that went by similar names on the front lines.
He thought the artifact no longer existed in this world, having been so thoroughly destroyed in the last war...
“Right. Enrique may have slaughtered every last one of those dwarves... but in the end, we only found traces of the artifact.”
>“Traces, you say...?”
>“Traces that it had begun to destroy the ground. We only found signs of extensive activation, enough to have collapsed the entire eastern part of Frichenkaya. Here, take a look at the report.”
Elizaveta handed him a file stamped with a confidential seal.
- A cavity created by the movement of a massive structure discovered beneath eastern Frichenkaya. 75% of the eastern Frichenkaya sewer system destroyed, causing drainage failure throughout the eastern district.
- Tracing the path of destruction suggests the artifact ceased operation almost immediately after initiating the collapse.
- Pursuit initiated along the structure's path of movement.
- Traces lost near Saint Yansk University.
- Mana probe reveals an unidentified underground cavity beneath Saint Yansk University.
- All attempts to enter the area have failed.
- Proposal submitted for the evacuation of all undergraduate students and large-scale construction. See Appendix, page 12.
“Hmm...”
Ivan closed the file and fell into thought.
An unidentified cavity beneath this university?
“Is there a reason you couldn’t excavate into the underground cavity?”
>“According to our experts, a large-scale excavation starting from underground carries a high risk of causing a ground collapse. It would start with the university buildings and spread, not to mention endangering the workers on site.”
>“Then the reason you haven't proceeded with the evacuation as the report suggests is...”
>“This is the opinion of our Magitech Engineering department. Take a look.”
The next item handed to him was another file, one that required a higher security clearance but looked as if it had been scribbled in a great hurry.
- Probe results confirm the installation of some kind of large-scale spell within the underground cavity of Yansk University.
- The spell possesses its own defense system. The disappearance of the dwarven excavation artifact allows for a general inference of the system's operational method.
- Estimated installation date of the spell: minimum 1500 years ago, maximum 2500 years ago...
“...Is this even possible?”
>“That's what I said. To be honest, I don't quite believe it either. But what can you do? This is how half the things our Magitech Engineering department does turn out. You either believe it or you bury it. It's one or the other.”
Elizaveta shook her head.
“But it's certain that if the ground collapses, both the large-scale ancient magic circle buried in the cavity and the dwarven excavation artifact will be lost.”
>“Is reverse-engineering possible?”
At this point, Ivan understood Elizaveta's intention.
This ambitious war commander wanted to get her hands on both the ancient ruins beneath the university and the dwarven excavation artifact.
However, the dwarven artifact was impossible to restore with human technology. In fact, it was impossible even with dwarven technology. The design techniques had been completely lost, and the mechanical device was too complex to be reverse-engineered.
But in any case, if a complete specimen existed, there would at least be something to gain. It was a slim possibility, but better than nothing.
If it was buried beneath the heart of the capital, not digging it up would be foolish.
And at the same time, attempting to do so publicly, in plain sight, would also be foolish.
It wasn't as if she could announce a massive research project on a dwarven artifact, or that a state facility would be installed beneath Yansk University—where the children of international dignitaries were enrolled—to study an unknown ancient spell.
“Vanka. This isn't a request for you to be patriotic.”
>“...”
>“I'm proposing a deal. It's dangerous, it's important, and it cannot fail.”
>“Give me the order. I'm listening.”
Ivan nodded gravely.
“Enrique has gone in pursuit, following the underground tunnels the dwarves dug. The Counter-intelligence Command is dedicating all its resources to monitoring the city's nobles. And beneath this university lies an artifact whose creator, purpose, and time of installation are all unknown.”
Elizaveta was looking at him with burning eyes.
“If it's dangerous, destroy it. If it's useful, bring it to me. Without anyone noticing. For my sake... no, for this country, lend me your strength one more time.”
>“Yes, Your Highness.”
It was an immediate reply.
Elizaveta stared at Ivan, dumbfounded.
I mean, don't public officials usually show at least a hint of displeasure when given orders outside their duties? Even if he wasn't a civil servant directly on the payroll, still.
She had just dumped a vague, dangerous project with no proper information or support on him, and he replied instantly?
“...Did you even hear me say it was a deal?”
>“Yes, Your Highness.”
Elizaveta looked somewhat bewildered.
A deal's value is supposed to rise with demand. Having expressed such an ardent need, shouldn't he have placed something heavier on the other side of the scale?
But the man before her simply nodded without making any demands.
Just as he always had.
“So... um. Is there nothing you want? A position, wealth, honor, rights... anything like that?”
>“Do you remember the letter you sent me, Your Highness?”
>“Hmm?”
>“The letter. The one you sent through Dmitry.”
>“Ah, the letter. But what does that have to do with...?”
Elizaveta was an exceptionally clever person. She remembered every official document she had ever issued.
Politics was an incredibly delicate business, where even a simple word could carry complex implications.
Thus, even a private letter, being from the princess herself, had to be written with the consideration of potential political misuse. The letter she had sent to Ivan was therefore filled with delicate and cautious metaphors.
The contents were roughly... right.
- If there is something you desire, I will repay you threefold.
This was an old Krasilov proverb. Favors and grudges must always be repaid threefold.
So, skipping that one.
- If the price is not enough, I will pay with our friendship.
>- And if that still does not settle the account, I will pay with our memories.
“Ah...”
As Elizaveta wore a flustered expression, Ivan nodded gravely with a mature demeanor.
“The late King's favor and Your Highness's grace are more than enough reason for this servant to obey your command. The donations you send every quarter have also been more than sufficient.”
Ivan was a greedy man. He ran an orphanage for the sake of his own hypocrisy.
It took a lot of money to feed war orphans. Ivan had saved enough from his long military service, and he also received official donations from the princess and various other high-ranking officials.
He was a modern man familiar with capitalism. Moreover, he had served in the Royal Guard and had a career as a political soldier with connections to high-ranking military officials. (Meaning he had engaged in domestic intelligence.)
Therefore, he knew that Elizaveta's 'deal' was literally priceless. It was tantamount to a blank check.
But at the same time, Ivan was a man of 'common sense.'
‘If there's a dungeon under the academy, it's just common sense that there's a hidden treasure inside.’
A dungeon must have a reward. This was a principle found even in the classic literature 'Dungeons & Dragons,' a work surprisingly serious about copyright lawsuits.
Moreover, this was a quest given directly by the princess, involving a secret chamber enchanted with mysterious ancient magic. Just what kind of incredible item must be sleeping there?
Suppose he accepted a mission to clear such a dungeon solo and then requested support.
From the princess's perspective, she might think something like this.
- Hmm. This is more expensive than I thought. How about dispatching additional field agents to mitigate the risk?
The people of this era were by no means idiots. And among them, the princess was an exceptionally brilliant individual.
What were the chances of such a princess thoughtlessly thinking, 'Ah, I trust Ivan, so I'll just pour money into this and watch him carry out this special operation all by himself!'?
It converged to zero. Politics didn't work that way. It wasn't for nothing that investors checked their investees' financial statements every quarter and even conducted audits.
As a rational, skeptical, and sensible modern man, Ivan accepted this mission without another word.
With this, the princess now owed him a 'political or psychological debt.' Unlike tangible debts, this intangible kind guaranteed a much broader range of uses.
Elizaveta was currently the most powerful person in this city. It was safe to say that virtually all of Krasilov Kingdom's administration moved by her hand.
By leveraging the 'debt' of such a powerful figure, he could provide all the children in his orphanage with higher education and improved nutrition without worrying about capital.
If he simply received compensation in the form of wealth, it would be a one-time thing. But in this case, how much financial support could he secure under the pretext of 'donations'?
Ivan nodded with satisfaction, feeling as if he were committing some vile and meticulous act of corruption.
He carefully put away the organized reports, gave a deep bow with perfect court etiquette, and left the Chancellor's office.
Elizaveta stared blankly at his retreating back for a long while, then rubbed her face with a dry expression and sank into the sofa.
“...You idiot...”
The Royal Guard officer, having heard an audacious royal utterance that should never have been spoken, impassively turned his head and gazed out the window.
It was summer.
*
“I will give you half my kingdom.”
*Nope, not this one. It's too cliché.*
“Do you not desire the noblest person in this kingdom?”
*Damn, this one sounds too much like a succubus. Let's refine it a bit... Yes, more romantically.*
“I will give you half of myself. Will you give me half of yourself?”
*This one sounds pretty good.*
Elizaveta had been muttering to herself for some time while looking in the mirror of the Chancellor's office.
With the face of a devoted princess, one who would give even 'herself' as a reward for a difficult mission.
This was the scene thirty minutes before Ivan accepted the mission out of patriotic loyalty, without asking for anything in return, and left.
*