Chapter 107
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Setting the Stage
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An incident where a staggering eleven royals and nobles were killed.
It was an event that could not, and would not, be overlooked.
The Continental Academic Conference, the largest event second only to the Empire's Founding Day, came to a complete halt.
“Greetings to His Grace, the Duke!”
“Greetings to His Grace, the Duke!”
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the master of Vienderk made his way to Valerich in person. Hundreds of soldiers were in tow.
Duke Grancis Vienderk was a man of dignified presence. His face was clean-shaven, and his eyes were sharp.
His hair, swept back to reveal his forehead, was the same dark, bluish-black as Rosalia's, and his brown eyes were so deep it was impossible to guess his thoughts.
“I express my deepest regrets for the unfortunate incident that has occurred here in Valerich. This matter…”
He made a public declaration to everyone in the banquet hall.
First, he would take responsibility and ensure the culprit was found.
Second, the entire investigation process would be made transparent.
Third, appropriate compensation would be provided for the deceased.
It was the best he could do for the moment, and Vienderk's forces immediately began to track down any traces of the murders.
Having thus doused the flames of public outrage, Duke Grancis's next move was to visit a certain hotel.
“It has been a while, Rosalia.”
More precisely, his daughter, who was staying at the hotel.
“It has been, Your Grace.”
Rosalia replied without emotion.
“I heard you were presenting your research at the conference.”
“Yes.”
“This incident must be quite unfortunate for you.”
“Yes. I hope it is resolved quickly so the Continental Academic Conference may resume.”
“I will have to work a little harder to meet that expectation.”
“Will that be possible?”
At his daughter's disbelief, Duke Grancis smiled faintly.
“It seems that after so long apart, you've forgotten who I am.”
“Eleven people are dead.”
“Even if ten times that many had died, it would not be a problem.”
“Despite your words, you seem angry.”
“They are bastards who ruined a Vienderk event. As the master of Vienderk, is there any reason I wouldn't be furious?”
Yet, he showed no sign of it on the surface. Duke Grancis was a man who always maintained a calm demeanor, but concealed a blade within.
“I am quite looking forward to your presentation.”
“Is there a reason to?”
“Because it is a Vienderk presentation. I, too, have been waiting for the moment you would elevate the family name.”
Rosalia merely scoffed and did not reply. The Duke, unbothered by her reaction, rose from his seat.
“Well, I must be going. I am too busy to properly enjoy our reunion, but let us meet again once this is all over.”
Leaving Rosalia's room, Duke Grancis's steps did not lead outside, but to the adjacent room.
*Knock, knock—*
The door opened.
“Pernyan Fallenberg.”
“…Greetings, Your Grace.”
Pernyan bowed his head slightly.
“May I come in for a moment?”
“Of course. Though my quarters are humble.”
“A hotel under Vienderk's management being humble? Does that not mean I have managed it poorly?”
“That was not my intention.”
“A jest.”
The Duke sat down on the sofa as if it were his own.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“No, thank you. I heard you've taken good care of Rosalia.”
“How could I possibly care for the professor? If anything, it was the other way around.”
“Rosalia doesn't have the kind of affectionate personality to care for someone.”
Pernyan fell silent.
It was true, but he couldn't bring himself to speak ill of a daughter in front of her father.
“I was told you helped a great deal with Rosalia's research. I thank you on her behalf.”
“We simply helped each other with what we needed.”
“Isn't that all the more reason to be grateful? Since you helped Rosalia for nothing in return.”
For nothing in return?
There was a significant problem with his choice of words. Pernyan did not believe it was an accidental slip.
“It was an investment, so there is no need for thanks.”
“Whatever the intention, as a father, I must express my gratitude for helping a child who had left home. Ah, did you know? I have a younger brother.”
He knew.
“When we were young, I was quite fond of my brother. He was rather adorable, always pestering me, 'Brother, brother, come play with me.' We were quite close, he and I.”
Grancis Vienderk's younger brother, Owein Vienderk, was quite famous.
“I gave him what he wanted, even if it was mine. I didn't mind. He was my only sibling, after all. I shared and gave freely.”
“……”
“But you know, at some point, he began to cross the line.”
Once a rival who vied with his older brother, Grancis Vienderk, for the position of family head.
“I gave him one, and he wanted two. I gave him two, and he wanted four. I could understand that much, but I could not let it slide when four became eight, and eight became sixteen.”
And now, a failure living under the family's watch, utterly ruined.
“The boy knew no moderation. It was then I realized just how greedy my brother was.”
His snake-like eyes stared intently at Pernyan.
With that, he fell silent, and a heavy silence pressed down on Pernyan.
“I've digressed. What I'm trying to say is… yes. I'm sure you already know.”
He smiled faintly.
“We also invested in Rosalia's research in its early stages.”
*Pat, pat.* He lightly tapped Pernyan's shoulder as he passed. The guard knight who had been standing by the door followed him.
“Keep that in mind.”
Duke Grancis was gone.
“……”
Left alone in the room, Pernyan let out a hollow laugh.
“…Who does he take me for, a fool?”
He made a token gesture in the beginning, and now he was using that as an excuse to get a piece of the action?
It was a confidence only Vienderk could have. A scheme possible only because she was Vienderk's daughter.
They had a pretext, and Vienderk did not fear Fallenberg.
But the reverse was also true.
“What utter bullshit.”
Fallenberg did not fear Vienderk either.
The problem was…
“But this can't be purely about that…”
The problem was that Duke Grancis knew that as well.
This is bait. What is he truly after?
‘As if I don't have enough to worry about… damn it.’
His mind was a mess.
* * *
Vienderk's search for the culprits began.
They identified the Vile Breeds as the prime suspects.
It was a natural process of elimination.
No one in the Empire had any reason to cause such a disturbance in Vienderk territory without cause.
The same was true for any other kingdom outside the Empire, and the deceased had nothing in common besides being nobles or royals.
They were, in a word, indiscriminate killings, which lacked justification unless carried out by Vile Breeds.
The Duke first brought in the acquaintances of the deceased and anyone they had been in contact with, based on an investigation of their recent activities.
Since there were people of high standing among them, he herded them into the city hall—originally the main venue for the conference—and turned it into their temporary lodging.
“Well, this is…”
“I came to enjoy the festival, what kind of mess is this?”
“To think I'd be held here when I came for business. But given the circumstances, I can't exactly refuse to cooperate…”
“I heard Vienderk will compensate us for our time.”
“I feel for Vienderk, too. For those Vile Breed bastards to strike at a time like this…”
The number of people gathered swelled to five hundred. They had brought in anyone who seemed even remotely connected.
Afterward, the Duke immediately requested aid from the Dragon God Cult, and the cult accepted.
There was no need to look far; ten priests who had attended the Continental Academic Conference were present.
Just before they were to act, Pernyan sought them out in secret.
“It has been some time, Young Master Pernyan. I hear our cult's Saint is greatly indebted to you.”
The one leading the priests was a cardinal named Gailan Pitra.
With his graying hair and beard, wrinkled skin, and slightly stooped back, he appeared at first glance to be just an old man.
The only peculiarity was the adoring look in his eyes as he gazed at Pernyan.
In fact, it wasn't just him; the Pope and most of the Dragon God Cult were the same way.
This was because Fallenberg was the Dragon God Cult's greatest patron and client.
“It has been a while, Cardinal Gailan. Not at all. If anything, I am the one indebted to you. I must say, I didn't expect you to come in person.”
“The Continental Academic Conference is a festival for all mages, is it not? I, too, came to enjoy it, but I never imagined something like this would happen.”
“The Vile Breeds couldn't have expected it either. Thanks to you, they must be trembling in fear right now.”
Pernyan was genuinely glad he was here.
‘What a relief. If it had been Cardinal Alvi or Cardinal Vador, Aint might not have had a chance to step up.’
As all the cult's priests were mad for magic, Gailan's skill, having reached the rank of cardinal, was by no means low.
But everything was relative.
“But what brings you here so suddenly?”
“I heard you received a request from Vienderk to find the Vile Breeds.”
“We did.”
“Might I be allowed to attend?”
“You wish to attend, Young Master Pernyan? Weren't you cleared of suspicion?”
“I would not be going as a person of interest. And I would like Aint to join us as well.”
Cardinal Gailan's expression changed.
“Young Master Aint is here?”
“Yes.”
“I have heard much about Young Master Aint from the Saint.”
The Saint he referred to was Jace.
“Is that so?”
“He said, 'He has reclaimed a great deal of Armian's power and could become a central figure if a war against the demons breaks out.'”
Cardinal Gailan nodded.
“Very well. I do not know what you are planning, Young Master, but if he is the Armian so highly praised by the Saint, he will surely be a great help in finding the Vile Breeds.”
“Thank you for agreeing to my unreasonable request.”
“Above all, I trust you would not do anything to put us in a difficult position, would you, Young Master?”
“Of course.”
The cardinal added with a subtle smile.
“Actually, you may cause a little trouble. I am sure you would make up for any damages with a generous reward, wouldn't you?”
Money-grubbing bastards.
What do you mean you don't know what I'm planning?
Pernyan cursed inwardly while replying with a smile.
“Of course. We are old friends, are we not?”
So, among friends, what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine, right?
I'm sorry, but the credit for finding the Vile Breeds must go to Aint Armian, not the cult.
‘The worst-case scenario is that they've already left the city…’
Vienderk's soldiers were already scouring the city's entry and exit logs, tracking everyone who left up to three days before the incident.
But a hastily formed cordon was bound to have holes.
‘For now, I have no choice but to trust in Vienderk.’
One. Just find one of them, Aint.
Then I'll make you a hero, whatever it takes.
The rise of Armian begins now.
The price will just be me sticking to you like a leech and sucking up some of that gold, so don't be too scared.