Chapter 178: Trap(2)
Chapter 178: Trap(2)
No matter how talented a person is, a single moment of 'carelessness' can lead to their downfall. This is especially true in critical moments.
That is a common truth that applies even to Elves. Elves, particularly those of the older generation, have a strong tendency to look down on other races.
It’s true that humans are generally weaker than Elves, and Elves possess the skills to back up their pride, which often manifests as arrogance.
However, that way of thinking is nothing more than being a frog in a well. Among humans, monsters emerge who can rival Elven Warlords, and there are Demons who are naturally comparable to Elves.
To carry out an important mission, considering every single variable is not an option—it is a necessity.
Of course, they probably never imagined those variables would include a human on par with a Warlord and a Demon who surpassed even that.
"Is it just these three?"
"Yeah. The publisher said there were three, and that Dark Elf girl confirmed it."
"Mother is alright, I assume?"
"She woke up briefly, but she should be back asleep by now."
After hearing my father's words, I looked ahead. In front of the desk, three Elven men and women were kneeling, bound tightly with rope.
They were still unconscious, their heads hanging low, but even in that state, they possessed the striking beauty characteristic of Elves. It was also interesting to see their different hair colors.
However, these were malicious individuals who had not only trespassed into our mansion but had immediately formulated a kidnapping plot the moment they realized I was Xenon. Considering the laws of the Minerva Empire and the standards of this era, they could be summarily executed without any issue.
"But Isaac. Did you really have to reveal that you're Xenon?"
Cecile, who had easily subdued two of the three Elven intruders, asked me with a hint of doubt. She was the one who had realized they were planning a kidnapping in real-time. Apparently, she had eavesdropped on their telepathy.
I looked at the Elves before me and answered her question.
"They would have figured out I was Xenon soon enough anyway. They might have been careless, but they aren't stupid. They probably suspected as much just from the fact that a trap had been set."
"Still, it's too dangerous... What if these people leak the fact that you're Xenon?"
"Then I'll really have to detonate the bombs in their ears. Even without that, we have the 'Pledge,' don't we?"
"Ah."
When I mentioned the 'Pledge'—a magic often used when establishing a master-servant relationship—Cecile nodded in understanding. As everyone knows, Arwen and Cecile had used a Pledge during Rain's punishment.
A Pledge ensures that if the 'subordinate' does not act according to the contract, they receive a severe penalty, which the 'master' also senses. Because of this, keeping secrets is absolutely impossible.
In the past, when slavery existed, it was frequently used in human society, but it gradually disappeared over time. There were incidents where slaves committed mass suicide, claiming they couldn't live like that, and others where they launched desperate uprisings.
That is how powerful the Pledge is; it is highly effective at preventing any unwanted actions.
"We'll have to use it carefully so they can't find any loopholes. For example, stating they must never speak of Xenon's identity. What did you say happens if they break the Pledge?"
"At first, they'll feel intense pain in their heart. If they try to force their way through it, their heart will stop. They might survive with emergency treatment, but they'll never even think about speaking of it again."
"What if they don't speak but try to communicate through writing or codes?"
"Don't worry about that either. Anything related to your identity can be made a violation of the Pledge."
Seeing Cecile so confident put me at ease. Even without the Pledge, I could have Siris watch them to ensure they didn't try anything foolish. I'd have to discuss that separately with Arwen.
In any case, now that I've caught the fish I was waiting for, all that's left is the aftermath. To be blunt, I could dispose of these Elves quietly without much trouble.
From the Senate's perspective, they would simply think their pursuit team had been defeated and send another. Until the root cause is dealt with, this struggle will continue until one side is finished.
"Alright. Then all that's left is... when will these people wake up?"
"Should I wake them now?"
"Yes."
Snap—
At my request, Cecile lightly flicked her fingers. I felt a faint ripple of mana.
"Uuugh..."
"Mmm..."
Before long, the bound Elves began to groan and regain consciousness. Since the bedroom relied on only a few candles, it would take them some time to recover their vision.
Furthermore, while the ropes themselves were ordinary, Cecile had used magic to prevent them from using mana, stripping away any chance of resistance.
"Ugh... my head... Huh?"
"W-what? Why am I..."
"... ..."
Unlike the two Elven subordinates who panicked the moment they realized they were bound, the Elf in the center said nothing. He merely confirmed his situation with an expression that seemed to say, 'As I thought,' showing almost no reaction.
According to my father, this one had acted alone, unlike the other two. It was highly likely that this blonde Elf was the leader.
"W-what is this... I was clearly..."
"W-who are you people?"
Unlike the woman who still hadn't grasped the situation, the man asked in a frantic voice upon spotting us. The struggling woman also looked up at us.
Finally, when the man with dull blonde hair shifted his gaze toward us, I stepped forward and crouched down to meet their eyes. He flinched the moment our eyes met, as if he had a guilty conscience.
"U-untie us this instant, human! You clearly don't realize what you've done...!"
Whether she was shameless or just typically Elven in her arrogance, the brown-haired female Elf made a frantic demand. My father let out a sharp, incredulous breath behind me.
I stared blankly at the Elf who seemed completely oblivious to the situation before smirking and hitting her with the facts.
"What I've done? I've caught the thieves who trespassed into our mansion."
"... ..."
"And I have a pretty good idea of what you came here looking for."
"...Are you Xenon?"
The blonde Elf, the presumed leader, asked in a quiet voice. Upon hearing this, the subordinates on either side fell silent as they belatedly realized the situation.
However, it wasn't long before their expressions twisted. They had likely tried to use telepathy, only to realize that using mana was impossible.
Eventually, one of the subordinates felt forced to relay the truth verbally.
"T-this man is definitely Xenon. There was a manuscript and a letter on the desk."
"...I see."
Unlike his subordinate, the leader remained calm. I wasn't sure if he was plotting something despite being unable to use telepathy.
Cecile and my father noticed this as well and moved subtly. Cecile stood by my side, while my father stood behind the Elves.
It was a clear sign that they would immediately intervene if the Elves tried any tricks. It was more than just reassuring; I felt a strange surge of confidence.
Meanwhile, the leader of the pursuit team flinched when he saw Cecile approach me.
"...Could it be, the Princess of Helium?"
"You know me?"
"How could I not? I saw you from a distance during the speech."
Cecile had attended Arwen's speech. It was then, during a ridiculous argument at the immigration office, that she had seen the true nature of the Elves.
The Elven leader stared quietly at Cecile before smirking and making a comment intended to needle her.
"So you knew who Xenon was all along. That's why you were able to pull off something like this."
"Hmph. I wonder. I don't think an Elf who committed such a filthy act has any right to talk. Is your conscience doing alright?"
"... ..."
He tried to provoke her, only to have it thrown back at him several times harder. He really should have known better than to play the victim.
"Anyway, could you tell me your names? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"...Kalas."
"And the other two?"
"Mael."
"Lena."
Even while bound, their pride wouldn't let them give more than one-word answers. Honestly, I hadn't expected much else.
However, the time would soon come when they would have to swallow that pride. I just had to slowly build up to it until then. They were the ones in a hurry, not me.
Their safety was essentially in the palm of my hand.
"I'll start with this question. Why on earth are you so desperate to find me? I haven't done anything to harm you."
"...Your knowledge is extremely dangerous. That is why we intended to win you over."
"Win me over?"
"We intended to offer a suitable reward if you helped us."
'Win me over,' my foot. Hearing people who had declared they would censor my books talk about 'winning me over' was so absurd I was speechless.
Cecile seemed to feel the same way, as she pointed out Kalas's hypocrisy in an incredulous voice.
"People like you were going to censor the Xenon Biography? To talk about winning him over after doing something like that... you really are devious."
"The censorship was not our doing. The Queen ordered it herself."
Now Kalas was even resorting to lies. Being able to lie so shamelessly without a change in expression was a talent in its own right.
The idea that Elves don't do dirty things? I learned through Kalas that it was all nonsense.
I let out a sharp breath and spoke to Kalas in a cold voice.
"The Queen? You came here on orders from your Senate. Did you think I wouldn't know?"
"I don't know where you heard that, but it's nonsense. We were sent by the Queen—"
"Piren Gerrit Stormwalker."
"...!"
When I spoke the name of the head of the Senate and the one who had given them their orders, Kalas's eyes widened. His expression screamed, How do you know that name?
The other Elves had similar reactions. Mael's jaw dropped in shock, and Lena looked as if she was trying to process if she had heard correctly.
From their perspective, the mere fact that I knew Piren would make things complicated. They might think they had been dancing in the palm of my hand from the start, or perhaps that they had been discarded by their own people.
Either way, I just had to lead the situation where I wanted it to go.
"That old Elf gave you the orders, didn't he? To find Xenon. Am I wrong?"
"H-how do you... No, who on earth are you...?"
"I have no reason to tell you. Anyway, you must know by now. From the moment I caught you, you're nothing more than discarded dogs. If you go back like this, you might disappear without a sound, or you might face the punishment of having your ears cut off. Isn't having your ears cut off a punishment worse than death for you Elves?"
I had heard about Council Member Piren from Arwen. As the head of the Senate, his power was immense, and he would do anything to keep it.
When the Senate's very existence was threatened after the Race War, Piren was the one who forcibly revived it. At the time, Piren was a rising star within the Senate, and the Race War had broken out just as he was about to soar.
Naturally, Piren didn't want the Senate to vanish into history. Once you've tasted power, it's harder to quit than any drug.
And currently, Piren was constantly checking Arwen, who threatened his power, and was even engaging in all sorts of secret machinations.
The reason these Elves had first visited the publisher to check the signed copies was because they had obtained the speech Arwen had accidentally left in her bedroom through a specific channel. Arwen had realized it too late and burned it, but the damage was already done.
The idea that Elves don't do dirty things only applies to war; when it comes to power, humans and Elves are all the same.
"So, I'm making a proposal. Surely you won't stick with the Senate now, talking about loyalty or whatever? Whatever the case, life is what's most important. Especially for you Elves, your ears are even more important."
"D-do you think you can use us with such a pathetic threat!? A mere human!"
The Elven woman who had introduced herself as Lena shouted, her pride apparently still intact. However, her voice was trembling, already consumed by fear.
I stared at her with an expressionless face. Lena glared back at me with a venomous look, but when I remained silent, her momentum gradually withered.
"Should I cut your ears off right here? You don't think you can return to Albenheim with your ears cut, do you?"
"...Hic."
When I threatened her in a flat voice, Lena let out a hiccup. Given the atmosphere, even a minor(?) threat like this was enough to put immense pressure on her.
They couldn't use mana, and they were trapped between two lions waiting with their mouths open. One wrong move, and even their lives weren't guaranteed.
If they were Beastkin who valued honor more than life, they might have shouted, "Just kill me!" But these were Elves. Honor be damned, life came first.
"I'll emphasize this again: your lives are in my hands. With Cecile here, you can't even try any tricks with magic. Bound as you are, you're in a helpless position. Do you understand?"
"...If you intend to use us, you'd be better off discarding us. The Senate won't let us off easily either. It would be cleaner to just finish us here."
"Then the Senate might sense something and send more people. It's better to just pull them out by the roots."
"Ha. Do you think that's possible? Even if you use us as bait, you won't gain anything."
"I don't know. I think differently."
I casually showed my right hand to Kalas, who was acting as if he had nothing to lose. Kalas narrowed his eyes.
As he said, the Senate was a political body with hundreds of years of history. Even after committing the greatest blunders in the Race War, they had persisted like cockroaches.
However, on the flip side, the factions opposing the Senate had grown since the Race War. Furthermore, support for Arwen had increased significantly since her speech.
If I just lit the fuse here, the Senate would meet its destruction without being able to lift a finger. I smiled and spoke to Kalas.
"What do you think would happen if I said this? That my right hand was injured because of the Elves, making it impossible for me to write for the time being. Not only the Savior, who is desperate to crown me as a Saint, but also Helium would join in. The human kingdoms would be the same."
"... ..."
"Even Albenheim wouldn't last a few months. Just cutting off trade routes would cause massive losses. And war would break out before that. What decision would have to be made to prevent that?"
As I continued, Kalas's complexion went from pale to gaunt. I didn't know how the Senate would react, but there was a 100% chance they would discard these three as scapegoats.
They would surely claim it was an independent action and that they knew nothing about it. It was a true dilemma for them.
One way, their ears would be cut; the other way, their lives would be forfeit. Even if they prayed to the gods, the gods wouldn't listen, given the nature of their crime.
"It's no use asking the gods for help. You committed this act even after the gods themselves gave a warning, so they'll likely strike you with divine punishment instead."
"... ..."
"So, what will it be? Will you help me eradicate the Senate, or will you just disappear quietly? Honestly, it doesn't matter much to me if you're not here. The Senate will just come looking for me again anyway."
That was all I had to say. If he was smart, he would have grasped the entire situation. All that was left was the choice.
Would they cooperate with us to screw over the Senate that had caused this, or would they quietly disappear?
I personally hoped they would choose the former.
"K-Kalas-sama...!"
"P-please accept the demand! It's the only way for us to live!"
Mael and Lena pleaded with Kalas, their eyes filled with desperation. Even for a race chosen by the gods, seeing them beg like this proved that people are just people.
No matter how strong their honor and pride, it meant nothing when their lives were on the line. There's a reason sacrifice is considered noble.
Kalas listened to his subordinates' pleas, his lips trembling, before he looked me straight in the eye. My face was reflected in his blue eyes like a mirror.
"Then... what do we get?"
"Hmm?"
"Shouldn't there be something in it for us?"
"Heh."
Look at how shameless he is until the very end. My father even let out a small laugh at the sheer absurdity of it.
I also lowered my head and let out a chuckle of disdain. I felt a strong urge to just cut their ears off and ship them back to Albenheim.
But these Elves had to be used until this whole affair was concluded. In fact, they were arguably the most important part.
I slowly raised my head and met Kalas's gaze. His expression was stiff, but the corners of his mouth were slightly turned up; he clearly expected there to be some benefit.
Of course, there was something good for them.
"Right. There is something. Something very good for you."
"What is it?"
To Kalas, who asked with anticipation.
"I'll let you live."
"... ..."
"There's a limit to how shameless you can be, don't you think? Where did you sell your conscience?"
I kindly delivered my sentence.