Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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“We don’t have much time. The Primrose Path investigation will probably wrap up today or tomorrow. The evidence seized in the search will be returned, of course.”
Elias lowered his voice.
“What happens when it’s returned?”
“It’ll all turn to ash, naturally.”
“You know it well~ Not a single thing will be left. Any chance of rearresting them will vanish too.”
Elias’s tone grew serious.
“We have to stop that. Something’s off about this.”
“Yeah.”
Elias raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily.
“You seemed to have a different take on it the other day.”
He’d caught that.
That was only because I hadn’t bought into the hypothesis that ‘Primrose Path was trying to goad Adelbert and Elias into a frenzy for revenge.’
Things had changed now. Primrose Path dodging the investigation meant either a massive power player had been backing them from the start, or someone new had stepped in.
“No. A place tangled up in murder talk was never normal to begin with. Either heavyweights are pulling strings behind the scenes, or they’ve got nothing left to lose and went off the deep end. One or the other. And they’re trying to bury every crime now too.”
“Good. So who do you think halted the investigation?”
I paused, thinking it over, then spoke.
“His Majesty. Or someone in the police bureau. Or anyone connected, really.”
Primrose Path’s main business was prostitution, outlawed after the New Humanity emerged.
‘The New Humanity has a duty to guide the Old Humanity away from misguided choices.’ That’s the current elite logic. So where do they draw proof of inferiority from?
The biggest divide between New and Old Humanity is sex. More precisely, attitudes toward sex.
New Humanity doesn’t reproduce sexually—they create people with mana, akin to Christ’s conception by the Holy Spirit, which they see as superior. Their mindset on sex is worlds apart from Old Humanity’s.
That’s why prostitution became one of their tools.
Irrelevant to New Humanity, rife with derivative crimes due to pimps, drawing a staggering 25% of Old Humanity as clients, yet viewed as shameful. It’s a quick, easy way to sell New Humanity’s superiority.
Cracking down on this industry benefits New Humanity immensely. So the cabinet, packed with them, ending the probe doesn’t add up.
Something overrode even eugenic dominance logic.
What could it be?
A massive scandal justifying New Humanity’s superiority erupts—who among them stands to lose?
‘Flip it around, and the answer appears.’
Who gains most from hitting Primrose Path?
The one claiming the biggest win.
I hadn’t calculated this far, but Elias, who infiltrated and triggered the raid, clearly profits most. His approval and image are set to soar.
In this case, the problem isn’t the scandal itself—it’s the man delivering justice.
The Emperor couldn’t let Elias von Hohenrollen claim that victory.
‘The Security Bureau must be in chaos.’
Nothing left but to get stripped bare by His Majesty.
“Wow~ Straight shooter, Luca.”
Elias clapped, clearly pleased I’d named the Emperor.
“And you, Narke?”
“I need to see some faces first. Haha, sorry.”
“Nah, what’s to apologize for.”
Elias waved it off casually, cracking his knuckles.
“My thinking aligns with yours, Luca. What wouldn’t Great-Uncle do to keep my name out of the spotlight? The press hasn’t reported I’m holed up here yet... but he must’ve learned about my infiltration from the disciplinary hearing.”
Yeah. The Security Bureau probably rode Elias’s coattails for the credit or caved to his tantrum and handed over the warrant. Low chance they confessed to the Emperor late after screwing up. More likely, His Majesty heard about the hearing and pieced it together himself.
“Didn’t know His Majesty’s ethics blew with the wind like that. Is a guy like him fit to be Emperor?”
Elias sneered.
From the catacombs to this—I agreed on multiple levels.
Still, one thing needed clarifying.
“He wouldn’t have backed Primrose Path until now. He only got involved after the issue blew up.”
Elias and Narke both stared at me.
“The backer shielding Primrose Path and the one pressuring to end the investigation might differ. Even if His Majesty shut it down, someone else likely enabled their reign so far.”
“...”
Elias nodded.
“Fair point. He’s not the type to feed Adelbert that crap. Blood’s still blood, no matter what.”
He still firmly believed it was Primrose Path’s doing.
Plausible for now, but best to leave room for doubt. As I opened my mouth to say so, Elias voiced it first.
“And even if the drug wasn’t Primrose Path... there’s more weirdness. Nailing them benefits Great-Uncle too. No way that Empire News splash was random. The Emperor has no reason to covet pocket change from Old Human pimps.”
Elias let out a hollow laugh.
“So Great-Uncle’s solely blocking me... Yeah, like you said, Luca. He wasn’t the backer till now. Someone else. Especially those police bureau rats.”
Quick on the uptake.
I had a hypothesis brewing. If he converged on it too, no need for me to spell it out.
I waited silently to see how far he’d go.
After a long spell clutching his head in both hands, Elias blurted:
“...So.”
“Yeah.”
“Why’d that backer cover for them till now?”
Elias’s eyes gleamed as he glanced between us.
My lips curled up involuntarily.
‘The protagonist’s questioning it too.’
“Yeah. His Majesty might’ve handed Primrose Path a win just to screw you, but with crimes exposed, no other New Human has reason to help them. It’s prime achievement fodder.”
Elias half-jokingly sighed in response.
“...Money? Police Chief poorer than he looks?”
“Hahaha, how poor can the guy in that seat be? Primrose Path’s swimming in cash, though—if the Chief wants more, he’d bite.”
“Yeah. But it ballooned so big even New Humans noticed... Why no one raised hell sooner is the real question.”
Classic protagonist line, all justice, no nuance.
Because it’s propaganda gold.
Outlawed yet they slink back, forming enclaves? Serves New Humanity’s interests.
Spots like Primrose Path ‘prove’ Old Humanity needs firm New Human oversight.
Of course, Elias’s raise wouldn’t be ignored.
But if others backed them for ulterior motives?
Meanwhile, Elias muttered:
“To counter Great-Uncle, then... Need to think. Digging proof he blocked it and leaking’s an option, but no friendly press left.”
He knew.
At least no novel-style ‘blackmail Empire News chief with his career’ nonsense. Progress.
“Eli. If His Majesty gains too, he might let the probe continue. What if we keep it going and show how he profits? Let’s game that out.”
“Profit, huh.”
Elias rubbed his chin, slowly looking up.
His eyes sparkled—he’d guessed what leverage against the Emperor I had in mind.
“Man~ Kept shooting down my ideas, huh~?”
“Use what works.”
To confirm, I voiced my plan.
“First off, here’s mine. His Majesty’s top priority right now is Pleroma.”
“Yeah. Name a politician not obsessed.”
“And the air in Adelbert’s and your rooms being tainted? Definitely Pleroma’s handiwork. He doesn’t know yet. Link or no to Primrose Path...”
“Ahaha! Still think my hypothesis is off~”
Less ‘wrong’ than ‘unproven.’
Anyway, I nodded and pressed on.
“His son attacked by Pleroma? That’d make even His Majesty tread carefully, on high alert.”
“Right, so you’re saying? Tell Great-Uncle Primrose Path dosed Adelbert, force a reopen. No evidence bonfire.”
Elias tilted his head.
Eyes narrowed, faint smile—he agreed but had words brewing.
I smiled back.
“Nope.”
“That’s not what you just said?”
“Won’t pin it on Primrose Path. He could spin that against you. Logic holds: son attacked because of nephew, so no mercy for nephew’s fair game.”
“...Huh. Nice, factoring me in. So how do you tie Primrose Path and Pleroma to shift Great-Uncle’s focus? ‘An attack on the crown prince—tread carefully’?”
“Exactly.”
Words matter.
Solid proof’s tough, but one thing could jolt His Majesty’s vigilance.
“Elias, got that photo from the board that day?”
“Oh, the one Günter posted?”
Elias pulled it from his jacket pocket.
I slid it to the table’s center.
“Glance at it, all you see is white hair. Face is blurry. But the vibe... doesn’t it resemble you, Eli?”
“...Hahaha... Annoying as hell, but kinda. Freaked me out at first, thought it was me.”
I nodded.
“Sorry, but... first time I met Ainsidel, you popped in my head too.”
“...?! What? We look alike?!”
“Vibe-wise, vibe-wise~”
Narke soothed Elias.
Not denying it outright, Elias’s face drained to ashen.
Truly unlucky.
“In other words. Could be Ainsidel, right? Only two people I’ve seen with hair that white: you and him.”
“...”
“No proof it’s him, and even if, no clue why he’d go there. But enough to rattle His Majesty.”
Elias just stared at the photo in silence, so I continued.
“Safer to pitch it to His Majesty tied together. Won’t stop there, though. Gotta check if police bureau’s the only backer for Primrose Path.”
“Man~ Gotta be more. Would love to know, but how?”
“Infiltration squad~?”
Narke’s eyes lit up at ‘infiltration,’ but I shook my head.
“Better way. Pleroma’s turning the nation into an Aptitude testbed—remember that contract we shelved?”
“...Ah.”
Narke crossed his arms, leaning back with a grin.
“Pleroma’s in the Imperial government. Lucky we snagged legal divine power access for politicians. Time to cash in.”