Chapter 285
Chapter 285
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 285
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family (285)
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“Holy relics?”
Earlier, the crown prince had mentioned that the Habsburg branch family’s jewels had been stolen. And coincidentally, there had been two theft incidents.
“Yeah. The last trace of magic was detected on the road heading toward the German border. That’s why the Papal Office entrusted this to me and Nikolaus in Germany. Even if I hadn’t been in this country, I would have been assigned to it anyway. Haha.”
“It’s because of your insight ability.”
“Right. Foresight is an ability where the futures you read change often and it’s physically taxing, so... they don’t really expect much from that. But they think differently about insight. They seem to believe that with that ability, we can find it quickly.”
“Hmm.”
“But it’s not really like that. How am I supposed to use my ability when the target isn’t right in front of me? I have to stumble around just like everyone else.”
Narke smiled with a troubled expression. I couldn’t even imagine how much pressure they must have put on him to make the impossible possible.
“Well, yeah. But it works fine on me.”
“Hahaha, true. It’s only possible because it’s you, Lucas.”
“...Should I feel honored...? Anyway, are you okay using your ability?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m much better now. I’ve been recovering steadily since the terrorist attack, and now it’s way better than before~”
Narke smiled brightly, as if telling me not to worry.
“That’s a relief. Then we can start right away. First, what exactly are the stolen holy relics?”
Holy relics are items related to Jesus and the saints. For example, the True Cross on which Jesus was nailed, the Holy Nail used to affix Jesus to the cross, the Spear of Longinus used to pierce his side to confirm his death, and so on. Bones or remains of saints also qualify as holy relics.
“Lignum Crucis. And the Holy Nail too.”
“......”
A hollow laugh escaped me. Leo, who had been standing silently behind me listening to our conversation, let out a sigh.
They’d hit the jackpot. Stealing something so core. I had planned to spend the day quietly talking with Leo until nightfall, but I’d been summoned by the crown prince, and no sooner had I returned than I heard about the True Cross being stolen.
Lignum Crucis refers to the wood of the cross, specifically the True Cross, and usually means the largest fragment preserved in the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana.
“You said earlier that the holy relics kept by the Papal Office were stolen. Why was something that should be in Spain at the Papal Office?”
“Actually, it was stolen from that monastery first. For some reason, the Lignum Crucis from the monastery was discovered in the Vatican, so the Papal Office was keeping it and planning to send it back to Santo Toribio de Liébana. It vanished on that date, and the last detection was around the Italian border checkpoint heading into the German Empire.”
“I see. What about the Holy Nail? I thought the most famous one was kept in Trier Cathedral.”
“Yeah, that one disappeared without a sound. It wasn’t lost from the Vatican, but since it’s a Catholic relic, the Papal Office stepped in. And with similar incidents happening at the same time, they had no choice.”
The scope was widening. Trier Cathedral was in Germany. Spain, the Papal Office, our Empire.
‘The Habsburg branch jewels also crossed into Germany.’
I had to ask about that. Finishing my thought, I asked.
“When did it happen?”
“They discovered the theft belatedly around midnight yesterday. Similar timing at Trier Cathedral too. It’s been about 40 hours now. Church people have been investigating non-stop without sleep... but this is all we’ve got.”
“Did they take something like the Lombard Iron Crown? It has jewels and gold too.”
“That one’s safe.”
“They took the Holy Nail but left the Iron Crown?”
It was said to have been made by melting down a Holy Nail.
Of course, modern tests showed no iron components. There were theories it never had one or it was replaced later. But here, it was still believed to contain a Holy Nail.
“Exactly. But my personal guess is... the story about it being melted into the crown is just a rumor.”
Narke said exactly the same thing. He must have used his insight ability before.
Anyway, I nodded and slowly rubbed my temple.
“Narke. Actually, Leo and I just met with Abraham earlier.”
“Oh, right. I had a feeling.”
“They said the Habsburg jewels disappeared from the Empire and we need to find them. I didn’t get the full details, but it’s quite the coincidence.”
“...Multiple major thefts happening at the same time?”
Narke stroked his chin with a troubled look.
“...There might be overlap in the culprits. Not the same person, but the same organization?”
“Possibly. That’s why I asked about the Lombard Iron Crown. If it’s the same culprit, they seem to be collecting expensive items right now. Why wouldn’t they take that crown loaded with precious gems? Maybe they stole the relics from Spain too, or even if not, the one capable of infiltrating the Papal Office unnoticed stole the Holy Nail from Trier Cathedral on the same day but couldn’t take the Iron Crown?”
Narke tapped his lips with the fingers propping his chin and smiled at me.
“Then, Lucas. If we go with your suspicion that they ‘didn’t steal’ it?”
“Their goal isn’t money. Trier Cathedral doesn’t just have the Holy Nail; it has Christ’s Holy Robe and Saint Helena’s skull too.”
“Right, exactly~ And the Vatican has plenty of valuable stuff.”
“So there must be a reason they only needed that Holy Nail and Lignum Crucis. But I have no idea what it is yet. If it’s religious, it doesn’t explain taking the Habsburg branch jewels.”
With that, I called Leo, who was pacing behind me.
“Leo.”
“Yeah.”
“What do you think is Abraham’s reason for assigning us the Habsburg branch jewels case? First, to screw us over. ‘You guys get off victim processing and do grunt work.’”
Narke covered his mouth and burst into laughter.
“Haha, imagining that hypothesis being true is awkward~?”
Leo let out a hollow laugh similar to Narke’s. I folded a finger and continued.
“Second, throw us an unsolvable problem to tarnish our careers.”
“Hmm, yeah. Those possibilities you mentioned happen more often than you’d think.”
Leo set teacups in front of us and sat down as he replied.
Exactly. That’s how they send people into exile. A classic method across history.
I folded another finger.
“Not done. Third, this is connected to Pleroma. Meaning ‘Eschet is perfect for this case’ because we have to deal with Pleroma in it?”
The room fell suddenly quiet. Leo nodded calmly.
“Considering what His Highness said to us earlier, the third is most reasonable.”
“Right.”
“But you brought this up to infer the culprit’s goal... Even if it is Pleroma, I can’t grasp the motive. If they need relics for spiritual reasons, why take the jewels too? There’s an inconsistency, so maybe we shouldn’t assume the culprit yet and just investigate where the items went right now?”
“...Yeah, that makes sense.”
No clues yet, so standard investigation.
Sitting and thinking just leads to confusion with no answers. Fair point. We can shift strategy if we find even a small clue later.
Leo stared at me intently, warped somewhere, and returned with a stack of documents.
“Investigation records from the Investigation Bureau. I got a notification on my artifact earlier. Let’s check this first. Theft around three days ago. Item: the sapphire parure owned by the head of Österreich-Este, market value...”
Leo raised an eyebrow at the number. I pulled the paper slightly to check.
“......”
I had the same reaction as Leo.
About 50 billion won in Korean currency. A parure means a set of jeweled jewelry like earrings, necklace, rings, belt, tiara, etc. No wonder when you add it up. And since it dated back to the Holy Roman Empire era, some gems likely had extra historical value.
“Shiny rocks creating economies.”
“That’s how it is.”
“What’s the owner’s name?”
“Leopold Ferdinand August Maria Österreich-Este.”
Leopold Österreich-Este. The surname confirmed Habsburg branch. I mulled the name over.
“The incident happened when Grand Duke Leopold visited the Empire during the Pentaron cleanup. Not that he brought the parure, but it vanished while he was away. Last magic detected on the road to the German Empire.”
“...Same MO. We should look for the relics and jewels together. And strictly speaking, no evidence it’s an Imperial citizen?”
“Right.”
Even so, the possibility was high, so they stepped up. They didn’t want more criticism after recent disappointing moves internationally.
Having a friend to organize thoughts was helpful. I clapped lightly and looked around at my friends.
“Good. Standard procedure: check auction markets first. Jewels aside, holy relics draw crowds like bees to honey.”
“They’re already checking sales lists via documents. But places that can circulate intact relics like that are mostly illegal membership auctions, so I doubt the ledgers I can access will turn up anything.”
Narke said with an ambiguous smile.
Figured. Investigation Bureau always checks auctions first in thefts. Who’d put stolen goods in public auctions?
“Then infiltration. Have you requested local investigators?”
“Not yet. Papal Office doesn’t trust this country’s agencies. I’m persuading them to let me inform, but not sure.”
“......”
They probably suspected Imperial government complicity in looting or spies destroying evidence. Logical concerns.
“We can’t infiltrate everywhere ourselves, and real private spots we don’t even know the names of.”
“Elias is different.”
At my quiet remark, Narke’s eyes widened. I saw Leo’s face sour. Narke burst out laughing.
“Ah~ right. I’ll call him.”
Five minutes later, Elias arrived in my room grinning ear to ear.
“Guys! Why’s everyone here without me!”
“Elias. Know any secret auctions?”
“Auctions?! That’s why you called? Of course! I’m the expert! Ask away!”
Elias raised his voice excitedly, thrilled we were all together.
‘Bluff...’
“Don’t bluff.”
Leo voiced my thought. Narke stifled a laugh.
“That’s harsh! Well, I don’t know everything. But I know a few auction houses run by dilettante clubs.”
“How? Didn’t we go to school together?”
Leo asked with a darkened face.
“You just studied after school. I’ve barely been to most myself! Why auctions?”
“......”
We exchanged glances. Narke explained.
“Holy relics stolen, likely in the Empire. Need to find before they’re gone forever.”
“What? Saint bones or something? How...?”
“Lignum Crucis and Holy Nail. We’re puzzled too. No traces of the thief.”
Elias looked at us after Narke’s words.
“Jeez... no wonder you guys were quiet.”
“You’re the loud one.”
“Anyway! Not the time to yell. What type of club auctions?”
I thought briefly at Elias’s question.
“Hmm... Skip the too old-human clubs.”
“Sex-related?”
“Yeah. No entanglements. Exclude game-focused clubs for now. We can check later if nothing else. Prioritize relics, antiquities, or jewels. Throw everything even if vague.”
“Hmm, Zeitrose Schatzgilde. In Berlin I think. Biggest valuables auction club I know. Strictly anonymous membership. Perfect.”
“Biggest scale.”
“Lots of relics and jewels, so probably investigated already? Surprisingly many politicians.”
“We investigate. Others?”
Elias rolled his eyes, slapped the sofa.
“You guys?! Why?! ...There’s Heritage Protection League too... Hmm, not many jewels. Mostly relics and antiquities.”
Why? Papal Office couldn’t help it. They picked Germans first for travel time too.
“More?”
“Hermetische Gesellschaft. Occult specialists, big one. Religious antiquities often. Old-humans and new-humans join alike.”
Hermetic group.
Three was enough. Narke nodded slightly at my notes and me. I capped my pen, checked the clock. 8 PM.
“Good, thanks. Can we go now?”
“Now’s perfect!”
Elias’s eyes sparkled.
Looked like he wanted to come. I smiled and handed paper.
“Yeah? Write locations?”
* * *
Can’t go together.
Elias only for desperate times. But now, envying him at home.
—“Good thing Elias didn’t come~”
Narke smiled with a drained look.
We sat in a dim bar, masked. Third time approaching a table at Elias’s advised time.
Previous two failed outright. Bombardment of questions handled with insight and improv, but they had a way to spot fakes. Despite perfect acting, suspicion of rival club spies built, so we bailed.
Last group.
A clear-eyed old-human grandpa adjusted his mask, clasped hands seriously.
“Young people interested in occult and mystical relics? Good. As you know, entry requires a test.”
“Fine. What test?”
Narke smiled. Grandpa sternly said.
“Don’t take it lightly. Answer seriously within 3 seconds.”
3 seconds? I answered awkwardly.
“Ah, yes... Sorry. Why so strict?”
“That proves true enthusiasts. Now, name of the golden treasure chest made by the Lion of France, opened by holy water and blood?”
“......”
“Haha, next time~”
Narke laughed, stood abruptly, pulled my hand. Grandpa called behind.
Always like this. Previous two same. Out on street, I muttered watching others.
“Enthusiasts my ass. Totally different world from us.”
“Yeah~ haha.”
Plan derailing. Didn’t expect such hardcore ‘enthusiasts.’ What treasure chest by Lion of France? Holy water and blood keys? Legend? And that conversation style first meet?
Necessary to filter fakes, but weird pure aura and quirks disoriented me.
“Whew... weird question. You know answer?”
“Insight guesses, but more coming. No time limit would help, but 3-second wall too thick... Felt promising though. Shame.”
Thick wall. Fair.
Three tries—near-misses included. More risks rumors. Need study for this.
I grabbed Narke’s slumping shoulder.
“Then this: till morning, get occult/relic books, study, retry.”
“Study all night?! To blend with dilettantes?”
“Yeah.”
“Hahaha! Got it. But... if not here, what next? Worried.”
Agreed. No other leads besides auctions. Gather rumors, scraps.
We returned to dorm and mansion. I saw Narke off, sat on bed. Alone now. I flipped through 12-year-old newspaper from junk shop, thinking.
‘...If rewind to disappearance day and stakeout, catch culprit.’
Discovery at midnight, theft earlier. Timing first issue.
Even if timed. Rewind still takes two days to Italy. Or beg portal from Papal Office pre-theft? Won’t agree easy. Convincing before incident issue, plus hospital for perfect records then.
So stakeout Trier. But need staff convincing—likely just me crazy. Papal cleric helps persuade? Even inside, my presence might butterfly Vatican/Trier safe, theft elsewhere.
And even if succeeds...
Haven’t heard Leo’s retry yet. Guessing. Actually, he told me long ago, I missed. Can’t not guess from his words that day. Pre-rewind last goodbye from that guess.
Maybe not serious. Welcome then. Hoping minor.
Anyway, need from his mouth. Solo speculation pointless. Busy hospital, made time today, but crown prince onward time flew. Now 2 AM.
‘...Whatever. Plenty time. Tomorrow night bring him.’
Useful idea hit. Eyed article, opened status.
Retry or not, means to get clues now. No guarantee, worth try.
Extra Chapter
Stage 1: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Stage 2: ―
Stage 3: ―
Staring at stage names seconds, vision whited suddenly.
Vision not back, voice heard.
“Excuse me. Can you hear me?”