Chapter 45
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 45: Trigger (1)
Eldmonde concluded while turning over the documents Iden handed slowly once again.
It was no longer a stage of 'suspicion'.
The banquet hall explosion incident was a clear scheme, and it was revealed that an organized anti-state force, Endermit, existed behind it.
The fact that Kalik Droban, the archivist of the Main Castle, was involved was serious enough.
That an insider of the Main Castle was involved meant there was a possibility that someone deeper inside was also involved.
Meaning it could be his aide, or one of the staff members.
As time goes longer, the enemy will erase traces and hide.
"From now on, it's a fight against time."
Eldmonde muttered low.
He made a decision immediately.
Kalik was transferred to the interrogation room directly under the Wintel family, deep underground in the Main Castle.
Stone room completely blocked from outside.
There, Kalik would undergo 'information extraction' led by the Grand Duke directly, not simple interrogation.
Everything inside him would be extracted.
Eldmonde is a figure who saw blood countless times on the battlefield and subdued numerous nobles in politics.
Knew how to be ruthless if necessary.
It was an attempt targeting his daughter, and furthermore, a provocation testing the authority of the Wintel family and a challenge towards the Deluigen Kingdom.
A grave matter where he could borrow the King's power if he wanted.
Eldmonde decided to trust Iden and match steps with him rather than wasting time judging what he brought.
An important event will be held in a month.
Before that, the root of the anti-state force called Endermit had to be pulled out.
And in the meantime.
Iden seemed to step back one step, but in reality was preparing to dig deeper.
'Redric Ricardo.'
As expected, he became a high-ranking executive of anti-state forces befitting the Final Black Curtain in the original work.
No, rather became a more dangerous figure than in the original work.
Because he was trying to film a conviction-based terror drama originating from clear intention and purpose, not an emotional revenge drama originating from love affair.
Redric's name appeared several times in Kalik's secret documents.
Not a person receiving instructions, but a position delivering instructions.
And a position leading this explosion incident from behind.
Could interrogate sins with that record alone.
Since Northern Grand Duke Eldmonde is a person with enough power to do so.
However, Iden shook his head.
"Even if catching him now, it's merely cutting one tail. There is a separate 'Leader' whose identity even Kalik doesn't know."
Hidden boss of Endermit.
Leader establishing all plans and directing execution.
In the documents, only traces remained intermittently without even an alias.
Contact with the upper level on record was always done in a disconnected manner, and only executives connected like rings were linking each other.
Must climb up that ring in reverse.
Redric was the figure closest to the center of that ring.
Iden recalled one sentence in Kalik's record again.
― Contacting Vivienne.
From that moment, his thoughts became more complicated.
How on earth.
'Did she get entangled with Redric....'
Iden recalled Vivienne.
The heroine in the original work was absolutely not a character to join dangerous forces.
She faced danger even at moments when life was perilous, and fought risking life with the male lead to save people in the surrounding area from the black curtain's rampage.
At least the heroine he remembers was like that.
Even if the flow of the original work was twisted, that upright character nature wouldn't have changed.
Therefore.
'Being used.'
Conclusion was one.
Redric approached Vivienne for some reason, and Vivienne is being used without knowing the reason.
Although possibility cannot be completely excluded that Vivienne took Redric as a lover not Cale in the changed original flow, observing Redric so far, that possibility seemed extremely low.
Final Black Curtain in original work.
And Heroine in original work.
Two figures are already contacting at this point.
It was suspicious to view as coincidence.
Iden clenched his teeth.
He didn't visit Vivienne directly to warn her.
Hasty intervention could rather stimulate Redric's wariness.
Prioritizing grasping 'the reason why Endermit high-ranking executive contacts alchemist named Vivienne', which even Kalik doesn't know now, therefore not in his record.
Plan even Kalik, a mid-level executive, doesn't know.
Method to grasp it was eventually one.
Dig into Redric secretly, and directly.
Eldmonde cuts off small branches through Kalik, and he pulls out the root through Redric.
Time remaining until exhibition is one month.
Iden began to move straight away.
**
A few days passed since Endermit search operation started secretly in the Main Castle.
Air of Capital Helon was outwardly peaceful, but tension permeated like a taut bowstring somewhere.
Reception room of a mansion located in inner castle.
Vivienne was tapping the lid lightly with fingertips leaving one small box on the table.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Neither regular, nor completely unconscious rhythm.
Blue pupils were staring somewhere in empty air without focus.
The box was the sample storage box Redric handed on the first visit.
"......."
Didn't open the lid.
While taking a rest, contents analysis was finished.
Just didn't write about the solution.
Because analysis was purely to grasp Redric's intention.
And the more digging inside, Vivienne's doubt grew bigger.
It was a sample with explosive power removed, but somehow murderous intent was felt in the structure.
Explosive for mine development.
That explanation was plausible outwardly, but device condensing mana concentration and calculated explosion radius were excessive for industrial use.
Too sophisticated, and too destructive.
Feeling like direction is set to a wrong place, not a pile of stones in a mine.
Although merely vague intuition, ominousness deepening as meeting Redric added, making it difficult to dismiss as simple intuition.
Second meeting.
It was from then.
Attitude that was leisurely and polite at first changed subtly the moment asking location of mine and rock type.
Tone was soft, but unpleasant pressure dwelling between syllables was clear.
He reacted like a side throwing questions not receiving questions.
Voice responding to doubt with doubt.
Eyes seeming to dig inside.
Vivienne felt cold inside the more she recalled that scene.
Tap.
Vivienne's fingertip stopped.
Vague ominousness isn't explained by logic.
But as an alchemist, she knew experientially.
Heterogeneous sensation is usually right.
Knock knock—
At that time, knocking sound rang quietly.
"My Lady, reply has arrived."
Butler holding an envelope entered.
Vivienne raised her head.
"Reply?"
"Yes. It is reply to the letter sent to Academy."
Ah.
A few days ago, Vivienne sent a letter to a professor she knew for a long time.
Professor frequently exchanging letters for advice and information sharing while doing alchemy research coming to North.
Vivienne asked that professor about Redric, reason why he quit assistant at Academy.
Vivienne tore the envelope right on that spot.
Moment unfolding paper, ink smell unique to laboratory spread subtly.
Pupils went down following lines.
Greeting regarding safety, congratulation on research achievement, and following main subject.
Vivienne's gaze stopped.
Certainty began to dwell in frowned glabella.
Paper trembled minutely.
Explosives.
Unauthorized take-out.
Dismissal.
Different from what Redric said at first meeting.
He just said 'quit' Academy, but reality was 'fired'.
That reason was also exactly same as now.
Structure of sample Redric brought overlapped in head.
Ominousness brushed from him who said producing mana condensation explosive with bigger explosive power for mine development with hard stratum, and recent explosion incident in banquet hall.
Coincidence?
No.
Connecting links were interlocking naturally to dismiss as coincidence.
Vivienne put down the paper slowly.
Heart was beating irregularly as if losing rule.
It seems.
"...Must inform."
Seemed not a matter to worry alone.
Whether reporting to government office asking for investigation, or requesting information on similarity with explosion incident telling Grand Duke Your Highness, it seemed right.
Not a problem of personal emotion or misunderstanding.
History related to Redric's explosives was a clear danger signal.
She jumped up from the seat.
"Prepare carriage. Must go out right now."
"Understood."
Vivienne draped outdoor cloak quickly.
Tying red hair neatly, wearing gloves, folding letter putting in bosom and packing small box containing sample.
Steps heading to mansion entrance are faster than usual.
Door opened, and cold air brushed face.
However.......
Moment going down stairs opening mansion entrance door, one shadow blocked her front.
"Seems you are going somewhere, Lady Vivienne?"
"Kyaa—!"
It was a familiar voice.
Vivienne stopped walking screaming terminal scream at his sudden appearance.
Man standing in front of entrance, none other than Redric Ricardo.
Vivienne's blue pupils shook minutely.
"...Wh, what brings you here, Young Master Redric."
Words were calm, but fingertips cooled coldly.
Redric's mouth corners moved very faintly.
"Came here because I have words to tell Miss Vivienne."
Distance unable to escape.
In strange silence hanging in front of entrance, air subsided slowly.
Surroundings that were lazy afternoon become cool instantly as if severe cold rushed in.
Didn't receive news that a guest visited, nor commanded to let guest in.
However, Redric was standing in front of entrance casually.
Guards who should have stopped him, servants, no presence was seen.
"I, I never said to let a guest in though...."
Vivienne steps back instinctively, but Redric approaches as if permission is unnecessary.
"Apologetically, plan has changed. Now Lady Vivienne must give answer. So...."
Redric's eye glint began to be dyed black.
"Please go with me."
Soon.
Pitch-black darkness settled on surrounding area.