What on Earth Is He Plotting?
What on Earth Is He Plotting?
The moment Hamtal revealed his name, two men in suits entered the reception room.
An odd air of intimidation emanated from the men, each carrying a briefcase.
Theobald, who had been watching them carefully, noticed a tattoo of a black bird holding a laurel wreath etched into the sides of the men's necks.
'......An ordinary businessman?'
Theobald withdrew his gaze from the men and looked at Hamtal with a meaningful expression.
No matter how he looked at it, the aura Hamtal projected and the appearance of the subordinates he commanded made him seem less like a businessman and more like the head of an established mafia organization.
'Even so......'
The fundamental objective of securing funds didn't change.
Forcing himself to ignore the growing unease, Theobald put on a business smile and finished shaking hands.
"I am also pleased to meet you. I have refreshments prepared, so how about we sit down and talk?"
Hamtal nodded calmly.
With that, Theobald guided Hamtal to the reception room sofa and began a modest business presentation.
He explained that the textile factory in question produced not only civilian goods but also war materials, meaning there would never be a shortage of work, and that the mechanized production line gave it vastly superior production speed.
"......And in that regard, it seems we will soon be able to secure a government contract as well. Once that happens, it will be as good as providing Mr. Hamtal with a stable profit stream."
Theobald, having confidently concluded his business pitch, smiled broadly.
It was the face of someone certain that the other party would open their wallet, having given a perfect explanation.
Perhaps because Theobald's judgment wasn't far off the mark, Hamtal nodded and flicked a hand.
At that, the man standing behind Hamtal stepped forward and placed his briefcase on the table.
When the lid was opened, the thick briefcase was packed full of cash bundles.
Theobald's eyes lit up at the sight.
"Wow. I realized you were a generous man when I first saw you, but I didn't know you were this much of a big spender. Then, given that you intend to invest right away, let's work out the detailed adjustments for profit distribution......"
Hamtal raised his hand and made Theobald shut his mouth.
Once silence had fallen, Hamtal lowered his hand and clasped his fingers together on his knee.
"I was surprised. The textile factory was more proper than I expected. Listening to you today, it seems to be turning a steady profit as well. However, there was one regrettable thing."
"What do you mean by regrettable?"
"For some reason, the recreational activities of your employees, President Belter, managed to get on my nerves."
Recreational activities? Bewildered by the sudden remark, Theobald felt a strange sense of tension.
"Of course, I have no intention of faulting the recreational activities themselves. I am someone who respects individual freedom, after all. However, I was concerned that the activities your employees are engaging in border on the abnormal."
Suspicion bloomed within the tension.
"Even so, if it doesn't harm me, I wouldn't care, but recently it seems your employees' abnormalities have crossed the line, so I intend to give you a warning."
By this point, the other intelligence operatives besides Theobald had also noticed something was strange.
They began slowly moving their hands toward the pistols hidden in their back pockets.
The situation was on the verge of explosion, yet Hamtal remained more composed than expected.
In fact, he merely reached out, took the coffee cup, and lifted it.
To Theobald, this looked like a provocation, as if daring him to try something.
The fact that he was provoking them yet remained unshaken meant one thing.
'The moment we attack, we die......!'
Breaking out in a cold sweat, Theobald shouted loud enough to shake the entire room.
"Don't move!"
The hands of the operatives reaching for their pistols stopped at the branch chief's order.
None of them knew why, but Theobald understood.
His breathing having quickened without his realizing, Theobald hastily swept his gaze around.
Beyond the window, on the rooftop of a building taller than the textile factory, a scope glinted, reflecting the sunlight.
"A sniper......"
Theobald swallowed hard, gritted his teeth, and glared at Hamtal.
"You've stationed a sniper."
If any one of the operatives had drawn their pistol, their head would have exploded immediately.
To Theobald, who had barely prevented that gruesome outcome, the Hamtal before him could only seem terrifying.
Was it simply because his life was being threatened? No.
The source of the terror was that Hamtal knew the true identity of the Palentia branch.
Thinking he had no choice but to adopt a submissive stance for now, Theobald took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
"......For what purpose have you come here?"
Hamtal did not answer Theobald's question immediately.
He merely savored the aroma of the coffee and sent a dry, expressionless gaze his way.
Eventually, taking a sip of coffee, Hamtal quietly set the cup down and spoke.
"I merely came to let you know that you've touched the wrong person."
"I don't quite understand what you mean......"
"You know the figure called Daniel Steiner, don't you?"
A silence flowed between them.
After making a minute adjustment to the cup's position so it was exactly as it was before he had lifted it, Hamtal leaned back.
"We are uneducated people. Most of us were deprived of even the opportunity to learn, discarded by society. So, frankly speaking, I truly cannot properly understand why you lot are trying to kill Daniel Steiner."
Hamtal took a handkerchief from his breast pocket and unfolded it.
"If I were to ask, surely you would use pedantic expressions filled with pride. The state this, ideals that. But things like the state and ideals are truly unfamiliar to us. Because we were born as slaves, we have never possessed a country, and because we cannot realize our dreams, we could never conceive of ideals."
Having wiped the corners of his mouth, Hamtal folded the handkerchief in half.
"So we endeavored ceaselessly to make even a single city our own. We conducted negotiations using the most humanitarian methods possible. Occasionally using violence as well. But all actions were in vain. Because the kingdom was more rotten than we thought."
Hamtal placed the handkerchief back in his breast pocket.
"Exhausted, we were about to give up. We were about to accept that no matter how hard we tried, the world doesn't change. But then, Daniel Steiner appeared. He regarded discrimination based on skin color as a sin and practiced good governance."
A smile spread across Hamtal's lips.
However, his eyes were fixed on Theobald without the slightest movement.
"Thanks to him, the city changed. That was when we realized. That rather than the countless cries of the powerless, a single word from a powerful person can change the world for the better."
"......Are you saying you've chosen Daniel Steiner to change the world?"
"His thoughts and our thoughts align. Is he not a peerless great man, someone to whom we would swear loyalty?"
Hamtal spoke, retracting the smile from his lips.
"And yet, you lot tried to kill Daniel Steiner."
Theobald's gaze dropped downward.
That was because he absolutely could not bear to meet Hamtal's eyes.
"If I had my way, I would end everything right here and now, but I shall hold back just this once. Because Daniel Steiner would also not wish for a disturbance to occur on the day of the coronation."
Hamtal rose from his seat.
In a place where everyone had stopped moving, only Hamtal and his subordinates could move freely.
"However, if you lot commit an act of disrespect toward him again, it won't end with just a warning."
Hamtal looked down at Theobald with an icy gaze.
"Answer me. Theobald Berno."
The moment Hamtal mentioned his real name, Theobald's shoulders flinched.
Hamtal knew a real name that Theobald hadn't revealed to anyone except the other operatives.
That fact was practically the same as Hamtal having secured someone involved with the Palentia branch.
Theobald closed his eyes and let out a groan, then had no choice but to nod.
"I will keep it in mind."
Having received his answer, Hamtal slowly moved his feet.
At that, the frozen operatives stepped aside one by one, clearing a path.
Behind him, Hamtal's subordinates followed him out.
Hearing the sound of Hamtal's shoes growing distant, Theobald gasped for breath and stared at the bundles of cash in front of him.
The money, sitting there starkly as if representing the price of his life, felt chillingly real.
Gritting his teeth, Theobald pressed his trembling hand to his forehead.
Just as he was trying to figure out where on earth the information had leaked from, one operative approached and knelt on one knee.
"Branch Chief! The fact that the branch's location has been discovered......"
He knew. It was essentially no different from being in the palm of Daniel Steiner's hand.
Because as long as Daniel Steiner's private organization, which had just left, was watching them, escaping the imperial capital was nearly impossible.
"Right now......"
Feeling agitated, Theobald clenched his fist tightly.
"Summon Platt. Daniel Steiner must have sent word to us through Platt. Figuring out what that bastard wants from us comes first."
Even as he gave the order, Theobald couldn't shake off his feeling of anxiety.
'The scheme that Daniel Steiner is plotting......'
Because he couldn't even begin to guess what it might be.