The Bombshell, Part 3 (3)

p>It was certainly uncomfortable to hurl a bomb at someone who wouldn't feel bad about it, but it was hard to shake the feeling that handing Lucas's name over to such a character, even for a short while, was somehow distasteful.

p>It was unavoidable. Adrian-san didn't have enough power yet to protect Arsia. I figured that was a pretty smart response on my part.

p>The more I learned about the fake Arsia holder, Louis Fairmont, the more uneasy I felt. I couldn't help it.

p>His record was truly dazzling.

p>Four special assaults, two simple assaults, two drug-related incidents, one fatal drunk-driving case, and official police investigations.

p>Yet despite having enough evidence, none of his crimes reached the courts. Every single one ended with "innocent" at the investigation stage.

p>It didn't need explaining that his father, President Katro Fairmont, was behind it all.

p>Poor victims were bought off with small sums, while Louis Fairmont, the man who had committed countless accidents, climbed to the highest government posts.

p>'With a son like that, how does the president of a democracy that boasts about being democratic hold onto power?'

p>What was truly shocking was that even after fourteen years, President Katro Fairmont's approval rating still hovered above fifty percent.

p>The explanation I heard was that he'd systematically crushed his rivals using the controlled media and prosecution, blinding the public with lies and fabrications. I just couldn't wrap my head around it.

p>In the end, didn't that mean the Prius Republic was nothing but a democracy in name?

p>With this incident, President Katro's approval rating will only rise further, won't it?

p>It will. Though selecting a president has always been difficult, even without Arsia, the country's situation wouldn't have changed.

p>I hoped that with this mess, neither Louis nor President Katro would drag innocent victims into it... but

p>Unfortunately, the diplomatic entanglements involved will drag many nations into this, so no one will escape harm.

p>It didn't matter whether Louis Fairmont or President Katro ended up paying the price.

p>The issue was that my bomb-throwing might create innocent victims, and my mouth felt sour.

p>Still, in the long run, Adrian-san's actions will almost certainly force change on the corrupt Fairmont regime. Thinking about the future of those people's nation, it's an excellent strategy.

p>When the bomb named "fake Arsia" exploded, neither Louis nor President Katro would walk away unscathed.

p>Chester highlighted the positive side of our plan.

p>What if innocent victims appear? Could you look into their identities?

p>Normally I would refuse, but this time I'll make an exception. Adrian-san had to go this far because of our lack of consideration.

p>Lack of consideration? That's ridiculous.

p>To request anything, I needed admin authority.

p>Still, I figured this was probably just an extension of the plan, so I asked. To my surprise, he accepted the request without hesitation.

p>It's surprising. You care so much about someone else's life, yet you and Cedric, Raven, the Changeling Duke burned our soldiers without a second thought?

p>It was a jab at the idea that it was none of my business to worry about a third party's life.

p>Sure enough, he was right. I'd killed countless people.

p>They certainly had their own lives and families.

p>But...

p>They're enemies. That's a different story.

p>My answer was firm.

p>Chester gave a small, knowing smile.

p>A good mindset. Don't spare innocent lives, but never show mercy to enemies.

p>When I looked at him like this, it was hard to believe he was an artificial being. He really felt human.

p>When I reached the ninth circle, could I create beings like Arsia or Chester, just like Lucas the Grand Duke?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

p>One last admin authority remains. Are you still planning to use it?

p>Thinking the story of Louis Fairmont had ended, he asked about the final use of the five system admin authorities we'd received after clearing the Arsia quest.

p>No wishes like "make me reach the ninth circle"?

p>No. Authorities tied directly to the Arsia quest cannot be used.

p>What about adding a new supporter?

p>That is also tied to the Arsia quest, so it's impossible.

p>Creating around a quadrillion in funds?

p>Withdrawals from accounts linked to the Arsia quest are impossible, and collecting funds through illegal means is also forbidden. However, I can create an investment list that yields effective returns. Expected profit: twenty to sixty percent.

p>I shrugged.

p>I already knew, but I had asked anyway.

p>From my experience so far, admin authorities were far too precious to use carelessly.

p>Then it is settled. I'll keep the last one as a contingency.

p>Understood.

p>With that, I ended the conversation and checked the time.

p>The clock now pointed to three in the morning.

p>If I hunted for just one more hour, I could sleep.

p>My current level was two hundred five.

p>It would take quite a while to reach level two-fifty, the first condition for the eighth Arsia quest.

p>***

p>Ever since the expedition force, including Adrian, returned to the Lawrence fief, blue skies had followed in endless succession.

p>Who would have guessed that Anna and Cedric's true power would surface?

p>The second son, Adrian, and his lover Arsia, whom the family had branded a failure, had revealed the strength they had hidden.

p>They had lightly repelled Raven, the Changeling Duke's surprise attack, as if mocking the fief's crisis.

p>Because of that, everyone in the lord's residence, no, everyone in the world, had come to understand.

p>The Lawrence barony was no longer just some backwater fief.

p>Have you heard? The little lord is planning to purchase five space fortresses.

p>How is that possible? A barony and a marquisate can only hold one space fortress each.

p>Idiot, the little lord is considering bestowing the title of count on himself and Arsia. A count can hold three space fortresses. So with the new count fief, that's seven in total.

p>Wow...

p>I heard he was originally aiming for seven, but upon receiving the count title, the royal family will gift one new model. So it's down to five?

p>Ten trillion per space fortress? Does this fief even have that much money?

p>After sorting the properties of the great lady and young master Cedric, one fortress became affordable. The rest comes from the little lord's personal fortune.

p>Oh my...

p>Even the Vanguard's Force Armor is being prepared up to the military limit.

p>Even if most of the knights and administrators, butlers, pages, and maids working in the lord's residence were Anna's people, it was no exaggeration.

p>Their positions were extremely ambiguous, yet because Adrian ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't mention harsh treatment toward them, they were walking on thin ice every single day.

p>Of course, they only wanted to continue working if they could be forgiven.

p>Staff in the lord's residence were civil servants.

p>The work environment was good, pay was excellent, and retirement age was long.

p>Moreover, the Lawrence family now had an extremely bright future.

p>If Adrian and Arsia became lords of their respective fiefs, they would need far more personnel.

p>That could lead to a promotion in status, so everyone had to watch Adrian's every action with eagle eyes.

p>But can one family really have so many lords?

p>Of course it can. They receive the title based on their own ability. The little lord is the fifth great mage in this country, and Arsia is the sixth Aura Master. How would you feel if we mistreated such people and they defected to a neighboring nation?

p>But this is too...

p>Exactly. Power cannot become too concentrated. The little lord is not just a hollow new count with a title, but someone who will have the military strength to match.

p>In other words...

p>A new power has appeared.

p>Whenever two or more people gathered in the Lawrence lord's residence, they all shared this talk.

p>A tremendous benefit was right in front of them, yet they couldn't claim it as their own, so everyone was panicking.

p>In this situation, all they could do was ensure they looked good to the lord's family, proving their own necessity.

p>Ding.

p>Huh? Hold on. Let's wrap this up.

p>What is it?

p>Arsia's call. We have to go.

p>Thanks to that, the staff in the lord's residence were showing one hundred percent efficiency.

p>But the one benefiting the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most from this was not Adrian or the Lawrence baronet, but Arsia.

p>Hey! What is that supposed to mean? This time it's my turn!

p>Where did you get that idea? Today I'm handling that.

p>We agreed to rotate from yesterday!

p>Unlike the Lawrence family members, who felt too much shame to face each other, Arsia didn't feel burdened.

p>In addition, unlike her terrifying Aura Master title, her personality was gentle, and her frequent innocent smiles captivated people.

p>And most of all...

p>She was a commoner who had risen in status with just one ability, making the maids look up to her.

p>So when Arsia's call appeared, the maids fought each other to be the one to answer.

p>You called?

p>Mina, the maid who had won the battle with her peers, entered the living room where Arsia sat with its impressive open balcony.

p>It was a rest space filled with games and multimedia for Arsia, who might have gotten bored while Adrian worked in his office.

p>As always, Arsia greeted the maid Mina with her usual calm expression and restrained movements.

p>Please prepare a new tea set.

p>Mina's gaze moved to the plates stacked on Arsia's tea table.

p>Nobody didn't know that Arsia loved snacks.

p>But her appetite was impossible to adapt to.

p>Thinking that the Aura Master Arsia could eat so much without gaining weight, Mina suggested it.

p>If you only eat sweets, won't you get tired of it? There are also salty snacks. Shall I bring them together?

p>Yes. Then, with the tea, bring a carbonated drink too.

p>Understood. Please wait a moment.

p>Among the people who had risen in efficiency to impress the lord's family, the lord's chef was included.

p>Thanks to that, Arsia could freely enjoy the masterpieces created by the fief's top patissier.

p>Mina loaded the snacks she had prepared in advance onto a tray and returned to Arsia's room.

p>She quickly set the tea on the table and quietly watched Arsia eat.

p>Chomp chomp.

p>Busy mouth.

p>Her actions were elegant, yet the nonstop eating proved her hunger.

p>How much had Arsia eaten?

p>Her gaze, which had been looking at the food, turned to Mina, who had been standing still.

p>Do you have something to say?

p>If it doesn't bother you, may I ask one question?

p>Arsia seemed like the type who wouldn't get angry no matter what happened.

p>She was always composed and didn't easily show emotions, after all.

p>So Mina, even though she knew asking might be rude, gathered courage to satisfy her curiosity.

p>If you can answer...

p>Mina's expression brightened when permission was granted.

p>She asked the question she had been dying to know about their treatment.

p>Might you fire the managers of the lord's residence?

p>Arsia was not human.

p>But her outstanding learning ability was making her think more and more like a human.

p>To Arsia, Adrian was her owner and the companion she would spend her life with.

p>Knowing the things he had gone through, her expression naturally grew cold.

p>Adrian-san is a good person. He especially hates it when others are hurt because of him.

p>But the words that came from Arsia's mouth were the opposite of her expression, so Mina's face brightened further.

p>But no matter where you go, you have to listen to people's words to the end.

p>But you are cold toward those defined as enemies. Were you Adrian-san's enemy?

p>Mina felt her whole body tense when she heard Arsia's question.

p>N-no.

p>Upon hearing Mina's answer, Arsia removed her cold expression and smiled.

p>Then it's good.

p>Even a woman, her smile was so beautiful that it was enough to make anyone fall for her, and despite being a commoner, she had an elegant dignity.

p>Mina realized that the atmosphere changed whenever Arsia was involved with Adrian.

p>Knock knock.

p>Enter. Vice-commander William.

p>Mina, who had been frozen in place for a while, left the room as if running away as soon as William, the knight who had been promoted to captain for climbing on Adrian's coattails, entered.

p>Why is that maid running away?

p>Well... For what business did you come?

p>Ah, well... If it doesn't bother you, I wanted to ask whether you could teach us as an Aura Master.

p>Did you get Adrian-san's permission?

p>He said to respect Arsia's decision.

p>Then all right. Shall we go?

p>Wooow! Thank you! Everyone will be happy!

p>That day, a certain rumor spread through the lord's residence.

p>Adrian would never forget his benefactor, and Arsia hated anyone who looked down on her lover.

p>Um, there's an Aura Point in the navel area, right? Pull Aura from there and hit it with a sword once to create an Aura Blade.

p>...

p>Y-yes, since it's the explanation from an Aura Master, it doesn't make sense to us idiots. Why not teach us through sparring instead? It would be easier to understand if you demonstrated it yourself.

p>Would that be okay?

p>And this rumor gained more weight because the knights who had been siding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with Anna were mercilessly beaten by Arsia, who had personally taught them as an Aura Master.

p>Thanks to that, the people who had lightly dismissed Arsia could no longer do so.

p>What? Why are the servants reacting like that?

p>I wonder.

p>But only Arsia and Adrian, the parties involved, didn't know about the change in the lord's residence.

p>The two of them were too busy to pay attention to how the servants reacted.

p>Today you must appear before the nobility audit. We have to go to the royal palace, so prepare.

p>Yes.

p>I'm sure the nobles will come up with some excuse today. So speak as little as possible.

p>Understood.

p>Without caring about the trembling servants who were nervously jumping at every sound, Adrian and Arsia prepared thoroughly for the important event.

p>The nobility audit was inside the Rhinehart royal palace, so they couldn't predict any sudden situations.