Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Venderford Assignment
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Black Scale Island, in the office of the Rantzverger Acting Head.
Kairam read the letter addressed to her with a grave expression.
The intelligence division would have filtered out most correspondence, but this letter had to be delivered directly to the Acting Head.
Its sender was the Emperor of the Empire.
"The establishment of Venderford University? An incomprehensible move. Do you have any idea what this means?"
Chief Elder Ozma, who was reviewing the letter with her, spread out a few documents and bowed respectfully.
"This is information gathered by the Owl Strike Division. It seems to be a measure to overcome the recent turmoil in central politics."
With the Crown Prince bedridden, the empire's line of succession was in rapid flux.
Suddenly, the attention of the central nobility was focused on the second and third princes.
"So this is to cultivate the princes' abilities so they won't be swayed by seasoned politicians?"
"While they're engrossed in their studies, it will be difficult for the hyenas to approach them."
To protect his sons, the emperor had decided to raise the stakes entirely.
From the children of high-ranking imperial nobles to the direct descendants of the four great families, royalty from various nations, heirs of provincial lords, recommended talents, and even students admitted through donations.
He intended to scrape together all sorts of talent and throw them into the school.
After all, if they were surrounded by their peers, it would be easier to hone their political acumen.
They could also lay the groundwork for their future.
"So, in the end, they're asking us to send someone."
"Indeed. The fact that they prefer a direct descendant seems to confirm the Owl Strike Division's assessment."
"Is there anyone suitable to go?"
"Frankly, only one person comes to mind."
They couldn't send Mitra or Wendy, who were in the midst of the succession contest.
That left only the third child, Isabel.
Despite Ozma's vague answer, Kairam nodded.
It seemed the direct descendant to enroll at Venderford had been decided.
But then, a presence was suddenly felt from behind the office, and a voice was heard.
"Just sending her would be no fun."
Though it was a startling turn of events, the Acting Head and the Chief Elder immediately showed their respects.
The one who appeared, exuding a powerful aura, was the absolute ruler of the Rantzverger family, the Black Sand, Claude.
"You've come, Head."
Since issuing the summons, Claude had been staying on Black Scale Island.
Perhaps because he had appeared after a 20-year absence, the Head rarely interfered with the leadership's decision-making.
He seemed to think that since they had been doing well so far, there was no need to meddle.
But today, the atmosphere was quite different.
As if he had discovered something interesting, he scanned the documents Ozma had laid out.
"You're planning to send Isabel?"
"Her age and skill level are appropriate, and she is the one with the most free time. That is why we judged her to be the most suitable."
"I suppose the first and second don't have time to dally in a place like that."
"Yes, that is correct."
"But can Isabel become one of the prince's confidants?"
"Pardon?"
"If we're sending someone anyway, it would be good to win over the next emperor. Hmm... just like the Owl Strike Division does."
The Owl Strike Division had all sorts of informants spread across the continent.
After all, high-level intelligence comes from spies who have deeply infiltrated a faction.
But there were limits to espionage.
An agent's cover could be blown, turning them into a double agent, or they could be used to spread false information.
Of course, the Owl Strike Division had ample countermeasures to prevent such situations.
However, planting a spy among the confidants of the elite was exceedingly difficult and dangerous.
Especially a confidant of a prince.
"I believe that would be difficult."
Kairam subtly expressed her negative opinion.
Judging objectively, it would be difficult for someone of Isabel's caliber to stand out among the princes' circles.
Venderford would be teeming with formidable young people trying to curry favor with the next emperor.
"Still, we can't let this opportunity slip by. Send Isabel as a formality, and send this one as the main player. Disguised with a suitable identity, of course."
"Do you mean Crow?"
At Claude's decision, the Acting Head asked with a look of considerable surprise.
She had never expected the Head to mention the youngest, in whom he had shown no interest until now.
Come to think of it, this wasn't the first time.
He had mentioned Ray once during the last summons.
Unlike with Mitra, he hadn't gone so far as to praise him, though.
"A student admitted through donation should be suitable enough."
"...He's a special-grade assassin. Will he be able to perform well as an informant?"
"His skill level is high, and wouldn't it be easier for him to stand out than Isabel?"
She cautiously voiced her opposition, but Claude seemed to have no intention of listening to Kairam.
The faint smile he wore as he looked over Crow's recent performance report was unusual.
It seemed he had developed a slight interest in Ray's growth, which was a bit faster than Mitra's.
Though she had her doubts, she could not defy the Head's command.
The Black Sand, Claude, was the family's absolute ruler, one who had reached an unprecedented level of mastery.
"Understood. I will have the order delivered."
"Since he's special-grade, we can't force the mission on him. Tell him we'll offer a generous expense account and high rewards for his performance. That should convince him to take the job."
"Understood."
With those words, the Head vanished as if he'd never been there, flickering out of existence.
Ozma, with a hesitant expression, watched her cautiously before tentatively speaking.
"...What should we do?"
Kairam, who had been lost in thought for a moment, replied with a firm expression.
"Proceed as he commanded."
* * *
"Ah, someone must be talking about me. My ears are burning."
I cleaned my ear while dangling the mission order.
Frankly, it was a mission I had no desire to undertake.
Of course, the offer of significantly increased rewards and a hefty expense account was tempting.
But I could easily earn that much from missions at the eastern branch.
A typical special-grade agent might not be able to, but I'm a super genius who transcends common sense.
I could totally just build a villa in Penant and live lavishly.
So why the hell would I need to go to a school and study things I don't want to?
'I mean, I already finished ten years of grueling training at the Disciplinary Hall. And now I have to do something similar again?'
Honestly, how is this any different from enlisting in the army three times?
Of course, it's a school with a certain degree of freedom, not the military, but it's true that I wasn't keen on it at all.
Besides, I never had the right to refuse in the first place.
This order came directly from the Acting Head.
"Can't be helped. I'll just have to be satisfied with the high rewards. And I'm going to milk them for every penny of that expense account."
The thought of leeching off the family's wealth gradually calmed me down.
I'll use this chance to cover the missing 25,000 geld with my expenses.
Though I probably can't cover the full amount.
'If worst comes to worst, I can always take on a decent mission in Troven.'
No matter how busy I get, I'm sure I'll have some free time.
Thinking about the villa improved my foul mood somewhat.
Then, the appendix to the mission directive, which I had pushed aside, caught my eye.
"More of this exposition-dump crap... Still, maybe I should take a look this time."
The mission was, after all, to become a confidant to a potential candidate for crown prince.
Success would bring great benefits, but there was no penalty for failure.
If I did well, I could become an aide to the next emperor, which would be even better for me.
Because one day, I have to swallow this damn family whole and rebuild Riverune.
I picked up the appendix and opened it with a reluctant expression.
"So, I have to choose the next emperor from between a popular punk and a gloomy dude?"
The popular punk was the second prince, and the gloomy dude was the third prince.
Nicknames I'd made up on the spot, of course.
In any case, the punk's chances of becoming the next emperor seemed higher.
According to the appendix, the second prince, Frantz, was talented in swordsmanship and had been full of ambition from early on.
He probably would have shown his true colors soon enough, even if the crown prince hadn't been laid up with a congenital illness.
The third prince, Ellington, on the other hand, was a slight young man with little interest in the throne.
Though said to be talented with the sword, he had no ambition and was not widely known.
But there was one thing that gave me pause.
'The chancellor supported the third prince, didn't he?'
The information I'd heard from Viscount Huey, the administrator of Penant, was detailed more thoroughly in the appendix.
There had to be a reason why Duke Aiden Richter was backing Ellington.
The chancellor was a man so brilliant he was called the brains of the empire.
Besides, I had my own good reason to choose the third prince.
Of course, it wasn't because the chancellor's only daughter was a beauty.
No, really, you have to believe me.
I don't have such ulterior motives, I swear.
"So, is Adel coming too? Let's see... yep, she's here."
Contrary to my internal denials, I found Adel's name in the appendix.
Since she was around my age, it seemed she would also be enrolling at Venderford.
Duke Jeffrey Anders, the Sword Duke, was also sending his heir, Solberg Kaien.
'The second prince's faction is stronger. In that case, siding with the opposition might be more advantageous.'
If the weaker side manages to defeat the stronger one, the fruits of victory for a confidant would be that much sweeter.
There likely wouldn't be many people of note by the third prince's side.
Of course, that didn't mean I made my decision right away.
Setting aside whether he'd even accept me, there was no guarantee my presence would ensure he becomes the next emperor.
The second prince, Frantz, was no ordinary man either, so I had to choose my side carefully.
"But that would take too long."
Playing both sides and walking a tightrope isn't my style.
I tapped the mission directive from the Acting Head with my fingertips and rose from my seat.
Right. I've made my decision.
I'll just pick the guy I like more and crush the opposition.