"Hmm hmm, hmm hmm..."
In a cityscape dense with spires, at the top of the tallest building. Under an open space in rotunda style where rounded ceiling met columns forming arches, a man was humming a tune with a lollipop in his mouth.
Despite the warm weather with plenty of sunlight, he was wearing a thick brown leather jacket, while his lower half was clad in the black military pants of the imperial army, and his shoes were light-colored combat boots that had lost their original color from wear.
The man in this somewhat free-spirited attire had laid out numerous items on the floor that were as far from regulations as his clothes. They were illegally modified gun parts. Unlike the menacing weapon he possessed, the man's impression seemed languid, as if sleepy.
Crackle–
–Finder, Finder. All set?
Nero's voice flowed from one of the radios scattered carelessly in the corner. The man called Finder did not answer. He just continued humming while looking into the hole of the gun, inserting his finger and carefully applying oil to the entrance.
Then, after applying plenty of lubricant to a long rod, he inserted it into the muzzle and gently pistoned it inside the barrel. His rhythmic touch somehow seemed sticky.
Crackle–
–Senior Finder, can you hear me? I'm asking if you're ready?
When the radio continued with urgency, Finder frowned and turned toward it. He bent his oil-covered fingers and pressed the radio button with his knuckles, responding irritably:
"Hey, don't make me talk. I'm having a good time with my lover."
Crackle–
–Ah, is this the time for jokes? I told you to keep watching! We don't know when they'll come–.
"I am watching, so stop rushing me."
Finder, ignoring him moderately, turned off the radio. He continued to deeply probe the inside of the barrel, and when he judged it sufficient, he pulled out the inserted rod. Soon, as if putting a bit in his beloved lover's mouth, he assembled the menacing parts one by one.
Click, click. After 30 seconds of consecutive sounds, the modified gun became quite substantial in size and weight, nestling in his arms.
He approached the pillar where he had set up a telescope and placed the completed gun in a sniping position. The closed railing about 70cm up from the floor concealed the large gun and scattered odds and ends. With the body completely hidden, only the muzzle quietly peeked out.
"Wow... so many people."
The view below was bustling with tanks, carriages, and people, more than usual.
This was Pentagove, at the 6 o'clock position from the imperial capital. It was the last of five cities adjacent to Sanctus Linar to be registered as a major administrative area, and it was named Pentagove to commemorate this.
Today, nobles and attendants invited from outside were visiting in large numbers ahead of a grand banquet held at the party house. Not only that, but farmers transporting food supplies, servants hired as extra hands by noble families, and merchants looking for opportunities to make a profit were all passing through the checkpoints in lines.
Even with all gates open, traffic congestion was severe, so in some areas, they were busy dealing with the influx of people by simplifying inspections. It was a busy scene befitting a joyous day. The boisterous sounds echoed up to the top of the spire.
But on days like this, troublemakers always tend to lurk.
"From the gate to the main road entry, 2km... I could shoot with my eyes closed. What's there to worry about?"
Finder recalled the chattering Nero and clicked his tongue, saying this is why the kid doesn't work. Nevertheless, he put on the sniper goggles he had hung on the railing. They were a magic tool that widened the field of view and could see up to 5km away, issued only to certified snipers in the imperial army.
He loaded the magazine with air bullets specially made with magic. After exactly two impacts, the bullet would scatter into the air, minimizing traces of sniping. One impact was upon firing, and one was when hitting the target.
Having roughly completed his preparations, he adjusted the magnification of the telescope while holding a portable electric shocker in his other hand. As if familiar with it, he lightly placed the pointed tip near his neck, and his entire body flinched at the tingling shock. Though his brow furrowed in discomfort, the man simply put down the electric shocker and rubbed around his hot neck while turning his head from side to side.
"How long do I have to keep doing this..."
While muttering with a sigh, this time he reached behind to operate the phonograph he had set up.
The sound of orchestral snare drums and opening flutes began to flow, mixed with noise.
"Hmm–, hmm..."
What had been his humming now matched the rhythm with his voice, carefully following the melody step by step. Perhaps because the surroundings were so noisy, the music could only be heard by his ears and didn't leak elsewhere.
Finder lowered his posture and shouldered the gun, looking up at the sky for a moment. The local time was just past 5 o'clock, but the sun was still shining brightly in the sky. When he brought his pupils, contracted by sunlight, directly to the scope, the gray eyes revealed beneath his languid eyelids became sharp enough to seem alien compared to before.
On the middle finger of his left hand supporting the bottom of the barrel was a silver ring symbolizing Armsilver.
'Still, since it's our Captain's request...'
Having crunched and swallowed the candy separated from the stick, he licked his lips with the tip of his tongue, his eyes gleaming.
"Let's do this properly."
A faint excitement settled in his gaze as he searched for the approaching target.
The flow of the orchestral music gradually intensified, following his gaze.
* * *
At the checkpoint crossing from the southern gate of the imperial capital to Pentagove, the Duke's white carriage had stopped. Hugo sat with his arms crossed, staring at the empty seat opposite him with the curtains drawn inside the carriage. Though it was particularly noisy outside, he had no time to pay attention. He had been in this state since departing from the imperial palace.
Except for occasionally contacting Flynn via the communication magic tool, he had spent almost three hours just opening and closing his eyes. His mind was complicated.
Fortunately, his white carriage passed through the gate without separate inspection, using the family symbol as identification. Perhaps because it was the first priority for passage after the Emperor in the VIP entrance, the waiting time wasn't as long as for other carriages.
As the carriage began to pick up speed again, Hugo habitually checked his wristwatch.
5:03 PM. Though a bit tight, it seemed he would arrive before the start of the main ceremony.
If he arrived late on a day like today, there would be many curious about his private audience with the Emperor. It would be wise to show his face as early as possible and quietly disappear amid the confusion.
'As soon as I enter, I'll exchange greetings first... and when the banquet reaches its peak, I should slip out appropriately.'
In the period shortly after his accession as Duke, he used to roam here and there, handling more than five schedules in a day. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tired then, but it didn't weigh on his mind and body as much as the single schedule he had today.
Hugo leaned diagonally against the carriage seat, recalling the fresh scent of the Lambus seedlings he had last smelled. As he inhaled, his broad chest swelled as if about to burst. Just as the buttons of his suit were being pulled taut, he exhaled a hot breath along with his concerns.
The Duke, momentarily setting aside his dignity, slightly tilted his head toward the window. Perhaps because he had safely escaped the imperial capital, his stiffened posture gradually loosened. He planned to rest like this for a while until arrival.
Disregarding the wrinkling of his clothes, he crossed his legs and gently closed his eyes. It was a vulnerable appearance he rarely showed. His gloved hand recalled the softness of the golden hair he had once ruffled.
'Is it right for me to dig into his past?'
Leonardo was surrounded by many secrets unbecoming of his age. The fact that he didn't mention them first probably meant he had the strongest reasons for not wanting to reveal them.
But contrary to his concerns, Hugo was already roughly calculating the list of attendees at today's banquet.
'I'll also encounter the Silvias.'
Through his cousin who had married a high-ranking military official, he might be able to find out something about Leonardo's relationship with the Emperor during his military days. It would be even more welcome if he could establish contact with people around them. The more testimonies, the better.
The carriage entered the main road in the city after passing through the gate. Perhaps because the road was well-paved, the shaking was relatively reduced. Hugo, surrendering his body to the vibration of the rolling wheels, lined up one by one the figures he could naturally approach.
Along with that, his increasingly peaceful breathing seemed as if he was falling asleep, but his mind was clearer than ever.
Rather, with his vision blocked, his other senses gradually became more sensitive.
It was thanks to this that he suddenly opened his eyes, sensing a strange mana cutting through the air.
Crunch, screech–
The sound of wheels dragging on the ground was heard. Short screams echoed from outside.
Just as he reflexively grabbed the window frame and raised his upper body, the entire carriage shook as if about to overturn with a huge impact.
Bang–!