Chapter 69: A Night Talk with Run
"I apologize for the late-night disturbance."
The handsome and dashing blond young man before him bowed slightly in apology.
Kobayashi smiled slightly and gestured for him to sit down.
"Run, what can I do for you?"
"There is something I wish to confirm."
"And what would that be?"
Kobayashi steeped him a cup of tea. The rising steam obscured their line of sight, but Run's words were like a sharp sword, piercing through the steam and pointing straight at Kobayashi's heart.
"Mr. Kobayashi, you are not a native of the Imperial Capital, are you?"
"..."
Kobayashi was silent.
Run didn't mind his near-tacit admission, but continued to speak in a gentle voice:
"According to the intelligence I've gathered, you are the nephew of an old clockmaker who died three years ago. It seems suspicious, but in fact, whether it's the witnesses, the proof, or your past experiences, there are no flaws.
If one were to focus all their energy on proving you are not the old clockmaker's nephew, they would surely fall into your trap. However, you have overlooked one problem."
Kobayashi's eyes drooped slightly. He asked, "What problem?"
"The problem of the old clockmaker."
Run slowly explained, "Was he a native of the Capital? Was he a clockmaker? Did he even exist? As long as one starts from this angle, it is easy to discover that among the 17 clockmaker shops in the Capital, there is no such person as the old clockmaker. Or rather, the 'old clockmaker' was just his disguise."
Clap, clap, clap—
Kobayashi couldn't help but applaud, praising him. "Excellent reasoning. You are basically correct on all points."
"You flatter me, Mr. Kobayashi. These were all flaws you deliberately left exposed, were they not?" Run's words surprised him even more.
I know your weakness.
I know that you know my weakness.
I know that you know that I know your weakness.
It was precisely based on this sort of nesting-doll psychological game that the two of them were now alone together tonight.
"I must say, I want you on my side more and more."
Run's personality was calm and his mind was sharp. He could clearly analyze situations and was not easily fooled. In the Jaegers, he served as Esdeath's adjutant, assisting her with some political and miscellaneous affairs, which showed that he was very capable in domestic matters. Coupled with his current position, successfully winning him over would be a great help. He was the kind of talent Kobayashi craved.
"You want me... Although some people have special hobbies, I don't think you mean 'want me' in the literal sense, do you, Mr. Kobayashi?"
"Of course not!"
Kobayashi couldn't help but retort, "Have you been infected by Wave?!"
"I suppose so," Run smiled.
The teasing just now was just a small interlude to ease the atmosphere. But now, it was time to get down to business.
"Run, you've said before that you have ambition."
"That is correct."
When Run had joined the Jaegers, he had clearly stated that he had ambition and was therefore very motivated.
Others might not understand why this gentle young man would say such a thing.
But Kobayashi knew.
In the past, when he was a teacher, he had returned from an outing to find his students had been brutally massacred by vicious bandits. The local authorities' actions of covering up the news to protect their reputation for public order had aroused his strong dissatisfaction. He had joined the Jaegers to change the current state of the Empire and to avenge his students.
"Before we talk business, as a sign of sincerity, let me give you this."
Kobayashi took out a file and placed it in front of Run.
"This is?"
"Why don't you open it and see?"
With a sense of doubt, Run gently opened the file. His calm and peaceful expression suddenly froze.
There was actually another reason he had joined the Jaegers: to find out who the murderer of his students was.
And the murderer was...
"Champ, from the group 'Wild Hunt', under the command of the Prime Minister's son, Syura."
Run softly spoke the murderer's name.
If it were just speculation, he wouldn't have believed it. After all, he had his own judgment. But he had an impression of the clown in the intelligence report, and he knew clearly that the person who had killed his students was a man who looked like a clown. So, seeing it again, he had some trouble suppressing his emotions. The file in his hand became wrinkled, and his hand turned pale from the force of his grip.
However, Run's ability to manage his emotions was excellent. After a few breaths, he calmed down.
"Although I don't know what your purpose is, Mr. Kobayashi, I must still thank you."
He stood up and gave a deep bow.
Kobayashi shook his head. "I've only done a trivial thing. After all, you've been investigating this matter recently, Run. With your intelligence, you would have found out who the murderer was soon enough. I've merely shortened the process."
"But no matter what, you have helped me a great deal, Mr. Kobayashi."
Run was surprisingly insistent on this point.
Perhaps it was because of this that he was always thinking of finding the murderer of his students from several years ago and avenging them.
Kobayashi let out a light sigh. "If the Empire hadn't become like this, your students wouldn't have been killed, would they?"
"...Perhaps," Run said, his face showing a trace of sadness.
"But! Run, you must have realized it by now! The fact that the corrupt Empire is beyond saving!"
"..."
"So, would you like to join my side?"
With the emotions properly brewed, Kobayashi took the opportunity to extend an invitation. Stirring up the sadness in his heart was just paving the way; recruiting him was the real goal.
But Run was not swayed by his emotions. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, puzzled, "Don't tell me you are also with the Revolutionary Army, like Tatsumi?"
He hadn't expected him to have already guessed that Tatsumi was with the Revolutionary Army. No wonder he had taken the initiative to ask Esdeath what to do if Tatsumi became an enemy. It seemed he had been vigilant from the start.
But, unfortunately, he had guessed wrong.
"I am not with the Revolutionary Army."
Kobayashi shook his head and explained, "The Axis Order... have you heard of this name?"
"The Axis Order? Is that the new church that was established after the former Path of Peace was renamed?"
Run tapped his chin with his index finger and said uncertainly, "I've recently received intelligence that the church is expanding rapidly and recruiting followers. Many travelers say that the members of that church are very fanatical, aggressively proselytizing to every passerby, trying desperately to get them to join. And their methods are very excessive and vile. I've heard that merchant caravans have been so scared by this that they are taking detours to get to the Capital."
...I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!
Kobayashi covered his face with both hands, ashamed. He seriously suspected that establishing the Axis Order had been a mistake. He had never expected that the Leader would be so fanatical, leading the followers to madly proselytize to others. If he hadn't strictly forbidden it, he might have taken the initiative to attack the surrounding towns.
And it was precisely because of this that he was so desperate to get Run on his side, so that he, as a civil official, could act as reins to curb the fanatical Leader.
"In short! You should know, Run, that it's impossible to reform the Empire from within. But once the Revolutionary Army rises up, it will cause even more civilian casualties. That's why I established the Axis Order, hoping to use wisdom and peace to resolve the conflict! Join us, Run. I need you."
"I'm sorry, please let me consider it."
The calmed-down Run would not be so easily moved by his emotional speech. And in his view, there was no difference between the Axis Order and the Revolutionary Army, and the Empire was not as hopeless as he had said. He would naturally not agree so easily.
But he promised that he would seriously consider his request and that he would not tell Esdeath about tonight's events.
Run left. Kobayashi was a little disappointed. He had thought he could use the death of his students to stir up his anger and take the opportunity to move him.
"It seems I was thinking too simply. But Run should also understand now that the Empire cannot be saved from within."
He sighed, picked up the small cat that was perched on the windowsill, and said, "Isn't that right, my cute little assassin?"
(End of Chapter)