"Refusing to go that far? Someone tell that bastard he's already in too deep."
Elias muttered, propping his chin on his hand.
Leo adjusted the artifact in his ear and bit his lip slightly.
"Using magic from the very start..."
"Judging by the reaction, it seems he hasn't been hit directly yet. The problem is that Luca has been moved to a completely different location."
"...Exactly. What do you mean by a different coordinate system? Have you ever heard of that? You said you looked at the Imperial archives before."
"No, I've never heard that specific term. But there might have been higher-level archive rooms than the ones I accessed?"
Elias continued.
"I thought I'd ransacked every place possible, but there could be a place storing even more confidential materials. If it's truly secret, its very existence might be unknown... The core members might know."
"...Our priority is connecting to the Imperial family first."
But what if it's something even the Imperial family doesn't know?
Leo leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and let out a deep sigh.
If it's something neither I nor Elias know, then what we can expect from here is drastically reduced.
'Narke...'
That friend wouldn't know such information either.
According to the light investigation done at the start of the semester, while he comes from a family of clergy deeply connected to the Papacy, there's no trace of Narke himself participating in the Papacy's political affairs.
'The Papacy might know, but if we send a message...'
Leo groaned and held his head.
When will they get here? Warp magic within and outside the Empire is prohibited.
Should we open a portal, accepting some sanctions from the Kingdom? Frankly, this isn't a normal situation, so we could likely get emergency recognition after the fact.
Also, the Imperial family should support that.
*Beep—*
At that moment, Leo grabbed the artifact in his other ear and listened intently to something.
Leo nodded briefly in response, then spoke to Elias.
"Right now, it's been transferred to the Imperial Investigation Bureau."
* * *
"Ugh!"
*Crash—*
Strauchi fell sideways from Lucas's kick.
Just because I can use magic four or five more times doesn't mean I can block every one of his attacks as they come.
This entire situation is now being transferred to the Bavarian Investigation Bureau, and if the investigators quickly grasp the situation, it will soon be transferred to the Imperial Investigation Bureau.
Therefore, a certain amount of damage isn't a great danger to me.
I came prepared to get hit a few times from the start. I wouldn't have entered this fight without that level of resolve.
'And I have to prepare for the plan going awry.'
The plan was for Leo or Narke to rescue me as things were wrapping up, but Strauchi doesn't seem to be using a standard spatial magic formula.
There's a reason why neither the Imperial family nor the Papacy has been able to make significant moves against them for over a decade.
Even with standard spatial magic, it's difficult to locate where the magic was used without a medium connecting the two spaces, and on top of that, using a completely new formula raises the difficulty significantly.
'At least it's fortunate there is a medium.'
The artifact connecting me to Leo.
Even if I don't know what formula Strauchi used, as long as it's spatial magic, having just one medium increases my survival odds.
However, given the unfamiliar magic, it will take time for external entry, so it's better to save up my magic for a single burst at a life-or-death moment rather than using it piecemeal.
Lucas sat in front of the mage, smiled, and gestured to the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"You should go to the hospital first. What is this... getting like this from one hit."
"Haha... ha..."
Strauchi let out a hollow laugh, spat a bloody wad of saliva onto the floor, and muttered.
"Judging by your track record... I expected you wouldn't care about any danger, but I didn't think it would be to this extent."
Well, I came knowing it would be like this.
But I have no intention of giving him information by saying that.
Lucas answered in a nonchalant tone.
"What can we do about what's already happened?"
"This is sickness. You don't think this state is normal, do you?"
"..."
Lucas looked down at him silently. The mask hid his expression anyway. There was no need to pretend.
Strauchi pressed on his lower back and slowly got up from his spot.
"Listen. I'll send you back to where you were."
Strauchi continued with a giggle, his voice trembling.
"But when you return, announce that the Pleroma had no involvement whatsoever, that everything you uncovered was your own fabrication."
To dig your own grave so readily, such kindness is almost excessive.
Lucas met his gaze and smiled.
"Why should I do that?"
"Well... do I need to spell it out for you? Consider your position."
Strauchi swiftly drew in the air with his shaking fingers. Black vitriol shot towards Lucas's neck.
*Crash—!*
His vision shook from the impact.
Lucas gritted his teeth, grabbing the vitriol constricting his neck. Perhaps because the floor was marble, the impact of his head hitting it felt even greater.
"..."
"No reaction... Sir Nikolaus, you're known to be quite stubborn, aren't you?"
Strauchi grabbed Lucas's shoulder and pushed him back.
"No, wait. You're not Sir Nikolaus. You'd usually live in your true form..."
"Kgh..."
"As I said before, I'm curious about who's under there. Probably the whole nation is. What kind of face is it that you wear a mask even when stepping into the sacred assembly... And to have gotten approval for that too... Of course, that was thanks to Wittelsbach."
Strauchi tapped the mask and trailed off.
*Beep—*
A small notification sound reached Lucas's ear.
Strauchi didn't hear it. He continued quickly with the same smiling expression as before.
"Or are you in a position that must not be revealed? Perhaps the one tipped to be the next Pope, or a relative of His Majesty the Emperor... If so, it would bruise your pride to be nominally under the Bavarian Crown Prince, even in name. Well, the affairs of royalty are beyond a low-ranking noble like me."
"...Ghk, ugh..."
"How about it, try to stop me. Or... I'll take it as permission to check for myself."
Strauchi laughed, dodging Lucas's kick. Then he grabbed the edge of the mask and channeled mana into it.
*Crack—*
The mask's black glass shattered along a thick crack and fell away. Strauchi laughed as he turned Lucas's head.
"What kind of bastard are you..."
Strauchi's eyes widened. The vitriol he'd been channeling also cut off. He let go and slowly stood up from his spot.
*Crash—*
"Ascanian? Why are you here..."
Strauchi frowned and muttered.
Lucas, collapsed on the floor, held his neck and coughed for a while, then let out a big exhale.
"Huff, huff, hoo..."
"They clearly said you were in the Papal States. No, wait, you look younger, surely not..."
Strauchi grabbed Lucas's robe and pulled his upper body up. He stared intently into Lucas's eyes and muttered.
"You are an Ascanian... but the younger brother. Right. The color is similar, I was mistaken."
Lucas threw a punch, forcing Strauchi off. He let go of the robe, stood up, and took a step back.
"This... is something that could completely overturn the Empire. That Pleroma is Nikolaus."
"..."
"How about it, answer me. How does it feel to deceive the public? With just one mask, someone almost an untouchable becomes a hero. You must find it amusing, of course? The entire nation must look like unparalleled fools..."
"That's a bit harsh."
Lucas wiped the corner of his mouth with his robe sleeve and answered in a sharp voice.
Fortunately, the connection was cut. Judging by the small notification sound earlier, they seem to have discreetly severed it on their end.
Now, re-establishing communication must be initiated from my side.
"What's harsh about it? Surely you're not trying to speak for the people in this situation..."
Strauchi narrowed his eyes and took a step closer.
"Is there a more appropriate word? So what if you're an Ascanian. No one wants to be by your side. If you wanted to live well, you should have been discreet like me."
"You who couldn't even properly guard one lab, leaving it to be completely ransacked, have quite the nerve to say that."
"..."
Strauchi was momentarily at a loss for words, then pushed Lucas, who was trying to get up, with vitriol and shook his head.
"...Fine. It couldn't be more fortunate. Your ransom has doubled. There was already a proposal in the Bishop's Council to make contact with Lucas Ascanian..."
Putting aside the idea of contacting me...
Thanks for the information.
The fact that you know about a matter that's merely a proposal, not a decision, shows you're at least not a layman within the Pleroma. You're likely a bishop or someone very close to that rank.
'And from the mention of fabrication, it's definitely been transferred to the Imperial family.'
The Strauchi mansion in that world is probably already being searched by the Imperial family. All that's left now is to wait for backup.
'Considering the coordinate system issue, I should estimate about 30 minutes to an hour.'
During that time, my choice is whether to subdue him now or watch a bit longer to see what he does to me...
'For now, the latter is better.'
Half-killing a Pleroma member here would make a good picture, but frankly, I've already sufficiently proven my ability in terms of stats.
What needs to be imprinted on the public now is not how strong I am, but how firmly I stand on the side of justice.
Considering the recording will flow to the Imperial Investigation Bureau, the image of me suffering damage while capturing a Pleroma member, as a counterbalance to their evil deeds to gain public support, is by no means a minus for me.
And, in a way, encountering a Pleroma member who is a bishop is lucky. Most Pleroma members caught so far have been low-level within the organization, lacking importance and information.
But this one is different.
If handled well, I might get information I can use for my next impression score plan.
'The key is what method he'll use to achieve his goal.'
Strauchi grinned, bending his knee to sit in front of Lucas.
"As you know, we haven't had a chance to meet until now? So... my demands haven't changed."
Strauchi tapped Lucas's shoulder, then leaned close to his ear, pressing out each word.
"When you return, say that Sir Nikolaus fabricated everything. It was all the delusion of the Knight. The Imperial police, Imperial investigators, Imperial newspapers, researchers from various institutions, all the citizens were swayed by your delusion. It's a pity, but Duke Elias also lacked discernment."
"I won't do it."
"In that case... let's expose to the public once that Nikolaus is Pleroma."
Lucas let out a short laugh.
He probably thinks that revealing my identity now would allow the image of Lucas Ascanian to overwhelm that of Nikolaus.
I don't get many chances to hear others' opinions, but here I am listening.
Of course, even disregarding his opinion, revealing my identity now is premature in many ways.
Lucas shrugged and asked.
"What if I'm not Pleroma?"
"Your core is just a normal core, but it's certain you possess our nature."
"...Haha..."
Lucas let out a hollow laugh.
These bastards...
They're more sloppy than I thought?
—-----------
T/N:
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