Chapter 20: In the End, It's All About the People Yan Novak trudged back home, his steps heavy.
"...Brother!"
"Hyung!"
The moment he stepped inside, his younger siblings rushed to him. They were small, huddled together, their eyes red and puffy as if they had been crying the entire time.
"What happened to your face...?"
"How did this happen, Hyung? What happened?"
"Yan."
Their father appeared from behind the worried children. With a complicated expression, he first barked at the younger ones.
"Everyone, get inside!"
At his stern voice, the siblings scurried into the small room. His father looked at Yan's battered state and let out a long sigh.
"...Are you alright?"
"..."
Yan nodded silently.
"That's a relief, then."
"...Yes."
"Get some rest."
His father was a man who had always told him to stay away from both politics and protests. But today, he didn't say a word of reproach.
Yan climbed the stairs to his room on the second floor. He lay down on his bed, which felt like nothing more than a wooden plank, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Suddenly, he thought of that Knight.
The scene he had witnessed—the sheer dignity that had brought those beast-like investigators to their knees, rendering them unable to utter even the slightest sound.
That was true strength. That was power.
'If you strive forward from where you are, we shall meet again someday—'
His expression hardening, Yan sat up. He picked up the envelope and emptied its contents. Ten thousand dollars, a letter of recommendation, and an identification card. After staring at them for a long moment, he strode down the stairs. The chipped wooden steps felt as though they might collapse at any second.
His father sat under the dim light of the living room, his face etched with sorrow. He was likely blaming himself.
"...Father."
Yan sat down across from him. He placed half of the stack of bills he had received from the Knight on the table.
"Yan, where did this—"
"I'm leaving."
He didn't need to explain. He shouldn't.
Biting his lip firmly, Yan simply conveyed his resolve to his father.
"I'm leaving Genen."
* * *
Catching the wrong person creates a problem far greater than the mere existence of an innocent victim.
It's because it gives the 'real mastermind' a chance to continue operating in the shadows.
Izenheim will be lurking deep within armed organizations like the Revolutionary Group and the Independence Faction, and I need the investigators of Genen, including Zendo, to be competent.
Only then can my own burden be lightened, even if only by a little.
"...Hmm."
I received a new investigation report from Zendo at the Genen Central Police Station. The quality of the investigation was significantly better than before.
"Not bad."
I had Dieter look into Zendo's background and origins. He had his own reasons for loathing the Independence Faction.
In the first place, if someone displays that level of madness and aggression without a personal story, they were simply born that way.
Zendo's parents had been brutally slaughtered by the Independence Faction in the past.
"Zendo..."
It wasn't a name I remembered from before my regression. That meant he wasn't a talent who had particularly stood out. He likely spent his life as a lowly investigator in Genen before dying at the edge of a Revolutionary Group blade.
However, waiting only for proven talents is a waste of time.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
I tapped my fingers against the desk, lost in thought.
Is he worth giving a chance?
Beyond just a chance, is he worth supporting?
"...I'll know once I try."
Ebenholtz has plenty of money. I'll build him up first; if he still doesn't measure up, I can simply discard him without a second thought. I also need subordinates like Zendo—people consumed by a specific grudge.
Most importantly, if I don't fix that place now, the 'Spring of Genen' will erupt. That would be a highly unfavorable event for the Empire.
I picked up the phone and called Dieter.
"Dieter."
—Yes, Boss.
"Tell Zendo I've read the report. Provide him with support—wiretapping equipment, mana trace trackers, things like that."
The Genen Central Police Station was, after all, just a local station in an Autonomous Region. Their facilities, equipment, and finances were so poor that I heard they only installed telephones a year ago.
—Understood.
"And what about Yan?"
—His new identity has been confirmed in the southwestern part of the Empire.
Yan had moved south. Dieter had handled the matter perfectly.
—Also, the land acquisition you requested has been completed. We've discovered significant data through mana stone exploration, but a problem has arisen.
"A problem?"
—The local magnates in that area are proving difficult. They are already organizing anti-mining protests under the guise of environmental preservation.
"...Pfft."
I let out a small chuckle. It was exactly what I had expected. The influence of local power players is incredibly strong in the South.
"Dieter."
Ironically, that was why they were able to avoid the worst of the Empire's systemic corruption, yet they had built up their own brand of graft in its place.
"Remember, you have Ebenholtz behind you now."
If money could solve everything, I could just give it to them.
But those types are the kind who will keep clinging to you if you just hand over cash.
"It means you have my permission to bulldoze them all."
I don't have time to waste on those people. I need to make money quickly, and I need to spend it just as fast.
—Yes. I understand.
"Good. If there's anything you're unsure of or if you run into a snag..."
I thought for a moment about a role model for Dieter. Who did I want him to resemble? In what direction did I want him to grow?
Only one person came to mind.
"Ask Engie. He's our family butler. I'll send you his contact information."
Before my regression, Dieter had been a brilliant financial secretary for the Empire, an obstinate man who was eventually executed for refusing the New Cabinet's proposal.
—Yes, sir.
At the very least, he would live a better life by my side.
* * *
Hermes, Southern Empire. Five influential families gathered in a secret room. They were there to deal with the uninvited guest who had suddenly intruded upon them last week.
"...It seems some corporation secretly purchased land near the Rommilton Mountains recently."
Since ancient times, the authority of the Imperial Family had never fully reached the Southern Empire. This was due to the massive Vitarr Mountains that bisected the Empire.
"I heard they even started exploring for ore veins immediately. Without so much as a greeting to us. How typical of those people from the capital."
Though tunnels had been bored and transportation was now convenient, for much of the Empire's thousand-year history, the South had been disconnected from the center.
"This simply cannot happen. We cannot allow the beautiful nature of Hermes to be desecrated."
"Of course not. Is it not the duty of us all to protect the environment?"
Consequently, there were many regions in the South where bureaucrats and local magnates colluded to establish their own authority. Hermes, in particular, was notorious for using various excuses to extort massive 'development funds' whenever an outside company tried to enter.
"I have already prepared a group of protesters made up of concerned citizens. Once they see our 'sincerity,' they will surely withdraw on their own."
That is how protests worked there. They were a part of the transaction.
If a company showed its sincerity, the locals would accept it and back off.
Of course, if a mana stone vein were discovered there, the company would have to show an even greater level of 'sincerity' befitting its value...
—Stop the mana stone mining that desecrates the sacred scenery of the Rommilton Mountains!
—Withdraw!
—Withdraw!
Hundreds of protesters shouted slogans at the entrance of Mount Rommilton. They blocked the path of the miners. They smashed the equipment and machinery being installed.
—Get lost, you city slickers!
—How dare you! You seek to destroy nature that has stood for thousands of years!
—You bastards! If you're going, you'll have to step over me first!
As they shouted fiercely, thud, thud-thud.
Several small canisters flew toward their feet. The protesters stared at them, startled.
They were smoke grenades.
Pshhhhhhh—!
The cans spun, spewing out gray fog. While the protesters were panicked, a group of unidentified men appeared.
Without a word, they rushed in, swinging steel pipes.
Thwack! Crack! Crunch!
The dull sounds of metal crushing bone and flesh rang out. The protest site instantly turned into a scene of carnage, and screams of agony filled the air.
"Aaaagh! Gaaah!"
One of the protesters fled in a hurry and dialed a number.
Ring... Ring... Ring...
In the secret room where the magnates were conversing, a terminal rang.
"...Ah, this. My apologies."
One of the five magnates of Hermes cut the call. They attempted to resume their meeting, but—
BOOM!
The door exploded with a deafening roar. The entrance disintegrated, sending splinters flying. Standing beyond the wreckage were armed Imperial Police.
"Who—who the hell are you!"
"Under Articles 237 and 314 of the Imperial Penal Code, we are summarily arresting Markus Steiner, Jin Yusef, and four others on charges of bribery, abuse of power, and incitement of illegal assembly."
The police subdued them while reciting the Imperial statutes. The handcuffed magnates shrieked as if having a seizure.
"You—you crazy bastards! Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"This is the South!"
"The South is also part of the Empire. The same laws apply."
"You pigs! Did you take a bribe from someone?! The nobles of the South won't stand for this!"
They were hauled away in an instant.
* * *
...Jensen, the Mayor of Hermes, received the news before long.
Having formed a close, collusive relationship with the local magnates, he climbed into his car in a fit of rage.
"Those damn fools. I don't know who they think they are to pull this, but I'm going to see their faces and—ugh?!"
Screeeech!
The driver slammed on the brakes. A man was standing right in front of the car.
"Who is that guy?!"
It was a man wearing rimless glasses. He slowly approached and knocked on the rear window.
Knock, knock.
"..."
Jensen rolled down the window.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mayor. I am Dieter Schmidt of Veritas Trading."
"What? Veritas? Ah—the ones trying to dig for mana stones in Rommilton? Was this your doing? You idiot, you clearly don't know how the world works. You messed with the wrong people. Do you think the City Hall will grant you a permit—"
"There have been recent allegations regarding bribery involving you and several other local magnates, Mr. Mayor."
"Allegations? Ha, I guess you city folk don't know, but in the South, those kinds of customs are—"
"You should read the details for yourself."
Dieter handed over two sets of documents containing the indictments. Meanwhile, suspicious figures began to appear around the City Hall.
They were men who simply loitered around without taking any specific action.
"There are two indictments. One is yours, Mr. Mayor. The other... well, I'm sure you can guess."
"Ha!"
Mayor Jensen was about to rip the documents to shreds when he reflexively checked the wax seal.
A silver tiger.
A silver tiger.
It was a symbol he had seen somewhere—specifically, one he had seen often in textbooks...
The symbol of Ebenholtz.
"It seems everyone was a bit too blatant about accepting them, even if you call it a 'custom.'"
At Dieter's words, the Mayor's mouth suddenly went dry. He felt the blood drain from his face.
Usually, the high nobility of the capital didn't bother starting trouble in the South, but Ebenholtz was no ordinary nobility. They were not a typical family.
"Would you like to make a phone call?"
Dieter held out a terminal. The Mayor's body trembled.
"Or, would you like to go back and become our friend?"
"..."
Jensen's lips quivered. He ran a trembling hand through his hair. But he didn't have much time.
The Mayor agonized over his decision, staring intently at the expressionless Dieter, before finally speaking.
"...How do I become a friend?"
Dieter gave a slight nod.
"If you stay inside, everything will be finished soon. I'll ask you to handle the cleanup then."
"..."
Jensen stepped out of the car without a word. He returned to the Hermes City Hall with his secretary.
As Dieter watched his retreating back, a small word of praise reached him.
"Good work."
It was Engie, who had been personally mentoring him. Dieter bowed his head.
"It's thanks to you. This was my first time in the field."
"It's alright. It was perfect for a first time."
In Engie's eyes, Dieter had a genius talent for tracking the flow of funds. Furthermore, his ability to exclude emotion from his work made him a perfect operative.
Young Master Maximilian has a good eye for people.
Engie smiled brightly.
"Mr. Dieter Schmidt. Do you know why a Great House is strong?"
"Why a House is strong...?"
Dieter tilted his head, unsure.
"Because people are inherited. Young Master Maximilian is likely trying to build his own people, his own organization right now, isn't he?"
Independence from the main house is the first step in breaking away from his father. Ebenholtz—Zebestian—knows everything and is turning a blind eye.
It was only natural. Though Zebestian is the current head of Ebenholtz, Maximilian will eventually inherit everything.
"However, the Young Master is also an Ebenholtz. Therefore, he is entitled to the human network the family has built over generations. You simply need to transfer that network to him, one by one."
Engie looked at Dieter. Dieter looked back at Engie.
"Yes. Thank you."
"—And, one most important thing in that process."
Engie's eyes curved into crescents. It was a look that carried more of a warning than a smile.
"Never, under any circumstances, betray the Young Master. I say this for your sake, Mr. Dieter, not the Young Master's."
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