Chapter 38: The Logic of the Strong The Listman family was a noble house of the Empire. Having pursued the magical arts for centuries, they held deep connections within the Magic Towers and academia across generations, recently cementing their status as a prestigious house.
Magi-engineering: the field of study dedicated to researching and analyzing mana for practical, daily application.
The current head of the house, Valerius Listman, was a renowned magi-engineer. He was also the inventor who brought about the innovation known as the Mana Coil.
However, that glory was built upon the blood and tears of his former master. The family's influence had solidified on a foundation of betrayal, their false claims shaking the world.
It was a prosperity they thought would last forever, but a recent decline in performance had begun to trip Valerius up. As time passed, the Mana Coil was relegated to a commonplace technology. Listman failed to create a new technology that could generate profits beyond that. Numerous ideas remained just that—ideas. This was true not only for Valerius but for the researchers under his command as well.
Ultimately, Valerius had no choice but to admit it: he needed a 'special brain.'
That was the reason he had persistently tracked his master for years.
"So, this is the shabby hole you've been hiding in, Master."
Finally, Valerius discovered his old master's mana shop.
Lorenzo glared at Listman, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"…Why have you come looking for me, you bastard?"
"Calling me a bastard? Your words are far too harsh."
Valerius smiled as he ran a hand through his blonde hair.
"It's simple. I've come with a partnership proposal… offered in the hope that your talent hasn't rusted away yet."
"Ha. I suppose your company is in trouble?"
"…No—"
"I thought so. You were never consistent. You lacked persistence. Magi-engineering is a science. There are no shortcuts in science. The one who stays in his seat the longest, the one who walks the righteous path, is the one who wins. There is no scholar in the world who became great just to shine at a party."
"…."
A vein throbbed in Valerius's temple.
"It seems you still don't understand, Master. You are currently a wanted man, certified by the Empire. A shameless thief who dared to steal my original theory and flee."
Lorenzo let out a hollow laugh. He was appalled by this twisted disciple who would come all this way just to say such things.
Valerius tore off a check and tossed it onto the table.
"This is my proposal."
The amount was an odd 23,000 dollars. Perhaps he had cut 10% because he couldn't bear to part with 25,000.
"I will grant you amnesty for your crimes and give you this much every month. It's an annual salary that even most researchers would find hard to earn. The deadline for your answer is…"
He checked his wristwatch and raised an eyebrow.
"Next week, 8:00 PM."
"How ridiculous."
"Don't even think about running away. My men will be watching you twenty-four hours a day."
Snap.
Listman flicked his fingers. At that moment, thugs stormed into the shop from both inside and out.
Crash! Bang! Thud!
They swung iron pipes, smashing the magical tools and display cases that Lorenzo had meticulously maintained. Watching his inventions being destroyed, Lorenzo's face trembled violently.
Crash! Shatter! Thud—!
The old man stood alone amidst the flying debris. The disciple who had taken everything from him.
He glared intensely at the man who, even now, coveted his knowledge once again. A beast-like sound of breathing escaped through his gritted teeth.
"Why are you looking at me like that? You'd have to break them to leave anyway. I'm just saving you the trouble."
Valerius met his gaze and smiled brightly.
"Well then, I shall look forward to a wise response."
Leaving the wretched mess behind, Valerius departed. The thugs also withdrew like an ebbing tide.
Tap, tap.
Armand came up from the basement.
"Um… Boss."
The boy with the buzz-cut looked at him with worried eyes.
"Go back inside."
"Ah… yes."
That was all Lorenzo could say. Such was his current state.
A faint, humble human who had grown old without being able to put up even a shred of resistance…
* * *
I returned to the Knights. A mountain of work had piled up in my absence. However, since the majority of it consisted of documents related to Active Residual Traces, I handled them without much difficulty.
My virus allows me to visually perceive the flow of mana. Consequently, while analyzing Active Residual Traces, I occasionally feel a sensation of my eyes being opened—as if the flow of mana is being interpreted for me automatically.
— Knock, knock.
Just then, an administrative officer knocked.
"Sir. We've received word. Mr. Lorenzo Carione says the items you ordered are ready—"
"I'll go immediately."
"Yes. I'll have a vehicle waiting."
The officer stepped out first. I changed into civilian clothes and headed down, finding the officer already in the driver's seat.
"Departing now!"
The officer is enthusiastic about everything. I suppose this is what happens when you pay a high salary.
[Lorenzo Carione]
I arrived at the mana shop in Zestpol once again, but the shop was a far cry from my previous visit. It was a disaster. Glass windows were broken here and there, and the magical tools were all smashed to pieces.
"…."
As I stood silently in front of the counter, Lorenzo approached, leaning on his cane. He presented a box containing the items to me.
"These are the items you ordered last time."
Theoretical books on mana by famous scholars, specialized books on 'Runes,' the ancient Aran magic characters, and several other rare materials.
They must have been difficult to obtain.
"Have you considered my proposal?"
At my question, Lorenzo gave a bitter smile.
"You're asking me to use the power of one noble to strike down another."
"That is the way of the world."
"I do not trust nobles."
"Then will you just run away like this?"
I gestured toward Armand, who was peeking out from the basement. The boy's eyes were filled with fear.
Lorenzo glanced at Armand and then spoke to me again.
"…Please take Armand with you."
"That is meaningless. A disciple without a master cannot grow on his own."
Lorenzo let out a deep sigh.
"But I am currently a wanted man. It will only bring harm to Armand and to you, Sir Knight."
In reality, Giorgio Chirico had gone into hiding after ignoring the court's compensation ruling. It would be more accurate to say he couldn't pay because he had no money.
"It's fine. Knights monitor everything in the Empire. Therefore, it is also within a knight's authority to request a retrial for a case that has already been adjudicated."
If I pull out a dusty file and press the retrial stamp, the entire investigation starts over from scratch.
Not every knight can do this.
However, for a 'Knight of Ebenholtz,' reclaiming the truth is just that simple.
"…."
Despite this, Lorenzo hesitated. To my eyes, it was a rather foolish hesitation.
"You are an old man who finds it difficult to move—not just your body, but your heart as well."
I held out a blank sheet of paper and a pen to him.
"Write down the names of the people who can prove your innocence, Mr. Lorenzo."
"…They betrayed me long ago. They were the ones who stood by Listman and branded me a thief. There is no way they would recant their testimony now."
Lorenzo is a good person. A good person believes that people should only be persuaded through good methods.
I am not.
"It's fine. I have my own methods."
At that, Lorenzo seemed to understand my intent and gave a bitter smile. Shaking his head, he said:
"My revenge will only spark another revenge. I want to stop this cycle of hatred."
"Mr. Lorenzo. This isn't something as trivial as revenge. It is simply setting things right."
The head of House Listman had swept all sorts of awards, including Businessman of the Year, Inventor of the Year, and Scholar of the Year.
All of that was glory that should have belonged to Lorenzo.
"It is the act of reclaiming everything that was stolen from you."
Listman wields great influence in the world of magi-engineering.
But influence is relative. Power and wealth limited to a mere 'industry' cannot reach the heights of Ebenholtz.
"Of course, this is not free. In exchange, you must become my strength, Mr. Lorenzo."
Lorenzo looked at me. His eyes were wavering.
"You must know this. Goodness is nothing more than an illusion created by the weak to protect themselves. Evil is the same. But power knows no distinction between good and evil. The strong simply reign, and the weak choose between good and evil to survive."
If the Empire becomes evil, it is synonymous with the Empire becoming weak. A strong Empire must have ambiguity between good and evil. Within that ambiguity, gaps are created to save the world.
"I will become strong for the sake of the Empire. And I—and by extension, the Empire—need 'Giorgio Chirico' far more than a thief like Listman."
Lorenzo's fingertips trembled. His jaw tightened.
The silence was long, as if many thoughts and emotions were clashing within him.
"…Make your decision now."
Finally, Lorenzo picked up the pen.
On the empty white paper, he wrote down the names of the colleagues who had betrayed him.
* * *
On a sunny afternoon, I headed out to the area around the Sentio Magic Tower. It was because of Ezel's call. Since this morning, she had been contacting me urgently, saying it absolutely had to be today.
"Do you have any idea how hard I worked to persuade her?"
Dressed in typical mage robes, her face was haggard, with dark circles hanging down to her chin.
"Looking at that face, I guess it really was hard."
Regardless, thanks to Ezel, a meeting with Pexy had been arranged.
"…It's thesis review season, so I haven't slept in a week. That means today is literally the only time I have. And yet, the way you talk makes me really want to beat the crap out of you."
"That's why I booked a good place."
'Delmon Arcadia,' one of the finest restaurants in the capital. Outside the window, the Arcadia River rippled like a painting, and inside, a soft string quartet played.
It was the kind of place where a meal for two would easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. I'd heard same-day reservations were nearly impossible, but they made it happen the moment I gave my name. It was even a private room.
Knock, knock.
With a knock, the waiter opened the door to the room.
"It is here."
"…Yes."
It was Pexy von Arjen. Unlike Ezel in her shabby robes, she looked quite dressed up.
I stood up and extended my hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, 5th-Circle Mage Pexy."
She hesitated for a moment before taking my hand.
"It's a pleasure, Sir Maximilian."
Ezel looked back and forth between us and smiled warmly.
As soon as Pexy sat down, Ezel got straight to the point.
"The reason this meeting was set up is… Max, you've taken on the 'Head-Eater' case this time, right?"
"It's not just the Head-Eater. Recently, heinous crimes using magic have been on the rise, and I've felt the limits of a knight tracking these cases alone. Especially when it comes to analyzing magical clues, I desperately need the help of a mage."
Pexy gave a bitter smile.
"My specialty isn't analysis and tracking. I could offer some help, of course, but I'm not sure if I'm the right person for the job."
Thump.
The virus surged. This woman is almost certainly an Izenheim—a Head-Eater.
The problem is that there is no physical evidence.
Of course, I could kill her even without evidence. I could just kidnap her and cut her throat.
However, she had Jun Kandel as her backer, she was Ezel's friend, and she was a 5th-Circle Mage of the Sentio Magic Tower.
She wasn't an opponent I could just kill and crush like a low-ranking soldier in a war zone.
"Here is the appetizer."
Right on time, the appetizer soup arrived. The chef came personally and explained something, but it didn't really register.
"Hmm? This is delicious. There's no shrimp in it, but it tastes like shrimp."
Ezel guessed the ingredients as she took a bite.
"Did they… grind up top-quality crystal shrimp?"
"Really?"
I took a bite as well.
"Mmm~ seems like it. I can smell the white wine, too."
Pexy also took a bite. Her eyes widened.
"It's delicious. Unlike you two, I'm from a small family in the East, so I'm not very good at describing flavors."
"Oh, come on~ You're always number one when it comes to magic theory."
"Ah, you're number one?"
I deliberately showed interest. Ezel nodded.
"There was a really tough magic analysis recently, right? Ten mages were assigned to it, and she was the one in charge. She could have been annoyed, but she never once showed it…."
Ezel led the conversation. The atmosphere was harmonious.
Pexy really seemed human. I suddenly understood why the Revolutionary Group and the New Cabinet had been deceived by them.
Too human a skin, too human an act.
But they are our enemies.
An otherworldly race—one that must be killed at all costs.
"The food here is especially good today. Mage Pexy, aren't you glad you came?"
"…Yes. I am."
As the dinner course neared its end, from the appetizer to the main dish.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and asked the main question.
"Mage Pexy. I haven't heard your answer to my proposal yet."
"Ah… I'd like to make a decision now if possible, but for external activities, I need permission from my advising professor."
"And who might your advising professor be?"
"It's Professor Jun Kandel."
Jun Kandel. It was a damnably familiar name.
"I'll ask him tomorrow… no, actually today, and then I'll get in touch with you."
Pexy held out her terminal. Ezel turned her head away, stifling a laugh, and I took her terminal while pretending my hand was trembling.
We exchanged numbers.
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