Let's turn back the clock a little, to right after Luca and Ottbo announced their detective game.

The two decided that, for the time being, they would each gather information on their own.

Even though they had left most of the investigation to Bella, Luca couldn't just sit still and do nothing.

Resolving to at least try something, he headed to the dormitory lounge.

'I should've made more friends.'

He didn't think befriending people with a purpose was a good thing, but it was a fact that his social circle was quite narrow. He himself felt the need to expand it.

However, neither Luca nor 'Luca Traverse' was skilled at making friends, so he had no idea how to go about it.

In the end, he chose to just sit in the lounge and observe others.

"Ahaha! I told you, right? That professor...!"

"Hey. Why'd you stop talking?"

"... Le-let's go outside."

"Why?"

"Just—let's get out of here!"

The problem was that every student who saw him sitting there ran away.

Though pretending to read a book while fiddling with his phone, Luca was well aware of this.

'So it was true that I'm more infamous than Theodore.'

Just seeing people freeze and run away at the sight of him made it obvious that there were some wild rumors about him.

Thinking he would have to ask Ottbo later just what kind of rumors were circulating about him, Luca closed his book.

He felt there was nothing more to be gained by staying.

"Oh~ So you really are here?"

"?"

Just then, someone strode confidently into the lounge. Judging by his brooch, he seemed to be a third-year student.

Plain brown hair, a dull face, the only distinguishing feature being slitted eyes.

Luca glanced him up and down and narrowed his eyes slightly.

'Since I don't have any impression of him, he must not be from the original story. Who is he?'

Given the example of Mika Welch, he couldn't be sure, but at least for now, this was someone he didn't know.

As Luca instinctively grew wary, the mysterious third-year sat down opposite him, fingers interlaced.

"There's no time, so let's get right to it. I'm Bogus Radio. You could call me an information broker at Hernan Academy. Oh, you don't need to introduce yourself. I know who you are."

"...?"

At his somewhat shameless attitude, Luca frowned slightly, glaring at him.Bogus Radio grinned slyly and leaned forward.

"As expected, the protagonist of those frightening rumors sure is different. The new student who supposedly knocked out three classmates and got them expelled the moment he started, then killed three upperclassmen who picked a fight... your eyes are murderously sharp~."

"... Ha. So that's what they're saying."

So that's the source of his notoriety; it wasn't entirely wrong, but the rumors had gotten out of hand.

Mistaking Luca's wry smile for a sneer, Bogus snickered.

"Haha! So they're just baseless rumors, right? That's what I thought. Well, half of it's true, isn't it?"

At the pointed tone, Luca decided to cut to the chase and spoke in a firm voice.

"What are you here for?"

Bogus frowned and shook his collar with his brooch.

"Hey, I'm your senior. Show a little respect, would you?"

"Someone who knows half the rumors are true cares about that?"

"... Ha, fair point."

Grinning again, Bogus shrugged lightly.

"Fine. I'm here because I need you this time, so I'll let it slide."

"You need me?"

"That's right. I'm trying to expand my business, and I need high-value information. Lately, the most in-demand topic around here is stories about you."

With a subtle look, Bogus tried to coax Luca, but Luca still looked on with indifferent eyes.

"There aren't many secrets worth knowing about 'Luca Traverse'."

"Oh, there are plenty. For instance: What snacks do you like? What clothing brands do you prefer? What are your hobbies? What kind of women are you attracted to? Things like that."

"That sort of thing is considered high-value info? These days, information dealers must be awfully bored."

At Luca's sharp retort, Bogus burst out laughing.

"Haha! Normally, that's not what people call high-value info. But for you, it is."

"How amusing, placing such value on the heir to a count family that lost to the 'Return of Fang'."

"Are you doing this on purpose? You even set up a bodyguard so no one can get anything on you."

The mention of a bodyguard made Luca pause for a moment, but then he recalled Bella and kept a straight face.

"Do we need to keep talking? I think I've made my attitude clear."

"Ah~ Is that so? As expected from a count's son, you're good at negotiation~."

Bogus nodded and leaned back in his chair. Tilting his head, he continued,

"You've relieved your bodyguard and seem to be looking into something yourself. How about we cooperate? Though it's not big enough to call it an 'organization', you were the first person I approached when you stepped out to gather info yourself, without your bodyguard. That says something about my skills, don't you think?"

"Maybe it's just luck."

"I won't deny it. Probably the other brokers will approach you soon as well. That is, if your bodyguard doesn't return."

Nodding, Bogus pulled something from his breast pocket and handed it to Luca.It was a student diary.

"This is a modified version connected to my student diary. Only by using this can you contact me."

"That's illegal."

"Haha, it's only illegal if you get caught. Make a request for whatever info you need right now. I'll give you one freebie. If you like it, we can do business on a paid basis next time. Sound good?"

Luca took the diary and examined it from all angles.

"If this has eavesdropping or any similar information-gathering features, I won't stand for it."

"It doesn't, but if it did, what would you do?"

Looking Bogus in the eye, Luca replied,

"I'd make you an example for my own rumor mill."

"......"

The words could have seemed like a joke, but with his flat tone and indifferent eyes, it sounded genuinely chilling.

Bogus swallowed nervously.

'Is he really... a first-year?'

That wasn't a level of intimidation most first-years could manage.After a brief silence, Bogus forced a smile.

"Good thing there's no such function, then."

"And another thing: do I really need to use this? Can't I just tell you what information I want right now?"

"That works too. What do you need?"

Luca held up the modified diary as he answered,

"All available information on the Theodore faction."

"You want all that? That's hardly a fair deal for me."

Seeing Bogus's displeasure, Luca held the diary out as if handing it back.

"Then forget it. I don't need it."

"A-ah, wait. Okay, okay, fine."

Looking flustered, Bogus nervously scratched his head, then pulled out a small magic stone device, glanced at it, and said,

"You sure you want every single piece of info on the Theodore faction?"

"Yes."

"... Alright. I'll send a package to your door."

Luca only tucked the diary away in his inner pocket after hearing the answer.

"Let's hope this turns out to be a satisfactory transaction."

* * *

A few others, claiming to be 'information brokers', came to see him after Bogus.

It was startling that there were so many info brokers, but thinking about it, it made sense.

This was Hernan Academy, famed as the greatest on the continent; the number of conflicting interests attached to this place must be countless.

Still, none of the brokers after Bogus left a better impression than he did.

'They all try to gauge me too much.'

Unlike the relatively straightforward deal with Bogus, the other brokers' overly cautious approaches just didn't sit well with him.

Ding!

― At your door

"Huh, faster than I expected."

Just as he wrapped up meetings with the other brokers, a short message came in on the modified student diary connected to Bogus. When he checked his own dorm room, sure enough, there was a package waiting.

Opening it, he found three magic-power tablets, usable much like modern tablets.

― Theodore faction member info― Theodore faction allied groups― Theodore faction business operations

"Huh...?"

Each device was packed to capacity with information.

Even at a glance, it was an overwhelming amount of data, and at last Luca understood why Bogus had looked so flustered.

'He was right—giving all this away for free makes for a lousy deal.'

To be honest, he didn't need the latter two; just the member info alone would have sufficed.

But since he had requested "everything on the Theodore faction," he couldn't request a refund for the parts he didn't want.

"... I can't live owing people."

Muttering to himself, Luca sent a message via the modified student diary.Then he sat down to thoroughly examine the tablet.

The information was quite detailed.

Family, year, major, brief relationships, notable traits—anything obtainable with effort was there.

After thoroughly reading the device, Luca stroked his chin.

'Two things bug me.'

One was the lack of a key figure.

Normally, there would be some sort of internal struggle within a faction; a left-hand-right-hand contest for the number-two spot, things like that.

But in the Theodore faction, there was none of that.

So long as someone was attractive, they were scouted, regardless of whether they were a baron's child or a commoner.

'That's why the diversity of the group is both its strength and weakness.'

Imperial loyalists, the Kimberly Duke's faction, and the Partigel Duke's faction.

The Theodore faction unusually managed to contain all three, without anyone fighting.

'Ordinarily, that should be impossible... but let's move on.'

Luca turned to the next thing that caught his attention.

-'Milia Fille': Dedicated Handler

"Hm..."

Apparently, there was a person in charge of handling Milia among the members.

He couldn't make out the exact duties, and there were others who had dedicated handlers besides Milia, but...

It was suspicious.

'I'll probably have to figure this out on my own.'

Although he could have asked Bogus for more info, it was dangerous to rely on someone he didn't fully trust.

'I shouldn't trust this Bogus guy just yet. I'll get Bella to investigate first, then decide if I can.'

Thinking this, Luca turned to the device again and scratched his cheek.

'The problem is... the person assigned to Milia is a girl.'

Naturally, Milia's handler was a girl.

And Luca felt a bit awkward around girls.

'With guys, I can just beat or intimidate them, but what am I supposed to do with girls?'

In his previous life, he'd lived with hardly any contact with women, and even this time around, he hadn't exactly been close with any, either.

'Luca Traverse... How did you live such a monk-like life with that handsome face...'

The Luca Traverse of his memory had been focused solely on besting his older brother through rigorous training.

Even if forced to attend social events, he'd only ever killed time, never really learning how to interact with women.

'Talking with a girl I don't know, unlike Milia, who's already a familiar character...'

He'd only talked to Milia because she was someone he already knew, and Ottbo was just too pitiful to ignore.

Apart from a few polite words he'd exchanged at social gatherings, he'd never needed to win information through mind games.

"... Thinking won't solve this."

After pondering, Luca finally came to a conclusion and headed to the tearoom near the dorm—one frequented by one of Milia's handlers, Pasmo Ti-e.

His reason for choosing her was simple:That tearoom was close to the dorm.

"Hm~ Hmhm~"

Pasmo Ti-e was humming as she enjoyed her tea time.

She had strongly waved pigtails, was tall, and had blonde hair.

She somehow gave off a different impression from others, but befitting someone of Theodore's faction, she was remarkably attractive.

"... Hoo."

Seeing her, Luca took a deep breath, then walked up to her with confident strides.

"Hm~ Hm~ Hm?"

Pasmo Ti-e, who'd been humming, looked up with a puzzled expression as Luca approached.

Seeing him standing silently and expectantly, she tilted her head.

"Do you need something from a girl...?"

"Follow me."

"... Excuse me?"

With that abrupt line, Luca turned and walked off.

Pasmo Ti-e looked at his back with a slightly annoyed expression, set down her teacup, and followed.

In a deserted alley behind the tearoom, Luca squeezed his eyes shut.

'Help me, the Luca Traverse inside...!'

There was no turning back now.

All he could rely on was the instinct of 'Luca Traverse'.

As Pasmo Ti-e cautiously approached, Luca turned to face her.

"May I ask why you called me here...?"

Thud!

"?!"

In the middle of her question, Luca suddenly pushed her against the wall, leaning in so close their faces nearly touched.Pasmo Ti-e held her breath in surprise.

"Pasmo Ti-e. Answer my question. What have you done to Milia Fille?"

Unfortunately, Luca Traverse was only capable of talking to people this way.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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