Chapter 86:

By the time I returned to the Imperial Capital, evening had already set in.

To deceive any watchful eyes, even just a little, I took a wide detour and lowered my voice.

“We don’t have much time, Werner. You must find a charge against Brauder as quickly as possible. If not, you’ll have to frame him for something.”

“Didn’t you say the Dukes couldn't reach an agreement? Geller’s proposal to form a joint investigation team also fell through.”

The majority of the Dukes showed little interest in finding Brauder.

The kidnapping of a Duke’s family member was an unprecedented event in the Empire’s history, but there was more cynicism that he had brought it upon himself.

Despite Timershi’s plea for the swiftest possible investigation, the Dukes only gave a lukewarm response of referring the investigation to the police.

“Thanks to that, we’ve bought some time, but there’s no way Geller didn’t know it would be rejected. The meeting was likely just for show anyway.”

“Is he trying to punish Timershi, or is he trying to make it look like the Dukes are responding to the kidnappers?”

“I don’t know about that. What’s certain is that he has likely already started a separate investigation. He’s not foolish enough to think he was simply kidnapped by demon vagrants.”

Judging by his attitude at the meeting today, it didn’t seem like he had found anything.

If he had, he would have brought it up to persuade the other Dukes.

Still, I couldn’t be complacent.

If the First Duke got involved, we were bound to be discovered.

Before that happens, Brauder must be officially apprehended.

“There are many organizations and people who donate to or trade with the People’s Medical Center, so it will take some time to investigate. I’ll try to do it as quickly as possible, but you should know that my side has no choice but to move officially.”

“Of course.”

“Whatever you do, that’s your business, so do as you see fit.”

Werner, who unnecessarily emphasized the words ‘do as you see fit,’ gave a slight nod and walked away.

I immediately activated my search.

The two who had been tailing us since we entered the Imperial Capital were waiting quietly.

There were originally a few more, but thanks to Werner’s men setting up a screen, the number was reduced to two.

‘Did he speak loudly on purpose to fix their attention on me?’

It would seem like Werner, who was constrained by his official title, had asked something of me.

I walked in the opposite direction from Werner.

In response, the auras of the two spies followed me at a constant distance.

As I turned a corner, I activated Vanished Shadow.

Before long, the spies who had been diligently chasing me began to wander.

Unable to decide what to do, the two soon turned their feet to the west.

They probably lost the trail and had no choice but to head toward my villa on the outskirts.

Having slipped away effortlessly, I walked in the opposite direction.

They said it was located in the eastern commercial district, so I would likely arrive before it got completely dark.

‘Huh?’

I paused upon seeing a familiar face.

The other person must have seen me too, as their face stiffened for a brief moment.

It was Til.

I thought about asking what she was doing here but decided against it.

She was giving me a look that said not to, and she also had a frail-looking companion with her.

“Excuse me. May I have a word with you for a moment.”

“…What is it?”

Til forced a smile and answered stiffly.

Her eyes were admonishing, asking why I was talking to her when she wanted me to just pass by.

I neatly ignored that look and approached the two of them.

“I’m looking for the People’s Medical Center from Vestol, do you happen to know where it is?”

“Ah, we were just on our way to the medical center too. This is great.”

The man standing next to Til said with a bright smile.

Seeing the medical equipment inside the backpack he was wearing, he looked like a medical professional.

“What a remarkable coincidence. Then may I ask you to guide me?”

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere? I can give you a simple prescription right now.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“Then are you going for a visit? If you tell me who it is, I can help you find them when we arrive.”

“Um… that won’t be necessary.”

How long has it been since I’ve felt such pure goodwill?

After possessing Valheit, I had grown so used to everyone looking at me with suspicious eyes that I was rather flustered.

“Um… I understand. Please follow me.”

I could feel that he had held back from asking, ‘Then why are you going to the medical center?’

Still, his voice was still full of kindness.

“Are you a doctor?”

“Yes, you could say that. Though my experience is still short.”

“That’s amazing at such a young age.”

“Hahaha, thank you for the compliment. Though I’m not particularly younger than others.”

The young doctor scratched his head as if embarrassed, but it couldn’t hide the pride showing on his face.

“What is your name?”

“It’s Ernesto Israpel. You can just call me Rapel. That’s much shorter.”

At the kind young man’s name, I flinched once again. It was a name I knew.

The character who starts a revolution in Vestol and greatly gets on Professor Zain’s nerves.

Since he was a revolutionary, I had naturally assumed he would have a fierce appearance, but he looked so gaunt that he seemed far from any revolution.

“Oh, this is Til. I met her today while volunteering, and she said she was interested in the medical center, so we were on our way together.”

When I said nothing, Rapel, perhaps feeling awkward, changed the subject.

Til reluctantly gave a nod, and only then did I realize I had been silent for too long.

“I am called Count Valheit.”

“Um, should I address you as Count-nim in the Imperial way?”

“Only stuffy nobles care about titles. You can just call me Count.”

“As you wish, Count. So, what business does the Count have at the medical center?”

Til asked with a sneer.

Rapel, scratching his head as if troubled, couldn't completely hide his curiosity either.

“I was curious what kind of people they are, to come all the way from Vestol to the Empire to suffer like this.”

“Pardon?”

Rapel let out a dazed voice and tilted his head.

It seemed he didn’t understand what I was saying.

“I mean it in a positive way.”

“Ah, I see. The… literary expressions of the Empire are quite difficult to follow.”

It’s not the Empire’s people, it’s Valheit who speaks in a twisted way.

In any case, Rapel, who let out a long breath as if relieved, spoke confidently.

“If you’re curious about the activities of our People’s Medical Corps, I can guide you.”

“Thank you.”

Looking at Til’s still-dissatisfied expression, I deliberately grinned.

Til shot back a grotesque smile and mouthed her words.

‘Annoying bastard.’

***

Although it was called a medical center, it wasn’t set up in a hospital.

Rapel explained that they had simply leased an entire floor of a building owned by Vestol merchants.

“The space to accommodate patients was small, so we ended up having to lease more land.”

“You must have a lot of money. It can’t be easy to lease land around the Imperial Capital.”

“We barely managed to get a place connected to the slums. It would have been difficult if His Majesty the Emperor hadn’t given his permission.”

“You’ve extended your evil influence even to His Majesty? Impressive.”

“Calling it an evil influence makes us sound like a bad organization. Our goal is to treat people who can’t go to a doctor, we have no other intentions.”

His gentle voice rose slightly, as if he felt he was being slandered.

Still, it was softer than Til’s usual sarcasm.

“My apologies. I tend to become irritable when it comes to Vestol, so I have committed rudeness.”

“No, no. I understand. We were nations that often went to war, after all. But I hope that our efforts can resolve even a little of the lingering resentment between us.”

“I’ll pray for that.”

Although they used an entire floor, only a very small part was for hospital rooms.

It seemed the rest was mostly used as offices.

As it was a large organization, it was natural that many people would be needed to handle administration and miscellaneous tasks, but honestly, it was suspicious.

“It seems there are many people handling office work.”

“Charities rely on donations, so there are many people who do a kind of sales. There’s also the need to promote that we provide free medical care.”

“Is that why you were shouting on the streets offering free check-ups?”

“Yes. Though it wasn’t very successful.”

“You’re going through a lot.”

Til replied in an uncharacteristically gentle tone.

‘If only she spoke like that normally.’

As if sensing my gaze, Til looked at me and snorted.

“If there’s anything you’d like to see, feel free to look around. If you say you came with Rapel’s introduction, everyone will treat you well.”

“Is this the end of the introduction?”

“I’d like to do more, but I’m supposed to introduce the Director to Til.”

“Is the Director as humble a person as you are, Rapel?”

“I don’t know about humble, but he is an excellent doctor.”

He means his personality is terrible.

Just the act of volunteering should be enough to show good character, but if his purpose is something else….

“I would like to meet him as well.”

“Um, if you meet him, you might have to listen to a long talk about donating. Til already said she would donate, so it’s fine, but Count, you’re not at that stage yet.”

“What does it matter? I will donate as well. A place with many people like you, Rapel, must surely be a good organization.”

Rapel’s tired-looking face brightened.

Til sent a suspicious glance my way, but since she probably wasn’t meeting the director just to donate either, she was no different from me.

Arriving at the office at the very end, Rapel knocked on the door cautiously.

“Who is it?”

It was a thick voice that was clearly intentionally lowered.

I could roughly guess what type he would be.

“It’s Rapel. Someone who wishes to donate has come.”

Click!

The door opened before Rapel could finish his sentence.

Thanks to that, Rapel nearly crashed into the door, but the person who opened it didn’t seem to care about such things.

“Are these the ones?”

“Yes, these two said they were interested.”

“Oh my, a pleasure to meet you. I am Serar, the Director of the People’s Medical Center’s Imperial Service. Please, come in.”

The director, who was making a gushing voice with a business-like broad smile, looked at Rapel and waved his hand dismissively as if to tell him to get lost.

Rapel bowed without a word and stepped back.

“You don’t seem to be from Vestol, are you from the Empire?”

“I am called Count Valheit.”

As soon as he heard the name, the director’s jaw dropped.

His raised cheekbones and glittering eyes showed his feelings exactly as they were.

“It is an honor to meet the famous Count. And for you to take an interest in our People’s Medical Center, I don’t know what to do with myself. Hahahahaha.”

He repeated the word ‘honor’ twice and shook my hand, then his gaze shifted to Til.

“This person’s name is….”

“It’s Til. I make a living as a mercenary.”

“Ah, you must have come for a consultation related to your work. If you provide a donation, we will support you as much as you need.”

“I like that we’re getting straight to the point.”

It was not a pleasant tone at all, but the director didn’t pay it any mind.

As the director hummed and prepared tea, Til whispered.

“He’s someone you wouldn’t believe is part of a charity.”

“In the end, a charity can’t run without money, can it.”

“He looks suspicious to me.”

“He looks suspicious to my eyes too.”

A character of this style is always bound to have a shady background.

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