Chapter 94:

The nightmarish time surrounded by the crowd had finally ended.

As I came out the back door, exhausted, someone placed a hand on my shoulder.

“It seems even for Count Valheit, dealing with a crowd that large one by one is not easy.”

“If you had been in my place, Mr. Werner, you would have collapsed in less than 30 minutes.”

“I entrusted it to you because I knew that.”

“So, did you have any success? After working me to the bone, there had better be some results.”

At Werner's glance, his subordinates assumed a surveillance posture.

After confirming there were no watching eyes around, Werner let out a short, dry cough.

“Even for a Count, I cannot discuss the state affairs entrusted by His Majesty the Emperor.”

Does that mean there's been progress important enough to be called state affairs?

Werner paused for a moment and gave an awkward smile.

“How was it for you? Was the banquet enjoyable?”

He went to great lengths to ask indirectly, but it wasn't much different from asking outright.

“In 3 days, we've decided to meet again at the Imperial Capital Conference Hall.”

“!”

Werner's eyebrows furrowed for a moment.

He seemed to have understood my meaning clearly.

The Imperial Capital Conference Hall was a code word for the Dukes.

Adding a 3 to it made it obvious who it meant.

“I see. I hope you get a good result.”

“I hope you get a good result as well, Mr. Werner.”

With that chilly exchange of greetings, Werner and I went our separate ways.

Walking slowly, I examined the status window that had appeared before my eyes.

[Relationships]

Timershi Stetten (-77 / Worsening!)

(-) The Count has started chasing my tail!

It was a reaction so honest it was almost naive.

Did Paulo tell him?

It wouldn't be impossible if he sent a messenger as soon as I left, but….

“Is their relationship strong enough for him to report it immediately?”

The same Paulo who had been loitering around the banquet hall until just a moment ago, subtly threatening him to pay his debts, didn't seem like the type to immediately relay the news.

Regardless of who told him, the Third Duke would be on high alert.

I had planned to meet the Third Duke in person to investigate, but this was a disaster.

‘I don't know who it was, but the timing is impeccably good.’

Til and Rapel were on the move on the People's Medical Center side, and Werner and Victor would continue to pressure the Assembly of Well-being, so it would be too chaotic if I moved as well.

Was there some way to investigate the Third Duke.

As I walked, pondering this, a certain poster caught my eye.

The Imperial Troupe's new work, Through the North Wind Premiere!

Free for all on the first day only!

I had never been interested in plays or musicals, and that hadn't changed much after coming to this world.

What caught my eye was the demure phrase written below the large advertisement copy.

The free premiere viewing was made possible through the sponsorship of the 6th Duke, Giuseppe Sicilienne.

The 6th Duke will be in attendance himself, so we ask for your participation.

“Giuseppe…. Timershi said he was his nephew.”

I tore off the poster and took it with me.

A way to dig for information while avoiding the Third Duke's vigilance had come to mind.

***

“Why is Valheit chasing me? What did I do!”

“I apologize, but I do not know that much.”

“…If you don't know, then you really don't know.”

Discouraged by Victor's answer, Timershi slumped down into his chair.

An unsightly groan escaped from between the hands covering his face.

This was his state as soon as he heard Valheit was chasing him.

It was too weak of a reaction for a Duke.

“Do you have any idea why, perhaps?”

“What, what do you mean?”

“Valheit is an arrogant man, but he would not investigate a Duke without reason. Moreover, he has promised the First Duke that he will not interfere in politics for the time being.”

“I'm like this because I don't know either.”

Timershi shook his head with a hollow laugh.

It was obvious he was feigning ignorance, but I decided to protect the Duke's pride anyway.

“In that case, I will make my own deductions. Have you recently made any suspicious transactions?”

“…Are you asking because you already know?”

“You've become a little quicker on the uptake. While investigating Valheit's movements, I discovered that the Count had taken an interest in the Assembly of Well-being.”

“Then you must have also found out that I dealt with them.”

“It was not intentional.”

At those words, Timershi seemed a little relieved and straightened his posture.

Of course, the background check had already been thoroughly completed.

He had already figured out when, where, and how many times they had met.

The only thing he couldn't find out was why they met.

They met too frequently for it to be simply to pay off his brother's debt.

“For now, the only prominent point of contact is the Assembly of Well-being. If you tell me what happened, it will help the investigation. It will also be easier to figure out the Count's intentions.”

“They're moneylenders from Vestol. Brauder stupidly got himself deep in debt, and I only met them a few times to resolve it.”

He's playing dumb.

The suspicion that it wasn't a simple debtor-creditor relationship grew stronger.

“Was there anything suspicious about the Assembly of Well-being?”

“Just that they're crazy for money? They were your standard Vestol merchants.”

“From my investigation, it seemed they were quite involved in smuggling.”

“Smuggling?!”

Visibly agitated, Timershi unknowingly averted his eyes for a moment.

He quickly regained his composure, but he had already been caught.

“Do you know something?”

“Well, I'm not so sure.”

“Is that so? Then I will return after some more investigation.”

“Wait.”

Timershi called out to Victor, who had turned his back.

This was Timershi Stetten, who had seen the persistence of the Three Blades firsthand under Johann Geller.

He must have thought that if he just let him go like this, he would be in more trouble later.

Victor looked at the Duke's face as if he had no idea why he was being stopped.

“Is there an order you wish to give?”

“…Could you postpone the investigation into the Assembly of Well-being for a while.”

“You are aware of what it means for me to be on the move. It is the will of the First Duke. Besides, we must find your brother.”

“The Assembly of Well-being guys can't be the kidnappers. So you don't need to investigate them in that regard.”

As Victor narrowed his eyes and looked the Duke up and down, Timershi's voice grew louder instead.

“I am also a Duke who inherited the blood of Stetten, so you can grant me this small favor, can't you.”

“If you put it that way, I will postpone the investigation for a few days. But I cannot postpone it indefinitely.”

“I'm not asking for that much. I promise to give you information that will be of help to you in a few days.”

Watching Timershi vacillate between dignity and desperation, Victor gave a benign smile.

“I will await good news.”

“See him out.”

A servant led Victor out into the hallway as if to chase him away.

Walking down the long corridor, Victor sneered.

“What do you think?”

“He has acted without our knowledge a few times. Shall I investigate?”

“No. I'll handle digging into the past. You guys will now monitor everything Timmy does.”

“Understood.”

Stetten's servant bowed politely to Victor.

Half of the people moving in this house were from the Three Blades.

It might have been possible to act in secret when he wasn't under suspicion, but not anymore.

“What should we do about Brauder?”

“Let's find that idiot after Timmy's side is resolved.”

Come to think of it, Timershi, who doted on his younger brother, wouldn't have kidnapped him….

Did the Assembly of Well-being kidnap him in secret?

Or was it Valheit?

‘I'll have to investigate Valheit's side more.’

While he was briefly distracted by Timershi's side, he must have gotten a few steps ahead.

Where could he be and what could he be doing….

***

“I didn't know the Count would take an interest in the arts.”

“Is that surprising?”

“You've never voluntarily visited an artistic event like this, have you. Since you usually don't leave your residence.”

Just how much did that Valheit guy stay cooped up at home.

I suggested meeting here thinking a noble would have frequented places like this.

Whether he knew of my inner turmoil or not, Giuseppe was busy introducing the troupe with a broad smile.

“Although it's an Imperial Troupe, His Majesty the Emperor's lineage has a strong martial disposition, so there haven't been great results. It was only after various troupes from Leitche gained popularity that it began to be properly managed.”

“Ah, yes.”

“My great-grandfather, who took on the role of rebuilding the Imperial Troupe, created the troupe's current form and scale….”

“Ahem.”

If this continued, I felt like I'd never get to ask about Timershi, so I deliberately cut him off.

Giuseppe, who had some sense, scratched his head as if apologetic.

“I got too excited all by myself. You didn't come here simply to see the Imperial Troupe, did you.”

“Please think of it as killing two birds with one stone.”

“Is that so? Then to continue the story….”

“It's an interesting story, but I'd like to talk about something else as well.”

“Ah, I was talking too much again.”

Giuseppe laughed awkwardly and gestured for the gathered troupe members to return.

I had almost wasted several hours being introduced to the troupe members.

“I plan to participate in this event, but that's not the only reason I'm here.”

“Of course, you would be. It's not like you do this as a hobby like me.”

Giuseppe responded smoothly, as if he had expected it.

Is this guy who knew that the one who was just rambling on.

“I'm thinking of sponsoring this premiere. Since we're doing it anyway, wouldn't it be good for the Imperial Troupe if the scale grew larger?”

“I appreciate the kind words, but to be honest, I'm a bit afraid of the price.”

“I don't intend to ask for much. I just need information on a topic that has recently become a hot issue among the Dukes.”

“It must be about Brauder's kidnapping and Timmy.”

Giuseppe's expression turned serious.

When I nodded, Giuseppe turned and headed into the depths of the troupe's building.

We went much deeper than I expected, down into the basement.

I was honestly surprised when a rather large space appeared.

I was even more surprised to find that it was filled with countless materials and documents, not about art, but about politics.

“Quite professional.”

“A Duke can't live his life just avoiding this kind of work.”

I thought he was just an old guy who likes parties, but he was surprisingly playing the part of a Duke in earnest.

I had a feeling I might get better information than I thought.

“You participated in the last Dukes' Council, so there's no need to explain how it ended, right.”

“To be honest, it ended rather blandly.”

It concluded with ‘Do the Dukes really need to get involved over the likes of Brauder?’.

In the end, the most that happened was the First Duke, Johann Geller, personally mobilizing the Three Blades to investigate.

“There were more talks among the Dukes after that, but in the end, since Brauder Stetten is such an ill-reputed figure, there was a lot of talk that it should be resolved within the Stetten family.”

Well, that's to be expected.

The description of the Empire's Dukes could be summarized as 'crotchety'.

Werner and Johann, who appeared prominently, were like that, and the rest had a similar image.

So there was no way they would look kindly upon Brauder, who spent money lavishly while hanging out with foreigners.

“Still, the suggestion to offer support to the Three Blades, just for show… um, that was me. It's true that the picture of the Dukes joining forces is a better look, after all.”

“I've met Victor, and there didn't seem to be any signs of that.”

We didn't talk about it, but looking at the Three Blades' actions and Victor's activities, there was no feeling of cooperation with anyone.

“Yes, that's right. In the end, it didn't happen. However, thinking about it now, there's something strange.”

Giuseppe, who had paused for a moment, briefly hesitated on whether to continue.

When I urged him with a twitch of my eyebrow, he finally opened his mouth cautiously.

“The one who most vehemently opposed the support proposal was Timmy. He said it was a family problem, so he would handle it himself.”

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