Chapter 99:

In the middle of the street, Til stood with her back against a wall, flipping through a newspaper.

There were no articles worth reading, but it would look strange if she just stood there doing nothing.

Til’s real target was the Assembly of Well-being's building, quite a distance away.

The area was swarming with police and the Three Blades, so she had no choice but to keep her distance.

‘Will an opening to squeeze through ever appear.’

The police would at least leave their posts at night, but the Three Blades tenaciously lingered around the Assembly of Well-being.

Even though there must have been members who were pulled away to investigate the theater bombing, they still boasted a tight surveillance.

‘Did they catch a tail too?’

Among the workers who had come in a few days before the event for maintenance and to install additional seating, the identities of a few were suspicious.

Of course, in the Imperial Capital where all sorts of people gathered, it wasn’t so strange for someone to have an unclear past.

Investigating every single person who came from out of town could take months, or even a year.

Til had no intention of investigating all of them either.

She had only sorted out the more suspicious ones and pursued them.

It wasn't difficult to find the criminals among the workers through the Borgia Liquor Guild of the Northern Federation, which had already grown its influence in the Imperial Capital as much as it could.

After a gentle interrogation, they confessed that they had been paid to put something into the floor.

At the very least, she found out through whom they were paid.

The Assembly of Well-being.

‘Said it was an insurance payment for an accident that occurred while working. They’re good at making excuses.’

The procedure was certainly clean, but a little investigation revealed a flood of questions.

The Vestol insurance companies, famous for being stingy, had paid out handsomely.

The absurdly low insurance premium and, in contrast, the excessively large payout.

And even the labor insurance provided only to these guys.

‘To stage something on this scale, the top brass must have been involved.’

That meant she had to raid the office of Paolo, the chairman of the Assembly of Well-being but from yesterday to this morning, Paolo hadn’t taken a single step outside the building.

Just as she was contemplating what to do, two police officers shot across the street.

Seeing their bewildered faces, Til stealthily moved to a back alley.

After confirming there was no one around, Til instantly climbed onto a roof, narrowed her eyes, and looked at the Assembly of Well-being's building.

“It certainly looks like something has happened.”

Even from a distance, the chaotic movements of the police were clearly visible.

As she lightly leaped across a few roofs to get closer to the Assembly of Well-being, the scene of confusion came into better view.

Not only the police but also the Three Blades were moving busily.

Thanks to that, a hole had formed in the surveillance.

As she skillfully erased her presence and followed the gap in the surveillance to reach the rooftop of the Assembly of Well-being's building, she could hear a familiar voice shouting.

“Are you telling me to believe that Paolo committed suicide?”

“B-but he was already deceased when we arrived in the morning, and he even left a suicide note.”

“Why would a man who was cooperating just fine with the investigation until yesterday commit suicide?”

“Even if you ask me that, I have nothing to say….”

“Damn it!”

The gruff voice of the former duke pierced through the window and echoed loudly.

Paolo committed suicide?

***

“What a coincidence this is.”

“Right? I was surprised too.”

Ede trailed off, scratching his head.

It was too perfectly timed to be a coincidence.

I had him investigate the smugglers who worked with the Assembly of Well-being through the Borgia Liquor Guild.

Since they were an organization without rivals in the smuggling world, they found the names quickly.

The problem was that most of the smugglers involved had lost contact.

Adding the one who was away on a deal and the one who got drunk and fell into a river a day ago, there was no one left to contact among the guys who worked with the Assembly of Well-being.

“What about the other side?”

“You mean the place where the Raven and the Assembly of Well-being met? There too, all the related people have coincidentally gone into hiding or died, so we got nothing.”

I had a vague guess after hearing that the smugglers had disappeared, but at this point, there was no way it was a coincidence.

If an accident had also occurred on the Assembly of Well-being's side….

“Bad news.”

With good timing, Til walked in, shaking her head.

For some reason, I felt like I knew what she was going to say.

“Is Paolo dead?”

“Did the news already reach here?”

“No. It was a guess.”

As I let out a deep sigh and told her that similar things had happened on the other side, Til’s eyes widened as she slammed the innocent desk.

“How is that a coincidence? They’re cutting off the tail.”

“Our friends from Leitche must be quite desperate. Seeing how they handled this so obviously.”

They probably noticed they were being investigated.

I didn't know whether I or the Three Blades were discovered, but either way, it had become a headache.

“In the end, we have no choice but to go to Ruhindorf ourselves, right?”

“Going in rashly without any information is too dangerous. They could have set a trap.”

That's right.

Our information has been exposed, and the enemy's information is unclear.

With both Til and myself present, we could handle a surprise attack, but if they went into hiding, it would be a disaster.

“Then what do we do?”

“Seeing how they rushed to clean up, there might still be some guys left. If we move as fast as possible….”

“Ahem.”

Til, her words cut off by my dry cough, frowned.

“What.”

“There is no need to go around picking up such scraps. A much better bait is already in my hands.”

“…Brauder?”

“That’s right.”

They would surely try to dispose of Brauder, the start of this whole mess.

“That’s plausible. Do you have a plan?”

“I’ve already told them to bring Brauder to the Imperial Capital. The demon friends will be careful, but the Ravens will probably notice before long.”

“Where in the Imperial Capital?”

“I’ve set it for Wharf No. 7. Go and get ready to greet our guests.”

“And you?”

“I have something His Majesty ordered me to investigate. Unfortunately, I’ll have to sit this fishing trip out.”

When I spoke vaguely, Til and Ede didn't ask any more questions, their expressions saying ‘of course you would.’

It was a slightly heartbreaking reaction, but it was obvious I would only be a hindrance if I went.

‘Because the enemy is watching me closely.’

That was the conclusion I came to after pondering who the bomb terror was aimed at.

If they had been targeting Giuseppe, they would have aimed for when he was in his seat.

Even if they didn't detonate it directly, they could have set it off during the play.

If Timershi had been the target, there were plenty of opportunities to target him while he was at the People’s Medical Center.

But there was no movement whatsoever while Timershi was hospitalized.

Then the only one left is me.

Besides, when I slipped out of the People's Medical Center at dawn, someone other than the messenger sent by Blaiher had definitely followed me.

Given they didn't get caught by my detection skill, it seems they didn't have hostile intent, but it was certain that I was being tailed.

“Then let’s each go do what we have to do.”

“What’s the job His Majesty gave you?”

“That’s classified.”

I grabbed my overcoat, leaving Ede with a look of considerable disappointment, and left the room.

If I catch the one who's targeting me, Blaiher's request will be naturally resolved as well.

‘Where should I go to get them to bite well.’

According to Regina, the opponent is a top-elite intelligence agent.

They wouldn't reveal themselves so easily.

‘They say to catch a tiger, you must enter the tiger’s den.’

If I enter the Raven's den, they will have to come out whether they want to or not.

***

“So you’re saying you just came here recklessly.”

“That's right. Quite ingenious, isn’t it?”

“I suppose it is.”

Regina shook her head and let out a sigh.

It was impulsive, but I thought it wasn’t too bad.

“It’s true that this building is the Raven’s Imperial Capital branch, but it’s not a space where all agents come and go. It’s closer to a place used only by the communications division, including myself.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“What’s the use of saying ‘is that so’ now.”

“Then we can just do other things first. What happened to the materials you were looking for?”

Her eyebrows twitched a few times, then Regina lowered her voice.

“Don’t speak so loudly.”

“I heard Til dragged you around. Then isn't everything already exposed?”

“It’s known that the Eight Council is taking special care of my safety, but what I’m doing hasn't been revealed. Probably.”

She didn't seem confident, adding a ‘probably’ at the end, so I wasn't convinced.

“Fine. Then shall we just chat? What do you think about the recent events in the Imperial Capital.”

“You mean the theater bombing? Or the story about the Dukes’ Council finally deciding to create an institution far from the Emperor’s hands?”

While grumbling irritably, Regina diligently moved her hand, writing something in a notepad.

Although it was written with a slight twist, I could quickly see what it said.

‘Duke, Research, Curse’

Is the Grand Duke of Leitche researching curses?

It would be nice if she could give more detailed materials, but the risk of taking them out of a Raven’s den was too great.

“Not such old news, I mean recent events.”

“Like the chairman of the Assembly of Well-being committing suicide?”

“Yes, things like that.”

As expected of an intelligence organization, the news has already reached them.

I massaged my temples and let out a long breath.

“We’re having a headache over that too. He was a man with no small influence in Leitche, after all.”

“Did Leitche borrow money from them too?”

“No. The other side. We took out quite a lot of insurance.”

“The Ravens? That doesn’t fit with intelligence work at all.”

“Of course, the Ravens didn't take out the insurance. The clients are mostly from the upper class, and among them, the biggest client is my family.”

Does someone who is the leader of a country need to take out insurance?

Such a question arose, but it was a private matter, so I didn't bother to ask deeply.

“It's not like the Assembly of Well-being will falter just because the chairman died.”

“It may seem so on the surface, but the reason the Assembly of Well-being acted so brazenly despite the surrounding pressure was because of Chairman Paolo's resourcefulness. As for what will happen in the future….”

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door very politely.

Regina looked at me and signaled for me to be quiet.

“What is it?”

“A peddler has arrived.”

I wondered what kind of peddler would visit a Raven branch, but seeing Regina's expression, it seemed it didn't mean an ordinary peddler.

“What kind of peddler is it?”

“A peddler who sells masks.”

“…Let them in.”

As the presence felt from outside the door disappeared, Regina gave an answer before I could even ask a question.

“It means they’re directly under my father.”

“Didn’t you say only the communications division uses this place.”

“They haven’t come here a single time since I arrived. Perhaps they came because of you, Count.”

As expected, coming into the tiger's den was the right move.

I still didn't know if that peddler was the bomber, but at the very least, I had caught a clue.

Knock, knock.

A moment later, someone knocked on the door, then opened it without waiting for an answer.

An incredibly ordinary-looking man walked in without introducing himself and sat down.

Regina, who hadn't expected this situation either, just blinked her eyes.

After such an awkward moment passed, the man opened his mouth.

“Lady Regina, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Count Valheit, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Is his communication ability lacking?

Thinking so, I was about to give a rough nod, then paused.

‘I’ve heard that voice somewhere before.’

I looked again at the man who was unique in his ordinariness.

The impression that had been just out of reach became distinct with his single sentence.

“What is it?”

“You, were you at the theater that day?”

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.