Chapter 102:

Six Ravens captured, four dead, five escaped.

Til wouldn't capture prisoners delicately, so she'd probably bring back two or three alive.

“What are our casualties?”

“Thanks to Mr. Noah running wild, there wasn't much damage. Only 3 with minor injuries.”

Ede answered cheerfully, but I wasn't quite pleased.

Even if they were lightly injured, we didn't have a reliable doctor.

In a world where hygiene wasn't the best, such injuries were also a burden.

I need to find a doctor quickly.

“Send them to the People's Medical Center to get treated. If you say they are mercenaries under Til, they will treat them without complaint.”

“Yep, is there anything else you're curious about?”

“I'd like to hear your evaluation of today's battle.”

“An evaluation? Uh… like whether we fought well or not?”

As I nodded, Ede fell into thought.

She let out a long "umm" sound before tilting her head.

“It was average, wasn't it?”

“A little more specifically.”

“Hmm, I think we still need more practice with coordination. Especially the newly recruited members. They know how to fight, but I'd say they're inexperienced in combat.”

“Are you talking about the ones brought from the Federation?”

“Yes, it's not that they can't fight, but it feels like they just fight recklessly. Well, they're learning as they go!”

Recalling how she gathered the newcomers the other day, smiling while scolding and teaching them, I felt I could trust her.

It was to the point where I felt relieved that I was her superior.

“Other than that, just that Wilhelm has gotten cocky?”

“Suddenly?”

“He said his body feels lighter. When I asked if it wasn't just his imagination, he got angry.”

“How were you?”

“My mood today? Is it good?”

Seeing her reply with a puzzled expression, it seemed the skill didn't have much of an effect on Ede.

Is it because her combat power was high to begin with?

In any case, it was enough just to confirm that it was effective.

“Have any of the prisoners talked?”

“None had when I last checked.”

They were guys who worked under the Duke, so they wouldn't give in that easily.

This kind of thing was a problem that would be solved if left to Til, but she had no intention of returning yet.

‘Did something happen.’

Even if they were elites, I couldn't picture a situation where the Ravens would beat or escape from Til.

In that case, did someone from the outside intervene?

“I'll do the interrogation, so please go find Til.”

“Ah, come to think of it, it's about time she came, but she hasn't. I wonder if something happened?”

“I hope it's not a troublesome matter.”

Though it's bound to be a troublesome matter.

***

Hugo was a persistent guy.

When she left the Chartra, and when she said she wouldn't remain in the Three Blades, he stuck to her tenaciously.

Being that kind of guy, it was obvious he would stick to her until he got the answer he wanted.

Fighting wasn't difficult.

The problem was that she couldn't, considering Valheit, no, the Eight Council.

“It has nothing to do with Valheit.”

“That's hard to believe.”

“I don't care what you think. Hand that guy over.”

“Hmm.”

Hugo looked down at the person he was stepping on.

The Raven, who kept his mouth tightly shut despite the pain, only looked back and forth between the two people who would decide his fate.

“He seems important.”

“You don't need to know. Just hand him over.”

“Just handing him over would be a dereliction of duty.”

As Hugo smiled lightly, Til's face crumpled.

Negotiation wasn't her specialty, but right now, she couldn't think of any other way.

“Tell me what you want.”

“There are two options. One is to negotiate with the Three Blades, and the other is to do it with me.”

“What's the difference?”

“There's a big difference.”

She had a rough idea of what the proposal would be.

It would be that question he had been asking me since the day I left the Three Blades.

A damn persistent bastard.

“I'll negotiate with the Three Blades.”

“I haven't even told you what it's about yet?”

“The Three Blades are far more trustworthy than you.”

“…That's a shame.”

Hugo clicked his tongue, making a genuinely regretful face.

“Let's exchange information about Brauder for this guy.”

“What exactly do you want?”

“The one who ordered the kidnapping. The one who carried out the kidnapping.”

“You're asking for everything.”

“I'm not going to ask you to tell me everything you know. Our investigation is up in the air right now with Chairman Paolo dead. Just pointing us in the right direction will be helpful enough.”

Considering the Three Blades swarming around the assembly of well being, she understood that the investigation was lost in a fog.

Now the problem was how much information to give.

“…Investigate my house's old man.”

“The Fourth Duke?”

“The former Fourth Duke.”

As long as he didn't show his face to the Eight Council, it was okay to hand over her annoying father.

But Hugo didn't seem to have any intention of being satisfied with that.

“About the one who carried it out.”

This was a sensitive issue.

Noah was now part of the Eight Council, and under Valheit at that.

Moreover, they were guys that Valheit cared quite a bit about.

It was information she couldn't tell the Three Blades.

For the sake of the Eight Council, and for Valheit.

“I don't know that either.”

“…Then the deal can't be made. If you have nothing to give, I have no choice but to take this guy.”

“Do what you want.”

It would be better if it was revealed that the damn Grand Duke of Leitche was involved.

This was the conclusion she had reached.

Hugo, who was staring at Til with a frown, shook his head.

“Then there's no choice.”

Hugo lifted the foot that was stepping on the Raven.

The foot, which lingered in the air for a moment, instantly went for the Raven's neck.

With an unpleasant cracking sound, the Raven's neck twisted in a strange direction.

Life rapidly drained from the Raven's eyes, which were filled with horror.

As Til frowned at the unexpected action, Hugo laughed lightly and waved his hand.

“There's no need to create a troublesome situation for you.”

“It's not like you're doing it for free.”

“What do you mean, for free. I received something too. Think of it as a discount.”

It was an unpleasant favor, but a favor was a favor.

Til spat and turned away.

She had to at least gather the living ones and go back.

“See you again.”

Bullshit.

Til threw a word inwardly and left the place without looking back.

***

The interrogation yielded no significant results.

Not only were they all keeping their mouths shut, but they also denied any connection to the Raven.

Neither the threat of death nor the persuasion of helping them worked, so it was natural for the interrogation to continue at a stalemate.

“Can't we just kill them all?”

“That would be the most foolish thing you could do right now.”

I responded coolly to Noah's complaint.

I understood his feelings.

The fruitless questions and answers were just continuing on and on.

Knock knock.

As I was pondering, someone knocked on the warehouse door.

When Noah opened the door, a welcome face entered.

“How many did you catch?”

“Three. Two are dead.”

This was a better result than I thought.

Just as I was about to tell her to bring them here, other count shadow corps members dragged three people in.

Just one look and you could tell they were in a sorry state.

I couldn't tell if they were hacked up like that before or after being caught, but it was certain they didn't have long to live.

“You brought them back alive, at least.”

“I could have brought them in better shape, but I was delayed.”

Til answered bluntly.

Did something annoying happen?

Or was she just annoyed because she saw Valheit, as usual?

“You came at a good time. I was having a headache.”

“Why?”

“These friends just won't open their mouths. They say they hate both the carrot and the stick, and just stay quiet….”

“Ah, that kind of headache.”

Did she think of something else?

With a much more relieved face, Til stood before the prisoners.

“Dealing with guys who say they'll talk without you having to do anything is surprisingly easy.”

“Is that so?”

“You just have to do whatever it takes.”

Grinning, Til twirled the hand axe and awl she held.

A professional posture.

I didn't particularly want to see the process, so I decided to leave.

“Ah, Valheit. Let's talk for a bit after this is over.”

A sense of anxiety washed over me at that moment.

For Til to initiate a conversation first meant it was no ordinary matter.

“It's not that serious.”

As if she had read my thoughts from my expression, Til shook her head.

The phrase ‘that serious’ made me even more concerned, but I decided to let it go for now.

“When you've gotten all you can, come to the villa. In the meantime, I'll make a quick trip to the Imperial Palace.”

It seemed unlikely that things would end quickly as Blaiher wished.

As I came out of the warehouse, a restless Brauder ran up to me.

“Count, I helped you, even risking my life, so isn't it time you let me go?”

“What life did you risk?”

“I played the role of bait!”

Brauder made a tearful face.

I wondered how he could say that when he had been overprotected the whole time, but since it was true he played the role of bait, I didn't argue.

“Wouldn't people be surprised if a kidnapped person just walked back home?”

“You're joking, right?”

“Think carefully. Why do you think you were able to play the role of bait today?”

“Uh… because I'm a Stetten, I guess?”

“Do you think fifteen people came to kill you just for that? Think again. To give you a little help, it's related to Chairman Paolo's death.”

“Paolo is dead?!”

It seems he didn't know the news since he'd been locked up until now.

Brauder, who was earnestly rolling his eyes in thought, twisted his lips as if he had realized something.

“Could it be that I've earned the hatred of a dangerous person….”

“Something like that. I'll accept that as the correct answer.”

“Wait, then does that mean Paolo died for a similar reason?”

“I'll accept that as the correct answer as well.”

In my opinion, Paolo was the cleanup and Brauder was the outlet for anger.

In terms of importance, Brauder was far behind Chairman Paolo, but he had an outstanding talent for making people angry.

“Are you saying that if I go back, that dangerous person might come after my neck again.”

“You understand. Paradoxically, being held by Werner and me is the safest for you.”

Brauder's mouth gaped open as if he wanted to object but couldn't think of anything to say.

Soon, as if he understood my words were correct, the strength drained from his shoulders.

“To offer a word of comfort, besides that dangerous person, there aren't many people who care about you anymore.”

“Is that good news?”

“At least it's better than having multiple people after your life, isn't it? Besides, Stetten is in a dangerous situation right now.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

I let out a few coughs as if I had misspoken.

It was awkward acting, but Brauder fell for it easily.

“Did something happen? Don't hide it, tell me!”

“Well, it's not a very pleasant story.”

“I don't care if it's bad news, just tell me.”

“Timershi Stetten was caught in a bomb blast and was injured.”

As I told him promptly, Brauder's face turned white.

“My brother is my brother alright?”

“If he wasn't, there would have been a bigger uproar. He is receiving treatment.”

“If something like that happened, you should have told me sooner!”

Brauder, who had thrown a fit, began to pace back and forth.

It seems their brotherly bond is quite strong.

“The political struggle between the Dukes and His Majesty the Emperor has also grown because of that incident. Everyone is probably dying to use your brother.”

“That's what all politicians are like. Damn bastards.”

“So, I'm saying.”

I smiled brightly and placed a hand on Brauder's shoulder.

Brauder flinched but didn't pull back.

“If things go on like this, Timershi will be swept into the vortex of political strife. His Majesty the Emperor will be displeased, and the Dukes, though they seem to be helping now, will later torment Timershi for all sorts of reasons.”

“I suppose so. There were many who didn't think highly of my brother to begin with, and many who found Stetten's position uncomfortable.”

It seems he has at least a minimal understanding of how the board is set.

That made the conversation quicker.

“There is one way to minimize the political storm.”

“What is it?”

Because it was quite shocking, I said it as gently as possible.

“It's to turn this whole commotion into a family feud. A fight between a brother and a younger brother.”

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