Chapter 104:

“Ruhindorf?”

“Yes, not only did he mention people connected to the Count, but he also said he himself is going to Ruhindorf.”

Victor, who had been enjoying a nap with his feet on the desk, let out a groan close to a sigh and corrected his posture.

Ruhindorf, Ruhindorf.

He had heard of it, but couldn't remember where it was.

Which meant it wasn't a very important town.

“It's a village in the Stetten domain.”

“Any special characteristics?”

“Not much. It's a rural village that sells wood and furniture to the surrounding areas. The population is small, and the administrative records are unremarkable. Even the Vestol merchants don't go near that place.”

If even those guys, who cause trouble wherever they smell money, avoid it, it means it was truly the countryside of the countryside.

Valheit is going to such an unremarkable place himself?

Although he had become more active than when he was quietly holed up in his villa, he still wasn't a man to wander around without a reason.

“Tell me everything, even if it's trivial.”

“There's really nothing. At most, there might be a smuggling route nearby, so smugglers occasionally pass through.”

“Smugglers, you say.”

It wasn't strange since the smuggling routes created by the parasites of the Empire were spread out in all directions.

This was a problem that had to be checked in person eventually.

“How much available personnel do we have?”

“We don't have much to spare due to dealing with Brauder, but we can still pull out two or three.”

“Pull them out and send them to Ruhindorf. Have them report everything they see there.”

As the subordinate nodded and turned away, Victor let out a long yawn.

Everything was a mess because Brauder, who was said to have been suddenly kidnapped, appeared and confessed that he had attacked his brother.

Although it was common for Duke families to fight amongst themselves, there had never been a case of someone openly trying to blow up their own brother, so public interest was sharply focused.

It was a problem that the investigation had become difficult as the Royal Imperial Guard intervened according to regulations, but….

The fact that Johann Geller's ambitious proposal had gone awry was also a problem.

Dukes were already starting to complain, saying there was no need to intervene if it was a family feud.

In the end, the First Duke would get his way, but it was inevitable that time would be drawn out until then.

As if waiting for such a thing to happen, Valheit was heading to the countryside.

‘No matter how I look at it, it seems like he has some kind of scheme.’

Victor's gut was telling him so, but for now, there was nothing he could do.

After all, the order came down from Johann Geller to handle the Brauder problem first.

He could only pray that nothing would happen while he was distracted by this idiot.

‘No.’

Victor, who was lying down on the chair to take another nap, shot up.

He shouldn't let it pass like that.

“Hey.”

“Is there something you need?”

Seeing the subordinate who was waiting outside the door enter quickly, Victor paused for a moment.

Who should I send?

Would it be right to send the most reliable guy, or would it be right to send someone who isn't helpful for the current work?

A person who satisfied both of those conditions came to mind.

“Bring Hugo.”

***

The Royal Imperial Guard's interrogation facility, practically attached to the side of the Imperial Palace, was a place where individuals of high status who couldn't be put in a general prison gathered.

Typically, it housed members of the Imperial Family or the Dukes, or their families.

Thanks to this, it gave a rather spacious feeling for a prison, but it was still a prison, so the pressure was considerable.

“The visit will be conducted for 30 minutes under the supervision of the Imperial Guard.”

“How many times do you think I've heard that since I entered the entrance?”

“The visit will now begin.”

The guard spoke stiffly, ignoring my minor protest.

Brauder, who had changed into simple clothes, sat down in front of me hesitantly.

“Could you leave us for just 5 minutes?”

“According to regulations….”

“I have to deliver a message from His Majesty.”

The guard, who was about to recite the regulations, shut his mouth at the mention of His Majesty.

The guard, who was weighing whether Count Valheit was lying or had really received a message from the Emperor, quietly went out the door.

I waited until I heard the receding footsteps to the very end before I opened my mouth.

“We don't have time, so I'll be quick. Did you undergo the investigation as we instructed.”

“Of course. It wasn't a big problem.”

Blaiher must have told them to just pretend to investigate, so of course there wouldn't have been a big problem.

Now that he was in the Imperial Guard's interrogation facility, he had less to worry about his personal safety for the time being.

“They say the First Duke has started to move, so please speak well and without omission as we've arranged. If you get caught by the tail, it will be tiring for both of us.”

“I know, I know. I testified exactly as told, without missing a single word.”

Brauder nodded his head eagerly.

Honestly, I didn't trust him, but it wasn't a very important issue since Werner would polish it up in the middle anyway.

“Good. Now you just have to take care of one more thing.”

“What now? You're not going to ask me to do something strange, are you?”

“Would I ever ask for a favor that would trouble you, Mr. Brauder?”

“No, it seems like you've already done it countless times….”

Ignoring Brauder's small grumble, I held out a letter paper and a pencil to him.

Brauder, who was staring blankly at the objects placed in front of him, rolled his eyes.

“What am I supposed to write?”

“A petition. A petition to be sent to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Uh… why do I have to write it?”

“You're asking the wrong question. You should be asking what you have to write. Since you'll be writing it anyway.”

“Then what do I have to write?”

“You should petition for a reduced sentence, stating that the reason you committed the crime was because Timershi Stetten was illicitly colluding with the assembly of well being.”

“What?!”

Brauder's voice echoed in the empty visiting room.

“Lower your voice.”

“Isn't that a false accusation! My brother has nothing to do with that loan shark!”

“That's right. It's fine even if it's a false accusation. It's something we need right now.”

“Even so, I have no intention of making up stories to sell out my family.”

Brauder refused firmly.

He even handed the letter paper and pencil back to me to express his strong will.

“You've misunderstood something slightly. Timershi Stetten did in fact cooperate with the assembly of well being.”

“My brother would never….”

“Because he had to pay off his younger brother's debt.”

As I sent a sneer, Brauder was at a loss for words.

It seems he had no idea.

“Rest assured. I have no intention of driving the Stetten family to ruin. I just need an excuse to proceed with an investigation.”

“Is there a reason to investigate my brother? Did he really commit treason?”

“Of course not. I just need an incident that will draw people's attention, especially that of the Three Blades. In any case, no one has the authority to arrest a Duke, so your brother will be safe.”

After Brauder's confession became known, the manpower and resources of the Three Blades were focused on Brauder, but that alone was not enough.

What was happening in Ruhindorf was not something that should be caught by that paranoid old man.

I needed to tie up the Three Blades for certain.

“While you're at it playing the villain, please stab your brother in the back properly.”

“If my brother is arrested for treason or something….”

“That won't happen. As I said, even His Majesty the Emperor has no authority to arrest a Duke. The other Dukes will desperately protect your brother. There's no way they'd let a traitor Duke emerge.”

Brauder, who let out a few groaning sounds, wrote down the letter with a trembling hand.

A shameless petition, stating that he knew his actions were excessive but it was to stop his brother's wrongdoings, was quickly completed.

“Since you've granted my request, I'll tell you one piece of good news.”

“?”

“This time, it's really good news.”

I said as if to soothe Brauder, who looked like he was about to die.

This time, it really was good news for Brauder.

“I will catch the real culprit before the Imperial Guard's investigation is over. Then you will be able to protect Timershi Stetten's honor as well.”

“I hope so.”

I heard the sound of the guard returning again.

By the time the door opened again, the pencil and the letter paper were hidden without a trace.

***

Every time the cart rattled, Hugo let out a sigh.

Originally, according to what Victor had said, he would have been riding in a decent carriage, disguised as a vacationer, heading for Ruhindorf.

But with the release of the petition Brauder sent to the Emperor, all promised support disappeared.

In the end, he had no choice but to hitch a ride on a farmer's cart.

Even the diligent Hugo wanted to refuse such a job, but….

Victor knew too well how to work him.

‘What is Valheit planning to do in such a countryside.’

If it wasn't related to Valheit, he would have refused cleanly.

While thinking that, the cart rattled loudly again, and a sigh escaped.

No, this time it was a little different.

The rattling cart slowly came to a stop.

When he stuck his face out to see what was going on, he saw the face of a grinning farmer.

“Oh my, is the young lady also going to Ruhindorf?”

“I have some business to attend to.”

“Well now, it's rare to have two people wanting to go to that boondocks town, how strange.”

“I know, right. I didn't expect to meet a cart with the same destination.”

A woman's voice could be heard between the farmer's folksy words.

Judging by her speech, she didn't seem to be a commoner.

“There's room in the back, if you don't mind, have a ride!”

“Is that alright? I don't have much money….”

“Hey now! We should all help each other out. Just pay what you can afford!”

A dry laugh escaped him as he remembered how the farmer had relentlessly squeezed money out of him, but isn't it up to the person giving the ride?

“Hey, mister! Is it alright if we take one more person?”

“Do as you please.”

He was bored anyway, so having a conversation partner seemed better.

It didn't seem like the farmer would just leave the woman behind even if he refused.

Soon, a woman with orange hair climbed onto the worn-out cart.

Hugo found himself staring blankly at the woman's appearance.

She was a woman who gave off a somewhat mystical feeling.

She was definitely not someone you could encounter on a country road like this.

Her simple but neatly arranged clothes, and the fact that she wasn't sweating a single drop in the middle of the day, were strange.

Her demeanor was also more elegant than most of the nobles Hugo met while working.

She was a person who gave an overall impression of being beautiful, not just her features.

“Hello. I'm Anat, who will be sharing the ride.”

“Ah, yes. I'm Hugo.”

He introduced himself politely without realizing it.

It wasn't a recommended action as a member of the Three Blades, but he felt like he would feel guilty if he didn't answer.

“I heard you are going to Ruhindorf, if you don't mind, may I ask why?”

“Um, I'm going to help a relative with some work.”

He made up a suitable excuse.

They would probably understand what 'helping' meant for a person carrying a sword.

“Is there going to be a fight?”

“Just because I carry a sword doesn't mean I only take it out to swing it. There are many cases where it's enough to just keep it in its scabbard.”

“I hope nothing big is going to happen.”

She's more persistent than I thought.

Feeling that there would be no end to it if he kept answering, he decided to change the subject.

“Why are you going, then.”

“I have something I need to see, and I'm meeting a friend as well.”

“She must be a very close friend for you to visit such a remote place.”

“No. She's a friend who does as she pleases and is hard to handle. She's stubborn too.”

Anat slightly frowned and shook her head.

But she didn't look upset.

“Still, a friend is a friend. Right?”

“…That's right. A friend is a friend.”

Hugo chimed in, thinking of Til.

The cart continued to rattle along.

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