The Logic of the Strong (2)

"Good for you. You even exchanged numbers."

On the way back from the restaurant, the night market glittered along the street.
I just shrugged at Ezel’s words.

"What's so good about it? This is just the beginning."
"Come on, that 'mark' of yours is fake too, right?"
"It's real. I really took the case."

Ezel skipped ahead, pulling the hood of her robe over her head. She zipped off somewhere for a moment, then reappeared with a skewer of candied fruit in her hand.

"And yet you're more interested in the perks than the case?"
"Well… something like that."

Crunch. Ezel bit into a piece of fruit. It made the sound of candy shattering. Chewing like a chipmunk, she covered her mouth and grinned.

"―So, do I have to keep playing along?"

Her words made me flinch.

"What are you talking about?"
"Hey. You think I don't know you?"
"What do you mean?"

Crack, crack, crrrunch. The candy broke apart in Ezel's mouth. Swirling the now-empty skewer, she spoke.

"Max. When you like someone, or when you're happy or excited, your hands don't tremble. In fact, you get calmer on the outside. Instead, you stop hearing what other people are saying. It's like the effort of bottling it up plugs your ears."
"..."

My footsteps halted. Ezel, a step ahead of me, spun around with a grin.
I was speechless.

"You knew all along?"
"Knew what?"
"That I used to like you."
"You'd have to be an idiot not to know. Besides, it's not like that anymore, is it? More importantly."

Ezel’s tone shifted.

"―Why are you approaching Fexi?"

Suddenly, her gaze turned sharp.
I considered my answer, but I felt I could tell her the truth.

"I suspect her."
"―As the Head-Eater?"
"Yeah."

Ezel closed her mouth for a moment, lost in thought with her arms crossed.
She never rushes to judgment. That's her nature. She didn't say he couldn't be, nor that he could.

"Do you have a reason? I just don't see it."
"A hunch."
"...You're kidding me."

Ezel's eyes narrowed. I let out a smirk.

"―Fexi von Arjen first came to the capital three years ago. Coincidentally, that's when the murders began."
"Is that it? It could be a coincidence."
"The method of killing was just too peculiar."

At that, Ezel gave a quiet nod.

"The head was severed abnormally, so there's a high chance it was a mage, and since there are few mages, it's relatively easy to narrow down the suspects?"
"Yup."
"It could be a prosecutor, a mercenary, or a vagrant who learned magic on their own. Especially prosecutors, with that Sword Ki or whatever, they could manage that kind of cut―"
"I'm a knight. The traces left by Sword Ki are easily distinguishable from magic and mana. And it's not a vagrant, either. The cross-section of the bodies has changed, from the first murder to the most recent one."
"Cross-section?"
"At first, it was messy, like an animal had torn it apart. But recently, the cuts have become as sharp as a razor's edge."
"So they grew stronger while killing."
"Right. It's hard for vagrants who learned magic in the Undercity to grow. Their magical properties stay fixed... Besides, if it were a vagrant like that, they'd be much easier to pinpoint. They couldn't have hidden for three years."
"True."

We started walking along the street again as we talked.

"Also, there are no nobles with the name Arjen in the East."
"Huh? Are you sure?"
"There were, but they all died. Of course, on paper, Fexi von Arjen is the sole heir of the Arjen family, and his parents' dates of birth and death match up perfectly."
"But?"
"That's all within the realm of what can be easily forged. After all, all the family members who could have confirmed his identity are dead, right?"

Ezel stroked her chin, murmuring.

"―Honestly, I find it hard to believe."
"I'm sure you do. The Fexi you know must be completely different."
"Nooo―"

Ezel frowned.

"Who said that's what I find hard to believe? I'm talking about the evidence, not Fexi herself."
"―The evidence?"
"Does it make sense that after killing nine people, not a single piece of evidence was left behind? There must have been something. Tiny clues must have been left. But the regular detectives and knights just couldn't see them."

Then she suddenly held her palm out to me.

"Share it. The case file."
"Didn't you say you were busy with your thesis?"
"Friends can at least help each other out this much."

Friend.
The word suddenly made me suspicious of her. If we become friends who help each other and share case details, wouldn't you try to use that information to the Revolutionary Army's advantage?

"What if Fexi the mage is really the killer?"

In this world, there are those who have endured the Empire's pressure and forged even stronger convictions. Those who have risen for a greater cause.
People like Julian, Edmon, and Ezel.
If it weren't for Izenheim, they would have been remembered by history as pioneers and heroes.

"Because he's someone who has no place in the Mage Tower."

I nodded.

"I'll send it to you. Swing by my knightly office later."
"Okay. Tell my secretary―"
"Come yourself."
"..."

Ezel stared at me silently. A sudden breeze blew back her hood, revealing her blue-tinged black hair as it fluttered. As if in a painting, she raised her middle finger.
I smiled.

"I'll break that finger."
"―No, I'm serious, I'm busy with my thesis, so why should I go myself? What, you still have a crush on me?"
"I get it, so just piss off."

We happened to be in front of the Sentio Mage Tower.
I asked Ezel, who was about to leave with a bright smile.

"By the way, are you going to be okay?"
"With what?"
"I'm almost certain he's the one. You might get your heart broken."

Ezel gazed at me with her clear eyes, then slowly tilted her head.

"Why would I be heartbroken just because Mage Fexi is a murderer?"
"―Weren't you two close?"
"Come on. We've only known each other for six months. How close can you get? It's just..."

Ezel gave a bitter smile.

"...an act."

Right, she's no ordinary person either. Someone born into a great house like the Ponselots wouldn't dream of revolution if they were ordinary.

"Right. We all live while putting on an act. See you."

I turned away, waving a hand.

"Max."

Ezel stopped me.

"But not you. With you, it's real. We're real friends."

At her words and bright smile, I smiled back just as brightly and, with pleasure,
raised my middle finger.
Her expression instantly turned foul.

"―I'll break your finger."

I quickly turned away from her, as if she might unleash a spell at any moment. A laugh escaped me as I walked away briskly.

Today, I learned one more thing from Ezel.
You should never judge someone too easily. Even if that person is Ezel, you must always be suspicious. Never let your guard down.
Because we walk different paths.

Beep—

Just then, a message arrived from Schatz. It was an encrypted text.
[Lorenzo rescue successful. Fleeing south.]


"How dare they! What kind of fucking bastards!"

Valerius Listman, away on a business trip, received an urgent message. It was news that Lorenzo had escaped.

"We are doing our best to pursue him, but the mercenaries we hired are all—"

The mercenaries had been taken down, rendered unable to fight. It had been an exceptionally clean job.

"A filthy rat like him. How dare he cross a Listman?"

Feeling a rage that made his blood boil, he rose from his seat.

"Send a communication to Acarius."

Acarius was a mercenary guild that operated across the continent, beyond the Empire's reach.

"Yes, sir. The mission details…?"
"Bring him in alive, one million."


Whatever confidence that old fossil had found, it was a foolish choice.
This is what happens when you're too lenient; they think they can walk all over you. He should have been trampled from the start. Kept locked up and used only for research.

"Tell them his limbs don't need to be intact."
"Yes, sir."

He must be getting soft in his old age. There was no need to show him that much respect.
Valerius took out a cigar, lit it, and cooled the heat rising within him.

"..."

Suddenly, he noticed a crumpled photograph in his drawer. It was a picture taken with his supervising professor from his days as a researcher, Giorgio Kirico.

"...No."

Valerius stared at it for a moment, then changed his mind.

"Tell them two arms and one leg must be intact. The mind can grow dull if the body is in too much pain, after all."


Before restarting the 'Giorgio Kirico' case, I first summoned the witnesses from the past.
The first was Lorenzo's colleague, the mage Jerome.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jerome."
"Yes. Hello."

He was living a prosperous life in a fine mansion in District 4 of the capital. Although he had retired from the Mage Tower, he seemed to have achieved the wealth and fame he desired as the president of a respectable magic business.

"Sir Knight, what brings you to see me…?"
"It's nothing serious."

It was nothing serious.
For now.

"Do you remember the name 'Giorgio Kirico' from fifteen years ago?"
"..."

For a moment, Jerome's expression hardened. I handed him a document detailing Giorgio Kirico's profile.

"He would have been your contemporary during your time at the Mage Tower."
"―Yes. Of course, I remember him. But that friend..."

Jerome gave a bitter smile.

"He was dishonorably discharged for trying to steal the theories of a magister under his command. I have no idea where he is or what he's doing now. I haven't had any contact with him since."

It seemed he assumed I was tracking Lorenzo.

"No. I'm not interested in Mr. Giorgio Kirico's whereabouts. I plan to reopen the investigation into that entire incident."
"...Reinvestigation, you say?"
"Yes. Looking into it closely, the contents of your testimony back then and the Mage Tower's internal records don't quite add up."

Jerome's eyes blinked. He looked utterly bewildered.

"The theory of [Mana Magnetic Field Induction], which is directly linked to the Mana Coil, was recorded as being researched and tested by Mr. Kirico long before Valerius Listman ever published it."
"Ah, that? Records like that can be fabricated at any time, can't they?"

He claimed it could be fabricated. Standing right in front of me and spewing such blatant lies, but I had expected as much.
I placed a file folder on the table. Then I slid the thick stack of documents out toward him.

"What is this?"
"Mr. Jerome. You've been doing a bit of money laundering recently, haven't you?"

"...Excuse me?"

His face turned to stone. My adjutant, Dieter, was a master at tracking money. Just by looking at the documents, he could visualize the flow of funds as if it were a diagram.

"It seems life has gotten pretty comfortable on the back of the colleague you sold out."
"S-sold out! I merely testified to the truth―"
"You must have been jealous, too. A mere commoner, always above you."

I leaned back in my chair and gestured to the papers.

"Go on, read it."
"..."

Jerome didn't move. He just stood there like a snowman. My brow furrowed.

"I said read it."

Only then did he reach out and take the documents.
The Empire was desperate to secure tax revenue, and in times like these, money laundering was the most dangerous of crimes.

"You set up a paper company to funnel funds by pretending to purchase overseas art. A classic method. However, what if just one of the many companies involved in this money laundering scheme has even the slightest connection to a 'subversive group'?"

Money laundering is a complex web. Not even the person who ordered the laundering knows which companies the money will pass through. It only comes out when you start digging.
Which is why it was a favorite method of the Imperial Guard.

"For example, what if your funds passed through a company that was secretly supporting the Revolutionary Army?"

The color drained from Jerome's face.
He must have enjoyed it when he sold out his colleague. He must have been delighted when he took the money. He must have even felt a sense of vindication, thinking that a mere commoner had finally learned his place.

"I swear on the name of Ebenholz."

I said to him.

"You won't be going to prison. You will simply disappear quietly from this world."

Now, it's time to pay your debt.


Thump— Thump— Thump—

In a factory in the southern province of Hermes, machines for refining mana stones operated with a dull rhythm.
Dieter was guiding Lorenzo and Armand through the facility.

"By any chance, do you see a way to improve the efficiency of this refining process?"

Lorenzo examined the structure of the machinery in detail, while Armand, filled with excitement, darted around from place to place.

"―The current method focuses solely on increasing the purity of the mana. If we were to apply the 'Phase Conversion Catalyst Theory,' we could reduce mana loss by over 30% while doubling production speed. Of course, more detailed research would be necessary."
"Yes. I will relay that to the president exactly as you've said."

Ring— Riiing—

Just then, a call came from Maximilian.

"Ah. Yes, I understand."

Dieter had a brief conversation with him before handing the terminal to Lorenzo. Lorenzo cleared his throat, a nervous look on his face.

"Yes. This is Lorenzo."
"―How is the factory? Do you see any room for improvement?"
"I'll have to take a closer look, but―"
"―Do whatever you wish. There are no restrictions. Whether it's millions or tens of millions in revenue, use it as you please."

At the mention of such vast sums from Ebenholz, Lorenzo's mind went blank for a moment.

"Whoa! Whooooa!"

Armand's exclamation of awe brought Lorenzo back to his senses. He had no idea why that little guy loved machines so much.

"Oh, and Sir Knight, about what you mentioned last time. Armand's invention, the mana waterwheel. It seems it could be of some use in the mines here, but... would it be in conflict with the law?"

A small laugh came through the receiver.

"―No, it won't conflict with any laws. Research and install it to your heart's content. We'll have a workshop set up for you both in no time."

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Pub: 15 Oct 2025 20:51 UTC

Edit: 16 Oct 2025 18:58 UTC

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