Here is the translation of the web novel chapter:
Jan Nowak trudged home.
"Brother!"
The moment he entered, his younger siblings rushed to him. They were small, with bright, lovely eyes, but the rims were red as if they'd been crying all day.
"Brother, what happened to your face…?"
"What… what happened to you, brother?"
"Jan."
Behind the worried children, his father appeared. With a complicated expression, he first scolded the siblings.
"All of you, get back inside!"
At his stern voice, the children scurried into a small room. His father looked at Jan's battered state and let out a sigh first.
"…Are you okay?"
Jan nodded silently.
"That's a relief."
"…Yes."
"Get some rest."
His father had always told him not to get involved in politics or protests, one way or the other. But today, he said nothing more.
Jan climbed the stairs to his room on the second floor. He lay down on his plank-like bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Suddenly, he remembered the knight.
The sheer dignity of the man had brought beast-like investigators to their knees, silencing them to the point they couldn't even let out the smallest whimper.
That was true strength, true power.
'If you dedicate yourself to your position, we will surely meet again.'
His expression hardening, Jan rose to his feet. He picked up the envelope and shook out its contents. Ten thousand dollars, a letter of recommendation, and an identification card. He stared at them for a moment before striding down the stairs. The rickety steps felt as if they could collapse at any moment.
His father was sitting under the dim light of the living room with a sorrowful look on his face. He was probably blaming himself.
"Father."
Jan sat down across from his father. He placed half of the bundle of cash he had received from the knight on the table.
"Jan, where did this—"
"I."
No further explanation was necessary. It shouldn't be given.
Biting his lip firmly, Jan simply conveyed his resolve to his father.
"I will be leaving Genen."
Catching the wrong person creates a much bigger problem than the simple fact that an innocent person has been wronged.
It's because the 'true mastermind' is given a chance to remain hidden and continue their machinations.
Izenheim would still be lurking deep within the revolutionary groups and independence factions, and I could only hope that Gendo and the other investigators of Genen were competent.
That way, they might at least lighten my workload a little.
"…Hmph."
I received a new investigation file from Gendo of the Genen Central Police Station. It was a far better report than the last one.
"Not bad."
I had Dieter investigate Gendo's background and origins. As it turned out, he had his own reasons to despise the independence factions.
After all, a person who could display such madness and aggression without any reason would have had to have been born wrong from the start.
Gendo's parents had been slaughtered by an independence faction in the past.
"Gendo…"
It wasn't a name I recognized from before my regression. That meant he wasn't someone who had particularly distinguished himself. He probably spent his days as a Genen investigator before being killed by a revolutionary's blade.
However, wasting time looking only for proven talent is a luxury I can't afford.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I drummed my fingers, thinking.
Is he worth giving a chance?
More than a chance—is he worth supporting?
"...We'll find out when we try."
The Ebenholz family has plenty of money. I'll nurture him first, and if he's still disappointing, I can just discard him without a second thought. Besides, I need subordinates who are driven by vengeance, like Gendo.
Most importantly, if that place isn't brought to heel, the 'Genen Spring' will erupt. It’s an event that would be incredibly disadvantageous for the Empire.
I called Dieter.
"Dieter."
—Yes, sir.
"Let Gendo know that I've read his report. And provide him with equipment—wiretapping devices, magic trace trackers, things like that."
The Genen Central Police Station was, at the end of the day, the police station of an autonomous territory. Its facilities, equipment, and budget were so poor that they had apparently only acquired telephone lines just a year ago.
—Understood.
"And Jan?"
—His new identity has been confirmed in the southwestern part of the Empire.
Jan had moved to the south. Dieter had handled the matter perfectly.
—Also, the land purchase you mentioned has been completed. We have reportedly found significant data through mana stone surveys, but a problem has arisen.
"A problem?"
—The local powers in that area are not to be trifled with. They are already staging protests against the mining, citing environmental protection.
I let out a small laugh. It was just as I'd expected. The South was a region where the influence of local lords was notoriously strong.
"Dieter."
Ironically, that was why it had remained the most untouched by the Empire's corruption, but they had accumulated their own share of rot and decay.
"You have Ebenholz behind you now."
If money could solve everything, I could give them money.
But they were the kind of people who would only cling harder if I gave them cash.
"That means you have my permission to wipe them all out."
I don't have time to worry about those fools. Money must be made quickly, and spent just as quickly.
—Yes. Acknowledged.
"Good. If there's anything you don't know or if you run into any trouble…"
I paused, thinking of a role model for Dieter. Who did I want Dieter to become? In what direction did I want him to develop?
Only one person came to mind.
"Ask Engi. She's our family's steward. I'll send you her contact information."
Before my regression, Dieter had been a capable finance official for the Empire who, in the end, refused the new cabinet's offer and was executed as a stubborn, single-minded fool.
—Yes, sir.
At least at my side, he would live a better life.
In a hidden room somewhere in the southern part of the Empire, in the city of Hermes, the heads of five influential families had gathered. It was to deal with the uninvited guest who had suddenly intruded last week.
"…So some company has secretly purchased land near the Romilton mountain range."
From time immemorial, the power of the imperial family had never fully reached the southern territories. This was because of the massive Vitar mountain range that cut across the Empire.
"And they apparently started surveying for mineral veins right away. Without so much as a greeting to us. How typical of those central government bastards."
Although a tunnel had now been drilled, making travel convenient, for most of the Empire's thousand-year history, the South had been largely cut off from the Central region.
"This is absolutely unacceptable. We cannot allow them to deface the beautiful nature of Hermes."
"Of course. Protecting the environment is a duty for all of us."
As a result, the South was a region where bureaucrats and local powers had colluded to build their own authority. 'Hermes', in particular, was infamous for using any excuse to extort massive development funds from any outside corporation that tried to enter.
"We have already prepared a protest group of concerned citizens. Once they understand our 'sincerity,' they will know to back down."
This is how protests worked. They were a part of the negotiation.
If the corporation showed its sincerity, it would be met with sincerity in return.
Of course, if a mana stone vein was discovered there, they would have to show a much greater sincerity befitting its value…
—The immediate withdrawal of the mana stone mine that desecrates the sacred landscape of the Romilton Mountains!
—Withdraw!
—Withdraw!
Several hundred protestors chanted slogans at the entrance of Mount Romilton. They blocked the path of the mining operators. They smashed the equipment and machinery the workers tried to install.
—Get lost, you central government lackeys!
—How dare you! Trying to destroy a nature that has been cultivated for thousands of years!
—If you want to pass, you'll have to go through me!
As they shouted heatedly, something landed at their feet. Thud, thudududuk.
A few small canisters. The protestors flinched, staring at them.
Smoke grenades.
Pshhhhhhh!
The canisters spun, spewing gray smoke. As the protestors reeled in confusion, shadowy figures appeared.
Without a word, they rushed forward and swung steel pipes.
Thwack! Thump! Crack!
Dull thuds of metal crushing bone and flesh echoed through the air. The protest site instantly devolved into a chaotic melee, and screams of pain filled the area.
Aaaaargh! Kraaaaargh!
One of the protestors scrambled away and desperately made a call.
Trrrrrring—
The hidden room where the local lords were conversing.
A terminal rang on the table.
"...Ah, my apologies."
One of the five lords of Hermes ended the call. They tried to resume their meeting, but—
BOOM!
The door exploded with a deafening blast. Shrapnel flew as the entrance was blown apart. Beyond the smoke and ruin stood armed Imperial police.
"Who the hell are you bastards?!"
"Pursuant to Articles 237 and 314 of the Imperial Criminal Code, as of this moment, 'Marcus Steiner,' 'Jin Yusef,' and four others are under emergency arrest on charges of bribery, abuse of power, and inciting an illegal assembly."
The police officers recited the Imperial statutes as they subdued them. The handcuffed lords shrieked as if having seizures.
"You crazy bastards! Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"This is the South!"
"The South is also part of the Empire. The same laws apply."
"You damn pigs, did you take their money?! The nobles of the South will not stand for this!"
They were dragged away in an instant.
…Mayor Jenson of Hermes received the news without much delay.
As someone who had formed close, symbiotic relationships with the local lords, he was furious as he got into his car.
"Those damn bastards. I'd like to see the look on their faces, see what gives them the nerve to pull a stunt like this—Argh!"
Screeeech!
The driver slammed on the brakes. A person was standing right in front of the car.
"What is that guy doing!"
It was a man wearing rimless glasses. He calmly approached and knocked on the rear window.
Knock, knock.
"......"
Jenson rolled down the window.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mayor. My name is Dieter Schmidt, of Veritas Trading."
"What? Veritas? Ah, you're the ones trying to dig for mana stones in Romilton? Is this your doing? You crazy, ignorant fools. You picked the wrong people to mess with. You think you're going to get a permit from the city—"
"A complaint was recently filed regarding bribery charges against several local lords, including yourself, Mayor."
"A complaint? Ha, you central government types must not know how things work. In the South, that's just a part of our customs—"
"Please read the details for yourself."
Dieter offered two copies of a document. As he did, suspicious figures began to appear around the city hall.
They were just loitering, doing nothing in particular.
"There are two copies of the complaint. One is for you, Mayor. The other… I'm sure you know who it's for."
"Hah!"
Mayor Jenson was about to tear the documents to shreds when he paused. Unconsciously, his eyes had fallen upon the seal on the envelope.
A silver tiger.
The silver tiger.
Something he had often seen somewhere, or more accurately, in textbooks.
The symbol of the Ebenholz family.
"It seems you have all been accepting bribes so openly because you considered it 'custom.'"
At Dieter's words, Jenson's mouth suddenly went dry. He felt the blood drain from his head.
Usually, the central nobles don't bother to meddle in the affairs of the South, but Ebenholz was no ordinary noble house. They were not a typical family.
"Would you like to make a call?"
Dieter held out a terminal. The mayor's body trembled.
"Or would you rather return, and we can become friends?"
"......"
Jenson's lips parted and closed. With a trembling hand, he brushed back his hair. But he didn't have much time.
The mayor agonized, staring intently at Dieter's expressionless face.
"…What is the way to become friends?"
He posed the question. Dieter gave a slight nod.
"If you go back inside, everything will be taken care of. We ask that you handle the cleanup afterward."
"......"
Without another word, Jenson got out of the car. Along with his secretary, he walked back toward the Hermes City Hall.
A quiet word of praise was delivered to Dieter as he watched the mayor's retreating back.
"Good work."
It was Engi, who had been personally guiding him. Dieter bowed his head deeply.
"I couldn't have done it without you. This was my first time in the field."
"It's alright. It was perfect for a first time."
In Engi's eyes, Dieter had a genius-level talent for tracking the flow of money. Furthermore, his ability to separate emotion from his work made him a perfect functionary.
The Young Master Maximilian has a good eye for people.
Engi smiled faintly.
"Mr. Dieter Schmidt. Do you know why a family is strong?"
"Why a family is strong…"
Dieter tilted his head, as if he didn't know.
"It is because people are its legacy. The Young Knight Maximilian is likely trying to build his own circle of people, his own organization."
Independence from the main family is the first step in breaking away from the father. Ebenholz, that is, Jefestian, is aware of everything and tacitly permits it.
It is only natural. The current master of Ebenholz is Jefestian, but in the end, Maximilian will inherit everything.
"However, you too are an Ebenholz, Young Knight. Therefore, you are entitled to the network of connections the family has built over generations. It is up to you to inherit them, one by one."
Engi looked at Dieter. Dieter looked back at Engi.
"Yes. Thank you."
"And, one more thing, the most important part of this process."
Engi's eyes curved into crescents. It was a look that held more warning than a smile.
"Never betray the Young Master. This is not for the Young Master's sake, but for yours, Mr. Dieter."