Translator: KJ

The Underground City was probably the most aberrant space in the Empire. No, perhaps in the entire continent.

The very existence of the modified human "Falkenrath" standing before me was clear proof of that, and this T24 Research Institute was likewise tied deep into the underbelly of the Underground City.

"What kind of research do you do here?"

I looked at Falkenrath, seated across from me. His bloated frame made even the sofa seem cramped, but a thought drifted through one corner of my mind.

Even when human flesh is forcibly torn apart and remade into a monster with grafted machinery, in the end it still falls short of Sebestian's form.

At some point my only standard of comparison had become Sebestian alone, so this monstrosity in front of me was merely a curiosity.

─It's a research institute that exists to fulfill what the Empire, and His Majesty the great Emperor, desires.

I let out a snort at Falkenrath's voice.

"His Majesty wants monsters like you?"

Even at that remark, the half-human side of Falkenrath's face remained placid. If anything, his artificial eye glinted with pride, as though he wore the word "monster" like a medal.

Exactly as the comic books had depicted.

"Um... that, Sir Knight."

The Research Institute Director, who had been frozen stiff between us, opened his mouth cautiously.

"Allow me to explain. As your investigation has determined, Sir Knight..."

The director swallowed dryly and avoided my gaze.

"The Cross Killer's victims were indeed all researchers belonging to our T24 Research Institute. There were reasons we did not relay that information to you, however, so I beg your understanding..."

The pale, sickly Research Institute Director, and behind him the researchers trembling in unease.

"Do you have a family, by any chance?"

At my abrupt question, the director stammered in confusion.

"Pardon? Ah... yes. I have a wife, a son, and a daughter, but..."

Men with families had no qualms about dissecting living human bodies and forcing mana into them.

This was the Empire's commonplace cancer.

"You have a family... How fascinating."

─At any rate. This is a matter we shall resolve at our level.

Falkenrath raised a mechanical arm. At that signal, a heavily armed group of private soldiers came pouring out from the depths of the institute. In their hands they held mana weapons that couldn't be obtained on the open market.

"Sir Knight. We ask that you sign these documents."

One of them slid a non-disclosure agreement and an investigation-closure agreement in front of me. They even bore the Imperial Seal.

"We just received word from the Imperial Palace as well."

It probably wasn't a forgery. They were, 'for now', still under the Emperor's protection.

"Sign?"

To me, it was simply laughable.

These bastards clearly still hadn't grasped their place.

Who stood above whom, the weight that the name Ebenholtz carried, and above all what kind of country this Empire was, of course.

They had merely "forgotten" for the moment.

Drunk on their own pitiful success.

I picked up the papers.

"Hm."

The trouble was that, right now, it was still too early to kill them all and tear this institute apart.

Mason Industry and the T24 Research Institute had to play the role of the fuse that would ignite「Outcast」. Between that inevitable collision and chaos, I needed to extract the gains I wanted.

If「Outcast」grew the way it had before my Regression, it would become an annoyance Mason Industry couldn't even compare to...

But.

"It seems you take a knight of the Empire lightly."

I had no intention of letting bastards who dared challenge the authority of a knight roam freely.

I tore their papers. Crosswise, lengthwise, then crosswise again, then lengthwise again, and scattered the pieces into the air.

─...You'll regret this.

"Regret."

I smiled and gripped the longsword on my back. Once. I swung once.

──

Moonlight flowed and cleanly severed someone's neck.

In the same instant, thumping of Virus stopped.

"Pointing a weapon at a knight of the Empire warrants summary judgment."

Thud. The Ezenheim's head fell. Even with their comrade dead, the rest of them did not raise their muzzles at me. They lowered their weapons entirely.

I rose from my seat.

"I don't care what kind of research you're conducting."

I muttered as I look⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠ed down at Falkenrath.

"But the investigation files on the Cross Killer, those, you'll be sharing with me."

* * *

The Mason Industry headquarters building. From the topmost floor of the skyscraper that boasted the Empire's highest peak in the west, Hector Mason gazed out at the sky beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass.

"A knight, hm..."

"Yes. The heir to Ebenholtz, Sir Maximilian."

That brat of Ebenholtz. He played at being the Empire's sword, stirring up trouble in every direction with quite the ferocity, but in the end he was nothing more than a greenhorn who hacked at trees without seeing the forest.

The hegemony of the world, of this continent, was already in upheaval. The order would be reshaped around capital and technology, and power, in the end, would also cling to that side.

And the linchpin that would shift that paradigm...

"The completion of the Mana Engine isn't far off."

A power source that would replace the human heart and emit mana. If only it could be completed, the Empire's knight orders would be reduced to scrap metal.

Because they, who had trained their Mana while emphasizing the extreme of the human body, the iron man, would be defeated by “manufactured Mana”.

"Pay no mind to the knight."

The proper results had finally come together. The test subjects had at last succeeded, so the time had come to assemble the "biological components" that could endure the engine's overload.

"Recover them as quickly as possible."

Hector Mason's own remaining years were not long. Ten at the longest, five at the shortest.

Even just to construct a life-support apparatus that could prolong his withering body, more test subjects were needed.

There was no time to waste coaxing that young brat.

......

To put it simply, 「Outcast」 of the Empire’s Underground City was a mercenary group. Instead of polished decorum or a chain of command, they were the wolves of the bottom, moving by improvisation and necessity.

"...Bombs are set."

They had built up their own measure of fame handling jobs that flowed in through the back alleys.

"Countdown. Three."

Now they had stepped out of the underground and pushed up to the surface.

They had built up strength and begun their counterattack against the corporations and the state, the enemies who had wronged them.

"Two."

This was a key affiliated research lab of Mason Industry, located in the Empire's western region. They had already set countless explosives along its outer walls.

"One."

Their leader, Meden, smiled.

"Detonate."

KABOOOOOM──!

With an earsplitting roar, one wing of the research institute was engulfed in flames and collapsed.

KUUUUUUUUUG───!

A spectacular sight of a mushroom-like cloud rising.

The four members of「Outcast」who had taken part in the operation lined up shoulder to shoulder.

Meden rested a hand on his hip, Elze stretched, Pain clasped his hands behind his back. Each of them watched in their own posture until,

WEEEEEOOOOO-!

"Let's go."

Around the time the sirens started blaring, they fled to their base.

「Tavern Quanda」

The proper safehouse they had set up in the Underground City with the money they had earned.

The first floor was disguised as an ordinary tavern, while in the basement they kept their true space hidden, but.

"...No. Haa."

After coming down the stairs, Meden clutched his forehead at the mess before his eyes.

"Ah, fuck. Filty!"

The room was strewn all over with crumpled piles of paper.

It seemed Filty, a member of Outcast, had once again used her ability to its limit.

"Hey, fucking hell! I told you not to do it alone, AAARGH!"

Super-Vision, the power to see through to distant places.

It was Filty’s Special Ability.

She had in fact used that power to observe their enemies, the key figures of Mason Industry, in the "third person".

"I told you not to push yourself..."

Sigh. Elze let out a breath, crouched down, and started picking up the papers scattered across the floor. Meden carried the slumped-over Filty from the desk and laid her down on the sofa.

"She's been overloading a lot lately."

Filty couldn't fully remember the scenes she observed while using her ability. So she immersed herself in an unconscious state and transcribed them onto paper in a "particular form".

A kind of learned instinct, one might say.

"Damn. Really, can't leave her alone for a second. We need to recruit one more person."

"..."

Meden grumbled, while Elze said nothing and just stared at the papers. She flipped through them one by one, reading...

"Guys. Everyone gather around."

In a grave voice, she called her companions over.

They all stood beside her and looked at the papers.

[ ──Step. Step. ]

[ T24 Research Institute. The silhouette of someone walking through the interior. ]

The Sentinel's formal uniform, blond hair and golden eyes.

A drawing depicting that scene.

In other words, a panel of a comic.

Rustle.

When the page was turned, "his" face, drawn in color, was unmistakably revealed.

[ Moonlight seeping through a crack in the window. The knight of the Empire silhouetted against it. ]

Elze had never seen "him" in person, but "his" name was...

[ Maximilian: It means that my word is law. ]

And standing across from him in confrontation—

[ Falkenrath: Knight of the Empire. Do you know for whose sake, for what cause, we labor in this place? ]

The mechanical man Falkenrath, repulsive enough to induce nausea even in mere drawing.

[ Maximilian: Do I need to know? ]

[ Falkenrath: ...State the purpose of your visit clearly. ]

[ Maximilian: The Cross Killer. The victims whose chests were split open and killed by him all came from this place, the T24 Research Institute. But, more importantly... ]

Falkenrath, whom「Outcast」had once feared to the extreme, and Maximilian, whom this entire continent dreaded, faced each other and clashed.

[ Maximilian: I don't like your attitude. ]

The monster of Ebenholtz who had appeared in their episode.

They held their breath and read through the comic Filty had drawn, gathering the pages in order.

* * *

...Across from me, Freya was standing.

I looked at her. My sight, my hearing, even the faint thread of wind brushing my skin, I focused all of it on her alone. She, too, gripped her longsword at an angle and watched me.

A bout fought with real blades, not wooden swords.

Whoosh──.

In the instant the wind grazed past, the distance between us closed. Sword met sword.

───

A silent, tranquil collision.

Yet the dust of the training ground swirled up, and I was driven bac⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠k three steps.

"...I lost."

If a mere half a stride is the difference between life and death, then I am still six times that weak.

"Maximilian. Why do you think you lost?"

Freya, now distanced, asked with the tip of her sword hanging low.

"It's a difference in mana."

"Yes, that's right."

Freya nodded and stepped closer.

"But from where I'm looking, no, even from where Sebestian would be looking, the purity of your mana is exceptional. There's almost no impurity in it. It's a strange and remarkable thing."

She flicked the flat of her blade with a finger and continued.

"To refine mana, talent is merely a necessary condition. Without it, you can't even begin, but it's not as if the speed at which the vessel fills differs by a tremendous margin."

The refinement of mana did not occur solely within the body. That is, it took place through both inside and outside the body—the endless circulation of the world.

“How cleanly you temper your Mana is accumulated and completed purely through ‘time’.”

Therefore, as long as one was given the “vessel” called talent, the speed at which it filled was almost the same for everyone.

"And yet you... your mana is as pure as if it had been tempered for thirty, forty years longer than your age."

I felt an inward jolt at Freya's words.

Regression. Were the layers of time piled upon my soul something she had pinpointed through the density of my mana?

"Actually, I'm a Regress-"

“Cut the bullshit. Do you think this is a joke?”

"...No."

"Again. Why can't you break through me?"

Freya's eyes flashed coldly.

"Because you are pure, but not flawless."

"...Flawless."

"Right. Mana, the moment it is released, is inevitably wasted. The mana you draw up inside your body at a strength of one hundred is whittled down to thirty the instant it bursts out along the edge of your bl⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠ade."

It was a mana theory proven by actual Mana Studies. The phenomenon of mana colliding with nature's restraining force, the laws of the world. In analogy, it resembled air resistance.

"People think, you see, that reducing that loss is a matter of advanced mana technique, or precise calculation."

"Is that not the case?"

"No. At least not for an Ebenholtz. Because we aren't wizards."

Freya tapped her own chest, near the heart.

"The greatest resistance that eats away at our mana isn't the world. It's hesitation."

Her voice sank, weighted.

"An unwavering, yet utterly natural will. I told you, didn't I? Ebenholtz, by its very nature, embodies nature. So if you imitate nature accurately, there is no need for the world to forcibly suppress you."

Put simply, she was telling me to become air.

"If your blade, your mana, and your will are aligned that transparently together."

The ordinary tree branch Freya was holding turned, in an instant, a pure white shade of moonlight.

"That is what is called the Ebenholtz's 'Flawlessness'."

With her index finger resting on her lips, she whispered softly and coolly.

"In Chapter Three you assimilated mana with the sword. Now Ch⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠apter Four. Assimilate mana with your heart. Imbue your mana with the purest will alone."

The unification of mana with mind and body.

I drew a deep breath and quietly settled inward.

But then.

"──Sir Knight!"

A staff officer suddenly came rushing onto the training yard.

My concentration broke.

"...What is it."

I felt a flicker of irritation, but for him to have passed through the front gate of Ebenholtz, the matter must have been important enough.

"Yes. Sir Knight, at this very moment..."

He gasped for breath as he poured out a string of words.

Reutern II would be holding a meeting with Chief of Staff Grossman. The vague rumor that had been spreading like wildfire through the Imperial Palace had, at some point, taken concrete shape and been confirmed. While the once-relaxed Imperial Palace was once again gripped by tension like walking on thin ice, the venue for that historic conference was...

Not some hidden chamber within the Imperial Palace, but the restaurant I owned,「Lilac Vita」.

"...And? What do I have to do?"

I rubbed my eyebrow as I asked back.

"Yes. There are many documents requiring approval."

The staff officer, in disciplined posture, handed over a thick stack of papers.

[ Request for Mana Detection and Toxic Substance Safety Inspection of the Entire Lilac Vita Premises ]

[ Memorandum on Foot-Traffic Control and Identity Verification Cooperation Within a 1km Radius of the Restaurant on the Day in Question ]

[ Approval Request for the Deployment of One Platoon-Sized Imperial Royal Guard Unit for Outer-Perimeter Security ]

[ Approval Request for the Deployment of No Fewer Than Three Sentinel Knight Order Members for Personal Security... ]

"..."

It was absurd.

Absurd, but going by the staff officer's flushed face, he too seemed to be mistaking Reutern II for some great heavyweight of the Imperial Palace.

"Oh. Sounds like a really important affair?"

Even Freya widened her eyes.

"Well..."

For nothing more than a single meal, they were mobilizing the Imperial Royal Guard.

They were carrying on as if it were a summit of states, but in truth this wasn't such a bad thing for me. It meant that all the attention and scrutiny within the Imperial Palace would be absorbed by Reutern in my place.

"...Understood. Make the preparation⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠s."

"Yes. I shall prepare thoroughly so that the meeting proceeds without any issue."

"Good. And... don't spare expense."

For now, I might as well play along.

The great Reutern and the Emperor's closest aide Grossman were holding a conference, after all.

"I shall do my utmost to deliver the finest result, so that all parties may be satisfied. I ask for your approval."

I scrawled my signature across the documents extended to me.

The staff officer saluted and hurried back the way he had come.

"...This is exactly why I despise the central nobility. What kind of garish waste is it to throw all this together just so two people can have a meal and a drink."

I let out a dry chuckle and nodded at Freya's words.

"Indeed."

Truly, I agreed a hundred, a thousand times over.

~~~

Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/cdZPxPVrXW