Translator: KJ

A boarding house sunk in silence.

Maximilian slowly inspected the interior of the room where the Class-1 Wanted Criminal Dominic had reportedly stayed. As his golden eyes scanned every corner intently, they suddenly took on a blue tint. He was no doubt trying to read the Active Residue.

“...”

“...”

“...”

Hermann, Mia, and the Imperial Guardsmen held their breath as they watched his movements.

Just as their hearts, shaken by the Summary Execution moments earlier, were beginning to settle back into calm, Maximilian approached and casually held out the Genealogy Certificate that one of the Guardsmen had examined.

“It’s a fake.”

“...Sorry?”

The Guardsman took the certificate, flustered.

“Ah, yes. It does look like one!”

It didn’t look fake to him at all, but maybe he was being told he had to insist it was anyway. Just as the Guardsman kept smiling, ready to go along with whatever Maximilian said.

He pointed a finger at a specific part of the paper.

“The ink.”

“The ink... you say?”

“On an official Imperial Genealogy Certificate, the parents’ names are written in first, and later, when a child is born, the child’s name is added beneath them.”

Maximilian’s voice, dry as grains of sand, drifted into the Guardsmen’s ears.

“The degree of oxidation in the ink of two such names can never be perfectly identical. Normally there should be more than a decade of age between them. Whoever did this tried to imitate even that trace, but the work is crude.”

Maximilian glanced sidelong at the rigored corpses of the mother and son.

“Therefore, these people forged the Genealogy Certificate, and they harbored a Class-1 Wanted Criminal.”

He turned back to Hermann and Mia.

“And on top of that, even if we’d kept them alive, they don’t seem to know anything of value, so there’s no need to waste manpower keeping them breathing.”

“...Yes.”

“A most reasonable judgment, sir!”

Mia managed to answer, and Hermann agreed forcefully.

“Ah. And one more thing.”

Maximilian stepped out onto the balcony and looked outside. Leaning against the railing, he beckoned to the Guardsmen.

“Come over here.”

“...”

The Guardsmen walked over, taut with tension. One step, then another. Their legs nearly gave out beneath them.

To them, every second of this felt like having the blood drained from their bodies. A scorching desert. As if a hot, sandy wind were coiling around their skin...

“That building.”

Maximilian pointed at the structure across the way. Its outer wall had been destroyed by the aftermath of the Mana Trap.

“You said it was the private property of an Imperial Guard Colonel?”

“...Ah, so, you heard, yes. Th-that’s true, but, well, damage like that won’t trouble the Colonel much at all.”

The Guardsman hurriedly waved his hands.

“What is his name?”

“S-sorry?”

In an instant the color drained from their f⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌aces. To ask for a name meant─

“His name.”

Maximilian drew a checkbook from his coat. Even so, the Guardsman answered in that same parched tone.

“...Ah. It’s Colonel Ross. Emeran Ross...”

A quick scratch of the pen. He scrawled an amount and a name with his fountain pen, then tore the check free.

“This should be sufficient compensation.”

“No. Really, it’s quite all right-”

“It was a mistake made by a rookie knight in the course of his duty, so as the senior knight, it is only right that I take responsibility. Take it.”

At Maximilian’s firm manner, the Guardsman accepted the check with both hands. When they saw the amount, their eyes went wide.

“...Thank you. I’ll be sure to pass it along to the Colonel.”

They withdrew with deep, respectful bows, and Maximilian gave his orders to the remaining knights.

“The evidence. Gather all of it, leave nothing behind.”

......

They came out of the boarding house. At some point a police line had been strung up at the mouth of the alley, and dozens of officers were busily controlling the scene.

“Loyalty!”

Receiving the salutes of the officers lined up in formation, Maximilian moved on indifferently. Hermann and Mia followed behind him.

Before getting into the car, Maximilian stopped for a moment and looked between the two knights.

“Hermann.”

“Yes!”

After the brief reply, silence settled in.

──Tick.

The sound of a second hand ticking at his wrist.

Maximilian’s gaze tilted down toward Hermann’s wrist.

“...You should have been issued a far more accurate Mana Stone Clock at the Order.”

Maximilian furrowed his brow.

He was asking why, of all things, Hermann wore this watch, when he had a Mana Stone Clock that was incomparably more precise than any analog wristwatch and, above all, made no noise.

“Ah... that.”

Hermann gripped his own wrist and bowed his head.

“It’s a keepsake from my older brother.”

“Then you ought to keep it safe at home. From now on, leave that watch behind when you report for duty.”

Hermann’s expression stiffened. Beside him, Mia quietly studied his reaction.

“...Yes. I’ll do that.”

Fortunately, Hermann bent quickly, and Mia swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Maximilian gazed at him steadily for a moment, then gave his shoulder a light pat.

“I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”

He climbed into his car.

Smoothly, it pulled away.

Neither of them lowered their salute until the car had disappeared completely.

“...Wow.”

Whew.

Mia let out all her breath at once. Hermann ran a hand back through his hair.

“Yeah, it really is hard to breathe.”

To Mia’s mind, he was far worse than the instructors at Empire Point. Even the knight-turned-Instructor who had seemed as lofty as the heavens back in her cadet days, even Dane, the Cadet Commander himself, hadn’t been on this level.

“No, but seriously.”

She added, wiping away the sweat that had beaded on her forehead.

“I didn’t think he’d shoot the kid too...”

At Mia’s muttering, Hermann answered flatly.

“...That’s what being an Imperial knight means.”

“Imperial knight my ass. Hermann, are you out of your mind?”

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

Mia pointed at his wrist.

“That watch! I told you, didn’t I, be careful.”

Maximilian von Ebenholtz was extremely sensitive about clocks.

No one knew the exact reason, but the rumor that he was extremely sensitive to any ‘analog’ that ticked, be it a wristwatch, a pocket watch, or a desk clock, had already spread throughout the Order, and even all the way to Empire Point.

“...It’s a keepsake.”

“That’s exactly why, keep it at home! Or if you really want to wear it, just back the screw out a little so it stops moving, break it on purpose for all I care!”

“Break it?”

Hermann’s face stiffened in an instant. At the endlessly cold look in his eyes, Mia quietly turned her head away.

“No, I mean, if you just loosen the screw a bit it won’t make a sound and won’t move, so...”

“...Fine. I’ll just k⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌eep it at home. Let’s head back.”

Hermann unfastened the watch, tucked it into his pocket, and started walking.

He really is a stubborn jackass when you look at him like this. Shaking her head, Mia followed after him.

* * *

The deepest underground prison of the Sentinel. Between the cement walls, where not a single ray of sunlight reached, deeply pooled air droned and circled in empty whorls.

“...”

Under the dim glow of the lamp, Julian gazed quietly down at Laura, who sat huddled in handcuffs.

For a long while, without a word.

“...A great deal must have happened in all this time.”

His low voice broke the silence.

Laura smiled bitterly, her face haggard.

“Yeah. It did. So much happened. To us. To each other.”

She lifted her gaze and looked up at Julian. Julian did not avoid it.

In each other's eyes rose the memory of their younger, brighter days.

Days when they were far younger than now.

Those times when they didn’t know the reality of the Empire, or perhaps half-aware of it and yet were drunk on the vague hope that ‘we will be different’.

“...Julian. In the end, I’m going to die, aren’t I?”

At the calm question, Julian slowly shook his head.

“Do you know Dominic’s current location?”

A faint sm⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌ile spread across Laura’s lips.

“He’s a far more important person than I am.”

She deflected the question, putting the greater cause first.

Julian felt a tightness in his chest.

“It’s the only way you can survive.”

It was fine if she didn’t know where Dominic was. She only had to pretend to cooperate with the investigation.

Laura was a pure-blooded Aran, a Wizard out of the Sentio Magic Tower. A noble, no less. Killing her was, if anything, the more troublesome path. No knight of the Sentinel would dare rashly work up the nerve to execute her.

...If not for Maximilian.

“...”

Instead of answering, Laura rolled her eyes and stole a glance at the corner of the prison ceiling.

“Will it be all right?”

Making no sound, she asked Julian with the shape of her lips alone.

‘To say such things.’

She had been a Wizard of the Sentio Magic Tower.

The Sentio Magic Tower and the Sentinel Knight Order. That the Imperial Palace had planted its secret ears in both institutions was an open secret.

“This is a normal interrogation process. I am persuading you.”

Not to save your life, but to capture the Class-1 Wanted Criminal Dominic.

Th⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌at was how Julian deceived Laura.

“...And if you fail to persuade me, then in the end I’ll be assigned to Maximilian?”

“Thirty days.”

Julian raised his own wristwatch.

The maximum term within which an Imperial knight could detain and interrogate a suspect on his own authority. If thirty days passed with nothing gained, the case would circulate through the entire Sentinel. In other words, anyone at all would then be able to take it on.

Most knights would be reluctant to take on someone of Laura's standing, but...

“If you don’t open your mouth within thirty days, you’ll probably be handed over to Maximilian.”

Laura leaned her back against the cement wall and let out a small, dry laugh.

“Mmm~ this takes me back. Everything, from the day we first met right up to now.”

Their Empire Point days. The day Julian and Eshton were eating at a city restaurant and, by chance, ended up sharing the table with the magic trainee seated beside them.

That had been the beginning.

“...Julian. I have a favor to ask.”

Once more she moved her lips without a sound.

‘Go to that place.’

That place.

He didn’t need to be told where it was to know.

Eshton, Laura, and Julian. The place known only to the three of them.

Julian did not answer her request.

“...When I come next time, I hope you’ll be ready to talk.”

Leaving only that brief admonition, he turned away.

And so, climbing the prison stairs, he happened to run into someone in front of the elevator in the Sentinel’s first-floor lobby.

“Sir Knight. So you’ve been down to the prison.”

Maximilian. Julian nodded plainly.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened just then, and the two of them stood side by side in the cramped space.

Tick.

Maximilian, of a sudden, dropped his gaze and quietly looked at Julian’s left wr⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌ist.

Tick.

Sensing that gaze, Julian asked back.

“Something to say?”

Tick.

Maximilian listened quietly to the ticking of the wristwatch’s second hand, then shook his head with a faint smile.

“No. It’s nothing.”

The elevator doors opened. Maximilian stepped out first.

Then, suddenly, he turned back to Julian and asked.

“...Ah. Sir Julian. Might I be permitted to handle Laura’s interrogation? It seems she may be connected to the Dominic matter.”

Without letting his expression show, Julian answered shortly.

“In thirty days.”

A small smile spread across Maximilian’s lips.

"Two weeks. Hermann worked this as a joint case, did he not?"

For one knight, thirty days. For two, half of that.

Granted, with Hermann’s consent he could take the full thirty for himself. But of course.

“So it would be.”

Hermann would do as Max said.

* * *

Tick, tick.

Time flowed on, indifferent.

Before I knew it, two weeks had passed since Laura was locked away underground, and lately I had been lost in thought.

“This is the report on the pursuit of Dominic.”

The Operations Officers held out the documents. The forged identification and the encrypted communication records Hermann had collected from the boarding house. Using those as clues, I had cast a dragnet across the entire Empire.

In other words, I was relentlessly tracking Dominic.

“There’s been no progress yet, however. He’s remarkably elusive, slipping in and out like a ghost...”

“It’s fine.”

He was, without a doubt, one of the ‘heads’ of the Revolutionary forces. A figure of great importance, one who threatened the security of the Empire.

And yet, somehow, a different doubt kept blossoming in a corner of my mind.

Julian, and Laura.

The version of me before the Regression had been a powerless cripple, so there had been no way for me to know the full truth hidden beneath the surface of these incidents in any detail.

But now, the fragments of this case scattered through my mind were assembling themselves into a curious shape.

It was not only the ears of the Imperial Palace that lurked within this Knight Order.

I, too, had planted ears of my own everywhere. I had already obtained the conversation Julian had exchanged with Laura in the underground prison.

“...Laura.”

The Revolutionary forces. What was their true purpose?

Laura. Why, of all moments, had that woman let herself be caught by us at precisely this time?

“Julian.”

Abruptly, a name surfaced in my head.

The intuition flashing through my mind.

The time of Laura’s arrest─ was not long after Julian had returned to the Empire from the East.

The operation had occurred all too conveniently, all too perfectly timed.

“...”

I thought it over.

What Laura and the rest of the Revolutionary forces truly wanted, what they were aiming for.

Could it be Julian himself?

And if so, why on earth?

“...Because of the emotion called love.”

Laura had lost a lover, Eshton.

If she had convinced herself that the root cause of it was ‘Julian’.

No, if that damned Ezenheim had ‘steered’ her into believing so.

It wasn’t certain yet, but it was suspicious enough.

I rose hastily from my seat.

......

The outskirts of the Empire, a quiet, secluded forest where few people ventured.

Julian had arrived at ‘that place’ Laura had asked him to go. A cabin where, long ago, the three of them, Julian, Eshton, and Laura, had often slipped away to spend a day. One of the private holdings of Laura’s family, it had made for a fairly good hideout, well suited to escaping the eyes of the world.

──Creeeeak.

He opened the squeaking door, went inside, and climbed to the attic with familiar steps. In one corner sat a wooden chest with dust piled thick upon it.

Julian lifted the lid.

“...”

Inside, Laura’s diary lay neatly placed. As he picked it up, a faded black-and-white photograph slipped out and dropped.

Laura in the robes of the Sentio Magic Tower, and Julian and Eshton in their younger days, in Sentinel uniforms. The three of them grinning wide with their arms slung over one another’s shoulders, a record of an era they could never return to.

Julian gazed quietly down at it, then discovered, tucked into the very last page of the diary, a single final letter.

The recipient of this letter was──

[ To Our Friend Julian ]

The handwriting took shape on Julian’s worn-out retinas.

......

“Where the hell is this now.”

At the same moment. In the dense undergrowth not far from the cabin Julian had entered. Hermann, draped in a camouflage net, was holding his breath as he kept watch on Julian.

“...Tsk.”

Watching the silhouette of the cabin through his binoculars, Hermann furrowed his brow.

He had gone into a run-down place like that and still hadn't come out.

Even so, Hermann would not give up.

Of course not, because Julian’s recent conduct was suspicious in the extreme.

Starting with the deletion of the interrogation records, all the way to secretly visiting an out-of-the-way place like this.

'Everyone in the Order would think as I do.'

“Sir Julian is here. He is clearly hiding something. In preparation for any contingency, I...”

Recording his own words, Hermann took photographs of Julian and the cabin.

──Click.

~~~

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