Guikyung (3)

According to Arthur, who had been to the castle to see his father, Melchior was suffering from a recent incident. As Kleio figured out, it was a natural result of the crown prince having too few helpers to share his burden.

‘Melchior is a very powerful foe, but he’s not omnipotent.’

The investigation of Hydra’s Poison had ended, so there was no reason for Fran to stay near the eastern border, which was attracting public attention. It was decided now would be the best time to relocate to the capital, when everyone was distracted by the friction with Brunnen.

‘In that old suitcase are materials that would turn the whole continent upside down three times, so Fran must be kept safe.’

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The room Fran rented was originally a maid’s room in the attic. The ceiling was low and diagonal in the shape of the top. Kleio, who was tall, had to be careful not to bump his head. Still, the scenery outside the open window was beautiful, allowing one to see the Lundane east station and the newly built library in the distance.

“The Orails public library isn’t far from here. With a small deposit and by filling in your work or home address, you can borrow some books to pass the time.”

“A public library… do they have a good collection?”

“It’s surprisingly okay. It’s popular with people who work at the station. It’s even well-equipped with some magic books.”

“Even so, it seems reckless for me to use this address at the library.”

“By the way, wouldn’t this be helpful?”

Kleio produced a small notebook. Its leather cover had a gold leaf stamped with the words’ Royal Capital Defense Force Academy Employee ID’.

“It’s a pass for the school staff. Why are you giving this to me?”

“I registered you as my lab assistant. You’re not obligated to work, so use it comfortably.”

Unexpectedly, Fran picked up the pass and checked the inside.

Name: F. White

Position: Royal Capital Defense Forces School Experiment Assistant

Commissioned to receive experimental materials under the supervision of Dean Zebedee.

“…Well, I like this.”

“Go ahead, use it.”

The pass was one of the deciding reasons he had accepted Zebedee’s status as a research student, as they had the authority to hire experimental assistants. Fran’s lips pressed into a tight line before he tucked the pass into his jacket.

“Wizards are gaining more attention these days, so this ID is better than flashing the wizard registration card.”

The ordinary people of Albion had no obligation to report their place of residence other than notification of birth, a record of consecration, and death, but wizards and knights were different. In recent years, their management had become more stringent.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

Kleio mentally pumped his fist.

‘Mission complete!’

However, he carefully kept his joy off his expression. Fran looked out to make sure everything was quiet, then he carefully lowered the window; the old, blurry glass blocked out most of the outside noise.

“There doesn’t seem to be any ears listening to us right now. Let’s get to the point right away.”

Kleio’s back straightened in response to Fran’s sincere way of speaking.

“Shall I use [Soundproof]?”

Fran shook his head.

“There are many documents that need to be copied, so it would be better to save ether. I came up earlier and looked through the place with my glasses, but I couldn’t find any etheric reactions.”

“There’s that many?”

“Did you bring the copper?”

“As directed.”

Kleio opened the briefcase he brought. After confirming its contents, Fran nodded and released the magic sealing his suitcase. It was filled with documents, photos, and magic tools, alongside a pair of clothes and some daily necessities. Under all the luggage was a stack of papers as thick as a finger tied together. Fran picked them up and handed them over to Kleio.

“This is a report of progress by level of subjects who developed sensitivity from taking the Hydra’s Poison. These are observations by those who escaped the laboratory, so it isn’t perfect.”

Kleio couldn’t hide his admiration as he flipped through the documents. Fran waited patiently for Kleio to finish reading.

“So, the bottom line is that if you don’t have ether sensitivity, you’ll be level 5 or lower when you consume the poison? It makes it easier to be brainwashed as it lowers one’s intelligence.”

“Yes, this is the case with the 5th level assassins who attacked the third prince before and the red-eyed assassins in the theater. They were usually commoners. In some cases, they were kidnapped, but in many cases, they attract workers by advertising paid a high daily wage for constructing a remote mansion. What follows is the same as Geheim’s testimony.”

Opera singer Geheim was also forced to ingest Hydra’s Poison after he had been kidnapped. Most of the people trapped with him died due to the aftereffects, but some were said to develop an ether sensitivity and gained the power to rip through iron with their bare hands.

“So, the police couldn’t figure it out.”

“In addition, those assassins constantly appeared in front of the third prince.”

His gray eyes held a wave of anger that was soon hidden by coldness.

‘He’s better at hiding his inner thoughts than before.’

Fran was twenty years old this year, so he had matured quite a bit.

“However, if the subject had some inherent ether sensitivity, the effect of Hydra’s Poison is explosive. Those with sensitivity have a much lower survival rate. The very few who survive are the ones who reach level 6. One such person left the lab in the accident. Of course, the officer was the only one to maintain their reason for so long. Previously, those with ether suffer a more poisonous reaction than those without ether. The golden and red ether collide inside, causing the body to burst.”

“Burst…?”

“Their flesh explodes as if they swallowed a bomb. There have been several instances of this.”

“You would need to [Reinforce] to stop it. I can see why there’s no wizard has tried it.”

“Yes. It becomes clear that the body cannot endure the aftereffects of the poison.”

Fran’s tone was the same as when he evaluated the ale, but Kleio was forced to think of another factor. [Tracking] was a magic formula that could reproduce the movement and flow of ether that occurred in space, conveying vivid information to someone capable of using it.

“Were you okay after seeing all that?”

“They’re already dead. What’s frustrating is that the truth is buried, and their unjust deaths are forgotten.”

Kleio corrected his posture. His sympathy wasn’t polite to Fran, who had suffered and saw things that he shouldn’t have. Anyway, now, the most important piece had been put together, thanks to the Brunnen officer.

“The officer said he consumed the poison himself, so it’s a completely different case from the others, right?”

“Yes. The subjects are different, and it is estimated the components of the poison are as well. Stability has improved.”

“Enough that a knight agreed to take it. So, doesn’t that mean that Hydra’s Poison is almost finished?”

“Yes.”

“But right now, the second prince isn’t in a position to mass-produce it or feed it to his subordinates. The risk of failure must still be high. If the Southeast Defensive Army did something like that, rumors would come out.”

“The second prince has another province that is related to him. That is the principality of Mainrat, the territory of the Brunnen monarchy over the Pintos mountains.”

Again, another piece of the puzzle fits into place. The painting felt like it would be soon completed.

“…Now Aslan is known to be staying with his mother in the principality of Mainrat. The excuse is he’s staying with their grandfather, Friedrich, who is sick….”

“Hey, I don’t think that arrogant prince is staying with his mother to change out his grandfather’s diapers.”

“Yes, but it remains speculation. It’s obvious from the start, but there was no evidence.”

“No, it’s not a guess. There is solid evidence.”

Fran produced four photos from the bottom of his bag. The images were blurred, but the face was recognizable. The man had a wound that was cut from the top left of his temple to the right above his cheekbones.

“Who is this?”

“Tromos Notepear, chief executive of the Lake Nineveh palace, and the hand of Juleika. He is Four. Originally, he was a mercenary in charge of disposing of Joseph Cruel’s garbage.”

Promise gave off a slight heat as it retreated information from several years ago. The strange name was that of the supervisor who visited the warehouse in the mountain when Geheim was being experimented on.

‘He’s a big shot.’

“And you see the bronze statue with the line of sails behind him? It is a sculpture in Klaipeda, the largest port in northern Brunnen. It’s right in front of Izens castle, the duke’s summer villa.”

The story turned too quickly—confusion plain on Kleio’s face.

“Where is that again?”

“It is a secluded countryside located at the bottom of the Pintos mountains, to the west end of the principality of Mainrat. If you cross the barrier at Kision, you can see Izens town.”

Fran drew out several maps in succession. The top map showed the location of the high-level Hydra’s Poison experiments, all stamped near Izens castle.

“In the case where commoners like Geheim were sacrificed, the experiment sites were scattered around Lake Nineveh. But this time, a subject like that Brunnen officer was found around Izens castle.”

“Isn’t it possible to gather voluntary participants now?”

“According to the residents, officers and students are coming in and out of the castle. Sometimes, cargo wagons covered with tarpaulins pass through the town at night. It is the transport of volunteers, researchers, materials, or corpses for the experiment.”

“Izens castle is really the base for the Hydra’s Poison production and experimentation.”

“Yes. Given the security, it’s likely it’s the laboratory.”

Juleika and Aslan would’ve completed the poison based on their data obtained from the sacrifice of commoners.

“Then, did Juleika use that poison on her own people?”

“Most likely.”

Kleio’s jaw dropped. Things were rolling out of control. Hydra’s poison had already caused numerous victims and would only require more blood in the future. The queen was conducting a terrifying experiment against her own people, then giving the drugs developed for military usage to another country.

“It’s treason.”

Fran’s eyebrows rose when he heard that, then his wrinkles suddenly deepened.

“The problem is that the experiment itself is inhumane, but… that is also an issue.”

The public often saw Juleika and Aslan around the capital of the principality, but that wouldn’t prove their innocence.

‘We even have a photo of her entering and leaving the castle.’

“But how did you find the true identity of Four?”

The two had been careful not to reveal their locations or methods, so Kleio had no idea how Fran worked. He replied openly.

“I infiltrated Izens castle by working as a trainee at a cloth shop. When the probation period was over, I left by saying my aunt had succumbed to a sudden illness.”

Kleio’s eyes widened.

‘This kid’s a great spy.’