Program fraud case (2)

“What kind of person is Madame Lamor?”

“She’s a person who has never entered the social world, so there is little information. However, some of the nobles who participated in the woman’s work have vanished.”

“Then…”

“However, those who have been to the mansion have forgotten all that had happened inside, and that made investigations difficult. Isn’t it an amazing mystery?”

‘It’s a character and skill that didn’t appear in the last manuscript?’

It was a bad sign. Nothing good had come about from new developments so far.

‘Isn’t this something that someone else should do? Why bother with me?’

“If it’s such a serious matter, I think you should have the magic team of the Capital Defense Force move. With my inexperience, it doesn’t seem like a mission I could accomplish.”

“If I give an order to the magic team, an official record remains, and a report goes to the council. Most of all, the only department that can carry out an investigation right now is Sergey’s mobile investigation team, and I think it would be less fuss to invade the mansion overnight rather than expect him to do this work quietly. Aren’t you familiar with him too?”

The prince’s analysis of Ezra Sergey was sadly accurate. Ezra’s request for opening the king’s library and sending 137 letters seemed to have left a big impression on the prince who had lived nine times.

“…Yes, I understand your meaning.”

“Several children and relatives had brought money to that suspicious person and vanished. They’re reluctant to reveal the shame of their family openly, but the petition letters from the senators are piling up, so I’m also troubled.”

In other words, the disappearance of the attendees was an embarrassment to the family, so they were asking for a peaceful solution. If he solved it, Melchior’s position with the senate would be strengthened. It was a game where the prince had nothing to lose.

‘He can’t ignore this mansion.’

Though his appearance was still hidden, Kleio also hadn’t forgotten about Tasserton. It wasn’t a joke that the knight standing escort could destroy even a fortress in a single night. Melchior didn’t need Kleio’s help; this was a test. Officially, Kleio was an ordained knight, so he was asking him to prove that by following the deputy king’s orders. The prince pushed the envelope left on the table closer to him.

“You couldn’t predict this even with your skill?”

“That’s right.”

“Look. This seems to be a gap in God’s work, and I am also interested in this strange mansion. Please conduct a detailed investigation.”

“I will try my best.”

***

In the demon lecture test, even Kleio, who had photographic memory thanks to the Promise’s abilities, failed to get a good score.

Most of the students failed. Even though it was a subject that didn’t affect their grades, the mood reflected how they had done. Isiel was the only student to survive the awful questions.

Thus, Ezra’s special lecture ended with the cheers of senior students gladdened by the fact they didn’t have to take that crazy class any longer.

From tomorrow, it would also be summer vacation. However, like before, everyone was in a different situation. Cel, expelled from Camellia, stayed at Kleio’s house while she sought proper shelter. Arthur and Isiel also couldn’t return to the Kision territory, so they remained in the dorm on the condition that they would patrol the school during their stay.

Schliemann Kision had personally written them a message. While the interior and exterior of the Kision castle, which was being refurbished, was being dispatched to a central auditor, he was trying to distance himself from the real heir for their safety. Arthur was much better off at school, as the palace was dangerous, and there were few outsiders allowed on the school grounds.

The day before the vacation ceremony, Kleio called all his friends up to the lab. The children were seated or standing around a simple table in the courtyard. Today, Kleio had served tea and candy instead of the usual alcohol. In the somewhat subdued atmosphere, only the twins ate the anise candy no one else would touch. Lippi, swallowing a piece of candy, was the one first to break the awkward silence.

“So Lei, what do you want to talk about with the atmosphere like this?”

Kleio was thankful for Lippi’s casual attitude.

“Last weekend, a summons from the crown prince came, so I headed to the palace. The nobles who attend the seances held by a woman named Madame Lamor keep disappearing, so let’s sneak in and investigate.”

Kleio offered an appropriate explanation, and the students had few reactions as they digested the sudden information. He felt strangely nervous as he waited for their answer. Of course, they knew his situation well. Kleio and Cel had set up an operation to rescue Arthur, and that Kleio’s duty was now to use [Reduction] on the crown prince.

However, the case for this investigation was different. He didn’t know what kind of rumors would circulate when several people got entangled among the nobles. Now, Kleio was fully aware and afraid of media and social rumors. The contents of the order were private, so it wasn’t easy to speak about it. That’s why he had gathered them all here today. He didn’t want to leave room for misunderstandings. Instead, he wanted to be as true as possible to these kids.

Cel, the first to grasp the situation, responded with a snort.

“Madam Lamor, I think I’ve heard the name once or twice. But the only thing the crown prince called you for is such a stupid thing?”

“It’s a more complicated problem than I thought. These days, the religion of the prophet has been spreading through parts of the capital, and it might have something to do with that.”

“What? My aunt has heard of that too!”

“At the end of every century, the power shifts. History has a way of repeating itself.”

The twins imitated the sharp-sounding speech they had heard at the New Year’s party before.

“Yes, it’s a complex incident of heretical religion and psychic activity. The crown prince is a very calculated man. If this mission was a success, he would use it for self-promotion. However, if it’s a failure, you will be the one rebuked.”

Even if Kleio acted alone, the core members of the 977th class were treated as a group. It would affect their reputations as well. Cel glanced over the invitation he had produced with a smile.

“It doesn’t match his pretty face.”

Rustle.

Lippi and Leticia unwrapped more candy.

“Isn’t this just a thing where you sit around and call on ghosts?”

“It’s not easy to be a knight if we have to go see ghosts.”

“They don’t form completely.”

Nothing was wrong with the twins.

“It seems to be larger than a traditional séance, but…anyway, it’s annoying, so he left it to me. The police won’t move.”

Isiel, who had listened to the conversation thus far with her back upright, spoke.

“I heard that the police have changed since the opera theater incident. With the passing of the new bill, the reports of commoners can no longer be ignored. How can we provide help in the case of the disappearance of a noble?”

“I’ve heard that no family has officially reported the missing, so the police can’t move. Nobody wants to make a scene.”

There seemed to be quite a few households who thought it was okay if they couldn’t find the family members and relatives. The so-called nobles didn’t worry about unseemly members but rather about incidents that would besmirch the family name.

“Huh. Then, the crown prince has asked you to take care of the police’s chores. He’s training you.”

Even before Cel finished speaking, Isiel nodded. It was unusual for the two to agree completely.

“Kleio, your achievements are so outstanding that the crown prince has decided to trust you with this. How foolish.”

Isiel’s voice was cool as she spoke of Melchior. After what had happened to Viscount Kision, Isiel had built up a firm grudge on the inside even though she took care not to reveal it outside. Anger burned in her dark green eyes. It wasn’t yet time to confront Melchior, however.

“Isiel, it’s alright. The work itself is just a chore. Anyway, since it’s like this, I’ll have to postpone going to the beach until later. Sorry.”

‘I’m trying to make them feel better, but it is the prince we’re dealing with.’

Isiel, unable to return to her home, for the time being, was noticeably depressed. Arthur was also less talkative than usual. So, Kleio and Cel worked together to pick up the slack. This summer, everyone had agreed to go to the beach at Kleio’s Kolpos home. The twins especially were welcome for the chance to play. Gideon secretly indicated that he wanted them to stop by the main house, and Vlad was out of the country for now, so the timing was good.

“What to do, Sir Kleio. I really don’t want to do it.”

Cel, who only used his title to tease him, skipped a piece of candy off the table.

“If you’re going to make fun of me, you can also help.”

“What? Instead of the deep blue sea of Kolpos, I don’t want to explore the den of insane nobles. I don’t know if there are any cute girls.”

“Everyone attending wears a mask, so I don’t think there’s any way to determine who is cute and who’s not….since that’s the case, I will contact you once the investigation is over. Let’s set a date for the vacation.”

Finally, Lippi, who had eaten most of the candies from the bowl, spoke as she gathered the garbage.

“Hum. Listen, Lei, it was decided yesterday. Our father came up to the capital and joined the National Defense Commission. So, we can’t even go down to the estate?”

“It’s better than swinging our swords until we vomit every day.”

“So, take us to the haunted mansion instead! It’ll be fun!”

“Kyahaha!”

Cel clicked her tongue.

“Hey, do girls your age find ghosts fun? It’s all a scam to trick people out of their money. When it comes to fraudulent techniques used by self-proclaimed psychics, I knew a few things.”

The twins pulled at Cel’s arms in response to her cynical reaction.

“Then, we can go with Cel! Let’s find out who the scammers are and beat all the bad guys!”

“Haha!”

Arthur, scratching at his chin, intervened.

“Hey, you guys… I have to go too; it sounds like fun.”

“Yeah, Arthur!”

“It’s not a scam; let’s go see a real ghost!”

“Anyway, I’ll just be stuck in the dorms during vacation, so it would be nice to do something else.”

Kleio hastily restrained Arthur.

“Arthur, it’s not necessary for you to go. After all sorts of hardships, you broke free of the prince, so what are you doing being entangled in such a nasty matter?”

Despite Melchior’s secret operation in Kision, ironically, Arthur’s reputation was unaffected. To the Lundane citizens, Arthur was still the brave third prince, reminiscent of the second coming of the conquering king. Reputation was a thing that was difficult to build but quick to break down normally.

Arthur shrugged at Kleio.

“What’s wrong, Lei? Are you planning on dealing with all these exciting cases without me?”

Kleio’s gaze remained on Arthur’s right hand for a short moment, only the prince caught. All the wounds and traces had vanished, so his hands were once more smooth. The children didn’t know everything he had gone through, and Arthur had been eager to cover it up from them. Kleio himself had only been able to find out using Editor’s Authority, and regret having done so; he helped Arthur hide it. Even so, Arthur, who suffered terrible torment by Melchior’s order, couldn’t be brought onto a mission ordered by the crown prince.

“Arthur, you can’t.”

“Why?!”

“It’s Melchior’s order.”

“Still about my brother?”

Kleio was forced to shrug as he couldn’t say the words out loud in front of everyone.