How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 174

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (174)

“Whoa~ This is going to be big trouble. They’re already cornered and you want to kill them one more time?”

“That’s right.”

Whether it’s desperation or wariness, they need to have something definite.

And I’m going to exploit that state to dig in.

“Hmm, unfortunately we couldn’t catch whether those bastards are planning something else.”

I expected as much.

If their countermeasures had been openly revealed from the start, Elias wouldn’t have left them alone.

“That’s how it should be. Would it work if they stupidly let the government catch all their countermeasures too… If that happened, it would only be a smokescreen anyway.”

Leo chimed in, seeming to have the same thought.

But Elias was still grinning.

“But.”

“But?”

“There is a tiny little gap though?”

Elias wet his finger with saliva and quickly flipped through the papers.

“Here.”

I read through the dense text written on the page Elias had opened.

It was a ledger.

Not a ledger with customer personal information and money tied together, but a real accounting ledger. And not an external ledger submitted to the government either…

“What does it say. Total sales 55 million pel?”

Leo asked in a bewildered voice.

Annual total sales of 550 million won. Since they used human trafficking to supply people, labor costs weren’t very high, so operating profit was also about 450 million won, showing tremendous margins.

Elias answered Leo.

“This is one establishment. Not all of Primrose Pass.”

I know. The note used by the prosecution to classify establishments is written at the top of the ledger.

With this amount of money, it was really a ledger they used.

Those bastards also pretend not to commit crimes on the surface.

So they fill their ledgers with alcohol sales excluding money earned from prostitution. Going from annual sales of mere millions like ordinary restaurants to suddenly billions in annual sales means we have one more clue to prove their illegal activities.

Leo let out a hollow laugh.

“They got this important thing stolen? Really…”

“We burst in suddenly and swept everything away, so those bastards couldn’t help it either. I should give Gunter some praise.”

Elias flipped the paper back.

“Look here. Exactly one week before the search and seizure, funds moved to other places all at once.”

“Almost half went missing.”

“Right. In one day, 25 million pel went out to a place marked ‘&*’, right? And this establishment on the back page has an annual operating profit of 30 million pel, but 10 million pel of that was sent to ‘Central’ in one day two weeks ago.”

There’s definitely a control tower.

They should use that operating profit to run this year’s business, but they send out a third of it elsewhere?

This means even when they make money, they can’t freely use it.

Those bastards scraped together everything they had, excluding money that must be used for current operations, from last year’s profits and sent it all.

“Where they sent it is all mixed up, but it’s totally suspicious, right? Especially that chairman guy Luca mentioned seems likely to have ordered this.”

Leo nodded.

“Right, it would be harder not to feel something’s strange here. What does the prosecution say?”

“I didn’t listen to their conversations~ I couldn’t. Of course they’ll investigate this too. They already issued summons to all business owners.”

They’re all just figureheads anyway.

They’ll just go out and repeat like parrots ‘I don’t know anything’ and come back.

Looking at Elias’s expression that seemed to have a hint of mockery, he seemed to think the same.

It would be nice to try using divine power, but the prosecution doesn’t like mages who use divine power because they consider it encroaching on their work. In fact, it’s legally impossible for us to interfere in investigations without approval from decision-makers.

‘Of course I could go to the Emperor.’

He would listen to me for now.

Elias said that and spread his fingers.

“Now, let’s think about it among ourselves first. First?”

Elias looked at me and wiggled his finger.

At the same time, everyone looked at me.

“…You want me to say it?”

“Yeah! Who else but you, Luca.”

“First, it might have been sent to Pleroma.”

“Oh. That could be it too. Then second?”

“They might have foreseen the search and seizure. Of course, if they foresaw it from two weeks ago, they should have prepared thoroughly to avoid detection entirely instead of just taking the money.”

“Right. Then~?”

“…”

I thought for a moment and opened my mouth.

“Central is probably preparing a new business. One that requires quite a lot of capital.”

“Ah~ That’s clear. So, Luca.”

Elias leaned toward me.

“We just need to find out what that business is. Right?”

* * *

Right.

Because we can destroy that.

Just then Leo stopped by Bavaria to bring a letter from the Imperial Palace, and we received word that the prosecution’s interrogation was also finished.

“Haha… I’ll be back!”

“Yeah…”

Elias answered with a smirk.

As soon as I nodded, Elias tried to rush out saying he’d find out what that business was, but got caught by Leo and returned to the hospital room.

Instead, Narke, who could use divine power, decided to go to the prosecution with me.

‘What confidence does he have to want to go.’

“Haha, Elias likes investigating~ He probably likes it the most among us?”

“That’s true.”

I answered with a light laugh.

‘…? Wait.’

I realized this guy had naturally answered my thoughts about 30 seconds later. Just then, Narke, who was walking ahead, stopped and looked outside.

“They’re guarding the school gate. There are still people from the Imperial Palace coming and going to school, so warp probably isn’t blocked yet but…”

Narke turned to look at me.

“You don’t want to warp, right?”

“No.”

Narke naturally ignored my answer.

“I didn’t know when I changed Leo’s uniform earlier. Sorry. Then walking out is the best option.”

“What’s there to be sorry about. Anyway, walking out might raise suspicion. It’s fine so…”

Narke stroked his chin and snapped his fingers.

“Lucas. Want to go out looking like Leo or Elias?”

Transformation won’t work.

If done wrong, they might find fault. If someone who just left is wandering around on campus, it’ll cause more problems at the already chaotic school.

“Warping is fine. Let’s just go.”

“…”

Narke stared at me intently and smiled.

“I don’t think so~ Want to try like before?”

“What.”

“Like when you fell from the Clock Tower, I’ll carry you so you just close your eyes~”

“No.”

“Hmm, too bad. Then how about this?”

When Narke snapped his fingers, black magic power covered my face. The moment I saw even my robe color darken, he grabbed my wrist and blew magic power into it.

“….”

“Count?”

I slowly opened my eyes that I had squeezed shut at those words.

Narke was smiling and waving one hand lazily.

‘…Mm.’

I’m standing on solid ground.

Moreover, this is a place I know.

It was the Imperial Palace Warp Checkpoint.

I let go of Narke’s hand that I had been holding and stepped back.

Though no one was visible anywhere, someone cast an amplification spell and spoke to us.

[Your Excellency Ernst, Your Excellency Farnese. You may enter.]

“….”

I simply nodded and entered the path beside the checkpoint.

Since I had changed from my school uniform to formal wear earlier, with only my robe being the school robe, fortunately my appearance wasn’t problematic.

Narke, who immediately understood why I wasn’t speaking, cast a voice modulation spell for me.

―”Thank you.”

―”This method is early. Your heart is beating incredibly fast.”

―”You can tell?”

―”Haha, anyone would know, right?”

How would anyone know.

As I thought that, Narke pointed toward my heart area.

―”Your mana, I mean. Your mana is so unique that I can’t help but notice. Be careful.”

―”Is that so? Thank you.”

―”‘Is that so?’ You didn’t know? Julia also knows your….”

Narke stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

―”Why Julia?”

―”Haha, it’s nothing~”

Just as I was about to ask for details, someone spotted us and approached with quick steps. From their attire, I could see they were one of the Imperial Mages.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yes. How did the investigation go?”

“As we sent to Bavaria, Chief Prosecutor Erich Rib and Detective General Manager Christina Heringen were in direct contact with Primrose Pass. There were no individuals connected to Pleroma.”

“Just those two?”

“For now, yes. Actually, the fact that the Primrose Pass investigation was concluded was Chief Prosecutor Erich Rib’s decision, so….”

So even if it’s just those two, there’s nothing particularly strange about it.

That makes sense.

“Ah, today’s events are confidential. His Majesty said he won’t cut them off immediately.”

“Understood.”

Cutting them off immediately would only raise suspicion.

Especially once we discover Pleroma, we need to be even more careful.

If we cut off Pleroma all at once, it would only convey to them that ‘the Emperor has identified who the Pleroma politicians are and is trying to eliminate them.’ It would be giving them time to defend themselves.

“Then, you just need to verify once more with the remaining individuals whether our verification was correct.”

“Understood. Then where are the Chief Prosecutor and Detective General Manager?”

“Since you need to meet with them later, we’ve moved them to another room.”

I nodded and entered the place he led me to for the final inspection.

And about 30 minutes later, I came out feeling refreshed.

‘Everyone did well.’

No one connected to Pleroma or Primrose Pass beyond what’s expected.

Working with Narke significantly shortened the time.

I moved to where the mage I met earlier was leading me.

“This way. I’d like to give you plenty of time, but if the spell stays on too long, it could damage the brain, so you must conduct the interview for only 10 minutes and come out.”

“Understood. See you in 10 minutes.”

I answered briefly and closed the door.

“Now….”

I said that while examining the faces of the two prosecutors.

‘Looking at it now, the other mages are even more extreme than me.’

It’s an interrogation method that seems to have no concept of human rights.

I don’t know how many layers of mental manipulation spells they had cast, but these people were practically asleep. If their shoulders hadn’t been secured to the chairs, they would have already collapsed to the floor.

“Let’s begin now.”

As I said that and tapped the desk with my hand, they flinched at their fingertips.

I spread out the interrogation record I had received earlier. Most things had already been answered.

“You know that the ‘Chairman’ is an important person at Primrose Pass.”

The problem was, looking at the records, these people didn’t know anything beyond that either.

Since I only have 10 minutes, I need to ask questions carefully.

What should I do.

‘Business.’

New business. Expansion of fields.

‘And it seems to require quite a bit of capital….’

They might have used that for lobbying.

First, asking about capital would be inappropriate.

“If Primrose Pass’s business expansion had been successful, you would have received more money. Since the profit would be considerable, you people with no connection to Pleroma would have tried to remove Primrose Pass from the investigation list.”

“….”

“Or have you already received it?”

Both showed a reaction.

It felt strange to be getting answers mostly through finger movements, but it was time to adapt.

I snapped my fingers and lifted the spell from them.

“…Hm?”

“Ah, are you feeling a bit more alert?”

Suddenly Narke looked at me.

Here I need to deceive them with words again.

“A suspicious person presumed to be affiliated with Primrose Pass attacked you, Prosecutor, so you’re currently in the hospital. I came to you after receiving a request for investigation support regarding this incident.”

“…Ah….”

“Just now, you were extremely angry about being stabbed in the back by people you trusted. It was quite shocking. You’ve helped them in so many ways, yet they attempted murder just because they had complaints…. Your shoulder where you were stabbed must hurt a lot.”

I trailed off while observing their expressions.

They repeatedly closed and opened their mouths with furrowed brows. It seemed closer to confusion rather than doubt.

“…Very well. I heard that Primrose Pass is preparing a new business venture. The amount they lobbied you with wasn’t small, but I heard this investigation has caused setbacks.”

“…Even so, that’s too much…. I did my best….”

“Of course you did your best, Prosecutor. So, what field is this new business they’re attempting? You can tell me, can’t you?”

“It won’t pass.”

I exchanged glances with Narke.

The Chief Prosecutor muttered with a twisted expression.

“Now that it’s come to this, I must stop it. How dare they…. One letter would be enough….”

“What field is the business in?”

“I haven’t heard the details yet, but what those bastards do… it’s all similar stuff.”

“Then, who will you write the letter to?”

“Just circulating it to my seniors and juniors in the Federal Committee would finish those bastards. After how much I’ve looked out for them, now they dare to….”

Certainly.

Since they’re not Pleroma but just people who took bribes from Primrose Pass, their betrayal is swift too.

If they were Pleroma, their interests would be complexly intertwined, so a simple assassination attempt might not have made them turn over like this.

But anyway….

I opened my mouth with a smile.

“You’re about to introduce legislation?”

“Well, it hasn’t even passed the deliberation committee yet. I was going to speak well for it to help it pass, but…”

“Do you think it will pass?”

“How could it? I’m going to block it.”

I had gotten everything I could from this line of questioning.

Then there was only one thing left for me to do.

“Good. Thank you for your cooperation.”

* * *

[Federal Committee February Regular Session Tentatively Postponed]

Narke unfolded the newspaper and thrust it in front of us.

It was a cleanly written article title without any unnecessary additions.

“Wow… the backlash from this is going to be no joke~”

Elias fluttered the newspaper with a cold smile.

Right.

The backlash should be no joke.

Using the Emperor’s power, I had blocked the Federal Committee’s regular session from being held.

Though he was an enemy, this time it was much easier since his child’s safety was at stake.

‘The problem is that this also means imperial power is strong enough to manipulate the council at will…’

That’s not important right now.

What’s certain is that Primrose Pass’s new business requires legislation, and that can no longer happen in the near future.

“I guess they’re finally thinking of coming out from underground?”

Leo muttered.

“They probably will. Now, let’s prepare to go in.”

“Is blocking those guys’ plan finished with this~?”

“No. Now they’ll try to find a breakthrough, so they’ll move again.”

But now I had promised the Emperor to raid the council.

There was no escape route for them. Though they didn’t know it yet.

“Since we don’t have time, we need to work with two identities in parallel. Let’s think about what identities to create.”

Business, and legislation.

It seemed like I could touch their needs using these two things.

What kind of identity would successfully hook them?

“Luca, how about an investor? I actually want to watch.”

“Isn’t it that you want to do it?”

“No! It suits you. Luca looks like he only studies, so that kind of money-handling role suits you perfectly. I won’t accept anything else.”

Why can’t Elias accept it?

What does this guy have about my image…

Leo shook his head.

“That’s true, but if a model student grew up to become a businessman, he should invest in something decent, not throw money away at a place like Primrose Pass. Like Elias said, Lucas’s appearance is the problem. How could it not be suspicious for someone who looks like he’d live respectably to approach a business that’s currently under search and seizure and offer money?”

Narke asked with gleaming eyes.

“What if I went in~?”

“It’s the same if you go in. You don’t look like you’d live thoughtlessly either. …Though I wonder about someone else.”

“What an honor~”

At that answer, Leo glared at Elias. Elias laughed refreshingly and snapped his fingers.

“How about a politician with connections to Federal Committee legislators? If that’s not good either, acting as an aide or nephew wouldn’t be bad.”

Narke answered with a laugh.

“Oh, that’s not bad. But what if Primrose Pass investigates~”

“Just brainwash them as soon as we get in.”

“…”

When I responded with a hollow laugh, Elias came up with another answer on his own.

“Or a gangster who wants to work there.”

“There are people who want to work at a completely failing establishment… Given the nature of this illegal business, there’s no future and they should be preparing to escape.”

“Haha, and from Primrose Pass’s perspective, that’s completely unhelpful. To meet the Chairman, shouldn’t it be a much more impactful figure?”

“That’s true, but there’s really nothing we can do~? That’s why approaching as an investor is best.”

Elias rattled off his plan to Leo and Narke.

I listened to their conversation while lost in thought.

“I’ll have to act like a playboy.”

The moment I said that, the talking stopped abruptly.

Everyone’s gaze turned to me. Elias looked around quickly, saw everyone looking at me, then looked back at me.

“…”

“Huh?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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