How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 238

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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 (238)

4, 2, 5.

This isn’t a code in itself, nor is it a cipher that needs to be decrypted again. It’s a hint for solving the code.

“….”

A bewildered silence fell among the bureaucrats. One of them narrowed his eyes and asked.

“Are there also 11 holes in the stick?”

“That’s correct. Four letters from the front, skip once and two letters, skip once more and five letters. If you combine the alphabets written on the back of the matches, you’ll get a sentence made of three words. You might think this is speculation, but please consider that there was no reason to deliberately cut off the cross-section with alphabets written on it and also deliberately make precise gaps in the match body.”

“…Huh….”

“Also, if they hadn’t intended to use the serial numbers on the back of the matches as a code, why did the number of gaps and the number of matches with alphabets coincidentally match, and why did they bother to cut off the alphabets from the matches with holes… these are also topics worth considering.”

Also, as I mentioned earlier, the basement location and the rampage timing were quite coincidental.

6 PM was the time when the French representative team would move to their accommodations one by one. Even during the tour, I was told to bring them to the hotel by 7 PM. Since a hotel banquet was scheduled for 8 PM, they had to check into the hotel by 7 PM to unpack.

Considering that they deliberately set up a storage facility near the hotel where the risk of discovery was high, and the time when the rampage occurred, there’s a high possibility that the rampage incident was artificially caused targeting the representative team’s hotel entry time.

Why?

“Therefore, this contaminated rat incident is an event staged to ‘show’ us. I trust you all understand why this had to be done.”

Several bureaucrats nodded their heads.

“This way, we would be on edge about rat terrorism for the remaining 72 hours and voluntarily become rat catchers nationwide, leaving no time to pay attention to other plans. Today’s incident is likely a plan to hide other plans that Pleroma will actually execute. While we should strive to prevent terrorism by contaminated magical beasts, investing major resources in it would be a dangerous decision.”

“….”

“This concludes my analysis.”

The bureaucrats just looked at me without saying anything. It wasn’t resentment or dismissal. Their expressions were already different from earlier.

Someone from the fire department looked through the report with a serious face, then raised his head and asked another person.

“Police Chief of Brandenburg, Your Excellency. Do you have any recorded materials?”

“Well, I attached them at the bottom of page 31, but since it’s a photograph of all eleven matches taken together, the image quality isn’t very good.”

The Police Chief said that and added apologetically.

“At the time, I only thought they were simple serial numbers, and preparing for this meeting was too rushed to photograph every single side individually.”

Even though they just had subordinates take pictures and store them, they really had no time.

‘Well, I remember them anyway.’

The letters found in the basement at the time were A, E, E, G, L, L, N, S.

Including T, A, S found in spaces outside the basement, that makes A, A, E, E, G, L, L, N, T, S, S.

These eleven letters need to be combined.

This kind of code is a problem that time solves regardless of who works on it. So this can be left to the code decryption team.

When everyone was silently looking into space with serious faces, someone broke the silence from the front.

“It’s been a while since I heard such a refreshing answer.”

It was the King of Bavaria speaking.

It could have sounded like an opportunistic remark, but since the King’s taciturn and sharp-edged nature was already famous in political circles, it wasn’t received that way. His voice and expression now were also as calm as looking at a stone. His support would be beneficial to me if anything, never harmful, so I had no intention of viewing his calculated observation and well-timed praise unfavorably. This was natural in political circles.

The Crown Prince nodded with an appropriate smile.

“The King of Bavaria shares the same thoughts. Good. It must have been difficult to speak before us with an unwell body, and the Chief of Public Security must feel deep gratitude toward Vice-Director Ascanien.”

“…Yes, yes. Of course. Thank you.”

The Chief of Public Security bowed to me.

If there were a contest for making people feel burdened, Abraham would take first place within 10 minutes. I politely bowed to the Chief of Public Security to handle this suffocating situation.

The Crown Prince spoke.

“By staging that basement, Pleroma induced the conclusion that the Chief of Public Security reached. Now do you understand why I had to speak to His Excellency that way?”

“….”

“Go into the fire pit that threatens the safety of the people. How many people could keep that responsible person in position after hearing such words?”

The Chief of Public Security answered with a dark expression, barely managing to speak.

“I apologize. I never intended to put the people in danger. Now that I understand everything, if you could just give me one more chance….”

Everyone’s gaze was directed into space. Except for the two from Bavaria and the Prime Minister, no one looked at either the Crown Prince or the Chief of Public Security.

There must be more than one or two people in this room who reached the same conclusion as the Chief of Public Security. However, the Crown Prince knows this fact but is intentionally not bringing up that topic. Why? Because if he creates allies for the Chief of Public Security here, an alliance between them would form. The cornered Chief of Public Security would want to grab onto anyone, and currently everyone else would want to somehow avoid the situation to prevent ending up in that state.

In this extreme situation, if the Crown Prince points out another fool, he would fall to the same position as the Chief of Public Security, and another desperate struggle would begin.

In short, there should be only one target.

The Crown Prince just looked at the Chief of Public Security who couldn’t finish his words, then nodded.

“Of course. I clearly know that His Excellency had no malicious intent. Then I would like you to give me confidence once more, finally.”

“What kind of….”

“We must now find out what Pleroma’s new plan is and defend against it thoroughly.”

The Chief of Public Security’s face turned pale. If such a heavy task were to be assigned, there was a high possibility that the current situation would repeat itself.

“However, we must not forget that Penthalon is fundamentally under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Government. With only 72 hours remaining, please have the Public Security Headquarters support the government in every way possible so that there are no disruptions to the Imperial Government’s plans.”

At the Crown Prince’s following words, the Chief of Public Security stood there dazed. The Prime Minister, who understood the Crown Prince’s signal, added a word.

“Since the Public Security Headquarters is an organization under the Imperial Court, it cannot usurp the Imperial Government’s authority. The Imperial Government will be the backbone of this terrorism defense.”

It might sound rude to the Crown Prince beside him, but that wasn’t particularly the intention. Though it sounds rude, this statement relieves the Crown Prince of the weight of responsibility.

The same applied to organizations under the Imperial Court. The Chief of Public Security hurriedly answered, afraid of missing the opportunity.

“Yes. I will definitely do so. I will do my best. Thank you.”

The Crown Prince nodded and looked at the bureaucrats as he spoke.

“Listen, Imperial Government as well. Whatever resources and costs are needed, the Imperial Court will provide them all through the Public Security Headquarters. What’s important is the safety of the people, first and foremost.”

“We will keep that in mind.”

“Now, since we have our direction, it’s time for the Imperial Government to establish a control tower to discover and defend against Pleroma’s new plan. But before that.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze turned to me. The government bureaucrats also looked at me.

“From today until the opening day, Vice-Director Ascanien should rest at the Imperial Central Hospital.”

* * *

“You cannot go outside until 12 hours before the opening.”

I smiled as I looked at the doctor blocking my way.

An hour after the meeting ended, that is, when only 68 hours and 11 minutes remained until the opening, Abraham locked me up in the hospital.

Currently, since I had been given a sedative and woke up from sleep, only 56 hours remained.

I heard this was done in collaboration with the Bavarian government. They attached doctors from the Bavarian National Medical Center as my dedicated staff under the pretense of VIP treatment, but the reason for doing this was closer to political reasons.

‘Obviously.’

My remarks at yesterday’s meeting must have greatly influenced my hospitalization.

I added words like ‘my words are merely personal thoughts,’ but in fact, from the moment my argument was accepted at the meeting, the situation had been turning dangerous for me.

‘If problems occur during this Penthalon, there’s now a possibility that I could be held responsible.’

In other words, the Crown Prince and the Bavarian government put me in the hospital until the start to prevent any responsibility from falling on me.

The intention is to keep all responsibility with the government and Public Security Headquarters until opening day. I appreciate the intention, but shouldn’t I at least hear outside news?

“Please let me meet Captain Leonard.”

“Visits are prohibited. There were orders from His Highness the Crown Prince that you must take absolute rest.”

“Then at least give me a newspaper. I can’t stand the boredom.”

“Newspapers could also cause stress….”

“I don’t get particularly stressed.”

“But didn’t you lose consciousness before coming here?”

“That was just sleeping.”

I said that much and just smiled as I pushed the doctor outside. I really had just woken up from sleep, but there’s no way others would believe this. I was clearly aware that I had said something crazy.

I plopped down on the hospital bed and looked out the window where the morning sun had risen.

‘They must have started code decryption by now.’

What should I be doing for the remaining two and a half days?

I managed to prevent focus from being concentrated on the smokescreen incident Pleroma prepared, but I can’t just play around believing that the Imperial Government will find Pleroma’s real plan and prevent it in advance.

‘I should prepare too.’

I used magic to pull over the box of belongings Leo had delivered. At least they had some conscience, as the royal family had sent supplies to use for three days.

When I blew my magic into the keyhole, the box made a clicking sound and opened.

The box contained blank notebooks I had prepared for regular use, several artifacts I had commissioned Wittelsbach to make, and elixirs.

‘What’s this?’

Leo must have wanted me to have fun at the hospital, as there were several novel books recently published in Bavaria in the box. I had never read books in front of him, but seeing that all the books were mystery novels, he seemed to know my tastes well.

I could see a small whiskey bottle that seemed like something Elias had put in, and next to it was a stone fragment rolling around that Fai had definitely snuck in.

‘Hmm.’

I need to organize all the information discovered about Penthalon so far in a notebook, but since I have plenty of time, I’ll take it slowly.

For now, let me organize my luggage first. I put away several of my belongings from the box. I uncapped the whiskey, took a sip, and emptied the box.

‘Oh.’

There was another magical safe in the floor. I turned off the room lights, drew the curtains, then applied magic to the door crack to lock the hospital room door.

Despite my tension, what was inside were letters from my friends.

I picked up one of the letters that caught my hand.

[To my one and only friend (hide this from Leo)]

Who do you think would write something like this?

Obviously Elias.

When I opened the letter, I saw Elias’s writing in blackletter script from the very beginning.

[Luca. Read this and eat it to destroy it.]

I don’t know why he seriously wrote something like this.

[How are you doing?

It’s only been a day so it’s a bit much to say this, but I’m sure both you and I are getting restless by now, so let me ask.

Right now as you’re reading this, you’re probably in the hospital. I’m in the heart of Berlin. With Penthalon approaching, the streets are as excited as if they’re preparing for a world’s fair. The roads are covered with flowers you can only see in summer, and government-hired bands are giving guerrilla performances everywhere. Every shop you enter has Penthalon catalogs displayed while selling admission tickets. Oh, there’s more. Wherever you go, when you order alcohol, the shop owner says ‘To Penthalon’s victory!’ and hands you a glass. Flags of various countries drawn with magic pass through the sky all day long, and when you’re bored, just watching them makes time fly by. Since the opening is right around the corner, people’s faces never stop smiling. Especially the children are dying to play in the ‘Old German Street’ prepared for the Penthalon opening. While those kids were making noise outside, I discovered a victim who was about to go berserk inside and took them to the hospital… Anyway, to exaggerate a little, Berlin right now is like Easter came early.]

Since Elias is also a person from the 1800s, he writes proper letters.

Compared to him, I end everything in letters with just ‘ja’ and ‘nein’, so seeing this makes me feel a bit sorry.

[But I can’t smile alone in this city where everyone is laughing. Do you still remember the third test?]

‘Mm.’

I remember.

Now I know what he’s going to say.

[Of course you would definitely remember. The injustice of having to become a criminal for no wrongdoing, simply because of having shabby appearance and begging for food. And the injustice of being driven to the underground sewers to avoid that. I still can’t forget it. Even at this very moment, the ‘poor’ – that is… people with ragged clothes who can’t afford to maintain their appearance – are being indiscriminately caught on the streets and driven out to Brandenburg. They check how much the total annual household income is, and if you earn less than 1 million pael, you have to enter the workhouse outside regardless of where your livelihood is. That damn city beautification!

…

They have no choice. The plainclothes police roaming the streets now have been granted summary judgment authority. So I’m working with the city authorities to find a way to bring back the Berlin people who were scattered to Brandenburg and Saxony. I wanted to do this plan with you too, but unfortunately you got *dragged* to the hospital – His Majesty the next Emperor’s kindness is truly like heaven, isn’t it? – so I decided to move first. Anyway, this is why I wrote to you. Will you join me? Even if the opening ceremony ends safely, the lives of people scattered to workhouses won’t end there. Even when the closing day comes in 3 weeks, this problem won’t solve itself. In short, this is just the beginning. I’m always waiting for you, so think about it well while you rest and tell me on opening day. I’ll wait.]

I looked at his letter with a smile.

While I was figuring out how to prevent the terror attack on Penthalon, Elias was thinking about the people of this city. Of course, if 150,000 die from terrorism, that would be a problem too, so I don’t think I was doing something useless. I just laughed seeing again the reason why I liked that novel and its protagonist that I used to read obsessively before coming here, losing track of time.

Also, while Elias always brought his plans to me, seeing it in a letter like this felt refreshing.

‘Of course I have to join him.’

At least it’s work that doesn’t involve facing Pleroma, so it’s not very difficult like everything has been so far. It falls under most problems that can be solved by greasing palms and putting pressure on the parliament.

It’s good that while I focus on terrorism, Elias awakens my attention to other directions too.

But the letter was finished yet there was one more paper. When I turned to the next page, I saw a large circle that Elias had roughly drawn.

[p.s. Rabbit summoning button~]

“…”

Rabbit is what Elias calls Fai. I looked at it expressionlessly and was silent for a while.

What summoning button? It’s just paper.

‘But nothing to lose by trying.’

I lightly pressed the paper while channeling magic into my hand. At that moment, something grayish-brown suddenly appeared before my eyes and fell.

“Whoa!”

“Oh.”

It actually works?

I properly caught Fai who had fallen into my arms and placed him on the bed.

“Fai. It’s been a while.”

“Eoong.”

Fai shook his head left and right while trying to regain his balance.

“Why did you call me?!”

“Just, I was bored. Where were you?”

“I was at school~ eating!”

Where at school?

But that wasn’t important so I didn’t need to ask more.

Because a brilliant idea had just flashed through my mind.

“Fai. Sorry to ask you to do something right away… could you bring me today’s newspaper?”

“Newspaper? Sure~ But Elias had something he wanted me to deliver!”

“Did you become friends with Elias?”

Fai looked around nervously and shook his head vigorously. Then he immediately warped somewhere.

After about 3 minutes passed, I pressed that button once more.

Fai appeared before my eyes again with a small note in his mouth.

I unfolded the note that Elias had definitely left.

And at that moment, I discovered an unexpected phrase.

[The police station lost the white phosphorus matches.]

* * *

I currently have 42 points remaining in total.

And the special reward for Chapter 6 hasn’t opened yet. I could use it right now if I wanted to, but since this system seemed to exchange things it gives me based on the situation, I couldn’t open it right now. Instead.

‘Burst open when needed.’

Even though I commanded this, nothing appeared yet. It seemed it wasn’t time to burst yet.

Elias said ‘the police station lost the matches right after the meeting ended.’ Everything with alphabets disappeared except for that holey stick, and there are no proper photos taken either.

Summarizing the note Elias sent me again that evening goes like this.

Regarding the match theft, the police station presented this possibility: whoever set up the basement was simply imitating Pleroma, and pulled out because things seemed like they would get big.

Of course, now wasn’t the time to investigate that.

I came to a meeting room in a corner of the parliament again in Nicolaus form with spatial magic deployed.

How?

I cast mental manipulation magic on the doctor and escaped the hospital. I’ll reverse time soon. Though 2 points is a bit wasteful, there was information I needed to obtain here today, so I had to bear it.

I looked down at Legislator Alexander Kruger who was lying face down on the desk with his back held by my hand and said.

“You must have finished reading everything by now.”

Finally, I came to get information from that Pleroma legislator.

What I handed him was a report summarizing this terrorist incident. Since Narke is currently unavailable due to French representative team security duties, I had no choice but to use divine power on the legislator this time.

Since there’s magic I’ve wrapped around his core anyway, he won’t immediately explode and die from me using divine power, but the legislator said urgently with a face that looked like he might cry.

“I really, truly knew absolutely nothing. Pleroma really prepared such a terrorist plan? This isn’t Pleroma, but must be criminals impersonating Pleroma or just pranks. I really…”

“…”

“When you asked me about plans regarding Penthalon, I also tried to find related information from the religious order.”

Though I hadn’t asked anything, he continued speaking while panting.

“For exceptionally large-scale events like the Penthalon international competition, we must receive leadership approval and move as one. If each diocese moves in perfect unison, even things that should work can go wrong. Therefore, reports from dioceses everywhere are supposed to come to the leadership. And I’ve been investigating since hearing your words, but there wasn’t a single planned terrorist attack.”

“What are the disadvantages of acting without reporting?”

“It could even lead to the bishop’s expulsion. Usually all auxiliary bishops are deleted starting from the suffragan bishop, and the Bishop of the Diocese comes under leadership surveillance.”

“Deletion.”

“It means recovering the authority given to them.”

What a long way to say killing.

I stroked my chin and fell into thought. Not wanting to earn my distrust, he continued speaking.

“…As far as I know, the Diocese of Trier, Diocese of Regensburg, and Diocese of Hildesheim each inquired whether they could detonate biological weapons in their respective diocesan areas on the day of Penthalon, but the leadership immediately rejected them. So at least within the scope I can access, there were no reports approved by the leadership.”

“‘Within the scope I can access.’ You wouldn’t be in such a low position.”

“…That’s right. I’m in a position where I can put my name on the list for the next bishop examination. So, actually…”

The legislator stopped speaking and hesitated, then asked me with slightly sunken eyes.

“…If problems arise, you’ll definitely guarantee my interests, right?”

“Just your life isn’t enough, I see.”

The startled legislator opened his mouth to explain. I spread my hand to stop his words and said.

“Of course, since you’ve always given me tremendous help, if problems arise with the religious order, I can immediately protect your safety and get you a position as stable as now. You don’t need to doubt such things.”

“…This might be disinformation, but this is probably the truth. According to the documents I confirmed, they decided not to act now when anxiety about Penthalon is heightened, but to target the capitals of federal nations after Penthalon closes when vigilance has completely weakened.”

I stared intently into his eyes and slowly nodded. Whether it’s disinformation or not, this legislator is telling the truth about what he saw.

‘In other words, Pleroma has no intention of terrorizing Penthalon.’

At least that’s their official position.

I lightly tapped the table with my fingertips and said.

“That’s a decent approach.”

“…Is it? For us, this is the best option. After that Ascanien student triggered the Grand Hotel incident, concerns and bad reviews about our religious order already began growing. Since we’ve already earned extreme wariness, the possibility of any plan succeeding has decreased. So it’s better to take a friendly line toward overseas and change direction.”

“Hmm.”

Of course that would be the case.

The one carrying it out is a madman.

I’ve changed the future. Of course, if 10 crazy things were going to happen, I think I’ve only eliminated about half of them, but half is something.

“Let’s speak properly. It’s not that Ascanien’s reputation worsened after the hotel incident broke out, but rather their reputation worsened because you carried out terrorism at the hotel.”

“Th, that’s true…”

“Then you don’t know who orchestrated the corrupted magical beast terrorism?”

“That’s correct. Such… such a person would face severe disciplinary action. They’re someone who brings harm to the Order. So, as I said again, that corrupted rat was probably just the mischief of someone who isn’t from Pleroma. The matches disappeared too… Since things would definitely escalate, they probably just withdrew.”

“Then, Legislator, do you think nothing will happen on the day of Penthalon?”

“That’s correct. In the first place, to cause something large-scale in a stadium that accommodates 150,000 people, you’d need permission from the leadership. There’s no benefit in causing trouble without permission. How could there be any benefit when punishment would be carried out within the Order?”

I nodded and wrote down his words on the paper I brought, then withdrew the divine power I had been applying to his core as I spoke.

“Good. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Now this is the last one.

All that remains is to synthesize all the information I’ve gathered from two weeks ago until now.

* * *

[Your Excellency Ascanien. This is Emergency Response Commander Patrick Einhardt. As Your Excellency mentioned, we have discovered the ‘new plan’ that penetrates the entire Pentalon Main Stadium and Pentalon Event Grounds. There’s no need to despair. We still have plenty of time. We will not let our guard down, and we possess various resources to execute defense plans no matter what problems arise. For a successful opening, we now need Your Excellency’s help.]

I read the note that came to me and folded it before putting it in the fireplace.

Then, I tore up page by page the notebook where I had organized everything about the terrorism while confined here and threw them into the fire.

Two hours before the opening.

At 8 PM, colorful magical power continues to burst like fireworks in the dark blue sky. The sound of the Imperial Court band touring Berlin City echoes loudly through the building.

I finally put on Eszett’s ceremonial uniform and wore gloves. The moment I straightened my crooked hat and stood before the door, there was a knocking sound and I heard the voice of a guard assigned by the Imperial Court.

“Your Excellency Ascanien. It’s time to move.”

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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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