How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 282

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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 (282)

 

Even after the divine light receded, various parts of the library still sparkled. Friedmann’s eyes, frozen with his mouth agape, trembled violently. I waited for the divine power to completely fade before rising from my seat.

 

“There’s quite a lot.”

 

“…Wait, what…!”

 

Crash—!

 

“Ahhh!”

 

As I swung my staff, Friedmann, who had been charging at me after kicking his chair away, collapsed to the floor. He grabbed his bleeding nose and jerked his head up. He probably wasn’t even familiar with divine spells, yet his situational awareness was remarkably quick. I suppose he had to be, since he needed to protect the secrets of this place even at the cost of his life.

 

I pressed Friedmann’s head to the floor with magic and pulled out the nearest glowing document. I could see a photograph of a letter along with a label marked 2/28. A classified document from a week ago.

 

“Unfortunately, it seems your obsessive-compulsive disorder hasn’t subsided for even a moment since you created this archive. And that’s not enough for you…”

 

If confidential information warranted burning as instructed, they would use disappearing ink that fades over time like Gelda Asmann did, or attach time-limited artifacts when sending them. Yet despite being told to burn them, you photographed them and even attached date labels? I really admire this method. I squinted and smiled as I flipped to the back page of the letter.

 

“You’re someone who terribly refuses to listen to orders.”

 

“This…!”

 

“Frustrated?”

 

I grabbed every glowing document I could get my hands on. Then I approached where he had fallen, made him lift his head, and began reading the letters. The sensation of hair in my hands was unpleasant.

 

“…! Ahhh!”

 

“So you were already receiving kickbacks. No matter how poor relations between countries might be, I did find it a bit curious that the Imperial Central Hospital doesn’t use Bavarian pharmaceuticals when even the Emperor’s personal physician is a doctor from Bavaria… I suppose you’d want to buy products from companies that stuff money in your pockets, right? Even if they’re counterfeit goods. Where did you spend the money you received?”

 

“…H-hospital operations…”

 

“Then what did you record in the ledger for the extra money that came in through you? If what you’re saying is true, we could order an audit right now.”

 

“…”

 

I simply smiled and dropped the classified stamped documents on top of him. Moving to another letter, I saw a name from the list that Jurgen Beck had written.

 

“A letter from a familiar name. Wasn’t this person also a supporter of Adrian Ascanien?”

 

Though written at length, in short it was asking whether they could do more of what they had done before. I said while reading it.

 

“I don’t like the class system. But setting aside my personal preferences, when we talk about the practical differences that social status creates, the story changes.”

 

“Why is that relevant now…?”

 

“Seeing that you use the surname Friedmann despite being a new noble, your paternal line must have been Jewish commoners. Given that there was a marriage between noble and commoner on your maternal side, your paternal ancestors probably matched the appropriate rank to some degree, but even so, this number of servants and this grand mansion is quite surprising. Answer me. Have you lived in this mansion for generations?”

 

Friedmann clamped his mouth shut with a face full of fear. He seemed unwilling to answer, but due to the divine power, he unconsciously shook his head. I pulled out other glowing letters and documents.

 

“I thought not. Looking at how you have multiple servants and even own a grand mansion in Berlin, you appear to be bourgeoisie who had a foundation from the beginning, but the problem is why such a magnate is so desperately clinging to Adrian Ascanien. You could support him since there’s no small amount of money that will move on this continent following Adrian Ascanien’s ascension, but you were unusually desperate beyond reason. Someone of your standing could walk the royal road in Prussia itself, never mind Anhalt, but your judgment that you couldn’t do so means that something among your resources is particularly lacking, and what does this mean?”

 

What does it mean indeed?

 

I smiled while engraving each letter written on the paper into my mind.

 

“It means you lack connections. It means you’re nouveau riche.”

 

“…”

 

“Seasoned nobles and politicians have too solid a foundation to take your hand. In their eyes, you’re just a mere doctor who can come whenever called to their homes, with nothing worth treating as an equal. Of course, the same applies to Adrian Ascanien, but he has his circumstances, so that’s fine.”

 

“How did you…?”

 

“So it seems you wanted to draw Adrian Ascanien’s followers who are in similar circumstances to your side. Judging by how familiar names appear abundantly in every letter you unfold.”

 

“…”

 

How fortunate. I’ve finally met someone with useful materials. If only he hadn’t tried to kill me, I would have lived without knowing, but he’s digging his own grave.

 

What I need isn’t money but people, and the Empire’s public opinion. He, lacking political foundation, is someone who cannot satisfy my needs.

 

Just then, I heard a familiar sound.

 

Ding—!

 

Retry Lv. 6

 

— 【Chapter 7】 Check Point

 

* 1. ‘Theatine Cathedral Holy Communion’

 

* 2. ‘Andrea Friedmann’s Manor’

 

If I’m not careful, the opportunity to return to the cathedral will disappear. It’s time to wrap things up.

 

I touched my ear. No artifact. He probably removed and discarded it. I exhaled deeply and reluctantly tapped the magic connected to Leo’s core to send a signal. Then I grabbed Friedmann by the collar and lifted him up.

 

“Cough…! Wait, wait…!”

 

“Now, tell me.”

 

The despair that had filled his eyes since I ransacked the archive had now deepened further. Of course, it didn’t matter to me.

 

“What exactly are the defensive formulas placed on this archive?”

 

* * *

 

“The blood of Christ.”

 

“…”

 

My eyes snapped open.

 

A familiar moment was unfolding again. Theatine Cathedral. I had extracted all information from Friedmann and used retry to turn back time before checkpoint 1 was pushed out.

 

Right now I was rising to get in line to receive the holy blood, with Leo and Narke in the line ahead of me.

 

I had returned.

 

Though it was a day I didn’t want to return to, I had still returned. Memories of what happened here were replaying, making my skin crawl. At the same time, I felt like laughing. Now here, I would use any method to make those three days of sleep never happen, and leave no trace for my brother.

 

“…!”

 

Then, Leo suddenly turned his head from the front seat. His face, which had been peaceful just moments before, hardened with a thud and filled with shock. The moment I smiled to greet him, I bumped my head against the chair.

 

Crash— Bang—!

 

“Ah.”

 

I covered my bumped head and squinted. He probably didn’t mean to, but Leo grabbed me by the collar.

 

“How…! Wait, you…!”

 

Has this guy finally lost his mind? I quickly sensed the atmosphere around us frozen in shock and hastily cast a sound-blocking spell. I put strength into removing his hand.

 

“…Yes, nice to see you again. Let’s save the greetings for later.”

 

“That’s not it, that’s not what’s important.”

 

Now I’m getting chills in a different sense. The people standing around us are still frozen in confusion at Leo’s bizarre behavior. Even Elias.

 

“Your Highness…!”

 

“Leo?! Hey! What’s wrong with you…!”

 

“Come out.”

 

I was about to kick him as usual but glanced at the King and carefully helped him up.

 

“Lucas. Wait, I need to tell you…!”

 

“What is the matter?”

 

The King spoke in a terrifying voice. Leo stood there blankly, pressing his temple hard while looking at me. He seemed unable to grasp what was what yet. It was understandable for him to react like that. The current Leo would be confusedly accepting the fact that I had died once and awakened at this spot, and even that I had drunk human blood. The bewildering atmosphere continued. Soon Leo opened his mouth.

 

“I apologize.”

 

A tone without an ounce of sincerity. I could see the King’s eyes growing cold. He changed his tone and spoke to Leo.

 

“I have educated you poorly. Follow me after this ends.”

 

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“…”

 

A gag order would soon be placed on what happened here. Though there wouldn’t be any particular problems even if it became known, it was for the dignity of the royal family.

 

The line gradually shortened, and soon it was my turn. My heartbeat, which had been relatively calm until just now, was slowly accelerating. So when I stood before the deacon, I already felt as if someone was pounding on my eardrums.

 

“The blood of Christ.”

 

“…”

 

The voice I had heard before, the exact same words.

 

I snapped to attention and carefully received the chalice the deacon offered. I could feel Leo’s gaze, held down by Elias, persistently clinging to me. I would do the same in his position. With this, we would test the hypothesis we had established.

 

The one second of bringing the chalice close to my lips felt like an eternity. The moment the wine touched my lips, no sound could be heard. The alcohol spread across my tongue. It was ordinary wine with a watered-down taste, just like before. I could vividly feel the movement of the alcohol going down my throat and descending below my esophagus.

 

“…”

 

When I didn’t hand over the chalice, the deacon gave an awkward smile. I stared blankly at his face and thought.

 

‘…Nothing.’

 

Nothing happened.

 

Success. Our prediction had been correct.

 

Then let’s take it one step further. The holy blood had reacted to my soul at that time. Though souls and such sound unrealistic to me as a 21st-century person, I could accept it since there was already precedent of only the contents changing. No, I had to.

 

Now the problem was why the holy blood reacted to my soul. This was the issue.

 

As I returned to my seat, I could see Elias pressing down on Leo’s leg. I made eye contact with Leo and sat back down.

 

After that, I don’t know what state of mind I was in while sitting there. I just sat staring straight ahead.

 

“…Eternal Father, for all sinners in purgatory and sinners in the Church throughout the world and sinners in my household and family, together with all Masses offered throughout the world today, I offer You the most precious Blood of Your Son Jesus. Amen…”

 

As the Mass was concluding, I heard the priest’s voice.

 

Unlike the previous timeline, it ended smoothly. Now it was time to go to Berlin.

 

* * *

 

“Lucas. Let’s go take photos. I’ve been waiting just for the day to come to Berlin.”

 

It’s Berlin.

 

In this timeline, Haike was following me around. It’s interesting how my friends’ reactions change slightly each time I rewind time.

 

I opened the warp mailbox and asked.

 

“Photo studio?”

 

“Yeah. And after that, I’m going to the park to take pictures of birds. Want to come with me?”

 

“So you like taking pictures too.”

 

I smiled and replied like that, then unfolded the letter.

 

Four hours since I sent my letter. This time, Hyung’s letter arrived after four hours had passed. The content was also different from before.

 

[You’ve returned to Berlin. I’m glad it seems you had a good time with your friends. I sincerely congratulate you on Anhalt’s Grand Cross as well. It’s truly a monumental achievement. I’d love to meet you in person and throw a congratulatory banquet, but I can’t, which is truly regrettable.

 

….

 

I often praise you to the Imperial Government, Luca. I hope your life at Eschete becomes even a little more comfortable. As I told you when you were first selected, if you have any difficulties while living as a Royal Mage, no matter how trivial, please tell me. I’ll advise and help you as your brother and senior. I hope you can live even a little more comfortably after all the hardships you’ve endured.]

 

Peaceful. Up to this point, it was much more peaceful than the previous letter. However, the next part was similar to before.

 

[Also, I’ve commissioned the Deputy Director of Imperial Central Hospital to conduct a precise examination and supplementary treatment of your core. He’s someone who has always said he wanted to examine you, and his skills are reliable. He’ll come to the school to pick you up soon.]

 

In the previous timeline, he didn’t commission the examination, and instead the Deputy Director directly secured the attending physician position from Adrian Ascanien. At that time, he said the Deputy Director had contacted him ‘the day before yesterday,’ so by today’s date, that ‘day before yesterday’ would be in the future.

 

This time, Hyung prepared first. As expected, he wants to know what state my core is in.

 

“….”

 

This made the possibility more certain. Adrian Ascanien was predicting that the mass that day would cause abnormalities in me.

 

‘How.’

 

Bavaria mobilized even Arcane Mages to thoroughly search through everyone who was in that cathedral that day like catching mice, but no culprit emerged. How is that possible in a game board without a culprit? Could Ash Wednesday really be the variable? It would be an absurd possibility though.

 

I shook my head and stared intently at the letter.

 

[If you have time this weekend, would you like to come to Italy? I miss seeing family after so long.]

 

He wants to confirm it directly.

 

This made one more thing certain. In the previous timeline, he was almost convinced that something had happened to me. He noticed that a change had occurred in me just from my collapsing during the mass.

 

But not this time. He’s suspicious that his prediction might have truly failed, so he wants to see with his own two eyes.

 

I folded the letter, put it in my pocket, and moved to Leo’s Room. I had asked him to draw just a little blood. Leo was just rolling up his sleeve and putting on a bandage.

 

“…I feel sorry as soon as I arrive to this scene….”

 

“You know how to feel sorry?”

 

Leo smiled and shrugged his shoulders. What does this guy think of me? I had no choice but to ignore those words.

 

I received the bottle containing blood and transformed its appearance into an elixir. Although I couldn’t change the taste, I thought this way I could at least swallow it without vomiting. I gently swirled the blue liquid, closed my eyes, and poured it into my mouth.

 

Disgust surged up, but this time I was able to swallow it. Leo, who had been watching me with his arms crossed, tilted his head and asked.

 

“Tasty?”

 

“….”

 

I almost spat out the blood that remained in my mouth without realizing it.

 

“Why do you keep making such nonsensical remarks? Would it taste good to you, logically speaking?”

 

“That’s not what I meant. I mixed in a lot of healing magic power on purpose, so I wondered if the taste might have changed.”

 

“…Ah, yeah. It’s better than just drinking blood.”

 

I’m becoming overly sensitive about blood. It might be because I’m doing something that’s unforgivable religiously, socially, and humanly. Just as I was trying to calm my mind and become composed, Leo said something that made my efforts meaningless. As expected, the reason he asked about the taste was because of this.

 

“You threw it all up last time.”

 

“….”

 

“What happened there?”

 

“You probably know roughly.”

 

“I need to hear it from your mouth. Until I hear it from your mouth, I won’t know what you went through.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders. I could feel Leo’s gaze becoming sharp. I didn’t particularly have anything to say. I didn’t want to deliver the final blow with unnecessary words, and it’s better not to know about things that have already passed. For my friends’ mental health as well.

 

“I drank it well.”

 

Though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to express it this way after eating part of a person. I put the medicine bottle down on the table and turned around to leave.

 

This time too, I revived the communication artifact and arrived at the Main Gate. Andrea Friedmann sent a message asking if he could meet in 30 minutes this time as well. His impatience was the same this time too. This timeline’s Friedmann also wants to obtain evidence to get rid of me as quickly as possible.

 

“Good day, Your Excellency.”

 

We met.

 

The somewhat irritable-looking new human extended his hand to me with a reasonably warm smile.

 

“I am Andrea Friedmann from Imperial Central Hospital. I’ve come to personally escort Your Excellency after receiving a commission for a precise core examination. These two gentlemen here are core specialists from our hospital.”

 

“I heard the news. Nice to meet you.”

 

I smiled and shook hands with them, then warped to Central Hospital while holding Andrea Friedmann’s hand.

 

“There are quite a lot of people.”

 

“The area where the core examination rooms are located is always like this. There are many people who want examinations, and many examination rooms to go around. Now, please enter from here.”

 

He gave the exact same answer as before. Andrea Friedmann led me to the room on the left. There was examination equipment that looked similar to what I had seen at Bavaria. I looked at one of the doctors who came with Andrea Friedmann.

 

“The gentleman next to you uses divine power, I see?”

 

“You have good insight. That’s correct. Could you shoot some magic power for a moment?”

 

The same instruction as before. When red magic power spread over the silver tray, the doctor checked the numbers written on the artifact and nodded.

 

“No problems. Now we’ll inject magic power into Your Excellency. We can determine the degree of damage based on how your core reacts, so please wait even if it stings for a moment.”

 

The other doctor took my arm, removed his gloves, and suddenly injected magic power below my wrist. The doctor smiled as if amazed and let go of my hand.

 

“No problems at all this time either. Your core condition is remarkably good, which is surprising.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

I acted with a slightly displeased expression and touched near my heart as I asked. At that moment, Andrea Friedmann began observing me intently.

 

It was almost time for my back to get electrocuted, and he must have been preparing for that too. Since I can’t get electrocuted again, I’ll change the development here.

 

“I have a slightly uncomfortable part. May I ask about that part?”

 

At those words, the two doctors looked at Friedmann. A light of ‘finally, an opportunity’ flashed across Friedmann’s expression. He put on a serious expression and said.

 

“Of course. Please tell us. Fixing that is our job.”

 

“Actually, it might just be my imagination, but I still feel like there’s a slight gap. I wonder if it’s the aftermath of my core not functioning normally until last year. Because of this, I often feel like my balance crumbles during training. Do you know of a treatment?”

 

“Does that feeling disappear naturally?”

 

“It gets a little better when I drink elixirs to replenish my magic power. Of course, it’s only a temporary effect. Do you happen to have tools or methods to examine this at Imperial Central Hospital?”

 

To a doctor who knows the exact workings of elixirs, this could be dismissed as insignificant. Nevertheless, Friedmann’s eyes sharpened for a moment. The point about ‘replenishing magic power’ seems to have sounded different to Friedmann. Of course it would. He wants to know whether I have the property of absorbing magic power or not.

 

“….”

 

Friedmann and the other two doctors exchanged glances.

 

It’s obvious what they’re thinking. Friedmann stroked his chin and opened his mouth.

 

“We haven’t received safety testing yet, but we do have one tool that we’ve developed. Of course, we can’t guarantee that we can eliminate the discomfort in your core, and we also lack clinical results on what happens when we use this tool on various people….”

 

Caught.

 

The moment Friedmann spoke, the flow of minute divine power coming from the doctor who could use divine power changed. From now on, he’s preparing to use divine power on me. He’ll put that machine on me and then, as soon as problems arise, erase my memory and make me believe that I went berserk.

 

I smiled and nodded.

 

“Is that so? What big trouble could there be? Anything is fine, so let’s just try it.”

 

When Friedmann smiled and gestured, one doctor warped elsewhere and brought the machine I had seen before.

 

“It will sting.”

 

The machine I had seen before wraps around my forearm. Two needles from below my wrist stabbed and penetrated my skin. I could see the doctors exchanging glances with slightly tense expressions. The wavelength of their magic power was becoming increasingly rigid. One doctor pressed the second button from the top.

 

Clunk—

 

My core shook greatly, and I had to try to maintain my balance. Andrea Friedmann’s gaze sharply swept over me, my wrist, and near my heart where my core would be. Magic power drained from my core, making me dizzy. That sensation was brief, and magic power began surging madly from my core and circulating throughout my body. As healing magic spread throughout my body while I experienced this with a clear mind, I felt slightly nauseous.

 

When I looked down at my wrist calmly with a peaceful face without showing anything, the doctors again exchanged bewildered glances. Now confusion appeared on their faces. Well, normally ten out of ten people would collapse after having their magic power drained by this machine. Up to that point, all humans are the same. What they want to know is whether the core absorbs others’ magic power in a critical situation or not.

 

I exhaled and leisurely observed their changing expressions before asking.

 

“Is this not supposed to happen? It seems like some other reaction should appear?”

 

“Excuse me? No, that’s not it. It’s not that….”

 

“What exactly is this tool?”

 

“…It’s a device that cleans impurities from the core.”

 

“I see. In any case, this hasn’t resolved the strange discomfort yet.”

 

“What exactly do you feel?”

 

“It feels like magic power is being sucked into the machine. I’m dizzy, so I’m actually barely managing to stand.”

 

“…Do you perhaps feel anything returning to your core? This machine is shooting magic power into your core.”

 

Even telling clever lies.

 

It’s true that someone’s magic power is flowing in from the machine. But normally magic power doesn’t return to the core. He’s speaking as if that’s exactly how it should be.

 

“Is that so? As you can tell if you check, I don’t feel that at all for some reason.”

 

One doctor placed his hand on my arm. He looked at his colleague with an even more confused face and put his hand in his gown pocket. There’s definitely a syringe with anesthetic or sedative in there. Since Friedmann just had a troubled expression and didn’t send any other signals, the doctor had no choice but to take his hand out of his pocket soon. Before they could electrocute me again, I said this.

 

“If you need more confirmation, I’ll come again tomorrow. Do you have time?”

 

“Of course. We can make time anytime for Your Excellency.”

 

Friedmann said in a soulless voice.

 

This time went smoothly too. I received my prescription and went out to the hospital lobby. Because Friedmann followed me around, the employees in the hospital kept getting up from their seats to greet me and him. Surprisingly, he didn’t stop there and grabbed hold of me.

 

“I’ll escort you there.”

 

I looked at him intently while smiling. How thoughtful of him to say what I needed to say for me.

 

“…Please do. However, this time I’ll be entering through the back gate, so I’d appreciate it if you could warp to the coordinates near the Spree River instead of these coordinates.”

 

Friedmann grabbed my hand without much suspicion and warped. A tree-lined street with no passersby spread out before us. All the buildings that should have been around were hidden by the forest-like arrangement of street trees.

 

“Your Excellency, if you have time now, may I invite you to my house?”

 

As expected, Friedmann and I are of the same mind right now.

 

“Hmm, why?”

 

“I have more to tell Your Excellency about core health.”

 

“…”

 

“If you have plans with your friends…”

 

“Yes. So it’s a bit difficult. How about the weekend instead?”

 

“Weekend. That’s fine.”

 

Friedmann blinked and licked his lips with his tongue. Then he smiled apologetically.

 

“I was too hasty. I wanted to eliminate the discomfort remaining in Your Excellency’s core as soon as possible.”

 

“Haha, I’m grateful, but you don’t need to go that far. Thank you for today. Should I come to the hospital at 3 o’clock tomorrow as well?”

 

I smiled while saying words I didn’t mean.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Good. See you next time.”

 

I said that, turned around and walked a little, then ran back toward the doctor.

 

“Doctor!”

 

“Yes?”

 

Friedmann stopped his hand that was about to warp and asked.

 

“You’ve known my hyung for a long time, haven’t you.”

 

“Rather than knowing him well, I’ve been greatly indebted to him since he was young.”

 

“I’ve changed my mind. I want to go to your house now, Doctor.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I want to give my hyung a gift, but I don’t have anyone appropriate to ask.”

 

“Even if you ask me about such a topic…”

 

“Well, you’d be no help at all.”

 

As my tone changed, Friedmann’s face instantly hardened. I grabbed his hand and pulled it sharply.

 

“…!”

 

—Enter through the narrow entrance.

 

I caught him as he was about to collapse and spoke into his ear.

 

“From now on, you won’t be able to remember anything I tell you at all. There’s no problem, so just let it flow past. And…”

 

I put my hand under his wrist and said.

 

“I heard news that the Imperial Central Hospital’s kickbacks were delivered to media companies. Surely this was something only you and the pharmaceutical company knew about? We need to check immediately whether there’s been a security problem at your house…”

 

“…!”

 

Even unconsciously, he wrinkled his face and tried to lift his head. With this, I secured his cooperation.

 

I patted his shoulder and smiled.

 

“Let’s move to your house right now.”

 

* * *

 

As the sun was setting, Andrea Friedmann paced in the hall of his manor.

 

After conducting Lucas Ascanien’s examination and taking him to school, Friedmann immediately moved to his manor. There was no reason to linger at the hospital any longer. He had to discard his flawed hypothesis and devise a way to completely expose Lucas Ascanien’s true nature.

 

‘That can’t be right.’

 

There’s no way he could be that fine.

 

Seeing that Adrian Ascanien finally sent a letter asking for a core examination, there must be something, so why isn’t any abnormality being detected?

 

Even when he used the tool he had prepared in advance, Lucas Ascanien remained unchanged. It was something he had left as a last resort due to its high danger from absorbing the user’s magic power, but he just sat there calmly as if receiving a simple injection. He hadn’t expected such results at all.

 

‘…His magic power wasn’t even completely drained in the first place.’

 

Just how much magic power does he have?

 

If so, there would be a need to improve the machine’s performance. However, Lucas Ascanien clearly said ‘it feels like my magic power is draining out’ and everyone agreed when they checked his pulse, so considering his nature, it would be normal for the magic power in the machine to be absorbed into his core. Seeing that his magic power was only being drained while the machine’s magic power wasn’t absorbed into his core, our hypothesis might be completely wrong, but…

 

You never know.

 

‘Maybe we need to completely drain him to know for sure.’

 

He said he’d come again tomorrow, so it would be worth executing the plan then. We have a doctor who can use divine power, so there’s no need to fear. Friedmann entered his room and reassured himself this way while sinking deep into the sofa. As he turned on the record player beside him and closed his eyes, strange sounds came from outside.

 

[Your Excellency, we have an appointment…!]

 

[What appointment! Get out of the way!]

 

[Aaaaah!]

 

‘Hmm?’

 

Crash—!

 

Friedmann’s eyes snapped open. Someone had torn down the door with magic power and burst in. The servant had collapsed from his attack and was rolling on the floor clutching his arm. A new human who spotted Friedmann began breathing heavily with a reddened face.

 

“You…!”

 

“Legislator?”

 

A federal legislator he usually knew grabbed him by the collar, filled with rage. Friedmann opened his mouth in disbelief.

 

“You…! What on earth have you done?! Do you even know what you’ve done?!”

 

“What? No, please calm down. You came to my house without any notice and suddenly this is what…”

 

“Calm down?! Calm down?!”

 

The legislator shouted and then grabbed his own throat. He slammed down the newspaper in his hand. Then he glared and spoke as if suppressing his anger.

 

“You’ve been dismissed. It’s over now. The board of directors unanimously kicked you out, and the prosecution just requested an arrest warrant. Do I need to spell it out like this for you to understand?! Did you know nothing until I told you?”

 

“…What? A warrant?”

 

“Ah, I don’t care whether you get dismissed or not! But what about me? What am I supposed to do?!”

 

The legislator’s renewed outburst wasn’t important.

 

Dismissed? By the board of directors? And why the prosecution? An arrest warrant?

 

The money I fed those two was how much…! This person must be mistaken. There’s no reason for me to be dismissed. The intruder alarm didn’t sound. My letters and documents are safely intact in that room, and those who have been taking money from me and giving money to me aren’t people who would carelessly run their mouths. Nevertheless, Friedmann hastily picked up the newspaper. An unbelievable sentence was written on the front page of the Imperial Newspaper.

 

[Imperial Central Hospital Vice Director Suspected Insider Trading Documents Found… Paper Companies and Relatives Used to Receive 23 Million Fel Over 5 Years]

 

[Exclusive] [Ten Thousand Ghost Patients? Imperial Central Hospital Board Unaware of Director-Vice Director Embezzlement for 5 Years]

 

[Imperial Central Hospital Manipulated Medical Performance Indicators with Federal Help… Illegally Obtained State Subsidies, Support Funds, and Health Insurance Money Totaling 48 Million Fel]

 

“The Emperor already ordered zero tolerance punishment because of Penthalon, and at this timing of all times…! I was crazy to trust you! Didn’t I repeatedly tell you to burn everything! What are we going to do now!”

 

The legislator’s voice became muffled as if underwater. His spine went cold. Friedmann felt the back of his neck grow chilly as he read the text again and again. Nothing changed.

 

“…Huh?”

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