How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 37

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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 (37)

“You’ll grant all our demands? What do you mean by that?”

“This lawsuit won’t hold up anyway, just looking at the qualification requirements. It’s a case that will be dismissed, so there’s no need to grant the demands in the first place.”

The other party let out a frustrated breath at those words.

“What? Then why…?”

“Within 7 days, and nationwide real-time broadcast at that. The significance of this is that a platform will be created to express opinions nationwide before the public’s interest dies down.”

“Of course. That’s exactly why we shouldn’t give them a chance to speak, isn’t it?”

The other party unconsciously tapped the table with their finger, as if frustrated.

“I understand. But they’re not the only ones who can speak, are they?”

“What?”

“I mean we can use that speaking platform ourselves.”

The other party stopped their impatient reaction and looked at the Prime Minister with a face that seemed to understand something.

“To prevent the public from making the mistake of turning their arrows of criticism toward the Imperial Palace, we also need to state our position. The opponent happens to be Duke Elias. Without logical arguments and rebuttals, he’ll just express anger unable to control his temper and leave. Is there any reason to refuse?”

“…I see. He’s certainly a good opponent to show the public, but… didn’t you say the establishment requirements weren’t met?”

“That’s right. The lawsuit will go through proper procedures and then be dismissed.”

He stopped speaking and glanced at the newspaper on the table.

[Elias Hohenzollern Files Administrative Lawsuit Against Imperial Security Bureau… Why?]

“Just the fact that a lawsuit has been filed is already raising questions about whether the government did something wrong.”

“…Yes.”

“If we’re not careful, a dismissal ruling could worsen public opinion. The public, with clouded reason, will just be angry that a lawsuit against the government was dismissed. It’ll take about six months until dismissal, but if this problem is bigger than expected, six months won’t be enough time to resolve it. So, my intention to take control of the topic right now remains unchanged.”

He folded two fingers as he continued speaking.

“Not a trial, but participation in an extraordinary Federal Council meeting.”

* * *

Four days after the lawsuit, we gathered in the waiting room of the Federal Commission Building.

“No matter how I think about it, it’s amazing. How does everything move exactly as you said without a single error~?”

Elias laughed as he put on his suit jacket.

Leo frowned at the sight.

“Do you know you put on the jacket without even matching the shoulder seams of your shirt and vest?”

“Really? It looks fine to me.”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable when you wear it?”

“Yeah. Help me out.”

“…Sigh…”

Leo let out a deep sigh.

It seems Leo’s fatigue level has doubled since Elias arrived.

Anyway, they have no choice but to move within what we generally expected.

Both conditions we presented are signals saying ‘give us a place to speak to all the people.’

Both conditions are unprecedented.

Making such vague demands for a trial, given the timing, they can’t purely interpret this as wanting a trial.

‘If they interpreted it that way, they shouldn’t be politicians.’

Of course, they could have known everything and just waited for the ruling to be dismissed.

From here it was somewhat of a gamble, but there was a reason I could put weight on the side that those guys would attempt to contact Elias.

To the Empire’s nobility, Elias is seen as a troublemaker who doesn’t know how the world works and acts based on emotion.

Such a person, burning with momentary sense of justice, stands on the opposite side of the Imperial Palace and demands a place to speak to all the Empire’s citizens?

‘An easy opponent.’

Seeing that the Prime Minister personally moved venues to grant this unreasonable demand, he probably thought he could easily crush such a childish young man with political-economic logic.

The evidence showing that thinking is here.

[Federal Council-Elias Hohenzollern Public Dialogue D-4]

[Federal Council-Elias Hohenzollern Public Dialogue D-1]

[Civilian Participation by Non-Member, ‘First’ in Federal Council Meeting History]

[Federal Council Vice-Chairman Christian Schliffen “Please show great interest in the real-time broadcast public dialogue”]

[Original Informant Nicolaus to Participate as Advisor to Elias Hohenzollern’s Side]

These are the front-page reports from the Imperial Newspaper over the past four days.

The Federal Council isn’t blocking this at all and is even advertising it extensively.

If they had treated the dialogue as mere formality, not a single line of article would have appeared.

Since the government would have to actively step forward anyway if the insect issue grew, it probably seemed like a better propaganda picture to publicly attack and achieve a one-sided victory over a figure who stands in opposition to the government from the very start.

Elias, who had been wrestling with Leo over the jacket for a while, finally finished preparing and plopped down on the waiting room sofa.

Elias stared intently at my face, then pressed his lips together as if he might burst into laughter at any moment.

“If you’re going to say something, cast a sound-blocking spell.”

At Leo’s advice, Elias snapped his fingers and cast the magic.

“Is that good? No, I still can’t believe it. You’re that Nicolaus?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded soullessly.

The students in our group know that the contaminated insect presentation was conducted under Nicolaus’s name thanks to Leo’s hint, but they don’t know that he’s me.

But I told Elias, who had to stand with us, that I was Nicolaus before filing the lawsuit.

After answering the question ‘You’re Nicolaus?’ about fifty times, I was finally able to convince him only when Leo, unable to watch anymore, held up the black mask in front of his eyes.

‘It was rough.’

But Elias’s favorability definitely went up.

The favorability I checked just before telling the truth was 2.5.

And now it’s 4.5, so it went up by 2 points just from the fact that I’m Nicolaus.

Elias must have evaluated Nicolaus favorably.

Elias smiled and pointed at my face.

“Take off the mask again. You look like a completely different person since even your eyebrows and iris color change.”

“…No. Is there any chance of being caught here?”

I don’t have to take off the mask even inside the council.

We received help from the Bavarian Royal Family for that part. Even so, permission might not have been granted, but thanks to the royal family vouching for my identity, it didn’t become a big problem.

Although the people watching will find it somewhat strange… I have to accept that much.

At this time, since they might recognize me by my voice even with the mask on, I found an appropriate magic formula and slightly changed my voice.

It doesn’t sound strange to hear, but people who knew me before can’t tell it’s me.

Then, the waiting room door opened.

“Get ready. Broadcast starts in 30 minutes.”

“Yesss~”

“Keep your answers short.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t answer me, answer forward!”

Leo pressed his brow and sighed.

“I don’t know if I can trust you with this place…”

“Why not? Luca completely trusts me. You trust me too.”

Leo sent me a sharp look as I sat next to him, then nodded.

“…Right. He granted all your unreasonable demands. Why on earth?”

“Because I’ll win and come back.”

At my simple answer, Elias tapped the end of his crutch on the floor. It seemed to be instead of clapping.

“Hey, that’s really nice to hear.”

“…Right. Since we’re already going and there’s nothing we can do about it, please don’t do anything weird.”

“I won’t. I’m just going to persuade them and come back.”

“Physically?”

“No, I could do it another way… Anyway, I won’t hit anyone or use magic. Don’t worry.”

“What’s this other way?!”

“Calm down, Leo. Anyway, I’m the only one here who can speak most freely. If there’s only one path, just enjoy it.”

It’s true.

Elias is the right person for this job.

Leo or I stepping forward might be a passable option, but it can’t be the ‘best’ option.

Because even doing the same thing gets evaluated differently depending on who does it.

Unlike the protagonist who has been causing trouble for years but was always regarded as just living like a playboy, Leo and Nicolaus are different.

Even ordinary words could cost them a lot.

Elias has a relatively wide range of acceptable words and actions thanks to his history of causing trouble as naturally as breathing and his thoughtless image.

The image of being ‘originally that kind of guy’ is incredibly powerful – it’s an invaluable trait in the political world where nitpicking every word someone says is daily routine.

‘However, I should anticipate the risks.’

In the novel, Elias often got entangled in legal problems. Because there were cases where he didn’t end things with just words.

Since he’s still a minor, he won’t receive severe punishment, but I should still be prepared to be detained once or twice as his companion.

Having entered a novel where Elias is the protagonist, and having decided to make him an ally, it’s practically inevitable.

Others would naturally be reluctant, but knowing whose hands this country’s power will fall into in ten-odd years, I can tolerate this much. To maintain the situation in optimal condition, this isn’t the time to be picky either.

‘Of course… I don’t know if I’ll still be stuck in this crazy world before Elias becomes emperor.’

But if necessary, I could just accelerate the timing of him becoming emperor. This whole affair is already advancing the attention focused on Elias by about half a year anyway.

I checked my watch and leaned toward the table.

“Let’s go over this one last time. Today, it’s not me but you, Eli, who’ll be talking with the council members.”

“Great, verbal sparring is the best.”

“Isn’t fighting in general just the best for you?”

Leo muttered.

“I’ll speak up when necessary too, but I’m participating as an advisor from the start, not as someone leading the dialogue. Rather than that…”

“You’ll look for traitors. Right?”

“Right.”

I’ll participate together, but find those who have connections to Pleroma here. Any sprouts that could trip us up must be eliminated from the beginning.

It would have been nice if I could use Narke’s insight ability, but he has no justification to participate here.

Still, it doesn’t matter. It’s something I can handle on my own.

“I’ll basically leave all conversations to you. But to find out who the spy is, I’ll need to speak up once or twice myself.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. But you have a way to figure it out, right?”

I nodded slightly.

Although I don’t have insight ability, the method is simple.

I can use the favorability ratings of those who actively supported installing the barrier earlier this year.

* * *

“We will now begin the Federal Committee emergency meeting. We have invited Duke Elias Hohenzollern and Sir Nicolaus Ernst to discuss the Pleroma insect contamination issue.”

The Federal Committee vice-chairman stood in the center of the spacious conference hall and announced the start of the meeting.

Elias stood up from his seat with his crutch and smiled confidently.

“Good day, I am Elias Hohenzollern.”

After Elias finished his greeting and the applause died down, I began my introduction.

“I would like to greet all the citizens of the Empire for the first time, including everyone present here. I am Nicolaus Ernst.”

When I used my original surname, Leo said it was too conspicuous, so he attached a new surname and registered it.

It doesn’t roll off the tongue yet, but it sounds much more natural.

Another round of applause followed.

Elias smiled at me, then turned his gaze back to the surroundings and greeted them.

“I am truly delighted to meet the magical civil servants of the Security Bureau and the senators here. Although he is not present at this gathering, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Alexander for the invitation.”

Really… surprisingly, he speaks properly.

Of course, I often saw the protagonist’s serious side in the novel too, but seeing it in person like this is amazing.

Anyway, this is the beginning.

I looked around the surroundings.

White text sparkled around the people I made eye contact with.

[Favorability +1]

[Favorability +1]

[Favorability +3]

[Favorability +2]

[Favorability 0]

This is my first time seeing multiple people simultaneously, so it feels awkward.

Anyway, none of them had asterisks attached.

This means the favorability trait wasn’t applied.

According to my investigation, those sitting in the front rows are mainly barrier supporters and moderates.

Those sitting in the back rows are mainly barrier opponents.

Naturally, the favorability ratings are much lower on the opposition side.

But when compared within homogeneous groups, there’s no one with particularly low favorability.

Then what I need to focus on now is who among them shows sudden changes in favorability.

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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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