How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 430

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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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“First, the contaminated Aqua Panna sent from Austria-Hungary arrived in Prussia and Bavaria 2 hours ago. Test results show that out of Prussia’s 12 special-grade Arcane Mages, only 9 can actually purify Atropos. Unless the divine power is of high purity, Atropos’s magical structure decomposes the divine power.”

The calm voice melted into the heat of the fireplace and pleasantly permeated my eardrums. I closed my eyes and clenched and unclenched my right hand fitted with the mana extraction device. I was extracting and accumulating divine power. All of it would be stored in Bavaria’s treasury.

“Second, the Prussian government is discussing whether to execute Mikhail Ismailov or include him among the Arcane Mages. Purification experiments on Mikhail Ismailov showed he can purify a 10,000 square meter range in one go, the same as Count Narke Farnese.”

“…”

“Third, Advisory Committee Vice Chairman Count Nicolaus Ernst has been summoned to the Supreme Council by 6 AM tomorrow. It appears they don’t intend to entrust Count Nicolaus Ernst with a specific mission, but rather want to hear Bavaria’s countermeasures. Fourth, negotiations continue regardless of Atropos. The prisoner exchange channel hasn’t been severed yet. End of report.”

Leo closed the paper he was holding and looked at me. Leo, Elias, Narke, and I had gathered in my room at the residence after hearing the dismissal order. Since Leo was a Bavarian senator, he couldn’t stay only at the residence, so with headquarters’ permission, we had set up a domestic simple portal in his room. Thanks to that, we could gather all sorts of information and tools. If Leo had remained only as prince and not been a legislator, there would have been no answer, but fortunately, there was a way out. I stroked my chin and faced him.

‘Hmm.’

Interesting. To be honest, it wouldn’t be bad to see this place collapse once like the Second Reich from the world I lived in. I wiggled my left hand that had been supporting my chin and spoke.

“That bit about Ismailov in the middle is something my aide’s office doesn’t know about. And it seems that person really can use divine power.”

“I compiled and reported it myself, so why are you mentioning the aide’s office?”

“Right, sorry. …Thanks for compiling it.”

I answered while slightly averting my eyes from Leo’s clear gaze.

I don’t know why His Highness the Prince volunteers to play the role of aide. Anyway, it was information I needed, so it was helpful. I closed my eyes again and pressed my temples.

‘I did think it might be good to see it collapse once, but…’

Of course, I can’t let that happen. First, if that happens, the essence would be the same as living as someone’s puppet, only different in appearance from what nearly happened in Austria-Hungary. Next, knowing how the national sentiment that was festering like pus from defeat and the Second Reich’s collapse in our world’s past influenced the massacres years later, my neck grows cold and I can’t even think carelessly about it.

If we collapse at this point, fortunately a republic might be established if things go well, but we would have to welcome President Pleroma dictating in that republic.

The intellectuals who had fallen into frustration after tasting France’s failed enlightenment might cheer, but the fundamental reason we need a democratic republic isn’t because republican ideology is absolute truth, but to guarantee everyone’s rights and promote happiness. If we forget this fact and pursue only ideological legitimacy, letting ideology precede people, the blood that flowed throughout the first half of the 20th century testifies to what kind of society unfolds.

So, the conclusion is…

“Pleroma has changed their approach.”

Tap—

Tap, I closed my eyes and tapped the table. The regular noise helped focus my mind.

“…They tried to seize the imperial family in the multi-ethnic state of Austria-Hungary to create a puppet government, but failed completely and their plan was exposed to the world, so now they’ll try killing nobles here and there to create international tension…”

Their intention is obvious. Division, conflict, chaos, waste. The end of their purpose is war, and as always, when war ends in defeat, the emperor takes responsibility and abdicates. Pleroma has neither Habsburg-Lorraine nor Hohenzollern. That means they have no support base they can gain by putting forward a name. We must acknowledge that more people of the Empire than expected support and love Hohenzollern and consider Prussia’s success their own success to guess Pleroma’s revised strategy.

If they can’t put forward a name, they put forward ideology. Unable to rely on bloodline, Pleroma will establish a republic instead of a Third Reich to secure legitimacy. A new emperor with a lifetime term, a dictator president will be elected in the republic under Pleroma’s rule. Probably the Preacher will do so. No matter how much I as a 21st-century person cannot view absolute monarchy favorably, Pleroma’s rule is unspeakably the worst.

Since Pleroma dreams of such a worst-case scenario, we must act immediately. If we don’t immediately resolve the war with Pleroma, the crazy acts of the German cult Pleroma, in other words, if the Italian noble massacres continue, Germany will turn Italy into an enemy.

Tap—…

‘Then naturally, relations with the Papal States will also become precarious.’

Divine power supply will be disrupted. Though we can guess to some extent just from seeing the Papal States’ continued existence here, the Papal States maintain reasonably friendly relations with Italy. Just look at the origins of the cardinals making names there – aren’t they from Italian clerical families? When they exert influence, the Holy See is also affected. Half of the Holy See consists of Italians to begin with. The political map Pleroma is drawing is very clear. Right now the continent can unite solidly against Pleroma, but if this situation is prolonged, eventually the German people will be isolated in international society. I opened my eyes, looked at Leo, and asked.

“How many domestic Esper casualties today?”

“None.”

“What about Austria-Hungary and Italy?”

“Austria-Hungary had none today, Italy had four.”

“Ah damn… this is giving me a headache…”

Elias groaned using the way he spoke at school. I could see Leo looking disgusted. More than that, it was two but now it’s four. They’re additionally being hit by Atropos. Anyway, Elias must have also drawn the structure in his head.

‘They’re deliberately not touching the German states.’

It’s a different pattern from yesterday when they targeted Austria-Hungary. If they can’t immediately swallow the government, they’ll change strategy and fire shots everywhere to isolate Germany in international society. I downed the elixir Leo threw me and continued extracting divine power.

“Leo. Did Prussia start developing an antidote?”

“No. They’re still relying on divine power.”

“Are these guys crazy…”

This was also Elias’s words. Leo turned his head with an enlightened expression at those words.

Whatever foolish things Prussia does isn’t my concern. I did well to tell Bavaria. What will save us in the worst situation won’t be the Papal States’ Arcane Mages, but precisely the technology developed in preparation at the right time. As I sat quietly lost in thought, Leo continued softly.

“Foreign currency keeps flowing out.”

I nodded with my eyes closed.

A war atmosphere is never good for this reason. Ports are half-closed and tariffs skyrocket due to retaliatory policies. Capital doesn’t circulate. Interest rates rise—though this can be forced down again by the central bank, but if it drops rapidly at this point, we’ll soon see the money in our hands become worthless—. The continent’s economy is frozen solid. At the same time, railway, steel, and munitions company stock prices soar to the sky. Countless wars must have gone through this process. I was standing at just one moment among them. And countless lives hung on that single moment. From nobles to commoners. No, commoners are already suffering economic damage from this tense atmosphere.

Countless stakeholders move like chess pieces in my head.

‘We need one more ally.’

With this composition, we can’t stop Pleroma’s national subversion plan. We need an ally from the enemy’s side. A good candidate comes to mind.

“You’re tired, Lucas.”

Then Leo said, watching me. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at my friends. No, I wasn’t particularly so. How could I be tired when I’m not running around directly? It’s a bit awkward to hear such words when I’m the only room owner sitting in a good chair. I glanced at the clock and answered truthfully.

“No, I’m fine. You’re the one who just came back from Bavaria, so rest a bit.”

And.

Less than 3 hours remained until Sunday.

It’s finally time to meet the holy relic thief. Since I returned to Germany on Saturday morning, only half a day has passed now. The timing to encounter the thief is appropriate. A time when everyone around is confined to the residence. It couldn’t be more appropriate than this.

‘Though I can’t meet the thief right away.’

I need to observe the situation at the residence. It would be very good to meet during the night from Sunday to Monday. Just then, whether Narke read my thoughts or guessed by intuition, he asked me.

“Lucas, Count Sabelli is asking if there are any more notes. Anything to say?”

“Munich Giesing, and as late as possible.”

“Around 11:50?”

“Yes.”

At our conversation, Leo looked back and forth between Narke and me and asked.

“11:50…? What’s that about.”

Elias also just watched us while raising an eyebrow. I exchanged glances with Narke and looked at Leo. With Sunday right ahead, we needed to have a strategy meeting.

“Leo. There’s something I haven’t told you guys yet.”

* * *

At midnight, I put down the Bavarian documents I was reading at the sound of knocking. When I opened the door, Mecklenburg stood there with a stern face.

After that, naturally I had to dress in formal wear, warped following him and the 91st representative, and entered the palace alone.

Creak—

“You’ve completed the mind control magic drug.”

“No greeting after such a long time seeing each other, how surprising.”

Abraham, lying on the sofa, closed the book he was reading and slowly turned his head. No greeting, he says, yet there was no servant in front of the room to announce who entered, and the door was wide open. His attire is also just a shirt. A moment when all the effort to dress properly feels wasted. When he himself acts without dignity, what does he expect?

Though there was no order to sit, I plopped down in front of him and answered.

“Long time? It’s been just over a week since we last met, Your Highness.”

“…”

“What will you do now? They’ve perfectly copied Gregorius.”

Yesterday morning, I thought this in the Austrian imperial palace. Doesn’t someone come to mind…?

Atropos’s first stage, the mind control drug, is a magic potion that perfectly mimics Abraham’s unique ability. Originally, the mind control drug itself was developed to reduce dependence on Abraham. It was crude at first, but today’s Pleroma is different. They’ve now shaken off their dependence on Abraham. They’re probably still tracking to kill Abraham who holds their secrets and assets, but unlike the past when they needed ‘revelation ability,’ that’s no longer the case.

“What do you want me to answer? That my pride is hurt because I’m no longer needed by Pleroma? Or that I must punish them for daring to imitate me?”

Abraham spoke in a slow voice, bending his words. He finally burst into light laughter. His lemon-colored hair swayed with his body’s movement.

“How glorious. To create a magic drug implementing my ability to imitate me. I don’t know if I should call it ridiculous… Count Ernst doesn’t seem to know that it’s a crude product not even half of half of the real thing.”

Abraham slowly rose from his seat and sat properly. Yellow eyes dimly glowed in the darkness.

“Well, the Brandenburg Archdiocese has been under my grace all along anyway.”

“…”

“Just joking. But it’s true that you’ve received my favor. How tiring. I graciously invited you right after returning home, only to hear such trivial words.”

“Your Highness. Do you have time to beat around the bush?”

“What Count Ernst is curious about is how our Prussia will handle Atropos, isn’t it.”

“That’s right. The reason Your Highness called me is also not unrelated to that.”

Abraham lit a cigarette and exhaled deeply. He casually let his words flow.

“I’m thinking of not handling it.”

“You’re insane.”

“Yes, I’m insane.”

As if proving he was truly insane, his eyes flashed as he changed his tone.

“But what’s different? Just as I leave you alone, I’m simply doing the same thing elsewhere. Do you want me to perform the act of leaving alone an opponent like you, knowing you’ll take advantage of me and eventually stab me in the back, only toward you?”

Is this even remotely reasonable words from someone sitting on a ruler’s throne? I had no expectations of him, so I wasn’t disappointed. It was just typical of him. Even knowing Pleroma made drugs copying his ability, he’s leaving everything alone. Whether contempt was contained in my gaze, Abraham, who was looking at me, made a “hmm” sound. I spoke quietly in the darkness.

“Your Highness has the ability to stop Pleroma, who is currently abandoning innocent lives in Italy.”

“Not using my ability was already promised when we first met as Crown Prince and vassal. Do you want me to break my promise with you and use my unique ability? Would that make you happy? Should I use my unique ability to conduct intelligence operations and intervene in Italy’s political affairs? Ah… should I procure Habsburg-Lorraine and Osterreicheste blood?”

It’s like reading sutras to deaf ears. He has no intention of listening to whatever I say. As always.

I crossed my legs, folded my arms, and leaned back against the backrest. It wasn’t a posture to show before the Crown Prince, but neither he nor I cared at all. He doesn’t seem to intend to make me bleed today. Since there’s no information I requested, that would be the case. Anyway, since I came out, I needed to hear what nonsense he was spouting. Abraham closed his eyes, inhaled, then exhaled smoke at length.

“Look at the countless conflicting interests within that.”

“…”

“Put them in a camera obscura, on a microscope’s stage, in a scope’s crosshairs, hold your breath. And watch. Who’s the key player, who’s the variable, who meets whom and shows what reaction. For example, our Count Heike is…”

At that moment, Abraham briefly furrowed his brow, then burst into laughter. He stroked his chest and said.

“This is suffocating. Listen to the end. Why would Pleroma need Count Heike Einsiedel’s amazing unique ability? In the government, no one except me has paid attention to him. Why? Who would oppose and cheer from this? Unfortunately, Count Heike Einsiedel has been put on the brakes, so Pleroma can only twiddle their thumbs. With Österreich-Este’s sapphire Peruer…”

Abraham leaned forward, clasped his hands together, placed them under his chin, and said.

“Unless they replicate his unique ability. I’m sorry to say, but if Count Heike Einsiedel hadn’t been appointed to Eschede, he would have disappeared much earlier. Because Pleroma wants that unique ability.”

“…”

“Was what I said helpful? It should be what you need to hear. And unfortunately, I’m too tired right now to give blood.”

“That’s welcome news to hear.”

“More than that, I heard about what happened in Passau. Have you looked into why you’re the target?”

“His Highness doesn’t need to know.”

“You’re already at the center of it. Pleroma is watching you.”

“…”

“Why is that? Under the premise that the main culprit is the Brandenburg district, why? Or under the premise that the main culprit is a group other than the Brandenburg district, why?”

I looked at his smile and smiled back.

“You wanted to hear this, didn’t you, Your Highness.”

“To be precise, I called you to see your expression. You know the reason you became a target.”

“Your confidence is excessive.”

“…”

Abraham raised the corners of his mouth with an expression that said ‘of course you’d answer like that’ and smoked his cigarette.

I had been thinking about it anyway. Who could become an ally. Abraham is fundamentally someone I need to finish off. That fact doesn’t change. But there’s much to exploit regarding his being Pleroma’s enemy, and this time, considering that Atropos itself is something that perfectly copied Abraham’s ability, he might even plan a counterattack.

‘But he won’t cooperate…’

I smiled and faced Abraham who was staring at me. Is Pleroma imitating him less significant than an ant on an elephant’s back? Consistently showing no reaction no matter how the opponent scratches is his characteristic in its own way. The reason for his non-reaction is this—Abraham has a target he wants to observe in Pleroma’s current state. That was always me. Abraham always wanted to personally watch how I would handle problem situations. But not this time. He wants to observe the conflicts and cooperation within Pleroma. Why?

Why is important too, but not now.

He cannot provide meaningful help to the nation in this situation. That was what mattered.

When Abraham had almost finished smoking one cigarette, he got up from his seat, tightened his tie, and put on his vest. The reason for dressing properly without even a servant now? I quietly watched that spectacle. Abraham smoothly swept back his hair without even looking in a mirror and said.

“Please follow me, Prince Ascanien.”

“…”

I slowly tilted my head. Abraham extended his hand to me with the smile I had often seen at official occasions. No, I have no intention of taking it. I got up from my seat alone. Abraham didn’t mind at all and walked one step ahead. The hallway that had been pitch dark now had lights on. The well-polished, gleaming marble floor and the baroque-style wall lamps in the hallway caught my eye. Even with the yellow lights on, the air remained cool. After walking following him for a while, the servants standing in front of the reception room opened the door for us.

There was a guest. The guest’s mouth opened softly.

“Your Highness.”

“…”

I had certainly heard from those around that he hadn’t been able to rest for even a moment, but contrary to the rumors, his face showed no signs of wear. The light emanating from his bright blue eyes, his hair, his attire. The nobility and victor’s presence that no one could imitate flowed calmly and quietly through his trivial movements. Nothing special, just as always. A peaceful smile with no trace of impatience slowly turned toward me. At the same time, I felt Abraham’s gaze reaching me.

I brought up the political map I had grasped yesterday evening in my mind. Ah, really, this is… I smiled and opened my mouth toward the guest.

“Hyung.”

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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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