How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 517

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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 Noble Family (517)

“First, I’ve heard the basic details. Let’s begin immediately.”

I handed the documents I brought to the secretary. The secretary began distributing the documents to those seated. Still, there weren’t many directly participating in the strategy meeting, with five from the Kingdom of Bavaria and four from the Catacombs remaining. I opened my mouth when I thought they had briefly reviewed the documents.

“Today, at 6 PM on Easter evening, all Pleroma will gather. At 6 o’clock, they will make a major announcement to the German Empire and all of Europe. Regarding that, please refer to the documents. What’s written in the documents is everything we know. Also, we plan to divide Bavaria’s Pleroma dioceses into the northern 4 dioceses and southern 3 dioceses, so please check the relevant sections.”

I continued speaking while hearing the sound of pages turning.

“Even at this moment when the Paschal Vigil Mass is being held, they would be gathering, but since no proper strategy has been established yet, we should target 6 PM when everyone must gather. There’s a gap between the daytime Mass and 6 PM, so we can actually be flexible during the gap until 6 PM after the Mass ends. For example, priests or bishops could leave their posts to prepare for the major announcement at 6 o’clock.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

An officer answered appropriately. I continued from my previous statement.

“Let me repeat exactly what our informant said. ‘From tonight, the 14th, until tomorrow afternoon, the 15th, we will have time to worship Christ, and in the evening after the Resurrection Mass ends, we plan to shake the entire world with Pleroma’s new discovery. At 6 o’clock, all Pleroma believers will gather in the cathedral and the square outside, just as they do on Paschal Vigil.'”

Did Ulrike remember all the information exactly as it was? It might have changed slightly, and perhaps statements Ainsiedel made just before he thought they were unimportant and wanted to hurry to hear the main point, or unimportant words Ainsiedel was saying while thinking about more important matters, might have been forgotten without knowing whether they existed or not. But Ulrike told us everything she remembered, and I trust that. I don’t impose the excessive duty that she wouldn’t have unconsciously judged the relative importance. I think Ulrike showed a slightly biased tendency in that regard. I too cannot remember what someone says when I’m thinking about other things and don’t even know if the other person exists. I didn’t recognize it as words in the first place, so what could be done? It’s only input as a mumbling state like background noise, nothing more or less. Ulrike has never received special training to input and output all information and probably won’t in the future unless absolutely necessary, so this was sufficient as it is.

Also, in terms of memory, Ulrike was someone with the ability to convey what she heard without error. I briefly thought about the safety of my friend who would be alone, then changed the subject back to strategy and continued speaking.

“At this point, you must have immediately noticed what information we should utilize upon hearing this.”

Indeed, everyone had determined looks in their eyes as if they understood the meaning. Or they had unknowable expressions that were neither this nor that. Only Leo and Chairman Anze Dracher maintained composure, keeping their inner thoughts unreadable. I gauged how much time remained until the operation began and spoke.

“The important point is that Pleroma ‘plans to inform the German Empire and all of Europe.'”

The officers nodded. I spoke while looking down at the empty space slightly above those seated in front of me.

“How they will inform is unknown at this time. However, we have no choice but to know what methods they will use. ‘In the evening, they plan to shake the entire world’—isn’t it predictable?”

“That’s right. It’s quite sufficient.”

“Good. They will use means that can exert influence nationwide like during Penthalon. How will they install screens in French or British territory? There’s no need to install them. Magic-powered newspapers are spread throughout the world.”

Just knowing this fact was sufficient, and this was something everyone had to know while growing up, even without being told. Even people with no connection to politics. However, thinking more realistically, it’s like this.

The latest edition of the Imperial Newspaper published in Germany is held by each country, even by the national newspapers of the Qing Empire and Korean Empire on the other side of the earth. Our Imperial Newspaper has contracts to receive newspapers from 56 countries in real time, and these 58 countries can conversely view the latest edition of the Imperial Newspaper. If the German Imperial Newspaper posts breaking news at 6:10 PM, it’s nothing for 56 countries worldwide to withdraw their evening articles and print special reports with only titles in 5 minutes. European countries exchange not only the Imperial Newspaper but also tabloids like Dasrote, so even if the Imperial Newspaper doesn’t report Pleroma’s plan by prioritizing citizens’ safety and right to know, there’s no problem.

“By exerting influence in Germany, they can influence the entire world. The pledge to shake the entire world in the evening is realistic. Then how can they make this a reality?

First, they use newspapers. Second, they have the technology to provide Germany with visual devices like floating screens in the air and do so. The second goes without saying, so I’ll pass on that. However, since it’s uncertain whether they have the technology, assuming only the first case is used, Pleroma would have planted spies in newspaper companies or deployed Atropos. Or they utilize newspaper mailboxes. Rather than the possibility of planting spies, it’s much more likely they secretly infiltrated buildings and deployed Atropos. Therefore, the possibility of manipulating newspaper staff’s minds just before 6 o’clock is greatest. Equally likely is sending their speech broadcast footage to mailboxes.”

Then one officer, feeling doubtful, tapped his document with his pen and asked.

“Why do you think it would be just before 6 o’clock? Isn’t that too safe thinking? Also, conversely, wouldn’t ‘staff members’ be taking too excessive a risk? If they truly regard this announcement as a major declaration, that means they’re prepared for war, which somewhat deviates from the purpose, doesn’t it?”

“First, let me point out that while I consider it the most likely possibility, I’m also keeping in mind that it might not be the case. Using Atropos too early makes it easy to be noticed. If you watch for a long time, you’re bound to notice colleagues doing things unlike their usual selves or speaking somewhat strangely.

To answer the counterargument in advance, first, even if someone acts strange for a day, there’s nothing you can do about it, right? Do you think colleagues would report to the government that someone acted strange for a day? Do you think non-mage society is as sensitive to magic as mages are?—Of course, that’s right. They wouldn’t report it. They probably wouldn’t even pursue it. The key is who gets infected, and to get an article through with just one infected person, that infected person would need to be at least an editor-in-chief. If you infect a newly hired employee, it won’t pass the editor-in-chief level if there’s no source to serve as evidence, and even if there’s a source by sending footage to the newspaper by mail, there’s a possibility that even that source won’t be accepted as truth because Pleroma has never officially appeared to the public even once in 13 years. For reference, the public doesn’t know about secret negotiations with the Empire. Yellow journalism might be different, but credible newspapers wouldn’t easily take risks based on sources of unknown origin and strong claims from one or two employees. Of course, they might exchange information with other media outlets to confirm it’s a plausible source, or the editor-in-chief might immediately report based on intuition.”

I stopped speaking and met each of their eyes one by one.

“Naturally, if I were Pleroma, I wouldn’t use such an obstacle-ridden method on a day when I want dramatic effect. So infecting the editor-in-chief would be perfect, but it would take quite some skill to make only editors-in-chief from the Empire’s numerous newspapers contact Atropos.”

The officers nodded in agreement with expressions that said ‘that’s also true.’ Sorry, but it can’t end here. It wasn’t time to stop there, so I continued to gaze at them and spoke.

“Of course, they might target only the Imperial Newspaper editor-in-chief, wanting a trickle-down effect like the Germany-worldwide case. That is, information flowing from Imperial Newspaper to other newspapers is possible, so they brainwash the editor-in-chief. However, in this case, there’s a blind spot that there’s no need to brainwash with Atropos since they sent the source to the mailbox.”

Faces saying ‘that’s also true’ appeared one after another. Since they had faces that said they finally understood, I briefly licked my lips with my tongue, checked my watch again, and continued speaking.

“Then second, as mentioned earlier, if they manipulate everyone’s minds, there would be no way to notice. But since Pleroma must gather at 6 o’clock, they shouldn’t waste manpower. To perform a puppet show, it’s natural that someone needs to control the puppets. At this time, if they can’t reduce the number of people controlling puppets, it’s the natural course to reduce the time those people must hold onto the puppets. Also, as mentioned earlier, if they can send sources to use as reporting material to mailboxes and accomplish this nationwide, it would naturally be reported even if all staff are in their right minds. Therefore, regarding the hypothesis that Atropos will be used, we must clearly recognize that its use necessarily considers not only brainwashing but also mass murder. There’s no reason such killing would stop at newspaper companies. This concludes what I have to say on this topic. Since we cannot rule out the possibility of Atropos terrorism, we’ll deploy Arcane Mages near newspaper companies. The remaining Arcane Mages should be deployed generously throughout the city center, and while squares are the best choice, there’s risk of detection during surveillance, so have them hide in tall buildings like bell towers and send divine power downward. This will also somewhat offset the individual weaknesses that each Arcane Mage possesses.”

I try my best not to infringe on each officer’s respective position, but if there are points that must be executed during strategies or operations concerning divine power like this, I cannot help but speak. The two chairmen of the Catacombs and Marian Baum, along with their committee chair, were listening to the story while showing slight observation. While this was a very serious matter for us, it seemed to be received by them as a venue for confirming ways of thinking. And I had no intention of evaluating that attitude negatively. They needed to judge us to gauge how much capability the royal family members and those employed by them possessed, and whether it would be good to cooperate with them in the future—encounters they wouldn’t face more than a few times in their lives. Above all, if they needed various information to do their best after the operation began, it was fine within the bounds of what they should obtain. Anyway, if you’re a public official, every moment inevitably becomes a series of evaluations.

“But there aren’t many Arcane Mages.”

The officer’s words bring back my thoughts. At the same time, I became conscious of the piercing gaze on my face. I looked at the officer without meeting eyes with the Prince.

“Bavaria’s Arcane Mages alone would be nowhere near enough, Ernst.”

“I know. That’s why I prepared in advance. We have Atropos antidote drugs.”

Then surprise and slight doubt appeared on the officers’ faces upon hearing unexpected news. They furrowed their brows and moved their lips slightly. Similarly shocked by the news, Chairman Anze Dracher of the Catacombs tilted his head questioningly and spoke slowly.

“An antidote drug—that’s something even Prussia hasn’t developed.”

Not that they couldn’t, but that they didn’t. They were one step behind. Prussia tried to solve the problem by turning to Vatican Mages. After blocking Atropos with Catholic mages? If Catholic influence rises within Protestant Prussia, how would they suppress that with some extraordinary method again? They already had a history of oppressing Catholics, just like the Prussia of the past I lived in. They had attached secret police to the Catacombs as they had done. Chairman Anze Dracher spoke.

“I understand it’s been less than two weeks since learning of Atropos’s existence—since when have you possessed this?”

I dare say, Your Majesty’s command is certainly reasonable, but we must not stop at merely dividing divine power into small portions. When Atropos was discovered, I said this to the King at Bavaria’s state council meeting. Divine power is too limited in quantity and there are limits to receiving external help, so if the Vatican cuts off support, the continent would perish as is. I also said that while the Vatican being Bavaria’s ally is true, entrusting too much power could greatly affect national sovereignty and survival. The Vatican told Bavaria to betray Prussia and join hands with them. That’s an expression of the Vatican’s desire to return to those days when it greatly influenced Europe.

Therefore, as soon as I obtained Atropos, I requested development of an antidote that uses minimal divine power or none at all. And thanks to putting life-or-death level effort into research, it’s now complete. At the time, not only the King but even Elias expressed concern that it might be better to just use divine power, but now the sentiment is different. If we hadn’t done it then, who knows what would have happened now.

“It became so yesterday. We began development from when we learned of Atropos’s existence and achieved rough completion a few days ago, but it took time to pass Phase 2 clinical trials. Since we had little time to prepare, we can’t say the safety is very high, but it’s incomparable to having your life held hostage by Atropos infection. Also, while performance is still quite limited, since we can’t improve performance immediately, we plan to push through with quantity.”

I could feel the complexion of those present subtly changing. This meant we could focus solely on diocese annihilation. While Arcane Mages like myself cannot focus only on the Pleroma world, most mages without divine power could concentrate solely on fighting in Pleroma’s world. Confidence based on reasonable grounds flowed through the air. Their intuition and judgment were fluid and quick, unlike their sternly hardened bodies, yet they didn’t let their guard down, judging by their neck and arm movements like the seasoned soldiers and politicians they were. Seeing their reaction, I myself was feeling confident. This time is different. The time has come to achieve true victory.

An officer spoke.

“Our chances of victory are high.”

“To think that we Bavaria can now decode weapons made by the Empire’s Pleroma—it’s an honor to hear such momentous news for the first time.”

I answered by only raising the corners of my mouth and looked forward again.

“This operation will be a very worthwhile strategic battle. From the situation where we’re given the opportunity for a preemptive strike to the timing when the enemy is distracted by other things—yes.”

“Your intelligence capability is remarkable.”

Those were the words of Chairman Yanina Schweitzer, who had been silent the entire time. I knew Chairman Anze Dracher’s face from seeing his portrait when visiting the Catacombs, but this was my first meeting with this person. However, his clothing and gaze revealed who he was. Schweitzer continued.

“I’m curious about who you recruited to obtain such information. Also, whose achievement it actually was to bring this information—that is, who recruited such a good enemy.”

I could tell even without the document I saw earlier. This person hides his thoughts while trying to reveal them as they are as much as possible. Yanina Schweitzer was certainly not favorable toward Bavaria.

I should refrain from answering. Restoring the Catacombs’ rights and handing them a knife to stab us with are different things. Leo would have thought the same.

“It’s the achievement of the Kingdom of Bavaria.”

I said that while recalling the recent identity. If my throat felt blocked every time I called my friend by his shortened nickname, that wouldn’t be my imagination. Since appearing in the extra chapter, he hadn’t been the Leonard we knew in the way we knew him. Not at all. In less than half a day, he seemed to have fundamentally changed everything and taken his seat here, and since he made no special words or actions, it might be my imagination. However, I felt I knew what state he was in now. I already knew he was someone who could perfectly follow duty whenever he wanted. Presumably, his current state seemed close to Leonard Wittelsbach from when he was conscious of his vast power and heavy moral responsibility that applied throughout the vast territory called the German Empire, when Elias, who had just turned twenty and left his minority behind, would face hardships. He knew he was stronger than Elias, and even if his friend weren’t a royal persecuted by the Emperor, he already knew that as a direct Wittelsbach, he had more power than him, a collateral member. And Elias understood that fact only when he came of age. Knowing and understanding were different. Had everything accelerated by at least 2 to 3 years? Everything was accelerating. If so, I was worried about something between the two. I answered in a low, heavy voice as if nothing was stuck like a stone in my heart.

“Without the resources and military power called a kingdom, this information wouldn’t have come into our hands.”

Yanina Schweitzer nodded. He had a face that said he hadn’t expected much from me anyway. That was similar to the alternative evaluation directed at Nicolaus Ernst, different from the judgment given to Lucas Ascanien.

Since he didn’t continue speaking, I looked forward again and said.

“Since I’ve told you about the Atropos terrorism risk and predicted where the starting point will be, I’ll return to the main point. We know well enough that they’re not a group that gathers sluggishly only when 6 o’clock comes like neighborhood residents, and we can also infer this through the grandness of their plan. They will gather at least 30 minutes beforehand.”

The basis is simply in the information that ‘in the evening, they plan to shake the entire world’ and ‘at 6 o’clock, all Pleroma believers will gather in the cathedral and the square outside, just as they do on Paschal Vigil.’

“Therefore, we will gather from 4:30, one hour before that. Between 2 o’clock when the daytime Mass ends and 4:30, we’ll select only special personnel to investigate the movement coordinate systems of each diocese and come out, then request the start of full-scale entry. Since Pleroma would have also strengthened Easter security, it’s difficult to secretly infiltrate during Paschal Vigil, and the same goes from Paschal Vigil until morning Mass. However, since this time when all daytime Masses are completely finished, people disperse, and clergy move about in all directions for the 6 o’clock announcement is the most chaotic time, we must not miss this period. Our strategy should be established before dawn if possible, receive His Majesty the King’s consent in the morning, and be finalized by 2 o’clock at the latest. After that, it would be right to conduct simulations in Mimesis until 4 o’clock.”

Everyone present expressed agreement. A notification arrived through the artifact at my ear.

[Ernst, the production of the inhalation-type artifacts you mentioned has been completed.]

Good. The mass production of requested artifacts was finished. Besides this, we had to accelerate Atropos treatment production from now on, and we had to quickly produce other types of artifacts not yet completed to match the number of units to be deployed. Now, if I can actually implement the three technologies I learned by 4:30, that’s it. I came seeking permission after learning only irreplaceable technologies so we could use Catacombs or Kingdom of Bavaria technologies instead of Maria’s if possible. Archduchess Maria readily said she would share her technology upon my confession that I wanted to reduce innocent casualties in the future, but I couldn’t be complacent just because it was technology with Archduchess Maria’s permission. He was as favorable to me as he regarded me as a magical studies comrade, and I didn’t want to exploit that favor at all. Since I was the one who knew there was a world where he was dead and gone, I had to ensure my standards were stricter than even the standards of permission Maria himself would give. Also, as far as my power reached and time allowed, to change the future of that world, I—and they—must always hone each other’s attitudes.

The three technologies I selected to learn: first, Archduchess Maria’s attempt to see entropy increase with the eyes through entropy-astral combination—I wondered how one could think of judging ‘entropy’ of all things like a particle and seeing it with the eyes, but it was that much more novel; second, the cigarette Emmanuel used on me; and third is a complex application technology of the first.

Now what remains is me. I had to be strong. So I could protect myself from anyone and not make their will and goodwill bestowed upon me useless, so no Pleroma could defeat me, I had to always do my best and be thorough.

I lightly touched the table and spoke.

“Since international affairs have reached this point, we don’t have time to be fully prepared. Despite the uncertain moment, we all gathered here. However, since we’re stronger as two than one, and stronger as three than two, we’ll win in 18 hours.”

If it doesn’t work, I’ll make it work.

This is different from the command’s Munich-Freising annihilation operation. This time we could directly mobilize Kingdom army mages as much as we needed, we had the Catacombs as an incomparably reliable ally, and we had Baden army cooperation. Therefore, it’s worth expecting. Since everything is working together. I spoke while turning document pages with magic.

“First, if we hit the southern 3 dioceses first, contact will go to Brandenburg, so they’re lower priority. However, Bavaria’s northern 4 dioceses are said to be the Bavaria Subversion Committee, dioceses organized to prepare for attacks by the Bavarian government.”

If so.

What strategy should a commander establish at this time?

I looked at the officers and Catacombs leadership. The answers were already melted into their experience, judgment, and years of service.

***

Bavaria’s northern 4 dioceses have mage armies that are sometimes included within corps composed of non-mages and sometimes form separate corps. Of course, with the mage population extremely small, we shouldn’t think of matching numbers to Human scale.

First, at corps level, there’s the 4th Bavarian Royal Corps. Like the traditional non-mage 1st Bavarian Royal Corps, it’s stationed in Munich.

Both the 1st and 4th Bavarian Royal Corps are stationed in Munich, the 2nd Bavarian Royal Corps in Würzburg, and the 3rd Bavarian Royal Corps in Nuremberg. Here, the 5th Bavarian Royal Corps was established relatively recently in Regensburg, with one division composed of mages and three divisions of non-mages. The stations mentioned so far are headquarters locations, with subordinate units distributed throughout Bavaria beyond these. It would be harder to find regions without them in any decent city.

The answer emerged.

We cannot enter the south, and if we want to know detailed information about southern dioceses, we must enter the northern Bamberg-Eichstätt diocese. However, this side is thoroughly prepared for Pleroma attacks by the Kingdom of Bavaria. Then which unit should we deploy first? Munich corps? Or Würzburg, Nuremberg, Regensburg?

All wrong.

We deploy Baden forces first. Military movements occurring on Bavarian soil are set to be caught by Pleroma’s surveillance network unless hidden by royal palace security like now.

This was a simple problem and it wasn’t time to execute yet. Now at 2:10 PM, I plan to enter the Bamberg-Eichstätt diocese to find out in advance where spatial movement artifacts are located and what spaces they connect to. That was something I couldn’t do in the extra chapter due to time differences.

I lit a cigarette, inhaled, and spoke.

“What do you think about the reality that I should protect you but cannot?”

No answer came.

“Do you think it was the right choice?”

Silence.

I remained silent together under the sunlight. Leonard, who was adjusting equipment on his body, answered nonchalantly.

“I don’t regret decisions I’ve made once regarding what I believe in.”

Yes, you would.

He came with me to find the location of spatial magic artifacts. Since this was before the full-scale operation began, this moment was more important than any other. We absolutely must not be discovered, and likewise must not suffer damage. The fate of the main operation at 4:30 depends on our preliminary deployment now.

I smiled silently and offered Leonard a cigarette. The sound of water flowing under Bamberg City Hall was clear. Leonard looked at me. I spoke to him directly.

“Smoke it, Your Highness.”

Leo silently accepted it and put it to his lips. I turned halfway around looking for the lever to enter Bamberg Archdiocese and spoke.

“From now on, when we move to Pleroma’s world, you’ll detect changes in entropy.”

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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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