Semi-Coercive Imperialist

A bombing has occurred.

I rushed to the blast site without delay. I pulled Reutern II, the Imperial Palace’s VVIP, out of the crumpled vehicle as he bled.

His injuries were a broken leg and minor burns. It looked as though his life was not in danger, but in truth, that was thanks to my premium Mana Stone cube hanging around his neck.

The core of the 「Aura Sphere」─one of the functions of an Artifact worth millions of dollars.

“Transport him immediately.”

I gave the order to the paramedics who had arrived moments later.

As Reutern II was carried away, I stepped back and calmly surveyed the blast site, now in utter chaos.

“Leave the scene as it is. Nobody touches anything.”

After restricting the police and other knights from approaching, I awakened the Virus within me.

Hssss──

My vision washed blue, and the active traces at the blast site rose into view.

Fragments of mana scattered across the place where the flames had swept through. As I traced their flow, I confirmed the shape of the clues I had intended.

The impurity wavelength of the Mana Stone used as the explosive charge. The distinctive scent of a unique alloy left behind as Gigantes-manufactured components melted away.

All exactly as designed.

“All evidence collected from the scene is to be transferred to Sentinel headquarters, to my office.”

I gave the order to the officers and returned to the Knight Order.

……Just as I was about to bring the evidence into the knight office and begin a full analysis.

A murmur rose from the hallway outside, then quickly swelled into a commotion filled with raised voices.

“Sir Knight. Nobles from the Imperial Palace are outside right now.”

An officer rushed in and informed me of the situation. After hearing the news that Reutern II had been attacked, multiple factions from the Imperial Palace had come flooding in to learn the truth.

“From this moment until this case is closed, all meetings are refused.”

I flatly rejected every one of them.

“They said Duke Reutern himself intends to come in person-”

“Convey this to them courteously that it is for the transparency of the investigation. The knights of the Empire do not involve themselves in the political power struggles of the Imperial Palace. We pursue only the truth.”

The officers didn’t know the inside story of this bombing. It’s better for them that way.

Among even my closest confidants, only Schatz and Yukia, who built the bomb, knew the truth.

“Yes, sir.”

The officer relays my words exactly to the Imperial Palace nobles.

From this point on, the real investigation and analysis begins.

I recruited the Empire’s foremost experts in mana studies. To ensure the objectivity of the investigation, I summoned every renowned paper author, endowed professor at Imperial Central University, and wizard from the magic tower, demanding they cross-verify the bomb’s remains and mana structure.

However, the only thing they could identify from the evidence was a very faint wavelength from the Mana Stone used as the explosive charge.

This wavelength can be found in Mana Stones from the mines owned by Julius, but equally from twenty to thirty other mines as well.

Therefore, a definitive identification was impossible, and the experts unanimously conclude that the bomb was “crafted with extreme sophistication to prevent any trace from being tracked”.

It was the kind of uncertainty that would divide the Imperial Palace.

“Sir Knight. These are the result reports independently derived by Professors ‘Edward’ and ‘Miller’ of mana studies at Imperial Central University, each having worked in a thoroughly isolated environment.”

And so, after several days passed, the officer presented yet another thick file of documents.

“The two professors’ opinions match perfectly, down to the bomb’s destructive power, components, and detonation method.”

“And the magic tower’s verification?”

“Cross-verification has been completed against the mana sensitivity data that Wizard Ezell Runsellot personally collected and analyzed at the scene immediately after the incident. Therefore, Sentio Magic Tower certifies that the likelihood of evidence having been tampered with, whether internally or after the fact, is exceedingly low.”

“……Ezell?”

“Yes. Sentio Magic Tower dispatched Wizard Ezell, claiming she is their finest forensic specialist.”

Without my knowing, I had ended up making use of her abilities.

It left a slightly bitter taste, but there was nothing to be done about it.

Just as I intended─the “evidence” was complete.

* * *

Reutern I, on his way to visit his son at the Imperial Hospital once more.

Patter, patter──

In the stillness broken only by heavy night rain drumming against the car, he received the bomb analysis report officially released by Knight Maximilian.

“……It has to be him.”

Reutern I clutched the documents with veins bulging on his hands.

“Lord Reutern. Please compose yourself. No matter how fierce the political struggle may be, carrying out a murderous purge against royalty…… even for Julius, that would be far too reckless.”

His retainer cautiously urged restraint, but Reutern’s fury would not easily subside.

His son, Reutern II, was mercifully in no danger of losing his life. It was thanks to Reutern II’s Premium Mana Stone Cube shining at the moment of the explosion.

Conver⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠sely, had it not been for that miraculous barrier.

His son’s body would have been horrifically blown apart, the corpse too mangled to even recover intact.

“……Compose myself, you say?”

Reutern I exhaled roughly, suppressing the murde⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠rous intent surging up within him.

“Yes. Surely even Julius would not have gone to such extremes.”

“He must have panicked. After all, the expulsion from the House of Nobles was itself an extreme measure.”

Reutern had only intended to cut him down a little, but Julius kept suspecting him and couldn’t contain himself.

“The timing alone is laughable. Right after rumors spread that my son was rallying his own forces in Lilac Vita, this happens.”

Above all, the power of this bomb was the problem.

Firepower designed for one purpose─a perfect kill.

That bastard had fully intended to kill Reutern II.

“……Please leave the entire investigation to Knight Maximilian.”

The retainer advised once more in a measured voice.

“If it is Knight Maximilian, with the Ebenholtz name behind him, he will not be swayed by any outside pressure from the Imperial Palace. During the Knight Order’s internal audit last time, did he not investigate Knight Adria transparently and fairly, and conclude that she was innocent?”

Maximilian kept to principle. He was transparent, and he did not bend under pressure. He was, by nature, a man who possessed the power, authority, and standing to be exactly that. Therefore, there was no reason he would fabricate evidence in this case or frame anyone unjustly…… Such was the prevailing opinion within the Imperial Palace.

“……If it turns out that bastard truly was behind the attempt to kill my son.”

The deep-set wrinkles on Reutern I’s f⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠ace twisted ominously.

An old father already past eighty, whose lust for power had dimmed. The remainder of his life was now devoted solely to his treasure─the son who would have to survive this harsh world alone.

“I’ll wipe out his entire bloodline.”

A savage killing intent flickered in Reutern I’s eyes.

* * *

Suspicion is not a phenomenon.

It is another form of distrust.

So unless distrust was withdrawn, suspicion never disappeared. If anything, it only blazed more wildly, beyond control.

All I had to do was transparently use that spark that would set their distrust on fire, and burn them with it──

“Good to meet you all. I am Sentinel Knight Maximilian Ebenholtz, heading the overall investigation of the ‘Reutern II Bombing Case’.”

In the Sentinel Knight Order’s conference room, I had seated one representative for each of the Imperial Palace’s major houses around the round table. Since most of the palace nobles had holed themselves up deep inside after the terror attack, most of them were proxies.

“In order to ensure the objectivity of this investigation, I have invited the highest authorities in each respective field to this gathering.”

I introduced the experts seated in a separate section behind the round table, one by one.

Professor Edward, an endowed professor at Imperial Central University, Professor Emeritus Miller, a giant in the field of magitech engineering, and Wizard Ezell Runsellot of the Sentio Magic Tower.

Each time I called their names, the noble representatives offered respectful nods. They, too, were well aware of the authority and reputation these experts held in academic circles.

“Before we begin the formal briefing, I have one request. If anyone here is carrying any recording tools or devices for the purpo⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠se of documenting today’s proceedings.”

I swept my gaze across those seated around the table. A flicker of tension crossed their faces.

“Please place them on the table so the recording is smooth and clear. There is nothing whatsoever to hide in this investigation, though leaks to the press are strictly prohibited.”

They seemed momentarily flustered, exchanging glances with one another, then cleared their throats and began fishing recording devices out from their coats.

Mana Stone-based, magic-based, mechanical, voice-recording scrolls, and so on…… quite the variety.

“Very well. Then, let us begin the case briefing.”

I dryly briefed them on the time of the incident, the exact location of the scene, and the condition in which the scene had been preserved.

Next, I projected photographs of the key evidence recovered from the scene onto the silver screen.

“We will now hear the detailed analysis and expert opinion on the recovered evidence directly. Professor Edward?”

The white-haired Professor Edward rose from his seat and cleared his throat.

“Yes. Based on our analysis of the debris recovered from the scene, this bomb has been identified as a ‘dual-ignition mana bomb’ that instantaneously detonates mana compressed to extreme density. In particular, the bomb’s casing and primary components utilized several types of special alloy steel, with materials from both western and eastern origins intermixed…….”

The East. The moment that word surfaced, the nobles’ eyes sharpened keenly. The Empire’s east was the region where Gigantes had been located before its destruction, and Gigantes was indeed listed among the candidates.

“Additionally, we have identified the wavelength of the Mana Stone used as the bomb’s explosive charge. The type of Mana Stone is ‘Curio’ The following is the list of mines where this Mana Stone is currently extracted.”

Twenty-eight in total. But one of them was Julius’s mine.

Silence engulfed the round table.

One of the Imperial Palace representatives raised a hand.

“I have the utmost respect for the professor’s expertise, but is there absolutely no possibility that evidence was deliberately fabricated during the investigation, or that unfavorable fragments were omitted?”

Professor Edward glanced back at me.

I gave an easy nod and opened my mouth.

“All evidence and analytical data will be disclosed with complete transparency, without a shred concealed─”

“I personally verified the state of the scene.”

Ezell Runsellot stood up first.

“I am Ezell Runsellot, a 6th-rank wizard of Sentio Magic Tower.”

A 6th-rank wizard. Before I knew it, she had become a wizard of considerable authority.

“I was dispatched to the scene immediately after the incident and collected mana resonance data. Upon cross-referencing that mana data with the physical analysis results of Professor Edward and Professor Miller, the composition of the fragments and the trajectory of the mana residue matched perfectly. Therefore, I can state with confidence that the possibility of evidence having been tampered with, whether by an internal investigator or by anyone after the fact, is zero percent.”

Ezell cleared her throat awkw⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠ardly and sat back down.

“As you have just heard.”

I followed after her.

“Today’s gathering is merely a briefing to share the progress of the investigation to date. The investigation to apprehend the perpetrator of the bombing targeting Reutern II will continue with nothing off-limits, and all evidence obtained during the course of the investigation will be disclosed transparently, just as it has been today.”

Just as I was about to wrap up the round table meeting.

“I understand the investigation well enough. However, should not the Reutern family, as the injured party in this incident, at the very least be able to have a meeting with you, Sir Knight?”

The Reutern family’s representative demanded in a forceful tone.

“Certainly. Of course.”

I nodded without hesitation.

The spark of suspicion had already been planted in their hearts.

Now, it was time to ignite them.

…….

“Sir Knight Maximilian. Please speak through this.”

Reutern’s representative set down a Crystal Orb.

In an age where terminals had become commonplace, Crystal Orbs were relics of a bygone era. They did have one advantage, though. Intercepting Mana Waves was far more difficult than with a terminal.

“Go ahead.”

─……This is Reutern speaking, Knight Maximilian.

The hoarse voice of Reutern I flowed from beyond the Crystal Orb.

─I heard the full briefing. I reviewed the experts’ findings thoroughly as well. But no matter how I think about it, I cannot shake the feeling that you are being excessively cautious in this investigation.

Reutern I continued, sounding as though he were making an effort to suppress his anger.

─One of the candidate sources for the Mana Stone used as the detonator is owned by the Julius family, and among the bomb fragments were special alloys that were once produced by Gigantes. What do you make of this circumstantial evidence?

“It is true that some fragments match components once produced by Gigantes, but that alone is not enough to determine the perpetrator.”

─That is precisely what I mean by too cautious. The clearest motive for the crime also belongs to Julius. You are aware of the goings-on in the Imperial Palace, are you not?

I shook my head.

“Let me be clear. I have no interest in the Imperial Palace.”

No interest at all. I just want to fucking kill them all.

“For now, these are merely circumstantial coincidences. Unless definitive physical evidence emerges─”

─There is no way physical evidence would remain! He has likely already killed the person who planted the bomb in the vehicle. With Julius’s temperament, he is more than capable of that.

Reutern I’s voice rose in agitation, and the Crystal Orb trembled faintly.

I answered calmly.

“Lord Reutern. The investigation is solely our domain.”

I mixed in just the right amount of displeasure into my tone.

“I ask that you exercise restraint.”

As a knight, I could not show even the slightest appearance of being swayed by an Imperial Palace noble.

─……It seems I got a bit carried away. My apologies.

Reutern let out a deep sigh.

“Of course. As it happens, a witness interview is already scheduled for tomorrow, and I intend to question those matters at that time as well…….”

…….

The next day.

Julius sent a proxy rather than appearing himself at the knight order. Given the special circumstances of a bombing, I was happy to accommodate that.

─I’m sure there are many misunderstandings about me because of the Gigantes matter, but I swear on my life that this was not my doing.

Julius asserted through the Crystal Orb, just as Reutern had.

Of course it wasn’t.

“Yes. I, too, am not attributing this to anyone. Nor will I conflate the Gigantes embezzlement charges with this incident.”

─……I appreciate that. But, Knight Maximilian. There is one thing I wish to ask you.

“What is it?”

Julius was about to air his own “suspicion” before the questioning had even begun.

─The reason Reutern II was able to survive, that Mana Stone cube.

He distrusted Reutern. Because the situation itself was flowing in that direction.

─Was there anyone within the Imperial Palace who knew precisely that the Cube had a built-in defensive function capable of blocking an explosion?

And so, in his mind, hypotheses of every shape bloomed endlessly.

“Hmm…….”

I made a show of deliberation, stroking my chin and taking my time.

“The one who gifted it, myself, the artisan who crafted the cube, and.”

I murmured in a near whisper.

“Reutern II himself. No one else.”

─…….

At that moment, Julius fell silent. A long silence settled. In the quiet interrogation room, only Julius’s heavy breathing intermittently escaped.

─I see.

At last, a murmur laced with a sigh.

─So that’s how it was…….

I could roughly predict what he was thinking.

─Reutern II knew he had a reliable means to protect his own life. Therefore, he knew that even if something like a bombing occurred, he would not die.

Suspicion becomes conviction, and conviction breeds hatred.

─Knight Maximilian.

A chilling voice resonated through the Crystal Orb.

─Have you, perhaps, considered the possibility that this incident was staged?

Julius had concluded that the one behind the bombing attack on Reutern II, in other words the culprit, was Reutern II himself.