Chapter 112
Ruchtainer and the military police were not the only ones involved in this game.
There were also nobles who sponsored and attended the event.
Various concerns, such as dignity, responsibility, reputation, and financial matters, were at stake.
“Do not incur the wrath of the Emperor, Ian. If this matter comes to light, you will surely be held accountable.”
Manipulating a contest held in the name of the royal family could result in severe punishment for disrespecting the royal family.
It wasn’t just a problem between Ian and Killian.
Both the Ruchtainer Knights and the military police would lose trust from the royal family, nobles, and the public.
It was natural that support from the imperial family and the nobility would suddenly cease.
In addition, knights who do not gain the people’s trust are at a great disadvantage in terms of carrying out their future missions.
‘So you’re telling me to shut up?’
“Only a handful of people noticed that the Grand Duke of Riivelon deliberately lost. At least in our knightly order, I was the only one who noticed. People watched the match with their own eyes, and they believe you won.”
If many had noticed Killian’s intentions, there might have been a need to reconsider the results.
However, only a very few had realised it.
Even among skilled individuals, there were few who could closely observe Killian.
Moreover, if we unnecessarily questioned the results, wouldn’t it create a strange atmosphere?
After so many spectators watched closely, suddenly declaring the match null and void might raise more suspicions.
People might suspect it was a ploy to profit from a rematch or a gesture to protect Duke Killian’s dignity.
The entanglement of this match extended beyond just the Ruchtainer and the military police.
There were also nobles who sponsored and attended the event.
Various concerns, such as dignity, responsibility, reputation, and financial matters, were at stake.
Before the match, there were individuals among the spectators who personally favoured one side over the other. Based on the behaviour, reputation, fame, and appearance of Ian and Killian so far, there were those who leaned towards one side.
After the match, they argued somewhat roughly about the outcome. Those who supported Ian sometimes mocked those who supported Killian, and vice versa. Some who backed Killian refused to accept the result and criticised those who supported Ian.
Killian remained silent, but those who supported him often offered justifications for his actions. If the decision to overturn the outcome were made, chaos would erupt from both sides, as both players were injured, and a proper match would not be possible even if it were to be replayed.
‘Moreover, if we suggest nullifying the result and having a rematch, wouldn’t that just mock the military police? This issue should be raised by the military police.’
However, in Ian’s ears, Zenon’s persuasion sounded more like excuses.
‘Where is the spirit of Ruchtainer? Where is the knight who boasted so much…?’
‘Ian, this match is a ceremony for the unity of the empire in response to the Foundation Festival, not a stage for you to showcase your pride.’
‘Do you think I’m doing this because of my pride? Isn’t this deceiving the people?!’
‘It’s not deception. If the citizens of the empire are happy, then isn’t that enough? There are no victims, and the Grand Duke doesn’t have a problem with it. Inflaming controversy for no reason goes against the goals of the Foundation Festival and the match. Look at the big picture, Ian.’
Zenon said that Ian would understand once he took the position of leading the knights in the future.
No matter how much Zeno tried, the 19-year-old young and energetic knight still couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction.
However, Ian was still just a knight belonging to the order. While he could argue against Zenon’s decision, he couldn’t reverse it.
Zenon’s decision was firm, and ultimately, everything proceeded without change.
Ian emerged as the victor, and Killian as the loser.
And the outcome lay before Ian.
Ian sat at his desk, staring intently at the case files. If he truly wanted to express his dissatisfaction with the match result, he shouldn’t even open the case file for the Black Moon incident. That document was the price of that day’s victory.
However…
“The Black Moon…”
A highly skilled individual whose identity no one knows.
A madman who uses his formidable skills for murder, even toying with the military police.
Who is he?
What is his purpose?
How powerful is he?
How did he move so discreetly?
How did he conceal his skills? No, how did he develop such skills in the first place?
Can I defeat him?
In the end, with a bit of anger, impulsiveness, and the excuse that data and outcomes are separate, Ian’s fingertips crossed over the cover of the Black Moon incident file.
The thick file contained a detailed account of previously undisclosed events associated with the Black Moon.
Unlike the Ruchtainer Knights, who struggled with paperwork, the military police’s documents were organised systematically and easy to read.
At least in terms of documentation, the military police’s superiority over the Ruchtainer Knights was undeniable.
Of course, Ian had no interest in document management whatsoever, which often led to Benedict’s frustration with Ian’s scattered paperwork, but it was a skill highly valued by the royal family and higher-ups.
Anyway, once Ian opened the neatly arranged file, his hesitation disappeared.
He smoothly read through the comprehensible document.
Most of it contained specific details about incidents heard through gossip or rumours.
However, among them, one unfamiliar term caught his eye.
“Rosarphi…?”
A poison was found at the scene whenever the Black Moon appeared to commit murder.
It was discovered near the scene of Liam’s death, following Fideut and Percel.
“According to survivor Nicholas’s report, he carried Rosarphi with him…?”
For some reason, it was the peculiar signature of the serial killer.
Moreover, this unfamiliar poison called “Rosarphi” was something Ian, who had encountered many things that ordinary people wouldn’t, had never heard of before.
“If this fact had been known, couldn’t they have issued a warrant for Rosarphi itself?”
With no one knowing about it, the number of suspects would have significantly decreased just by investigating those involved.
However, the military police did not publicise this crucial clue.
Even the royal family, upon receiving this report, did the same.
“Why was this kept classified?”
Ian couldn’t understand why this important fact wasn’t widely known.
“…Did they think that revealing it to the public would only increase the number of victims, as the military police were targeted?”
Moreover, unless the Black Moon was foolish, he wouldn’t normally carry Rosarphi with him.
It was difficult for the public to deal with, so instead of fueling anxiety, it was better not to disclose it.
Not raising any more questions than necessary and not revealing unnecessary information. It was indeed a way of handling things that the royal family would appreciate.
Just like Zenon said, the military police probably made that choice.
Ian sneered as he read a little more about Rosarphi.
At that moment, Ian’s gaze stopped in the middle of a sentence.
[The only possible source of Rosarphi importation is through Alvedi, which trades with Fraus.]
Prowse.
In an instant, Ian recalled when Killian had come to meet his father.
At that time, he hadn’t wondered why Killian had come; he had been convinced that it was related to Sophia’s kidnapping.
But that wasn’t the case.
Ian looked through more documents in an attempt to find out the conversation between his father and Killian that day.
However, there was no record of the confrontation between Killian and Count Prowse in the documents.
Instead, among the attached documents, he found records of the trading activities of the Prowse family.
The conclusion was that there had been no transactions involving Rosarphi in the past three years.
As Ian read it, the tension in his mind that had been lurking subsided.
But still, the origin of Rosarphi remained a mystery.
‘It says it’s only found in Alvedi.’
Although Ian, who had dedicated his life to the service of Ruchtainer, was not well-versed in the affairs of his family, he still knew.
Alvedi is an especially closed place among the countries where Praus does business.
Sometimes, when the internal affairs of Alvedi are unstable, even the Prause family is blocked from doing business.
Due to the history of treason that took place in the Alvedi royal family, illicit trading and smuggling are strictly enforced, with the death penalty punishable by death.
Therefore, at least Ian had never heard of any smuggling activities from Alvedi.
“…I should ask Father about this.”
Count Prowse might know about smuggling or plants unique to Alvedi.
***
Meanwhile, when there were no matters concerning Killian and Estelle, Sophia diligently studied about the world at home.
Recently, she has been focusing on learning foreign languages for deciphering documents in the Third Library.
Before the merge, she had been proficient in languages.
Having a keen interest in foreign languages, she was already fluent in six languages during her university years, capable of everyday conversations.
Among them, she was proficient enough in four languages to handle business documentation.
Therefore, studying new languages while looking through the documents in the Third Library was a subtle stimulus for her after a long time.
However, there was a foreign language that particularly troubled her, despite her exceptional language skills.
“What is this Alvedian?”
Sophia, while examining the trading records with Alvedi, tapped her head with the feather pen tip, lost in thought.
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TRANSLATOR:
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