233. Counterattack (3)
A night when it rained incessantly.
Debris of buildings were scattered, and soldiers in boots were constantly passing by and splashing water.
Einz, who was watching the puddle between his legs with unfocused eyes, suddenly noticed someone sitting next to him.
It was Schluss.
“Do you want to smoke one?”
“·······.”
Schlus held out a piece of white tobacco.
Einz accepted it without a word and put it in his mouth.
Instantly, sparks exploded from the tips of Schluss’ fingers, and Einz touched the tip of the tobacco to the sparks.
“Collock! Whoo? KAE AC…!”
The moment he took a deep breath, Einz coughed at the intense sensation of burning the inside of his throat.
No matter how you look at it, it’s not something you can smoke.
Einz immediately threw the cigarette into the puddle.
“Schlus. Did you smoke?”
“No. It’s been a while since I quit.”
“I see…”
“I didn’t expect this to happen either, Einz.”
A hand from Schluss tapped him on the shoulder.
Einz hoped that the sight he had just seen was not real.
He really was a father who was sincere, good, and who was said to be faultless around him.
In other words, he didn’t have any shady hobbies like any other aristocrat, and he was a man of integrity enough to open up all the spaces in the mansion to the outside world.
But he found his father trying to enter the safe house in Asylum.
My father, shocked by the news that Schluss Heinkel is on the rise, runs away like a rat and takes refuge in a safe house…
“Yes.
“I’m so sorry. I know your father’s mentality very well. So maybe he was just cooperating because he was threatened by Asylum. Be as lenient as possible-“
“Don’t be ridiculous. I heard it was as high as an archbishop? Is that a rank that anyone who cooperates under duress can rise? It doesn’t look like it. Don’t expect to see it, Schluss. My father or whoever will come without mercy. I mean, Asylum destroys the continent, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Schluss sighed heavily as he looked out to where the building had just been.
From noble mtl dot com.
I just felt regret for not bringing Einz.
However, such an option did not exist in the first place.
Erika can provide a solid barrier when attacked.
And Einz, who can stably pour powerful firepower.
Schlus himself was able to fire more powerful magic than anyone else within 5 seconds, but was far behind Einz in terms of sustained firepower.
So, it was essential to bring Einz with you in case you had to deal with the quantity.
‘How does this happen?’
I never imagined that Count Wiegenstein would be caught in a trap.
The only meaningful information extracted from the action leader was the fact that the archbishop was attending a masquerade ball and the location of the safe house.
So, if you put pressure on the masquerade by pretending to chase the Archbishop’s tail, the initial expectation was that the Archbishop, who had numb himself, would take refuge in a safe house to cut off the chase.
The predictions came true to the point of futility.
The archbishop, who fled while neutralizing all the surveillance artifacts in the city center, knocked on the door without even noticing that the safe house was exposed, and in the end…
It has come to this point.
“Einz.”
“Why!”
“I will not limit the opportunity to visit you.”
“I don’t need it. I don’t really want to see-“
“No. Ask for a visit. This is a request, not an offer.”
Einz’s shoulders flinched and trembled.
Schlus’s hand was still on his shoulder.
Suddenly, that large hand was gripping Einz’s shoulder tightly, as if rubbing it.
Please.
It was a very strong request in the nature of coercion.
“You tell me, son. Please come out as cooperatively as possible. Depending on your attitude, you can either improve the conditions of imprisonment or inflict savage torture without warning. Tell me with your own words. I don’t want to harm the Count as much as possible. I didn’t.”
“·······.”
“If you say anything nonsense, be careful as it could put you in trouble. I believe in you, Einz. I hope the Imperial Police will act so that they can trust you.”
With those words, Schluss jumped to his feet and walked away, causing waves in his puddle.
After the shaking of the water surface, tranquility returned and Einz’s face was reflected.
“Eight!”
Einz stepped on the puddle hard and distorted the surface again.
I don’t know how many times I prayed to God for a chance to be active.
Please let me set up a bigger ball.
Please give me the right to stand by Schluse.
I was overjoyed when Schluss suddenly explained the operation and asked for help.
Like a child entering a small competition…
However, I didn’t know that the opportunity would be like this.
I never imagined it would be an operation to arrest my father.
“f*ck…”
This will happen more often in the future.
Even the head of one of the three magical families could not escape the investigation.
Perhaps an Asylum man could emerge from Lichtenburg, Pleschette, or even the Duke’s family.
At that time, will everyone obey the Schluss and the Imperial Family?
It was something that could lead to a backlash, or perhaps even a rebellion, on a family level.
At such times, the presence of a force that would give Schluss strength was needed.
Schluss has only a government job, but he has no foundation, because he is a commoner by status.
‘Wiggenstein stands next to Schluss.’
Since my father was imprisoned, it was obvious who would take over the position of deputy count.
It was Einz, the eldest son and official successor.
He preys on his traitor father and absorbs his power intact.
Then, he expelled all remnants of Asylum from Wigenstein and fully supported Schluss.
Einz made that decision as his hand clenched into a fist trembled.
‘That’s the only way to live.’
***
This raid was truly a hit.
I had no idea Count Wiegenstein would be caught, but whoever it was, it didn’t interfere with the operation.
The use of the expression ‘jackpot’ was due to Count Wiegenstein’s amazing cooperation.
I expected it to be easier than the lesser fanatics who had undergone mind alterations to the extent of erasing their memories, but Count Wiegenstein blew information before we could even threaten him.
Of course, there was the possibility of deception and the possibility of hiding important information.
Because the information that the Count gave out in just one hour, leisurely drinking wine and chatting, was much more valuable than the information we had obtained over three months of hard work.
Earl Wiegenstein joined forces with Asylum five months ago.
He did not receive a clear answer as to the reason.
That’s not important, so I decided to pass it on.
The Earl mainly poured money into Asylum, but it is said that only three people in the family know about Asylum, including his secretary.
So even my son has no choice but to know.
Einz seemed to be having a hard time dealing with the noise of Wiggenstein after he took the position of deputy count.
I was slightly suspicious that Eintsu might have fallen for Eosa Ilum, but seeing that he immediately arrested and handed over the Eusailum spy within the family and actively cooperated with the investigation, I didn’t have to worry too much.
Rather, it was Einz’s grades that worried me.
Maybe it was difficult to coordinate within the family, because there were quite a few days of absence.
Well, I decided to think that it would be solved on its own.
“Schwarz, Sylvester, Heidelberg… Heh, you’ve been hurting a lot.”
“In the case of Schwarz and Sylvester, both the count and the marquis have fled and are being pursued, while the baron of Heidelberg is currently being held and interrogated.”
“Good job.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Aria’s reaction was quite interesting.
She’s Me She knew long ago that Asylum permeates society, but this was the first time she had seen it in action.
But she just smiled as if she knew everything.
Maybe it’s because I’m making a fuss about her like crazy.
Anyway, Arya seemed to have predicted that Asylum’s power would be quite large.
“Yes. With this attack, they cut off their money and eliminated about 10 executives. Do you think it was a pretty big blow?”
“I predict it will be a devastating blow for them.”
“Huh.”
Aria’s curious eyes came toward me.
As I set it up in the original work, there were about 20 executives in Asylum.
Even if this world has changed a little, there will be less than 30 people.
So it would be safe to say that the disappearance of 10 officers, including the Archbishop, put them in a situation that was virtually out of control.
They are executives who command while still being shrouded in a veil, but if their number is drastically reduced like this, there will inevitably be a fatal problem in the chain of command.
Perhaps, for the time being, it is expected that they will not pay more attention to the management of the lower ranks because they are going through labor pains such as electing new executives or changing the commanding method of executives.
In the meantime, if we attack the lower end again, Asylum will lose all of its officers and soldiers, and the force will suffer a great blow.
“Complete eradication is going to be difficult in the near future. So, can we celebrate a virtual victory now?”
“It’s too soon for that, Your Majesty.”
“Why? You don’t believe in the capabilities of the Imperial Police?”
“I believe. The Imperial Police have always done a lot better than I expected. But the problem isn’t the Asylum itself.”
“Then what is the problem?”
Yes. If this continues, Asylum will be greatly reduced, degenerating into one of the snot-sized underground forces that cannot even dream of overthrowing the Empire.
If it goes on like this.
But what would happen if a third force suddenly intervened here?
“We must prepare for the attack of the demons, Your Majesty.”
For example, Mine.
Like some stupid demon who listened to Asylum’s plans to rule over humanity join their hands.
Until now, I’ve only been on the sidelines, but now that Asylum is about to disappear, I’ve changed my mind…
“Which demon are you talking about?
“Alexia. Great Sage. Madman. Magician. Traveler. All 5 Demons are on the lookout. Worst case scenario, we’ll have to go to war with all five.”
“·······.”
And that was a story for all Mine.