Chapter 238

4, 2, 5.

This was neither a code in numbers themselves nor a code that needed further decoding. It was a hint to solve the code.

“…….”

A flustered silence arose among the officials. One of them narrowed his eyes and asked.

“Was the number of holes in the stick also 11?”

“That’s right. Four letters from the front, skip once and two letters, skip again and five letters. Combining the alphabets on the back of the matches would make a sentence of three words. You might think it’s speculation, but considering there was no reason to cut the cut surface with alphabets and precisely make spaces on the match body.”

“…Huh….”

“Also, if not intending to use the manufacturing number on the back of the match as a code, why coincidentally the number of spaces and the number of matches with alphabets matched, why specifically cut the alphabet of the holed match… are topics worth thinking about.”

Also, as I said earlier, the basement location and berserk timing were quite coincidental.

6 PM was the time the French delegation would move to the lodging one by one. During the tour, we had to bring them to the hotel by 7 PM. Because the hotel banquet was scheduled at 8 PM, they had to enter the hotel by 7 PM to unpack.

Considering the point of setting up storage near the hotel with high risk of discovery, and the time the berserk occurred, the berserk incident likely artificially occurred targeting the delegation’s hotel entry time.

Why?

“Therefore, this contaminated rat incident is an event staged ‘to show’ us. I believe you all know well why that had to be.”

Several officials nodded.

“This way, we will be on high alert for rat terror for the remaining 72 hours and voluntarily become rat catchers nationwide, leaving no room to pay attention to other plans. Today’s incident is highly likely a plan to hide another plan to execute in the real Pentalon. We should strive to prevent terror by contaminated magical beasts, but investing major resources in it is a dangerous decision.”

“…….”

“This is my conclusion up to here.”

The officials were silently looking only at me. It wasn’t hostility or disregard. Their expressions were already different from earlier.

Someone from the fire department searched the report with a serious face, then raised his head and asked someone else.

“Your Excellency the Brandenburg Police Chief. Is there photographed data?”

“That, attached at the bottom of page 31, but since eleven matches were photographed at once, the quality is not good.”

The police chief said that and added as if excusing.

“It was a situation where we only knew it as manufacturing numbers, and time was too tight to prepare up to this place, so we couldn’t photograph every side one by one.”

Anyway, it was taken and stored by subordinates, yet time was really lacking.

‘Anyway, I remember it.’

The letters discovered in the basement at that time were A, E, E, G, L, L, N, S.

Combining with T, A, S discovered outside the basement, A, A, E, E, G, L, L, N, T, S, S.

These eleven letters needed to be combined.

Such codes were problems that time solved no matter who solved them. So this could be left to the code decryption team.

When everyone was silently looking at the air with serious faces, someone broke the silence from the front.

“It’s been a while since I heard a refreshing answer.”

It was the words of the King of Bavaria.

It could sound opportunistic, but the King’s reticent and sharp personality was already famous in politics, so it wasn’t taken that way. His voice and expression now were also indifferently like looking at a pebble. His support was a gain if anything for me, absolutely no loss, so I had no mind to think ill of his calculated observation and timely praise. This was natural in politics.

The crown prince nodded with an appropriate smile.

“It seems His Majesty the King of Bavaria thinks the same. Good. It must have been difficult to speak in front of us like this with an unwell body, but Your Excellency the public security headquarters chief must feel deep gratitude to Deputy Leader Askanian.”

“…Yes, y-yes. Of course. Thank you.”

The public security headquarters chief greeted toward me.

If a contest for making people uncomfortable was held, Abraham would take first place in less than 10 minutes. To handle this frustrating situation, I politely greeted the public security headquarters chief.

The crown prince opened her mouth.

“Pleroma induced the conclusion Your Excellency the public security headquarters chief made by decorating that basement. Do you now understand why I had no choice but to say that to Your Excellency?”

“…….”

“Enter the pit of fire that harms the safety of the subjects. Hearing this, how many could keep the responsible person in the seat?”

The public security headquarters chief barely answered with a dark face.

“I apologize. I never intended to put the subjects in danger. Now that I’ve realized everything, if you give me one chance….”

Everyone’s gazes were toward the air. Except for the two from Bavaria and the imperial chancellor, no one looked at the crown prince or the public security headquarters chief.

There must be more than one or two who reached the same conclusion as the public security headquarters chief in this place. However, the crown prince knew that fact but intentionally didn’t bring up that topic. Why? If she made comrades of the public security headquarters chief here, a union among them would form. The cornered public security headquarters chief would want to grab anyone, and the rest except him would want to evade the situation somehow without ending up like that.

In this extreme situation, if the crown prince pointed out another fool, he would fall to the same position as the public security headquarters chief, and another flailing would start.

In short, the target must be one.

The crown prince just looked at the public security headquarters chief who couldn’t finish his words, then nodded.

“Of course. I clearly know Your Excellency had no malice. Then, I would like you to give me certainty once more finally.”

“What….”

“We must now find out what Pleroma’s new plan is and thoroughly defend.”

The public security headquarters chief’s face turned pale white. If entrusting such a heavy task, the possibility of repeating the current situation was high.

“However, we must not forget that basically Pentalon is under the imperial government’s jurisdiction. With only a short 72 hours left, so that there is no hitch in the imperial government’s plan, the public security headquarters should support the government both materially and spiritually.”

In the continuing words of the crown prince, the public security headquarters chief stood blankly. The imperial chancellor, grasping the crown prince’s signal, added a word.

“The public security headquarters is an agency under the imperial family, so it cannot take the authority of the imperial government. The core of this terror defense will be the imperial government.”

It could feel rude words to the crown prince beside, but it wasn’t particularly that intention. Though sounding rude, this was a statement that lightened the weight of responsibility on the crown prince.

It was the same for agencies under the imperial family. The public security headquarters chief hurriedly answered lest he miss the opportunity.

“Yes. I will definitely do so. I will do my best. Thank you.”

The crown prince nodded and said while looking at the officials.

“The imperial government also listen. Whatever resources and costs needed, the imperial family will provide all through the public security headquarters. What’s important is, first and second, the safety of the subjects.”

“We will keep it in mind.”

“Now, since the direction is set, it’s time to establish a control tower to find out and defend Pleroma’s new plan on behalf of the imperial government. Before that.”

The crown prince’s gaze turned to me. The government officials also looked at me.

“From today until the opening day, Deputy Leader Askanian should rest at the Imperial Central Hospital.”

*  *  *

“You cannot go in or out until 12 hours before opening.”

I smiled while looking at the doctor blocking my front.

After the meeting ended and an hour passed, that is, when only 68 hours 11 minutes were left until opening, Abraham locked me in the hospital.

Currently, since I woke up after receiving sedative and sleeping, only 56 hours remained.

I heard this act was done together with the Bavarian government. Under the pretext of VIP treatment, doctors from the Bavarian National Medical Center were attached as my dedicated, but actually, the reason for this was close to political reasons.

‘Obvious.’

My statement in yesterday’s meeting must have greatly influenced the hospitalization.

‘My words are merely my personal thoughts’, I added such words, but actually, from the moment my claim was accepted in the meeting, the situation was turning dangerous for me.

‘Because if a problem occurs in this Pentalon, the possibility of holding me responsible too arose.’

In other words, the crown prince and the Bavarian government locked me in the hospital before the start to prevent any responsibility from coming to me even by chance.

The intention was to make all responsibility on the government and public security headquarters until the opening day. The intention was thankful, but at least I need to hear outside news.

“Please let me meet Leader Leonard.”

“Visits are prohibited. There was an order from Her Highness the Crown Prince that you must take absolute rest.”

“Then give me a newspaper. I can’t stand the boredom.”

“Newspapers can also cause stress….”

“I don’t get stressed much.”

“But didn’t you lose consciousness before coming here.”

“That was just sleeping.”

I said up to there and just smiled while pushing the doctor out. I was really sleeping, but others wouldn’t believe that. I was clearly aware that I sounded crazy.

I plopped on the hospital bed and looked out the window where the morning sun rose.

‘By now, they must have started decoding the code.’

What should I do during the remaining 2 and a half days.

I prevented the focus from being on the smokescreen event prepared by Pleroma, but I couldn’t play believing the imperial government would find Pleroma’s real plan and prevent it in advance.

‘I need to prepare too.’

I pulled the belongings box Leo delivered with mana. At least with conscience, the royal family sent supplies for 3 days.

When I infused my mana into the keyhole, the box opened with a clunk.

Empty notes I prepared for usual use, some artifacts I commissioned to Wittelsbach, elixirs were in the box.

‘What’s this.’

Leo seemed to want me to play in the hospital, as several recently published novels from Bavaria were in the box. I hadn’t read books in front of him, but seeing all were mystery novels, he seemed to know my taste well.

A small whiskey bottle that somehow seemed put by Elias was visible, and next to it, a stone piece surely secretly put by Pai was rolling.

‘Hm.’

I need to organize all information discovered about Pentalon so far in the note, but since time is plenty, do it slowly.

First, unpack. I cleared some of my items in the box. I opened the whiskey cap and put it in my mouth, then shook the box.

‘Uh.’

Another mana safe was at the bottom. I turned off the room light, drew the curtain, and applied mana to the door gap to lock the hospital room door.

Contrary to the tension, what was inside were letters from friends.

I picked one letter that caught my hand.

[To my one and only (hide from Leo so he doesn’t see) friend]

Who would say such a thing.

Of course, Elias.

When I opened the letter, Elias’s writing in blackletter font was visible from the start.

[Luca. Destroy by eating after reading this.]

I don’t know why he seriously wrote such a thing.

[How are you?

It’s a bit awkward to say this when only a day has passed, but surely by now both you and I are itching, so let me ask once.

You seeing this are probably in the hospital. I’m in the middle of Berlin. The streets are excited like before an international exposition ahead of Pentalon. The roads are full of flowers only seen in summer, and bands hired by the government are doing guerrilla performances everywhere. Wherever you enter a store, they have Pentalon catalogs placed and sell admission tickets. Ah, there’s more. Wherever you go, when ordering alcohol, the store owner hands the glass saying ‘For the prosperity of Pentalon!’ In the sky, national flags of each country drawn with mana pass all day. When bored, just watching that makes time fly. Perhaps because opening is imminent, smiles don’t stop on people’s faces. Especially kids are anxious to play in the ‘Old German Street’ prepared for Pentalon opening. While those friends were making noise outside, I found a victim about to berserk inside and took to the hospital…. Anyway, exaggerating a bit, Berlin now seems to have welcomed Easter early.]

Elias was also a person from the 1800s, so he wrote a proper letter.

Compared to him, I ended letters with ‘ja’ and ‘nein’ for everything, seeing this makes me a bit sorry.

[But I can’t smile alone in this city where everyone is smiling. Do you still remember the 3rd exam?]

‘Hm.’

I remember.

I know what words will come now.

[Of course, you surely remember. The irrationality of having to become a criminal just for begging food with shabby appearance though did nothing wrong. Also, the irrationality of having to be chased to underground sewers to avoid that, I still can’t forget. Even at this moment, ‘poor’, that is… people with ragged clothes and no leeway to tidy appearance are indiscriminately caught on the streets and chased to Brandenburg. They check the total annual income of the family, and if earning less than 1 million pel, whatever the livelihood base, they must enter the poorhouse outside. That damn city aesthetics!

…

They have no choice. The plainclothes police roaming the streets now are granted summary judgment rights. So I consulted with the city authorities and am finding a way to return the Berlin people scattered to Brandenburg and Saxony to their places. I wanted to do this plan with you too, but unfortunately because you were *dragged* to the hospital—Her Majesty the next emperor’s kindness is like the sky, isn’t it?—I decided to move first anyway. Anyway, the reason I wrote the letter is this. Want to do it together? Even if the opening ceremony ends safely, the lives of people scattered to poorhouses don’t end there. Even if the closing day comes in 3 weeks, this problem won’t solve itself. In short, it’s just starting now. I’m waiting for you anytime, so think well during rest and tell me on opening day. I’ll wait.]

I smiled while looking at his letter.

While I was pondering ways to prevent the terror coming to Pentalon, Elias was thinking about the people of this city. Of course, if 150,000 die from terror, that’s a problem in itself, so I don’t think I was doing nonsense. It just made me smile to witness again the reason I liked that novel I read forgetting time before coming here, that protagonist.

Also, Elias always brought his plans to me, but seeing it in letter like this felt new.

‘Of course, we have to do it together.’

At least it’s a matter not facing Pleroma, so not very difficult like until now. It corresponds to most problems solved by spreading money and pressuring the parliament.

It’s good that Elias awakens my attention to other directions too while I focus on terror.

But the letter ended, yet there was one more paper. When I turned to the next page, a large circle roughly drawn by Elias was visible.

[p.s. Rabbit summon button~]

“…….”

What summon button? It’s just paper.

‘But might as well since nothing to lose.’

I lightly pressed the paper while infusing mana in my hand. At that moment, something brownish appeared abruptly in front of my eyes and fell.

“Uwak!”

“Uh.”

It really worked?

I properly caught Pai who fell into my arms and placed on the bed.

“Pai. Long time no see.”

“Eong.”

Pai shook his head left and right to steady himself.

“Why did you call?!”

“Just, bored. Where were you from?”

“I was at school~ eating!”

School where?

But such wasn’t important, so no need to ask more.

Because a brilliant idea flashed in my head right now.

“Pai. Sorry to ask right away… Can you bring today’s newspaper?”

“Newspaper? Okay~ But Eli had something to deliver!”

“You became close with Elias?”

Pai shook his head vigorously more than noticing. Then immediately warped somewhere.

When about 3 minutes passed appropriately, I pressed that button once more.

Pai appeared again in front of my eyes with a small note in mouth.

I unfolded the note surely left by Elias.

And, at that moment, discovered an unexpected phrase.

[The police bureau lost the white phosphorus matches.]

*  *  *

My remaining points now were total 42.

And the special reward of Chapter 6 hadn’t opened yet. I could use it right now if I wanted, but since this system seemed to replace something given to me depending on the situation, I couldn’t open it right now. Instead.

‘Burst open on your own when needed.’

Even though I ordered like this, nothing appeared yet. It seemed not time to burst yet.

Elias said ‘from right after the meeting ended, the police bureau lost the matches.’ All with alphabets except that holed stick disappeared, and no properly taken photos.

The note Elias sent me again that evening summarized like this.

Regarding the match theft, the police bureau presented the following possibility. The one who decorated the basement was simply imitating Pleroma, and since things seemed to get big, they backed out.

Of course, now wasn’t the time to argue that.

I once again in Nicolaus state laid space magic and came to the meeting room in the corner of the parliament.

How?

I cast mind control magic on the doctor and escaped the hospital. I would turn back time soon. 2 points were a bit wasteful, but since there was information to get here today, I had to bear it.

I looked down at Alexander Kluger congressman held by the back on the desk while saying.

“You must have read it all by now.”

Finally, I came to this Pleroma congressman to get information.

What I presented to him was the report summarizing this terror incident. Since Narce was currently unavailable due to French delegation security duty, inevitably used divine power on the congressman this time.

Anyway, since there was mana I wrapped around his core, using divine power wouldn’t make him burst and die immediately, the congressman soon with a face like about to cry urgently said.

“I, really, really knew nothing. Is it true Pleroma prepared such a terror plan? This isn’t Pleroma, but a crime impersonating Pleroma or just a prank. I really….”

“…….”

“Since Your Excellency asked me about the plan for Pentalon, I also tried to find related information in the church.”

Even though I didn’t ask anything, he continued speaking while panting.

“For an exceptionally large-scale event like Pentalon International Conference, we must get permission from the leadership and move as one. If each diocese moves discordantly, even what could succeed fails. Therefore, reports from each diocese come to the leadership. And I investigated after hearing Your Excellency’s words, but there was no scheduled terror.”

“What’s the disadvantage if doing without reporting?”

“Ch, it can go up to dismissal of the diocesan bishop. Usually, from vice bishop to auxiliary bishop all deleted, and the diocesan bishop comes under surveillance of the leadership.”

“Deleted.”

“It means retrieving the authority given to him.”

Saying kill in a long way.

I nodded while stroking my chin in thought. He continued speaking as if not wanting to buy my distrust.

“…As far as I know, Trier diocese, Regensburg diocese, and Hildesheim diocese inquired if they could detonate biological weapons in each diocesan area on Pentalon day, but the leadership immediately rejected. So, at least on the line I can access, there was no report permitted by the leadership.”

“‘On the line I can access.’ You’re not in such a low position.”

“…That’s right. I’m in a position where I can put my name on the next bishop review. So, in fact….”

The congressman stopped speaking and hesitated, then asked me with slightly subsided eyes.

“…If a problem arises, you will surely guarantee my interests, right?”

“Is life alone insufficient?”

The surprised congressman opened his mouth to explain. I extended my hand to stop his words and said.

“Of course, since Congressman has always given me immense help, if by any chance a problem arises in the church, I will immediately protect your safety and obtain a position as stable as now. You don’t need to doubt that.”

“…It might be disruptive information, but this must be the truth. In the documents I checked, it was set not to act now when anxiety sentiment about Pentalon has heightened, but to target the capitals of each federal state after Pentalon closing when vigilance is completely weakened.”

While blankly looking into his eyes, I slowly nodded. Whether disruptive information or not, this congressman was speaking what he saw as fact now.

‘In other words, Pleroma has no intention to terror Pentalon, huh.’

At least in the official position.

I lightly tapped the table with my fingertip while saying.

“It’s a decent method.”

“…Is it? For us, this is the best. After that Askanian student burst the Grand Hotel incident, concerns and bad reviews about our church already started growing. Since we already bought extreme vigilance, whatever plan executed has low possibility to succeed. So rather, it’s better to take a friendly line abroad and change direction.”

“Hm.”

Of course it should be.

The one doing is a madman.

I changed the future. Of course, if 10 crazy things happen, it’s like eliminating only half, but half is something.

“Speak properly. Not that bad reviews grew after that Askanian burst the hotel incident, but bad reviews grew because you terrorized the hotel.”

“Th, that’s right….”

“Then, you don’t know who decorated the contaminated magical beast terror?”

“That’s right. Such… such a person is subject to heavy punishment. A person harmful to the church. So, again, those contaminated rats must be just a prank by non-Pleroma. The matches disappeared too…. Since things are clearly getting big, they just backed out.”

“Then, Congressman thinks nothing will happen on Pentalon day?”

“That’s right. To begin with, to cause something large-scale in a stadium accommodating 150,000, leadership’s permission is needed. There’s no gain in doing without permission. Punishment occurs within the church, how could there be gain.”

I nodded while jotting his words on the brought paper, and while retrieving the divine power applied to his core, said.

“Good. Thanks for the cooperation.”

Now the last.

What remained was only synthesizing all information collected from 2 weeks ago until now.

*  *  *

[Your Excellency Askanian. This is Patrick Einhart, chairman of the emergency committee. As Your Excellency said, we discovered a ‘new plan’ penetrating the Pentalon main stadium and the entire Pentalon event grounds. No need to be pessimistic. There is still sufficient time. We will not let down our guard, and we have various resources to execute defense plans no matter what problem bursts. For a successful opening, we now need Your Excellency’s help.]

I read the note that came to me and folded it to put in the fireplace.

And, I tore one by one the note where I organized everything about the terror while locked here and threw into the fire.

2 hours before opening.

8 PM, colorful mana was continuously bursting like fireworks in the dark blue sky. The performance sound of the royal band touring Berlin city echoed largely in the building.

I finally wore Eszett’s ceremonial uniform and put on gloves. While organizing the tilted hat and standing in front of the door, a door knocking sound came, then the voice of the guard attached by the imperial family was heard.

“Your Excellency Askanian. It’s time to move.”

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