Chapter 71

■ Chapter 70. Aftermath (1) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

The protest, which seemed ready to explode at any moment, gradually began to cool down after Isaac sent a letter to the publishing company.

The letter was so long that it filled an entire page, but if summarized roughly, it went something like this.

The protest crowd, initially, did not retreat even after reading the heartfelt plea that filled the page; they initially refuted it, saying, "Stop lying to us!"

They shouted, "Is this letter really written by Isaac? It looks like a fake letter to calm the situation down before the volcano erupts!"

Indeed, it was a valid point, so the publishing company decided to show proof through action. They presented the original manuscript of the first volume of the Zeyon Chronicles.

A masterpiece that began to leave a significant mark on the cultural scene and is currently loved by all, the start of the Zeyon Chronicles.

Moreover, it was not a transcription but written directly by Isaac himself. Naturally, the public could not help but be shocked, even to the point of being appalled.

"It's a lie! How can we believe this!"

"Prove that it's not a transcription but the real original!"

"Prove that this is the real thing!"

Of course, they did not believe it right away. From the protesters' perspective, it was hard to believe that the letter and the manuscript, which the publishing company claimed was the original, were genuine.

The protesters were a mix of people of all ages, but among them were many who had extensive life experience. In other words, they knew very well how dirty and cunning the upper echelons of society could be.

For this reason, even when the publishing company pitifully claimed it was the original, they did not gain any trust. However, the situation soon took a turn.

"It seems to be the real original, not a transcription. It's the original, alright."

"Is this really the original?"

"What makes you think so? Is it because the manuscript paper is old?"

"No. The old manuscript paper is not a valid reason. It could have been written on old paper. But the ink is not. If the ink had faded to this extent, it means it was written a long time ago. Most importantly, do you see the countless dots here? These are marks of contemplation. Authors often go through a lot of contemplation in the initial part of their work."

The proof was provided by a collector and expert who came to verify the original. While an ordinary collector might not have known, he was one of the well-known collectors in the Minerva Empire, which significantly increased the credibility.

"Is there no trace of magic? You never know."

"Listen. Magic is a boundless power, but it cannot manipulate time. However, the traces of time are clearly present in this manuscript. Therefore, it must be the real thing."

"Really...!"

With the irrefutable evidence, the spokesperson of the publishing company felt like dancing with joy. However, since the situation was not yet completely resolved, he barely managed to suppress his excitement.

The spokesperson quickly snatched the original from the collector and shouted to the crowd, who were focused on him. The spokesperson was chosen for his loud voice, which echoed loudly.

"I believe the proof is sufficient now! The handwriting of this original and the letter perfectly match! So, the content of this letter is what Mr. Zeyon wants to tell you all! Do you still want to protest? If, by any chance, this protest escalates and harms the author who is in hiding, what will you do?"

"We have nothing more to say."

"If the author says so, we must leave."

"Let's go back. Two years is a long time, but what can we do? If the author wants to rest, there's nothing we can do about it."

"Ah... I have to work for two years."

Thus, the long protest gradually dispersed. Even as it dispersed, some people looked at the publishing company with regret, but they eventually turned away.

However, there were those who refused to leave, most of them fixated on the original.

'The original of the first volume of the Zeyon Chronicles...'

'How much is this worth?'

'If I have this...'

It's natural to be tempted when something of such high value, perhaps even worthy of being designated as a national treasure, is right in front of you. The employee, sensing the strange atmosphere, felt a chill and quickly entered the company.

Upon entering, he saw the CEO pacing restlessly in the hallway. The CEO, who had instructed an employee to bring the original, quickly asked as soon as the employee returned with it.

"Well, how did it go? The protesters? Did they all retreat?"

"Of course. The remaining people will also leave soon."

"Phew... I can breathe a sigh of relief. Well done. You did a great job."

The CEO sighed in relief and patted the employee on the shoulder, acknowledging his hard work.

The employee, though smiling on the outside, was secretly hoping for a reward. The CEO was known for giving enormous bonuses when the company performed well.

This was the reason he could endure and persist in his difficult job.

"You've really worked hard. I'll give you a generous bonus, so go home now."

"Thank you!"

"No need to thank me. I'm the one who's grateful. Hehehe."

The CEO's hearty laugh made the employee smile. In most workplaces, problems often arise due to superiors, but not here.

The main reason the publishing company could grow so large was the Zeyon Chronicles, but the reason they could handle the overwhelming workload was the CEO.

The issue, however, was that he was still a superior. Nevertheless, the employee was happy about the generous bonus and the thought of going home.

"Ah, and give me the original quickly. We need to handle it as soon as possible."

"Understood. How do you plan to handle it?"

"I have a plan. Just give it to me quickly."

The employee, without any suspicion, handed the original to the CEO, who checked it several times to ensure it was the real thing and sighed again.

From today, the storm seems to be subsiding. For the CEO, this meant no more frequent visits from nobles.

Recently, his once-thick hair had thinned due to stress, so this was a great relief. After instructing the employee to leave, the CEO returned to his office.

"You're here."

Upon returning to the office, the CEO saw his trusted secretary, Matthew, waiting. He had instructed Matthew to wait there earlier.

The CEO looked at Matthew's face and sat down in his chair, feeling the soft leather against his back.

"Phew..."

"Did everything go well?"

"Yes. There will be no more shouting from the protesters or visits from nobles."

"That's a relief."

"Not just a relief. We almost lost our precious company."

It would have burned down. Matthew, half-seriously, felt a pang of regret.

One of the dreams of a working person is to see their company burn down. Given Matthew's status as practically a slave to the CEO, this feeling was even stronger.

Of course, he only thought this in his heart and never said it out loud. The reason he maintained this hellish job was the high salary.

"Ah, by the way, who is on duty today?"

"Ellis."

"Then you'll be on duty with him today."

"...What?"

Matthew blinked, not understanding the sudden order.

The CEO, showing Matthew the original, began to explain.

"You know, we need to guard this original until the messenger arrives. They should be here in no more than four days, so we need to protect it until then. If it's lost, our company is finished."

I hope it's finished. But since today is Thursday, it might be okay. Matthew grumbled to himself and nodded.

Unaware of Matthew's thoughts, the CEO looked at the original with a serious expression. From today, the news that this is the real original will spread, so we need to act quickly.

This is not just any item but the original of the first volume of the Zeyon Chronicles.

It's so valuable that it should be designated as a national treasure, far beyond what a publishing company can handle. A high-ranking noble might come tomorrow, offering an unimaginable amount of money for the original.

However, as I said before, we won't do the foolish act of cutting open the goose that lays the golden eggs. Most importantly, the author presented the original as a form of evidence, not transferring full ownership.

In other words, if we mishandle the original, our lives are over. The CEO carefully placed the original in a folder and looked up.

'I need to put this in the safe.'

Only the CEO knows the combination to the safe in the office. Matthew, who is on duty tonight, is only supposed to guard the safe in the office.

There's no thought of theft. Matthew is not capable of such a thing, and he doesn't know the combination.

The CEO, feeling somewhat relieved, exhaled and spoke quietly.

"I must emphasize that the safe must be guarded. If it's lost, not only will I be in trouble, but the entire publishing company will be ruined."

"I understand. But why put it in the company safe? Why not manage it yourself?"

"There's no proper place to put it in my house. Besides, there's nothing as safe as the company safe. Look at it."

The CEO pointed to one side, and Matthew's gaze followed. The entrance to the safe, integrated into the wall, came into view.

It's originally used to store the CEO's personal records. It also stores cash obtained through tax evasion and bribes.

So, the security is reliable. The combination is one thing, but it's rare for someone to try to remove the entire safe.

Matthew nodded as soon as he saw the safe. This is definitely reliable.

"I understand. But will the two of us be enough? Shouldn't we hire adventurers as a precaution?"

"Don't worry. There won't be any bold thieves today. It will take at least four days for the news to spread. By then, we will have handed the original to the messenger."

"I see."

"Well, from the second day, it would be good to hire adventurers as you suggested. For today, emphasize to Ellis to stay alert."

That's fine. Matthew readily accepted the CEO's instructions.

The CEO, feeling that the situation was under control, leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He had not slept for several days, living only at the company, and was completely drained.

Today, he wanted nothing more than to return home and rest.

'Now it's over...'

Yes, he thought today was truly the end.

"CEO! It's a disaster!"

"What? What's happened now? Did a noble come?"

"No! When I came to work today, Matthew and Ellis were lying on the ground, and more importantly...!"

-The safe was stolen!

Before the absolute disaster occurred.

The CEO, upon hearing the employee's shout, had a blank expression for about five seconds, not understanding what he had heard.

But as soon as he fully grasped the situation, his face turned pale, and he rushed to the office. On the way, he saw Matthew and an employee being carried out, but the situation was too urgent to check on them.

The CEO, running to his office, quickly thought through the situation.

'The safe was stolen? They didn't crack the combination? How is this possible?'

The safe where the original was stored was so heavy that it couldn't be carried away and was integrated into the wall.

Moreover, it was a high-end safe that had been magically treated, making it difficult to destroy. Even if it were destroyed, the noise would have been too loud to go unnoticed.

Yet...

"..."

Thud.

The CEO, seeing the safe, which looked as if the entire wall had been torn out, could only kneel.

'I'm finished.'

Another storm was beginning.