Chapter 47

Chapter 46

Our Exhibition is Operating Normally - 5

We were able to sell out on the last day of operating the booth. For a club that was formed this year, it was quite a splendid and legendary achievement. Louis also seemed quite pleased, smiling brightly every time our eyes met. If I had known he would be this happy, I should have made them every day.

"Thank you for fulfilling my personal request."

"Considering the hard work you do, I can certainly accommodate such a request."

"Still, you should accept the money. It’s problematic if a bureaucrat doesn’t handle financial transactions with civilians properly."

"Hehe. Is that so?"

I met the principal at the inspector's residence to pick up the cookies and managed to give him the money despite his initial refusal. After all, I did inconvenience him with a personal request, and it was right to force him to take the money.

Moreover, even if it was a joke, it’s true that if a civil servant handles money with civilians improperly, it could cause me trouble. Being arrested and detained by the Criminal Affairs Department wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. They are people I’d rather not meet.

"The inspector seems to have a lot of affection for the club members."

"I’m glad you see it that way."

I smiled and replied to the principal, who was also smiling. At least, if the principal sees me as a decent advisor, it’s satisfying. It seems my image has been properly established after all the hard work.

I watched the principal leave until he was out of sight, then checked the size of the cookie bag in my hand.

'The quantity is definitely small.'

Fortunately, it’s not on the scale of mass production we experienced in the club room. Since I thought Louis would throw most of them away on the last day, I made only a little. It’s just the right amount to tide me over a meal.

Besides, I have no schedule tomorrow except for the ranking announcement in the auditorium and the banquet in the evening. Since the announcement is at noon, I can take my time eating. There’s no need to go out early.

Of course, the baking club will definitely be in first place, so there’s no need to go and see it in person, but as an advisor, I should show my face. It’s a hassle, but what can I do? If I’m given a role, I have to act accordingly.

I’ve never been to the academy auditorium before. At most, I’ve only seen the exterior while wandering around the academy. I’ve never had a reason to go inside, but it’s quite a large building from the outside.

'It’s huge.'

The interior was also grand. The vast first floor and a second floor that overlooks it. It could easily pass for a concert hall if it were packed with seats.

"Would you like to sit on the second floor? The first floor might be crowded."

"Thank you for your consideration."

While looking around the still empty auditorium, the principal suggested going to the second floor. I agreed, thinking it would be better. The first floor would be crowded with all sorts of students and staff, and it would be awkward to be among them. It’s more comfortable to watch from the second floor.

When I went up, the stage didn’t feel too far away. I should be able to see Louis receiving the award clearly.

'Even if I clap from here, it will be heard on stage.'

I nodded in satisfaction. After finding a good spot, I waited quietly. Students started to gather on the first floor one by one. There’s still some time before noon, but they are quite diligent. I’m not one to talk, being the first to arrive.

The first floor quickly filled with people, and only a few staff members and the student council came up to the second floor. With so few people, it’s awkward even from a distance on the second floor. If I had been on the first floor, it would have been an awkward silence instead of the current bustle.

'Not here.'

I naturally looked for Margarete among the student council members scattered around the second floor, but unfortunately, she wasn’t there. Since the president isn’t visible either, they must be presenting the awards together.

Presenting awards with the princess. I’m a bit worried about the president’s mental health. But he must have developed some social skills through student council activities. I believe he can handle it as a future civil servant.

It was noon, and the ranking announcement began. Contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t Margarete and the president presenting the awards, but the president and the principal, with the former acting as the host and the latter as the presenter. Where is Margarete? Did she have an urgent matter to attend to?

'If she’s here, she wouldn’t be alone.'

Except for the president on stage and the missing Margarete, the entire student council was on the second floor. If Margarete had something to do, someone else would have volunteered. Of course, it’s an internal matter of the student council, so it’s not my business. I have other things to worry about.

As the sound of footsteps approached, I turned to see a brown-haired girl walking towards me. She wasn’t a student council member, nor one of Louis’s friends I saw on the first day of my assignment. She was a new face.

When she saw me looking at her, she only smiled and continued walking.

"Hello. How have you been?"

She bowed slightly when she reached me, but I didn’t recognize her. It’s awkward to pretend to know her.

"I wanted to see you at the café, but here we meet."

Ah.

I sighed softly and extended my hand. She shook it, and I felt the rough texture of a piece of paper in her hand.

It’s the deputy head of intelligence again. Even though I was stationed at the academy in case of emergencies, I thought she would have withdrawn with the 1st Division and the Mokwang Team.

"Are you still here?"

"I came back recently. I had to come in person, so what could I do?"

I swallowed the blank piece of paper and asked, and she shrugged lightly. But her every action was filled with deep fatigue. In other words, she came back to the academy to deliver important information that couldn’t be transmitted through communication channels.

Both the deputy head of intelligence, who came back to deliver such important information, and I, who had to hear it, were in a miserable situation.

"The bodies have been buried. We thought they were unidentified, but fortunately, we found their families."

"Good news. How many were there?"

"About three? Fewer than expected."

I nodded silently at the deputy head of intelligence’s words.

'Three traitor families.'

Families. A term now more familiar as bodies, associated with the third glory. It means there were three families that had contact with the rebels.

Of course, it’s few compared to the grand claims of reviving Appels, but the third glory is a loose and flimsy organization, more like a tutorial. Three might even be considered a lot.

"Is this story too boring? Let’s finish watching the award ceremony."

"Sure."

We both turned our gaze to the first floor. The deputy head of intelligence then pulled out a small scroll from her pocket, tore it quickly, and a faint barrier enveloped us before disappearing.

"Our voices won’t be heard outside for five minutes."

"Will we be visible?"

"We’ll still be visible, so I’ll keep it brief."

The deputy head of intelligence cleared her throat and spoke in a solemn voice that didn’t match her disguise.

"Inspector General Karl Krasius, receive the imperial edict."

She bowed slightly at the imperial edict. Normally, kneeling and bowing deeply would be insufficient, but this is a simplified version.

As I bowed, the deputy head of intelligence, now a noble representative of the emperor, continued.

"Emperor Aymanka the Great, having received the call of heaven, established the mandate of heaven, and the entire continent praised the emperor who restored the mandate of heaven from the corruption of hypocrisy and greed. Thus, the glorious descendants of Aymanka, Livnoman, protect the mandate of heaven and maintain order, leaving no place untouched by their majesty."

The prelude is quite long. The mention of the emperor and the mandate of heaven indicates that the emperor is seriously angry.

"However, there are those who dare to hide in the darkness and disdain the rightful protectors of the mandate of heaven. How can this not be lamented? The emperor, with the protection of the loyal ministers, punished the wicked, but it is regrettable that there are still those who do not respect Livnoman in the darkness."

The edict was heading towards its conclusion. The instructions were obvious, given the emperor’s anger from the first sentence.

"Therefore, the rightful and sole ruler of the Kephalopon Empire, Corvus Aymanka Livnoman of Kephalopon, commands: Inspector General Karl Krasius, receive the imperial edict and purge the traitors who seek to颠覆天命，使帝国恢复和平。"

"我将遵从庄严的皇命。"

就这样结束了。短短几句话就决定了三个贵族家族的命运。

情报副长也放松了声音，擦了擦额头上的冷汗，叹了口气。

“让情报副长传达皇命是不是太残酷了？”

“有什么办法呢？陛下强烈要求这样做。”

庄严的皇命不能随便传达，即使是简化版也是如此。官员至少要达到部长级别才能进行。然而，情报副长只是一个副长，却传达了简化版的皇命。她内心肯定很想哭。

但有什么办法呢？皇帝连选拔部长级官员派往学院的时间都觉得浪费。

‘听到阿佩尔斯这个词，陛下肯定气得发疯。’

300年前灭亡的国家的复兴军偏偏在自己这一代复活？即使陛下愤怒到摔了玉玺，我也能理解。更何况，还有与该复兴军接触的贵族家族，陛下肯定想把他们全部处决。

“情报已经传达给监察副长，但还不清楚这三个家族的关联程度。他们可能只是单纯交易，也可能积极参与了叛乱。”

“重要吗？”

我简短地回答，情报副长沉默了一会儿，又耸了耸肩。

“不重要。”

是的，不重要。无论是单纯交易还是积极参与，它们都与叛逆行为有关。与第三荣耀接触的事实不会改变。

“靠同僚的鲜血上位的家伙。”

再次浮现的记忆让我闭上了眼睛。那小子死得太容易了。但帮助那小子的人还活着。

当我睁开眼睛时，情报副长已经消失，颁奖典礼也接近尾声，路易斯正从校长手中接过奖杯。在热烈的掌声中，她高举奖杯，看起来非常高兴。

路易斯环顾四周，终于在二楼发现了我，她露出了灿烂的笑容，我也报以微笑。祝贺你，路易斯。

‘真好。’

路易斯能留下难忘的回忆。

‘真的很好。’

还有要杀的人活着。

我满意地鼓起掌来。

今天，怀中的水晶球显得格外沉重。

作者的话（作者后记）

感谢大家阅读这一章！