Chapter 353

Words : 2451 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

“When a guest comes, don’t you serve tea?” “Is there any tea you’d like?” “No. Tea doesn’t suit my taste at all.” “Would you prefer coffee then?” “Coffee? Why drink something so bitter? Besides, it makes it hard to sleep when I drink it.” “That’s fortunate. We don’t have either here.” At those words, Duke Heiback laughed as if he’d been had. “You really are an interesting person, teacher.” “Please call me Planning Department Head now.” “A teacher is a teacher, why should I call you Planning Department Head?” “Because this is the Planning Department. If you wanted to call me teacher, why didn’t you come to my faculty office?” “That’s disappointing. I should have visited when you were in your faculty office.” “So, what’s the reason?” “Hmm?” Heiback tilted his head as if he had misheard. That action was like an old man sitting on a park bench feeding pigeons. As if he had nothing to do with the busy affairs of the world. “It doesn’t matter if you pretend not to know. Someone as busy as you, Duke, wouldn’t have come to see me for a trivial reason.” “Well now. There’s a slight misunderstanding. I’m already someone who has stepped away from work. Why do you overestimate an old man in the back room who has handed over his position to his son?” “Is such a person the one who secretly worked behind the scenes to make Ranpartz fall?” This time, Duke Heiback narrowed his eyes as if truly surprised. “Oh. How did you know?” He had no particular intention of hiding it. “We don’t just sit idle either. Who do you think is responsible for gathering the money in the first place?” “Even so, while you as Planning Department Head might be capable in internal affairs of Theon, wouldn’t you be unfamiliar with external news?” “I have a friend who brings me external news.” “Ah. Could that friend perhaps be that hot topic these days, someone called Oliver?” “......” This time, Rudger stared intensely at Duke Heiback. Duke Heiback smiled playfully, seeming pleased that it was now 1-1. “But is that okay for Theon?” “What do you mean?” “About a teacher having multiple jobs.” As expected. This person knew everything. Rudger could understand why people found Duke Heiback difficult to deal with. While he acted detached as if uninterested in worldly affairs, in reality, he was more sensitive than anyone to the flow of current affairs. That insensitive behavior of casually poking at others’ secrets with a smiling face made him truly the epitome of a cunning person. “You just thought I was a cunning person, didn’t you?” “Yes.” “...Isn’t it proper manners to deny it at times like this?” “Since when did we care about manners with each other?” That’s true too. Duke Heiback chuckled. “So, did you get permission from the President for multiple positions?” “Originally, Theon teachers are not interfered with regarding what they do outside their teaching hours.” “Oh my. Good salary and no interference with side jobs. Truly a dream workplace.” “It doesn’t matter since I got permission from the President. Did you come to see me just to confirm this fact?” “Hmm? No, no. This was just a secondary purpose. I came to see you for a different reason.” “Then what is the original reason?” “I wanted to say thank you.” Rudger frowned as if he didn’t understand. “I don’t understand why you’re thanking me.” “Didn’t you break the high and mighty pride of that arrogant Kayden Lumos?” “For just that reason?” When Rudger asked incredulously, Heiback was slightly taken aback. “Oh? Why aren’t you surprised?” “Why should I be surprised?” “Wasn’t Kayden Lumos’ name mentioned? It’s a shocking secret that the Lumos family was the one who influenced Ranpartz in this incident. Naturally, you should be surprised.” Ah. So that’s what it was about. Rudger answered indifferently. “I already knew about that.” Just ten minutes ago, in fact. However, he didn’t bother telling Heiback that much detail. “Hmm. I certainly wanted to surprise you this time, but as expected, you’re far ahead of my thoughts, teacher.” What expression would he make if told that someone from the Lumos family had just come by and tipped him off? Rudger stopped such idle thoughts and said: “Is that why you said thank you? For giving a fellow Duke family a taste of their own medicine?” “Well, something like that. Of course, I know you didn’t do it with that intention.” “We simply responded as best we could to the situation at hand. The fact that Duke Lumos was involved was nothing more than a coincidental hit.” “Yes. But even if unintended, isn’t it true that you gave him a taste of his own medicine? That fellow, despite pretending otherwise, is narrow-minded and will surely hold onto this matter. So how could I not feel satisfied?” Heiback smiled as if just imagining it brought him joy. “But this too isn’t the real reason I came to see you.” “Like a box within a box, things keep coming out.” “Call it like an onion. The charm of this old man is that there’s no end no matter how many layers you peel.” “That’s quite tearfully spicy.” Rudger meant it as sarcasm, but Heiback burst out laughing, finding it amusing. “Aren’t you curious? Why does this decrepit old man still keep such a careful grasp on current affairs?” “Given your position, isn’t it just a habit?” “Half correct. At least you didn’t say it was an old man’s nasty hobby.” “Which means half wrong.” “That’s right. And the other half of the truth is related to why I came to see you like this.” As he said this, Heiback’s expression changed from that of a childish old man to that of a cold-blooded leader. Rudger also tensed up at Heiback’s attitude that changed as if he had put on a mask, or as if a switch had been flipped. “As you know, while it is partly a habit that I check on various incidents like this, that’s not the fundamental reason. Because this isn’t a hobby, but rather my duty.” “Duty, you say?” “Yes, duty. Do you perhaps know what our Kadatushan family does?” “That it’s one of the Empire’s three great Duke families.” “And?” “That the family symbol is a mountain goat, and that you have connections with various media and intelligence organizations.” “Oh. That’s more than the average person knows. That’s right. We Kadatushan’s have the sharpest eyes on the Empire’s affairs.” Heiback’s unfathomable eyes flashed with a strange light. It was the wisdom light that only those who have lived long could possess. “People say that the eagle flying high has the best view of the Empire’s affairs. But that’s wrong.” For a moment, Rudger saw the form of a beast behind Heiback, the figure of a mountain goat with long horns. “What knows best about events happening on the ground is something of the ground. For instance, a being like a mountain goat that can easily climb even the steepest cliffs.” “......” “And I, as the head of that place, am naturally well-versed in various information about the Empire. For example, news such as how a newly arrived teacher at Theon is the same person as a back alley owner who quickly became wealthy in Leathervelk city.” A rather severe and heavy atmosphere pressed down on Rudger’s shoulders. Heiback is neither a magician nor a knight. He was literally an ordinary person who hadn’t learned any special arts but he had an enormous presence. He had a towering height created by years of accumulation and sedimentation. It was an authority that only one who had survived long years of storms while firmly holding their position could possess. “...Then why didn’t someone like you know about what happened in the capital?” “Ho ho ho. Now you’re poking at a sore spot.” Heiback shrugged his shoulders. “The capital is the only place within the Empire that’s not under our jurisdiction. The Imperial family is there, and we mustn’t concern ourselves with places where the Imperial family’s eyes reach.” “What’s the reason for that?” “Because we’re too capable.” “......” “This is no joke. If we put our minds to it, we could even track every move of the Imperial family. But no matter how excellent we are, we’re just a Duke family, so how could we challenge the Emperor’s authority? So there’s a treaty. That is, not to touch the capital.” However, Heiback continued. “Except for the capital, if we discover someone who might become a danger to the Empire, we step forward without hesitation. That’s what the Kadatushan family does.” “Is that why you came to see me? Here at Theon?” “Because there’s a need to verify. While Theon is a separate place, it’s still within Imperial territory. So I’ll introduce myself again.” Heiback spoke about his position that he hadn’t mentioned at the banquet that day. “Former Intelligence Director, former Night Crawler Commander-in-Chief, and the eyes watching over the Empire. I am Heiback Kadatushan.” Rudger quietly stared at Heiback. It was difficult to read the intentions contained in his gaze directed this way. ‘I thought he wasn’t an ordinary old man, but.’ He’s no less than a pillar of one of the three great Duke families. How could such a person be ordinary? But hearing it directly from his own mouth, this was beyond imagination. “For such an esteemed person to come looking for me, I must have aroused quite a bit of suspicion.” At Rudger’s words, Heiback lightly shrugged his shoulders. “Is it just suspicion? You’ve even continuously surprised me with unbelievable results, so of course it’s not an ordinary matter. This is the first time I’ve been so surprised since finding traces of those Black Dawn Society fellows.” “Thank you for thinking so highly of me.” “What thanks? I’m just giving an evaluation as it is.” Rudger placed his interlocked hands on the desk. Given that the other party was serious enough to introduce himself again, the moment he let his guard down even for an instant, his throat would be torn out. “So have you come to arrest me for the Empire’s stability?” “What if that’s the case?” Heiback momentarily sharpened his gaze and stared at Rudger. Though just for a moment, it felt like a blade had flown and stabbed into his chest. Even Rudger, who was immune to all sorts of pressure from Grandel, felt that way. However, Rudger also didn’t fall behind in terms of experience. While his years of life were certainly lacking compared to the person before him, the density of his life was different. “You’re lying.” “Why do you think that?” “If that were the case, you would have already brought your family members to capture me or called the Night Crawler knights.” “You thought it wasn’t that because I came alone?” “If it’s important enough for Duke Heiback to personally come forward, this matter must be no ordinary issue. Nevertheless, you came to me, revealed your identity, and asked questions.” Rudger pointed out the strange discrepancy in Heiback’s attitude. “You want to verify, don’t you? Because you still can’t distinguish whether I’m an enemy of the Empire or not.” At those words, Heiback’s expressionless face contorted. Eventually, deep wrinkles carved into his face as he burst into loud laughter. “Hahahahaha! Well, well. Teacher, you stay alert until the end!” “So is the verification process finished?” “Process? The process was finished long ago.” At Heiback’s words, Rudger’s eyebrow twitched. Finished long ago? “You seem completely puzzled. Look here, teacher. Look at the actions you’ve taken until now.” “What have I done?” “My goodness.” When Rudger asked with genuine ignorance, it was rather Heiback who was surprised. “Were you really this unaware? I’m not sure whether to be relieved or not.” “Is there some problem?” “No. There isn’t. Rather, it’s the opposite. While possessing such unbelievable abilities, you haven’t done anything that could threaten the Empire until now.” “That’s quite excessive praise.” “Of course, you do strange things in the underworld with your side job, but well, isn’t that common?” “Usually people don’t call such things common.” What teacher would work in the underworld while hiding their identity? Rudger was about to argue that point, but realizing it would be like smearing mud on his own face, he closed his mouth. “You saved a declining district, cleaned up gangs, and even then didn’t waste that money and power frivolously. Rather, you were helpful to the Empire.” “Is that so?” “I heard you played quite a big role in the incident that occurred in the capital too. Additionally, you presented new magic theory at the Arcane Chamber and taught students magic that didn’t exist before. And most importantly...the Imperial family trusts you.” “Well, that’s...” Because he made a shady deal with the First Imperial Princess. Though Heiback probably knew about that too, he must have judged there was no reason to view it negatively even considering all that. “What if all of this that I’ve done is actually deception?” “That’s why I came personally to verify. But after talking and seeing your appearance, I can put aside such worries.” “You’re making conclusions based on just that?” “That’s my role, and my job. Even if I’m wrong, it means my abilities are lacking. Well, nothing can be done about that.” It was quite a carefree answer to someone who might become a danger to the Empire in the future. “Still, knowing that you’re not a threat to the Empire and rather helpful, I’d like to make one request.” “...A request, you say.” “Yes.” Heiback completely wiped the smile from his face and said: “I know you’ll be participating in the upcoming [Night of Mystery].” Rudger nodded. Well, at this point when invitations had already been sent out, few people wouldn’t know about it. “I would like you to kill someone at that [Night of Mystery].”

Chapter 353

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