Chapter 40: The Logic of the Strong (3) "Acarius" was a mercenary group based in the Kanilan Independent State, a nation in the western part of the continent renowned for its exceptionally advanced magi-engineering.
"One million Imperial Dollars..."
Ren, the group's leader, was a pure-blooded Aranian from the Empire. Most of her regular patrons were also Imperials, but that was precisely why she had nested in an island nation independent of the Empire's reach.
"...A million dollars just to track down some old man."
Having become a mercenary leader at the young age of twenty-three, she was something of a legendary figure in the underworld.
"He even has two names."
She murmured the names written on the request form: [Giorgio Chirico, Lorenzo Carione].
"Shall we accept the commission?" her secretary asked.
"Wait."
Acarius always conducted thorough preliminary research before accepting any job. To the Imperial nobles, mercenaries were nothing more than disposable tools, but to Ren, each member was a precious resource that cost millions to train.
"Many of the men want to take it. A few have already headed to the Empire to poke around."
"I get it. Shut up."
Ren scratched her red hair vigorously and picked up the request form.
"The fact that this old man escaped on his own, combined with this cheapskate offering a million dollars... something stinks. Any other info?"
"We've already pinpointed his location. Hermes Prefecture, in the south."
"Hermes? That's the middle of nowhere. Anything else from down there?"
"Uh... hold on."
Jecon, the secretary, operated the computer. Since the tech-heavy Kanilan was always wary of the Empire's every move, news from the mainland was constantly distributed through their network.
"Ah, here it is. Apparently, a mana stone vein was discovered in the Rommilton Mountains of Hermes Prefecture."
"A mana stone vein?"
"Yes. They say it's a jackpot."
"I'm damn jealous. Who's the owner?"
"Well... that hasn't been made public yet, but—oh, right. The members who already went to the Empire managed to get their hands on a ledger from the target's magic shop."
"Let me see."
Jecon printed out a photo of the ledger and handed it over. Ren scanned the records and sales figures.
The person helping an old man with two names would have to be a financial backer. Therefore, she looked for recent large transactions...
One name caught the mercenary leader's eye.
"Maximilian."
She didn't know exactly who it was. There were many people with that name in the Empire; Maximilian was a fairly common name. However, the number of people who could drop this kind of cash in a single go was limited.
"...Ebenholtz."
She could be wrong, but if it was an Ebenholtz, getting involved meant they were screwed. Of course, given her naturally rebellious and contrarian nature, she felt a sudden urge to stir the pot—especially if the opponent was Zebestian.
However, now was not the time.
"We're pulling out for now. Tell the idiots who are already there to come back if they don't want to get stabbed."
*
The logic of the strong is the logic of power.
The strong oppress the weak. Because they are strong, they can tyrannize the weak. However, this logic must not be applied selectively. Those who devour the weak by virtue of their strength must accept the fact that they, too, can be crushed by someone even stronger at any moment.
If they cannot, then it is not logic, but mere sophistry.
Nevertheless, most of the strong cannot accept the moment they become the target. Instead, they cry out in unfairness, claiming it is unreasonable.
It is a laughable sight.
A young knight of Ebenholtz had officially ordered a retrial for the old "Giorgio Chirico" case. The details of a case that had been buried in a dusty archive for over a decade rose to the surface once more, and the Imperial Central Court scheduled the retrial with unusually swift efficiency.
Furthermore, from the moment that news broke, the collapse of the Listman Company began.
"...It seems we can no longer continue this transaction, Chairman."
The president of Terra Metals, a core component supplier for Listman, announced the termination of their contract. His usual flattering tone was gone, replaced by a much more businesslike voice.
"President Gunter."
"I'm sorry, but our hands are tied. Oh, and regarding the promissory note you issued last time—please settle it in cash as soon as possible."
"The deadline was clearly six months from now! Are you playing games with me?"
"Games? The original deadline was next month."
Gunter chuckled. It was a snort of pure contempt. Blood vessels burst in Valerius's eyes.
"Chairman. The rumors about you are quite nasty these days. Word is you put out some strange request to a mercenary group and it blew up in your face..."
His long-time business partner was looking down on him. A mere commoner who had touched a bit of money dared to—
"If I were you, I'd let go of my greed."
President Gunter stood up with a hollow laugh.
"Well then, I'll be going. I'll be expecting that payment."
Left alone, Valerius gripped his glass tightly.
...
The judge who had handled the Giorgio case ten years ago and ruled in Valerius's favor, along with some of the police and prosecutors who had led the investigation, all resigned. As if by prior agreement, they all cited "personal reasons."
The bureaucrats who had granted favors to the Listman family turned their backs in an instant, and Valerius received a notice from the court. It was an official summons to attend the retrial as a witness.
Simultaneously, his limbs were severed one by one. Bank loan extensions were blocked. Multiple contracts were canceled. Partner families cut off contact. Even the restaurants, social clubs, and golf courses he frequented refused his reservations.
Rumors even circulated that the Imperial Department of Taxation had launched a special audit targeting the Listman Company.
Now, no one "dared" to be associated with him.
Valerius Listman was isolated in an instant.
All because of a single document sent by a knight of Ebenholtz.
Valerius gave up on everything. In the end, he went to see Knight Maximilian in person. At the very least, he wanted to know the reason—what on earth the man wanted from him.
"Sir Maximilian!"
Valerius burst into his office unannounced.
Under the sunlight streaming through the window, Maximilian was calmly brewing tea.
"H-Hey! You can't do this! Trespassing in a knight's office is—"
An official ran in to stop Valerius, but Maximilian gave a light wave of his hand, signaling it was fine. The official cautiously backed away.
Maximilian spoke.
"Have a seat."
His voice was flat, devoid of any highs or lows. Valerius sat down hesitantly. He straightened his clothes and tried to steady his breathing.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
Tea? Are you kidding me?
Valerius asked Maximilian, "Why? Why on earth are you doing this to me?"
"..."
Maximilian quietly sipped his tea. Even in that simple gesture, an annoying sense of dignity exuded from him.
Valerius watched him for a moment before continuing.
"Giorgio Chirico is purely a personal grudge of mine. Why would a knight like you take the side of that old man—"
"Well. The reason is..."
Maximilian cut him off.
"Because I felt like it."
A reason that was no reason at all.
That single sentence left Valerius speechless.
"Is that a problem?"
"..."
Valerius felt as if a blade had been driven into his skull. His brain vibrated with a dull ring.
A family that could pressure and crush the Listman household simply because they didn't like him. A man who could look down from such a staggering height, so detached from the life-and-death struggle Valerius was facing.
"Of course, this retrial will count toward my performance record. It'll be worth one point, maybe two."
Valerius felt a massive wall. A vague, insurmountable wall that he could not touch, reach, or even look up to.
"It's significantly lacking compared to the theory you stole from Giorgio Chirico."
Clink. Maximilian set down his teacup.
"Mr. Valerius. I despise people who tell lies."
Valerius's body flinched.
"So I will ask you. Did you truly not steal Giorgio Chirico's theory?"
"..."
Valerius couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.
Maximilian waited for a long time.
"That..."
Many words gathered in his mouth—worries about the future, shame for himself, anger toward others, and regrets that clumped together like snowflakes—but they failed to form a coherent sentence.
Maximilian's lips curled as he watched him.
"I hope you'll be able to speak in court."
The official, who had approached unnoticed, helped Valerius to his feet.
"Escort him out politely."
"Yes, sir."
Valerius left the office, supported by the official.
— Thud.
As he stared at the closing door, he felt as if the ground were collapsing beneath him.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.
Was this how my old master felt?
*
The retrial was held. In attendance were lawyers, prosecutors, judges, Lorenzo, and numerous other witnesses.
I attended the court in civilian attire. I even wore a hat and a mask to avoid being recognized.
I planned to watch how the trial unfolded from a corner of the gallery.
"We will now begin the retrial for the Imperial Central Court, Case Number III R 1317/4103, regarding the defendant Giorgio Chirico."
The judge declared the session open.
Lorenzo's lawyer first argued for the defendant's innocence regarding the past case of [Attempted Theft of Thesis and Abuse of Students] and requested new witnesses. The judge, naturally, accepted.
"...Ten years ago, I gave false testimony in this court."
Many people from the past took the stand. They were the numerous colleagues who had once testified against Lorenzo.
Risking charges of perjury, they testified that Valerius's theory was, in fact, Giorgio Chirico's original achievement. They also confessed that Giorgio had never abused his students; rather, he had performed acts of kindness, such as paying out part of his own salary as scholarships.
"Your Honor. I would like to submit the Peer Review records as physical evidence."
The decisive piece of evidence was the "Peer Review" records. In the Magic Tower, it was customary to discuss new theories with fellow scholars before publishing them. Giorgio, who enjoyed sharing ideas with his peers, had sent the draft of the theory to a colleague for review even before Valerius had entered the Magic Tower.
One of those witnesses stood on the stand with the original document he had kept all this time.
I watched them from the gallery. There was a familiar face in the front row as well.
"...What is she doing there?"
Ezel. Wearing her round glasses, she seemed to be meticulously recording the trial proceedings in a notebook.
"I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry, Giorgio!"
The current witness was Jerome. He wailed, bowing his head repeatedly toward Lorenzo in the defendant's seat.
"I was truly blind back then... I was consumed by jealousy... and I was afraid..."
His apology wasn't just for Lorenzo. It was a desperate struggle to save his own skin.
Lorenzo watched the pathetic display of his former colleague with a hardened face.
"We will proceed with the second hearing after a break."
The court went into recess.
I stepped out to the back of the courthouse.
Thump. Thump. Lorenzo approached, leaning on his cane.
"Valerius Listman will be here soon."
At my words, Lorenzo gave a bitter smile. Valerius would be attending this trial as a witness.
He would come and say whatever he had to say.
"Sir Knight. The new workshop you built for me is much better than the lab I used to have at the Magic Tower. Just how much money did you pour into it?"
"It wasn't much. It's just that time has passed. The equipment from fifteen years ago is nothing but junk now."
I felt gratified. In truth, I had spent a lot of money. I had built every facility with the highest quality possible.
Lorenzo and Armand were talents worth that much.
"Thank you, Sir Maximilian."
His gratitude was sincere.
"With this, I feel I have received more than enough compensation."
I looked at Lorenzo.
Listman's ruin was inevitable. The mana coil was already common technology, and those pathetic patent royalties would soon come to an end.
On top of that, he would have to pay astronomical damages to Lorenzo; he wouldn't be able to pay it back even if he sold his entire family line.
"I understand your intent, Sir Knight. The strong yield to the even stronger, and power is crushed by a greater power..."
Lorenzo gave a gentle smile. Under the sunlight, the wrinkles around his eyes deepened like the veins of a leaf.
"But I am merely an old scholar raising a single disciple, and Valerius was also once my student."
He looked like a kind grandfather.
The type who, if you met him in the neighborhood, would offer a cookie and a cup of glass to a hungry child or a fugitive like I had been before my regression...
"So, I wish for nothing more than this."
I nodded with a small smile.
"I see."
If one wishes to escape the cycle of hatred, they must be the one to break it when they finally become the strong.
"Please convey your wishes in court."
Many people fail to find such courage, blinded by the fruit of revenge,
But a good person always strives to find a better way.
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