Chapitre 23: Chapter 23
His breathing is erratic as his heart begins to race.
The corners of your mouth are quivering slightly, though you're trying to keep a straight face.
"Calm down! Think of an excuse!
Daniel's doubt might turn to conviction if he didn't come up with an answer.
After running countless simulations in his head for only a fraction of a second, Alistair finally spoke.
"...Ah. That's what happened, isn't it? I didn't even realize it had happened because they were still selling when I went there."
It was an answer Alistair had come up with after much thought.
Given that Daniel had gone straight from the military academy to work in the General Staff, it's a safe bet that he hadn't been to Jack's restaurant last year.
It was a deception that exploited an information hole.
"Hmm. I didn't even know there was such an incident...."
Daniel taps the banquet table lazily.
The small gesture and soft noise sends a shiver down Alistair's spine.
Alistair can feel Daniel's suspicion on his skin.
Daniel, on the other hand, doesn't think much of it.
"Did ... start selling them again last year?
It was a delicious dessert, so the owner might not have given up on it.
It wasn't the restaurant's fault that the allergic customer had ordered it by mistake in the first place.
Daniel nodded once, then looked at Alistair.
"Looks like they've started selling apple strudel again, though I'd have to ask Jack's restaurant to find out for sure. Oh, and one more thing: ...."
Just as Daniel was about to ask his question, classical music from the orchestra filled the ballroom.
At the same time, everyone in the ballroom began to clap their hands, and their gazes naturally turned to each other.
From the third floor of the ballroom, members of the imperial family were slowly descending, holding onto the railing of the staircase.
That meant the main event Philip had said was about to begin.
As an officer of the Empire, Daniel was obligated to show courtesy to the royalty, so they could no longer talk.
"Alas. I see our time is up, so I guess we'll have to end this conversation."
Smiling, Daniel picked up his uniform hat from the table and stood up.
"I hope you have a good time."
With a quick jerk of his head, Daniel walks toward the crowd, his uniform hat tucked into his side.
Alistair could feel his breath catch in his throat.
"Thank God. If I'd been induced any longer, I might have been caught....'
Relieved, Alistair glanced back at Daniel and paused.
He could see Daniel glancing back at him from time to time as he spoke to what appeared to be the Chief of Staff.
"Shit...!
Daniel was still suspicious.
It was clear that he was saying to the Chief of Staff, 'I think he's suspicious.
Drooling, Alistair stood up quickly and walked toward the restroom.
Once inside the restroom, she made sure no one was around, lifted her wrist, and pressed the transmit button on a tiny radio disguised as a watch.
"Speaker, come in, this is the photo studio!"
After a short wait, the radio answered.
What's going on, is it time to report the roster?
Alistair shook his head.
"No! I'm under suspicion! They've most likely beefed up security. So have Operation Mad Dog canceled immediately! Disperse the agents to the Old Town, we need to go to Plan B!"
─ Under suspicion? Your identity forgery was flawless. Your disguise shouldn't be too difficult for the Imperial Army to recognize.
"This is bad. It's none other than Daniel Steiner who is now suspecting me."
Daniel Steiner. The name carried a lot of weight.
The radio picked up a moment later.
"Copy that. I'm canceling the original plan and switching to Plan B. I'm going to spread the word to all agents. Good luck.
The radio cut out.
Alistair glanced down at his watch and slapped his forehead.
"Shit. We have no choice but to go to Plan B....'
Unlike conventional operations, Plan B exponentially increases the chances of failure.
Even if it succeeded, the agents would be wiped out and the Empire would have justification to launch a war of expansion.
But there were no options.
With Daniel Steiner under suspicion, no plan would work.
Swiping a hand across his face, Alistair clasped his hands together and muttered reverently.
"Dear God...."
Please help us.
*
"He's going to the restroom. That new friend you made."
"Hmm. He must have been in a hurry."
I shrugged once as I watched Alistair walk into the restroom.
Ernst smirked at me.
"Well, enough about your trendy guy, let's focus on the ball."
"You mean the ... ball?"
"Ah. By the way, you've never been to an imperial banquet before. Usually, the royal family comes out to dance when the banquet begins to wind down. It's a tradition from the past."
I wondered what the heck dancing had to do with authenticity, but I didn't want to get into a debate about imperial culture.
After a cursory nod, I turned my attention to the center hall where the royals were preparing to dance, and the first thing I saw was Selvia in a purple evening gown.
The dress was plunging in the back, and the azure necklace and earrings made it look more old-fashioned than distracting.
To be honest, she looked very different from the Selvia I met in the north.
She was wearing light makeup, and as I watched her carefully, I quickly realized why her mood was different than usual.
"You don't like this place.
She wasn't smiling.
Gone was the mischievous, cheerful smile she'd displayed in the north.
Which was understandable, given that she was a station governor.
I wouldn't want to be forced to dance in front of people I didn't even want to dance with, all dressed up as imperial orthodoxy.
But regardless of Selvia's feelings, the lights in the ballroom were dimmed to a lower level and the music began to play.
As the music began, the royalty smiled and began dancing with the opposite sex.
Selvia was no exception, except that unlike the others, she remained expressionless.
Of course, I found her expressionlessness quite charming.
I tend to think of myself as a fairly rational person, but apparently my reason is not quite up to the task of defeating superficiality.
If someone else had made a fat face like that, I would have told them to straighten up, but here was Selvia, a beautiful woman, looking like a picture of beauty.
I was really scared of this kind of superficiality. It was something to be wary of.
So I crossed my arms and watched as best I could, and before I knew it, the dance was over and the lights came up.
Immediately afterward, everyone applauded the royal family as if they had been promised.
Selvia, who is being applauded by the similar galleries, looks away as if she is bothered, and then makes eye contact with me.
Her eyes widen slightly. I was about to clap when I realized that I wanted to hurt her.
─ Don't clap.
The shape of Selvia's mouth stops me from applauding.
As I froze in my awkward position, the dignitaries in the banquet hall began to approach the royalty, each speaking to them.
Selvia is no exception.
As I stare in disbelief at Selvia smiling and chatting with the dignitaries, I shake my head.
"What did I do wrong?
Was it against imperial protocol to clap when eye contact was made?
As I wonder and wonder, Selvia makes her way through the crowd, politely excusing herself to the dignitaries.
She's coming toward me, so I step aside to give her a clear path.
But she was still coming toward me.
When she was within striking distance, she looked up at me and smiled weakly.
"It's been a long time, Daniel... should I call you Captain?"
After a moment's pause, I nodded, realizing it was me.
"Yep. I've been promoted to captain."
"I see. You've earned it, I suppose. You've changed your hairstyle since then, haven't you?"
"Yes, I did. I didn't want to, but my boss is so polarizing...."
Selvia smirked.
"You should give that polarizing boss an award. It looks good on you, and it makes you more grown-up."
"I'm an adult by nature...."
"Just because you're older doesn't make you an adult, especially when you look at those people."
Selvia glanced back at the men who had approached her.
"They all think the Empire needs to wage an expansionary war, without even thinking about the ramifications it would have on the international community."
Hmm. That kind of thinking was commonplace in this era.
It was the modern era, after all, when people everywhere thought that colonizing civilizations less advanced than their own was some kind of business or salvation.
Selvia was more awake, but that didn't mean they were ignorant.
"It can't be helped. It's only natural for the Empire to claim the main battlefield now that it's won, and not everyone can be as wise as the Empress herself...."
I shut my mouth instead of speaking.
Dong Hyun's friend who had gone to the restroom was running towards us.
He was running towards me with a very big smile on his face.
Just as I was wondering what was going on, he put his hand in my arm.
I immediately realized that he was in danger, so I opened my holster and pulled out a revolver.
Just as he's about to throw something, I pull the trigger.
BANG!
A stray bullet explodes in his skull.
But the unknown object that had left the man's hand was flying toward them.
"Your Highness!"
Sensing the danger, I grabbed Selvia's wrist and pulled her to me.
Once I had her in my arms, I instinctively turned away and closed my eyes.
And then.
A flash.
A blinding light took over all around us.
*.
...I steady my breathing and slowly open my eyes.
My vision is dark. For one thing, this is not the banquet hall I was just in.
With silence all around me, I wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.
I don't want to move too quickly and make a sound.
"Daniel...."
"Quiet."
After silencing the squirming Selvia, I wait a moment, and I can see the interior of where I am.
"A hotel?
I'm in a spacious living room with luxurious decor.
I glance behind me and see the city below the glass walls.
It was then that I realized what the man had thrown.
"An Ethereum transmutation grenade.
A disruption grenade that literally transforms the location of the person it hits.
It was not in high demand because of its high price and the fact that you couldn't specify the location of the target.
I'd heard they were used for special occasions, but I never thought I'd be one of them.
"Hey...."
"I told him to be quiet."
"Not that...."
I squirmed. Selvia's hands move as if she's trying to push me away.
I realize that I'm holding her tightly and not letting go.
In my nervousness, I realize the rudeness of my actions in hindsight.
"Ah."
I loosen my grip, and Selvia takes a step back.
Her ears are red for some reason as she stares at me intently.
Her breathing seems to have gotten a little ragged.
"I'm sorry."
I apologize, and Selvia tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"I know you were trying to protect me, but please be more careful next time, and...."
With a glare, Selvia ducks behind a nearby couch.
"They're coming up. I can hear footsteps. Seven, no, eight."
I crouch down next to Selvia and listen, and sure enough, I hear footsteps nearby.
They don't seem to know exactly where this place is, but they seem to think it's nearby and are exploring.
I sigh.
"I'm sorry ... things have gotten so rough, but I'll try to protect you as best I can."
"You don't have to."
Selvia pulls up the hem of her evening dress.
Then I saw the pistol strapped to her thigh.
I gasped at the sight of it.
"Do you always carry a pistol like that?"
"You never know when something might happen."
"Well, I guess it's not me who's the grown-up, but the Empress."
Pulling the pistol from her thigh, Selvia smiled wryly.
"Let's just pretend it's both of us."
"Very well, then...."
Footsteps grew closer.
I said, glancing toward the door.
"Let's be grown-ups and fend for ourselves."
Crack.
Selvia, her pistol loaded, replied cheerfully.
"That's what I was hoping for."
Iron blood, indeed.
To be honest, I couldn't have been more relieved.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone