"......What the hell is this, Ian?"
"I've come as a special investigator of the Empire. Perrian Astria, I am arresting you on charges of using necromancy and for treason."
Ian handed Perrian some documents.
The contents of the documents were the same as what Ian had stated.
The Emperor's seal and signatures from various nobles were on them.
It meant that the content had already been approved in a meeting.
Perrian's eyes widened as he looked at the document.
It would have taken a lot of time for such a document to be issued.
The noble faction and the Emperor's faction had to negotiate to come to such a conclusion.
Many procedures were required before such a document could be approved.
It was a speed that Perrian's mind could not understand.
Of course, the reason it could be issued so quickly was due to many things that had been accumulated over time.
Luna and the head wizard personally organized the documents and handed them over to Ian and Rie, and Ian and Rie had talked in advance before the meeting took place.
When the leaders of the Emperor's faction and the noble faction presented the same opinion at the meeting, the nobles below them just followed their will.
Thus, when the intentions of the Emperor's faction and the noble faction were united, the process was expedited.
There were no delays, and the documents were processed quickly, proceeding through all the procedures at an unbelievable speed.
Perrian could not have predicted such an abnormal situation.
"Damn it... Ian Astria!!!"
Perrian yelled at Ian, his veins bulging.
Ian calmly extended the handcuffs to Perrian.
"I am here as a special investigator now. Please behave accordingly."
"Do you think you'll succeed as the head of the family by doing this? Do you know what will happen if I speak to the other nobles?"
"Father is a suspect now. No one in the Empire would listen to such a person."
Ian answered firmly.
Perrian scoffed at him.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"You think you can survive politically by siding with those of the Emperor's faction? You're just going to end up as a dog chasing chickens, discarded by them..."
Click─
"Now, criminal, please keep your mouth shut. Shall we proceed with the investigation? Or are you going to keep chatting?"
Rie handcuffed Perrian in front of her with a smile.
"Ha... Princess, do you think I'll end like this? Do you think this will just pass quietly? You've made a mistake."
"Yes, yes. Let's continue this conversation in jail."
Rie dragged Perrian away.
Ian licked his lips as he watched Perrian's back.
Rudy approached from behind.
As they had come to search the Astria residence, Rudy was also there.
"Isn't this more or less over now?"
"No, if it was over, we would have finished it long ago. The problem starts now."
"From now?"
Rudy tilted his head in confusion.
"We've caught the necromancers and the wizards who were making magical tools. What more could there be?"
"That's the problem, not knowing what else there is."
"Huh......"
Rudy made a complicated expression.
"He's someone who doesn't trust anyone. Cutting off his surroundings means nothing. It's not over unless you uproot everything."
"Hmm......"
Rudy thought that the man himself might be the root, but since Ian knew more about him, Rudy just nodded.
"What will you do now?"
"We need to search for documents and such in the mansion. But......"
Ian pointed ahead.
"Why is it like this?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"......Did father smash it in a fit of anger? Does he smash walls or something when he suddenly gets angry?"
The place Ian was pointing at was a safe in the study.
The wall was smashed.
It was a wall that Rudy had smashed.
It had been mostly repaired, but traces of it still remained.
"Smashing walls, huh...... Tsk."
Rudy clicked his tongue and pretended as if nothing had happened.
Royal Palace, Conference Room.
"Ian Astria, Rie. Have you returned?"
In front of Ian and Rie was the Emperor.
The meeting consisted of the Emperor, the Chancellor, and a few high-ranking officials of the empire.
"Yes, we have collected all the documents and evidence hidden in the mansion."
"Good, you've done well. Ian Astria, I really appreciate you taking the initiative to proceed with the work, even though the opponent was your father."
"It's nothing."
"So, what about the documents that were found?"
"There was no precise evidence. Most of the letters were vague, and there was absolutely no documentation linking necromancy to the Astria family."
"......You mean there was none?"
The Emperor widened his eyes at Ian's report and looked at Rie.
"That's correct."
"Then, doesn't that mean Perrian is innocent?"
"For now, we have a letter sent directly by the necromancers yesterday. It's a letter that details their crimes and Perrian's involvement."
"But that hardly seems like conclusive evidence."
"Yes, but we still have a reason to hold him. More importantly, it's not about finding decisive evidence right now. We need to take away the weapon that Perrian possesses."
"Weapon?"
Ian had seen the weapon that Perrian possessed.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"The mana stones created by the necromancers. We need to collect the one that contains the most powerful mana."
Finding that mana stone was the most crucial task.
It was a weapon that could potentially blow up the capital itself and was at the center of the plots Perrian had been scheming.
"So how do you plan to find this mana stone? We've searched the mansion and the places where the necromancers were, but it hasn't turned up."
To this, Ian responded.
"Spatial magic."
"......Spatial magic?"
"Important documents are likely stored in a separate space created with spatial magic."
"A separate space...... So, can you open this space?"
"That's impossible."
"Then what will you do?"
"I can't open it now, but......"
Ian lifted the corners of his mouth.
"If the person who created that separate space opens it, it's a different story."
The Empire's underground prison.
'Ian... you betrayed me?'
Perrian was grinding his teeth there.
'All of you will kneel before me. Everyone.'
There was a reason Perrian was caught so easily.
When Rie and Ian came to capture him, Perrian could have resisted.
He could have escaped using spatial magic or other spells.
However, he stayed still because he could still proceed with his plans even while being captured here.
Rather than resisting and getting injured, it was better to be caught quietly and buy time.
"Ugh!"
Then, someone collapsed and entered the prison in front of Perrian.
This person was a high-ranking wizard under Perrian's command, who had been making the amplifier.
"......Why are you here?"
"Pe, Perrian sir?"
The high-ranking wizard, locked in the cell opposite Perrian, widened his eyes.
"I asked why you are here."
"So, sorry. Right after you were taken, some guy attacked us."
"Which guy?"
"That...... someone with the same blond hair as you, sir. Right after you were taken, he suddenly appeared......"
'Right after I was taken?'
"Tell me in detail."
"After you were taken, there was a noise from the room you used to use. I thought you had come back, but then another guy suddenly appeared."
That meant he used spatial magic.
Perrian narrowed his brows.
Spatial magic and blond hair.
'Ian Astria......'
Was he watching all along?
It was unpredictable when exactly he had planned to betray.
Moreover, Ian was supposed to be at the capital's entrance, how did he follow with spatial magic?
Perrian had too many questions.
Before resolving these questions, looking at the high-ranking wizard's face, he suddenly looked shocked.
"Then...... where did the amplifier go? If you are here, then the amplifier is......?"
"......It was taken by them."
"......What? Then where is it now?"
"I know it was brought here, but...... I don't know exactly where."
"Brought here?"
This place was the Empire's underground prison.
The amplifier was brought here......
Is it here as evidence?
If it's them, they would've already realized it's an amplifier.
Having shown Ian the mana stone created with necromancy, he probably guessed their intention.
The strange thing is that they haven't destroyed the amplifier even now.
They should have destroyed the amplifier as soon as they found it.
"Hmm......"
Perrian stroked his chin.
The amplifier contained a lot.
It was an amplifier deeply imbued with the essence of magical tools.
With the magical tools he had created, ruling the empire was not just a dream.
Was Ian getting greedy?
That was the most likely guess.
'Then, Ian must be looking for the mana stone......'
But even if he searches, he will never find it.
Ian won't be able to.
'If the amplifier is here...... I need to create an opportunity. And then, get the amplifier back.'
If it weren't for Ian, escaping from here would be easy.
None of the others would be able to follow with spatial magic.
Perrian stared intently at the high-ranking wizard in front of him.
"Do, do you need something?"
"Hmm...... I can use you."
"......Me?"
Perrian fiddled with his handcuffs a few times and then stretched his hand towards the high-ranking wizard in front of him.
"Dying for me should be considered an honor."
"Wh, what do you mean......"
Perrian extended his hand and smiled.
