Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 179

The commotion quickly subsided. It was because it was revealed that the murdered Director Collins was a demon contractor.

The hastily summoned doctor and priests silently made the sign of the cross upon seeing his body, which had rapidly turned black and rotten.

This was a corrosive phenomenon that occurred when the soul of a human who failed to properly fulfill a contract was dragged to the Demon Realm. There was no more definitive proof of having made a contract with a demon.

And as the corrosion progressed, a relatively pale, prominent pattern appeared on Collins’ forehead.

A long sword pointed downward, intersected by two hooks. It was the brand of St. Terbacchia, deeply suppressed by holy power.

In other words, this broad daylight murder was actually an on-the-spot execution carried out by an Exorcist.

“It’s unbelievable. To think Director Collins was a demon contractor… He was known as a fairly devout believer of the main god. Just a few days ago at the birthday celebration, he even boldly declared to Cardinal Venitus that he would increase his regular donations.”

Upon hearing the investigation results, Masain let out a sigh mixed with bewilderment and relief.

It was a deplorable fact that a key figure of the Merchant Union had been conspiring with demons. However, this also served as evidence that Masain had absolutely no connection to Collins’ death.

It just so happened that the incident occurred right after he had parted ways with Collins on bad terms.

Although Schmidt’s secretary provided an alibi, if luck had been against him, wouldn’t he have been fully burdened with the suspicion of murdering Collins?

“In any case, it’s truly incomprehensible how such a wicked person could infiltrate the crucial position of logistics transit center director without being noticed.”

At Masain’s lamentation, Seongjin and Branch Manager Schmidt briefly exchanged glances.

Wasn’t it the opposite? It was more of a mystery how an Exorcist managed to break through security alone and carry out an execution in this den of demons crawling with demon contractors.

‘Shall we stay silent?’

‘Stay silent.’

That fellow was already particularly sensitive to matters related to demons.

If he found out that most of the key figures in this building were demon contractors, it was clear as day what kind of reaction Masain would have.

“There’s another problem. It’s about who exactly executed Director Collins.”

After receiving various whispers from his secretary, Schmidt opened his mouth to address Seongjin’s group.

“We’ve just finished locating all the Exorcists staying in Regina. There are five temporarily lodging in a church on the outskirts, and among them, two boarded a ship heading to the Kipros Union today. The other three are confirmed to still be at the church.”

Then, glancing at Seongjin’s reaction, he continued.

“There is one Exorcist staying unofficially. But after settling into the accommodation, that person hasn’t come out even once.”

Ah, he must be referring to Dame Sharon, who remained in the accommodation.

It seems that even disguising as a resident knight is of no use. Everyone already knows that Seongjin is accompanied by Holy Knights from the Monster Special Task Force.

“Whoever it is, it’s impressive how they sneaked into the logistics transit center unnoticed.”

Sir Masain, who had been listening, spoke up.

“The Exorcist must have entered right after I left Director Collins’ room. That means they were definitely nearby for a while, but I didn’t sense any presence that could be suspected as a knight anywhere other than the corridor security.”

If they could evade Masain’s eyes, it meant their Aura manipulation was already at the level of a Decalon Knight, or they were a Holy Knight who had mastered high-level assassination techniques.

“Sir Masain, is there another Decalon Knight among the Exorcists?”

“No. The only Decalon Knight in the Order of St. Terbacchia is Sir Leandros, the commander.”

“Then, could it be that Sir Leandros himself…?”

“That’s unlikely. He left for the south some time ago on His Majesty’s orders.”

“Oh my, it feels like we’re being deceived by something…”

Seongjin, who had been listening to their serious conversation, scratched his cheek.

Hmm, doesn’t that actually narrow down the possibilities?

The only Exorcist nearby was Dame Sharon, who was in the accommodation, right? Then it means that Father had possessed Dame Sharon and swiftly gone there and back.

‘But why did that guy suddenly appear in Regina?’

At the same time, Schmidt, who had been lost in thought, turned pale. Although he didn’t know the exact details, he seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Seongjin regarding who was involved in this matter.

“…Sir Masain. Did something happen in Director Collins’ room?”

At Schmidt’s question, Masain slightly frowned.

“I’m not exactly sure. I just presumed he was attempting something, roughly warned him, and then stormed out.”

And at the ensuing explanation, Schmidt declared.

“That’s it!”

“Pardon?”

Masain was puzzled, but Seongjin properly understood what the demon branch manager was trying to say.

The third guideline for demons. No matter what happens, absolutely never carelessly touch the Emperor’s children.

“He probably made a fuss on purpose to warn those around him. Perhaps for such matters, it’s better to set a clear example.”

Seongjin also agreed with Schmidt’s words.

At least the demon contractors within the logistics transit center would now have a much clearer understanding of the scope of the third guideline’s application.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“Hm?”

“Forgive me for being presumptuous, but the range of those ‘children’ is too…”

At the branch manager’s soft sigh, Seongjin silently nodded.

Only Masain, who had no clue about the situation, looked back and forth between the two with a perplexed expression.

***

“The caravan leader is more of a miser than I thought.”

“It seems so.”

“Does he really need to make us work too, leaving the transit center’s laborers idle? He probably doesn’t want to let them rest even for a moment when there’s no camping to do, right?”

Dasha nodded half-heartedly at the grumbling woman beside her.

They were people hired by the Milo Caravan and were currently riding a baggage cart entering the logistics transit center.

The caravan leader had ordered the idle workforce to carry the luggage instead, not wanting to pay extra fees to the transit center for any damage.

‘Of all things, all the temporarily hired personnel are included here. Can this be a coincidence?’

The experienced informant Dasha’s instincts rang an ominous alarm.

The reason Dasha was able to be hired by the Milo Caravan was due to a sudden vacancy. Several people had gotten seriously injured after suddenly getting into a fight in the Imperial capital.

The caravan leader hurriedly sought out replacement personnel through inquiries, and that’s when Dasha was hired as a kitchen assistant. The plan was to hide all the way to the Siegmund Mountains like that.

However, Giacomo Milo, the caravan leader, was a more suspicious man than he appeared.

Despite conducting thorough background checks, he always kept open the possibility that this sudden personnel change could be part of someone’s scheme.

Dasha could clearly realize that fact when the baggage cart reached a certain warehouse inside the logistics transit center.

‘As expected, he intends to weed us out at least once!’

The place they arrived at was no ordinary building.

Sharp gazes observing the cart could be felt from various directions. Assassins were hiding all over the warehouse.

In this situation, it was only a matter of time before being discovered. Although she was currently using partial Aura concealment, skilled assassins would quickly start suspecting her.

And the dry eyes of the caravan leader as he looked at the hired personnel after getting off the cart.

Dasha had a premonition.

‘It’s over! I need to get out of here first!’

Retracing the location of the dagger she had secretly hidden in her bosom, Dasha began to map out the optimal escape route in her mind to flee without interference from the assassins.

Right at that moment, the Milo Caravan’s secretary suddenly rushed over to Giacomo, out of breath.

“…Director Collins?”

“Yes, rumors are already spreading throughout the transit center that he was a demon contractor!”

It was a hushed whisper, but Dasha, who had enhanced her hearing with Aura, could clearly hear their conversation.

“What’s the branch manager’s reaction?”

“For now, the policy is to refrain from conspicuous actions and exercise self-control. It seems that personnel screening will also be impossible today…”

“They’re not particularly targeting our caravan?”

“Yes. There was no specific mention.”

“Hmm…”

Giacomo pondered for a moment with his chin resting on his hand, then abruptly entered the building without a word. He seemed to have completely forgotten about the hired personnel, his mind preoccupied with some new problem.

“We’ll use the transit center’s laborers today, so everyone return to your quarters.”

The secretary hastily instructed the people and then disappeared, following the caravan leader.

Only then did Dasha let out a sigh of relief and smooth her skirt.

‘For now, I somehow managed to get through this one time…’

And that night.

Dasha, who had painstakingly gathered information and sought out Seongjin’s accommodation, was greatly surprised. Because Seongjin was waiting for her, as if expecting her, and handed her a stack of documents.

“…What is this?”

“The Milo Caravan’s customs clearance records and the actual sales records investigated by the Merchant Union itself. If you compare them with the reported sales, there will be quite a significant difference.”

Dasha quickly skimmed through the documents, unable to hide her astonishment. With this level of data, couldn’t they immediately seize and search the caravan?

Where did he get such high-quality information?

“Well, I gained a reliable collaborator within the Merchant Union.”

And when Dasha learned the identity of that collaborator, she was flabbergasted.

“Wilhelm Schmidt, the branch manager? The one known as the Merchant Union’s top workaholic, with a reputation for being a merciless demon?”

Oh, well. He may seem like a demon.

That fellow is a real demon possessing a contractor’s body.

“Anyway, we’ll submit those documents to the tribunal later.”

“It’s certainly good evidence. But while it may serve as grounds to detain the caravan, it might be difficult to completely corner the caravan leader. He’ll probably cut off the tail and be released on bail alone.”

However, Seongjin shook his head.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. The Heresy Tribunal will handle the caravan leader. There’s no way he’ll be able to escape.”

“Pardon?”

And at Seongjin’s following words, Dasha’s mouth fell open.

“Giacomo Milo is a demon contractor. That information was also obtained directly from the branch manager.”

At the abruptly progressing conversation, Dasha felt dizzy.

“…A demon contractor? Is there evidence?”

“There’s circumstantial evidence. We just need to find concrete physical evidence from now on. If we can uncover his connections to the dark cult while investigating his activities in the Siegmund Mountains, that would be even better.”

“I see…”

The information the prince had gathered in a single day was extraordinary.

At this rate, will he end up completing the entire investigation by himself? What’s the point of her being assigned as an informant?

As Dasha was engulfed in a sense of self-deprecation, Seongjin suddenly raised his head as if remembering something.

“Ah, right! By the way, Dasha. There are a few things I need to send to the Imperial Palace right now…”

***

From Regina to the Imperial capital, it was a day’s journey.

The items dispatched through the informant overnight had already arrived in the Imperial capital by lunchtime the next day.

“Little St. Aurelion, is it? Sending it as a travel souvenir, this is indeed an unusual gift.”

Chief Chamberlain Louis stroked his chin as he looked at the small, bald wooden figurine on the office desk.

Little St. Aurelion.

It usually refers to a small wooden statue of a saint given as a gift by someone waiting for a traveler’s safe return, like an amulet.

St. Aurelion was known as an exceptional administrator and diplomat who had to travel to various parts of the continent throughout his life. The custom of giving this statue, hoping that the saint would also protect the journey of a loved one, had now become a sort of established practice.

Regina was a hub city that every caravan heading north of the Empire passed through at least once. Consequently, there were many places selling these little figurines with the meaning of wishing for a safe return after successfully concluding a business trip.

Perhaps the prince had seen the small figurines displayed in various shops and misunderstood them as a specialty of Regina.

The Emperor stared at the small wooden statue with an expressionless face and then spoke.

“Thinking about it, it’s an amusing matter, Louis. I wasn’t this anxious even when Sisle first embarked on her pilgrimage. At that time, Sisle was only ten years old.”

Well, that’s because His Highness Morres has an exceptionally different range of causing trouble.

Louis barely managed to swallow those words that had risen to his throat.

“But now I must admit it. Morres is a child who not only knows how to take care of himself but also occasionally shows results that surpass imagination.”

As he spoke, a faint smile seemed to flicker across the Emperor’s face.

The chamberlain, who had served him for a long time, realized that the Emperor was unusually pleased with the gift and swiftly said,

“How about decorating it in front of the desk so that the little saint is easily visible?”

“Yes. That would be good.”

So the Little St. Aurelion was placed side by side with the white rabbit eye mask at the center of the office desk.

In a splendid mansion near Bestrang Street.

Herna and Gades frowned slightly as they looked at the two identically bald old man statues.

“Is Morres an idiot? What was he thinking, sending something like this to people going on a trip?”

“Morres is Morres. He’s always been a fool, so what were you expecting?”

Hmm. Even after fiddling with the wooden statues for a while, the twins finally placed an old man at each end of the chessboard instead of the pieces and glared at them for a moment.

“…Shall we go and see what our Morres is doing?”

“…Shall we do that? It’ll only be for a short while.”

“I’m just curious about what Reddie is up to.”

“Yeah. Just to check if Reddie is doing well.”

The twins, holding hands like that, quietly closed their eyes, feeling the channel open.

And in the ownerless Pearl Palace.

As always, in front of a lavish lunch table, Amelia gently stroked the wooden figurine and asked,

“What is this? What is it used for?”

“It’s a commonly sold item on the streets of Regina, sister. They say it’s like an amulet wishing for a safe return from a journey.”

Logan, who had frequently passed through Regina while leading the subjugation squad, explained. Then, Sisle tilted her head.

“Still, Brother Morres is really odd. He’s the one going on a trip, yet he’s sending this?”

The girl rolled the bald saint across the tablecloth with a rattling sound.

And the three of them stared silently at their wooden statues, forgetting to eat.

“…Anyway, Little Old Man, it’s quite cute.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s really delicate and adorable.”

Soon, a warm atmosphere began to waft between the siblings.

[Sigh. You’re ruining my appetite, so please, have some moderation…]

Unable to bear it any longer, Cardmos finally sighed and retreated.

“Fo-Food!”

As a result, it was only natural that Seo Yi-seo, who regained her body during mealtime for three consecutive days, shed tears of joy.