Ch.181What Happened at the Family Meeting (4)

I almost had a heart attack. It wasn’t just an android they sent, but to think Zernya’s father would come in person.

I answered calmly as if nothing was wrong.

“Yes, I slept comfortably, thanks to you.”

“For someone who slept well, you look quite tired.”

“Actually, I went to bed later than usual. I was reading a book and…”

Jerome’s eyebrows arched upward. He began to stare at me intently. He seemed to suspect I might have been up to something during the night, perhaps stealing Adelbein secrets. He said:

“There was a disturbance in the annex last night.”

“Was there?”

“Yes. And there’s talk of a guest spotting a thief at dawn. Did you perhaps hear anything, or notice anything missing…?”

Jerome peered into my room.

“I don’t see that android in the maid outfit.”

“If you mean Sonia, she had a family emergency and I sent her back early.”

Jerome nodded. He still suspected me, but couldn’t find anything concrete at the moment.

“Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat and then depart.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

I walked dignifiedly toward the main building.

Zernya, now the head of the family, sat in the middle of the large dining table. Jerome and his wife Trisha Adelbein had moved to the elders’ council seats. I was seated in a relatively honored position, as were other notable guests.

“Thank you for attending my succession ceremony yesterday. Even though the head of the family has changed, Adelbein will continue to maintain friendly relations with all of you. So let’s set aside business matters for now and enjoy our meal.”

Zernya had matured considerably since becoming the head of the family. Her noble demeanor was more pronounced, but unlike before, she didn’t come across as disagreeable.

People engaged in various conversations about Zernya. I quietly cut my meat and brought it to my mouth. It wasn’t until the meal was nearly over that someone addressed me.

“Young Master Rheinland. If marriage is premature, how about an engagement first?”

I glanced sideways. Everyone’s attention, including Zernya’s, turned to me following the man’s words.

The atmosphere was strange. Everyone seemed to want Zernya and me to marry. Beyond celebrating the union of a man and woman, their gazes were like those of jackals looking at something beyond.

It’s probably for business reasons. If the direct lines of Adelbein and Rheinland formed a marriage alliance, numerous stocks would immediately fluctuate. The man added:

“Unlike marriage, engagement procedures are simpler and easier to break off. Also, similar to dating, engaged couples don’t necessarily need to live together.”

It felt odd having someone likely twice my age speaking formally and bowing to me.

“I think it’s a timely choice for the great enterprises of both families…”

An engagement, huh.

If it’s just an engagement, I don’t need to worry about being kidnapped as a son-in-law. Additionally, if something were to happen to Zernya, I could respond more flexibly legally than if we were just in an ambiguous relationship like lovers.

Not bad. But if I suddenly get engaged, Rustila would be very disappointed.

“What does the head of the elders’ council think?”

“Not a bad idea.”

“Then how about preparing for it in the near future?”

These old men, deciding things on their own.

“What does Young Master Rheinland think?”

All eyes turned to me at the man’s question.

If I were to say something like “let’s take the engagement slowly,” it would contradict what I said yesterday and increase Jerome’s suspicions.

I can’t let my act be exposed.

I pretended to be surprised and said to Jerome:

“Sir, would that be alright?”

“Since an engagement can be freely made and broken, it’s not a bad idea. What do you think? How about setting a date next month…”

“Thank you, father-in-law!”

After calculating the situation, I bowed my head to Jerome.

***

After breakfast, Eidel took a shuttle back. Zernya sent off the remaining guests and then changed her clothes.

Once the guests had departed, Jerome wiped the smile from his face. With his usual rigid expression, he beckoned to Zernya.

“Come here.”

Zernya bowed her head slightly and took a seat.

In an atmosphere so strict it was suffocating, Jerome began to speak.

“You’ve done well so far. But now comes the real challenge. Eidel von Rheinland’s reputation will only grow from here. We need to bring him in as our son-in-law to break the spirit of the Rheinland family.”

“I know.”

“Of course, you should know.”

Although the engagement had been arranged, Zernya couldn’t smile. She understood its implications all too well. Jerome continued:

“While you’re engaged, remember this one thing: ‘Never, ever let Eidel von Rheinland become the head of his family.’ You understand what I mean, right?”

“Yes.”

“Also, continuously monitor if he’s spreading ‘rumors’ about our family. If he does anything that might harm the family, create a pretext and throw him in jail. Understand?”

“Yes, I know. I know. Do you think I’m a fool, Father?”

“That’s a spirited answer. Good, this is why I entrusted you with the position of family head.”

Jerome finally smiled with satisfaction, a cunning smile. Zernya, while harboring internal discontent, also felt relieved.

With a father like this, she could reform the family without hesitation.

***

After the unintended meeting with the in-laws, Zernya handed over additional “contracts” related to the biological experiments she had collected. I printed them out properly and headed to the Spirit Temple.

Entering the recovery room, I found Kashu Adelbein restrained and unconscious.

“Hello. Wake up.”

“Ugh…”

Kashu slowly opened his eyes.

“You… Ugh! What is this!”

“You’re awake.”

I smiled and returned to my place. Sitting in the chair, I alternated my gaze between the desk and Kashu. In front of me were the “Foam Talisman” and documents detailing Kashu’s criminal records that I had received from Zernya.

“Eidel von Rheinland, you cursed bastard. Release me this instant!”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. It’s protocol to restrain someone who has been possessed by an outer god.”

Kashu seemed to ignore my words and struggled with all his might. With midterms approaching, I didn’t have much time. I asked directly:

“Why were you in the Adelbein treasure vault?”

“Ptui!”

Spit flew and landed on the floor. I had anticipated this and sat at a distance.

[— Summoning ‘Calipers of Wisdom (A)’.]

I took out the calipers and placed them on the table with a thud. With the heavy metallic sound, Kashu’s expression turned pale.

“W-what is that?”

“You know what it is.”

Humans are sensitive to death. Just as one freezes upon encountering a bear in the mountains, Kashu couldn’t move after hearing the sound of the calipers that had once struck his skull.

“Let me ask again. Why were you in the Adelbein treasure vault?”

“You bastard…!”

“I’m asking for the third time. Why were you there?”

“…If you had just kept your mouth shut about the scalene polyhedron, my life wouldn’t have become this miserable! You have no idea how much money I was raking in with that!”

“Don’t change the subject. I’m asking why you were there.”

This isn’t working. I gripped the calipers and stood up.

Then, slowly, swinging my arm, I approached him. If he wasn’t going to talk, I had no choice but to use “Mind Detection.”

“I’ll ask one last time. Why were you there?”

I brought the blade of the calipers to his forehead. Proper mental detection requires contact at the level of pressing the blade against the head.

[— Preparing to use ‘Mind Reading’ in exchange for Pron.]

Kashu screamed:

“Ah, alright! I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

I canceled the skill I was about to use. Saved some Pron.

“The outer god said so. If I completed the quest of moving their ‘talismans’ to specific locations, they would kill you quietly. And, also, help me return to the family.”

“And one of those locations where you had to place the talisman was the Adelbein family’s treasure vault?”

“Y-yes. Are we done now?”

So the Darwin faction was trying to create a “Field.”

Their invasion methods have diversified compared to what I read in the novel. Probably because of the variable that is me.

This wasn’t a good sign. A “Field” provides a means for distant avatar bodies to communicate instantly. If that becomes possible, the war becomes several times more difficult. A major invasion that can’t be stopped by ordinary inspectors will begin.

I recalled the content of the novel:

[The Queen tore the Aether Belt with her own hands. She induced winds of madness by combining, burning, or withering countless tail outer gods. The madness that began to spread like wildfire burned the south.]

We can’t even stop the storm itself. That was happening outside the belt. With humanity’s current science and technology, venturing outside our galaxy was tantamount to suicide.

If that’s the case, the best course of action would be to retrieve all the “Foam Talismans” before things happen and destroy their communication network. Having finished my thoughts, I continued with the questions:

“Where are the remaining talismans located?”

“The Konkof planet on the southern front, the fountain at Callisto Academy, and the main worship hall of the Spirit Church in the east.”

I jotted it down in my notepad and put it in my pocket. I’ll have to ask Ireh to visit those places later. It was then that Kashu laughed dejectedly:

“I have nothing to lose now. The company I led has been dissolved, and all my money has been seized. The family treats me as if I’ve disappeared. It’s over. It’s all over. Humanity is finished—!! Hahaha!!”

Kashu vented his frustration, foaming at the mouth. It was hard to tell if he was laughing or crying. A mild form of madness was manifesting as a seizure.

“Do you know how many lives you’ve ruined when you say such things?”

“I did nothing wrong! Hueritia was the one who commanded on-site! That traitor! After I provided the research funds, she dares to spread such false information? If I ever get out of here…”

“You ordered and oversaw the human experiments, Kashu Adelbein. Don’t shift all the blame to Director Hueritia. If you have any conscience, you should first mourn the people who died unjustly because of you.”

“Unjustly? What nonsense… Most of them were death row inmates! And for the rest, we conducted experiments with their consent! There were absolutely, absolutely no ethical issues!”

I frowned.

Despite overwhelming evidence and witnesses, the chief responsible person was still trying to evade responsibility with lies.

“I was going to show some leniency depending on your attitude, but I see that’s not possible.”

I quickly called Kristin.

“Yes. I’m at the Southern Spirit Temple. Quickly. No, it would be faster if you tell your parents. Alright. I’ll be waiting.”

“Who… did you just call?”

“You’ll find out soon.”

I roughly calculated the distance from the Southern Spirit Temple to here. If they take the emergency line, it would be 10 minutes at the earliest. They should arrive within 20 minutes at the latest.

That prediction was spot on. Soon, people in black suits swarmed into the Spirit Temple. They all wore gold badges engraved with scales.

“…So you really are alive, Kashu Adelbein.”

“T-this can’t be.”

Kashu Adelbein’s complexion turned blue.

“P-Prosecutor Heresset…”