Ch.66Smuggling (2)

# Chapter 66: Smuggling (2)

As one might expect, it didn’t take long to capture the individuals mentioned in the smuggling report.

However, while watching the real-time transmission of these fellows experiencing the diplomatic enforcement agency’s secret base special “Water Knows the Answer” interrogation session…

I suddenly realized something rather obvious.

“Riel, I just thought of something… why are we handling this?”

“My, you’re thinking quite fast now. For someone usually so quick-witted, why are you so slow only at times like this?”

Upon careful consideration, what we were doing wasn’t actually our job at all.

If we had to be specific, this was work for the Internal Affairs’ Public Security Department or the National Gendarmerie.

In other words, this was a job for proper “police” officers.

Not for secret police (?) like us who resembled the Gestapo.

While I was pondering this and chatting with Riel, one of the agents conducting the “water lecture” contacted us, saying he had something to report.

“Minister Arto, Your Excellency, may I report to you now?”

“Hmm, do we have results already?”

Wondering if the water lecture was that effective, I asked, but the agent shook his head and replied again.

“No, sir. It’s not about the interrogation—we’ve received information from elsewhere.”

“Hmm?”

Curious about what he meant, we decided to listen…

And before long, from the words flowing from the agent’s mouth, we realized the situation was taking an unfavorable turn.

——————————–

The gravity of the information we received from the secret base was no small matter.

“What was that about the smuggling route again?”

“It starts from our Empire, then goes to Kar-Du and Riksi, then back to Kar-Du, then to Ztrakfor, then back to us, and from there half goes to Prosnak and half to Ztrakfor.”

According to Riel’s unnecessarily detailed route explanation, at the end of this complex route designed for laundering goods…

The problem was that Prosnak, considered the most dangerous nation in the current galaxy, was positioned as the final destination.

“Moreover, this route is merely a part of what these guys were operating.”

“…”

“We’re still tracking the other detailed routes… so I have nothing more to report.”

“No, you’re all doing well enough, so you don’t need to be so hard on yourself.”

“Your Excellency…!”

On top of that, there were apparently other routes still remaining.

“For now, gather solid information, and report back if you discover anything additional.”

“Understood, Minister!”

After giving brief instructions to the agents on the screen, I was about to close the connection.

“Minister? There’s one more thing to report…”

“Hmm.”

If the agent hadn’t mentioned an additional report with a completely different attitude from before, hesitating awkwardly…

“…”

I could feel Riel’s gaze beside me becoming quite subtle, but I deliberately ignored it and decided to receive the rest of the report.

“Ah yes, what else is there?”

Somehow, the agent who had been confident until just moments ago now appeared extremely hesitant.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“N-no, sir.”

Where had that boastful attitude gone—the one proudly reporting about torturing those guys and uncovering smuggling routes? As I was wondering about this hesitation…

Finally, as if having made up his mind, the agent took a deep breath and addressed me with a stern face.

“Actually, during our interrogation… the suspects mentioned something about the late Emperor.”

And with those words and the report that followed, I had to feel, after a very long time…

Truly after a very long time, the onion-like antics of our former Emperor coming down upon us once again.

————————–

After the agent’s report ended.

I closed the communication screen and pressed my throbbing temples with my fingers while leaning back into the plush sofa.

Seeing me like this, Riel, who had briefly left during the report to attend to something else, approached and said:

“Is it the former Emperor again?”

“Yeah.”

“Seriously? Not just some smugglers throwing out his name to save themselves?”

In the past, there had been cases where criminals, including smugglers, sold out the former Emperor’s name to save themselves.

Riel offered this somewhat positive observation, wondering if this was another such case, but…

“Sigh, they conducted high-intensity interrogations led by the purge unit, and even brought in a psionic ability user from the unit to verify their memories.”

“Ah, so it’s really true then.”

Memory verification—at the mention that they had even employed psychics who could read deep psychology and memories, Riel immediately acknowledged the gravity.

“Yes, thanks to that, it’s been confirmed that this is truly one of that damned former Emperor’s schemes…”

“Are you going to the Emperor?”

“I have to. Since it’s an issue concerning the former Emperor… the current Emperor Artraia needs to know.”

Moreover, since the agent’s report didn’t end there…

Whether I liked it or not, I decided to go report this matter to Artraia.

——————————–

“Halt! What business brings you here?”

“Good work. Nothing special, just a matter I need to report directly to His Majesty.”

“I see? His Majesty happens to be resting right now, so you may enter immediately.”

Perhaps because Artraia had ordered that I should be allowed through when making “direct reports”…

Upon hearing my words, the imperial guards who had been as firm as solid rocks immediately changed their stance and let Riel and me pass through.

And when we met Artraia, our Emperor’s face was full of smiles, as if something had made him particularly happy.

Moreover, as the guards had mentioned, he seemed to have been resting, wearing only an unusually thin and light t-shirt, unlike his usual attire.

‘…That t-shirt is really holding up.’

As I was marveling at the durability of that world-wonder-class t-shirt, Artraia opened his mouth with a smile directed at me.

“Arto! It’s been a while since you came to report something directly!”

“Hmm… I suppose so.”

“So? What brings you here?”

“Actually…”

And as my report continued, dark clouds quickly gathered over Artraia’s previously bright face.

“Why does that bastard keep popping up again…!”

Perhaps because Artraia had no good feelings whatsoever toward the former Emperor…

Unlike his usual self, Artraia, seemingly overwhelmed with emotion to the point of almost tearing up, grabbed my collar with a tearful face and vented his frustration.

“I know, right? He keeps appearing no matter how many layers we peel back.”

Though I wish he would let go of my collar while we talked.

‘Every time I come out from talking with Artraia with wrinkled collars, the whispers from the guards and attendants intensify…’

Anyway, with such idle thoughts in mind, I continued accurately relaying the report I had received from the agent.

That the smuggling operatives were carrying out the smuggling of materials and leaking confidential documents and technology to Prosnak under the former Emperor’s orders.

And that while simple workers might not know, the core operatives were still carrying out smuggling operations harmful to the Empire in honor of the former Emperor’s will, even though he had been dead for 14 years.

Moreover, when I mentioned that this included materials and technology for gate construction…

“I don’t think I need to hear any more.”

Artraia, with an extremely hardened expression, stood up abruptly and said:

“So they’re loyalists to the former Emperor after all? To think they still remained even after all those purges…”

As his anger bags shook violently, beyond what the t-shirt could handle, expressing his fury and irritation…

“Arto, make sure to deal with all those involved, including those guys.”

For the first time in a very long time, he revealed his tyrannical side, brimming with killing intent, seemingly ready to perform a dance with his blade.

“Eep.”

Perhaps because of the overwhelming killing intent, even Riel, who had been standing behind me, took a step back.

But I instead approached Artraia, grabbed his hand, and said:

“Artraia, calm down first.”

“…”

Although this action was extremely disrespectful and shouldn’t be done to an Emperor…

I immediately put it into action because I thought Artraia might rush out himself to dance with his blade if I didn’t do something like this.

Of course, no matter what, I didn’t have the courage to directly look at Artraia’s face, which would likely be furious at this action.

Looking only at the hand I was holding, I hastily opened my mouth.

“They’re not loyal to the former Emperor; more precisely, they’re loyal to the Empire, to the imperial family.”

“…”

“So rather than carrying out a purge right away, shouldn’t we first consider how we might be able to use them?”

“…”

But despite my rapid-fire explanation, no response came from Artraia’s mouth.

“…Artraia?”

When I raised my head in confusion, there was, how should I put it…

Artraia with red ears and cheeks, as if the spirit of benevolence had taken physical form, looking at me and repeatedly moving his lips without speaking.

And seeing this, I realized I had succeeded in diverting Artraia’s anger, but…

Realizing that the direction of that anger was now toward me…

“…I’m sorry, please spare me.”

I let go of his hand and naturally prostrated myself on the floor, begging for forgiveness.