Chapter 48: Materialism, Immortals, and an Adorable Puppy Part 4

The imperial family found itself in a truly perplexing situation.

A blatant act of stock manipulation.

It was so overt that one had to wonder if there was any intention to keep it a secret.

It went beyond boldness—it felt as if the economic criminal was flaunting their misdeeds.

This heinous villain who dared to challenge the empire was, paradoxically, the same great hero who had once saved them all from a demon.

They knew it was wrong.

They knew that anyone who committed a crime should be punished.

But they also knew Riyan, the man in question.

Professor Riyan was not the type of person to commit such deeds.

He wasn’t someone who would commit crimes for personal gain.

There must have been some sort of reasoning behind it.

However, the lie about losing his memory complicated matters.

Directly confronting him to uncover the truth was impossible.

Yet, ignoring the public’s opinion was not an option either.

As a result, they found themselves stuck, unable to move forward or backward.

After much deliberation, the emperor finally made a decision.

The H.L. Corporation would be investigated.

However, if evidence of any collusion with Riyan were found, it would all be destroyed and dismissed as though nothing had happened.

The emperor had opted for a middle ground.

***

“That is how I ended up here.”

The fifth princess of the empire, Lucie Leonhart, explained this to Hannibal.

Of course, she didn’t divulge internal details or classified information.

She only spoke in general terms, informing him that an audit would take place.

“Naturally, we will cooperate. We’ve also been hoping to clear any suspicions and prove our innocence,” Hannibal said with a bright smile, welcoming her.

Lucie maintained a formal demeanor as she entered the company.

She was greeted by an adorable sheep mascot.

Hannibal, whose demeanor was as gentle and harmless as the mascot, followed her instructions obediently.

With the help of the expert assigned by the emperor, Lucie began inspecting the company.

The results were as expected.

‘They said you wouldn’t find a speck of dust on him, and they weren’t wrong.’

The public’s assessment had been remarkably accurate.

The company, run by a doctor known for healing the minds of the wounded and saving countless lives, showed no signs of impropriety no matter where or how it was investigated.

Instead, what emerged were numerous acts of kindness.

Records showed profits sacrificed for the greater good.

Photos depicted him holding hands with people and smiling proudly alongside residents of impoverished areas he had helped.

Seeing these photos of Hannibal and the people he had aided brought a hypothesis to Lucie’s mind.

‘Maybe the professor was trying to help Hannibal.’

Though no evidence of collusion was found, it seemed highly plausible that the benevolent professor, unable to ignore someone in need, had sought to support Hannibal in some way.

Everyone should focus on Hannibal.

His altruism should inspire all to follow his example.

Perhaps the stock manipulation allegations were a misunderstanding, stemming from an attempt to share a positive message and rally support for the H.L. Corporation.

The more Lucie thought about it, the more plausible the theory became.

Having realized this, Lucie knew what she had to do.

She would return to her father and report the situation.

She would publicly clear Professor Riyan’s name of any association with economic crimes.

Once her mind was made up, there was no reason to hesitate.

And so, Lucie prepared to return to the imperial palace.

‘But why?’

Her feet refused to leave the ground.

A strange tremor resonated from the sword at her waist.

It felt as if the sacred sword was speaking to her, telling her not to leave.

It seemed to say that unforgivable atrocities were being committed in this seemingly ordinary place.

‘Come to think of it…?’

Everything here was too perfect.

The employees’ behavior, the records in the ledgers, the photographs proving goodwill—it all felt excessively flawless, to the point of an uncanny unease.

‘We have nothing to hide.’

‘We are innocent, so there’s no need for suspicion.’

The entire company seemed to assert this claim.

Ignoring the polite smiles of Hannibal and his staff, who were seeing her off, Lucie quickly pushed past them and followed the guiding light of the sacred sword.

A hidden wall created by illusion magic.

Passing through it, the metallic tang of blood hit her nose.

What unfolded before her eyes rendered Lucie speechless.

The H.L. Corporation was supposed to make dolls for children.

It had no connection whatsoever to slaughterhouses.

‘Yet, what were these chunks of meat?’

‘Why was there so much food stored in this cold storage?’

And, most disturbingly…

‘Why did those organs not resemble those of any livestock?’

One by one, the puzzle pieces fell into place in her mind.

The silence of the sheep.

A black magic cult that used cannibalism as a source of power.

The empire’s most heinous criminals, responsible for countless victims.

This was the true nature of the H.L. Corporation, hidden until now.

***

Footsteps echoed behind her.

The warm, yet hollow smiles of the black magicians revealed that they had realized their secret was exposed.

Lucie was completely surrounded.

Her escape routes were all blocked.

In front of her stood monsters more demonic than any demon.

“Ah…”

A soft voice escaped her lips.

Hearing Lucie’s voice, Hannibal Lecter revealed his genuine smile for the first time, free from any pretense.

What adorned his lips was excitement.

He savored the fear and despair in her voice—the moment when the prey realized its fate and succumbed to terror and resignation.

He desired more screams, more emotions to relish.

Succumbing to his impulses, Hannibal lunged forward… only to face something unexpected.

Not a scream, but the laughter of a girl.

Surrounding her were cannibals.

The difference in numbers was hopelessly against her.

Yet, even in such a dire situation, Lucie wore an innocent smile as if she was genuinely enjoying herself.

‘Of course, he couldn’t have made a mistake.’

The professor had seen through the evil once again.

Just as he had before, he was guiding her, who had been wandering aimlessly, unable to find the right path.

‘What could be more joyous than this?’

The girl raised her sword boldly before her enemies and declared:

“Please watch over me, Professor! One day, I’ll become a magnificent warrior worthy of standing by your side!”

With a bright smile, she swung her sword.

Dozens of black magicians, terrified, fled in disarray.

The moment when the roles of predator and prey were completely reversed.

***

The press conference hall buzzed with a crowd of people.

Through the communicators, news about the Silence of the Lambs spread.

The criminal organization that had terrorized the empire was finally dismantled.

Professor Riyan’s true intentions were revealed at last.

It became clear that everything he had done stemmed from a noble purpose: to uproot a great evil.

However, what continued to echo was criticism.

Riyan had only ever acted with good intentions.

The people who had misinterpreted his words and lost money were now pinning the blame on him.

Watching this, the reporter, Cromwell, clicked his tongue.

‘It’s just as I expected. Still, it’s unpleasant to see.’

That’s simply human nature.

No one is indifferent to their own losses.

Not everyone can be as enlightened as that professor.

There are plenty of people who value the money they lost in this ordeal more than the lives he saved.

Cromwell silently prayed that Riyan wouldn’t grow disillusioned and turn his back on humanity, as he turned his gaze toward the professor.

But something seemed strange.

Riyan, who should have been scorning them all, was instead sweating nervously, speaking incomprehensibly bizarre words.

“I didn’t know anything about this! I swear, this is the first I’ve heard about a cannibal organization!”

He claimed to know nothing about H.L. Corporation’s true nature.

Discovering the black magicians, he said, was purely coincidental.

“I just picked a random company and manipulated its stock prices! Money is all that matters to me. I couldn’t care less about what happens to a criminal organization!”

He even dismissed the significance of the criminal organization.

“Whether those bastards, who stole precious friends, lovers, and families from others, get caught or not doesn’t matter to me. All I care about is money!”

“Those scumbags shouldn’t have been caught! If they hadn’t been, I could’ve pulled a few more jobs! Why is the imperial family only competent at times like this?!”

No, they shouldn’t have been caught.

Whether the criminals lived on to take someone else’s precious loved ones didn’t matter, as long as his pockets grew heavier.

It was an appalling, monstrous statement.

A vile behavior unbecoming of the virtuous professor.

The reporter, bewildered by why the upright Riyan would utter such things, noticed the reactions of the people.

The shareholders, who had been furious just moments ago.

The ones who had shouted for him to take responsibility for their lost money, now all fell silent.

Their bowed heads were etched with shame.

The grotesque character that Riyan portrayed through his performance.

Seeing that brazen display, everyone realized the truth.

He had captured the most heinous of criminals, saving countless lives that would otherwise have been lost.

Yet instead of rejoicing, they had mocked him, calling it a pointless act.

In doing so, they revealed their own pitiful, wretched nature.

***

Cromwell’s face twisted in shock.

He couldn’t suppress his astonishment.

Fools often mistake grandeur for nobility.

They believe that wearing luxurious clothes, speaking sophisticated words, and always standing above others to look down on them makes one noble.

But that’s not true.

Nobility is something else entirely.

Even if it means stepping into the filth, even if one’s body becomes mired in mud and grime, true nobility lies in saving and enlightening others without hesitation.

That kind of resolve is what defines genuine nobility.

Lifting his head, Cromwell looked at Riyan.

What stood there was no longer a grotesque professor screaming vile words.

A divine figure.

Only an infinitely exalted being remained in that place.