episode_0123

I immediately started the car.

“Are you sick?”

“I was just a little nervous. Thankfully, nothing major happened, but…”

Irene had a somewhat relieved expression on her face. It was the look of someone who had just escaped hell.

“I barely made it out…”

She composed herself, then suddenly spoke.

“Violet, we’re friends, right?”

“Yeah! I’m Irene’s friend. But why?”

Irene hesitated, then spoke to me.

“…There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Something to tell me? What is it?”

“Well, it’s just a hunch for now. I don’t even want to think about it, but…”

My friend buried her head in her hands, agonizing, then mumbled. It wasn’t like her usual calm self. As I tilted my head, she finally managed to speak.

“The people who attacked me, I think they were sent by Helios.”

“What? Why?”

It was shocking. Irene’s father’s clan attacking Irene?

As I didn’t hide my bewildered expression, Irene began to explain in detail. The moment I heard her explanation, I was greatly surprised. If I hadn’t remembered I was driving, I would have jumped up.

“Attackers using your clan’s tactics? That’s undeniable!”

“Exactly. I don’t want to believe it, but right now, it’s the most probable scenario.”

Irene’s explanation continued. The Violets sitting in the back listened intently.

According to her speculation, it was like this:

First, she had a panic button for rescue requests. However, her request didn’t activate during the mercenaries’ attack.

Second, the secretary who had been acting as her guardian suddenly retired.

Third, groundless rumors slandering her reputation were spreading within the clan. When listed one by one, it all seemed strange.

“But there’s one thing that’s more important than anything.”

“What is it?”

“Since that day, Helios hasn’t contacted me once, and I haven’t contacted them either. Even the security team leader I saw earlier, or anyone I’m acquainted with, doesn’t know that I was attacked. But my uncle knows exactly when, where, and what happened to me, and who saved me.”

Our minds lit up. As far as I knew, the shootout in Central District Block 12, reported by the media, was covered as a fight between criminal organizations.

It was such a shocking incident that it still appeared in the news frequently.

However, the detailed inside story was never revealed. Reporters only discussed the fight between the mercenaries and Violet’s squad, and the slow response of the Audit Bureau deployed to the scene. Not a single mention of ‘Irene Solstis’ or ‘Helios Clan’ had been seen.

“Ugh! That’s too weird!”

“What’s more, he knew the specific fact that you protected me. Only a scholarship officer or someone from the Audit Bureau on site would know that.”

“What? How does this uncle know all that? It means he was seeing everything that happened on site. Surely…”

My friend paused, then her face crumpled miserably.

“Yes. It’s just a hunch, but Uncle Rigel seems to be the culprit. But… I don’t know why?”

“Why, you ask?”

“There’s a possibility. My uncle is the person with the second-highest stake in the clan, after my father. And… did I mention it? My father is actually quite ill.”

“Oh, ugh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

Irene’s face looked somewhat sad.

“It’s okay. It’s been about a year. That’s why there’s been talk about needing to choose the clan’s next leader.”

Saying that, Irene shook her head.

“I have a hunch. But I don’t understand why they tried to attack in broad daylight. It’s so awkward that even I could figure it out immediately.”

“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

Thinking about it, it was a completely foolish idea. To launch a surprise attack in broad daylight, where everyone could see. There was a reason Irene had a hunch and suspected, but couldn’t be certain.

It felt strange because it was done so openly.

The moment we heard Irene’s story, things flashed into our Violets’ minds. Cases of people who exploited their families before possession.

How many pseudo-humans there were, like mothers who abandoned their children for decades, only to come for the death insurance money after their child died, or fathers who preyed on their children!

There was no need to mention power struggles within chaebol families over management rights. Furthermore, family conflicts among medieval nobles, where moral ethics were weaker, were incredibly brutal.

In a sense, the politics of the Academy City, and by extension, the clans and Awakened of Planet Trist, operated on a similar principle to medieval lords.

As our minds worked hard, the internal landscape of the Violet Network began to change. The train station waiting room slowly transformed into a Victorian-style mansion.

The Violets, influenced by our thoughts, began role-playing.

“Let’s run a simulation!”

Violets in absurd dresses began to weave a cruel romantic fantasy narrative.

Soon, a massacre unfolded, ill-suited for the beautiful and neat scenery.

“Hehe, little sister, don’t you think I’m more suited for the Northern Archduke’s consort position? Farewell.”

“Ah, nooo!”

First, Countess Violet was run over by a carriage driven by Sister Violet and flattened.

“Great-great-grandfather’s inheritance, it’s mine!”

“Screech!”

Villainess Violet, fighting over property, smashed Relative Violet’s head with a wine bottle.

“My child will be the next head of the family. Child of the ex-wife, die!”

“Screaming!”

Cinderella Violet, pushed by Stepmother Violet, fell from the terrace.

The scenes kept changing.

Violet poisoning a relative by serving king crab with persimmons. Violet starving her daughter to death by locking her in a flour barrel. The tragedies of the Violet mansion continued!

The bizarre simulation ended at some point, and we seriously raised the possibility of a familial conspiracy.

“As expected, it’s a conspiracy targeting property!”

Behind the guys who attacked Irene, that uncle guy must definitely be there.

The Victorian-style mansion disappeared, and a strangely distorted palace appeared. Within the network, the Violets started another play, and a scene from a historical drama was replayed.

An intruder appeared before young Violet, who had inherited the throne after her father’s sudden death.

“Come here!”

Uncle Violet, clad in armor, kicked open the palace doors and stormed in. Then, he roared in an intimidating tone.

“Hahaha, nephew! Give up your seat. I am destined to be king!”

Young Niece Violet, who had lost her father, trembled with fear.

“I’ll give you the kingdom and the crown. Just spare my life!”

The niece was exiled, and eventually met a miserable death in a foreign land.

“Save me! Wailing!”

Watching it, my eyes welled up. It was too tragic!

Surprisingly, my friend might also be in a similar situation.

Irene’s father is expected to disappear soon! In fact, he’s practically already gone. He should have been in his coffin long ago.

The inheritance and shares Irene is supposed to receive must be substantial. If the rightful heir were to disappear, who would benefit first?

Irene herself said it. When the next head of the clan is mentioned, her uncle’s name comes up a lot. He also holds a large stake.

As my thoughts settled, I recalled examples from real history.

“This is… the Gyeyujeongnan [a historical coup in Korea]!”

“Weren’t there similar cases in other countries?”

“You mean the Jingnan Campaign [a historical rebellion in China]? There, too, an uncle…”

King Sejo and King Danjong, Emperor Yongle and Emperor Jianwen. Edward V and Richard III! And countless other usurpers!

It might be an exaggeration, but every uncle is a potential nephew-killer. History and statistics prove it.

Especially when money and power are involved, Russian probability notation (140%) applies.

The Violets whispered.

“Aren’t we going too far?”

“No, it’s obvious. You could assume a third party, but it’s more likely to be a relative.”

As we considered the monstrous conspiracy, the Violet Network grew heated.

The characters’ past lives hadn’t been well-covered, so we’d brushed it off as ‘they went through a lot,’ but now we seemed to understand a little how things worked.

Yes, the Helios Clan would collapse.

Multiple clans tore apart its interests.

All that remained for the girl who survived the academy’s collapse was a superficial clan. There were no grand buildings or numerous subordinates like now.

Ta-da, and so, a young female head of household, aged by alcohol and tobacco, who inherited only the ruins, was born.

We wondered who would sell off the interests, but now we see they were very close by.

While I was deep in thought, Irene poured out her words.

“Yes, the circumstances are there. But… I don’t know what I can do.”

“Why are you like this?”

“In just a few days, my home and accounts are all gone. The people who helped me suddenly disappeared as if driven out of the clan. And now, strange rumors are even spreading.”

Cracks appeared on her face, which she had tried so hard to keep calm.

“And someone who’s supposed to be family is targeting me, and I don’t even know who’s an enemy or an ally within the clan.”

At some point, a single tear suddenly fell from Irene’s eye.

“I thought I could do anything. But I couldn’t. I was just a fool.”

The moment they saw my friend crying, the Violets rose as if screaming.

“What are you talking about? Irene isn’t a fool. She’s smarter than us, isn’t she?”

“We’re here!”

The Violets, except for the one driving, noisily pulled out tissues and handkerchiefs and offered them to her.

“Here, don’t cry, wipe it with this!”

Seeing us cause a brief commotion, Irene gave a faint smile.

“Thank you, I feel a bit better thanks to you.”

Fortunately, Irene didn’t cry much.

However, seeing our friend upset made us feel bad too.

While the escort briefly stopped at a red light, some of the Violets, disguised, got out of the car.

“Where are you going?”

“Just running a quick errand.”

“…You’re not going to do anything weird, are you?”

Irene’s eyes narrowed. Since my friend was looking at me suspiciously, I acted as if it was nothing.

“It’s nothing!”

“Really?”

Irene, who had been looking out the car window, suddenly turned her head towards me.

“Do you know what your frequent habit is? After the phrase ‘it’s nothing,’ there’s always a bizarre verb attached. Like ‘kill’ or ‘blow away’…”

“Hehe.”

“And when it’s hard to talk about, you just ‘hehe’ laugh like now.”

I clamped my mouth shut, letting out a small breath.

“…Still, I’ll trust you. Just don’t do anything too reckless.”

“Understood!”

As the escort headed home, one of the Violets returned near the Helios Clan building.

**

After returning to the clan building, Violet infiltrated, avoiding surveillance.

Recalling the appearance of the guy named Rigel she had seen earlier, Violet pondered what she could do.

Fortunately, Rigel was making a call in the parking lot. His red sports car was visible.

“…Are you too busy to answer the phone? It’s me. Look into these ‘Ariel Group’ guys. A troublesome obstacle has appeared.”

Oh, what did this guy just say?

A brief phone call couldn’t reveal everything, but Irene’s hunch seemed correct.

Logically, he wouldn’t call the ‘Ariel Group,’ which his brother left to protect his niece, an obstacle.

By the way, he’s not completely stupid for starting to investigate us.

But searching for an organization called ‘Ariel Group’ would be pointless, as there’s nothing to find out.

The only people I meet and deal with under the name ‘Ariel’ are people like the director or Armas. The former works under me, and the latter has no reason to carelessly sell customer names.

And if they did blab? Then, lead and iron would be added to the means of exchange for transactions that were originally made of money and gold.

Rigel, who had continued a trivial conversation, hung up the phone and grumbled. The conversation had no substance; he only said incomprehensible things.

“Tsk, tsk, what is that Irene brat doing? To call such an idiotic fool a friend…”

In that instant, I understood what it meant for veins to throb on one’s forehead.

What? An idiotic fool?

“But we are fools, aren’t we?”

“Oh, that’s right!”

Come to think of it, we might actually be fools. I have nothing to say.

But it feels bad to be called a fool! What’s more, Irene cried earlier. I can’t just let this go.

That jerk, I need to teach him a lesson. How should I do it?

As I waited, he walked away from his car. Then he talked to the bodyguards who had been standing behind him earlier.

A good idea popped into my head.

I carefully crawled under the car. I reached the front of the sports car I had seen earlier.

Although I wasn’t entirely sure if it was truly his car, I steeled my resolve.

I need to play a prank.

Originally, I would have had a Violet infiltrate, plant a bomb, and blow him up the moment he got in, but

For now, it’s just a hunch and there’s not enough information. Also, there was something to be concerned about.

“Are an Awakened’s traits inherited?”

Irene is incredibly tough. She can withstand being kicked by a bus-sized cockroach arm, and even a 40mm grenade to the chest only makes her fall from the impact. Rocket attacks and machine gun fire only leave her with scratches.

So, Irene’s uncle might have similar durability. He might even be tougher. A clumsy bomb attack wouldn’t kill him; it would only infuriate him.

Sending Violet-guided bombs from above would be more certain.

However, it wasn’t time to wage war yet. There was still a grand mission to complete.

Once Operation Witch’s Hammer is over, I’ll have to thoroughly clean up around my friends.

If I do it well, I might even be able to twist their pasts and make them happier.

I pulled out a dagger, channeled magic into it, and then punctured all four tires before returning.

A moment later, the car’s owner returned after finishing his business and screamed when he saw his car.

“My, my car! Which brat did this!”

“Hehehe.”

Who else but a Violet brat!

I laughed at Rigel’s reaction and quietly despawned.