THE ACADEMY’S WEAPON REPLICATOR

With those words, I turned my back.

Truthfully, I had a few things I wanted to ask Hagley. There was also information I could have traded.

But if I had known he would make such a foolish decision, I wouldn’t have bothered with him in the first place.

‘Whatever. There are plenty of ways to get information. Philly and Elysia are already on the move.’

As I walked, contemplating the next step, I heard the sound of air escaping from Hagley’s clothes.

“……Save me.”

Turning around, I saw Hagley had gotten off the chair and collapsed onto the floor.

Or rather, he was kneeling before me.

It was a pathetic sight, hardly believable coming from Hagley, but it still didn’t stir any emotions in me.

“That research is everything to me. I’ve dedicated my entire life to it.”

“What a worthless life, then. You spent your whole life on something I understood in about a year.”

Of course, it wasn’t me who studied it.

Based on Frondier’s diary and the context of Hagley’s approach to Frondier, it probably took Frondier about that long to learn the ancient language.

“……Yes.”

Hagley answered in a low voice after hearing my words.

“I didn’t have that kind of talent.”

His voice was thick with tears, and his shoulders trembled with resentment and sadness.

Deciphering the ancient language is a talent. Knowing Frondier’s memories, I realize this clearly.

Language is inherently like that; it’s difficult to apply any theory or formula to it. This is especially true for obscure languages like the ancient tongue.

To understand a language that has become like this, you need intuition, not computational ability or intelligence.

Frondier had that intuition. Moreover, he didn’t just guess right once or twice with that intuition; he used it to solve the entire foundation of understanding the initial language. So Frondier’s talent was definitely overwhelming, making it difficult for a “second” to appear.

“Frondier, you wouldn’t know because you mastered the language so easily, but the ancient language isn’t something just anyone should talk about. Please. You shouldn’t publish the interpretation of the ancient language to the public. I don’t mind if I can’t do any more research. But please leave its value intact.”

“…….”

I looked at Hagley.

Honestly, no matter what I did now, there was no way for Hagley to know. He was no longer in a position to stop me.

But even if he couldn’t do research anymore, he wanted to protect the value of the research material. That Hagley, kneeling before me.

Did he still have that much passion left, even after throwing away all his pride?

“Hagley. Listen carefully.”

I said.

“I don’t move out of pity. If you want me to move, you’ll have to offer me something worthwhile.”

“……A deal, you say.”

“That’s right.”

“But I have nothing to offer.”

At that, I smiled.

He still underestimated me.

“Since you knelt before me and begged, throwing away your pride, I’ll be patient one last time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since you don’t seem to understand, I’ll rephrase it as a question.”

Looking down at Hagley, who seemed genuinely clueless, I asked.

“Your plan, you can’t do it alone, can you?”

“……!”

“Even if Azier listens to you and you prove the usefulness of your ability, getting out of this prison is a completely different matter. You need someone to appeal for you. In other words, someone outside needs to advocate for your necessity.”

I walked over and sat down on the chair.

“But you tried to prove your ability inside this prison. You wouldn’t know anything about the situation outside.”

“……!”

“No one can contact you except in this interrogation room, during visitations, or under the pretense of investigating you. So you must have heard about this operation from someone who came to you like that. In other words, an accomplice.”

Moreover, there was another obstacle to Hagley’s plan.

It was me.

Even if I hadn’t come here and made a fuss, if I heard that Hagley was being released from prison, I would immediately try to confirm the details of the incident.

Even if they tried to hide the fact that he had been released, now that the ancient language had been discovered in Manggot, they wouldn’t be able to keep Hagley’s location hidden forever.

I was one of the people who contributed to Hagley’s imprisonment. They wouldn’t be able to ignore my voice.

So for Hagley to escape, my power had to be out of reach first.

That’s where the recent unsettling rumors about me in the Empire come in.

The shill.

“Who contacted you?”

The person who contacted Hagley was the current owner of the shill.

“…….”

Hagley bit his lip and his eyes darted around. He seemed confused about what choice to make.

However, there was no reason for me to wait for that.

“……Alright. I’ve spoken too much.”

“I, I’ll tell you. Everything I know.”

“Instead of adding such unnecessary comments, get to the point.”

Hagley took a deep breath, closed his eyes tightly, and slowly began to speak.

“……He introduced himself as a reporter. He said he wanted to interview me about Manggot.”

“Can a reporter meet you?”

“At the time, it was before the ancient language was discovered in Manggot. Or at least, before the news reached the Empire. And we met in the visitation room, not the interrogation room.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t have believed that at face value.”

“Right, judging by his gait, posture, and behavior.”

Hagley narrowed his eyes slightly as if recalling the moment.

“He looked like a knight. To my eyes.”

* * *

Philly began her investigation as per Frondier’s request.

Of course, it was a deal where Frondier entrusted Philly with his treatment, but this kind of deal was naturally extremely advantageous for Philly.

Whether the shill existed or not was up to Philly. Frondier knew that and still told Philly. He completely trusted her. This wasn’t a deal; it was a request.

“I’m surprisingly weak to being trusted.”

Since Frondier believed in her, Philly decided to believe in Frondier first. Since she decided to believe him, the investigation started with the assumption that the shill existed.

However, she wasn’t going to turn the entire Empire upside down. Of course, Philly was the only one who could do that, but it was too inefficient. First, she needed to narrow down the scope.

‘Someone who can mobilize a large number of people to influence public opinion throughout the Empire and who knows Frondier well…….’

Listing it out like this, Philly felt sorry for Frondier, but the first people who came to mind were Frondier’s acquaintances. If they could employ a large number of people, they were likely from a high-ranking family.

‘Based on documents alone, the most suspicious person is Azier, the eldest son of the Roach family. He tarnishes Frondier’s reputation, who is rapidly growing and threatening his position, and expels him from the Roach family. It’s a perfect story for a family feud.’

But no.

If she didn’t know who Azier was, maybe, but knowing him, he was the first possibility to be eliminated.

Philly flipped through the documents, checking the individuals. She would narrow down the suspicious individuals here and order an initial investigation.

Of course, Azier wasn’t completely excluded from the investigation.

From family members like Enfer and Azier, Malia, to famous colleagues like Elodie and Aster.

Philly investigated the people who others would least suspect first. That’s why Frondier could trust her.

In the process, Philly’s eyes stopped on a piece of paper.

“……It comes to this after all.”

Philly had actually had one suspicious person in mind since she started this investigation.

However, it was just a hunch, so she just set a standard and conducted the investigation in order.

But when it was his turn, she couldn’t be satisfied without checking.

Philly took a light breath in and out. She lifted her phone to her ear.

“……Yes.”

Philly used honorifics with everyone. So her voice alone couldn’t identify the other person.

“Bring Pascal Schlitz.”

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