The infamous reputation of the Genen Central Police Department is well known throughout all of Genen. Not only because of the aggressive tactics employed by its officers, but also due to its close ties with the Imperial Guard Intelligence Bureau. They are also known for not bowing their heads easily, yet today, for some reason, even the Chief himself has come out to receive someone with respect. “Sir Maximilian. It is truly an honor to have you visit us in person.......” Maximilian von Ebenholtz. A knight of the Sentinel, and heir to one of the most prestigious noble families considered one of the three pillars of the Empire, had come to visit. “However, what brings you to such a humble place as this.......?” Maximilian was seated in a chair, while the Chief and the other officers all remained standing, bowing their heads to him. Maximilian spoke. “I received a letter stating that the culprits behind the recent terror incident have been apprehended.” The Chief gave a faint smile. “Ah, yes, yes. Our investigators captured them.” “Are you certain?” Maximilian looked at the Chief. The intent within his gaze was ambiguous. “......Huh?” The Chief tilted his head slightly. Maximilian calmly repeated himself. “I mean, are you certain that those suspects are the actual perpetrators?” “Ah, yes! That’s right!” The Chief responded rather brightly. The investigators also cleared their throats and tried to hide their smiles. No doubt, they were expecting some form of praise. “In that case-” “We’re certain!” One of the investigators raised his hand high and stepped forward. “We’ve obtained their confessions.” A confident-looking investigator, Zendo. Maximilian looked at him. A man with a neck as stiff as bamboo. Maximilian asked. “The evidence.” “......The confessions. Confessions obtained from the Independence faction members who participated in the protest.” "Confessions?" "Yes. We obtained confessions." Confessions, Confessions, Confessions. Zendo repeated the same word. Maximilian’s gaze, fixed on him, quietly tilted. Nevertheless, Zendo’s neck did not bend. “It seems you’re under a misconception.” Suddenly, the knight’s voice turned cold. “When I say evidence, I do not mean records beaten out of people. I’m talking about concrete physical evidence.” “Ah~ Sir Maximilian.” The Chief laughed heartily. “Well, that is- these Independence faction people are so secretive.” “When and where did they install the bombs, how did they acquire the materials, and how was the act of installation detected.” Maximilian cut off the Chief’s excuses and continued speaking. “I’m talking about precise evidence that remains uncontaminated under any circumstance.” “.......” The Chief shut his mouth. The space was soon submerged in silence. Countless investigators stood almost in formation around the seated Maximilian, who sat with his legs crossed. Yet not a single one of them stepped forward. They merely remained silent, glancing around for cues. From their perspective, they could not understand why Maximilian was acting this way here. Surely, he had no connection with the Independence faction. Maximilian looked at the Chief. His gaze demanded a name. “Ah, I’m Elron.” “Chief Elron.” As he called Elron’s name, he raised one eyebrow. "I was there at that place." “.......” Only then did the investigators finally understand the true nature of this cold fury. “No one else.” Right now, Maximilian is furious about being caught up in the incident itself. He has come here not as a knight, but as a nobleman. “I was.” If he fails to uncover the true culprit who nearly harmed him, it becomes a matter of pride. Moreover, the pride of an Imperial noble is something the people of the Autonomous Region can’t even begin to imagine. “I...... uh......” Sweat formed on the hands Elron had clasped behind his back. His fingers kept slipping against each other. “I want the complete truth. Not some fabricated tale.” In contrast, Maximilian remained calm. As if handling an entirely professional matter, he seized control of the place and the moment without showing a hint of emotion. “Therefore, I will personally interrogate those you claim to be the culprits and reveal whether perjury is involved.” Maximilian looked around the room and asked again. “Do you understand?” “Yes, yes. We understand what you mean.” The Chief bowed his waist to a ninety-degree angle. The investigators simply stood still. “No. It doesn’t seem like you understand at all.” At their display, Maximilian coldly waved his hand. He gestured to the investigators standing behind. “I clearly ordered you to bring out the suspects.” Maximilian never raised his voice. In fact, from the moment he arrived until now, his tone had remained steady. Not a single part of it stood out, nor was there even a hint of emotion. He merely stared into the Chief’s eyes....... “Now.” He delivered only a very small warning. “Immediately.” *** One by one, the suspects knelt on the floor of the central police station. Each of their faces was so mangled that they were hardly recognizable, and one of those identified as a main perpetrator, ‘Yan Novak’, was half-unconscious. “......Autonomous Ordinance, Article 5, Clause 3. All investigative agencies within the Autonomous Region must conduct investigations in accordance with the due process principles guaranteed by the Imperial Constitution and this Autonomous Ordinance.” While reciting the ordinance, Maximilian read through the sloppily written reports drafted by the police. “In the course of such investigations, excessively coercive methods shall not be employed.” He swept his gaze over the police officers. “Meaningless words. With this, does Genen truly need autonomy?” “I’m sorry.” The Chief bowed his head. He had already apologized countless times. “There’s no need to be sorry. I never expected anything in the first place.” Maximilian’s voice was sharp. Like a blade piercing the eardrum. Likely due to the aristocratic accent and deep tone. “The reports are full of fabrications, there isn’t a single proper eyewitness account. And of course, there’s no physical evidence...... With this level of incompetence, no wonder the job is so poorly done.” The investigators bit their lips, their pride clearly wounded. “Release these lowlifes.” Maximilian glanced at the members of the Independence faction. “If this is all you managed to extract even with torture, then it seems they don’t know anything useful.” “......Sir.” At that moment, Zendo stepped forward. “The Autonomous Region has independent investigative authority. So we have the right to conduct our own investigations.” “If this can even be called an investigation.” At those words, Zendo’s expression hardened. He exhaled with a heat-laced sigh. Maximilian nodded as if he understood. “You’re still not coming to your senses.” He reached into his inner pocket. A terminal gleamed outside his uniform. “S-Sir Maximilian!” At that moment, the Chief’s face turned pale and he dropped to his knees. Maximilian, the name Ebenholtz, his connections reached the very pinnacle of the Empire. With just a word, a local Chief like him could lose his position in an instant. “My deepest apologies! Truly! You-you fuck, you damn─!” The Chief glared at Zendo, cursing him silently with his eyes. If Maximilian hadn’t been present, he would have unleashed a storm of profanities. “All of you, on your knees──!!” "We apologize!" "We apologize!" At the Chief’s outburst, all the investigators dropped to their knees. No, they slammed their heads to the floor. Maximilian glanced over their bowed heads. He pointed indifferently at the false suspects. “Release them.” “Y-Yes! What are you waiting for! Release them now!” The investigators quickly helped the suspects to their feet. The seven wrongly detained individuals staggered as they exited the police station. Maximilian watched Yan Novak’s back as he left, then nodded. The immediate objective had been achieved, but the work was not yet done. “From now on. I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourselves.” He rose, stuffing the torture-filled reports into the trash bin. “Find the real culprit.” They were incompetent fools who could do nothing but threaten the powerless, but he had no intention of crushing them completely. After all, they were mere civil servants in the field. “I’ll say it again. I want the truth.” It was certain that the Ezenheim race was involved in this case. Somewhere out there were Sage’s comrades, the one I cut down that day. Spring in Genen. The incident where tens of thousands died must have been incited and provoked by them. “If you bring me the true ringleaders who planned this terror attack.” I will find them and kill them. I will thoroughly cut off the roots, twist their necks, and leave not a trace of consequence behind. “Then perhaps I might revise my evaluation.” “─Yes! Loyalty!” The Chief shouted loudly, saluting. “We understand completely!” “Loyalty!” The investigators followed the Chief’s salute. With a small nod, Maximilian left the police bureau with the characteristic stride of a noble. The Chief and the investigators held the angle of their hands in salute until the moment he disappeared. *** Yan, who had been released from the station, wandered aimlessly along Genen’s main boulevard. His mind was hazy. He didn’t know where he was, nor where he was headed. He simply staggered forward. Squeeeeeak── At that moment, a car stopped in front of Yan. The window rolled down, and a low voice flowed out. “Are you Mr. Yan Novak?” At the same time, the car door opened. Yan frantically waved his hands. “N-No, I-I can’t. I didn’t- I didn’t do anything.” “It’s alright. I’m not the police.” Only then did Yan see the face of the person calling him. A man with a stern expression and rimless glasses. Judging from his attire, he was definitely not a police officer. “Please, get in.” Yan swallowed hard. He hesitated, but eventually got into the passenger seat. The man’s presence wasn’t particularly threatening. “Uh...... who are you......?” He asked cautiously. “There’s no need for you to know, but if I must explain, I’m a company employee. Also a clerk. I do many things.” The man adjusted his rimless glasses and handed Yan an envelope. “This is......?” “See for yourself.” Yan opened the envelope. Inside were several documents, laminated papers, and even a bundle of cash. “Wha! Th-This is-” A bundle of one hundred-dollar bills. A total of 100 bills. Ten thousand dollars, an amount he had neither seen nor touched in his entire life. “Your sponsorship fund and new identity. A letter of recommendation is included as well. You’ll be able to receive whatever education you wish, wherever you choose.” “Sponsorship? F-For me?” “Yes. Someone said you have potential, Mr. Yan.” “W-Who......” Suddenly, a certain person came to Yan’s mind. ─You must hide it. Until you become strong enough. That day, the Sentinel knight. The blond man who had saved him during the bombing incident. “......Why, why me?” “I only carry out what I’m told. I don’t convey meanings beyond that. You must discover the purpose yourself, Mr. Yan.” Vroooom. The man started driving somewhere. Before long, they arrived at a familiar alley, and at some point, the car came to a stop. Yan flinched. It was right in front of his house. The man asked. “How was the driving? It’s only my second day learning.” “Ah. Ah. Yes. Very- very smooth.” “Then please, get out.” “......Yes. Thank you.” Yan stepped out of the car. As he turned to head home, he spun around and asked the driver once more. “Um, may I ask your name......?” The man adjusted his rimless glasses and answered. “Dieter. Dieter Schmidt.” A very bureaucratic and dispassionate expression. And a voice to match that impression. “One last thing, there’s a message from the Chairman.” Ahem. After clearing his throat, he spoke in a low voice. "If you devote yourself in your position, you will meet again someday-." “Ah...... okay.” Yan nodded blankly. “Then I’ll take my leave. Don’t miss your opportunity.” Dieter drove off to somewhere. Yan Evoke watched his departing figure for quite a while as he disappeared through the winding slums.