Memoirs of the Returnee-Chapter 317: Usurpation (3)

We were glued to the car window, looking at the prison gate. Sheron pointed towards a man standing there.

He had thick gray hair and wore sunglasses.

He was a close associate of Sherlock, residing in the heart of Libra——

“……Belingham Kantar.”

Akane said, a smirk appearing at the corner of her mouth.

“He was too perfect, though.”

“Do you know each other well?”

Soliette asked. Akane crossed her arms.

“That guy, me, and that bitch Theia, we were called the Golden Trio or something. You must know Theia well.”

I turned to Sheron.

“Miss. Sheron, what specifically is unusual?”

“……The wavelengths themselves are extremely foreign.”

Sheron continued with a serious expression.

“You and soliette might have overlapping wavelengths, but they are still distinctly human. But.”

Sheron stared directly at Belingham. He had entered the prison, but Sheron's eyes still seemed to follow the wavelengths.

“……his is very foreign. If a human soul is a curve, his feels like a straight Line.”

Then soliette tilted her head and replied.

“But Mr. Belingham has a family. How can an artificial human have a family?”

“……”

Honestly, I was also skeptical. Even setting aside the existence of a family, the notion of creating a homunculus meant creating a 'soul:

It's practically the domain of gods, creating humans.

I asked Akane.

“Ms. Akane, what do you think?”

“I find it hard to believe too. How can those who can't even make a proper doll create something as complex as a soul?”

“……But he's definitely not human.”

That was Sheron's comment. She furrowed her brow and muttered.

“Of all the wavelengths I've felt in my life, only his is like this. Even monsters aren't like that.”

Thanks to that, we knew about the existence of homunculi.

But knowing only made the questions grow.

“……Shion. What shall we do? Attack?”

Soliette suggested a rather radical solution. I chuckled and pushed her forehead with my finger.

“What attack? Are you going to dissect him?”

“U m……”

“Let's approach it differently. I know someone who might know about Belingham.”

“Oh, who is it?”

“……”

I ignored soliette. I just looked at Akane. Akane nodded. Soliette scrunched up the tip of her nose.

“Why are the two of you exchanging looks?”

It can't be helped. I can't talk about it in front of Sheron.

“First of all, Miss. Sheron. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yeah. Oh, but aren't you from Libra? Is it okay for you to be doing this? Isn't that person your superior?”

I felt a slight sting, but I had prepared an excuse long ago.

I didn't want to reveal too much about myself to Sheron yet.

“Because I'm from Libra, I need to delve deeper. They could be a threat to Libra.”

“Really? Then, whatever you need.”

Sheron extended her hand.

“Give me what you promised.”

I handed her the coupons. There were two [CastoLogy Usage Tickets].

Her face lit up as she quickly snatched them.

“Can I go today?!”

“No, you need to make an appointment.”

“Okay!”

“But next time I ask for a favor, you'll have to come out again.”

“Can I use both tickets then?”

“One is for showing off, remember?”

Sheron narrowed her eyes.

“You'll owe me one next time too.”

“Of course.”

“Good. Deal!”

Sheron smiled and extended her hand to me.

…

In a secluded clearing, after dropping off Sheron, the three of us continued our conversation in the car.

“Dr. Vito probably knows.”

“Ah, the Al expert?”

Soliette nodded. Akane clicked her tongue.

“But will that coward talk easily? He's so fearful, we don't even know where he's hiding now.”

Vito's ability to detect danger is exceptional. Even Grawl can't locate him.

“He'll talk because he's scared. We can use this.”

I pulled out a diary.

It was written in Killian's handwriting.

“Vito doesn't know yet that Killian betrayed him.”

“So, you're going to deliver this diary to Vito directly?”

“No, he'd be suspicious for sure. Instead, we'll hide it. In Killian's house.”

Suspicious types always need to discover things themselves. They won't trust evidence delivered through someone else's hands or words.

But.

“Suspicious people also tend to trust themselves too much.”

They'll believe anything they find themselves.

I planned to exploit that.

…

Killian's house was still in the same place. He was dead, but the lights of the upscale villa twinkled even in the dead of night.

Likewise, the surveillance system Vito had installed in Killian's house would still be operational.

“Done!”

Grawl, the cat, stood with his tail straight up, grinning.

I had Grawl 'cleverly' plant the diary in Killian's house. If it was too obvious, that would be suspicious too.

Roughly, the content reads, "Vito is truly a remarkable person, I've always admired and adored him, Derek is suspicious, Vito is worried, so he has compiled relevant information I'm suspicious of Derek, I'm worried about Vito, so I'm organizing information about him； and so on… Sentences that could sow discord between Vito and Derek, and anecdotes that only Vito and Killian would know.

[Chaser Shion warned me. There could be trouble in Ortus, so be careful. He is the only Chaser I trust, but I cannot disappoint Dr. Vito…]

In this manner, Killian also wrote about his trust in Shion Ascal—'me'.

If Vito finds this diary, he should contact me first.

“Then, I'm off. Keep a lookout.”

—Yes!

I became a 'thief disguised in Infimian.

A thief targeting Killian's house. A thief skilled enough to break into a Luxury villa.

I climbed through a window and infiltrated Killian's house.

Now, rummaging inside, I would discover the diary hidden by Grawl and say:

—What's this… a diary?

Angrily, I flung the diary onto the floor, then gathered all the valuable items Left in the house and left.

Thats the end of it.

Then Vito's side will take care of retrieving the diary.

Meanwhile, Johanna completed the research facility. It was a Large-scale facility designed to advance Yu Hains's 'Mana Accelerator*. A heavenly sum had been invested, and much more would be needed in the future.

“ about this?”

Johanna asked as she walked down the empty corridor.

Yu Hains responded beside her.

“lts fine, except for the lack of personnel.”

Of course, besides such facilities, a lot of manpower is needed. The 'Mana Accelerator* itself is a new technology combining science and mana, which is still largely unexplored.

“l'm also offering top industry compensation to recruit experts, but…”

Johanna clenched her teeth.

“That damned Derek is making everyone hesitant.”

Derek might claim it's just the researchers being stubborn, but the backlash from the Libra Al was quite severe.

Even with generous pay, they1 re refusing to conduct what they consider unethical research.

“I wish he'd just die in prison.”

Johanna muttered bitterly as she opened the door to her private office. Sitting in the chair by the window, she Let out a thin sigh.

“'Mana Accelerator1. Such a grand idea.”

Using mana to accelerate the destruction of cancer cells… It's not even a surgery, nor a procedure. It doesn't place any burden on the body, so the term 'healing' truly fits.

“Most cancers could be easily healed with this.”

However, the problem is that the Cancer of the Magic's Core isn't4most cancers'. It's so severe that the medical community might as well classify it as a curse.

“How many years does the professor expect this to take?”

“Estimating time is meaningless. We should just keep trying—”

“lts not meaningless.”

Johanna's tone became stern.

“lts actually the most important thing.”

She glared at Yu Hains.

“He's still dying.”

Yu Hains lowered his head as Johanna's voice trembled.

“Every passing day feels torturous. Its agonizing, Like being torn apart, like dying.”

Thinking about him, who would be lucky to live another ten years, and at best five, made her despise time itself.

“I understand.”

Yu Hains responded.

Johanna nodded calmly.

“Sorry. Km just too greedy.”

This professor had also lost someone he Loved.

You've lost, but I'm asking you to make sure I don't—Johanna understood how cruel that request was.

“But it's really strange.”

Johanna still struggled to sleep. She wondered what he was doing, worried if he was okay, and eventually, she would dream about him.

“Even if I wake up from a nightmare.”

First, Shion Ascal, who had left this world before her.

Herself standing dazed in front of his grave.

“When I wake up, suddenly good fantasies come to mind.”

She imagined the professor's treatment progressing well, him being healed, both of them shedding the shackles of Libra, and leading a normal life together.

“ls this bipolar disorder?”

An utterly normal imagination feeling utterly blissful, an utterly strange state.

“lts perfectly normaL”

Yu Hains declared it normal.

Johanna chuckled bitterly.

“Let's call it a day.”

“Yes.”

Yu Hains turned to Leave. Watching his retreating figure, Johanna pulled out a photograph.

It was a picture of Shion Ascal. There were quite a few. She had asked them to take several.

Yet, there were no pictures of her with him. Direct descendants of Libra weren't supposed to be 'subjects' in photos.

“Damn ridiculous.”

The rules of that family, which she once thought were natural, had never felt as shitty as they did these days.

No, they were becoming shittier by the day.

Johanna looked at the photo of Shion Ascal and smiled, stroking his image with her finger. His stupid-looking expression was endearing.

Drip.

A small droplet fell onto it.

In the director's office of the Libra Intelligence Agency.

Gedley had summoned Shion AscaL

He was a major player in the current Intelligence Agency, practically the eye of the storm and the right-hand man of Bell Moore.

It was a bit too daunting to call Bell Moore directly.

Of course, even this required some mental preparation, and indeed it was necessary.

“ls this the first time we've been alone, Chaser Shion?”

“Yes, it is.”

Shion sat in the chair in the director's office. His gestures were filled with confidence.

Did his response to my summons mean he anticipated some of what I would say?

Gedley casually asked.

“I hear you've been dealing with Theia Esil recently.”

“…Yes.”

Theia EsiL Currently Derek's biggest adversary, and a heavyweight even the Intelligence Agency struggled to handle.

Yet Shion remained composed.

“You seem very confident, especially given who you're up against.”

Gedley sat down in front of him. He made coffee and offered it to him.

“I simply carry out orders.”

Orders.

Shion Ascal followed Bell Moore's orders. He was someone who had never failed.

However, Ged Ley was still suspicious.

Between Bell Moore and Shion Ascal, who was the real—

Just then, Shion Ascal took a sip of his coffee. He also ate some peanuts that were laid out in front of him.

“…”

Gedley was convinced by his simple actions.

This guy was a puppet.

He was merely a doll, moving according to Bell Moore's commands.

The peanuts and the coffee could have been poisoned.

But this guy, as if he didn't even need to suspect such a thing, as if there was no need to think at all…

He was a one-dimensional character, not even worth being cautious about.

“l've heard that Team Leader Bell has been frequenting clubs lately.”

Gedley brought up some everyday topics.

“Yes. He says that's the only way he can relieve stress.”

Gedley had been deceived by such behaviors of his. At that time, he had thought him to be just a frivolous man.

If only he had known a bit earlier about his ambition, his endless greed, his wolf-like desires.

Things wouldn't have turned out this way.

“l'll ask you straight.”

“…”

Gedley Looked intently at Shion.

“What does Bell Moore want?”

Still, Ged Ley didn't want to give up his position as director. If possible, he intended to cling to it.

“Why would you ask me that—”

“Cut the crap. You're Bell Moore's confidant.”

“…”

“Don't pretend you don't know. Just say it directly.”

Shion stiffened.

“H m m…”

He seemed to ponder while stroking his chin, but soon he smiled leisurely.

“Therers only one thing Team Leader Bell wants.”

His second-in-command was about to speak.

Gedley perked up his ears.

And then.

“Director.”

Shion gestured towards the director's seat.

“Team Leader Bell Moore will not be satisfied with anything Less than that position. Therefore…”

Again, looking into Gedley's eyes, he continued.

“No matter what happens, he will obtain it.”

Gedley felt as if his insides were twisting.