The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 167 Suspect Isaac (11) - Where the Muzzle Points This was the second time being brought in as a suspect. With the composure befitting an experienced professional, Isaac defended himself with logical reasoning. He explained that he had gone there solely because of the request, and had only briefly spoken with the lady without any suspicious activities. But there's one truth about all worldly affairs. Conversation is only meaningful with someone who has the will to engage in dialogue. "I understand. But we still need to continue the investigation, so please wait inside for now." Instead of bowing their heads and saying "I see. It seems we misunderstood," the detectives who heard Isaac's explanation barely listened and threw him into the temporary prison within the police station. If at least Isadora had come looking for him, things might have been different, but she didn't even show her face at the police station. How long had he been sitting in prison, blankly passing time? "Hehehe, looks like you're waiting for someone, but it's useless." A man imprisoned in the same cell as Isaac spoke to him with an irritating laugh. "What do you mean by that?" "You can tell just by looking at the cops' attitude. They didn't put you here because they suspect you're the culprit. They put you here because they had to put you somewhere." "...Someone was paid to target me, or they hastily fabricated a culprit because they need to cover things up as quickly as possible. Is that what you mean?" "Huh?" The man who had spoken to Isaac stroked his rough beard and expressed admiration. "You catch on fast? Usually there are plenty of guys who need a few more words before they come to their senses. Did you already expect this?" "The only thing I can do while trapped here is think, so wouldn't it be negligent not to do even that?" "Hmm, you're more obnoxious than I thought. Especially that attitude of yours, acting like everyone should be doing this much thinking. Very arrogant." [That's right, that's right.] Ignoring the presence of the demon nodding enthusiastically in the shadows, Isaac shrugged his shoulders. "So, what's the main point?" "What do you mean main point all of a sudden?" "You're the one who said I catch on fast. Instead of pointless probing, wouldn't it be convenient for both of us to proceed quickly?" "...Hehe." Letting out what might have been a hollow laugh, the man stared intently at Isaac. Blonde hair mixed with gray and blue eyes. It was a face that would have made quite a few women cry when he was young, though it didn't show due to his unkempt, messily grown beard and hair roughly tied back in a ponytail. "Right, the sooner we get to the point, the better. Then I'll speak directly without beating around the bush. —You've been used by that female detective." Isaac didn't immediately ask back or deny by asking what that meant. Taking this as agreement or as a sign to continue talking, the man calmly went on. "Right now in this Chaudronbourg, there are largely two factions. One is the snake-like Augustin and the fanatics poisoned by his venom. And the other side is us." "You're not mentioning something like an organization name?" "It's too shortsighted to think all organizations in the world play secret society games. We're extremely practical, so we don't even have a name. ...Well, this is just plausible excuses we make internally, but the truth is our side is a bit of a hodgepodge." "A hodgepodge?" "Victims of the various karmic debts Augustin has accumulated. And competitors who don't want him to gain power and wealth. Such people have gathered to form an alliance. To put it nicely, we're inclusive, but to speak frankly, our organization is a mess." "You're speaking quite candidly, aren't you?" "What can I do? With clueless guys, I'd act somewhat cool and threaten a bit to seize control, but if I pulled that nonsense with you, I'd be caught immediately." Isaac quietly looked around his surroundings. Despite having quite a sensitive conversation, the surroundings were quiet. Neither the presence of other prisoners nor the presence of police who had been coming and going around the prison at regular intervals could be felt anymore. The man wagged his tongue as if he was going to spill everything now that he had opened his mouth. "As you seem to have guessed just now, while our organizational power is a bit weak, our actual capabilities aren't that bad. Like Augustin, we also have many 'friends' on the police side." "No matter what capabilities you have, actually moving like this seems to be a separate realm." "Mmm. You won't just let it slide. Fine, to speak frankly, we were monitoring you." The man magically produced an apple from somewhere and repeatedly threw and caught it like a ball. "The most reliable way to cover up crimes is to make the side investigating crimes your ally. That woman, or rather the Dracrois family itself, is Augustin's collaborator. They pretend to have no connection to each other while secretly joining hands behind the scenes. Naturally, from our standpoint, she's a person of concern." "It sounds like I got entangled in the process of monitoring the detective." "Right. Honestly, I was quite flustered. That woman has never properly made colleagues until now. Well, that makes sense. When you're in a compromised position, keeping people close only increases the risk of being caught." In Isaac's mind, Isadora's attitude of constantly trying to push him away, knowingly or unknowingly, flashed by. "Whether that woman intended to use you as a sacrificial lamb from the beginning, or if it became that way because the situation worsened, I don't know. But either way, if things continue like this, all that awaits you is a future of being framed for crimes you never committed and thrown in prison." The man extended his hand toward Isaac. "Join our side. Then we'll help you escape. We'll give Augustin and Isadora, who used and betrayed you, a taste of their own medicine." Isaac, who had been staring at the hand extended toward him, opened his mouth. "Why are you helping me? To be honest, investing resources and manpower like this just to get me out seems wasteful." "Because it's the right thing to do." The man answered immediately without a moment's hesitation. "He kills people who get in the way of his ambitions, brainwashes and uses children, and tramples countless others for his greed. We who are trying to fight against such a person must not lose our humanity." After being silent for a while, Isaac nodded and shook the man's hand. "I'd like to hear your name." "It's Julien. I look forward to working with you." *** Getting out of prison wasn't that difficult. As Julien, who claimed to have some power, had said, the police station's security system became so lax that even a blind person could escape as soon as night fell. How long had they been moving around following Julien? When they had the detective office right in front of them, Julien stopped. "Here, take this." What Julien extended while saying that was a piece of metal slightly larger than a palm. When Isaac, who had received the object equipped with a grip, trigger, and muzzle, looked at him with an expression demanding explanation, Julien opened his mouth. "Is this your first time seeing something like this because you're a foreigner? It's a pneumatic handgun. It's an unfortunate item that was pushed out by gunpowder firearms for various reasons like power, rapid-fire capability, and manufacturing difficulty, but for that reason, the government doesn't monitor it as strictly. Most importantly, even something like this is sufficient for anti-personnel use." "Don't tell me you're saying I should use this to shoot the detective?" "I'd like to say yes, but it seems you still have lingering attachments. Then just think of it as for self-defense." After saying that much, Julien stepped back. As if saying that what came next was for Isaac to decide. Isaac climbed the office stairs, still holding the handgun. Floor by floor, as he climbed the stairs, a strange scent tickled Isaac's nostrils. It wasn't the distinctive medicinal smell that Isadora always carried with her. While that was a scent that only Isadora gave off, what was now tickling his nose was a more common smell found here and there. Of course, just because it was common didn't mean it was a smell one could encounter frequently. Because its identity was the scent of blood. Squelch. A sticky liquid clung to Isaac's shoes. The blood that had not yet completely lost its red color indicated that not much time had passed since this disaster occurred. As he climbed the stairs filled with blood as if it had been poured from a bucket, the familiar office door greeted Isaac. Realizing he could sense a presence beyond it, Isaac opened the door without hesitation. Moonlight passing through the window illuminated the interior of the office. The state of the office was truly horrific. Blood was scattered messily everywhere, and human body parts were strewn about between them like dismantled mannequins. Isaac checked the head among them. Maxime. The client who had first commissioned this case to them was letting out a soundless scream with a face full of agony. And right next to that head. There was a woman. The woman, who had been looking at the scene with an unreadable gaze while covered in blood on her detective hat and coat that were no different from her symbols, confirmed Isaac's appearance. The firearm in Isaac's hand. And Julien behind him. "...Haah." A short sigh-like breath flowed out. Isadora, who had briefly pulled her detective hat down with one hand to cover her face, soon asked with a composed expression. "It's been a while, assistant. Though I didn't want to meet like this." "Likewise, detective. This way, we won't be able to properly drink coffee either." "That's why I told you it would be better not to get involved in this matter." "I'm the type who can't stand leaving things undone, so I had no choice." "Then, it can't be helped." "Yes, it seems it can't be helped." Isaac raised the gun. Isadora's blue eyes turned red. Bang! With a sharp sound, the bullet pushed by intense air pressure pierced through its target's chest. "Cough!" A wet coughing sound leaked out. The one who was shot widened their eyes in disbelief. The one staggering backward—Julien cried out in shock. "Why...?! Why me instead of that murderer...!" Isaac tilted his head briefly. He seemed to be pondering what to answer, then as if he had made a decision, he bluntly said. "You've been fooled."