The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 174 Suspect Isaac (18) - Isadora's Reasoning A mystery play only has meaning when it's possible to 'punish' the culprit. If a detective reveals the culprit but that culprit is superhuman and beats down the police, destroys the prison, and beats up the detective too, is there any meaning in that? If a detective reveals the culprit but that culprit is the top of law enforcement and tours the prison like a walk before being released as innocent the next day, is there any meaning in that? The culprit named Augustin Darnoua was that type of person. Someone who could make any truth worthless no matter how much the truth was revealed through deduction. But not anymore. And that's because... "Dear citizens. There is someone who has stirred up this country today and brought chaos and grief to society. There is someone who fills their belly by making your blood and sweat their sustenance. I, as Premier of this country, declare that I will clearly reveal the truth of this incident and return definite compensation to the victims!" The country's highest authority had abandoned him. Augustin was shocked that the Premier, with whom he had never particularly built any ill will, was suddenly trying to hang him, but in fact this was his karma. Since he had used public opinion toward the Empire and exploited the current government as a shield, naturally he should have been prepared to earn resentment from that shield. In a country where a dictator exists, as long as he tried to influence government policy regardless of the dictator, there was sufficient reason for Augustin to be hanged whether he actually committed crimes or not. It wasn't as if everything else besides power was safe either. He still had a lot of funds, but most of them were money that merely existed and couldn't be moved freely. It was the result of liquid assets being tied up because influential figures in the business world involved in this incident gritted their teeth and attacked him. The direct military force called Dhampirs had their communication cut off in the blink of an eye, and contact with the informants scattered throughout all levels of society was the same. "─In other words, the conditions to arrest you have been established." And the woman who would have led all those events had somehow appeared before Augustin. Blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a detective hat and coat, and leisurely lit her pipe tobacco as if this were her own living room, puffing out smoke. As if proving her recent busy movements, there was some fatigue around Isadora's eyes, but it wasn't to the extent of comparing with Augustin, who had become half-ruined. "...How." "Is that 'how' asking about the method I used to leisurely barge into your office? Or is it 'how' asking about the situation of others who should have protected the family? I hope it doesn't mean how I'm still alive. I'm a bit tired to engage in such low-level conversation." Complaining that while some damned person was lying in bed, she had to run around frantically, Isadora irritably chewed on the end of her pipe. In her appearance, there was neither tension from having come alone to enemy territory, nor euphoria from witnessing the downfall of a great nemesis. That composure was more painful to Augustin than anything else. He spoke with a growl. "...My arrogance in trying to keep you alive and win you over has returned as a dagger like this. I should have cut out the bud from the beginning." "The truth doesn't change just because you say that about keeping me alive since you couldn't conduct experiments properly if you killed me." "And," Isadora continued. "Are you perhaps thinking that you're some tremendous big shot who just happened to get caught due to carelessness or something?" "What?" "Ah, I see. To think you were under such a delusion. Sigh, then I can't help but deliver the message. How tiresome." Though Isadora let out a sigh with blatantly exaggerated large gestures, her lips held a faint sneer. "'Sir. Is that all you can do with that?'" And what followed was something that made one think it would be better to hear outright profanity. "'You raised talented individuals who are absolutely loyal to you, who could truly dedicate their lives to you, and the way you use them is merely assassinating annoying people.'" "'If you have talented individuals without worry of betrayal, you should cultivate them. How much would organizational efficiency and trustworthiness improve if you placed incorruptible and diligent talent in the right positions?'" "'I cannot help but sigh at such short-sighted vision that can only use precious and valuable talent numbering less than a hundred as mere consumables. To be proud of killing one enemy soldier after using fine porcelain for stone throwing - this isn't a matter of character but intelligence.'" To Augustin, who was left dumbfounded with his mouth agape, Isadora spoke with a somehow refreshed expression. "'You are not some big shot in the shadows. You're just a criminal who had a bit more than others.' —That's what some anonymous person living somewhere asked me to tell you." Augustin moved his lips as if about to voice some rebuttal, but soon let his head drop limply. Clicking her tongue at whether he didn't even have the spirit to bark boldly, Isadora turned her back and opened the door. The police who had been waiting outside passed by her as they entered the room and arrested Augustin. It was the futile downfall of a man whose ambitions alone had been grand. *** "—Well, that's how it turned out. Augustin was arrested, and evidence of all the evil deeds he committed is being secured one by one." "Hmm. How are people connected to the Darnoua family reacting?" "They're desperately trying to save him somehow, but it won't be of much use. At least there won't be an acquittal at trial." "That's quite fortunate. The justice of the republic is alive." "It's not that his destruction was confirmed because he made the Premier uncomfortable, right?" "Isn't that good in its own way? At least it means he's paying attention to citizens' public opinion." "It's nothing new, but it was good that I blocked their listening ears in advance. If there had been surveillance like a normal visit, I might have ended up in there alongside you." "Opening a detective office inside prison would be rather funny." Between the two people casually chatting, long iron bars were placed. This was not their office, but a visitation room. At least Isaac's outfit was still a patient's gown, but the day when it would change to proper prisoner clothes wasn't far away. Since Isaac was now in the position of a suspect, no, a criminal. It was the karma of the grand self-destructive attack he had launched to bring down Augustin. Huu. Isadora let out a deep breath. "I'm planning to disappear for a while. I might even abandon this current identity entirely." "Is that so?" "Those people hid information about Dracrois when they were concealing documents in preparation for raids and searches, but you never know where strange content might pop up. There's no law saying Augustin won't sell out my name in his death throes. I'd rather decline being branded a monster and subjected to a witch hunt." "That's a wise decision. With your disguise and acting abilities, detective, and above all that brilliant mind, you'll be able to survive safely wherever you go." "What about you?" "Hmm?" "So what are you going to do? Even if you say something like 'Actually, everything I said was false' at this point, you can't even dream of getting out." "It's fine. Having tried escaping from prison once, a second time should be easier." "Really, don't go around saying you were my assistant. I'm scared I might get branded as a criminal too." "Oh my, once an assistant, always an assistant - how can you say such things?" After exchanging nonsensical banter, Isadora looked at the hourglass in the corner of the visitation room. It was something Inspector Pierre had left behind, saying 'this is the last time I'll do you a favor.' This would also be the last time they could have a private visit without surveillance. After taking her gaze off the hourglass that seemed to be nearing its end, Isadora straightened her posture. For the final confrontation with her assistant, no, with 'suspect Isaac.' "—What I'm about to do is simple reasoning." "Oh, what kind of reasoning?" "Reasoning about your true identity." Isadora stared at Isaac's face. Even at the sudden words, he showed no particular agitation. Perhaps from the very first moment they met, even until now. "First. All the various kinds of knowledge, rhetoric, and refinement you possess are things that would be difficult to obtain with a simple commoner background." "There can be plenty of commoners with excellent refinement and knowledge. Even more so in this republic." "No, knowledge itself is a treasure and wealth. That's why learning opportunities aren't given to many people, and even in the republic, those who don't have means rarely get opportunities to learn anything. Unless they're from high-born status from the beginning, or were cultivated for special purposes." Isaac neither affirmed nor denied it. Therefore, Isadora also calmly continued her reasoning. "Second. You either grew up in the Eizern Empire, specifically in the central region near the capital, or learned to speak from a teacher from there." "Why is that?" "The Empire and the Republic are geographically quite close, and while their languages are different, they share many overlapping parts. For example, the word 'sky' appears to have similar pronunciation in both. However, even with words that sound similar at first glance, the parts where accent is placed actually differ by country and region. While completely new words with new pronunciations might be different, with similar words, the intonation of the originally known word comes through strongly. Your Cardian is very clean, but there's a subtle central Empire accent remaining. That's how I knew." "That's plausible but not definitive evidence. It could be dismissed as individual differences." Isadora did not object. Because she too knew the evidence was insufficient. "Let's assume everything you say is correct, detective. Then why would I, from the Eizern Empire with an unusual background, volunteer to work as an assistant in a place like this and end up imprisoned? I could live well without doing such things." "Third." Isadora put down her pipe and said. "—Because you're enjoying this situation, assistant." "You don't desire material rewards. Nor are you swayed by carnal desires." "Mental fulfillment. Curiosity toward the unknown. And the anticipation of glimpsing possibilities while mingling with people." "You do good deeds but are not a good person, you don't hesitate to do evil but are not evil, and you prioritize your own judgment standards over worldly evaluations." "A madman. Or a hero. Or perhaps an eccentric. That is the essence of the human being called you, assistant." "How about it," Isadora said, calmly staring at him. Isaac showed a strange smile and then said. "Unfortunately, I don't think I can give you an answer to that, detective." "It doesn't matter. I'm planning to find out myself anyway." The mysterious suspect, the unidentified eccentric, the one who arbitrarily intruded into her life and turned everything upside down, and now was trying to leave as if nothing had happened. Isadora was not the type of person to just meekly let such things happen to her. "—I'll come looking for you, so be prepared, assistant." "I won't cheer you on, but I will look forward to it, detective." As the hourglass signaled its end, Isadora rose to her feet. Leaving the visitation room, she did not look back. Because the mystery she had to investigate lay ahead.