Free Web NovelChapter 435: Chapter 432: Extremists
"The weather’s turned so quickly?" Prime Minister Otto stood up, looking toward the sky which had grown somewhat dim and gloomy. It was nearly noon, and the sun, which should have been growing stronger, was now shrouded by dark clouds.
For the past few hours, he had been speaking with a young man named Bart, using their conversation to gain a deeper understanding of Bayern’s situation. Bart was an excellent conversational partner. He had lived in Bayern with his family as a child and had some knowledge of its past. He had studied at the Magic Academy in the Imperial Capital and identified with the Empire’s system. And now, he had been inserted into the upper echelons of the Kingdom as the Princess’s consort.
More importantly, the Prime Minister could exploit Bart’s admiration for him. Bart was like a ripe fruit; with a gentle "squeeze" of his words, the intelligence Otto wanted would flow out like juice—except for matters concerning Rorschach.
He was hesitant. He was restraining what he said.
’It doesn’t matter,’ the Prime Minister thought with ease, ’because I’m about to meet Rorschach in person.’
"Yes, the weather’s turned." Bart also rose from his seat in the meeting room, his gaze turning to the window. "The weather in Bayern is always like this when spring turns to summer. The heavens can change their face in the blink of an eye. The herdsmen on the meadows are probably gathering their cattle and sheep right now."
The Prime Minister nodded. "It’s not so sudden in the northern Empire. I’m still not familiar enough with the southern climate."
For Istanis, talking about the weather was the opening gambit for any conversation. For the two of them to be talking about it now meant their discussion was coming to an end. Andre chose that perfect moment to push the door open and enter. "Lord Chancellor, Rorschach Mage has returned. He invites you to dine with him."
As for Bart, Andre added, "Mage Bart, two officers from the garrison are looking for you. There is a matter that requires your decision."
Bart showed a reluctant and regretful expression. Prime Minister Otto took the initiative to shake hands with the agreeable young man. "You’ve left a deep impression on me. Thank you for keeping an old man like me company."
This final pleasantry swept away Bart’s minor disappointment, and he took his leave cheerfully.
...
The meal was held in the circular restaurant of the Steel Factory’s Central Tower. The Prime Minister and Rorschach had completely different feelings about the view. Through the window, the Prime Minister saw the circularly arranged steel factory. His first impression was that it was clean. It was larger in scale, more integrated, and had fewer smokestacks than all of Thyssen’s factory complexes.
Most of the smokestacks merely billowed white steam, unlike the thick smoke at Thyssen, which was everywhere, full of soot and slag that could stain a person black.
Rorschach, on the other hand, was reminded of the Starlight Torch Tower. ’I wonder if Master Kano is still dining there,’ he thought.
"My apologies. Your arrival was quite sudden, and I had a matter I was forced to attend to." This was a lie; his trip to the Air Elemental Plane had been driven more by interest.
"But I received a meticulously prepared and grand reception. Thank you, Rorschach Mage." This was the truth, and the Prime Minister stressed the words "meticulously prepared."
The Prime Minister’s personal secretary was also present for the meal. The food was brought from the cafeteria: beef consommé, sausage, and buttered bread, as well as a salad with a choice of mayonnaise or vinaigrette dressing. The Prime Minister glanced over it; besides the sausage, it was all Valois cuisine.
"Pardon the discourtesy." The secretary was the first to act, poking a long needle into each of the dishes before using a [Purification Food] scroll. Rorschach made no comment and simply began to eat.
Every one of the Prime Minister’s meals now required this "ritual." Even the food purchased at the last minute before their departure had first been inspected and purified by his secretary. Mr. Otto explained, "My apologies. Attacks targeting high-ranking officials of the Empire have been on the rise lately, so I have to give up the first, warmest bite and let the poison testing needle have the first taste."
"Your dining costs must be quite high, then." Rorschach noticed the long needle was no ordinary silver needle; there was a magic circuit on the wooden handle at its tip. It was actually a magic item. "If I may ask, who would dare to make a move against the Prime Minister of the Empire?"
"Who else but the most unscrupulous group of people on the continent? Casters."
’Old man, you really know how to kill a conversation, don’t you?’ Rorschach tried to salvage the situation. "If a Mage were truly behind it, I doubt your current methods would be very effective."
"I agree with you on that point. But I wasn’t precise enough earlier. Besides Casters, they also hire and train Adventurers and other Professionals, and they insist on using methods that show no obvious signs of magic, like causing an airship to crash."
"An airship crash?"
"Yes. For instance, your former superior, Lord Sibins. He was a good friend of mine." The Prime Minister had his secretary place a file on the table. He then pushed the file toward Rorschach.
Rorschach stopped eating and opened the file to examine the records of his own past actions. There were reports written by "Forest Patrol Falcon" and "Night Owl," reports he had written himself, and articles he had published... The record in the file stopped just before the war.
’Why did it stop right before the war? Is that when the Mechanical Director died...?’ Rorschach stared at the file silently, showing no emotion.
The Prime Minister continued, speaking as if to himself, "The Directorate was established with my support and received the Promise of His Majesty the Emperor. At the same time, however, a secret organization also existed within the ranks of the Military Mages, one that also conducted intelligence activities, but its members were all outstanding Casters."
"So the Mages’ intelligence organization eliminated the Directorate?"
The Prime Minister shook his head. "The end result was indeed an absorption. It’s all under the command of the Chief of the Military Mages now. But the ones who are really savaging ’high-value targets’ like mad dogs are the retired members of that organization. Their chief has forbidden them from joining a Mage Tower or teaching at an academy. Like other decorated officers, they can only receive a manor and become Farmers."
The ’Farmer’ the Prime Minister spoke of was a Manor Lord, but those men were clearly not satisfied with being minor lords. Never mind the Casters; even among the ordinary retired officers, plenty of men from the lower classes were dissatisfied with such an arrangement. This was especially true for those of common birth, who watched their comrades-in-arms with noble blood have limitless prospects after earning military honors, while they themselves could only guard a few dozen or a hundred acres of land and the serfs brought from the north during peacetime.
These former military men didn’t actually have many material desires. Their discipline led them to live lives like Puritans. Some used their small fortunes to speculate, while others, dissatisfied with the status quo, demanded a greater voice and the same channels for advancement as officers with noble blood.
This was the sort of group they were. And Casters were a special case. Many of them were Low Tier Mages produced by the academies, and their pride as Mages made a pastoral life even more unbearable, even if it meant living without toil. Add in those who failed at speculation, and they became extremely resentful of the Empire’s current state.
These people banded together, openly flying the banner of a "Retired Officers’ Club" while secretly and systematically agitating for war. They longed to be conscripted, to receive a larger share of the spoils of war.
Anyone within the Empire who stood in the way of war was an enemy. Sibins, for example, who understood Valois’s potential and wanted the Empire to make more preparations. The Mechanical Director was certainly no dove, but in their eyes, his rational restraint was an obstacle. They especially resented the relationship between the Directorate and the Mage organization, which served to keep each other in check.
Now, these people have achieved their goal. The war has begun, and the Chief Military Mage is making use of them again. The organization has become the underground enforcers for the Prince Faction and the Hawk Faction.
’Mad dogs, indeed. Thinking that extreme, terrifying violence can solve any problem...’ This intelligence reminded Rorschach of the senseless assassination attempt before Bart’s wedding.
