CHAPTER 191: A FATHER’S INVESTMENT

The incident where a full 11 royalty and nobles were killed.

It was something that couldn’t be overlooked, nor should it be.

The schedule of the Continental Academic Conference, which boasted the largest scale except for the empire’s founding day, came to a complete halt.

"We greet Your Grace the Duke!"

"We greet Your Grace the Duke!"

The master of Wienderk, properly recognizing the gravity of the situation, personally traveled to Valerich. Hundreds of troops were a bonus.

Duke Gransis Wienderk was a man with a dignified presence. His beard was completely clean without a single hair, and his eyes were sharp.

His hair, swept back to show his forehead, was the same deep black-blue as Rosalia Wienderk’s, and his brown eyes were so deep it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

"I express deep regret for the unfortunate incident that occurred here in Valerich. This matter..."

He made a public announcement to everyone through a speech in the banquet hall.

First, he would take responsibility and definitely find the culprit.

Second, the entire search process would be transparently disclosed.

Third, appropriate compensation would be provided for the deceased.

It was the best he could do at the moment, and immediately Wienderk’s full force began moving to track the traces of the murders.

After first pouring cold water on the boiling public opinion, Duke Gransis’s next move was to visit a certain hotel.

"It’s been a long time, Rosalia Wienderk."

More precisely, to visit his daughter who was staying at the hotel.

"It’s been a long time, Your Grace."

Rosalia Wienderk replied emotionlessly.

"I heard you’re submitting research at the academic conference presentation."

"Yes."

"This incident must be quite regrettable."

"Yes. I sincerely hope this matter will be resolved quickly and the Continental Academic Conference can continue."

"To meet those expectations, I’ll have to put in a bit more effort."

"Would that be possible?"

Duke Gransis smiled slightly at his daughter’s distrust.

"Being apart for so long, it seems you’ve forgotten who I am."

"Eleven people died."

"Even if twice that many had died, it wouldn’t be a problem."

"Despite your words, you seem angry."

"They’re the ones who ruined Wienderk’s event. As the master of Wienderk, there’s no reason not to be furious."

Yet none of it showed on the surface. Duke Gransis always appeared calm but harbored a blade within.

"I’m quite looking forward to your presentation."

"Is there a reason to expect anything?"

"It’s Wienderk’s presentation. I’ve been waiting for the moment when you elevate the family name."

Rosalia Wienderk only snorted and didn’t reply. The duke didn’t show any displeasure at that expression either and stood up from his seat.

"Well then, I’ll be going. Since I’m busy with work, I can’t enjoy our reunion for long, but let’s meet again after I finish everything."

Duke Gransis’s steps after leaving Rosalia Wienderk’s room headed not outside but to the adjacent room.

Knock knock-

The door opened.

"Gerhard Goldenheim."

"...I greet Your Grace the Duke."

Gerhard Goldenheim bowed his head politely.

"May I come in for a moment?"

"Of course. Though it’s humble."

"If a hotel under Wienderk’s management is humble, wouldn’t that mean I’ve managed poorly?"

"That wasn’t my intention."

"Just a joke."

The duke naturally sat on the sofa.

"Would you like some tea?"

"I’m fine. I heard you’ve been taking good care of Rosalia Wienderk."

"How could I take care of Professor? It’s rather the opposite."

"Rosalia Wienderk isn’t affectionate enough to take care of someone."

Gerhard Goldenheim kept his mouth shut.

It was true, but even so, he couldn’t speak ill of a daughter in front of her father.

"I heard you helped a lot with Rosalia Wienderk’s research. Let me express gratitude on her behalf."

"We simply helped each other because we needed things from one another."

"Isn’t that even more grateful? You helped Rosalia Wienderk without any compensation."

Without any compensation?

There was quite a problem with that word choice. Gerhard Goldenheim didn’t think it was an accidental slip.

"It was an investment, so there’s no need to be grateful."

"Whatever the intention, as a father, I must express gratitude for helping a child who had left home. Oh, do you know? I have one younger brother."

He knew that.

"When we were young, I cherished my brother quite a bit. The way he would pester me, calling ’big brother, big brother’ and asking me to play was quite cute. I was quite close to that fellow."

Gransis Wienderk’s younger brother, Owen Wienderk, was quite famous.

"Even when he wanted my things, I gave them to him. I didn’t find it regrettable. Wasn’t he my only blood relative? I shared and gave."

"..."

"But you know, after a certain point passed, it became excessive."

Once as a competitor who rivaled his older brother Gransis Wienderk for the family head position.

"When I gave him 1, he wanted 2, and when I gave him 2, he wanted 4. I could understand up to that point, but when 4 became 8 and 8 became 16, I couldn’t let it go any further."

And now, as a thoroughly fallen loser living under the family’s surveillance.

"That fellow didn’t know moderation. That’s when I learned how greedy my brother was."

Snake-like eyes stared intently at Gerhard Goldenheim.

With those words, he fell silent, and heavy silence pressed down on Gerhard Goldenheim.

"I’ve digressed. So what I want to say is... yes. You probably know this too."

He smiled slightly.

"We also invested in Rosalia Wienderk’s research in the early stages."

Tap tap, he lightly patted Gerhard Goldenheim’s shoulder as he passed. A guard knight who had been watching the door followed behind him.

"Keep that in mind."

Duke Gransis disappeared.

"..."

Gerhard Goldenheim, left alone in the room, let out a hollow laugh.

"...Who do they think they’re fooling?"

Making a small show in the early stages and using that as an excuse to stick a foot in?

It was confidence possible because they were Wienderk. It was also scheming possible because she was Wienderk’s daughter.

There was justification, and Wienderk didn’t fear Goldenheim.

But the reverse was also true.

"What bullshit."

Goldenheim also didn’t fear Wienderk.

The problem was.

"It really wouldn’t be purely because of that..."

Duke Gransis also knew that fact.

This was bait. What was he truly aiming for?

’I already have more than enough things to worry about... damn it.’

His head was complicated.

==

Wienderk’s search for the culprit began.

They identified evil ones as the main perpetrators of this incident.

It was natural process of elimination.

No one in the empire had any reason to cause trouble in Wienderk’s territory without cause.

The same was true for other kingdoms outside the empire, and the deceased had no commonalities except for being nobles or royalty.

It was literally indiscriminate killing, and if it wasn’t evil ones, there was no justification.

The duke first controlled all the associates of those who were murdered, as well as everyone they had contacted in their recent activities.

Since there were people of noble status among them, he turned the city hall, which was originally supposed to be the main stage of the academic conference, into their temporary lodging and herded them in.

"This is really..."

"I came to enjoy the festival and this is what happens?"

"I came for business but got caught up. Though given the situation, I can’t not cooperate..."

"Wienderk said they would compensate for time."

"I feel sorry for Wienderk too. For the evil ones to target this timing..."

The number of people gathered this way was a full five hundred. They brought everyone who seemed to have even the slightest connection.

Afterward, the duke immediately requested support from the Dragon Faith Order, and the Dragon Faith Order accepted.

There was no need to go far - there were ten priests who had attended the Continental Academic Conference.

Just before they stepped forward, Gerhard Goldenheim secretly sought them out.

"It’s been a long time, Prince Gerhard Goldenheim. I heard our order’s saint was greatly indebted to you."

The one leading the priests was a cardinal named Gailan Pitra.

Graying hair and beard, wrinkled face and slightly bent back. At a glance, he was just an elderly old man.

The only unusual thing was that honey seemed to drip from his eyes as he looked at Gerhard Goldenheim.

In fact, not only him but most people in the Dragon Faith Order, including the pope, were like that.

Because Goldenheim was the Dragon Faith Order’s biggest sponsor and customer.

"It’s been a long time, Cardinal Gailan. You’re too kind. Rather, I’m the one who’s been greatly indebted. But I didn’t expect you to come personally."

"Isn’t the Continental Academic Conference a festival for all wizards? I also came to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect such an incident to occur."

"The evil ones probably didn’t expect it either. Thanks to that, they must be trembling with fear now."

Gerhard Goldenheim sincerely thought it was fortunate that he had come.

’At least it’s fortunate. If it had been Cardinal Alby or Cardinal Bador, Aint Armian might not have had a chance to step forward.’

Since all the order’s priests were people crazy about magic, Gailan’s level, having reached the position of cardinal, wasn’t low.

But everything was relative.

"But what brings you here suddenly?"

"I heard you received a request from Wienderk to find evil ones."

"That’s correct."

"Could I possibly join that as well?"

"Prince Gerhard Goldenheim wants to participate? Aren’t you cleared from suspicion?"

"I’m not going as a subject of investigation. Also, I’d like Aint Armian to join as well, not just me."

Cardinal Gailan’s expression changed.

"Prince Aint Armian is here?"

"Yes."

"I’ve heard about Prince Aint Armian several times from the saint."

The saint referred to Jayce Biance.

"Is that so?"

"He said, ’He’s regained quite a bit of Armian’s power, so when war with demons breaks out, he could become central.’"

Cardinal Gailan nodded.

"Good. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but if it’s an Armian praised so highly by the saint, he would surely help in finding evil ones."

"Thank you for accommodating this unreasonable request."

"Above all, you wouldn’t make things difficult for us, would you?"

"Of course not."

The cardinal added with a subtle smile.

"Actually, you can do so to some extent. Won’t you make up for those losses with sufficient compensation?"

Money-sucking leeches.

As if they don’t know what they’re trying to do.

Gerhard Goldenheim cursed inwardly while replying with a smiling face.

"Of course. Aren’t we old friends?"

So between friends, there’s no mine and yours, right?

Sorry, but the credit for finding evil ones should go to Aint Armian, not the order.

’The worst case would be that they’ve already left the city...’

Wienderk’s soldiers were already going through the city’s entry and exit records, tracking those who had left the city up to three days before the incident.

But hastily formed encirclements inevitably had holes.

’For now, I have no choice but to trust Wienderk.’

Hoping that there would definitely be evil ones among those they kept bringing in.

’One guy. Just find one guy, Aint Armian.’

Then I’ll make you into a hero for real.

Armian’s rise is just beginning.

The price will only be at the level of leeches sticking and sucking gold, so don’t be too scared...