The room was dark and all the lights were off. Only the moonlight leaking through the gaps in the curtains lights the room lightly. In the middle of the room there was a sofa and table for reception, while on the wall side there was a large desk and bookshelf. This is the office.
There are shadows at the desk. Sitting in a chair with the indoor lights off is a silver-haired man in a standing collar jacket.
He is in his late twenties. A forged body that can be seen on a positive face and over the thick fabric of the jacket. I'm closing my eyes in a dark room, but I'm not asleep. Because I'm just closing my eyes, my eyelids and mouth never move, and my expression is constant, like frozen. There was some fantastic fun in having silver hair illuminated by moonlight with a blue and white outline.
The man's name is Johann Icefeld. He is the third star of the Seven Stars (Regalia) and the clanmaster of the Mermaid's Soul Song (Lorelei).
Johann came to the Imperial Capital about ten years ago. Now is the time to be one of the Explorers (Explorers) to make a name for himself in the Empire, but surprisingly he was an ordinary man in his rookie years.
I was never weak. After graduating from Explorer (Explorer) Training School, he was just strong enough to be scouted by the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei), which was already a major clan, and even after joining the clan, he never became a foot wrapper.
Johan's Function (Job) is Spear Soldier. Function (job) capable of attack from both close and medium range. Spear soldiers who could perform various roles were engaged with the nature of Johan, who remembered things well and could do anything cleverly.
But its strength, even in the eyes, is superior to the inside. There were as many Explorers (Seekers) as Johann. Even inside the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei), no one gave Johan special consideration, and although he did scout, he did not plan to treat him as an executive candidate.
An instrumentally poor man who excels but does not have the ability to protrude. That was the assessment of Johann at the time.
Ratings began to change when it was about five years later. Johann, who has always been mediocre, has suddenly come up with remarkable results. Many were surprised, both internally and externally, by too many sudden swings, but it's not a bad thing. The master of the Mermaid's Soul Song of the Day (Lorelei) rejoiced that Johann's talent had awakened and decided to treat him as an executive candidate.
But since then, accidents have started to happen in the clan. It was a battle to win. There was no mistake in the operation. And for some reason, the dead came out. Besides, all that died was an executive or an executive candidate. Ultimately, as many as six members were killed in action in just one year.
The master felt responsible and resigned. The Submaster became his successor, but he also lost his life in battle. And it was Johann who became the new master. In total, there was no longer anyone but Johan who deserved to be a master in the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei), which lost as many as eight important members.
Strangely, however, despite losing many important members, the clan's strength has been overwhelmingly better since Johann became master. In fact, the Mermaid's Soul Song (Lorelei) was recognized by Seven Stars (Legalia) just six months after Johann assumed the role of Master.
"Master, are you there?
The office door was knocked. I hear the clan members need something.
"... oh. Come on in."
Johan slowly opened his eyes and responded to those who were beyond the door.
"Excuse me."
It was the brunette brown young man in the black coat who opened the door and showed up. With a neutral face, its mouth is hidden with a coat collar. He looked all black, but only his eyes were colored in red.
Zero Lindrake, a sub-master of the Mermaid's Soul Song (Lorelei). Function (Job) is a Dark Knight of Swordsman A-rank.
"Turn on the lights."
When Zero slapped his hand twice, the light lit the room. The light source is a chandelier suspended from the ceiling. It is equipped with a sensitive light stone, not a candle, which lights up in response to the set sound.
"We have received two secret documents addressed to the Master. One from Volcan Heavy Industries. The other one comes from Prince Caius II."
When Johann received the letter from scratch, he opened it using a paper knife. What was written in the letter was a report that the plan was going well together.
"... How's the Biological Plant?
"No problem. The boulder is the technology of the Republic of Rodania."
"Right.... Well, naturally."
Johan laughed with his nose and rose from his chair. Walk straight to the window and gaze out. The Clanhouse of the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei) is twenty stories long. The night view overlooking from its top floor is truly beautiful. It spreads beneath your eyes, like a starry sky full of heaven - or a light scattered with countless gems. It was just stunning.
"If a railroad passes through this country, an astronomical economic effect will be created. And I'm the one who's got it all. In that case, instead of the Explorer (Seeker) Society (Guild), even the Emperor would fall down on me. The battle against the Ten Kings of Underworld Prison (Valiant) is not worthy of fear if I take command of it."
Johan, with an arrogant grin, looked back at Zero.
"Ask to prepare for the press conference. It's a good time to make an announcement in order to restrain others."
"We haven't gotten signatures from all of them yet, are you sure?
"I don't mind. A second prince for that matter."
"Yes, sir."
Zero gives a bow of grace and leaves the room. Johann, who remained alone, put the letter on an ashtray on his desk and burned it with a match. Every burning fire illuminates Johann's daunting face red.
†
†
Zero, who left the office, sighed as he walked down the hallway.
"... Shit, the old man"
I had a voice in my head when I accidentally maligned my tongue crossing. Communications based on reading skills. A low, calm man's voice speaks to zero.
"It's me. Don't you have any children?
"It's unusual for you to contact me directly."
Zero thought of the Lord of the Voice and zeroed his grin.
'It's an important time. It's time for me to move. "
'Then hurry up. If I had left it to that arrogant, unknown man, all my plans could be a bubble of water'
The Lord of the voice laughed delightfully at the untouchable words on Zero's teeth.
'Don't tell him that. He's working hard, too. A little pride, and because of that, I have a narrow field of view, but you work well on my behalf.'
'You're the one who chose that man. It's only natural to follow.'
Zero said back, the Lord of the Voice showed a slightly surprising sign.
"What, you're in a lot of a bad mood"
"I'm always the one who wipes your ass, right? I'll be in a bad mood. '
'Ha, that makes sense. Sorry for the hard work. "
"I don't mind, because that's what I do."
So, and Zero goes on.
"What can I do for you?
'Yeah, I need to ask you something.... you remember the snake?
"Noel Stolen, right? Absolutely. '
Noel Stolen - Master of Stormwing Snakes (Wild Tempest). There are no days when I won't listen to him. Not only has he cleared Hugo of his puppet master's grievances and cooperated in arresting the culprits in the prison bombing, but he's finally a hero who has even made the King of Demons (Lord) crusade.
The Stormwing Snake (Wild Tempest) is now the closest clan to the Seven Stars (Regalia). The current Seven Stars (Legalia) are beginning to be wary of snakes in order not to be kicked off their seats. In particular, the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei) needed to be more vigilant than any other clan, as it was due to one of the public interviews in which Johann participated.
"Snakes are cunning and good at intelligence warfare. Anyway, if we're going to accomplish this, we're going to have to take advantage of the great nobility. Probably already in my ear about this plan too '
'Do you want to set me up?
"Must be. Snakes are going to hunt us. If I were a snake, I would. '
The Lord of the Voice affirmed in a firm tone.
'Even for our grief, we cannot allow snakes to interfere. Snakes seem to use good informants. I'm pretty sure he's diving in as a spy. Don't always fail to make strict checks. Even if you can't find it, act on the assumption that you're there. Never let the information go out there. "
"Yes, sir."
An informer? There are many different types, but those who specialize in infiltration are troublesome. If you can find it right away, no problem, but they won't let you grab your tail any easier than you're making it productive too. Or, even if you doubt all those involved, your progress is greatly delayed. I just want to broil it out quickly, somehow, to facilitate the plan.
"From now on, I'll leave everything to you to deal with the snake. Let's tell him that too. You may act at your own discretion. I'm responsible for everything. '
'Does that mean you don't have to consider the damage to your surroundings?
Zero asked with a fierce grin. The Lord of the Voice answers instantly.
'Forgive. This is war. Kill anything that gets in the way, even a baby.'