Chapter 128: The Beaming Crown Prince Maker (5)
Surveillance disguised as an escort.
Naturally, Shiron was assigned to Victor, but encountering Victor in such an unexpected place was quite surprising.
Did you do your homework well?
Eh. What?
Victor, with a dazed expression, opened his eyes wide at the sudden visitor. It was inevitable, given that this place was an academy where outsiders were normally not allowed.
In the student council room of that academy, Victor, holding the title of student council president, sat in an executive chair that seemed more fitting for a corporate president, surrounded by many people.
Why are you here? And how did you get in here?
Just showed them the investigative cooperation document and they let me in.
Investigative cooperation What?
Even as time passed, Victor couldnt shake off his dazed expression. Investigation? What was that all about?
If Shirons words were true, it indicated a major incident involving administrative intervention had occurred at the academy, something Victor, as the student council president, should have been aware of.
Unfortunately, Victor was not the only one confused by the situation.
President. Who is that person?
To Victors right, a girl with glossy black hair sent a fierce glare. Her eyes were so sharp, she seemed more wild than Lucia before she was tamed.
What are you doing barging in here like this
Sierra! Shh!
Victor abruptly cut off the girls words and then whispered into her ear while grabbing her shoulder.
That guys completely crazy. Keep quiet if you dont want to get hit.
What? Get hit?
Sierras eyes, resembling a cats, widened. It was because the hand on her shoulder and the whisper in her ear were oddly trembling.
Victor was of royal lineage, and for her, a daughter of a viscounts family, even speaking with him was an honor Yet this nobleman was using vulgar language and telling her not to blurt out nonsense.
Good grief.
Shiron smirked as he watched the two exchange affectionate gestures. Thanks to his exceptionally good hearing, he could faintly hear their conversation despite the distance.
Why is he saying weird things to someone Im meeting for the first time?
His expression suddenly crumpled. With a flicker at the corner of his mouth, Shiron strode towards Victor.
He was going through all this trouble to make someone an emperor, and not only was he treated like an unwelcome guest, but he was also being called crazy, which saddened him.
Hey.
Standing in front of Victor, Shiron had a stern face. Since the other person wasnt treating him like a friend, his petulant nature emerged like a nail in his pocket.
Victor Ado de Rien.
Why, why?
Come to the rooftop with me.
?
A dazed expression again. But Shiron was quicker.
Before Victor could react, Shiron had already left the student council room.
Shortly after, Shiron found himself facing a panting Victor.
You bastard!
An oddly high voice.
Was it because he had a hard time dealing with the situation? Or was it because the way to the rooftop was tough? Victor, not fitting his noble status, started spouting vulgar curses.
Why did you come here? Or rather, if you were going to come, why didnt you send a notice?
Victor Ado de Rien.
Shiron took out his glasses and put them on. Openly swearing meant they were still on familiar terms despite everything. However, apart from that, Shiron wanted to get to the point quickly.
I asked if you did your homework properly.
Why do you keep changing the subject? And whats this about homework?
The Night of the Long Swords.
Shiron turned towards Victor. The wind on the rooftop, given the height of the academy building, messed up his hair.
Didnt I kindly draw out the power structure for you? Have you laid a solid foundation?
The reason Shiron felt annoyed as soon as he saw Victor was also this. Instead of attending noble gatherings to gain recognition and make connections, they were playing house in the academy with these kids.
He found this incredibly foolish and regrettable. Shiron wanted to smack Victor on the head right there and then.
Perhaps sensing the mood, Victor looked up at the sky and pointed with his fingers.
Two people?
What? Two people?
I only had face-to-face conversations with six people.
Victor defended himself as if to justify his actions. However, when Shiron glared at him with dagger eyes, Victor couldnt even make proper eye contact, seemingly embarrassed.
Its not even been two weeks since that day The best way to build connections is to attend social gatherings, and theres only been one since that day.
A brief silence.
Shiron was at a loss for words at Victors excuse that didnt even sound like one.
He hadnt been optimistic.
He remembered well the evaluation that Victor would be a worse emperor than Franz. Knowing that Victor wasnt a knight in shining armor, Shiron didnt expect him to have already built a solid foundation and be relaxing.
But feeling disappointed at the excuses that came out was another story.
Lets just stop.
Shiron put his hand on Victors shoulder with a thump.
Just dont be the emperor and lets all get exiled together. Ill get exiled because Austin dislikes me, and you, being a potential reactionary, will probably get assassinated.
Wa, wait a moment!
Victor, seeing Shirons blatantly disappointed expression, prepared to make an additional rebuttal.
What are you waiting for? It seems like its all over.
First, let me explain why Im here. Just wait a bit.
Victor grabbed Shirons shoulder as he was about to leave the rooftop.
It might be hard to say, but you know that the academy is a gathering place for the best talents on the continent, right?
I dont know. Why would I know about an academy I dont even attend?
Shiron pulled down Victors wrist, which was holding his shoulder.
It felt like it could break with just a little force, as if he hadnt wielded a sword lately.
Even so, theyre not even on Lucia or Siriels level, right?
Thats because those two are exceptional. Anyway, thats not the important part.
Victors tone became urgent, as if the crisis of Austin becoming the emperor loomed.
Its a gathering place for noble children. We can approach their parents through the kids, right? Weed out the bad ones, reach out to the promising ones in advance Raise them and use them. That was the intention.
Really?
Yeah. Ill be graduating soon. So, I was laying the groundwork for the future during the day, and at night, I planned to gather people immediately needed at social gatherings.
Ill take your word for it.
Shiron acknowledged, and Victor sighed in relief.
He wondered why there had been so many nerve-wracking events lately.
My grandmother, my brother, and now this guy too. Theyre all crazy.
Has he always been like this? Thinking back, Shiron remembered that even from their first meeting, Victor had been consistently difficult, slapping him without any reason.
Anyway, why did you come here?
To monitor you.
Shiron answered straightforwardly.
From now on, my job is to stick with you.
Always?
Victor couldnt hide his surprise.
At the main gate of the academy, the sun had already set, coloring the sky red.
Are you going to follow me all the way home?
Yeah. Why would I lie to you?
Three steps behind the leading Victor, Shiron maintained a consistent distance while conversing with Victor.
But why am I the target of surveillance?
Victor sighed heavily. Shiron had followed him not only while he was doing student council work but even when he went to the snack bar and, embarrassingly, even to the bathroom.
Victor, who usually used the staff bathroom where few people went, found it uncomfortable to have another guy in the bathroom with him.
Shiron spoke casually to Victor, not taking his concerns too seriously.
Surveillance is just a pretext. The main purpose is escort.
Just you?
What, you think Im not enough?
Shiron retorted. It had gotten dark as they moved.
Thats not it. But isnt escorting usually done in a group
Theres already a group.
Responding to Victor, Shiron stayed close to him and looked around. As Victor mentioned, there were escorts arranged around Victor, discreetly positioned.
I have no intention of taking the jobs of those who are working properly. Lucerne saves budget and manpower this way. Seems like the best option. If you really dont like it, next time Ill persuade Lucia or Siriel to act together.
Their destination was not the imperial palace but a mansion in the residential area near the academy. As they walked casually, they naturally reached their destination, and the escorts who were on guard gathered at the entrance and entered the building.
How far are you planning to come in?
Tadak-
From start to finish. Even nominal surveillance should be done properly.
Tuk-
Theres an empty room next to mine. Use it if you want.
Tuk- Peok- Pak-
Uh
The annoying sound that had been heard for a while. He had thought it was the sound made by the escorts who had entered first
His body tensed up at the impending situation, and his blood boiled with anger.
I hoped it wasnt the case, but it seems my suspicions were right.
Victor could no longer move forward.
All the doors inside the building were open. Normally, the escorts who entered would signal that everything was fine, but there was no news from them.
Looks like I need to bring the kids next time.
Seeing the glinting eyes in the darkness, Shiron drew his holy sword from its sheath.
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