Chapter 86: Backlight (1)

Genard’s eyes widened dramatically. That comment could only mean one thing.

Treason.

In fact, swords had already been drawn. If he didn’t kneel immediately, there would be no escape from punishment.

“Enough.”

Yuri, who didn’t want to witness such a pathetic spectacle, placed a hand on Genard’s shoulder.

“All those invented taxes, and those ridiculous charges you made up… they’re nonsense. Do you understand that you’re the real criminal here?”

“Y-yes…”

Yuri wanted to ask how he’d amassed so much wealth, and what connection he had with the Elaine Company, but Genard was no longer in a position to answer.

In the eyes of the common folk, he was a duke elevated as high as the sky.

But in front of Briol’s royal family, he was just another noble.

Yuri shifted his focus.

“Diker.”

“Y-yes.”

The judge, who had just been pretending solemnity, rose awkwardly, trying to read Yuri’s mood.

“I saw your ruling. You’ll surely go down in history as a great judge.”

“T-thank you… heh…”

“That was sarcasm, you idiot.”

“My apologies…”

Yuri picked up the banana peel Genard had dropped on the floor and tossed it. It hit Diker square in the face and slid across the desk.
Diker carefully picked it up and placed it on the table.

“Laurent. Jared.”

“Yes.”

When Yuri nodded, Laurent and Jared untied Raymond’s bonds.

Raymond’s lawyer was so pale, he’d fallen backward. Yuri gave him a light tap on the back of the head and strode onto the dais.

“This place needs a cleanup, don’t you think?”

Yuri pushed Diker aside and took his seat. From that elevated position, he could see all the citizens’ faces.

In the crowd, he spotted a familiar face—the fruit vendor who had sold him the apple looked amazed. It was the same one.

Yuri waved to her. Then he struck the gavel to calm the crowd.

Once the murmur died down, Yuri spoke.

“As third prince of Briol, in the name of justice and to replace corrupt bureaucrats, I will deliver the verdict myself. Don’t worry—I won’t do idiotic things like counting to three at everyone.”

The crowd laughed.

Yuri pointed at Raymond. Now dressed in the coat Laurent had lent him, instead of prison garb.

“Innocent!”

He struck the gavel.

“Sir Raymond is innocent. And as for that unjust duke standing there, we’ll talk later. For now, everyone can return to your lives.”

The citizens raised their arms and cheered.

“Long live Prince Yuri!”

That was the enthusiasm Genard had so desperately wanted to force. Yuri had achieved it without effort.

Soaking in the applause, Yuri looked at Genard.

“Genard. We’ve still got plenty to talk about, don’t we?”

“Y-yes…”

“Let’s talk over a meal.”

Yuri stepped down from the dais and put an arm around Genard’s shoulders. In his past life, he had seen him as a powerful, resourceful noble.

Now he appeared only as a greedy, scheming fat man. Yuri pinched his jowls.

“I bet you cook well. Make food for four.”

“F-four?”

“Yes—me, Laurent, Jared, and a friend named Ace.”

Yuri fixed him with his eyes. In Genard’s pupils, a flicker of fear appeared.

“Who’s Ace?”

Genard tried to play it cool, but failed miserably.

“Don’t you know who he is?”

“I-I don’t…”

“Then it doesn’t matter.”

“U-understood…”

Just from his reaction, Yuri was convinced that everything involving Ace had been part of Genard’s plan.

“First clean up this mess. We’re heading to the castle.”

Genard nodded silently. His eyes darted around. Yuri removed his arm.

“We’re handling some things. You go ahead and get everything ready.”

“Y-yes, understood.”

“See you later.”

Thus, amid cheers, Yuri and his group headed to Ace’s home. Ace and his wife greeted them with astonished expressions.

Raymond, after everything, looked gaunt. But once cleaned up and clothed, he looked again like the veteran knight he had been.

“Thank you.”

“I told you not to keep associating with Genard, didn’t I?”

“I thought, as a knight, I should guide the feudal lord to the right path…”

“That’s all bullshit. People don’t change that easily.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Unless you die and come back to life—nobody changes. Trust me, I know.”

Raymond laughed and asked,

“Is it true that the Comrades’ fund was your money, Your Highness?”

Laurent and Jared looked at Yuri with serious expressions. Yuri didn’t answer, just nodded at Guillermo.

Guillermo nodded in turn.

“Yes, it’s true.”

“How did you get so much money, Your Highness…?”

“Prince, may I tell them the truth?”

“Go ahead.”

“Yes, sir.”

Guillermo smiled gently. Unlike before, now his tone was pleasant.

“Prince Yuri is a major shareholder of the Elaine Company.”

They all stared. Yuri lowered his head and silently formed a “V” with his index and middle fingers.

“When the director of Elaine founded the company, the prince invested the seed capital. You could say his story is intertwined with the company’s.”

“But how old were you, Your Highness?”

“Thirteen. Even then, I was analyzing the continent’s future.”

While everyone stared in disbelief, Yuri crossed his arms in an X and raised both hands in double V’s.

“The prince’s share equals the director’s. In other words, he’s co-owner of the company.”

Yuri lifted his head and looked at them with charismatic eyes. The double-V gesture added gravitas.

“That’s me.”

Jared applauded awkwardly.

“But I can’t keep financing this forever. The Comrades’ Association must sustain itself.”

“Very true.”

“Raymond, that’s why…”

Yuri looked at him with confidence-filled eyes.

“Could you lead the Association?”

Raymond paused for a moment. He didn’t seem surprised.

“What exactly do you plan to do with the Association?”

“Support those without work or who have disabilities. And if they can’t work, provide for them.”

“It’s a difficult task.”

“Managing people always is.”

“Understood.”

The response was so swift, Yuri paused briefly.

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s something someone must do. If you allow me, I’ll do it.”

Raymond didn’t look happy. Genard had betrayed him all too easily.

He’d even tried to imprison him. All his past efforts had been trampled.

Yuri patted him on the shoulder.

“In reality, it was for the best. If not for this, you’d still be serving that idiot.”

“Thank you.”

“And after putting up with Genard so long, the rebels in the Association will seem like a joke. You’re prepared! All that was preparation.”

“I see.”

“If anyone disobeys you, give them a good hit. You’re not like Genard. Use your fist without fear.”

“Haha…”

Raymond smiled calmly while Yuri cheered him on.

“I’m okay, Your Highness. Actually, I feel relieved.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Ace will help us a lot.”

They talked as Laurent asked with concern.

“Prince… don’t you think Genard might be doing something right now?”

“Yes. What if he’s trying to destroy evidence?”

Yuri smiled calmly.

“Do you think I didn’t plan for that?”

“Then…”

“I’ve already taken precautions.”

Yuri glanced out the window. The sun was beginning to set and the city’s shadows lengthened.

Yuri thought of his loyal subordinate and murmured.

“If Genard has something to hide, he’s probably trying to erase it right now.”

***

Asana infiltrated the interior of the castle through the shadows of the stronghold.

Genard’s fortress was poorly guarded. Apparently, it never even crossed his mind that someone could break in, as confidential documents were scattered everywhere.

Even if they weren’t directly related to the current case, Asana gathered several files that could later become Genard’s weaknesses. Then she tried to guess the password to the safe, but just then, a commotion broke out outside.

Asana quickly hid in the shadows.

The office door opened and Genard entered, his enormous body panting.

“Huff, huff…”

He headed straight to the safe Asana had been touching moments earlier.

He was in such a rush that he didn’t even notice the lock had been recently tampered with.

Genard turned the dial on the safe, unaware that Asana was watching him closely from the shadows. She memorized the numbers he used.

“Huff, huff…”

Inside the safe was a large quantity of gold bars and jewels—so much that even Asana was surprised by the extent of his wealth.

Genard pushed all of it aside and pulled something out from the back. It was a communication crystal sphere, larger than the usual ones.

He placed it on the center table and took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Huff…”

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. He seemed so tense about what he was about to do that he took several deep breaths before placing his hand on the sphere. It began to emit a soft glow.

Little by little, the silhouette of someone began to appear inside it.

“Good evening.”

Genard bowed deeply. Asana frowned and tried to identify who the other person was, but she couldn’t see clearly.

The light emanating from the other side of the sphere was so bright that it cast dark shadows over the face of the speaker.

“You see, what happened was that the third prince suddenly showed up…”

Genard recounted in detail what had occurred at the trial. Finally, the person on the other side spoke.

Genard, his ear pressed to the sphere, nodded repeatedly, but Asana couldn’t hear a thing.

“Yes, yes. Understood. I’ll do as instructed.”

Genard looked nervous and desperate.

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, I assure you. Yes.”

When the communication ended, the sphere stopped glowing. Genard remained kneeling, head bowed. He clenched his fists so tightly that his pants creased at the knees.

A choked voice, almost like a sob, escaped his mouth.

“Damn it… Why is everyone out to get me…?”

After mumbling that for a while, he stood up and put the sphere back in the safe. Then he left the room with heavy steps.

Asana emerged from the shadows and approached the safe. She entered the numbers she had memorized, and the lock opened easily.

She took out the sphere and examined it. At first glance, it looked normal, but there were details that set it apart from common ones.

It was a long-range communication sphere manufactured by the Empire. An object that, except in rare cases authorized by the imperial family, was strictly forbidden.

Possessing one was irrefutable proof that Genard had ties to the Empire.

Asana hugged the sphere. Though it was a bit large to carry, she decided she had to deliver it to Yuri as evidence.

Just as she was about to leave the room through the shadows, something unexpected happened.

The sphere began to glow.

Even Asana, who was rarely surprised, was stunned. She hadn’t injected any mana, but the sphere was reacting on its own.

Inside, a silhouette of a person briefly appeared. However, the glow didn’t last long. The sphere cracked and shattered against her chest.

Slash!

Shards of glass cut her arms and abdomen, sending blood splattering.

“Tch…”

The fragments fell to the floor with a loud crash. From outside, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

Asana leapt into the deepest area of shadow. Her vision shifted completely.

She was floating in the shadow world. A secret space she had never shared with anyone.

But suddenly, something tugged at her leg. One of the sphere’s shards had embedded itself in her calf.

From it emanated a kind of black smoke that gripped her tightly. Asana kicked her leg, trying to shake it off.

At that moment, Genard’s knights burst into the room and began searching it.

Her body, dragged by that force, was slowly starting to be pulled out of the shadow world.