CHAPTER 178: THE EMPEROR’S BOX [2]

"I will donate it to the Order."

"Yes."

"You’re not surprised."

"You won’t ’only’ donate it purely, will you?"

The Duke valued money even more than Gerhard. Although it was a kind of education, he was someone who never gave anything to his children for free.

"What would you do next if you were me?"

"I would summon the Electors and hold a conference."

There were countless nobles in the Empire, but the pillars that moved the Empire were ultimately the Electors.

This was because they were the founding contributors of the Empire, and over a thousand years, their power had only grown stronger, not weaker.

Most of the Empire’s nobles belonged to different Elector factions.

"The agenda would be something like ’Bell of Pasa, Production.’"

"Yes. I’ve also thought about the source of materials..."

"Goldenheim has several warehouses. Some of them are over a thousand years old."

Gerhard’s lips curved up slightly.

"The others will have to contribute something equivalent to our family, right?"

"Naturally."

Goldenheim would suffer tremendous financial loss, but the other six Electors would make up for it to some extent.

Whether it was money, goods, territory, or interests.

There was no possibility they would refuse.

At a time when monsters were stirring and the Bell of Pasa was destroyed, fear of demons had come right to their doorstep.

Any fool who couldn’t feel that had no qualification to be an Elector.

The Bell of Pasa was absolutely necessary.

And at the point where only Goldenheim had the materials to make it, the initiative was unconditionally with Goldenheim.

"I’m glad you think exactly the same as me."

"Is this all you want?"

Unfortunately for father, it wasn’t.

"There’s one thing. I’d like to use the workshop."

"There’s more left. Don’t tell me enough to remake that golem...?"

"It’s not that much."

He just thought he might be able to make a few weapons that the golem might need.

"Let me know."

"Thank you. And there’s one more thing."

The Duke’s eyebrows twitched.

"Trust is fundamental in a merchant’s words."

"This is different. The information about demon seeds that you agreed to share hasn’t come through."

When Gerhard handed over records about various demon seeds and Andromalius to the Duke, the Duke had also begun investigating demon seeds that had infiltrated the family or demon seeds across the continent.

"I was just thinking of sending it soon anyway. Wait at the academy."

"Yes. I will."

"Pack up the chests and put them all in the warehouse."

"Yes."

With a bow, Gerhard disappeared.

The Duke immediately wrote six letters, stamped them with his seal, and called his butler.

"Send them to the Electors."

"Yes."

The Duke, who was about to hand over the letters, paused for a moment. Then he wrote one additional letter.

"To Berchef too."

"Yes."

"How’s the report on the Golden Pillar coming along?"

"It should be ready within two days."

"Bring it to me as soon as it’s done."

"Yes."

Tap tap, the Duke’s fingers drummed on the table.

No matter how he thought about it, it was hard to accept.

"Where on earth did he get all those things..."

The amount used to make the golem was already excessive enough.

Once could be called coincidence, but twice was not.

He had been feeling it for a while, but Gerhard was hiding something.

"It shouldn’t be harmful to Goldenheim, but..."

That said, he couldn’t just stand by and watch.

"Investigate Gerhard’s activities separately too."

"I will follow your orders."

The butler disappeared.

"Maintaining secrecy would be best."

The difference between having and not having the Bell of Pasa was significant.

And whether the demons knew this fact or not was even more so.

"There shouldn’t be any Electors who have become demon seeds."

Though it was speculation, the Duke was confident.

There was no way someone so incompetent could become an Elector.

==

Indeed, father didn’t lie.

Gerhard could check the thick report placed on the table in his room after returning.

"So far, twelve demon seeds have been found within the family including the Golden Turtle Company, and fifty-five people are directly or indirectly involved."

Quite a lot. The fortunate thing was that they were caught before it was too late, but whether this was all or not was unknown.

"And besides that..."

The report shifted its background to demon seeds outside the family.

Suspicious noble families, trading companies, or groups were on the list of suspects, and the most suspicious among them was the Marquis Fridien family.

"...Wait, Fridien?"

There are demon seeds in Fridien?

Of course, they were only suspects, but the fact that an Elector family’s name was listed was controversial enough.

Gerhard quickly read through the content.

[- Adolf Fridien.

Direct line of the Fridien family. Current family head’s nephew.

Elf. 29 years old.

Fridien family, Guardian Tree Knights deputy commander.

An extreme vegetarian who, unlike typical elves, doesn’t touch meat at all.

...omitted.

...Recently, his skills have rapidly improved, securing the deputy commander position of the Guardian Tree Knights.

The number and consumption of elixirs possessed by the Fridien family cannot be perfectly determined.

The possibility of gaining enlightenment cannot be excluded.

However, the possibility of being a demon seed cannot be excluded due to sudden skill improvement. Designated as suspect.]

"...What."

Gerhard sighed in relief.

He thought a direct member of Fridien was really a demon seed.

If a direct member of Fridien was a demon seed, it would be impossible to gauge how many people and how deeply the roots had spread.

"By the way, an elf who’s a vegetarian unlike typical elves? What an oddball."

[- Roderick Fisher

Branch family of the Fisher family. Current family head’s 13th cousin.

Human. 33 years old.

Branch member of the Fisher family, left the family when young and entered the mercenary world.

After wandering through mercenary life, gained fame and founded the Blue Wolf Mercenary Band...]

Gerhard continued turning the report to check the next entry.

And then he realized why the report’s thickness was beyond imagination.

"They put in all the nobles who seemed even slightly suspicious."

It was an unavoidable part.

Within the family, they could mandatorily use the Order’s inspection artifacts, but even Electors couldn’t force such things on other nobles.

So they had no choice but to put anyone who seemed even slightly suspicious on the suspect list.

After speed-reading through all the documents, it was already dark night.

"...Should I sleep now."

With the approaching fatigue, Gerhard prepared for bed and lay down.

Knock knock-

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Students visiting other students’ rooms was forbidden by Lavidus Hall rules.

Still, if someone knocked, it was either a maid, someone with enough money and power like Gerhard to ignore the rules, or a servant brought by a student.

And in this case.

"Young master, it’s me. Are you already sleeping?"

It was the last case.

"Come in."

The door opened. Hyde in stealth gear silently positioned himself in front of Gerhard.

"I heard you went to the main house."

"I had some things to discuss with father. I’ll tell you after we finish your story first. Something seems to have caught your attention?"

"Yes, something caught my attention."

Really? Gerhard’s lips twisted.

"What is it?"

"It’s about the elixir that Gismond Ert is hiding."

"...There are more elixirs?"

What exactly is that guy’s identity?