Chapter 201

Around dinner time.
Unexpectedly, Maximilian knocked on Kim’s cabin door, and as is his wont, he cut to the chase.
“So. You’re wondering what the director of the lab is like.”
“Hmmm, hmmm. I’m just curious, not that I’m really curious.”
Maximilian’s demeanor is deeply cautious. He hasn’t come out as a member of the royal family, and he’s still an outsider whose origins are unclear. It’s not surprising that he’s mistaken for a spy.
Even though I was aware of it, I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t there.
“Not so much behind the scenes, phew. In fact, I saw you two talking a little while ago, and there was a familiar face there…….”
“So you’re saying that’s what’s bothering you.”
“Yes, yes.”
Kim glanced at Maximilian, who looked relieved that he’d somehow managed to explain himself. As he considered his answer, he ran the game’s script through his head.
“Was there a connection between the two?
I think it was mentioned in passing, maybe even once. It was mentioned in one of the episodes in a short line when Maximilian’s inner thoughts were revealed. I had forgotten about it until now.
Well, not a great friendship.
‘You said you saw a picture in the imperial palace, I believe.
Maximilian unilaterally knows Kushan’s face and name. Kushan, on the other hand, knows only what the world knows about Maximilian. This is because they are generations apart.
But it helps for now.
“This will make things simple.
If all goes well, we might be able to release it today.
“Then why don’t you just go see him in person?”
“I mean directly, is that okay?”
“Why not? He’s not some kind of idol.”
A tripartite meeting was quickly organized.
Maximilian glanced at the man in front of him. Long hair tied back in a short ponytail and a chilly expression. Up close, his nervousness turned to confidence.
‘……It’s just like the picture.’
I glanced around the salon before I said “Moore. There were only three people in the room, including myself, and the impromptu nature of the arrangement made it unlikely that we would be eavesdropping or recording.
Still, Maximilian hesitates to speak. If he spoke the name Heinz, he would be giving away his information. His identity would be exposed.
If you can shrug it off as an illusion, you can move on with your life.
But,
“Until when?
When to run away.
What about the brothers and sisters left there?
This is the inflection point.
Maximilian took another deep breath. It was enough to change the mood. Minos, worn down by wanderlust and racism, exuded an air of uncharacteristic grace.
“I know thee.”
“What do you mean?”
“Heinz Millarck.”
Glances were exchanged across the table.
“Once upon a time, you were the chief researcher for the Xuran Imperial Court. I saw a picture of you, more than fifty years old, and here you are before me, looking so young.”
You’re doing it at your own peril.
While not specifically identified as a prince, it’s safe to assume that he’s a high-ranking Shran official. While it is unlikely that Bastitera would take hostages against the Shiran, there are plenty of corners to play.
There are truths you want to know, even if they come with risks.
“How many years have ‘you’ lived?”
“…….”
Kushan was silent for a moment. Maximilian’s question implied a lot of information. For example, the reason why the First Emperor had abandoned his luxurious life and position to flee to the extreme wilderness.
After collecting his thoughts, he said.
“It’s not as long as you’d expect, and it’s not a particularly unique birth – bullion is a product of research, and research is only 80 years old.”
Maximilian gulped at the affirmative.
“You mean, that’s really possible?”
“Isn’t there a live witness?”
And he wasn’t just referring to Kushan himself.
“The emperor is the same, and so are the borders, just in a different shell.”
It’s a no-brainer.
Fire is something that shouldn’t be brought to the surface. Even if you’re sitting on top of the world. If it is known that the Emperor is a monster who never grows old, it will be more than just noise.
So they did what they could.
“A shell, if that’s what you’re trying to say….”
“For nearly seventy years, succession ceremonies have been normal on Shiran, and for Imperial subjects who don’t know the truth, it must have been an incredibly honorable and heartwarming celebration.”
Maximilian’s complexion turned a sickly blue. Even his lips twitched slightly. He felt nauseous as he heard the speculations he’d kept buried in the back of his mind, never daring to tell anyone.
I was 15 when I first noticed my dysphoria.
My father’s eyes, always warm, suddenly turned cold. Eyes devoid of affection, inorganic. Eyes that seemed to stare at a tool, not a child.
Soon after, the emperor abdicated and his father became emperor.
Neither the abdication nor the enthronement ceremony were attended by the emperor.
“Well, well, well.”
There is no proof other than the existence of Heinz. But sometimes psychology is the strongest proof of all. His long memories made up for the lack of evidence.
For example, a memory with your father.
“I guess you had some idea.”
“…At first I thought it was to select an heir. No matter how much you love your children, state affairs are a separate matter. You’re distancing yourself in order to be objective.”
Maximilian looked back and forth between Kim and Kushan and laughed hysterically.
“Haha, I’m not getting any response after all that.”
“Because you were raised to be a nobody.”
“If you noticed, it was probably when you said hello to Miss Rosetta.”
“I had no idea you were royalty.”
Kushan squinted at Kim as he blurted out a bunch of lies. I’d thought he was a very shameless bastard from the first time I met him, but now he’s got an adamantium plywood face.
“I don’t think Minos would have anything to do with Bastitera in the first place. It’s not a place for outsiders to come for sightseeing, especially if they’re from out of town.”
“Definitely. You might as well have dyed your hair.”
With a bitter smile, Maximilian straightened up and sat down.
“Thanks for the details, I’m glad to know I’m not a paranoid lunatic. I’m sure there are deeper secrets, but I don’t want to cross any lines.”
“What would you like to do in the future?”
“It’s up to you, isn’t it?”
Maximilian’s face was a mixture of anxiety and a kind of fondness. Through this more naturalized demeanor, Kim was able to read the other man’s mind.
‘I couldn’t believe how fast things were going.
The original Maximilian’s encounter with Rap is much further into the future. He’s just regained his self-respect by leading a group of hobos in the ruined Bastitera. The present, on the other hand, is a time when he’s at rock bottom.
When it comes to the salty tale of the Yellow Prince, we’ve seen enough in the game. This is the guy who spent the entire day vomiting after eating a bug he’d only seen in books.
“You want to be able to open up and be comfortable.
Maximilian was lucky to have such a good-hearted citizen reveal his secret identity to him. It’s a rare treat.
Now let’s get down to business.
“I’m not really trying to use you to do anything.”
Don’t be fooled, people who say this are just trying to take advantage of you.
“I’d like to make a suggestion instead.”
“It’s a proposal. Do I have veto power?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not forcing you, of course.”
He looked at me like, “Tell me something,” so I told him.
“Let’s make you emperor.”
“……what?”
“It just so happens that we have a conflict with the Xuran imperial family, so our interests are aligned. I’ll have to explain this to you later to make sure you understand, but anyway.”
Kim smiled.
“I don’t like the emperor, so I’m going to change him.”
Like I said, it’s not mandatory.
You can resist, but eventually you’ll have to accept.
If someone doesn’t take control, Shiran will go up in flames.
* * *
One week, two weeks.
The royal castle remained peaceful for another full moon. Under strict guard, no spies could cross the gates. The island’s isolation made it safe, even if it meant no news from the outside world.
In the meantime, there was a lot of planning going on in the palace. Not only were plans discussed, but preparations were actually made. Equipment, for example.
“Oh, sure.”
“Well, I’m pretty good at this! I don’t mean to brag, but, uh, I used to be really into cars on social media. I can tinker with them better than most.”
Tam Tam, a small-time blacksmith, flicked his greasy hand across his nose. He tapped the hull lightly with a spanner, and it made a clear, loud clang.
‘I didn’t think they’d go this far.’
Kim looked up at the car and gasped. Four armored vehicles with machine guns. The result of the blood and sweat of the craftsmen in the workshop, including Tam-tam.
“It was a bit of a hassle, but Bastitera isn’t exactly the best place to get materials, is it? If you have them, you can tell the princess and she’ll get them for you, but there are a lot of things you can’t find here at all.”
“It was hard. The working environment must have been poor compared to the lab.”
“That’s the same everywhere. Do you realize how much work I put into that workshop?”
‘Bastards,’ Tamtam said, and clicked her tongue. She hated Shiran, too, apparently. For a different reason than the other agents.
“Ms. PinkPink. Are you done with your inspection?”
“It’s Chelsea, Chelsea, how many times do I have to say it before you get it?”
“You’re making me say it twice, are you done!”
Chelsea, who had been fiddling with the machine gun, jerked her head around.
“Oh, man. No problem! Perfect, perfect, perfect.”
Even when he was shouting, his words were complimentary. In fact, there was no vehicle, gun, or spotlessness. It was comparable to the off-the-shelf stuff in bustling countries like Kilikia.
“I think the rest of the order will be finished in time. It’s been a while since I’ve touched anything.”
“Then do me a favor. Tell Kushan to make sure he gets a nice paycheck.”
“Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh.”
After all, Kushan is Kushan, even if he’s no longer ostensibly the head of the lab.
After the inspection, Kim and Chelsea walked out of the workshop. Chelsea grumbled for a moment as she listed off all the nagging things she’d heard from Tamtam.
“But will the prince do what you think?”
“I don’t know. I can’t promise.”
Maximilian will be sent back to Shiran soon. As discreetly as possible, to keep him out of the Bastila’s way. He’s offered to cooperate, but we’ve already accepted.
Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility of a change of heart.
“Maybe I’ll tell the emperor.
All things considered, I’m releasing Maximilian.
“Right now, the crown prince’s role isn’t that important. It would be nice if he gave a signal on schedule, but he doesn’t have to. The timing can be unilateral on our end.”
There will be nothing but chaos after this, and Maximilian will be forced to clean it up, even if he doesn’t want to. He may have run away once, but he cares about his country and its citizens.
“They didn’t tell me the details anyway.”
“Sure. They haven’t even told us how they’re going to break in yet.”
I’m grateful that everyone followed along without complaint even though I didn’t explain the most important part. This was possible because of the trust we have built up.
“It’s about time to come clean.
I was careful not to leak it because it was a one-time use. But I couldn’t hide it until the last minute. After sending Maximilian away, it was time to reveal it.
“Why, if you’re not happy, tell me up front?”
“Huh? Can I hear it first?”
“As long as you keep it confidential.”
“Of course I’m not going to brag about it.”
“So what.”
Kim shrugged.
“Actually, it’s…….”