Chapter 49 – Confidential Meeting

“Is there even a reason? Since you can do the things I cannot do, I had no choice but to visit you like this.”

Kaiser brought up the previous matter.

“I also feel grateful for the Weiman matter. Thanks to it, even if we collapse in the capital, we have gained a foundation to start anew in Weiman. Weiman will become our second base city. We are holding rallies more frequently than before, and we have won over even the mayor, cementing a solid influence.”

Rashid did not fail to understand what he was talking about.

Since in the first place, he was an unrivaled expert on Kaiser.

“You are doing well in your own way. Are you preparing for that matter already?”

“Yes. Because starting over from the very bottom again is beyond my strength.”

“So is the reason you visited because of Seraphine?”

“That’s correct. There are signs that the Sonata of World Demise will be performed soon… I was curious how you are preparing for it.”

“If push comes to shove, you can just flee, yet do you have to visit even me to ask?”

Kaiser let out a faint but long laugh.

“Hahaha. Of course, I won’t be in the capital on the day of the concert. I have scheduled rallies in other cities.”

“Calling me out to bother me when you aren’t even going to help.”

“If there is something I can help with, I will naturally help. That is, if there is something for me to help with.”

For now, there was no need.

Because he could block it sufficiently with his own strength anyway.

“Forget it. Since I don’t need your help.”

Kaiser asked with a face stripped of laughter.

“Can you definitely stop Seraphine? I came to hear the answer.”

“Of course. Since I have prepared everything.”

“Seraphine will target the entire capital with resonance devices via the Sacred Sound Resonator. Do you know all the locations of the resonance devices? If you don’t know, I will tell you. Even if not all, I know almost most of them. If we block only the resonance devices, even if we cannot stop Seraphine, it won’t hit the entire capital.”

“I already know the locations of the resonance devices.”

“Then that is a relief.”

Kaiser was relieved, but at the same time, wore a bitter expression.

“You are more of an expert than I thought. Were you by any chance a named user active on the message boards?”

“What do you want to know that for? Anyway, it seems both of us are veteran players just the same. Didn’t you know about the Weiman matter that even I was ignorant of?”

“That was just because my tendency was so perverted that I touched things others didn’t do. Thanks to that, even now I am a character with only a big mouth.”

“As long as you don’t do stupid things too much, there won’t be any problem. I also have no intention of keeping my own kind as an enemy.”

“Can I believe those words?”

“Rather, I am more worried about you. You really have no intention of doing stupid things, right?”

“Haha, didn’t I already tell you? I have no interest in that direction. I merely coveted Kaiser’s power. You know, don’t you? What kind of person Kaiser is.”

“By the way, what happened to the real Kaiser? Where did the real one go, and why are you sitting in that position?”

Kaiser’s expression stiffened.

“The original Kaiser… I killed him. No matter how much it is a world inside a game, killing a person was not easy. It is something I don’t really want to remember. Because the first person I killed was him.”

“The same goes for both of us. Do you think anyone killed easily?”

“My starting point was the POW camp of the Baltic Empire. It was a coincidence.”

“Did you meet Kaiser there?”

“Yes, I met him there, and while escaping the camp together, I killed Kaiser. Since I knew what would become of Kaiser later anyway, I didn’t feel guilt, but… still, judging a fellow using a crime he hadn’t even committed yet was quite something. Even now, I often think many thoughts.”

“Don’t be so disheartened. You killed him very well. You did a great job. Because if that bastard were alive, all my hair would have been pulled out by now.”

“Do you have hair loss?”

“No, it’s just a figure of speech. My hair is fine.”

Whether there or here,

fortunately, the hair was abundant.

“Hearing such words from you, Chief Inquisitor, secretly gives me strength. Anyway,”

Wiping away the gloomy look, Kaiser wore a smile once again.

“One of the reasons I visited is this. Soon, the Blood Purge will begin.”

Blood Purge.

That was the beginning announcing the largest turning point of this world.

“As you know, the player has no choice but to force one of the two villains. That could be me, or it could be the new Emperor.”

His words continued.

“For my part, I will naturally target the Blood Empress, but I came to see if the same goes for you. Whose side are you on?”

“Do you even call that a question? If I were to choose the Blood Empress in the first place, would I have let you live there? I would have just killed you right there. Killing a single person is not even a big deal anymore anyway.”

“Then that is a relief. Since at least I don’t have to worry about you.”

“By the way, are we the only players?”

Unlike Kaiser, who paid attention to his surroundings from time to time while talking, Rashid did not even look around.

Because the superhuman Sense stat was assisting him.

At that question, Kaiser, who had thoroughly looked around, cast his gaze at him and said,

“Unlike you, I am someone active while showing my face. Of course, because I am not the original Kaiser, I am refraining from media exposure as much as possible, but in the end, to instigate at rallies, this face is bound to be known.”

“So were there? Any other players besides us.”

“No. There hasn’t been any until now. Probably… almost all are dead or non-existent.”

“Because I am also in the order, I occasionally hear news of player executions. But because there are also player executions that are like witch hunts, I don’t know if they were real players. However, it has indeed become extremely rare lately. No stories related to players come out.”

“If there are other players besides us, they will definitely appear at this turning point.”

“What if they do not appear?”

“They probably gave up, or they don’t know about its importance. Honestly, since the difficulty of this game is insane, isn’t there only one person who cleared it? Goofymaster.”

That was also luck.

A matter that could not be guaranteed even if played again, because there were so many variables.

Rashid said.

“Even without that person, clearing it might not be that difficult. It’s not a solo play, is it? There is you and me, at least two people. So it could be possible even if it is not Goofymaster.”

Of course, he did not leave out these words.

“That is, if you do not deviate from my expectations.”

Kaiser laughed lightly.

“We are both guarding against each other just the same.”

“Is everything you had to say finished?”

“Yes, since I came to ask about Seraphine and the Blood Purge, my business is finished with this.”

Kaiser stood up from his seat.

Nearby, the vehicle he arrived in was waiting.

“Let’s meet again next time.”

“Will you visit me in this manner again? That is troublesome for me.”

“Or I will write and send a letter as if we are lovers. Then will you tactfully come to Valhalla Hall?”

“That won’t work either. How can I visit a den that might become enemies at any moment? Once you grow even a little, Varasha will be attached to you, and besides her, various other monsters will cling to you.”

Kaiser’s strength was the subordinates who followed him.

“Then let’s do this. Lavender Garden. It is the most famous cafe in the capital.”

“Meet there?”

“I will be accompanied by a fake lover. I will write the meeting time in the letter, so you can just come there.”

Rashid did not hesitate.

“I will do so. And if I want to meet you, can I just go to Valhalla Hall? For me, the location is specified, but you move around here and there, don’t you?”

“Yes, since you will be the only Chief Inquisitor in this world looking for me, you can just find the Revolutionary Guard there and announce your visit. If you convey the words to at least a commander-class or higher, I will either send a letter or visit you directly.”

“Let’s make this the last time we meet like this. Because there is already a fellow watching us with interest.”

“Pardon?”

Kaiser rolled his eyes subtly and asked again.

“Was there someone watching this?”

“Yes, because there is an inquisitor currently digging into my background.”

“Ah, you are more popular than I thought.”

“A minion of Vane. I am targeting Vane as well as Seraphine.”

Kaiser roughly guessed what kind of picture he was drawing.

“You are an extremely efficient person. To think of cleaning out two villains at once.”

“Time is gold. By the way, is there a watcher attached to you too?”

Panic showed on Kaiser’s face.

He wore a bitter smile.

“Yes, a personnel inspector was indeed attached recently. But is she here? Because she is not visible to my eyes.”

“You, who only raised all kinds of strange stats, might not know, but for my part, my Sense stat is seventeen. How could she not be visible? I can see her clearly.”

“I see. It must be nice since it’s convenient.”

“Is it espionage charges?”

“Yes, you know, don’t you? That I have espionage charges on me. It was something I had already prepared myself for since escaping the POW camp of the enemy country.”

“Is the inspector targeting you Varasha?”

At that question, Kaiser’s smile stopped.

“You really know very well. Yes, it is Inspector Varasha. Although she will join me someday, right now she is a clear enemy. She is suspecting me very tenaciously. She shows no signs of shaking off easily.”

“Indeed. She won’t let you go easily. She is that kind of woman.”

This time, Rashid laughed.

It seemed it was not only himself who was undergoing quite a bit of hardship.

“Or try acting like a brazen face. Isn’t a politician like you the most shameless in the world? Even if you are really a spy of the allied nations, if you keep insisting you aren’t, the public will eventually be instigated. That was also the method Kaiser used.”

“Is that advice?”

“Why would I talk nonsense? I know Kaiser well. I’ve captured him several times.”

“Then… it should be worth referring to. Well, although I am already acting that way, I must become even more shameless. Thank you for the words.”

“See you next time. Though I don’t know when that will be.”

“We might see each other again soon. Since the Blood Purge is shortly.”

“Maybe so.”

* * *

“Your Excellency, there is someone requesting to meet you. She is the main violinist of the concert you are hosting this time and also the companion of Count Gerard. What would you like to do?”

The office of the Director of Palace Affairs.

Vane harbored a question at the words of the private secretary.

‘Seraphine came to see me?’

Since Count Gerard, who had played the role of a bridge, was dead, the meeting with her was inevitable, but it was completely unexpected that she would visit boldly in this manner.

‘Fearless indeed. To think the time I went around looking for that child who fled was just like yesterday.’

“Convey that I will meet her. Tell her I will be waiting.”

A moment later,

Vane came to share a private conversation with Seraphine, who visited him, with just the two of them.

The count was no longer around, but she visited him while commanding the count’s subordinates as if they were her own attendants.

“Seraphine. You have grown so much.”

He was the benefactor and enemy who had raised her into a monster.

Although he was someone she could not possibly be glad to see, she absolutely needed his strength to perform the Sonata of World Demise.

“Your Excellency, it has been a truly long time since I saw you. Have you been well in the meantime?”

“Well enough. I underwent quite a bit of hardship because of you, who vanished. I wondered where you went, and it turns out you were under the count?”

“It has not been that long since I met the deceased Count. During the days I was chased by you, Your Excellency, I indeed was indebted to many places.”

Vane smiled bitterly.

To speak so openly.

“You have grown so much. To think you would speak in that manner.”

“Considering the things I suffered in your Vocal Academy, Your Excellency, it is merely a wonder that I am here like this.”

“Are you saying you will take revenge?”

“How could that be? I must forget the past and bury it in this heart. I am not that narrow-minded of a person.”

She laid down something on the reception table.

It was an invitation.

[Club Lazarus]

“This club is a place where I received countless help before meeting His Excellency the Count. Anyone cannot join this secret club. My visiting in this manner is also to deliver this invitation to you, Your Excellency.”

Vane lightly picked up the invitation and examined it.

It was just an empty invitation with nothing written on it other than the name of the club.

“Lazarus? It is my first time hearing of it. Was there such a social club?”

“Recommendations for new members are only possible by existing members. They absolutely do not recommend just anyone.”

“Who recommended me?”

“I recommended you, His Excellency the Director of Palace Affairs. Because I felt you would absolutely be needed in our club.”

“You recommended me?”

“Yes. Since it is not a place one can easily join, I hope you, Your Excellency, also do not take it lightly.”

Vane snorted as if it were laughable.

“Who belongs to such a place?”

“Including Chair Professor Kane, Her Highness Saintess Mariel, who was assassinated before, was also in this club. I also belong to this club. On the imperial family’s side, Her Highness Yennifer is there.”

All were giants.

Vane’s expression changed to tension.

“Even Her Highness Yennifer is there?”

Unlike the incompetent Emperor, his sister Yennifer Crimsonrose was a figure whose evaluation itself was different in the public eye.

If she had ascended to the imperial throne, the current imperial family would have been different as well.

“Yes, our club’s influence spans across the entire empire. If Her Highness Mariel were alive, it probably would have included even the order.”

“…”

The figures belonging to it were all giants.

“What is the reason for recommending me to this place?”

“That is because…”

Seraphine showed a good-natured smile.

“It is because you, Your Excellency, are the influential power of the order. Our club wished to regain the lost influence of the order, and I recommended you.”

The reason she went out of her way to recommend him, her enemy.

It was to force her concert.

“Will you join? The opportunity is only this once.”