Chapter 214

Really?

Reisha, wait-

Reisha gleefully dispelled her disguise before Rivelia could stop her.

Huaaang! Mummy!

Irei burst into tears, seeing her mother change into someone else in front of her.

Take her elsewhere and explain to her carefully. Youre so similar I doubt youll have a hard time getting through to her.

Uuk. I am happy and sad that I cant deny those words.

Reisha took crying Irei elsewhere, a complicated look on her face. Meanwhile, Ike greeted Rivelia and Kunette with a bow as they approached Isaac with a frown.

Its been a while, mothers. Forgive me for my negligence of not knowing who the first mother is.

The two girls could only blink their eyes in disbelief. Isaac pointed at Kunette and replied.

You are over there.

You must be my birth mother. But I have no desire to distinguish you from other mothers because of this. For you all loved me equally.

Uh. Um, okay.

Isaac watched Kunette and Rivelia stutter in confusion. Isaac asked as he took a deep puff of his cigarette.

So whats happened?

Rivelia and Kunettes senses finally returned as Isaacs question broke through the haze of confusion. The two coughed dryly before looking at Ike hesitantly.

Ike, Im sorry but can you leave us alone for a second? We have something to

Let him be. You can already see hes going to be scouted by a.n.a.lysis or Surveillance in the future.

It was true. If the child hadnt been brought to them by a dragon, he would have been suspected of being an Invader. No nine year old acted like this.

Kunette contemplated for a moment before she continued.

Do you know about the Queens legacy?

Isaac stopped for a moment. He then replied as he exhaled a bit.

I couldnt possibly know of it, nor do I want to involve myself in any of it.

Weve detected strange activities from the remnants of the radicals.

Shouldnt they be playing dead at this point?

There are those who cant stand taking such a stance.

And?

Weve managed to capture one of their members who betrayed and fled their reservation, and they mentioned the Queens Legacy.

What is this legacy?

They dont seem to know much either but it seems the Queen had other methods to accomplish her goal without the Gate. Its just that the Gate method was most probable to succeed, so other plans secretly continued as contingencies. Some of the doc.u.ments detailing it were leaked from the laboratories when the Invaders were exterminated, and the remnants of the radicals are using them as clues to find this Queens legacy.

Rather unsightly, looking at sore losers

Isaac smiled bitterly as he breathed out the rest of his smoke as Rivelia continued.

We will need to focus on tracking down the Queens Legacy for some time.

I suppose you wont have the time to visit me during that time.

Correct.

Both Rivelia and Kunette looked at Ike disappointedly. They were going to miss out on watching these children grow and all the joy that came with it.

Well they are nearly at an age to enter school anyway. Well just send them to Campus.

I would like to enter College if its possible. Though I am lacking, I believe my chances of acceptance are adequate.

Ike, who had remained silent until now, proposed. Isaac looked down at Ike with a pout.

What is up with this kids personality?

First of all, thank you for accepting my request for an interview.

Let us proceed, for we have no time.

Ah, yes. Then Id first like to ask what your impression of Isaac is, Lady Wolfgang, having suffered under him.

That is very rude.

Sorry?

That is not a name you can speak so freely. Especially from you.

Sorry?

It seems there are many things you must learn as the successor to Pendleton. And the first thing is manners. Dont worry. I will teach you only as much as I have learned in the past. This is by no means bullying or revenge for my past. I am simply teaching the d.u.c.h.ess successor. Understood?

Sorry?

Ivel could only repeat himself to Lady Wolfgang. Afterwards, he was lectured endlessly by her the entire day regarding courtly manners.

Thank you for accepting the interview, Count Cordnell.

Hahaha. Welcome, welcome. Now now, come here and sit.

Ah, yes. Thank you. Since you must be busy, I will start by asking about the first time you met Isaac.

Hey now, you can ask questions like that whenever you want. But first, look at this.

Sorry? This is

These are the doc.u.ments regarding an over-budget settlement in New Port Citys Ceta district and those are doc.u.ments about entries to the casinos and related facilities. Check if theres any errors.

Why must I do this?

Because you are one of our employees now, you must work for us. This is by no means punishment for what happened in my past. It is all official work.

Sorry?

Relax. Relax. Youll learn how to do it in time. I know from experience.

Thank you for seeing me, Sir Rizzly.

Kukuku. I see youve been through a lot.

Yes. Well

So, you want to know more about Isaac?

Yes. I know you worked as his close aide in the past. What was Isaac like as a person, having seen him at his side?

He was a good man.

Seriously?

Of course! To us North Bears, anyone who gives us honey is a good person. Whatever hed done, he always let us eat as much honey as we wanted.

Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Soland.

I see you havent had much success, having resorted to interviewing me.

Ahem, before I ask about Isaac, I have a question. What is the relations.h.i.+p between you and my father?

A f.u.c.ked up relations.h.i.+p.

A very f.u.c.ked up relations.h.i.+p. s.h.i.+t. Just thinking about it p.i.s.ses me off. How long do I have to be stuck here for? Shouldnt I be some coveted resource at this point?

Um.

s.h.i.+t, Im not in the mood for this. Boys, were going out drinking.

W, Wait

Ah, and dont you dare go anywhere near the casinos. Or Im dead.

Hohoho, a handsome man has come to visit.

Kuk, ahem. Lady Milena, I would like to interview you regarding Isaac. Can you spare

Oh my! Are you asking me on a date? How long has this been? Id love to, but I dont think I can. Ah, and please dont loiter around the Blue Roses and brothels. Lady Rivelia will kill us otherwise.

Oppa!

Ivel, who had just spent the entire night going through the financial doc.u.ments, was heading to his room for some sweet rest, only for it to be spoiled by Ireis sudden appearance.

Irei? Why are you here?

Oh my! Look at your face! Just how bad has it been for you lately?

Ivel could only smile bitterly as Irei made a ruckus poking and prodding his face. He had been suffering lately. In fact, he had been suffering greatly ever since he was announced as d.u.c.h.ess Pendletons successor.

The successor issuethe talk of the Empirehad met its end when Rivelia publicly announced Ivel as her son. Which riled up the Empire as a whole.

But, she also announced that Ivel was too inexperienced to manage the dukedom as a fresh Campus graduate, so he was to learn within the Wolfgang Dukedom. It was quickly followed by d.u.c.h.ess Laila announcing that she would train him thoroughly. Ivel didnt take those words seriously at first, but d.u.c.h.ess Laila was indeed being thorough with his discipline.

So much was his suffering that he even considered using his position as Pendletons successor to ease the burden on him, but New Port City was like a mansion haunted by the Isaac Cartel, its members hiding at every corner.

If Ivel were to flex his position, these men and womenwho had all been thoroughly trained by Isaacwould laugh heartily as they put him through the wringer. And Ivel too despised himself for even considering such an option, even being afflicted by depression some time.

The one saving grace was that in this city, n.o.body would dare approach him for their own benefit.

How is Ike doing?

Hmph! I dont know. Ike Oppa doesnt even tell me where he is ever since he entered Central. He keeps on saying its confidential. He only contacts me rarely.

You know what hes like. But seeing how he entered Central, his capabilities are basically fact. Does he have any interest in the seat of Duke?

Ivel asked, and Irei laughed as she tapped Ivels shoulder.

You know what Ike oppa is like.

Of course he does. That perfectionist. Ivel sighed briefly, shedding all his regrets. He asked Irei.

So why are you here?

Ivel asked, and Irei replied with a grin.

Ill be graduating next year. And Id like to write a thesis before I do too.

A thesis

Ivel frowned, hearing that word from Irei. Here he was, entering the city with such ambition to complete a thesis about Isaac. But everytime he mentioned the name Isaac, his workload would double or even triple along with a stream of lectures about even the smallest things. Because of this, Ivel had been procrastinating on the project.

So you want to write a thesis about Isaac?

Cordnell asked, with a hint of deja vu. Irei replied with a smile.

Yes. I believe the conspiracy theory that Isaac is still alive has some basis.

Cordnell, Laila, and Rizzly all considered the possibility that Irei already knew everything.

Come out clean. You know, right?

Ivel aside, Irei was considered as a full elf, unlike other half elves. And as such, Irei had the right to know the truth about Isaac. After all, she inherited the souls of an elf and Isaac.

But they could be jumping the gun, so needed to be tactful with their approach. Laila asked with a glare, and Irei continued with the most innocent look on her face.

Truth is, Id like to investigate the mystery woman over Isaac.

The mystery woman?

Yes. When the doc.u.ments about Gate were revealed, a woman who wasnt from the Empires bureaucracy nor royalty was leading the project. But her name is never mentioned in any of the Empires doc.u.ments. I am going to be the righteous detective who will unveil the entire scheme and all these crimes in the future, and as my first step, I will unveil the ident.i.ty behind this mystery woman.

Laila wrapped her face with her hand and asked Cordnell.

This is because of that popular show Detective Colus, right?

Um Id a.s.sume so?

Cancel its production.

How could you do that?! Do you know how good it is? We havent even figured out the culprit of the serial murders! And we just found a decisive clue!

The culprit is the detectives a.s.sistant.

What! Lies! How could a twist like that be! No! It cant be! I dont believe you! Youre just trying to make me give up! Well its not working!

Irei fumed in anger with her hands on her waist. Laila smirked and pointed at Rizzly.

I didnt know your uncle had such talent in that field. You couldnt even figure that out when the author of the original book is named Grizzly?

Irei looked dumbfoundedly at Laila and Rizzly. She collapsed on the floor, seemingly having lost hope in this world and shouted.

Lies! Thats an even greater twist! How could you stab me in the back like this? So mean!