Those Who Live Without the Law

Chapter 121

Erasure

For now, I had no choice but to continue the conversation with Cecilia while stuck in a state of confusion.

"First off, every member of the Featherwing family, direct or collateral, is dead. We've even determined their causes of death during the investigation. There's no one from the Featherwing family in Carlson Labor Correctional Facility."

I took a sip of the wine in my glass and fell into thought.

'She's not just fishing for information.'

Cecilia had no reason to do that. But then, what could it possibly mean that my name wasn't found among either the direct or collateral lines?

"Oh dear, was my name not in the Featherwing family registry? What a shame."

Cecilia replied to my words.

"Right? I was kind of hoping, just in case."

According to the Rose Garden’s investigation, my name wasn’t in the family registry either.

'Someone erased it. But who?'

It wasn’t just the registry that was wiped. My records had been thoroughly and completely erased. Thanks to that, I had become someone who had never been a Featherwing at all.

That erasure was so thorough that—

"We really put in our best effort to investigate. I was expecting to find at least something related to the Featherwings, but there was just nothing."

It was so meticulous that even the Rose Garden couldn’t recover a single trace. Only a handful of people could manage something like that.

The only person who came to mind was the Emperor.

'It wouldn’t have been difficult.'

Before I went to the correctional facility, I had spent several years abroad as a child. Unlike the other direct descendants of the Featherwings, who interacted with various nobles here and there, I had almost no contact with other noble families.

And the few Featherwings who might have remembered me were all dead now. Just erasing the records alone would’ve wiped out the majority of information about me.

"I don’t think I’m someone important enough for the Rose Garden to take an interest in."

I collected my thoughts and spoke with care.

"One's price tag is always set by others. Just like this conversation we're having now."

Only after hearing that did I finally come to my senses.

‘I always suspected that the lack of interest in me wasn't just some coincidence.’

To think that the information about me had been so tightly controlled that even the Rose Garden couldn’t uncover anything.

Just knowing that was enough for now. From here on out, the chances of anyone discovering that I was a direct descendant of the Featherwings were virtually nonexistent. Though the reason why the Emperor went to such lengths to erase my existence was still a mystery...

For now, I needed to focus on the present. Cecilia wasn’t someone I could afford to face while distracted.

"What kind of answer would earn me the Representative’s favor?"

"Wouldn’t it be boring if I told you?"

Cecilia finished speaking and picked up a canapé topped with olives and ham, popping it into her mouth.

"What do you think of Bennett City?"

The moment I heard that question, I became certain that this was an interview—just one accompanied by drinks.

"Ah, but don’t get the wrong idea. You won’t suffer anything terrible just because of how you answer. You’re too... well, I suppose the word is valuable now. Something like that."

In other words, it was a genuine question. No matter how disappointing my answer might be, I wasn’t going to get my head chopped off over it—my worth had grown too much for that.

"It’s a city where the Canal Operations Committee stands in for the government, due to its unique geopolitical position."

It was a simple response, and not an incorrect one. But before Cecilia could offer her evaluation, I quickly added another comment.

"If I may, I’d like to ask the Representative a question. Does the Canal Operations Committee belong to either the Empire or the Republic—or is it capable enough to uncover their secrets?"

Cecilia had looked like she was about to say something, but after hearing my question, she held back and instead answered.

"Well, if someone really tried hard to hide something, it would take us a while to notice."

The moment I heard her response, I followed up.

"In that case, Bennett City is in a rather precarious position."

Depending on Cecilia’s answer, what I said next would have changed.

If she had said “yes” to my earlier question—

‘Then Bennett City would be doomed.’ Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel·fire.net

I would’ve immediately said some flattering words about the Canal Operations Committee, all while planning to get out of this city as soon as possible.

Because the truth was, Cecilia’s answer had been the correct one.

The city’s organizations were impressive, but they didn’t hold power great enough to control either the Empire or the Republic.

‘The Emperor erased all records of me, and even the Rose Garden failed to uncover anything.’

The Treasury Chief case that would eventually lead to the Pontus conflict and the Emperor’s secrets—those were on entirely different levels.

That was the reasoning behind my judgment. When the Emperor truly decided to conceal something, not even Bennett City could reveal my identity.

"This city is subject to the movements of both nations. It’s extremely unstable and could collapse due to unforeseen variables."

Cecilia laughed at my words.

"The city won’t collapse. What collapses are the members of the Operations Committee, myself included."

"Yes. That’s exactly right."

The city would survive whether it was absorbed by the Empire or the Republic. Only its master would change.

"I liked your answer. When I prepare a table with fine drinks, it means I want an honest conversation."

No one sets a table with drinks and snacks just to fish for the answer they want to hear.

"That was a valuable opinion. You said the city is unstable, but I suppose what you meant is that our position is what’s unstable. So, what would be the solution?"

"You press down on the head for the Empire, and soothe and coax the tail for the Republic."

The Empire was ruled by the Emperor’s authority and a handful of educated nobles. It was a beast with a large head.

If you succeeded in putting a leash on that small group, it was as good as leashing the entire Empire.

The Republic, on the other hand, was steered by public opinion. You could say it was a beast with a very long tail.

If you succeeded in appeasing the masses, the entire Republic would fall into your hands.

"That's an interesting way to put it. Bigger blade than I thought."

As Cecilia said that, she was already calculating in her head. It wasn't the first time in her life she had put a price tag on someone's mind.

Even with just a short conversation, there were always things you could uncover if you were determined enough.

‘A clear hostility toward the Empire. That’s a mark against his value.’

In truth, there was no need to press down on the Empire’s head. Just like with the Republic, one could choose to soothe and coax it.

But Kairus had insisted on pressing the head—as if there were no other option.

"There’s a place called the Salia Fish Market."

"Excuse me?"

Why was she suddenly bringing up a fish market?

"It’s quite a good place in its own way. Not really the kind of place that makes its money just selling fish."

Still, Kairus couldn’t understand what Cecilia was getting at.

"Once the periodic qualification review is over, go visit the Salia Fish Market Merchants’ Association. Tell them that from now on, they should pay the transaction fee to you."

Put simply, she was offering him a wallet—a regular source of income.

"...I’m worried whether I should be accepting something like that."

"That’s a challenge to my judgment."

Kairus replied immediately to her words.

"Thank you."

"Oh, I like that."

With a voice so utterly indifferent it was chilling, Cecilia said something that most people wouldn’t even dare to utter.

It hit harder precisely because she spoke so casually.

"It’s not a troubled district. The merchant association manages the area themselves."

All Kairus would need to do was stop by periodically to collect the money, and only intervene in problems too large for the association to handle.

"By the way, any interest in working under me?"

"...I’m sorry. But thank you for the offer. I also have something I absolutely must accomplish."

Kairus politely declined Cecilia’s offer.

"That’s a shame. But I can’t force you."

She clapped her hands once, then refilled both her and Kairus’s glasses.

"Let’s move on to the next topic. The location of the Cloud Seizing Art manual."

Kairus swallowed hard. It was the payment he’d once been promised, but had given up in order to help Simid Kellogg.

Since it had already once been offered as compensation, it wasn’t surprising to hear the same proposal again.

"What would you like me to do?"

In response to my question, Cecilia swirled her glass and answered.

"I’ll just tell you."

She meant she’d tell me for free. Of course, I didn’t take Cecilia’s words at face value.

‘She’s just giving me the location, after all.’

She wasn’t handing over the item itself for free—only telling me where it was.

If I wanted to obtain the Cloud Seizing Art manual, I’d naturally have to go to the place Cecilia mentioned. And in the process of acquiring it...

There was a good chance that Cecilia would also end up getting something she wanted.

Still, I had no reason to feel bad about it. One way or another, I’d be getting the manual.

"The Bishop of the Ascension Cult in Goldiba City, Gallia Methos, has it."

Gallia Methos. Realizing just how tangled things were becoming, I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh. Goldiba City was a southern port city in the Empire. Not exactly the center of logistics, but still an important place in its own right.

"What, did the Pope issue some kind of decree?"

Cecilia laughed at my remark.

"Of course not. I think it’s just a personal hobby of Bishop Gallia Methos."

I made a lazy gesture of crossing myself and replied.

"A bishop showing interest in worldly goods... not sure how to feel about that. It's troubling."

"You’ll be even more troubled when you hear the rest."

While speaking, Cecilia began stacking canapés on her plate for no apparent reason.

"Turns out he might be involved in the illegal distribution of battle gear down in the Empire’s south."

Now it was my turn to be curious.

"I don’t see why that would interest you, Representative. From what I understand, this city is fairly lenient when it comes to illegality."

Cecilia nodded.

"If Bennett City is involved and profiting from it, then yes, we tolerate it. But if the city isn't involved or doesn’t earn from it, we come down hard."

The illegal battle gear network involving Bishop Gallia Methos was indeed profitable—but the city’s organizations weren’t part of it.

And that seemed to be something Cecilia took serious issue with.

"What’s the quality like?"

"Crude. It’s the kind of stuff that, if you’re not careful, could fry someone’s nerves in an instant. Distributed cheap, and dangerous."

It didn’t matter much. Most of the cheap battle gear floating through this city was like that anyway.

"Anyway, Bishop Gallia Methos is a book collector."

"Well, that hobby alone probably isn’t an issue for the Ascension Cult."

Collecting books—and even brewing—were hobbies encouraged by the Ascension Cult. Many monasteries across the region relied heavily on income from producing various liquors through formal religious procedures.

"It’s assumed he acquired the Cloud Seizing Art manual during one of his collecting sprees. Of course, it was purchased for a price far beyond what a mere bishop could afford."

It was almost certain that the funds used to buy the Cloud Seizing Art manual came from illegal battle gear dealings. I gave a somber look.

"I believe you said you’d tell me where the manual is for free."

"And I did. You just have to go get it yourself, that’s all."

As I voiced a small complaint, Cecilia responded in a tone meant to soothe.

"I’ve heard that Bishop Gallia Methos’s role is to provide storage for faulty battle gear before it enters circulation."

In simpler terms, he was operating a warehouse. A job that seemed oddly fitting for a bishop of the Ascension Cult.

"Could be a church in his diocese, or a monastery."

There were plenty of places to hide things, and the Imperial Security Corps couldn’t just barge in and conduct a search at will.