Chapter 6 : The Temptation List
Area 11
Viceroy’s Office
The moment the door closed behind us, I took out the secret letter and tossed it onto the table.
Thud
“Here. My secretary, Millirze, received this from Chief Raven, one of the collaborators of the ‘Double-Headed Chicken.’”
“Read it at once, then burn it.”
Lelouch did not even reach for the letter.
“…Elder Brother?”
“What?”
“As it happens, I have already secured a collaborator who can cross-check the contents of that letter.”
“If you do not mind, would you hear her testimony first?”
As expected.
Back when I saved Lelouch in Area 11, I had heard that Anya Alstreim had disappeared.
In the end, she must have beaten C.C. down, and Lelouch must have obtained his Geass.
“Very well. I look forward to it.”
Lelouch snapped his fingers.
Click
The door opened.
A woman entered.
Brown hair.
Purple eyes.
She wore a black suit, but her figure was so striking that the formal attire only made her stand out even more.
She bowed.
“Yes, My Lord?”
“…Start with your introduction.”
“Codename : Medea.”
“My real name is… I have changed identities so many times that I no longer remember it.”
“My public title is Minister of the Senatus Populusque Romanus Legation in Area 11.”
“In truth, I am the 'Official Mistress’ of Regulus Cissingensis, ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν βαρβάρων… that is, the head of the Bureau of Barbarians.”
Pffft—!
That insane bastard actually did it?!
Regulus Cissingensis.
The hidden contributor behind the Pampas raid operation.
An old fox suspected of having orchestrated the Blood Emblem Incident at the beginning of Charles’ reign.
And that man had sent his official mistress as a legation minister to Area 11?
Lelouch, however, continued his questioning calmly.
“Good. What mission did your superior and lover assign to you?”
“There were three objectives, in order of priority.”
The woman spoke without changing her expression.
“First.”
“Seduce His Highness Prince Lysander de Britannia, Fourth Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, and pressure Lelouch vi Britannia, Viceroy of Area 11, through him, so that the Senatus Populusque Romanus may secure the largest possible share of the Sakuradite allocation.”
“Second.”
“If that fails, seduce Lelouch vi Britannia, Eleventh Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire and Viceroy of Area 11.”
“Third.”
“If even that fails, spread Refrain throughout Area 11 and create pro-Senatus Populusque Romanus public sentiment.”
“However, the Kyushu region is to be abandoned, as we must take the Chinese Federation’s position into consideration.”
For a moment, I felt my blood rush backward.
That mad old man had finally lost what little sanity he had left.
Even Lelouch let out a faint chuckle.
“I understand.”
“Abandon the first two objectives and proceed with the third, within reasonable limits.”
“However, every time I contact you, you will report in advance where and how much you intend to distribute.”
“And this matter is to remain absolutely secret from Regulus.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
The woman bowed her head.
I raised a hand and stopped him.
“Wait. I have one more question.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“The man I am scheduled to meet — Galeatus Carbonarius, the Megas Logothetes, or the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Senatus Populusque Romanus.”
“Is that old man also Regulus’ puppet?”
Medea shook her head.
“No.”
“He knows nothing about this mission.”
“He has come solely under the secret orders of Her Majesty, Lilly Aemilia Altocastarenis Augusta Basilissa.”
“The offer is simple.”
“In exchange for handing over one exclusive technology, the Senatus Populusque Romanus asks for a generous allocation of Sakuradite.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
…So that was why they called SPQR the “Double-Headed Chicken.”
The Empress and the head of the Bureau of Barbarians were moving separately.
Lelouch gave a small laugh and murmured.
“Rome truly does not fall in a day.”