■ Still not coming? □
Found in the Resistance’s safe house.
It contained the Marquis Quillern’s directive letter and the locations of three secret bases held by the Oz Independence Association.
Originally, three members of the Resistance hiding in the safe house were supposed to slip out at night to deliver letters, but unfortunately for them, they crossed paths with me.
Anyway, because of this incident, it was revealed that the Marquis Quillern wasn’t merely providing material support to the Oz Independence Association, but was actually a high-ranking individual involved in various matters from the upper echelons of power.
And naturally, this raised suspicions.
The question was whether he truly engaged in independence activities with pure intentions.
It seemed as though he was building influence as part of the Royalists while simultaneously acting as a senior member of the Oz Independence Association, which appeared to be an act of plotting rebellion.
After all, during the interrogation process, I had met him personally, and he was certainly not someone overflowing with patriotism.
Anyway, there was overwhelming evidence, both psychological and material, proving that he was a traitor to the state, but instead of immediately making this fact public, I decided to grant a brief grace period.
And the reason, of course, was to completely wipe out the Resistance group.
Currently, there were two active Resistance groups within Oz. One was the Oz Independence Association, and the other was the Oz Youth League.
While the former was a group consisting of nobles and patriots from various age groups, the latter, the Oz Youth League, was primarily made up of young people and thus held rather radical ideologies.
The scale of the group was obviously larger on the side of the Independence Association, but the Oz Youth League was equally dangerous due to their involvement in various acts of terrorism.
Most of the young mages who had willingly been excommunicated seemed to belong to the Oz Youth League.
“Hmm…”
“What are you so deep in thought about?”
“Eh? Nothing much.”
In response to Dorothea’s sudden question from behind me, I answered like that and folded the letter I had been reading.
Dorothea then looked at me suspiciously before suddenly saying,
“Ozma wants to see you briefly.”
“What? When?”
“She’s right outside the door. Go quickly.”
After nodding my head in agreement with Dorothea’s words, I placed the letter in the desk drawer and hurriedly left the finance office corridor.
“…”
But there was no one there.
Realizing that I had been tricked by Dorothea, I immediately returned to the desk, only to find her already reading the letter she had taken out from the drawer.
“Dorothea.”
When I called her name, she glanced up briefly before shrugging and handing over the letter.
“It’s really nothing much. So, when do you plan to go to the party?”
Even though she had seen the name of a high-ranking member of the Oz Independence Association written in the letter, she acted calm and deflected.
I also knew better than to press the matter and went along with her act.
“Probably around two days from now?”
“If that’s the case, both me and Barnett will be free, so we’ll specially come along with you.”
“I haven’t gotten Barnett’s permission yet.”
“That guy will do anything you ask.”
It’s truly frightening how accurate that seems.
Perhaps among all the women in my household, Barnett is the one who shows the heaviest affection.
She didn’t return until morning after chasing after the Beautiful Girl Mask just the other day.
“Anyway, then this is settled. I’m going home now.”
After thanking Dorothea, who had helped without complaint for an entire week with the special audit, I asked if there was anything she wanted.
She then made a thoughtful expression, humming “Hmm~,” before grinning mischievously and whispering into my ear,
“A baby that looks like you?”
…I know it’s a joke, but I need to brace myself for this weekend.[[#]]The long-awaited Friday.
The last day of the special audit period.
Thanks to the efforts of the past week, the underground prison of the Governor’s Office was packed with captured individuals.
70% of the cells are currently in use, a first since the establishment of the Oz Governor’s Office.
Most of the prisoners here are affiliates of the Quillern faction; some were initially arrested for insulting the governor but later charged with treason, while others were directly related to resistance groups like the Oz Independence Association.
Regardless, these people represent a cancerous mass within the current Oz.
And when a cancerous mass grows inside the body, it is typically treated by excising it before it spreads elsewhere.
I intended to do the same.
‘The Royalist elimination plan is nearing its conclusion.’
Right now, various intelligence reports are flowing in from informants scattered throughout the city of Oz.
Moreover, a personal spy I planted is embedded within the core of the Resistance organization.
As long as he doesn’t suddenly change his mind, this plan is bound to succeed.
I was confident of that.
‘Then the only variable remains: how to deal with the Beautiful Girl Mask?’
Given the suspicion that her true identity is the Hero, she must be dealt with.
Considering that she achieved Double Master status within just two years of becoming a Hero, she’s undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime talent. If left unchecked, there’s no telling how far she might rise.
Ideally, I’d persuade her to join our side, but if that proves impossible, she must be imprisoned in a place where no one can approach her.
Sitting in the office pondering ways to lure the Beautiful Girl Mask, I absentmindedly looked out the window and noticed the guillotine in the southern plaza, which hadn’t been used in two years.
“Oh.”
A good idea came to mind.[[#]]That evening, a breaking news story spread throughout the city of Oz.
The Special Forces of the Police Department raided three secret bases of the Resistance.
A large number of Resistance members hidden away in their hideouts were captured.
Although many casualties occurred due to fierce resistance during the operation, the Police Chief emphasized that it was necessary to eliminate the pests eroding the nation, and this message spread across the city.
This action, contrary to the usual pro-civilian image-building policies of the Governor’s Office, caused intellectuals to erupt in anger, accusing the demons of finally revealing their true colors.
However, there was one peculiar phrase included in this report: the captured Resistance members would be executed without separate trials at the southern plaza on the upcoming Sunday, and if anyone wished to prevent this, the Beautiful Girl Mask was urged to personally visit the execution grounds.
Thus, the city of Oz buzzed with another topic.
Would the Beautiful Girl Mask accept this proposal? Some even suggested capturing her to save their families and presenting her to the Governor’s Office.
Unlike the self-serving aristocrats of the Royalists, many members of the Resistance were ordinary citizens purely striving to reclaim the sovereignty of their country.
And their families hoped that an unknown figure like the Beautiful Girl Mask would be captured instead, allowing their loved ones to return.
Though selfish, this was an unavoidable human nature—saving the lives of one’s family would always take precedence over an unseen criminal.
This news eventually reached the ears of Countess Sophia von Glorious, who was recuperating in her mansion.[[#]]”Do you intend to go, my lady?”
To Sophia’s reply, Alfredo, the elderly butler who assisted her in every way, asked as she put down the newspaper she had been reading.
“Would you prefer that I don’t go, Alfredo?”
The old butler nodded.
“This is a trap. It’s undoubtedly a scheme devised by the governor and the chief financial officer to capture you out of spite for the previous incident.”
“But if I don’t go, they will all die. They may not be entirely innocent, but they have been fighting hard to reclaim the nation’s sovereignty.”
“You have no obligation to save them, my lady. They likely prepared themselves for death from the start. Engaging in independence activities in this country is synonymous with suicide.”
At this, Sophia sighed softly and said,
“Alfredo, I understand your concern, but please don’t cross that line. You might disappoint me.”
“…I apologize.”
Sophia continued while sinking into her rocking chair.
“Indeed, as Alfredo says, I have no duty to save them. However, if I don’t, I will lose my own sense of purpose. I would become a hero who only saves those she personally wishes to save.”
It was the gaze of someone who had already resolved to die.
“If I get captured and die, that will be the will of the heavens. The Goddess of Courage will surely choose another hero. Though it may be sad, I believe I will accept that fate calmly.”
Closing her eyes, Sophia added,
“But if I survive, that too will be the will of the heavens. I intend to test my luck and skill this time.”
Upon hearing these words, Alfredo silently bowed his head.
“I shall follow your orders.”
“Thank you, Alfredo, for indulging my stubbornness.”
“It is my duty as a butler. Please don’t say such things.”
With that, Alfredo bowed respectfully, mindful of Sophia’s apparent fatigue, and quietly closed the door behind him.
Two days remain until the decisive battle.
