Vol. 1 - Ch. 221 - Road Trip (3)

Eclair was the Mainstream City of the nearby region, located about 500 km from the Town Ado. 

The city held an important significance for the region with the presence of Eclair Lake, that offers an abundance of water, and three highways crossing around it which made it the crucial transportation hub. Eclair City was vast enough to be ranked in the top 10 cities in the entirety of the Dragoon region. 

The Capione family used to be the top gun of this lucrative city when they're still functioning as the mainstream count family, managing this vast county, but as the consequence of their own far reaching scandal two generations ago, the said county was split into two two viscounties, and three barony. At present, Viscount Valcus was herding this strategic city at the appointance of royal family.

The Capione family certainly didn't take this decision humorously, but when their mistake was ignoring a military command during the command which placed them at the grave violation of military code, which could have ended in the execution at worst for treason.

Ultimately, it was settled as a simple miscommunication, but the fact that they had retreated without a rational reason in front of the enemy, resulting in the loss of many soldiers' lives, weighed heavily. As a consequence, the land was divided and the family was demoted.

"Pardon me for interruption, Your Excellency, but there's an urgent report to convey!"

Viscount Capione was in amidst a conversation, and barely managed to stop clicking his tongue, as he turned around, feigning calmness. 

"...I am currently busy with an important guest, alongside Viscount Valcus. I should be done soon, so wait for me in the longue."

Viscount Capione needed no explanation what it could be about. 

He had already given the instruction to squash any complaints etc on the spot, and try to throw the matter under bridge, but it appeared they'd used the Royal Academy as the springboard to force in their complaint. 

But even in that case, the magic bird shouldn't have been contacting this soon, and could've been delayed... It seemed he had overestimated the competence level of that fool Zair, maybe he was just dumb as other from his relatives. Haa, this was why lowlives keep struggling throughout their lifetime.

While Viscount Capione inwardly cursed Zaire, the visitor—a blue mantle was draped on her back, alluding to her being the member of seventh legion of Knight Order—urged him to move on to his problem seriously.

"...It seemed to be an urgent situation. Perhaps, someone's life or asset might be in danger. You don't have to mind us, Viscount Capione, and may attend to your urgency."

The visitor was Airu, the general of the army stationed in the Eclair. 

A reason she had been here was due to the extensive reformation that the Knight Order had undergone.

As part of that reorganization, a new Vice-commander had recently been assigned to the Seventh Legion, and today, said vice-commander was visiting the Eclair garrison for an inspection.

Hence, she had come to make a courteous visit to the Viscount Valcus, and Viscount Capione was here at his own strong insistence. 

A smart person required no explanation, and while the two viscounts appear harmonium publicly, they both waged the same old political war against each other behind the curtain, as one could see given Eclair's city history. 

Although this was technically a courtesy visit,  the members of the Knight Order, much like the nobility, held ranks directly appointed by the king. Meanwhile, the Vice-Commander could even, in times of crisis, encompass the southeastern army of the Kingdom at his command—something any viscount would have to bow to.

*This isn't your place to blabber, brat...*

Viscount Capione was tempted to click his tongue again but managed to hold back. It would be akin to shooting himself on foot If he of Capione family, who had track record of creating chaos, were to refuse the proposal of a knight like that, it would only raise unnecessary suspicions.

"…Say what's the report" he said, prompting the messenger to speak.

What else could it be? Must be a request in search, hmph. Viscount Campione had already paved the groundwork in anticipation of such a situation, and he regarded the promise of sending manpower would be enough. 

"Excuse me! The message has been sent by Sheriff Zair, stating as in absolutely urgent! The message read—An incident of robbery has taken place in the town Ado of Capione territory, and the target had been mana vehicles in possession of Magic Car Club!"

Viscount Valcus's eyes, who had been standing beside Viscount Capione, widened in shock.

"Heavens! The thieves had the audacity to target someone of the Royal Academy?! If this is true, the search party must be sent immediately, and thieves must be apprehended as soon as possible! Uh-huh, I am sure House of Viscount Capione would become a laughing stock if the thieves managed to get away... Alright, I shall have our officers put in for help too. Don't you think we should work together to capture the culprits, huh, Viscount Capione?"

Capione's mind churned with irritation. This sly fox... He's just waiting to steal credit if we succeed and push all the blame onto me if we fail!

While seething internally, Viscount Capione kept his composure. He murmured "I appreciate the cooperation... but I must take my leave now..." and started to rise from his seat. However—

"T-there's more! —And on the spot of the incident, Allen Rovenne, a member of Knight Order, and one of the victims, has also formally requested for support from nearby forces promptly!"

The name of Allen rang like a thunderbolt in the ear of Viscount Capione, and at last, his composure started to fade away.

"H-he say Allen Rovenne?! Did he confirm it throughly!?"

"Yes! The report stated that he was wearing the knight’s mantle and made an official request for assistance. And... according to him, what was stolen wasn't mere mana vehicles, but—'Yuglia's Future'!"

A brief silence hung in the reception room.

But it didn't last long as Knight Airu promptly inserted her words.

"...The military will cooperate in the investigation. Please share maps of the area around Ado, the situation before and after the event, and any other necessary information."

"W-What? The military's involvement?!" M-miss Airu, but that’s clearly an overstep! The defenses within the country are already thin, and everyone is exhausted! It would be a disservice to our brave soldiers if we continue to dispatch the army each time there's a theft! Please concern not, I will promptly gathered the police force of our territory, and—"

The Viscount hastily voiced his opposition, but Airu calmly silenced him.

"I don't mean to appear too harsh, but it's you who have no idea of the severity of the situation, Viscount Capione. Of what it means to make it to the Knight Order at the age of 13. I have yet to meet him personally, but if Allen Rovenne has announced this incident threatens Yuglia's future, then we must handle this matter with absolute gravity, and act first rather than pile up reasons. Isn’t that so, Vice-commander Tim?"

When the needle of conversation turned to him, Tim, who had been recently assigned to the Seventh Legion as its Vice-Commander, recalled back events of Outdoor Orientation he had acted as inspector of.

"Cooperate in search...? It seems even you need to learn the gravity of the situation too, Airu. You're just as ignorant as what the name of Allen Rovenne telltale. But less talk.

*Ahem*... Listen well, I declare a 'State of Emergency' under Article 2 of the National Emergency Law, and based on Article 16, Section 4 of the same law, I hereby issue a provisional declaration by the name of Kingdom's Knight Order! This matter will henceforth fall under the jurisdiction of the Knight Order. Set up a task force! Summon the nearby army for an emergency assembly and establish a defense perimeter! We shall reclaim 'Yuglia's Future' no matter what it takes!"

◆◆◆

An hour later, Viz and I headed east on the bike. Just as Dui had stated, he had managed to make this machine out of the two broken bikes precisely within one hour. 

The east was the clue we had gathered from the hunter party at the end of our questioning in the Town Ado. Apparently, the party was hunting down nocturnal beasts in the east wilderness when they spotted a black-fur horse wagon covering the road in the east late at night. 

From their time of sighting, and the size of the canopy, they seemed to fit the bill as prime suspects.  

Viz was driving the bike, while I had devoted myself to search for the enemy from the backseat. As the wind brushed against me, my anger had subsided, and I approached the situation with a rational mind. 

"Man, you really got the driving sense, Viz. It's so smooth I didn't feel any jolt."

I was genuinely impressed by Viz's skill, and murmured my honest review, which had Viz smile, who then remarked, keeping his gaze on the path.

"Hmph, praise our Dui if you ought to. He sure didn't say anything, but he had definitely expected you would be taking the backseat while I would be driving hence he had tuned the machines in that order."

"Of course, there's no parallel to Dui!"

I mean, it had been the first time Viz and I were sharing the ride. But Dui still managed to tune the bike to perfectly accommodate it to our experience. Ain't no way it could be done without a zeal for the things. And the Dui I know was that kind of person, who nowadays had his mind completely occupied by the Magic Car Club.

Just the other day, he even joked how he wasn't even qualified for class promotion, and was on the verge of repeating. 

"Say more about it. That guy really is like he has contracted some chronic disease. He just said 'I like overhauling' with a straight face. Anyone would be hard pressed to see him as a student of Royal Academy......"

Viz remarked in an exasperated tone, though I couldn't help but grin to hear how deep Dui's passion ran, feeling a respect for him inwardly.

"Anyway, what're you cooking, Allen... The two-wheelers might have come across some roadblocks in the beginning, but they're going to be on sale for the public this summer either way. Why did you then claim them to be 'Yuglia's Future'...? You know very well this would rouse chaos. Aren't you putting yourself in a tough spot, using your standing as a Knight to request support for personal interest?"

He had been reserving from making any question, noticing my upset mood, so seeing that I was open, he brought up the problem at hand.

"Tut-tut. I already noticed that the composed, cowboy hat guy had no intention to catch the culprit. You can't expect anything from lazy bums like him unless you twist their hands. Well, it will probably turn into a ruckus, but that doesn't matter if it can push them to search harder. What's the worst that can happen? I might be fired from my position for stirring the chaos for personal gain, but eh, not that it matters."

In my mind, the visage of Magic Car Club trying their best in a creative way, surrounded by the stone-stiff stubborn environment of Royal Academy, was the personification of youth. 

Just like we discussed when we first started the club, we weren’t going to let calculations of gain or loss get in the way. We were determined to live in the moment, to enjoy the ‘now,’ and even if we failed or stumbled, we’d make it the foundation for the rest of our lives, all in the name of mana vehicles.

'Anyone who tried to get in the way of that kind of youthful spirit was beyond the pale.' I said this in as emotionless a tone as I could manage, and after taking a good pause, Viz replied.

"...Please Allen, be honest with me. You think I am not worried? The two-wheelers have yet to be introduced to the world, so there's no doubt we will find traces if thieves tried to sell it away. Heck, there's only eight two-wheelers in the world as of now, so I don't even think it would make any money. Besides, you would need skills to ride it, and maintaining them is a tough call. ...It's clear to anyone we're against someone beyond professional thieves."

"W-wow, now that you put it in words, doesn't this sound like some serious shit?"

I couldn't help but gulp nervously, though it somehow had Viz shouting in fury.

"You—you're not fooling anyone by that acting, that you didn't notice what's going on! We had just randomly hopped on the idea of Road Trip! And it was also a coincidence that we happened to stay in Ado! The thieves are too quick, and proficient to stage the theft in such a short duration! The only thing that makes sense is—the other side must have assumed we would take the same path for the return route, and spread their net in the whole area to steal them! Who do you think could do it aside from professional thieves?!  Do not go silent on me, Allen! Tell me, we're like... am I going against someone big that shouldn't be touched?!"

Viz words had a logic as he questioned me, but how could I answer? I wasn't some great detective. There's no way I could just look at some clue and announce who's the culprit. 

And for me, it didn't matter who's the culprit. I am going to beat whoever did that senselessly for daring to get in my way. 

But, I could tell no matter what I say, Viz, whose nerves were high-strung, would be doubtful of It.

"There's always only one truth!"

I remarked, while snapping my finger and pointing at the front. Viz performed the wheelie when he heard me.

"Stop with that dramatic suspense, damn it!"

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