Chapter 9: This is how I schooled the Illuminati

19 June 422

A new morning and a new purpose before my supposedly unavoidable task of being around as local wizards go and see if the seal is holding well enough after so many years of activity.

Satella was still a big scare and, if I have to be honest, I could understand the fear behind such a dangerous being. Sure, only the Witch of Envy is to be kept at bay, but the naivety and the frail state of mind the more lucid of the two personalities couldn't be considered innocent too.

Her mind responded to child-like instincts, strong emotions ruling out logic itself as she solved problems by creating new ones. A child in an adult body-

Seriously, can someone explain to me why there is such a terrible parallelism between the Witch and Emilia? Not that I believe much the Time-Travel Theory, but still... why they were made so much similar?

I can only imagine how the poor elf would feel at the idea that, after fending off so many people about her physical similarity with the Witch, she ends up discovering that even her personality is close to the different being.

But let us return back to the point prior to this minor rant. I have a new idea to make my position solid and remove a good 45% of threats against me.

As I contemplated the possible ways I could use to puppetize the 'Enlightened Ecclesia' (*Cough* Assassin's Creed *Cough*) for the sake of having some cheap bodyguard service on myself, I found myself staring blankly at the dark-brown ceiling above my head. I have never spared much of a glance to my office, either too busy with the daily paperwork or dealing with different shenanigans.

The twins had taken an early leave to their rooms after I had assigned them some new homework and- No, I didn't give them something overly-difficult just like the average teacher would. While it was a good way to 'burn' things on young brains, I wasn't shy to consider the method obsolete and ineffective, thus I merely give them enough material for the day and then would proceed to ask them a small exam to verify if they got everything down.

If something was difficult for them or they found the books' explanation complicated, then I would sit down and explain those topics with a simplier and easy to understand way.

Fourier had decided to take a walk around Erindor, confessing few hours earlier that he had yet to explore the whole town because of the 'situations' that happened in those last few days.

Understandable and I was quick to let him go out from the office as I continued to drown in my paperwork, doodling some minor, senseless plan about my (possible) new Assassin group.

I had Orestes dispatched to check on how the local markets were going and how the new 'state'-owned shops were faring to the already-existing competition. Fairly well hardly compared to the pleasant results I received in the following reports.

While some issues had come out in the form of dislike from the independent merchants as they instantly perceived that something was amiss with the new development, none of them had managed to catch up with the good income rising from this new endeavour.

Plans of further tax reductions bloomed in my mind, knowing full-well that the least taxes were around to hinder investments and stunt the growth of the lesser classes, the more I could see the town flourish into something powerful.

The military reforms were still meek at best, the lack of proper resources available at the moment messing up the possibility of rekindling a good conscription campaign. Still the current amount of soldiers were already showing a major growth in terms of strategic and tactical planning, urging me to finally contemplate the possibility of creating a School for Officers in the near future.

"Mayor Bukharin?" I blinked as I found my thoughts put aside for the sake of paying attention to Orestes. I have barely noticed his presence and merely sighed, staring boringly at the seemingly normal man standing by his side. "This is the man you wished to be brought here?"

I nodded and gestured him to leave as the nervous individual proceeded to take a seat in one of the available chairs in front of me.

"M-Mayor Bukharin? I have heard so much about you and-"

"You know, I kind of expected some better act from you, being the leader of the Assassin's guild." Eyes widening, the twitch at the word 'Assassin' further proved my suspects to be correct. While there were too many people in Lugnica for me to search around and find whoever was the leading figure of this little organization, clues about the first and last encounter were easy to draw from the little memory I had of the event.

For him to be able to move me out of the city without Magic and without detection, it meant that this 'leader' had been resting in one of the two Inns within the city. After the implementation of the Census, this two establishment were given the task of signing down the names of foreigners passing by for the sake of security, passing such documents to the City Guard for them to see if any of the 'merchants' ended up being another criminal.

Knowing that he had been around the city more than once and that he had to have established some confidential relationship with the people around the place, it wasn't difficult to pinpoint a very specific individual that had been staying around in the last three days while also disappearing for the rest of the night.

'Markus Fedur', or whatever his name was, was failing miserably in keeping his facade going in this unexpected situation. The stuttering could have worked if it hadn't been accompanied with quick glares towards me.

"M-Mayor, you might h-have get the wrong man-"

"I know it's you because of your very voice." I decided to lie about the logical reasoning behind his 'capture' feeling like this method best worked when only I could use it.

He fidgeted in his seat. "I-I don't know-"

"Look, we can keep going with this silly act of yours or I could get you hanged for high treason." I sighed as his eyes widened once more. "The guards have found your little chest filled with compromising letters. If the Royal Family was alerted of this matter, you and your order will be hunted and properly, forcefully, disbanded."

Few moments of silence passed and he sighed. "Fine! What do you want, Bukharin?"

I smiled. "Already skipping the introductions?" A shrug. "I guess we can't have everything in this world and, answering your question, I wish to have a handful of your men under my service-"

"Absolutely not." Markus cut shortly. "Our organization doesn't serve people in the spotlight-"

"Not even if said 'people in the spotlight' are going to face no little threat from Gusteko? I know that is the 'nationalistic groups' you were referring to yesterday."

The man let out a 'hmph' as he tried to think about a proper counter-offer. "We can offer you some information but-"

"Look, I don't want to appear aggressive here, but I got you by the neck with the crap we found in your room. And while you might sprout about the 'Organization' going to react at your passing, I can say that they would only bicker to each other about who is going to replace you."

..."Beg your pardon?"

I sighed. "Do you expect me to believe that you are the brightest candidate for the role you have right now?" I paused, he looked murderous. "Rhetorical, but no, I can see why this organization is hardly know."

...

"You suck, you failed before and the Kingdom had supposedly disbanded you already-"

"I-It was just a small mistake at a simple job." I frowned and brought out a very obscure book about known military forces in Lugnica for the last five decades.

"You were the ones responsible for the safety of Emerada Lugnica and... you 'failed' to protect her-"

"Fine! She was killing too many people to be left alive. We planned several openings during the guarding schedule-"

"And let her be assassinated."

Unpleasant silent filled the office and I tilted my head to the side. "I guess we can... try something then. Something interesting."

I pushed the small dossier with the little plans for the Ecclesia and Markus gave it a long glance before picking it in his hands. Files were revealed as his eyes moved quickly through it and... his eyes widened.

"You..." He closed the dossier. "You wish to arm us?"

I nodded. "That is correct." Relaxing on my chair, I started to hum quietly. "You lack direction and the large mission is merely an fake future to give some reason for your organization to truly exist."

"And what 'direction' are you aiming, Mayor Bukharin?"

I shrugged. "Peace, stability and..." I thought about this last one. I generally had a third word available to emphasize my 'passion' but this time I had not planned this up as usual. "Fun?"

... "Fun?"

"First word that jumped to my mind, don't judge me-"

"I shall judge when someone is behaving deceitfully and-"

I gestured to his lower body. "Your flier is open." I didn't even know if there were fliers in this world but... he looked down, frowned and then glared daggers once more but I was done with this spy-related stuff.

I yawned and pointed at the door. "I will send you a message once I got everything prepared."

"What? This isn't over yet-" Right in that moment the door of the office slammed open as Fourier Lugnica entered the room while holding... several flowers. I frowned at this and his bright smile wasn't helping in deciphering whatever was going on inside his head.

"Today is a good day, John and-" He paused to look at the unfamiliar man, Marcus returned to his meek attempt of passing up as a nervous innocent civilian and-

"Mr. Fedur was leaving." I stared intensively at the pressured assassin. "Am I right, Mr. Fedur?"

He nodded quickly, bowing my way as he got up from his seat and then once more towards Fourier as he rushed out of the room and manor, the humiliating development going to possibly sting for a while.

What a pathetic assassin.

"So..." I broke the new silence as I stared at the curious flowers. "Are those a gift for your fair lady back in the Capital?"

The cheeky blond had his whole face blushing at the assumption, trying to deny this by repeatedly saying 'no' and shaking his head. "T-Those were for C-Crusch, but she isn't my f-fair lady-"

"But I think it would be a fitting gift since you told me the blossoming of flowers brought you together."

I could remember word-by-word the first chapter of the Volume dedicated to the prince and... it would be an interesting way to push him in the right direction.

While the illness that should have slowly killed the Royal family had seemingly failed to truly start getting some victims. This very detail was nerve-wracking as I knew the range of such dangerous power extended beyond my current knowledge.

From what I could remember of the brief explanations about the 'Curse-induced illnesses' there are several ways to create one. It might be tied to the bloodline, which is hardly a possibility since Felt managed to live through the worst of this situation, it might be individually placed by someone within the palace, a strong theory that would make sense since several unpleasant individuals had managed to infiltrate the castle, and lastly was the location itself.

This very idea wasn't truly misplaced as it would explain how Felt had survived and why Fourier was one of the few ones that contracted it days after the rest of his family.

I might be a little against changing the timeline but... Yeah, I need to. Some of the things that have yet to come are going to be nightmare-ish and, if I managed to defuse most of those early on, I could as well make Subaru's life easier. Hopefully he will not be cringe-y with his pure-blooded NEET aura.

Oh no! A cliffhanger- but this isn't over yet!

OMAKE 1: We are friends, so it's fine.

I have expected so many things from Fourier Lugnica:

I had expected him to be eccentric, which he proved to be;

I expected him to be putty when Crusch was brought up in a discussion, which funnily enough was true;

But when he presented himself with such flamboyant proposal so early in the morning and with my brain still coping with the fact I wasn't sleeping, I was floored at his words.

"No." It was the quick refusal.

One shouldn't never ask this to a bro. It was something a bro should never hear-

"But I trust you! I know that your input would be important and-"

"No means no, Fourier."

He twitched in his seat, a pout appearing on his face but hardly getting a change from my reaction.

There was a limit and that was beyond that line.

"But you said I needed some experience if I want to be able to conquer Crusch."

Weren't you the one denying all of this until yesterday?!

"That is not something you exercise for, Fourier. Stop asking-"

"Look, I read it's fine if we use some paper in between-"

"No!"

He sighed and then gave me the most serious look he could muster up. "I come here with an intense resolve and I shan't be stopped!"

With this words, he took a step forward, my eyes widening in fear. "W-Why aren't you using a pillow then!?"

"And compare her face with that?! I cannot accept this!"

"Then ask someone else-"

"You are one of my best friends, John. I know you will keep this secret!"

"No, means N-AGH!" I didn't see the prince pouncing above the desk and onto me, pushing me down as he pressed the layer of paper on my face.

NO! Not like this! This- I DON'T NEED THIS!

The blond didn't hesitate as he went down with his face, lips ready to deliver the practice kiss and...

...

...

"MPPPPPPPPPPPPPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHDDDDDDDDD!"