CH 12

12　Monologue of A Certain Marquis 2

TN: 12/15

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A few days later, I received a report from the chief of the magic tool research laboratory. It was about the result of the investigation done on the wind magic tool used by Mira.  According to the report, it was a disposable magic tool that could only be used once. Not only that, it also had its safety device disabled.

“When you say safety device, it means mana absorption control unit, the life force conversion device, the life force conversion control unit, and the magic phenomenon control unit that is usually implemented in every magic tool. However, in this case, all these things are released…”

“My apologies, but I do not have the necessary knowledge behind the know-how of magic tools. Thus, please do explain it to me in a simple language I can understand.”

“Ah, my bad. It seems I’m too hasty…”

The person who was apologizing while brushing his bald head in sheepishness was a slightly plump man, who also looked mysteriously attractive at the same time, called Horace. He was already working for Goldberg House ever since my father’s generation. He was in fact the said chief of Goldberg Territory’s Magic Tool Research Institute who made this report on my hand.

Heeding my request, he took a deep breath and reorganized his words in a simpler way, and began explaining. “You see, magic tool have something called mana absorption control unit which served as――”

Upon the activation of any magic tool, it would absorb the mana of its holder. According to him, the method to start the activation of this tool was by touching the enchanted magic crystal that was fixed on it, which then would absorb the holder’s mana to commence.

Normally, he explained, this process shouldn’t even consume more than 0.01% of its holder mana. And after the magic tool was activated, it could be used without providing more mana, as it would take the mana needed from the enchanted magic crystal that had a certain amount of stored mana in it.

To ensure this happened, there was a device installed in the magic tool. Something that would prevent it from absorbing more mana than necessary known as―― mana absorption control unit.

“It is something that should be installed in every single magic tool in adherence to the regulation placed on magic tool safety, right? And disabling this safety device violates that very safety regulation, right?”

“Indeed. It is exactly as you say. And we can safely assume that the inventor of this magic tool is someone with nasty personality. Why do you ask? It’s because this magic tool, once it uses up the mana reserve that is in the enchanted magic crystal, this magic tool will switch to absorbing its holder’s life force and convert it into mana until they die.”

“That’s―― life force conversion device…”

“Yes. Normally, it’s not something you will install in a magic tool. However, some parts of enchanted weapons do use that device. Those weapons, though, aren’t without safety devices installed in them that will stop the conversion once its holder’s life force falls to a certain level. It uses the absorption control unit to forcefully stop the weapon’s operation to ensure the minimum amount of life force its holders needed to stay alive.”

“Why such a thing is… no, I mean, is such a dangerous magic tool even safe for use?” Sebas asked, voice tinted with trepidation.

Ah, right. Of course Sebas is worried. He couldn’t help BUT to worry since he had touched that magic tool with his hand.

“It’s okay. It’s a disposable magic tool to begin with and is already used, so it’s fine. However, if not for sudden interruption, the user who used this magic tool you gave me might die once they activated it. I fear that, if that were to happen, it will be used as a blackmail material to threaten Madam. Of course, that is the worst case scenario.”

“… Did she know that the tool she was using was that terrifying and might take her life?” I asked as a seed of an idea formed in my mind.

Horace shook his head and denied it.

“She had no idea about it at all. It seems she was only told that it is a magic tool that will produce wind. Ah, I almost forget, aside from those I’ve told you, that magic tool also disabled its ‘Magic Phenomenon’s limiter’. If no one stopped its activation, then this entire mansion might just be razed by a storm right now.”

It was common knowledge that the activation of magic tools would transform mana into phenomenon. And, normally, every magic tool had a limiter installed in it to limit the scale of phenomenon in order to prevent misuse.

However, with what was revealed to me just now, I was alarmed. Whoever the culprit behind this incident was, they wanted me to die. I was very sure of this since there was no other reason for why that particular limiter was disabled.

“That was not all, Master. On our end, we discovered that every magic tool we confiscated from the store of the merchants we caught have all its safety devices disabled. We had retrieved it and stored it as evidence. Thankfully, the tools we found were of inferior quality compared to the one carried by Mira, as such there is no victim yet so far we can find. Nevertheless, I’ll hand over those evidence to Horace-sama for investigation.” Rowell said, cutting into the conversation with his finding.

Momentarily, I felt chills running down my spine upon hearing Rowell’s report, before a rush of hot rage rushed to my head. They even dare to sell these accursed tools in my territory?! How dare they?!

“It seems like these are failed products. In my eyes that is. And I believe, the reason for that is because they use the scrapped enchanted magic crystals. Of course, this allows these tools to become disposable magic tools that will break even without a control unit.”

“How’s the progress of retrieving all this tool?”

“We’ve made sure to retrieve all of the stocks in the store. However, we might not be able to retrieve some of those that are already sold. Some people might still keep it since nothing has happened to them… yet that is.”

“Please do your best to retrieve all of it, including those already in the populace’s hands. And continue the investigation about those merchants’ sales route to track the origin of those magic tools and its maker. We’ll definitely find the source of those accursed tools by doing that. Another thing, speed up the preparation for the territory inspection. Let’s crush him thoroughly.”

I asked Roweel, bowing.

“If such tools are spread at a huge scale as this, there’s a high possibility that Baron Geyson might not be the only one involved in this case.”

“Perhaps some high ranking nobles are involved in this case, too.” I muttered, acknowledging this speculation as a possibility.

At this time, Horace replied to me and reinforced this speculation, “The evidence we found are only prototypes. And, based on the  amount manufactured, it is only possible when they have the backing of high ranking nobles. Still, this thing is dangerous, so let’s pray they have not entered the production stage yet.”

“And can you tell me the basis for your assumption?”

“I’m still unclear about the purpose of the creator of these magic tools since it is still an unfinished product and I haven’t researched it beyond the basic scan. And currently, it might still be in the experimental stage. However, a few years… no, maybe in a decade…”

Hearing this, I resist the urge to scream. Such a troublesome lunatic actually goes around freely making this kind of magic tool and spreading it to the people… it’s nothing short of complete and utter disaster!

“So… are you speculating that they’re going to make a magic tool that seems to be safe on the surface, while in fact its safety device is disabled, and let it appear in the market as a finished product?”

“Yes, and that would mean a catastrophe. After all, controlling it after it’s activated is pretty much impossible.”

Listening to Horace’s hazard, my eyes turned as cold as steel as I said, “I guess I have no choice but to put on political pressure to prevent such a dangerous product from reappearing in the market… well, let’s gather as much evidence as possible in the shortest amount of time, and expose the nobles who are working behind the scene.”

Having decided so, I then outline the steps that might be needed. “Perhaps I’ll report this matter to the King as well; to ask for his assistance in exposing this matter to the public as much as possible. At the same time, I should petition to make the regulations around magic tools much stricter than before with the parliament. As for the scenario to use… let’s just use the wind magic tool as evidence along with those merchants as the culprit with Baron Geyson as the mastermind. Mira and that fortune teller has nothing to do with this case.”

I stopped at this and looked around at everyone’s eyes, “Is that enough to make sure that the one who is manipulating Baron Geyson has no idea that our investigation has already advanced this far? We want to prevent them from cutting their tail. After all, we need to wait for the right moment to expose their crime in one single swoop.”

Rowell bowed to me, agreeing with the script I come up with.

Fuuh, I never expected that things are more complicated than I expected. Are they truly willing to go that far for a mere ‘Saint’s Tiara’? I wondered before deciding to ask.

“Horace, I want to ask something that falls under your expertise. In your competence as a magic tool’s researcher, what meaning or value does the ‘Saint’s Tiara’ have for the culprit to go as far as endangering so many innocent people’s lives?”

“According to the lore about the ‘Saint’s Legend’, it is said that when this world is under the darkness’ reign, a saint would appear to save this world. In it, the items that will protect the saint are called ‘Saint Series’ and consist of tiara, necklace, ring, earring, and lastly cane. All of which were supposed to hold an unimaginable power. However, it has yet to be proven as the truth. And we have been investigating this matter for decades. Alas, the results indicate that those items were just normal accessories. I heard that was the very reason it was given to the previous lord, your father. Still, sure enough, there are several people who have doubt regarding the result of the research.” Horace explained in one breath.

“What about you?”

“The previous lord also allowed me to take a look at the tiara before, but my opinion is the same with the researchers from the royal capital. It’s just an accessory. Yet at the same time, its legends are still going strong even after a few hundreds years have elapsed. Well, many took it as a mere myth though…”

Good grief, what a troublesome heirloom. Shouldn’t we just throw it back to the treasure house as national treasure since it is literally an useless item? I thought, wishing that the troublesome thing could just disappear immediately.

“Then, let’s return it to the royal family. It’s a useless item for my family after all. In fact, rather than only useless, it also almost brought calamity to my family!” I groused before uttering, “I suppose I should use this incident as a reason to return the tiara to the royal family.”

Although Sebas, Rowell, and Horace couldn’t hide their surprise at my last remark, they ended up acquiescing to my decision since they knew that my remark was spot on.