The Council Of Three Hundred

Ravel Lumiore could not believe his subordinate’s report.

He could not think such a thing was remotely possible.

However, the reports laid out before him surely showed that it was the truth.

“I think it is only natural that you find it hard to believe. I felt the same. That is precisely why I went to the region myself and carefully verified the facts—”

His subordinate’s words felt like some foreign language he did not know.

His vision swayed.

Violent confusion.

The path to advancement he had built up was collapsing with a clatter.

After his subordinate left, he leaned back on the sofa in his room and looked up at the ceiling alone.

(What is that incompetent fool doing…!)

A human without magical aptitude had no value in living.

A hopeless defective who could not even understand the common sense everyone knew.

On top of that, it was said that she was now using petty cunning to move to lower the tax burden on the inferior breed.

Every last part of it was foolishness that directly defied the common sense of noble society.

He could not understand at all what she was thinking.

Above all, the fact that his daughter was siding with the inferior breed had the potential to shake Ravel’s position within the Council of Three Hundred.

(I must act immediately. Before the organization finds out this fact.)

It was just as he left his private room to relay orders to his subordinate.

“Lord Ravel. You have a guest.”

At the old butler’s words, Ravel spat out his reply.

“I’m busy right now. Later.”

“However, making Lord Alexis wait would be—”

“Lord Alexis…!?”

Ravel was violently shaken by the name he was told.

The Council of Three Hundred, the highest organization that ruled the magical kingdom from the shadows.

The head of a ducal house who ranked third in the organization’s hierarchy—Alexis Loewegrin.

(I absolutely cannot let him perceive the situation.)

He desperately calmed himself, put on his usual manner, and offered a greeting.

“Thank you for coming. What business brings you here today?”

“I wished to ask you a few questions. About the experiment we are carrying out.”

Alexis said.

“Your frontier territory. The biological weapon experiment in Lineage. What is the status of the infectious disease we created?”

“That is…”

Ravel spoke while consciously trying not to let his inner agitation show.

“There is no problem. It is proceeding smoothly.”

“I see. That is an interesting opinion.”

Alexis narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ravel.

“According to the information I have gathered, the infectious disease problem in Lineage has already been brought to an end.”

At those words, Ravel’s mind went completely blank.

An information-gathering ability frightening enough to inspire terror.

‘There is nothing we do not know. I think it would be wise not to keep secrets from us.’

Words Alexis had spoken before echoed through his mind.

“You said there was no problem. However, in reality, the infectious disease problem has already ended. In effect, our experiment has ended in failure. And yet you say it is proceeding smoothly. A curious story. Several possibilities come to mind.”

Alexis said.

“First, the possibility that you have betrayed us. I must say it was quite skillfully done. It would mean that even I was thoroughly deceived. In that case, we would have no choice but to make you pay, by whatever means necessary.”

“That is outrageous! I have not betrayed you! I swear that is the truth!”

“Is that so? I am relieved.”

Alexis gave a quiet nod and continued.

“Then next, the possibility that you truly did not know the infectious disease problem had ended. I would have no choice but to call you incompetent, but that is unavoidable. A lack of ability is not a crime. Lastly, the possibility that you knew the infectious disease problem had ended and yet did not report it, and tried to conceal it. I would have no choice but to call you a hopeless incompetent, but that too is unavoidable. Being a hopeless incompetent is not a crime, after all.”

Alexis smiled, narrowed his eyes, and said,

“Count Lumiore. Why did you say it was proceeding smoothly?”

Ravel remained silent for a while before speaking.

“I truly did not know. I apologize.”

“So you were still a man with some hope left in you. Good. I am relieved.”

Alexis said.

“Then let me tell Count Lumiore what is happening in Lineage. The daughter you sent as acting lord—Mythia Lumiore. She is the one who brought the infectious disease problem to an end. More than that, in a short span of time, she has gained the trust of the people and has begun reforming the tax system and the farmland.”

“My deepest apologies. That defective daughter of mine has acted on her own—”

“Defective? Not at all. She is only ten years old. Is that not splendid?”

Alexis smiled and continued.

“I hold her in high regard. I can also feel the firm backing of genuine knowledge in the tax and farmland reforms she is carrying out. More than anything, she is trying, all alone, to raise a banner of revolt against this country’s noble society. Is that not a splendid ambition? If she continues to distinguish herself, I would even consider promoting her within the organization. Though in that case, there may be someone who would have to step down from the highest ranks. Someone who is inferior in ability to a ten-year-old girl is not fit to be one of the organization’s top executives.”

“She is an incompetent and useless daughter. There is not a single top executive inferior to her in ability.”

“Is that so? Then I shall look forward to watching how things unfold.”

Alexis said.

“I expect good work from you.”

As he watched Alexis leave the mansion, Ravel’s mind was filled with anger toward his daughter.

(It must never be that a daughter drags down her parent.)

Blood flowed from the fist he had clenched tight.

It was all because of that defect.

Because that incompetent fool had acted on her own, the biological weapon experiment had failed, and there was now even a possibility that he himself would be made to bear the responsibility.

More than anything, the dangerous ideology of trying to treat the inferior breed without magical aptitude as human beings.

The very fact that such a daughter remained in House Lumiore could inflict fatal damage on the family’s standing within noble society.

(I must crush her before these rumors spread any further…!)

Ravel summoned the nobles of the magical kingdom’s Third Assembly who were deeply connected to him and said,

“I do not care what means you use. Crush that useless girl.”