Chapter 1031 – #246_Count Cagliostro (5)
#1025
1.
When people become desperate, their vision tends to narrow.
Even if it’s something they’d normally dismiss with a “Nah, probably not,” if it’s a matter of life or death, they can convince themselves with “That makes sense?” “That could be possible?” “This is it,” creating a confirmation bias.
“……”
Siwoo went to the academy’s archive and opened the artifact catalog.
It was originally a precious book from the Geminai family, but it was donated when the academy was founded.
“Found it.”
Is the clue found in this book truly a clue to solve the case? Or is it just a simple confirmation bias?
Siwoo carefully read the contents recorded in the book along with the detailed hand-drawn pictures.
‘The Ring of Nickele.’
A gaudy ring with a large red ruby set in a bizarre goldwork.
It was a camouflage artifact that formed a pair with ‘Brisingamen.’
If Brisingamen was an item that maximized femininity and beauty, making even a sturdy man look like a beautiful woman, the Ring of Nickele was said to have the ability to perfectly imitate the appearance of a specific person.
“Takasho would love this.”
If it were the Adonai Takasho couple with their eccentric tastes, they would make good use of this ring for various purposes.
Let’s stop with the silly thoughts and organize.
The following two pieces of evidence support the idea that ‘Count Cagliostro is someone in disguise.’
The suspicions that have been circulating within the academy for the past three months.
Count Cagliostro wearing the Ring of Nickele.
Let’s continue the reasoning based on the premise that the suspicion is true through the above evidence.
“Then it wouldn’t be Lilith.”
According to Lydia’s information, Lilith’s magnetic magic is related to ‘history’ or ‘the past.’
It has already been observed that Lilith can transform into another witch, perfectly imitating not only her speech and behavior but also her magnetic magic.
There would be no need for her to borrow the power of an artifact.
If the Count Cagliostro-Lilith theory is false, the following inference naturally arises.
“Then it could be a spy from the Solidus Merchant Guild.”
The Solidus Merchant Guild.
A group of public enemies and exiles from Hexennacht led by ‘The Golden Coin Witch’ Lydia Magnus.
Outwardly, the Solidus Merchant Guild and Lydia acted as ‘moderates,’ but it is known that this was just a mask to pursue their own interests.
In any case, they belong to Hexennacht and are an enemy force of Gehenna.
Moreover, since Lydia was the owner of Brisingamen, it is not unlikely that she also possessed the Ring of Nickele, which could be obtained from the same homunculus.
For that reason, the new theory of Count Cagliostro being a spy has emerged.
“…This isn’t something I can handle alone.”
The next day, early in the morning.
Siwoo invited the Grand Matriarch, the Little Matriarch, Dean Sophia, Yesod Mama, and Sister Periwinkle, all of whom were well-versed in the Gehenna situation and trustworthy, to a meeting.
This was because he thought he needed someone who could judge the situation more objectively.
“The academy director has grown a lot. When I first met him, he was just a snot-nosed kid who didn’t know anything about the world, and now he can gather such important people with just a word.”
Periwinkle, who arrived last, looked around with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
She knew it, but seeing it with her own eyes was a different experience.
Even if you searched Gehenna thoroughly, there would be few people who could arrange a small gathering with this much influence in just a few hours.
“I asked them to come because it was urgent.”
“Hmm, okay. It’s a bit annoying to be rushed to come early in the morning, but our academy director gives out a lot of salary and bonuses.”
“…I’m sorry, but there are no bonuses planned. We’re in financial trouble.”
“Really?”
Periwinkle, wearing a sexy but elegant actress dress and high heels as usual.
She walked over and lightly bit Siwoo’s earlobe.
“This older sister doesn’t mind bonuses in other forms.”
“Just take the money.”
He forced a wry smile and brushed off Periwinkle’s advances, but…
“What? There was such a welfare policy? Sounds good?”
Sophia approached, as if she had discovered something interesting.
“There isn’t, there isn’t.”
-Papat!
He felt the gaze of the Grand Matriarch piercing his back.
Come to think of it, except for Dean Sophia, everyone had a relationship with Siwoo.
Even Sophia had given him a handjob and a paizuri…
He realized that the karma he had accumulated was quite significant.
Anyway, the meeting of the mamas, whose average mid-size exceeded an E cup, began.
“Siwoo, why did we gather here?”
“Everyone here is someone I trust, but what I’m about to say must never be revealed to the outside.”
At Countess Yesod’s question, Siwoo immediately got to the point.
It was a problem he had been pondering over the past night.
Siwoo tried to explain as neutrally as possible.
The reactions to it were as follows.
First, the two matriarchs.
“Siwoo, this is honestly ambiguous. We can have suspicions, but there’s not enough evidence to take action.”
“For now, let’s keep it in mind and focus on how to respond to Dandelion’s exposé, which is the main issue.”
Their reaction was lukewarm.
Next was Sophia.
“I understand how you feel, academy director, but these kinds of rumors pop up in the salon several times a day. Even if it’s a camouflage artifact, there’s a possibility it was used for cosmetic purposes, right? I agree with the two of them.”
Her reaction was also lukewarm.
Next was Mama Yesod.
“Siwoo, of course, there will be Hexennacht’s lackeys in Gehenna. But Count Cagliostro? I know your vision has narrowed, but you need to be calm in times like this. It’s not at an irreversible level yet.”
Everyone was of the stance that Siwoo’s judgment was wrong.
And why wouldn’t they be? Who is Count Cagliostro?
One of the Seven Counts and a big figure in Gehenna, second only to Duke Erelim in influence.
For Hexennacht to eliminate such a person and plant them as a spy would sound like a far-fetched delusion beyond a conspiracy theory.
“……”
However, there was one person with a serious expression.
Periwinkle, who always had a bright smile, had her lips tightly shut, stroking her brow with a troubled look.
“What about you, Periwinkle?”
“…I think it’s possible. No, at least it’s worth considering.”
It was too serious of an issue to reveal even in this place, but in fact, the most solid conviction regarding this matter was elsewhere.
‘The Witch of Aries,’ who took the lead with the hegemony of ‘Making Witches Great Again,’ greatly reduced the position of Lydia and the Solidus Merchant Guild, and seized power.
‘Psyche Tigarden,’ an old witch who had lived for over 1,000 years and was once the leader of Qliphoth, was an undercover agent for Gehenna.
It was a top-secret clause known only to Duke Erelim, but Periwinkle knew about it because she was Psyche’s best friend.
Siwoo also happened to find out about it when he went to the mortal world to pick up Periwinkle a while ago.
Like this, the information warfare in the witch society is fierce.
If Gehenna is doing that kind of trick, why wouldn’t Hexennacht be able to do it?
Therefore, unlike the others, Periwinkle was siding with Siwoo’s opinion.
“You wouldn’t have said it if there wasn’t a way to confirm it, right?”
“Periwinkle, I know you trust Siwoo, but please don’t get his hopes up for no reason.”
“Hopes up? I’m just saying it because I really think it’s possible.”
When Periwinkle asked as if testing the waters, Albireo stepped forward.
In Albireo’s view, Siwoo was just taking nonsense seriously because he was too flustered right now.
Just like how people who believe in conspiracy theories give legitimacy to ridiculous logic.
He was still a young witch, so it was understandable.
It didn’t look bad, and he had no intention of blaming him.
However, he didn’t want to see him get into more trouble by listening to the wrong advice and making the wrong choices.
Whether he liked it or not, he was his son-in-law.
“What if it’s not? Everyone except Periwinkle seems to be against it?”
“But what if it’s true? Wouldn’t that mean there’s a huge hole in Gehenna’s security?”
Siwoo stopped Periwinkle and Albireo, who were about to sharply confront each other.
“Everyone, calm down. I also think it’s not enough with just this.”
They couldn’t act rashly.
The opponent was the head of the Emerald Tablet, and they also had a hold on Siwoo’s weaknesses.
Even if this suspicion was true, if they tried to grab him by the collar ambiguously, they would lose their hands.
And if they took the risk and grabbed him by the collar, and the suspicion turned out to be false?
Congratulations.
The Hesed Academy would be shut down that day.
They wouldn’t just lose their right to vote, they would be stripped bare and devoured.
“So, there’s one last thing I want to confirm. You could say it’s a gamble.”
“Siwoo, did you hear what I said?”
“Calm down, Siwoo. I really don’t think this is it.”
So, one more thing was needed.
One piece of evidence that would allow them to be certain about Count Cagliostro’s identity.
“So, there’s something I’d like you to help me with.”
2.
A day later.
Count Cagliostro was in a good mood after receiving a letter.
The letter was from Shin Siwoo.
The concisely written message stated that he would accept the Emerald Tablet’s proposal and would like to have dinner together tonight.
There was also a postscript saying that he would bring good wine.
“I knew it. There’s no way he could hold out forever. Ohohoho!”
He had been preparing to subtly bring him down since last time, but Shin Siwoo had been cleverly avoiding the castle’s checks with his strange skills.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t go against the tide.
With this, he would be able to gain great profits by using a small investment in a promising academy as leverage.
It was annoying that he had been acting up all this time, but Count Cagliostro decided to generously show the magnanimity of a victor.
He prepared a wonderful dinner and waited for about 5 hours.
Today’s protagonist, Shin Siwoo, arrived.
He was holding an umbrella in one hand and a decent bottle of wine in his arms.
“Ohoho! You’ve come! That’s a perfect drink for an aperitif. It must have been hard in the rain.”
“Not at all. It’s an invitation from the Count. I would have come even if a typhoon was raging, not just rain.”
Shin Siwoo was groveling with a sweet voice.
Unlike when he was arrogant with a fancy title, his attitude was definitely more submissive.
“Do you think it’ll be fun if you say things like ‘Just look at this for a bit before we eat’?”
“I apologize for my past rudeness. I look forward to your guidance in the future.”
“Oh my! Guidance, what are you talking about? Ohohoho! Come on in. I went to the kitchen and tasted it, and the lamb is very delicious today.”
The elated Count Cagliostro led Siwoo into the reception room.
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