Chapter 87 – The Pivot Point (2)
“It’s an absurd accusation. Please let me see my disciples. What have you done to them?”
“Oh, absurd accusation? We’ve already investigated everything.”
As Renia bared her teeth and grasped the bars, the lawyer sent by the federation government chuckled with a smirk, his mustache twitching.
In that moment, Renia felt an impulse to rip the rat-faced man’s face apart.
“Don’t even touch the tasks I’m currently undertaking. Do you understand what kind of situation this world is in?! We need to find a countermeasure as soon as possible!”
“That’s not my concern, so I wouldn’t know. Just sit quietly until your sentence is executed. This whole thing was reported by Taizhu, an official from your own clan.”
“That bastard…”
At the mention of Taizhu, her ears and tail stood erect, and the veins in her hands and forehead bulged. If it weren’t for the restraints on her wrists, she could have easily torn the bars apart with her strength.
“Ahem, then I’ll take my leave.”
However, the intense anger emanating from her was too overwhelming to be masked by the restraints, so the lawyer hurriedly coughed and rushed out.
Left alone in the cold underground prison, Renia had to stand still for a while to suppress her rage.
‘This isn’t the time for this. Those foolish people, they only want to continue as they have been.’
The most infuriating part wasn’t the accusation and false charges instigated by someone from her own kind out of jealousy. It wasn’t even the punishment that would be executed publicly days later or the time she had to spend in the cold prison.
What upset her the most were the people acting as if nothing was wrong, despite not knowing how many would die when disaster struck.
It had already been quite some time since she publicly declared the need for preparedness against the impending threat and emphasized the necessity of uniting as one.
Yet, despite evidence emerging and the crisis approaching, many still didn’t realize the gravity of the situation and treated it lightly.
“Is it my lack of capability?”
Eventually, she plopped down on the floor, gritting her teeth.
She had thought that if only there were thorough investigations and research results, she could persuade and mobilize people. It was a limitation of someone who had spent a lifetime studying at a desk.
To sway public opinion, one needed seasoned politicians and adeptness in politics; the earnestness of an unwavering scholar and complicated academia proved less effective than she had painfully realized of late.
“Have you finally realized your place?”
“You, you bastard. How dare you come here…”
At that moment, someone laughed and approached, overhearing her lament.
A young man with fox ears and a tail like hers. However, he only had one tail. His origin was different from hers as a being.
Because of that very reason, Renia dismissed him and paid him no mind. She thought that someone who was clearly inferior to her wouldn’t have any ability to harm her.
“Renia, you’ve always been a woman who lived to savor her own brilliance. Perhaps it wouldn’t be entirely wrong to say you’d just foolishly dabbled in academia, surrounded by followers. But how dare you poke your head into the political arena? Know your place.”
He saw an opportunity the moment Renia stepped out of her comfort zone in the academic field and into his domain of politics and the federation government. A chance to bring her down.
“Does this situation look like one that should be influenced by pathetic power or political ideologies? The end is approaching. Just like ten thousand years ago, when the tower collapsed, and the mythical era came to an end, our era might end too!”
“Even back then, there were survivors, and their descendants, we, have flourished again. There’s no guarantee it won’t repeat!”
Even when Renia grew furious, he persisted without backing down. Shocked by his demeanor, which seemed indifferent to the potential for mass death, Renia was momentarily at a loss for words.
“This world has become overly stagnant. The old relics refuse to step down from their positions, and the overgrown masses only whine. Perhaps it’s for the best. A complete cleansing wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
“How can you say such insane things! Without people, the power you desire cannot exist.”
“You’re still spouting nonsense like a desk-bound scholar. Haven’t you realized yet? Power exists anywhere. Anytime, anywhere…”
His eyes glinted as he looked down at her. In that instant, Renia caught a glimpse of a swirling dark energy within those eyes but couldn’t grasp its nature.
“Just rot quietly underground. I’ll be sure to watch you suffer pitifully as you’re whipped.”
Having thoroughly humiliated Renia, he left with a sense of victory. Watching him leave with a dazed expression, Renia let her hands drop helplessly.
‘Iriliana.’
As her strength drained away, a certain face appeared in her mind. The face of someone who could understand her heart the best, though she didn’t know where they were at that moment.
She had ultimately failed her mission.
Renia could only hope that Iriliana, who was still active, would somehow find a way to save the world.
*
“In the Beastman Federation, we stand out as completely unfamiliar outsiders. Do you really think it’s wise to hide our identity?”
“I don’t know what’s happening there. I don’t think it’s necessary to reveal our identity from the start.”
“Hmm, it’s just that the existence of High Elves has already been made known to the entire world.”
Patrick stroked his beard, appearing puzzled. However, Iriliana had already made her decision.
Using her other hidden identity, yet to be revealed to the world, she resolved to secretly gather more information from the Beastman Federation, where Renia was located.
“As you said, I’ve already revealed my identity. If I simply show up, I might receive some hospitality, but I doubt I can gather useful information to rescue Renia.”
Having come up with a plan with certainty that Renia had been unjustly accused, Iriliana set her sights on overturning public opinion. She intended to escalate this incident to the level of the ‘Renia Gate’ and turn the federation government upside down, but for that, she needed information first and foremost.
“I can reveal my identity later. If things go awry, we can just rescue Renia and leave.”
“Do you really think that’s possible? That fox spirit may be remarkable, but still, she’s just a professor…”
“Once it’s on the nose, it’s jewelry; once it’s on the ear, it’s earrings. Isn’t that what politics is about?”
Iriliana chuckled at Lila’s cautious remark.
Ever since awakening to this world, she had spent more time seeking the unorthodox than adhering to established factions. When faced with a problem, she tended to focus on resolving it more easily and quickly rather than conventionally solving it.
This situation was no different. While those like Lila might see it as an unorthodox behavior, Iriliana had no qualms about acting that way.
In this regard, she had been deeply influenced by Ethan, who thrived in the shadows.
“Ethan’s organization and the Church of Light will assist us. Since we don’t have much time, let’s handle this as quickly as possible.”
Iriliana skillfully directed her companions, and in just a day, they were able to leave for the Beastman Federation. They presented themselves as adventurers hired by the Church of Light stationed in the Federation.
At that time, Renia was meeting with Taizhu in the underground prison.
“Damn it, receiving this kind of scrutiny again.”
The elf Arisa, whose face was known, did not accompany them. Thus, Patrick ended up walking with three girls dressed as maids, his face reddening from the glances he received from every direction.
This location was a kind of international city called Kazak, where many other races coexisted alongside humans, so it was only natural for him to attract attention.
“Welcome, Sir Patrick. We’ve received notice from the main group ahead of time.”
They were able to easily contact a priest from the Church of Light. The sagging-eared priest welcomed them as guests from the main group, rather than as unfamiliar humans.
Thanks to that, they could blend into the city without any particular suspicion.
“This is the information we’ve gathered so far.”
And there, they also made contact with an informant dispatched by Ethan. After briefly skimming through the materials given by the informant, Patrick discreetly tossed them to Iriliana behind him.
“So, do you see any possibilities? The chance to shake this country.”
“It’s ambiguous.”
After reviewing the materials, Iriliana let out a sigh with a complex expression.
