Chapter 48
The Imperial Family found themselves in a truly perplexing situation.
Clear stock price manipulation.
An economic criminal who went beyond blatant to practically flaunting their crimes, as if they had no intention of hiding anything.
The malicious criminal who had issued this challenge to the Empire was the great hero who had previously saved them all from demons.
They knew this wasn't right.
They knew that anyone who commits a crime must be punished.
But they also knew about the man called Ryan.
Professor Ryan wasn't the type to do something like this. He wasn't someone who would commit crimes for personal gain. Surely he must have his own reasons.
However, given that he had lied about erasing his memories,
It was impossible to visit him directly and ask his true intentions.
Yet they couldn't ignore the opinions of the people either.
As a result, they were stuck in a situation where they could do neither this nor that.
After much deliberation, the Emperor finally made his decision.
They would investigate H.L. Corporation.
However, if evidence of collusion with Ryan was found, they would destroy all evidence and pretend nothing happened.
The Emperor had chosen his own middle path.
"That is how I came to be here."
The Empire's 5th Imperial Princess.
Lucy Leonhardt spoke thus to Hannibal.
Of course, she hadn't mentioned the internal affairs and confidential matters. She had only conveyed the surface-level information that an audit would be conducted.
"We'll cooperate fully, of course. We've been wanting to clear up these suspicions and prove our innocence."
The CEO welcomed her with a gentle smile.
Lucy maintained proper formality as she entered the company.
The cute sheep mascot that welcomed her.
Hannibal, who gave off the same kind and harmless impression as that mascot, followed instructions diligently and courteously.
When she investigated the company following the expert's advice assigned by His Majesty the Emperor, the results were as expected.
'They said he was so clean that not even dust could be found when shaken.'
Public opinion was surprisingly accurate.
As a place run by a doctor who healed the minds of wounded people, a person who had saved countless lives - no matter where or how she looked, there wasn't a single suspicious aspect.
Rather, what she found were numerous good deeds.
A history of contributing to society even at the cost of profits.
Photos taken holding people's hands. Seeing Hannibal's satisfied smile alongside the joyful slum residents who had received help, one hypothesis came to mind.
'Perhaps Professor tried to help Mr. Hannibal.'
Though no evidence of collusion was found, there was a high probability that their benefactor, who couldn't stand by watching people suffer, had tried to lend strength to Hannibal.
Everyone should pay attention to Mr. Hannibal.
Everyone must learn from his good deeds.
Let's all work together to support H.L. Corporation.
Such a positive message somehow got misinterpreted as stock manipulation.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible this hypothesis seemed.
This must be the full story behind the recent commotion. At the moment she realized this, Lucy knew what she had to do.
Return to her father and report the situation.
Publicly reveal Professor Ryan's true intentions to the masses and immediately clear his name of any false charges of economic crimes.
Once she made up her mind, there was no reason to hesitate.
And so Lucy was about to return to the Imperial Palace, but...
Why was this happening?
Her feet wouldn't lift from the ground.
A strange trembling transmitted from the sword at her waist.
It was as if the holy sword was speaking to her. Saying she mustn't leave here. That unforgivable evil acts were being perpetrated in this seemingly ordinary place.
'Come to think of it...'
This place was too perfect.
The attitude shown by the employees, the records written in the books, the photos lined up as proof of good deeds. All of it was so perfect it created an uncanny sense of dissonance.
We have nothing to hide.
We are innocent so there's no need for suspicion.
The whole company seemed to be making that claim.
Ignoring Hannibal and the employees seeing her off with friendly smiles, she quickly ran in the direction the holy sword's light was guiding her, pushing past them.
A fake wall created by illusion magic.
Passing through it, the scent of blood touched her nose.
Lucy was struck speechless by the scene that unfolded before her.
H.L. Corporation was a company that made dolls for children.
They clearly shouldn't have any connection to butchery.
But then what were these chunks of meat? Why were there so many food supplies stored in this cold freezer? And above all...
Why didn't these organs resemble those of any livestock?
The puzzle pieces started fitting together in her mind.
The Silence of the Lambs.
A group of black magicians who used cannibalism as their source of power.
The Empire's worst criminals who had caused thousands of victims.
That was the true identity H.L. Corporation had been hiding.
...Many footsteps could be heard from behind.
A seemingly warm but hollow smile.
The black magicians who realized their identity had been discovered had completely surrounded Lucy.
All escape routes were blocked.
Before her were monsters more demonic than demons.
"Ah..."
Such a voice escaped involuntarily.
Hearing Lucy's voice, Hannibal Lecter showed his true smile without pretense for the first time.
What was etched on his lips was excitement.
The look of savoring when prey realizes their future and falls into despair, that voice mixed with fear and resignation.
Let's taste more screams, more emotions. Hannibal gave in to his impulses and lunged forward... and was immediately confronted with.
A girl bursting into laughter instead of death throes.
Surrounded by a group of cannibals. The numerical difference was hopeless. Yet in such a situation, Lucy wore the brightest smile, as if something was so amusing.
'Of course He wouldn't make such a mistake.'
The Professor had seen through evil alone once again.
Just as before, He was guiding her who was merely wandering, unable to find the right path.
What situation could be happier than this?
The girl raised her sword proudly before the enemy and declared.
"Watch me, Professor! I'll become a splendid warrior worthy of standing proudly by your side someday!"
A young girl swinging her sword with a bright smile.
Dozens of black magicians fleeing in panic.
It was the moment when predator and prey were reversed.
*****
The press conference hall bustling with gathered crowds.
News about the Silence of the Lambs comes through the communicator. The dismantling of the criminal organization that had terrorized the Empire.
Ryan's true aim was finally revealed.
The situation where it became clear that all of this stemmed from the Professor's noble purpose of eradicating a great evil.
Yet critical voices could still be heard.
Ryan had only good intentions. People who lost money by misinterpreting the professor's words on their own were trying to shift responsibility to the man.
Watching this, the journalist Cromwell clicked his tongue.
'I expected it, but. Still unpleasant to see.'
This is unavoidable human nature.
No one is insensitive to their own losses.
Not everyone is as enlightened as that professor. There are more than enough people who care more about their money lost in this incident than the lives saved.
Cromwell prayed that man wouldn't turn his back on people in disappointment, as he looked toward Ryan.
But something seemed strange about the situation.
Ryan, who surely must have been looking down on everyone.
That professor was sweating nervously while spouting incomprehensible, bizarre words.
"I knew nothing about this. I swear I'm hearing about the cannibal organization for the first time today!"
He knew nothing about H.L. Corporation.
Finding the black magicians was pure coincidence.
"I was just trying to manipulate the stock price of some random company. Money is all that matters to me. I don't care what happens to criminal organizations!"
He doesn't even care about criminal organizations.
Money is all that matters to me, not whether those cursed villains who stole precious friends, lovers, and family get caught or not.
"If only those bastards hadn't been caught, I could have made a few more scores! Why is the Imperial Family only competent at times like this!"
No, those guys shouldn't have been caught.
As long as my pockets get fatter, I don't care if criminals survive and take someone else's precious family.
Horrifically vile remarks.
Despicable behavior impossible to believe was Ryan's doing.
The journalist, bewildered as to why that upright professor would say such things, caught sight of the people.
The shareholders who had clearly been enraged until just now.
The people who had been shouting for him to take responsibility for their lost money were all keeping their mouths shut.
Their lowered faces were etched with shame.
The vile character Ryan had acted out.
Seeing that blatant display, everyone realized.
How unsightly they were, insulting rather than rejoicing when countless lives were saved and heinous criminals were caught.
...Cromwell's face was colored with astonishment.
He couldn't help but be astonished.
The foolish often mistake what nobility is.
They believe without doubt that nobility means wearing fancy clothes, speaking impressive words, and always standing higher than others looking down on them.
But no.
That's not what nobility is.
Even if it means stepping into the mud, even if one's body becomes covered in filth, never hesitating if it means awakening and saving the masses.
That mindset is true nobility.
...He raised his head to look at Ryan. What remained there now was not a professor screaming obscenities.
A Divine Being.
Only an infinitely noble transcendent being remained in that place.