Memoirs of the Returnee
chapter-333

[Redondo Senator's Sexual Scandal… Shocking…]

Just when Redondo and Berion, the two Senators, felt at ease, I broke the news. The headline was so horrific it was almost spoken of in hushed tones.

Indeed, it involved a child sex scandal.

Both Senators initially suspected Morpheus, but Morpheus was innocent. I had ordered them to pretend to withdraw from Edsilla.

Consequently, Senator Redondo naturally began to suspect others, and eventually, it became clear there was only one likely suspect.

That is, Senator Berion.

In the current situation, the only person who knew about the source and dared to explosively expose a Senator was another Senator, Berion himself.

As a result.

[Suspicions of Bribery Involving Senator Berion…]

Berion's source was also exposed. It was a mutual sniping among the senior Senators.

Having one of them on my side would have made things easier, but this situation wasn't bad either.

They would bleed fighting each other, and the moment there seemed to be a hint of reconciliation, I would continue to fuel the fire.

“lndeed… these are remarkably efficient weapons.”

Leaving those old men behind, I sought out the newer Senators. They were people who could be persuaded and reasoned with.

“But as you know, we don't have enough influence to decide on a defense contractor.”

“Thats alright. Its only a partial bid after aLL”

I gave them a gentle smile.

The defense sector is diverse, ranging from simple guns and cannons to swords, shields, arrows, drones… the variety is endless, depending on whether the target is a monster, a beast, or a human.

For now, securing even a small part of it would suffice.

“lf we can gather strength and secure even a small part, it will be easier from there.”

With two influential Senators busy fighting each other, their usual tactic of crushing the new sprouts is absent.

The newer Senators could also cautiously raise their voices.

“…That sounds feasible.”

Then, the mustached Senator who had been quietly listening to me spoke up.

He was 'Senator Ludeniel； one of our people.

I smiled at him, and he smiled back at me.

This defense contract isn't just a scheme to make money. Its a strategy to establish a 'foundation' for the newer Senators, including Ludeniel, who will become our people.

“You won't regret this.”

The Morpheus contract will undoubtedly become a political achievement for them.

Objectively speaking, the quality of Morpheus' weapons is far superior.

[Morpheus will eventually take over the defense industry, but I needed to think about the upcoming battle situations.]

Derek's plunder had already progressed significantly. Realizing the situation he was in, Derek would naturally wage war.

In other words, a strategy for armed conflict was necessary.

“Here we are.”

The secretive depths of the Intelligence Agency. I visited the underground dungeon with sonya. The new team Leader, Chloe, guided us personally.

“l'll open the door.”

“Yes. Go ahead, Chloe.”

“Yes.”

Chloe left, and the iron bars opened.

Creeeeak—

From such a dark, empty place, there emerged a presence. It wasn't the appearance of someone ravaged by the place; rather, he looked remarkably human.

Even if he didn't shave for a day, he would be covered in stubble, so we forced him to shave daily, and his hair was cut once a week.

Even his nutritional status was decent. No, he Looked much healthier and fleshier than when we first met.

It might have been the prime of his life by his standards.

It was evidence that we hadn't treated him harshly or tortured him unnecessarily.

“…Hey.”

I called out to him. He turned to Look at me. In his hands, he held a novel.

[The Most Beautiful Elf in the World Discovers Me in a Dungeon…]

The book's title was incredibly long.

“Webler.”

I called his name.

Webler.

The werewolf who had killed me before my regression, who had kidnapped sonya, a distant relative of the current Libra.

“Put on quite some weight, haven't you?”

Sonya seemed displeased by that. Indeed, he had grown quite plump. Looked like he could yield thirty portions if butchered.

“Come out.”

I gestured for him to come outside. Webler hesitantly got up. Together, we left the Intelligence Agency.

A hill where the night breeze gently blew.

The three of us stood on that mound.

“…”

Webler seemed somewhat resigned. Perhaps he thought, after being imprisoned for so many years, now was the time he would be killed.

He was mistaken.

Click- Click-

I unlocked his handcuffs with a key. I freed the chains binding his wrists and ankles.

“You're released.”

“…7”

Webler trembled slightly, surprised.

“Four years, right? It's been a Long time.”

I smirked slightly at his reaction.

“I could have released you earlier, but I only gained this much power recently.”

“…”

Webler swallowed. He alternately Looked at his wrists and ankles and then asked.

“Can I really… go?”

His voice was very deep. Truly, it was a charismatic voice.

“Yeah.”

I shrugged my shoulders, gesturing vaguely into the distance.

“However, I have a proposal for you. From now on, it's your choice. We need some people on our side.”

The night sky was devoid of a full moon tonight. The clouds had completely swallowed it, and even if the moon were to reappear, it would only be a crescent.

“You're free to leave now and Live freely with your tribe.”

I had chosen this night deliberately.

It would be a disaster if he turned into a wolf while walking away.

“But if you can help us,” I continued.

Webler looked at me. I did not shy away from his wo If-1 ike gaze.

“Come find us with your tribe.”

Werewolves had been persecuted and oppressed for centuries.

Yet, they were distinctly human.

Not monsters, not beasts, just humans with a unique Spectrum passed down called [BeastificationJ .

“l'll build a village for you. A village where your people can live peacefully, to mingle with humans.”

Webler's eyes widened. He stared at me with eyes as big as moons.

“This might be the last chance for your tribe. Of course, it's a risk for me too.”

“…”

“But I can persuade the lord.”

Here, 'the lord* refers to 'Zia.'

Subtly, I was saying that the person who would help them wasn't Zia, but 'me.'

“lf you trust me, come back…”

I exhaled softly, clenching my fists.

You probably don't understand what kind of courage this takes for me.

“lf you can't,”

Releasing the man who had killed me and embracing him as an ally was the sentiment.

“At least we won't bother your tribe, so live quietly.”

Still, this Level of forgiveness wasn't hard.

You and I, after all, are both victims of Libra.

“…”

Webler stared at me blankly for a moment before turning around. He shuffled his feet a few times and then—rustle-rustle-rustle!

He disappeared over the hill.

“ls it really okay to Let him go Like that?”

Sonya asked next to me.

“Yes. He'll come back.”

He had done so before.

“But even if he comes back, how will you manage him?”

“l'll handle it.”

“…How?”

“W 叫”

I stroked my chin, murmuring.

“Just make sure no civilians are killed, and try to keep the infighting to a minimum, right?”

The werewolves would be used against Derek's balancers and eventually against Sherlock.

Maybe even to kill Zia.

Sonya chuckled softly.

“lnteresting.”

I watched sonya quietly for a moment before murmuring.

“MS. Sonya.”

“Hmm?”

“You've been through a lot.”

Sonya then looked at me quietly. It must have been quite a while since she received any praise.

Derek and Zia were usually quite stingy with their compliments towards her.

Her eyebrows twitched as if surprised.

“I only assisted. I never imagined Zia would be such a capable direct descendant. Of course, it wouldn't have been possible without you or Zia.”

I smiled faintly.

Suddenly, a question popped into my head.

“Ms. Sonya, do you know anything about Lord Sherlock?”

“… H mm.”

She fiddled with her cheek.

“l've only seen him once… He's not easy to describe. I don't know much.”

Sonya, who had Lived in the Aerial Garden for over 30 years, had only seen the Lord once.

There must be something about him.

“By the way, are you sure you don't need any assistive devices?”

I looked at sonya's leg. She was still limping.

“lts okay. This leg should remain as evidence.”

“…Evidence?”

“Yes. Evidence that I was betrayed by that bastard Derek.”

Sonya spat the words out bitterly.

As time passed, Sonya's resentment towards Derek grew so much that cursing him had become as natural as breathing.

“ln that case… I guess celebrations are in order soon.”

“What… Ah~”

Realizing what I meant, Sonya burst into a broad smile.

On a spring day when the frozen river breaks and sprouts begin to emerge.

“…Officially.”

Zia had prepared a modest celebration party.

“lts mine now.”

I easily understood her words.

Through consistent buying and backdoor deals, securing stocks, and the shares of [Industry] and [Commercial District] that Derek had handed over, plus lobbying a few board members.

We had completely swallowed Derek's governance structure.

Now, even after his trial ends, Derek won't be able to return to his company.

No, it's no Longer "his company/

“Congratulations.”

I poured wine for her. Zia sipped her glass with a sigh of relief.

“Hmm… When should we reveal it?”

“lts best to delay as Long as possible. We need to build up our strength in case of e m e rgen cies.”

Honestly, my heart has been fluttering lately. I'm a bit nervous.

It's not for no reason; the werewolves haven't come back yet.

I might have been too generous in letting them go without knowing where their new hideout is.

“Also, Morpheus has secured a portion of the defense business rights.”

“…A portion?”

Zia asked with a somewhat meaningful tone.

“Yes. Our pie will continue to grow, and so will the influence of the Senators we support.”

“Mmm~”

Zia quickly grasped my meaning. It was far better in the long run to increase the influence in the parliament than to swallow the entire defense industry at once.

“Shion.”

She called me.

“Yes.”

“…Thank you.”

Whether there was sincerity in her thanks, or if it was merely a tactic to reassure me, I couldn't yet tell.

But I simply responded like her loyal servant.

“There's still more to be done. Should Derek somehow catch wind of this, I'll inform you immediately, so please stay hidden.”

“Because there might be a war…?”

“Yes.”

Just in case, I had prepared a separate hideout. Zia Looked at me and took another sip of her wine.

Two sips.

Just that was enough to flush her cheeks.

“Shion…”

Her voice trailed off slightly.

“Yes?”

“That… could you show me the Severing Sword?”

The Severing Sword she referred to was probably the 'Severing Sword； but it was an unexpected request.

“lts possible, but here?”

“Yes…”

“Alright.”

Without any fuss, I drew the sword. I executed the simplest form of Severing Sword-Draw. In an instant, the air distorted, and the space seemed to warp.

Zia's eyes widened. She had noticed the 'change in space.'

“lt looks like you sliced through space… How does that work…?”

“I don't really know myself.”

The reason I could replicate the Severing Sword was due to 「Memory」■ [NotepadJ saved the memory.

Before the regression, I merely reminisced and imitated soliette's technique.

“Shion… can it also cut through things that are not visible…?”

Zia's speech was quite slurred.

Was she really tipsy after just two glasses, or was it an act?

She was a person I didn't know. The hardest person to understand.

“Yes. It should be possible.”

Before the regression, Soliette had indeed cut through natural laws with the Severing Sword.

“Then…”

Suddenly, Zia staggered. She wobbled on her legs and then lunged into my chest.

Thump.

Her forehead rested against my chest.

“…7”

I found myself holding her unexpectedly. In that state, Zia fell asleep, and I momentarily stiffened.

Softly.

A pleasant scent rose from her head. It was soft, somehow swirling with a hint of red, like the fragrance of roses.

Then.

Knock-knock—

A sudden knock sounded.

And,

Before I could respond,

——Bang!

The door opened.