Chapter 51: Chapter51

Chapter51

From such a trifling matter, Cody had just realized he was gettingold, but he didn't have the time to dwell on it.

After seeing Erica off, heimmediately started making his moves.

What came first was contacting the commanding officerof the expeditionary units, Finnegan. Unfortunately, he wasn't wellacquainted with theman whoonce was his company commander.

Therefore, Codyshifted through his relationships looking for a common friend between the commanding officer and himself, which made him thinkof Walsh, an acquaintance of Finnegan who held a position of equal standing as that of a company commander. Hedecided to ask for his help.

He didn't make any grand request of him. Walshwas just asked to invite Finnegan to go to Cody'susualbar on that evening.

Although Walsh had some doubts and specified that Cody would have to pay the whole bill as a condition, he accepted without prying too deeply. Perhaps hetrusted Cody's character.

In the mean time, Cody, who hadcut a deal, immediatelyreadied himself to make his next move before the appointed time, buthe was called to a halt.

["C, captainCody...."]

The three who stopped himwere Robinson, Sid and Ellen.They were wearing thoughtful expressions, unfit of their usually lively selves.

He had roughlyguessed their purpose, but he stilltook it upon himselfto ask.

["Hmm? What do you want?"]

["...is it true that Harold is going to be executed?"]

Said Sid nervously. And Cody confirmed his worries.

["It seems like it."]

[".....-!"]

The three gasped together.

It might have been for a short time but they had belonged to the same unit, thereforethey were likely to have some thoughts on the situation. If it was only about Harold getting executed, they would probably havevoicedtheir opposition loud and clear.

However, they had seenhim. They had seen him turn the major-general into a slab of meatwhile his own body was covered in wounds, and they had seen the cold-blooded eyes that he would turn at his enemies.

A pair of eyesfilled with pure killing intent the likes of which even Cody had hardly ever seen. Being affected by that, and memorizing the fear it had brought was unavoidable.

Especially for Robinson and the othertwo, who didn't have much experience in actual combat.

["...I don't want Harold to die. But I just can't forget the scene from that day..."]

["The one we sawat that time was not the Harold that we know...."]

["Tell us Captain, which one is the true Harold?"]

The three didn't know how to facehim.

The usual Harold, and the Harold from the Vertice forest. Having faced the two versions, they couldn't be blamed for being confused.

["What? How would I know?"]

However,that was Cody'sreply.

His answer was so casual that it threw off the three, leaving themwith their eyes wide open, unable to add anotherword.

Cody continued his words to instruct them.

["As if you couldguess what Harold is like after knowing him for no more than a few months. That'squite superficial of you, isn't it?"]

Perhaps his claimwas too blunt and perfunctory.

But his eyes were serious.

["So, you can only judge him based on what you've personally felt and seen. If I told you to give up on Harold's life, would youconsent to the execution? And wouldyou stay true to that choice to the very end even whenyou're asked for help as sparks of fire fall on his body?"]

Whetherthey resign to the judgement or they oppose it, if they make that choice under the influence of other people's words, there will be a time when they'll regret it.

Robinson and the others are knights, before all else. They need to carry out their own justice.

["So, what will you do?And remember, the criteria here is whether having faith in Harold will allow you to have faith in yourselves or not, alright?"]

While the three found themselves unable to say anything, Cody saw his chance to take his leave.

There were no lies in the words he had just offered them. Sparing the ones who were not resolute enough from getting involved was his own peculiar way of being considerate.

Whether or not that was carried across to them howeverwas not certain.

Well, it's probably fine, Cody told himself as he switched his mood. Sometimes you just have to get involved.

Having parted ways with Robinson and the others, Cody headed to his usual bar where Walsh and Finnegan were supposed to visit. He asked the shopkeeper there if he didn't mind cooperating with something.

It wasn't anything especially difficult. He just wanted an opportunity to spill a drug in a drink of his own choice. Of course, he wasn't going to make someone drink poison or someother dangerous thing.

It was a medicine that hadsome slight traits of a truth serum, with no negative effects on the body. By nature its effects are weak, but it's intended for making someone spill information after getting them drunk.

However, although the one asking was his good friend Cody, the storekeeper did not bend easily, whichwas a matter of coursesince therequest's contents were utterly suspicious.Cody told him it was for a top secret internal investigation that had to been done through forcible means.

In the end, the shopkeeper was coaxed by Cody's eloquence.

Afterwards, putting on a show of patrolling the town, he paid visits to people who were well informedabout the local rumors and people who had intelligence networks in the king's capital.He asked them about any substantialinformation they might have had, like if anything unusual had happened in the surroundings of those who had participated in determining Harold's punishment.

Meanwhile,the sun had made wayfor the moon.

Cody temporarily returnedto the troops' barracks. He threw awayhis inconspicuous armor, switching it with plain garments more fit of the streets, andhe headed to the bar once again. He sat down ona suitable seat and awaited the arrivalof Walsh and his friend.

After that, within less than 30 minutes, Cody'sexpected visitors showed up. Their eyes only met for a moment but it was enough for Walsh to make an overall guess as he lead Finnegan to sit back to back with Cody.

That way, he was able hear their conversation.

Well, though he strained his ears to listen, at first they justkept on rambling.

It's been a while since we he last had a drink together.The wifewon't stop nagging me lately. Don't you have children yet? You should hurry and get married already. And so on.

However, the calm atmosphere was inversely proportional toFinnegan's drinking pace. Perhaps hehad some pent-up anger to release.

An hour after they started drinking, Finnegan's articulation started turning clumsy.

Seeing his chance to act, Cody parted from his seat andinvited Walsh to follow him to the counter with a hand sign. There,he whispered to himwhile including the shopkeeper to the conversation.

["Alright, he should be drunk enough, let's start the plan."]

["Hold on. What plan?"]

Walsh,who was only told to invite Finnegan there for a drink, promptly interjected. He was seriously lacking explanations.

["Well, it's nothing difficult. I just want you to ask him a question―― and make him drink this"]

Cody unwrapped a paper he took from his breast pocket and stealthily dropped some white powder inside an ale that the shopkeeper had put on the counter.

Thepowder melted without a sound.

Walsh seemed to understandwhat it was.

["Hey wait, that's...."](Walsh)

["Could you keep that to yourself andhave him drink this? Oh, also, please clear out the room"](Cody)

["Good grief"](shopkeeper)

While sighing, the shopkeeper left the counter and went from seatto seatto inform the clients that he was closing up shop early.

Though it was going to affect the sales, he wouldmake up for it later with the help of his colleagues and subordinates.

["So, what is it you want to know?"]

["There is that onesubordinate of minewhois likely going to have his head sliced off because of an inexplicable judgement. I want tolearnthe truth of the matter from the people who were involved in thedeliberations."]

["Even if you do that, you can't overrule the decision of the council."]

["I'm well aware of that. It's just some uselessresistance on my part."]

If this didn't go well, he would have to seriously consider joining Erica, as she had half-jokingly suggestedto him.

He wanted to help Harold, no matter what it entailed, Cody's intentions were thatgenuine. Having felt that, Walsh didnot attemptto stop him.

["But you couldend up insome serious trouble, too. If youoverlook this situation, you might get caught, you know? Don't you mind that?"](Cody)

["Hah...... shut the hell up and mind your own business, will you? I just have to ask him about that deliberation, is that it?"]

["Oh man, a friend in need is a friend indeed, am I right?"]

["MaybeI should go home after all"]

["Wait,I was just kidding!"]

For Cody,gettingWalsh's cooperation was the ideal scenario.

And so, Codytold Walsh whichquestions he wanted him to ask.

Whilethey held that conversation,Cody and the others soon became the only four people left in the shop. But in his drunkenness, Finnegan did not seem to be aware of his surroundings as he inclined his glass little by little.

The preparations for the interrogationwere complete.

Walsh, who had received the ale mixed with the medicine, placedit in front of Finnegan.

["There you go"]

["...Thank you"]

Finnegan sluggishly turned his eyes to the drink and tastedit without an ounce of suspicion. He dranka third in a single gulp.

Then, after waiting long enough for the medicine to start taking effect, Walsh asked him.

["That thing the other day was really terrible."]

[".....terrible?"]

["You were commander of theexpedition, right?Who could have seen that coming"]

["That thing...."]

He muttered, feeling terribly dispirited. He did not want to recall the events of the Vertice forest which had brought so many casualties.

But even thoughFinneganwas slow of speech, Walsh had to strike while the iron was hotas the liquor and medicine were taking effect. It was too good of an opportunity to pass on.

["It seems like one of those recruits is going to receive thecapital punishment for treason, but, what did the guydo?"](Walsh)

["I haven't actually seen it, but in the report it's said that he ignoredhis superior's orders and escaped in front of the enemy. He's also suspected of being a spy for wearing a military uniform from the empire."](Walsh)

["Hmm. Well, disobeying the superior's orders and running from the enemy is not unusual for new recruits, so it must be the spy charges.I'm pretty sure that's what lead to the decision of giving him the capital punishment"](Walsh)

["No....."](Finnegan)

WhileFinnegan was completely lost about what to answer, his eyes gradually turned blankunder the effect of the medicine.

["No we didn't decidethat... Butthat person said Harold was dangerous. Therefore, so that he wouldn't kill my wife, for Cynthia's life...."]

It wasn't just the alcoholspeaking.

Finnegan's tone became uncertain.

["Who said it? Dangerous in what way? That has nothing to do with you wife, right?"](Walsh)

["...ah yes, it's not related to her... Butstill, it's no good. Harold being alive is no good. I could have opposed the judgement, but my child will soon be born..... So, I had to...."]

Finnegan's state rapidly turnedodd. His words were incoherent, and his atmosphere was strangeoverall.

Had the medicine worked toowell? As Walshwondered that, Finnegan suddenly stood up. The chair he was sitting on fell backwards from the powerof his brusque move.

And then――

[".....ah, aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAH!"]

Bizarre. As he let out a voice that could only be described as such, Finnegan started running. He ran uptoone of the shop's supporting pillars,grabbed the massive log with both of his hands and began striking his head on it.

As he raised his strange voiceas loud as he could, hekept striking again and again until blood started streamingdown from his forehead.

Thereupon, Codyand Walsh finally came back to their senses and wentto stopthe sudden act of violence.

["Hey wait...!"]

["What are you doing?!"]

The duo pulled him from both sides to stop him from inuring himself. Even so, Finnegan was violently swinging his head left and right as he continued letting out that bizarre voice.

Despite being restrained by two strong men like Cody and Walsh, he kept resisting for more than five minutes.

However, that resistancesuddenly ended. And Finnegan abruptlylost consciousness.

Cody put the exhausted body face up and hurriedly checked his pulse and breathing.

["...He's alive"]

The three let out deep sighs of relief.

For the time being, they had to treat his wounds,so Cody instructed the shopkeeper to fetch some clothsand bandages in the shop. Nobody there could use healing magic.

In any case, he wouldn't be able to hear him out today. Though hisinjury itself seemed pretty light, they didn't know about the insides of his head, so he had to be hospitalized for several days.

The shopkeeperhad gone out, and for a short while, no sound could be heard in the room.As if hecouldn't bear thisanymore,Walsh broke the silence.

["What just happened?"]

["...... Idon't know. All I can tell is thatit can't really be justifiedby the medicine's effects."]

There was no illusion or confusion factor in the medicine he made Finnegan drink. And drinking it with sake was fine as well.

["The Finneganfrom earlierwas nothing like his usual self..."]

["I know right? It's as ifhe was "possessed by a demon"."]

A demon.It was his frank opinion regarding Finnegan's actions.

However, those words he so casually spoke, gave Cody avery bad feeling.