If there was one thing Head Instructor Günter had overlooked, it was that public opinion sometimes possessed tremendous power.
“Did you see it?”
“What?”
“Blind. The exposé that was posted yesterday.”
“Oh, that? Personally, I don't really buy it...”
“Still, I think there's definitely something to it. It's strange.”
“That much is true.”
The academy had already been in turmoil.
Then a controversy that appeared reasonably convincing was raised, making it impossible for it not to become the hottest topic around.
Perhaps because of that.
Head Instructor Günter, who had been silently watching the situation unfold, inwardly felt flustered as things became far noisier than he had expected.
‘This has gotten way too big.’
Perhaps he had been denying it deep down.
...There had been two variables.
The Training Dummy had been far stronger than expected.
And unlike six months ago, Instructor Jin Crow's position and public image had become much better than anticipated.
‘Too many people died. Damn it.’
Of course, he cared only about the cadets who had died.
But naturally, most normal people mourned not only the cadets, but also the soldiers of the 23rd Security Brigade who had lost their lives.
Because of that, they had initially been able to bring down Jin Crow more quickly and pressure Ideale.
However, thanks to a single conspiracy theory thrown out by someone whose identity was unknown—and who might not even be a real researcher—the atmosphere was subtly beginning to change.
The deaths of the cadets had never been what they wanted in the first place.
The original objective had simply been to remove that insignificant Jin Crow once Bishop caused a moderate rampage and restore Ideale to her rightful position.
But Bishop had exceeded all expectations.
To the point where Günter unconsciously understood why the Ministry of National Defense had approved Creature lectures.
In truth, Günter wasn't the only one who had been complacent.
Even the Kukenhauzen main family, who had ordered the operation from behind the scenes, had never imagined that a mere monster-based dummy would cause such devastating damage.
‘Damn it.’
Still, it could be salvaged.
Günter sincerely believed that.
He had used those immature fools who held a grudge against Jin Crow as disposable pawns.
There wasn't the slightest link connecting them to him.
Of course, they probably had their suspicions.
Neither Jin Crow nor Ideale was foolish.
They had likely figured it out.
But as long as it was nothing more than suspicion, no one would dare openly accuse the Kukenhauzen Family.
“Inspector Nelle Meyer. As long as she wraps this up quickly, that's all that matters.”
Günter muttered to himself.
The Kukenhauzen Family always entrusted work to capable people.
She would handle it flawlessly as well.
Believing that wholeheartedly, he silently lit a cigarette and forcibly suppressed the faint anxiety that kept threatening to rise.
“Blind?”
After leaving the interrogation room, Nelle Meyer repeated the word to the deputy inspector.
The lieutenant nodded awkwardly.
“Yes.”
“Tch. How ridiculous. Ignore it.”
The deputy inspector had expected exactly that answer.
Perhaps it was only natural.
After all, it made no sense for an inspector responsible for military discipline to concern herself with public opinion.
Still, he cautiously added,
“If we ignore it, I believe there'll be significant backlash.”
“What do you mean?”
A lieutenant daring to talk back regarding a major's decision?
Nelle Meyer glared at him as though such a thing was unimaginable.
But after hearing the rest of his explanation, she had no choice but to swallow the rebuke she had been about to unleash.
“This isn't an ordinary military academy. It's the Central Special-duty Officer Academy. It would be best to resolve this with as little noise as possible. Furthermore, the families of the deceased cadets and Security Brigade personnel could become a problem later.”
“......”
Perhaps it was because Jin Crow's emotionless eyes and arrogant attitude had left her with an odd sense of inferiority—or simple irritation.
‘He's not wrong.’
The excitement lingering in the back of her mind gradually subsided.
Reason soon took its place.
‘This incident should end with nothing more than Ideale's downfall for failing to restrain Instructor Jin Crow's recklessness. If it ends up looking like we're covering up suspicions involving factional politics, that'll become troublesome in its own way.’
Nelle Meyer couldn't help but have a headache.
Factional politics within the military.
What cadet didn't know about it?
But hearing about suspicions as someone else's problem and witnessing it unfold before your eyes were psychologically very different things.
Moreover, the thought of provoking emotionally unstable bereaved families struck a chord.
What was the most terrifying thing in the world?
Ignorant apes with nothing left to lose.
In the end, after some deliberation, Nelle Meyer frowned and coldly ordered the deputy inspector,
“Bring them here immediately.”
“Pardon?”
Since she hadn't specified whom she meant, the deputy inspector reflexively asked for clarification.
Perhaps his blank expression annoyed her.
Nelle Meyer let out a low sigh before speaking again in an irritated voice.
“The two cadets who had conflicts with the instructor. Find them immediately and bring them to Interrogation Room Three.”
“Y-Yes, ma'am.”
Only then did the deputy inspector understand.
He hurriedly rushed out.
His retreating figure looked exactly like an ape.
Watching him with faint contempt, Nelle Meyer turned her thoughts to the two cadets she had summoned.
‘They're probably the ones who carried it out.’
She didn't know every detail of what had happened.
But she wasn't foolish enough to believe that Head Instructor Günter had personally taken action.
That said, it would be troublesome if the cadets willingly testified.
Which meant her role was...
‘Conduct nothing more than a formality. Just as I did with Jin Crow.’
Though unfortunately, the nature of it would be different.
Having reached that conclusion, she shifted her gaze toward Jin Crow behind the dark glass.
“......What unpleasant eyes.”
They were the eyes of someone who had seemingly transcended everything.
Different from resignation.
Different from giving up.
As though he had never expected anything from the beginning.
Utterly calm.
Utterly still.
‘After being abandoned by the very faction he trusted.’
If she herself were abandoned by the Kukenhauzen Family, would she wear that same expression?
The thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Frowning in irritation, Nelle Meyer sat down and lit another cigarette.
Tap-.
How much time had passed?
After smoking three or four cigarettes to kill off a few brain cells and ease the inexplicable feeling of suffocation, she heard the deputy inspector bringing someone inside.
Hearing that, Nelle Meyer rose from her seat and entered Interrogation Room Three.
‘According to procedure.’
After chain-smoking, her muddled thoughts felt somewhat clearer.
There was no need to overthink things.
She had already drafted the inspection report in her head.
“Name.”
“......Aton Christen.”
“M-Martin Brown.”
Nelle Meyer looked over the two cadets.
Both were quite large.
Aton was a handsome man with a lean, athletic appearance.
Martin had a rugged, masculine look.
After studying their faces, she motioned for the deputy inspector to leave before speaking.
“I'm Inspector Nelle Meyer. You know why you're here, don't you?”
“Yes.”
“......”
Aton nodded calmly enough.
Martin, on the other hand, lowered his head, his nervousness and unease obvious at a glance.
In contrast, Nelle Meyer smiled warmly and leisurely—quite unlike her usual self—as she addressed them.
“You've only been summoned as witnesses, so there's no need to be nervous. Especially you, Martin. If you're nervous, feel free to smoke.”
“Th-Thank you.”
Martin instinctively reached for the cigarette in his pocket.
Then quietly placed it on the desk instead.
Meanwhile, Aton immediately lit one as though he had been waiting for permission.
Watching him briefly, she finally asked her prepared question.
“The reason you two have been called here is because certain suspicions have arisen regarding the recent incident. The possibility is extremely low, and I personally don't suspect you. This is merely a procedural requirement, so answer comfortably.”
She had phrased it in an extremely roundabout way.
Simply put, however, it meant,
'I know you're guilty, but I'll pretend I don't.'
Perhaps Aton understood immediately.
His eyes briefly gleamed.
Suppressing the smile threatening to rise, he answered,
“Yes, understood.”
“Good. It would be best if Cadet Aton answered.”
By this point, Nelle Meyer had completely grasped the atmosphere.
Aton nodded.
What followed, just as she had intended, was a series of utterly meaningless and purely procedural questions and answers.
“Where were you on the day of the incident?”
“I was attending Instructor Degrick's lecture. Martin was as well.”
“That can be verified through the attendance records.”
Their alibi at the time of the incident was, in truth, completely meaningless.
Neither of them cared.
“There's been talk that you held a grudge against Instructor Jin Crow. Is that true?”
“It's true that there were incidents between us. However, I considered them disciplinary measures for my own misconduct and have been living quietly ever since.”
“Proof?”
“I haven't received a single demerit since that day. There was one occasion when I sparred rather aggressively, but it was entirely by mutual agreement.”
“Your attitude of reflection is commendable as well. I'll make note of it.”
Quite literally, questions and testimony designed to establish innocence.
“Very well. Martin Brown. I assume your answer is similar?”
“......Y-Yes.”
Watching it all unfold felt like witnessing a poorly written play.
Nausea welled up inside Martin.
But under the cold gaze Nelle Meyer directed at him, he could only force out a few replies.
Before even ten minutes had passed, Nelle Meyer closed the device she had been writing on as though her business was finished.
Then she stood.
“The investigation is over. You may leave.”
“Yes, Inspector.”
Aton saluted her with the brightest expression he had worn in recent days before leaving.
Martin, meanwhile, departed the interrogation room without saluting, his face utterly dark.
Creeeak.
After both cadets had left, Nelle Meyer remained seated.
She stared disdainfully at the chair Martin had occupied moments earlier.
“......Damn it. Of all people, they had to use an idiot like that.”
He had the build of a mountain.
Yet judging by his expression, all it would take was the slightest trigger for him to spill everything.
Ordinarily, she would have preferred to ignore him.
But if he turned himself in, the entire plan would fall apart.
“......Tch.”
In the end, after some deliberation, she immediately activated her Watch and sent a short message to the account labeled 'G.'
-Make sure M keeps his mouth shut.
After sending the brief yet chilling message, she confirmed that it had been read.
Then, as though nothing had happened, she left Interrogation Room Three and returned to the interrogation room where Jin Crow was waiting.
“Nothing is going to change.”
After all, removing a mad instructor who had lost his backing couldn't possibly be that difficult.
That was the accepted truth.
...Yes, provided Rosen had truly abandoned him.
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