Chapter 51 (1/2)

Chapter 51

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

After seeing Erica off, he immediately started making his moves.

What came first was contacting the commanding officer of the expeditionary units, Finnegan. Unfortunately, he wasn’t well acquainted with the man who once was his company commander.

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

He didn’t make any grand request of him. Walsh was just asked to invite Finnegan to go to Cody’s usual bar 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 he trusted Cody’s character.

In the mean time, Cody, who had cut a deal, immediately readied himself to make his next move before the appointed time, but he was called to a halt.

【”C, captain Cody….”]

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

He had roughly guessed their purpose, but he still took it upon himself to 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, therefore they were likely to have some thoughts on the situation. If it was only about Harold getting executed, they would probably have voiced their opposition loud and clear.

However, they had seen him. They had seen him turn the major-general into a slab of meat while 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 eyes filled 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 other two, 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 saw at 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 face him.

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’s reply.

His answer was so casual that it threw off the three, leaving them with their eyes wide open, unable to add another word.

Cody continued his words to instruct them.

【”As if you could guess what Harold is like after knowing him for no more than a few months. That’s quite superficial of you, isn’t it?”]

Perhaps his claim was 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 you consent to the execution? And would you stay true to that choice to the very end even when you’re asked for help as sparks of fire fall on his body?”]

Whether they 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 however was 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 some other dangerous thing.

It was a medicine that had some 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, which was a matter of course since the request’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 informed about the local rumors and people who had intelligence networks in the king’s capital. He asked them about any substantial information 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 way for the moon.

Cody temporarily returned to the troops’ barracks. He threw away his inconspicuous armor, switching it with plain garments more fit of the streets, and he headed to the bar once again. He sat down on a suitable seat and awaited the arrival of Walsh and his friend.

After that, within less than 30 minutes, Cody’s expected 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 just kept on rambling.

It’s been a while since we he last had a drink together. The wife won’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 to Finnegan’s drinking pace. Perhaps he had 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 and invited Walsh to follow him to the counter with a hand sign. There, he whispered to him while 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.

The powder melted without a sound.

Walsh seemed to understand what it was.

【”Hey wait, that’s….”](Walsh)

【”Could you keep that to yourself and have him drink this? Oh, also,  please clear out the room”](Cody)