Chapter 204: Twenty-third Episode: Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 204: Twenty-third Episode: Chapter 5

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

On the 17th day of the 2nd month in Year 801 in Church Calendar, the headline on the newspaper published by Titan's Official Publications printed the large words of ”Head of Secret Service Department Heavily Injured by Assassin”. Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette sat in the large living room of Kenshin Palace. That government notice was circulated between his trusted generals.

The men were smoking while the servants poured liquor into their wine glass. The Prince seemed like he was in a good mood. He joked around with his soldiers, judged the language of the notice as if this was some sort of joke and even praised the desserts on the plates.

It seemed that no one cared about the Head of Secret Service at all. The people simply ”reminisced” on Rudolf Hoss' past as if this guy had already passed away.

It was about in the evening when the dining hall in Kenshin Palace had completed preparing for dinner, Prince O'Neil finally confirmed the location of Rudolf Hoss. The Head of Secret Service Department stayed in his mansion with tight security. Even the Imperial Palace sent out a team of paladins and Capital Security Division sent out two squadrons of knights to close off the nearby streets.

When Oscar was considering carefully the possibility of double assassination, news came to Kenshin Palace, ”Her Majesty the Empress Alanis has arrived!” Oscar thought that things would not simply go his way.

Her Majesty simply scanned the soldiers who retreated from the hall with the corner of her eyes. Just as she thought, her husband did not welcome her with a hug. Instead, he stood far away and bowed to her respectfully. Alanis waved her hand impatiently and sat in the main seat in the living room. Then, she looked around anxiously.

Oscar's Kenshin Palace was still the same as before. Alanis was once the mistress of this place. She knew everything here by heart. When her gaze fell upon her husband, Her Majesty sighed deeply. She was extremely unfamiliar with the man in front of her as if this man was a person whom she never knew and understood.

”Thank you for the flowers! I love it!” Alanis tried to make her smile seemed friendlier.

Oscar was stunned for a moment, only then he recalled that today was the day he moved out. In the morning, he gave a bouquet of roses to his wife.

”Just that?” the Prince sat beside the Empress and glanced worriedly at his wife.

As expected, Alanis waved her hands. She was about to enter the real topic.

”You ask Baron Messier to go to Swan Hill. I am guessing, you are about to use those assassins, then take your chance at some poor guy.”

Oscar chuckled, ”Of course not! I left my mother's painting at Swan Hill Castle. You know that place no longer belongs to me. I have to take it away.” The young Prince showed a confident smile. He almost wanted to applaud his excuse but he knew his wife was going to shoot a disdainful look at him.

”I understand what you think at least by a little!” Alanis glared at Oscar, ”You won't let him go even if he is just a person on the verge of dying!”

Oscar touched his nose. He knew what his wife meant.

The Empress turned her head away furiously. It seemed that she did not want to talk about this but she could not help but despised Oscar who acted as if nothing had happened.

”Tell me! On what basis do you think I will believe that you won't deal with Rudolf Hoss?”

Oscar shrugged, ”I don't understand. Why should I deal with him?”

Alanis had had enough with this insane way of communication with her husband. They were either at each other's throat or pushing the blame at each other. One of them understood clearly while the other tried to act dumb and innocent.

”Aren't you leaving?” the Empress finally spoke out after a momentary silence. There was a period when she wanted him to stay by her side even in her dreams, but now…”Enough, Oscar! If you want to leave, leave quickly. The best time is now!”

”Now?” Oscar widened his eyes.

”That's right! Now. Don't do things that make me feel terrible,” Alanis suddenly exploded in anger, ”Bring your Red Tiger, your Special Combat Brigade and all the agents of Military Intelligence Bureau who works for you in the dark! Oh right! Don't forget about your lover and illegitimate son! Bring these people and leave Dulin! Head to Vielonna or Andrew Haila. The further the better. Go wherever that you want!”

Oscar saw the impatience of his wife, but he could not understand why Alanis would change so quickly. The attitude she showed him only indicated that she considered this matter rather rashly.

”Alanis, I knew Rudolf's matter made you furious, but aren't you too upset about it? You should treat this matter correctly. Moreover, it wasn't me who got Rudolf in that state. An effect presupposes a cause. Count Hoss' matter is completely due to his own actions. If he did not force that assassin to a corner...”

”Don't tell me about this!” Alanis stopped her husband strictly. She used great strength to pull away the arm Oscar held around her shoulder.

The Prince stared at his wife for a moment and at last, he said, ”I will bring my units and leave Dulin if this is what you wish. Then--”

”Yes! I wish you will leave Dulin tonight!” Alanis interrupted her husband determinedly.

Oscar opened his mouth and blinked. He found that he had nothing more to say.

”Will you allow me to visit Count Rudolf Hoss before I go?”

Alanis looked at her husband with alert, ”Utilize your time to pack your stuff. Are you really interested in a man who was about to die? Every doctor who visited Count Rudolf Hoss said he won't live past tonight.”

”That is why I am visiting him. After all...” Oscar considered his choice of words properly. He could not say that he wanted to confirm that that guy would die, ”After all, both of us have served two Emperors. According to the sayings of the easterners, this is fate.”

Her Majesty the Empress nodded lightly. She heard about the explanation of this word from the viewpoint of the simplistic value of easterners. However, a majority of what she heard described the meeting between a couple.

”If you want to visit him, then come with me. I don't know how the Head of Secret Service is doing now. Maybe we will only see his body.”

Oscar stood up from the sofa and reached out his arm for his wife, ”You should say ex-Head of Secret Service Department.” The Empress took his arm but rolled her eyes at him.

Count Rudolf Hoss' mansion was located at a small forest at the outskirts of Dulin city. This was the land owned by the family of Count Hoss. Tall trees completely covered the mansion hidden in it. Through the light between the branches, the visiting people only saw the white paint of the roof and the large nest built by the birds at the window of the attic.

When the couple arrived, it was already 9 at night. The sound of carriage traveling on the rocky roads alerted the soldiers who were hiding in the forest. The warriors of the squadrons rushed over with fire torches, but it only took a few yells of the paladins of the Imperial Guard to chase these guys away. Only a few surprised military officers were showing the way in front of them.

The mansion was well-lit. Every window in this three-story mansion was emitting light. The Capital Security Division was already notified, and the soldiers had removed the roadblock in front of the gate. The knights stood at two sides of the road in a neat arrangement. When the carriage of the Empress passed by, everyone raised their weapons and cheered. Huge sound waves brought about strong wind and the light around the mansion danced with it. Even the sceneries that were shone by the flame danced away proudly like some sort of infuriated beasts.

The Empress went out of the carriage, hand in hand with her husband. The servants in the mansion and the officers that stayed here all came forward. Oscar saw the doctor of the Imperial family was among the bunch, thus greeted him first. Also, he also asked about the situation of ”ex-Head” of Secret Service Department.

As expected! The unfortunate Rudolf Hoss only had one breath left. The shovel was still stuck in his stomach. The doctors could not do anything. They were afraid that the Head of Secret Service would die if they took it out.

”There are already signs of infection to the wound...” the doctor moved his mouth anxiously, ”That shovel pierced Count Hoss' large intestine. Because the wound is too deep in the large intestine...”

”The feces?” Oscar chuckled at the stuttering doctor. He knew the old doctor would not be able to say this word in front of the Empress.

”Urgh...that's right!” the doctor sneaked a glance at Her Majesty's expression. As expected, the almighty Empress turned her head away with disdain. The doctor could only turn to the seemingly interested Prince.

”You should know how dirty that thing in the large intestine must be. It has always been the strongest source of infection! Even the surface of Count Hoss' wound is not affected just yet, but I believe the wound beneath the skin has completely festered, judging from the disgusting smell. When Her Majesty and you go in, it is best to wear masks. Even though we have lighted the fragrant oil, but the smell is still strong when you are very close to the patient...”

”Enough!” Alanis glared at the old doctor with white hair in disgust. She thought she had the need to change the doctor. This guy was not even on par with the fourth grader at Imperial Medical Academy! It was him that could not do anything for her father. He even said that he could not save the people who were destined to be summoned by God of Light! (Monologue) Listen to that. Is that what a doctor will say?

If praying could relief the illness, then why should they need a doctor in this world?

”How is his mental state? Can he speak?” Oscar patted the furious Alanis. He tried to calm her down. Her Majesty's mood was terrible tonight. The people who met her would get a scolding from nowhere.

The old doctor showed the way as he sighed, ”Fever, stutter, fluctuating mental state, but sometimes he will be conscious.”

Oscar said ”Ola”. He confirmed that this was indeed the comment given about a man on the verge of death.

Rudolf's mansion could only be described as simplistic. There were not many extravagant decorations like other noble families. Nor there was any oil painting and sculpture by famous artists. Even the wallpaper was a monotone color. The Empress told her husband when she noticed that he was looking for those. The integrity of the Head of Secret Service Department was obvious. Oscar nodded in agreement, but he said instead, ”The officer who was assassinated is usually not likable.” In the end, Alanis who was upset did not say anything further.

Just as what the doctor had said, ex-Head of Secret Service Department's bedroom had numerous candles and fragrance oil lighted. The whole room was filled with the scent of Faran's perfume. The people who walked into the room became dizzy due to the strong scent. Alanis frowned and covered her nose. She simply took a glance at the bed before turning away.

Oscar called his wife, ”Are you leaving me here alone? Aren't you scared I may do something to a person who was about to die?”

Alanis glanced at her provocative husband with a scornful look, ”Whatever...”

Oscar saw his wife walking out of the door, then approached Rudolf Hoss' sick bed.

Ex-Head of Secret Service was such a smart and incredible person. But now? His face was as pale as the monster who had not drunk blood for numerous days. His whole body was trembling. The white sheet that covered him was stained with viscous blood. The most outrageous part was that the shovel stood out so much as if a tent was built at the lower stomach of the Count. It was not strange that Oscar had to laugh when he saw it.

”Laugh...laugh all you want...”

”You are awake?” Oscar calmed down and looked strangely at his rival.

Rudolf Hoss swallowed in difficulty. He was thirsty, but that d*mned doctor did not think he would still need it.

”I am awake. Have never been so awake like now!”

The Prince only nodded when he heard that. This guy was right. Only before death, people truly knew how to look at themselves, especially for such people like Rudolf Hoss.

If it was purely emotional, Oscar even felt saddened by his rival's incident. If there was no Secret Service Department in Dulin, the young Prince truly could not find another rival like it.

”I am sorry. But...the doctor is still discussing. Maybe there is a chance you'll survive?”

Rudolf Hoss widened his eyes in difficulty. He was shocked by the sincerity in the tone of O'Neil Andrew Morisette, but in a moment, he could be sure that this was the Prince's trick. The once-juvenile criminal must be elated now. He was simply wearing a sympathetic mask right now.

”You and your subordinates in Military Intelligence Bureau...didn't you guys prepare champagne? Why didn't you continue the celebration? Why all the way here?”

Oscar clapped his hands, ”As expected of ex-Head of Secret Service Department! You still have the energy to guess the actions of the Kenshin Palace. I am sure Her Majesty must be touched by your professionalism.”

Rudolf gritted his teeth. If he still had strength in his body, he would definitely stab his guy a few times before he died. ”Stop going around in circles, O'Neil Andrew Morisette! I know you! I am about to die. You can laugh all you want while I can still see you. Or else, I will disappoint you in a moment!”

Oscar did not say anything. He was the leader in the intelligence field just like Rudolf, but in front of this senior, the Prince did not even feel sympathetic for him. Suddenly, the Prince pulled the thin white sheet away. He watched in satisfaction at the furious Rudolf Hoss who was bright red like a lady whose naked body was seen for the first time.

Oscar frowned almost immediately. The wound of the Head of Secret Service Department was terrible. And the doctor was right. A smell that made people want to die gathered in the air above the wound. Pulling the sheet away brought about cold wind and the odor spread immediately. This made the Prince covered his nose subconsciously. When he turned his head away, he covered Rudolf's body quickly at the same time. It was enough to take one glance at the weird wound. The second glance would make him puke on Rudolf. Even though it was not a bad idea, but he should not do that!

”Sorry. I didn't think it will be like that,” Oscar apologized to Count Hoss.

Rudolf turned his head away sadly. He imagined all his rivals would say a few words or scold the enemy in front of him with terrible words. However, he was about to leave his world and he still could not do it. In his mind, that sort of attitude belonged to the weak while the truly strong ones would attain victory even in death, just the way he and O'Neil Andrew Morisette was. It was not as simple to decide who was victorious. Everything was still not decided at this stage!

”You...rest well!” Oscar turned around. He thought there was no need to remain here any longer. Moreover, he had doubted why he had to visit Rudolf Hoss in the first place.

”Hey...Oscar!” ex-Head of Secret Service Department suddenly called the Prince who came with bad intentions, ”I recall myself not calling you like this for a long time!”

Oscar nodded strangely.

”This is our...last meeting. Some things...are better said clearly!”

Oscar was stunned. He had wondered all this while. Why would Rudolf always look for trouble with him? It was as if only the Prince alone was the devil in this world.

Rudolf Hoss looked in satisfaction when the Prince looked for a seat. He licked his dried-up lips and smiled bitterly at the tent at his lower abdomen. Then, he sighed lightly.

”People are born to fight. Why?” the Head of Secret Service Department said in difficulty. His breathing had become rapid, ”Because they are afraid! Afraid of sickness...afraid to grow old…afraid of death. But these sorts of things are not as scary as the threat posed by others. People lie to each other, kill each other and eat away at each other. Why? Because they are afraid!”

”You are afraid of me?” Oscar asked in uncertainty.

”Yes...so afraid...to the extent of losing sleep...to the extent of having a tumor in my liver!” Rudolf's tone finally weakened. His smile was as bitter as eating coffee powder.

”Tumor?” Oscar widened his eyes.