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Join the ServerThe atmosphere in the hall grew taut with tension. In truth, if a Guide possessed only a rare affinity, it held little significance on its own. Since there were few Espers with such rare affinities, matches were even less common than with other, more conventional Guides.
“Hoh-hoh, this is quite exciting. I wonder if the score will surpass that of Seth Moore’s Guide.”
An elderly noble stroked his meticulously groomed beard, muttering under his breath.
“Wouldn’t it be difficult? Even if it only exceeds 30%, the next head of the Moore family could still survive.”
“Have you forgotten the guiding he displayed at the banquet? That level of guiding is absolutely impossible with a match rate of merely 30 or 40 percent!”
As they engaged in their minor dispute, Bliss’s capsule sealed shut, and the wires for the matching test were reconnected. Numbers began to climb on the control panel, their progression displayed vividly on the large monitor.
“…!!”
The hall, which had gradually quieted after surpassing 50, fell into a complete hush as the numbers climbed past 60, then 70. Even as the digits finally froze at 77% and blinked, the vanished sounds did not return.
“Se-seventy….”
Standing beside Devon, Huey Cloud stared at the monitor, his eyes slightly wide with surprise. Scott Kenton, whose eyes were even wider, rubbed them as if unable to believe what he saw.
“…A ra-rare affinity match rate of 77%?”
“And not even a Multi-Guide….”
“What was His Highness Devon’s score?”
“While he possessed many affinities, most of them seemed to have exceeded 50%.”
“…My heavens, a Multi-Guide truly is remarkable.”
Devon was, at his core, an extraordinary Guide, consistently achieving match rates over 50%. This inherent superiority was precisely why he could afford to be so relaxed and magnanimous in his desire to claim Bliss Moore as his personal Esper.
He believed that no one else could alleviate Bliss’s suffering, making it seem inevitable that Bliss would eventually yield to him.
Clenching his fist tightly, Devon offered a chilling smile.
“77%—truly an astonishing figure. This could very well be the pair of the century. Now, all that remains is the cross-verification, it seems.”
“…Cross-verification?”
Herace frowned. He had suspected Devon Green’s uncharacteristic quietude was suspicious.
“I can explain that point.”
A large, burly man, seated beside Lord Zaisler, rose to his feet. This attractive Esper, with his light gray eyes and dirty blonde hair, bore a striking resemblance to the Lord of Zaisler.
“I am Lord Wilfried Zaisler of the Zaisler family. As you know, Zaisler Corporation’s matching test devices are officially designated by the Aitoolia Center, renowned for its Esper-Guide research. Considering that the international standard for Esper-Guides, used in many nations, originated from the Aitoolia Center, you can undoubtedly grasp the high reliability of our products. Since Moore Corp has now developed the first matching tester easily transportable and installable as military equipment, I suggested to His Majesty the King that a standard inspection of this new product would be necessary.”
‘To His Majesty the King.’
In other words, this undertaking had received the current monarch Genoa’s royal assent.
Ethan lifted his head, feeling Bliss’s hand firmly clasp his own. It was a subtle change, imperceptible to most, yet Ethan noticed it.
‘This must be retaliation for the Elder Council’s elaborate ceremony,’ he mused. While he couldn’t be certain if the Council had anticipated this outcome, it was clear their actions had displeased the King.
“Coincidentally, Zaisler Corporation has a newly developed T9 model, created under standard regulations. It has already completed trial runs, with several units now operational at the Center. Furthermore, it incorporates a new design offering portability and ease of installation, much like Moore Corp’s product. Today, we intend to unveil this product and, concurrently, conduct a thorough verification for the individual honored with the title ‘Flower of the Empire’.”
As he finished speaking, the dome of the public hall slowly opened. From above, several matching test devices, fully assembled, descended gently, suspended by multiple transport drones.
As everyone watched their dramatic entrance with mouths agape, Devon’s lips curled into a subtle smirk.
“…So this is why you insisted on inviting the public hall and the media.”
Ethan muttered with a bitter laugh. Doctor Sera let out a lament.
“Oh, what is this? Our ‘Blackie’ will become a fool who can’t even diagnose properly.”
Ethan and Bliss, who had been stiff, suddenly turned their heads in unison. Doctor Sera and Philip instinctively recoiled, a shiver running down their spines.
This was a sight they’d witnessed frequently of late. Philip insisted there must be some spiritual entity at play, but Sera, a scientist and the personal physician to Esper Guides, steadfastly refused to acknowledge what she couldn’t see with her own eyes.
[What are you hesitating for! Sawol, summon the Mangnyang. Just break that Zaisler machine or whatever it is!]
“…It’s not easy.”
“No, it’s not.”
Zaisler Corporation was one of the companies representing the Aitoolia Empire globally. Moreover, their core business aligned perfectly with Esper-Guide research, a field Aitoolia held in immense pride.
However, if a machine were to malfunction here, especially with foreign media present, it would lead to a global decline in trust and a significant blow to the nation’s image.
Nor was it a card that could render Devon irrecoverable. He had already positioned Lord Zaisler to take the fall, retreating into the background himself, prepared to cut ties if necessary.
In such an event, if the nation’s image plummeted and Zaisler’s credibility hit rock bottom, the King’s displeasure would inevitably be directed at the Moore family, who would then appear to have disrupted the market by proposing a new tester as military equipment.
“We will resume the test after a brief lunch break!”
Bliss and his companions wore expressions of utter dismay. As the machines were installed on the ground, a temporary lull settled, and people began to disperse, heading for the dining areas.
Nevertheless, with cameras still rolling, a public brawl was out of the question.
Capitalizing on this, Devon approached with a cordial smile. Seeing him, Herace swiftly stepped between Devon and the others.
“…What trick are you trying to pull?”
He glared at Devon, but the prince merely smiled, an air of composure about him.
“Well, the Zaisler family has simply made a proposal that anyone would deem reasonable.”
“It was decided that the matching test would use the newly approved equipment of the Antares Unit.”
“Moore Corp manufactured it, a subsidiary of Moore Corp approved its use, and you, my brother, approved it as new equipment for the Antares Unit led by Bliss Moore. Doesn’t that seem to lack transparency? The Center requested to test the device, but was refused due to insufficient time for acquisition and testing.”
“I believe it was stated that the device would be sent to the Center after this matching test concluded.”
“No, there’s no need for that; a simpler solution has now presented itself, hasn’t it?”
Devon’s lips slowly, deliberately, curved upward. From behind him, Bliss and Ethan, who had been observing, began to whisper in unison.
“Wouldn’t it be fine?”
“We’d have to leave the cleanup to Enoch….”
Enoch’s extensive information infrastructure and his connections with various media companies clearly demonstrated that his choice to become an actor was no accident. While the Moore family was adept at utilizing their own networks for tracking or eliminating targets when necessary, they simply couldn’t compete with Enoch’s masterful media manipulation and public persuasion.
If Devon’s faction possessed such a blend of public appeal and secrecy, largely embodied by Devon himself, then Herace’s faction relied heavily on Enoch Cloud to fulfill that role. Though Huey Cloud might seem, at first glance, to be no less capable in the competition for family headship, Enoch’s abilities were, surprisingly, far more intricate and far-reaching.
The only slight problem was that Enoch hadn’t quite been himself lately.
“Bliss, just close your eyes and throw a few more coin purses my way. From Scott’s behavior, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be returning to Enoch.”
“……”
Ethan let out a frustrated sigh, then retorted.
“Ah, so if I reveal I’m a Multi-Guide, and since I’m not even a prince, I’ll be stalked by Espers swarming me, all claiming they have no Guide, and then—huh? I’ll just pick an Esper I like… Mmph!”
*Thump—* Bliss’s large hand covered his mouth. The sudden sight of someone silencing their Guide so forcefully, mid-whisper, drew all eyes.
“…If any such scoundrels appear, I will kill them.”
*Gasp—*
Those observing them nearby let out small gasps of admiration. To see Bliss Moore, famously devoid of expression, growling with his face so close to another’s was truly a sight.
“……”
Feeling his face flush at their sudden proximity, Ethan hastily raised his hand, tapping the back of Bliss’s hand and nodding. Only then did Bliss relax his expression and step back.
“Find Enoch. Now.”
[Hey, he said he’d kill them all, so why is your face turning red, Ethan? Are you a pervert?]
Ignoring Dongja’s words, Bliss urged Philip forward, then nodded to Ethan with a profoundly displeased expression.
Ethan gave a light shrug, muttering almost musically.
“Sawol. Want some beef liver?”
[Agh, hey! If you’re going to call me, at least give me some warning!]
A pale child with red eyes clung to the screaming Dongja, their gaze filled with anticipation. It seemed a decent-sized toy for the first time in a while.
‘That look filled Ethan with a touch of worry. Ghosts, unlike Esper abilities, couldn’t be controlled at will; they often acted erratically even when offering assistance. Sawol, upon appearing, had not taken their eyes off the sleek, pristine testing device.’
‘…Well, Enoch Cloud should be able to handle this much cleanup, right?’
‘After all, I can’t let Devon, Zaisler, and the meticulous preparations of Doctor Sera and her research team go to waste,’ he rationalized to himself. It was at this precise moment that he made up his mind.
*CRASH! BANG!*
‘Oh.’
The machine’s main connection wires ripped free, and an explosion erupted. No one knew how they had been yanked out, but in Ethan and Bliss’s eyes, a small child was already holding the severed wires, their red eyes gleaming with a chilling smile.
‘Shit.’
“What in the world is happening?!”
“Everyone, get back!”
Expensive broadcasting equipment, still set up, toppled over. Even amidst the frantic scramble to escape, some individuals were still filming as they fled.
Though some people had already left, the number of those remaining was by no means small.
*BANG—! CRASH! BOOM!*
“Aaaah!”
[Wow, fireworks! It’s fireworks! The path to national disgrace has opened!]
Dongja danced an inexplicable jig atop the flames.
‘Oh no. It’s ruined. Utterly ruined.’
Above his head, Bliss’s voice drifted, a vacant murmur.
“……I’ll have to give Enoch a few more coin purses.”
‘Oh, no! That’s not it, man! This isn’t something a few coin purses can fix! Stop running from reality!’
Ethan buried his face in his hands, groaning.
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