Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 218



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 218

Setup (5)

“Mentors and mentees are a common culture that helps you grow.”

Common liberal arts for all students in the Department of Magic Engineering: Mentors and Mentees.

“As you can see, there are only ‘mentees’ here?”

In the large auditorium, all the freshmen of the Edsilla National University’s Faculty of Magic are gathered.

“There will be as many ‘mentors’ waiting for you somewhere else. Everyone, take out your smartphones.”

As the professor spoke, he activated a device. Then, mana appeared from the ceiling and flowed into the smartphone.

“I just sent you an invitation message via smartphone.”

[Invite Zion Ascal to the ‘Mentee Pool’.]

[Please set a nickname.]

It’s a mana-app. It’s an application made entirely of mana. Therefore, it has a much more dramatic effect than other apps.

“Once you decide on a nickname, matching between mentors and mentees will begin. Please make sure that your nickname does not reveal your real name as much as possible. That way, we can have a smooth consultation.”

[Your nickname has been set to ‘Nothing to do’.

[Matching mentee-mentor… … .]

[Tiring!]

[Charlangi has been selected as your mentor by Snowman.]

[Charlangi the Snowman: Hello?]

The message came right away.

“Of course, it’s okay if we reveal our identities to each other. As the saying goes, seeing is believing.”

I also sent a reply.

[yes.]

“hmm?”

The magic power was slightly consumed. I felt somewhat confused.

It wasn’t just me. The other guys also looked at the professor with faces demanding an explanation.

“Haha. Isn’t that strange? Conversations, or chats, consume magic power. It’s the minimum requirement for using the Mana-App.”

The professor continued.

“However, since it consumes magical power to communicate, it is possible to do more than just simple text conversations. For example, you can transmit magical techniques.”

[Snowman Charang: What’s your specialty? Swordsmanship or magic?]

[It’s swordsmanship.]

[Charlangi the Snowman: Hmm. Really?]

“Zion. Who did you match with?”

Raye, sitting next to me, asked. I showed her the rustling snowman on my smartphone.

“you.”

“I’m ‘The Coldest Ice Blade’. But why is this person’s nickname like that?”

Raye tilted her head.

[Charlangi the Snowman: Well. If you don’t know or are curious about anything, feel free to ask~ It’s okay to ask for advice.]

A place to discuss your worries.

I have never shared my worries with anyone. I think there is no need to do so, either now or in the past.

“Then, remember well what happened with which mentor~”

But these days, there’s one thing that’s bothering me.

A certain ‘someone’ who still lingers in my mind.

Old friend.

[I have a question. I seem to have forgotten someone, and what should I do if I have forgotten who that person is? I only vaguely remember that he is a college student.]

I sent a text like that.

“… … What is that?”

At that moment, a sound came from behind me.

I looked back at him with a start.

It was Elise.

“Are you peeking?”

“I only saw the front.”

Elise shrugged and said.

“Interesting. You’re a counselor.”

“It’s fake. I’m just testing to see if I can hire this guy as my mentor.”

“… … Huh. Really? Then me too- Eww!”

Suddenly Elise was thrown out. It was because of someone’s sudden torso slam.

“Haha! What do you think! This time it’s my surprise attack!”

Of course it’s Rayeda.

The guy laughed, “Hahaha!” while poking Elise who had fallen down.

“Ellie, don’t let your guard down! I told you!”

“you……”

As luck would have it, there was a trash can right there, and a banana peel ended up landing on Elise’s head.

“Hahaha! Ellie is a human banana!”

“… …Kill. Murder.”

Just as Elise’s eyes were about to turn red, the guy grabbed my bracelet.

“Zion! Let’s run away! He must be crazy!”

… … After class ended like that.

I’m walking around the schoolyard.

Raye ran away to Trick City to do something—probably be a hero—

[Charlangi the Snowman: Are you trying to tell me that I have dementia? I can’t help you with that.]

“What the hell is this?”

I was wondering if I should cut off this mentor.

“hey.”

At that moment, a voice flowed from behind the eerie trees in the park.

I saw it there.

It was Belmore.

“It’s okay. There’s no tail attached.”

He motioned to me. I approached him, raising my eyebrows.

“What’s going on?”

“What happened? It’s because of what you said last time.”

Belmore had been a mess since the beginning of the year. He must have been up a lot of nights, so he looked quite unwell.

“If by any chance what you say is true, who do you think the culprit is?”

“Are you talking about the culprit?”

“Uh. Assuming it was a setup, the culprit who set up Sonya.”

“… … .”

I took a step closer to him. He held out the cigarette.

“I met with Ms. Sonya in person and asked her if she had any suspicions.”

“……so?”

“Ms. Sonya said the head of the information agency.”

Then, Belmore was the first to say his name.

“Bendeck.”

I nodded silently, and Belmore blew out smoke. A faint anger rose from his crumpled face.

“But. There’s no evidence that he did it.”

The title changed from Bendek to that guy. I tried hard to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out.

“We need to look for evidence now.”

Belmore twisted the corners of his mouth as if he was frustrated.

“How could he be so stupid as to keep that evidence?”

“I think you have it because you’re smart.”

“… …Because you’re smart?”

“Yes. If he is the real culprit.”

As an internal investigator, I continued to speak while faithfully observing the principle of presumption of innocence.

“I guess I left it as insurance for tail cutting.”

“insurance.”

At that moment, Belmore’s complexion changed. His entire expression hardened, like the outer skin of fried chicken.

I think you understood what I meant right away.

“Like insurance, do you have it for setup?”

“Yes. If you ever have doubts about yourself, you can just tell someone.”

Belmore dropped the hand that held the cigarette. His face was already cold and frozen.

Perhaps, he thinks that the target of that setup is himself.

“It won’t be in a private residence. Even the team leader can be searched. But Bendek-”

“There is a villa purchased under another person’s name.”

Belmore continued.

This was information passed on to me by Growl.

“Yes, it’s in the rich neighborhood. La Grande Beach.”

“It’ll be hard to infiltrate. I’d rather call an agent-”

“No. I do it alone. I am the internal investigator.”

“… … Are you sure?”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

Belmore put a burnt cigarette in his mouth.

“F*ck. This is really f*cking f*cking f*cking f*cking f*cking f*cking f*cking team leader.”

Agjak. Agjak. He asked me while chewing on it.

“When is the infiltration?”

“It’s almost round 6. It has to be over.”

“… … Okay. Then tell me when we start. I’ll try my best to get your attention.”

“yes.”

Belmore turned to leave, then looked back at me.

“That’s right. Did you hear that rumor?”

“What are those rumors?”

“The stakes have been raised. The table you’re in is now worth almost two billion renminbi.”

“… … 2 billion renminbi?”

It was a bit sudden.

2 billion renminbi is a burdensome amount to spend at once, even for Libra.

Belmore chuckled.

“Hey. Are you scared?”

“no.”

“I think I did it without telling you anything. Are you okay?”

“Rather, I feel like I am being trusted.”

“under.”

“You little shit,” Belmore muttered, shaking his head.

“The condition is that you win the whole thing. In that card tournament. If you don’t win, you might get picked on by the eldest daughter.”

“Please control the information until the end. Team Leader Bendeck will surely be suspicious if the case is not concluded quickly.”

“Leave it to me.”

Belmore waved his hand.

I stopped him as he was about to turn around and leave.

“Mr. Belmore.”

He showed his side profile.

“Do you trust me?”

“… … .”

A word that asks for trust.

‘Zion Ascal’ is a character that is loyal only to Libra and moves only for Libra.

“Believe me.”

That much definitive answer would be enough.

This setup is sure to succeed.

[World Series of Poker: Round 6]

From the round stage, direct viewing by spectators is allowed. However, the game tables are strictly separated by partitions to avoid influencing the outcome.

“… … That sounds fun.”

However, VIPs, including Jahanna, are allowed a balcony with a full view of the gaming room and tables.

Jahanna smiled as she looked down at the door through which the players entered.

─Here’s a new face. Sion Ascal, a player who appeared like a comet and made it through the preliminaries without a hitch.

A blond handsome man with a very tall build, he stands out more than other players.

─He is a supernova who has shown his skills in reading the cards, composure, bluffing, and game management.

He sat down at the table.

─Now, let’s begin round 6.

Jahanna looked around the balcony. There were many VVIPs. Among them were a congressman who loved gambling, a CEO of a large corporation, and Carlos.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

Jahanna asked Carlos. Carlos laughed.

“The reverse gear should be shaking.”

… … 8 hours later.

─This time, another big change has occurred! The winner of Round 6 is Sion Askar!

Jahanna looked down at the table and clapped her hands.

Round 6 winner Sion Ascal.

He won by 8 chips. There were some mistakes here and there, and there were games where bluffing didn’t work, but that was just a beginner’s nervousness issue.

─New face, Sion Askar advances to the World Series of Poker finals!

“Congratulations.”

It was Carlos’ words. He smiled and held out his hand, and Jahanna smiled as she grabbed his hand.

“What congratulations? There’s still one more step to go.”

“… … Yeah. Think so. The other five who made it to the finals will laugh at you though.”

As the saying goes, the players in the final round are some of the most incredible in poker history.

No, they’re all winners. They’ve won the World Series of Poker at least once.

“Rather, I think they’ll be trembling.”

“Illusion is freedom. Well, that’s all.”

Carlos left like that, and Jahanna spoke to Beckman behind her.

“Beckman.”

“yes.”

“Zion Ascal. Bring that guy to me. There’s no telling what the mafia might do.”

“… … .”

Beckmann remains silent.

Jahanna felt a murderous urge for a moment, but suppressed it and looked back at him.

“Are there any complaints?”

“No, I will do that.”

“… … Don’t buffer from now on.”

She turned around and gestured to Beckman.

“Because you are my balancer.”

Words I don’t mean. But I can’t help it because I like those words.

“We must pursue perfection.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Jahanna turned around, leaving him bowing.

“Don’t be mistaken.”

On the way home.

As I was eating this and that in the limousine, Beckman, sitting next to me, suddenly said something strange.

“Are you mistaken?”

“Yes. Lord Jahanna doesn’t like you. She just supports you because you seem to have a talent for gambling.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

“… … .”

Beckman glared at me silently.

“I don’t think so.”

“I am serious. I serve Miss Jia, not Lady Jahanna.”

“… … .”

Beckman still had a suspicious look on his face.

He’s definitely an uncomfortable guy.

“What do you plan to do with the prize money?”

The prize money for the winner is 10 million renminbi.

A whopping ten million renminbi.

After taxes, it’ll be around 7 million renminbi, and I’m secretly looking forward to it.

I wonder if Jahanna will pay the taxes.

“Self-development. And the rest should be used for Libra.”

“… … You’re wasting your money.”

Beckman is really good at keeping things in check. On the topic of balancers having to keep their composure.

It doesn’t matter.

Because he’s a guy I’m going to kill someday.

“Arrived.”

“Yes. Thank you for bringing it to me.”

“… … Okay. You should thank me instead.”

There is no such thing as such a retarded jealousy, where someone asks you to thank them instead of Jahanna.

Boo-woong──

I looked at the rear of the departing car and put my hand on my ear.

‘Growl. Are you ready?’

‘Yes! I’ll take you to Bendek’s villa with the navigation!’

Bendek’s villa was located on ‘Emeto Beach’, a resort often visited by the rich. As such, the security was tight, but I managed to sneak in safely. I put on the skin of a millionaire who actually lived there.

‘Here.’

‘yes.’

A mansion that stands almost touching the sea.

I really spent a lot of money.

I used the “Shadow” and “Shadow” spells at the same time. I hid and infiltrated.

‘I see some security tricks over there.’

‘doesn’t care.’

I already learned the security technique from Elise. I saw it in class too.

I can completely remember and destroy any spell I’ve seen once. Only to the extent that my magic power can reach.

It was that kind of talent from the beginning.

Chijik─.

One of the security technique’s circuits was blocked with magic power.

It’s not cut off, it’s just soldered shut. If you completely cut off the circuit, an alarm will sound.

I was able to penetrate inside without much difficulty. The interior was pitch black.

This itself was also a security.

If you don’t use your card key, this darkness will block your vision.

I turned on the SZX-9500. The interior became bright again.

‘There are a lot of traps here and there. Is there something like a safe here?’

A place where evidence can be stored.

‘Yes! Go up to the second floor! Be careful, there’s one more security spell!’

I climbed the stairs. There was no sound of footsteps, not even a single footprint.

Chijik─

The security technique was dismantled in the same way.

and……

‘It’s a magic password!’

Inside the closet. A password input pad that resembles a touchpad.

‘This is a big problem. I can’t solve this.’

‘No. I’ve tried solving it.’

Why, when I was decrypting the password of the double-spy USB that had infiltrated the cartel in the past.

Long letters are lines (─), short letters are dots (·). A code formed by combining these two types, like Morse code.

Because it exists only in the owner’s head, it is safer than iris or fingerprint recognition that can utilize corpses.

In general.

It doesn’t work for me.

I called up Bendek’s “memory” left on the touchpad.

– – ··· – – – · – · – – · – – – ··· – – · · – · – · – · – · –.

I blew the passwords in order.

Clank─

The door inside the closet opened, revealing a fairly large secret space.

“Okay.”

Now, if you plant evidence here and run away… … .

“… … .”

I was speechless for a moment.

‘omg’.

Growl was also speechless.

It was astonishing.

“It was a non-human baby.”

There were all kinds of pictures. There were video tapes. People being abused, tortured, trampled on… … .

All twisted films shot by Bendek himself.

There were a few other ledgers, but they didn’t really stand out.

‘Wow. There really are people like this.’

I shook my head and corrected Growl.

‘No. It’s not a human.’

‘aha.’

I’ve planted some evidence related to ‘Sonya’ somewhere here.

I wonder if we really need that evidence when humanity is in this state.

If you come back later as an internal investigator and start poking fun at me, Bendeck is finished.