Elite Instructor at a Third-Rate Academy

13 – Reflecting and Punishing☆

It was not just uncomfortable; it felt like the insides were turning upside down.

Belasquez couldn’t understand the current situation. The funeral should have been over by now, and the body should have been cremated. Amy committed suicide. He believed that. The crazy woman, rolling her body recklessly, finally met her own end.

“Well, now that a child is on the way, want to get married?”

He rejected her in a gentlemanly manner. He even offered a reasonable amount. If it was just a breakup due to a change of heart, he gave her a hundred silver coins. He promised this amount to Amy. Damn woman, if she hesitated like Ochia, he wouldn’t know what to do, but she demanded marriage on a completely different subject. Even as a concubine, he couldn’t tolerate it. Who would ruin their life to ruin someone else’s?

“Why should I take responsibility when I enjoy it myself? I slept for one more night, so I said I would take responsibility for eating just once and discarding it. But that was said under the influence of alcohol, and it wasn’t a sincere statement. Even logically, does it make any sense?”

Amy’s parents were nothing more than small farmers in the countryside, a bit better off than tenant farmers. They were poor, sending their daughter to the academy when they had no money. They were like night bugs, trying to find a way in and suck the life out of the parasites trying to fatten themselves up.

“But damn it.”

One lieutenant kept messing things up. Roaming around using various interrogations as an excuse, now even bringing an investigator from the royal palace, pointing arrows at himself for no reason.

He couldn’t accept it. Amy’s suicide. It was undoubtedly a suicide. Didn’t she scream to be killed? Didn’t she dare to corner a noble? It was all to secure her own life, using pregnancy as an excuse.

“We need to find a new scapegoat.”

All the arrows of attention had to eventually point to the undeniable fact that Emily had committed suicide. It was his conclusion, the truth everyone could accept, and the cause his father would forgive.

Belasquez summoned Oswell again. Despite being a useless person, he was the only one who would listen to him at this moment, so he had to use him immediately. The corrupt instructor arrived quickly, like a hunting dog.

“Instructor, there’s something I haven’t said.”

Oswell was condescending while checking the surroundings.

“Speak.”

“Damn bastard, there will never be a request for a recommendation from our father!”

“Amy had a hard time because of Genoa when she was alive, you know?”

“I’ll bring the notebook, so wait.”

Unnecessary interrogations continued. Belasquez presented a one-sided argument with a high-handed and arrogant attitude, different from when he met Freida. Genoa often beat her, and Amy always covered her forehead with bangs because of the bruises.

It was a lie. What she did with her bangs down was to imitate her friend Ochia, believing that she could attract more attention from men. Belasquez, who was only interested in her body, would never know this eternal truth. She couldn’t reveal it for fear that he would get tired of her.

“Now that you’ve heard everything, you know what to do.”

“You mean I shouldn’t be the only one who knows this?”

Belasquez nodded.

It was easy to handle the instructors here, except for a few. They were eager to escape from here somehow. It was obvious that a woman like Freida, who was half and half and capable, would be assigned to a C-level position. Just follow the academic affairs and do as ordered. If the stupid girl just came into his bedroom, he would pretend not to know.

“Temulic Stind.”

Belasquez quietly whispered his name. Before he jumped around more, he needed to investigate and shake him up. It would be better to have a cousin than a stuck father. Even the lieutenant who came in a hurry without understanding his topic was useless. Like with Amy, he had to return a suitable gift.

[#13 – Investigation]

Kennis crossed the threshold of truth.

With the addition of the knowledge of the western administrator to the information he had investigated so far, the outline of the case became clear. Just as he had understood the psychology of the related parties by working in the operations department for a long time, Warren also had insights gained from encountering various incidents while touring the field. This was undoubtedly a form of *honorable murder.

“We lack evidence.”

The two were walking along a secluded path. It was so remote that they could converse without worrying about being overheard.

“Shall we manipulate it?”

“You seem more specialized in manipulation.”

“It’s okay to induce confession in a grand inquisition.”

With that, he added that it would be more effective than writing names with his buttocks or banging his head.

“Warren, are you still alone?”

When Kenneth probed into a painful spot, he flinched. Despite his slick appearance, his track record in love was dismal. His meticulous personality made him feel more like an older brother than a boyfriend to most women.

“I heard even Visalle is alone.”

Calling him a colonel, he had finally eaten some snacks. Kenneth pierced through his sore spot. Unable to accept his sister’s sincerity, he always avoided it. The world blamed not him but Visalle, and the sensitive and emotional girl couldn’t bear it. It was a love that couldn’t be fulfilled or accepted.

“If you’re interested.”

“It’s because she’s a woman I can’t have.”

“I can tell you what Visalle likes.”

“You know, and yet you keep doing this.”

They exchanged words. As they ventured further into the forest, a damp energy filled the air. It seemed like the rain from a few days ago had lingered. The sunlight only reached the edge of the forest, leaving the interior damp and decaying, much like the Lailand Academy itself.

“I want to hear your deduction.”

“It looks like Velasquez.”

“Isn’t there a possibility someone else saw it?”

Kenneth recalled what he had heard from Ochia. Amy had met a man other than Velasquez. So, the enraged man might not be him, but someone who knew about her pregnancy that wasn’t her former lover.

“Senpai, that’s a leap.”

“It’s not impossible.”

“No, the situation is too unlikely from the start. It’s hard to establish the premise that in a place where two men and women are arguing, an ex-lover happened to hear it all. Moreover, it’s even more absurd to claim that a woman who became pregnant with the Earl’s child in such a situation was murdered and disguised. Was she afraid of the future? Did she really feel that way? It’s better to just run away. It doesn’t make sense to go to such lengths to hang herself in the dormitory with such sincerity.”

“A suicide note?”

“I think it was written under pressure.”

“Why make her write it?”

“There could be various reasons. Perhaps it was a way to apologize for the argument, or a way to apologize for not properly using contraception. However, if it’s a suicide case, I’ve seen quite a few. Generally, the deceased either leaves no writing at all or leaves a very long one. I’ve never seen a suicide note that’s just one ambiguous sentence like this.”

“Maybe she intended to die from the beginning?”

“That’s a possibility. She decided to murder for some reason and prepared for the problems that would arise afterward.”

“What about the strange rumors about Genoa Van Cliff?”

“It’s part of the public opinion war.”

Warren chuckled.

“As a senior, you’re an expert in that field. I don’t think there’s a need to ask me.”

The reason why Colonel respected Major was because Kenneth performed excellently in his job, not because he was hailed as a genius of the operation.

It was because he always came up with the best solution in any situation. Major loved compromise and negotiation. He balanced the conflicting interests of numerous nobles who dreamed of secession and prevented national decline through appropriate persuasion and compromise.

There were even enemy nobles who surrendered simply because of his presence. It was not due to their admiration for him, but rather because they believed that he would hide and protect their flaws in any situation. Kenneth and his friend, Roetron, had different perspectives on the world. Therefore, Warren had to speak up at this moment.

“Your Majesty said that he wouldn’t last even half a year.”

“Raven?”

Colonel knew that referring to the Emperor by name was inappropriate, but he pretended not to know.

“He seems to be having a hard time. The Lada family isn’t that big, so His Highness Louis is also weak.”

“No, I think he will do well. Bissaly is stronger than it seems, so he will somehow lead the country.”

-When I go back, I could be assassinated.

None of the adult nobles in the court wanted a spy’s daughter to exist. The moment Kenneth succeeded the family, Bissaly Lada would lose his political position as the heir of the main household and his life would become precarious. Although he was currently necessary for the unity of the family, once a suitable head of the family returned, he would be nothing more than a target for elimination.

“You’ll miss him.”

Warren said sadly. Kenneth remained silent because he knew that Warren had once loved his younger sister. Why did Bissaly say that? Why did he confess his desire not to sleep with anyone other than Warren, knowing that he was a madman who dreamed of incest and wasn’t interested in his brother? It was something he should have paid more attention to or tried to soothe further.

“If you prove that you can lead the family, the adult nobles in the court will see you differently.”

“What if I can’t?”

“I have to succeed. After all, I was born as a member of the Lada family, so I have to bear the burden.”

“Not everyone is born with seniors’ abilities.”

“Warren.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t meddle anymore.”

“I don’t plan on returning to my former position. I forgive Raven. You should understand too. But Roetron died.”

“It may sound like an excuse… but we persuaded him until the end. It’s like making excuses if we change our minds or if we just remain silent.”

-Roetron is not someone who would do that.

“As your killings were inevitable, my resistance was also inevitable.”

“Do you really plan on spending five more years here?”

“Yeah. There are only idiots and corrupt people here, so it seems like it will take a long time to reform.”

“Senior was dispatched to Burus with Colonel Barus and Princess Panatiya.”

Kenneth swallowed his breath.

“I see.”

“Georg sent a letter. It seems like he’s in a difficult situation. Could you at least reply?”

“My mission is here.”

“Didn’t you also make me dance and hit my head with a stick because the senior ordered it?”

“You really can’t find a decent woman, can you?”

“Just write a piece as if you’re offering advice to the princess. You’re eighteen now; what do you know about being a lieutenant anyway?”

“Fanati suits you better with all those parties. It’s a waste to toil away buying things.”

“Well, Her Majesty trusts you, so there’s that. Anyway, I’ll prepare some paper and a pen.”

They had already circled the forest once. Today’s interrogations were focused on Genoa and Velasquez. In the past, it would have been unimaginable, but with the added authority of the chief investigator, even seemingly impossible tasks were effortlessly accomplished.

“Warren, join in when Genoa meets with Cliff.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Warren pointed out that if he didn’t participate, there would be opposition and objections from the family.

“Yeah, but I hope Velasquez del Torro takes the blame on his own.”

“Really?”

“Just to see if he’s genuinely remorseful before deciding on the severity of punishment.”

Upon hearing this, Warren joked that even if he were a senior, killing the son of a viscount would warrant reinstatement.