I had no way of investigating Alexia myself. After all, I was a soldier; combat was the only thing I understood. That kind of work was a job for the specialists at Public Security.
So, I contacted Melissa.
"Yeah, I get it. I’ll put in the request for the investigation."
"Is it really okay for Public Security to move based on nothing but my hunch?"
"Sure is. We even got a notice saying, ‘Leo Kamishiro’s intuition is absolute. Respond with full force.’"
My intuition was now officially sanctioned by Public Security.
"Anyway, I’ll look into it for you."
"Ah, by the way, how’s your father doing?"
"He’s doing great! He’s training his disciples until they collapse. I’ll come back once things settle down a bit. See ya!"
Man... I was glad to be the son of a meathead. If I’d been born into Melissa’s family, I never would’ve survived.
My next resource was the Fairy.
"Fairy, how are things on your end?"
"Around Duke Endo’s residence, the surveillance cameras are being cut one after another. It’s so blatant that I’m starting to wonder if it’s a trap."
"So, surely the world’s most talented Fairy has managed to secure some evidence regardless, right?"
"Hehe, you know me well, Leo-kun. I managed to intercept footage from an online shopping site’s automated delivery drone."
A video played, showing Alexia leaving the house. She climbed into a self-driving car.
"The destination?"
"It looks like the party venue for Prince Walter’s foundation. According to the logs from the autonomous driving management company, she’s been attending parties there every single day for the past week."
"Wait, what? Does that mean Walter holds a party every night?"
"It seems his schedule is golf in the morning, a power lunch at noon, and a party at night. He always meets with members of the Civil Official Faction."
Was this really how some brainless politician spent their day? It was the height of futility!
"What is he even doing?"
"I could understand if these were events for universities, the Local Planet Alumni Association, economic or industry groups, or charitable organizations... or even something military-related, given the current climate."
Was the man just an idiot? Or maybe he simply didn't know how to build a real network.
Wifey was diligent about showing her face at military-related events, though she rarely attended parties. She focused on informal meetings instead. Seeing how attentive she was to those small details made me realize how hard she must have worked until now. That was likely how she had built up her circle of allies in the Inner Palace.
Tomorrow, I would join my wife at the Zork War Memorial Service. Although the war wasn't over, they were holding it now to take advantage of the current lull in fighting. Once that was finished, the Duke Investiture Ceremony would follow.
In the Empire, the title followed the land; a person didn't just hold a rank, it was attached to their territory. However, that system was starting to break down because of the influx of high-ranking nobles without actual land. Regardless, following the established rules, I was set to become a Duke owning seven planets. Even though the territory had been split, I was still a Duke.
House Hashimoto had just been that massive!
Big Brother Sam was slated to become the next Marquis. Ordinarily, I would have become Duke Hashimoto, the ruler of Planet Hashimoto, but because they were traitors, the name of the territory was being changed. I could have established a brand-new house, but it seemed like a hassle, so I stuck with House Kamishiro. To be precise, I would lead the Kamishiro Ducal House as the Head of the Kamishiro Main House. Big Brother Sam would lead a branch family as the head of Marquis House Kamishiro.
As for the other nobles involved in the split, Melissa’s house was being promoted to a Marquis House. Ren’s family would remain a Duke House. Big Brother Cyrus, Old Man Ohno, and Lily were all becoming Count Houses. This was done to match Big Brother Cyrus—the former Baron Shiramber—who had lost his own lands when his planet was blockaded. Since they all governed Duke-class planets, they were essentially Dukes-in-waiting.
Yeah, this was all starting to get tedious. As for Alexia, there wasn't much more I could learn other than the fact that she was acting like Walter’s accessory.
"This is a bit of a trivial detail, but it seems Alexia’s golf score is under a hundred," the Fairy noted.
I didn't really get it. I knew nothing about golf.
"For a woman, that’s actually quite impressive. There’s no record of her learning it at a university or anywhere else, though... Hmm."
Everything about her was a mystery. Playing golf despite never having attended a university? Someone at the level of Duke House Endo would have been taught by a pro, wouldn't they? If she had, there should have been a record of it somewhere...
"Ah, Leo-kun! Someone has arrived outside."
"Who?"
"The database identifies him as the steward of the former Duke House Hashimoto."
"Contact Wifey!"
"Understood!"
I contacted the hotel’s front desk and had the steward guided to a conference room. After joining up with my wife, we headed inside. A nervous-looking middle-aged man was waiting for us.
"I am Jordan, steward of the former House Hashimoto."
"I am Leo, the soon-to-be Head of the Kamishiro Main House."
"I am Imperial Princess Veronica."
Greetings began with those of the lowest status. Jordan bowed deeply. His insides had to be boiling with rage... his entire house had been destroyed in the blink of an eye, after all. It wouldn't have surprised me if he’d pulled a knife and tried to stab me.
"I have come today to plead for the lives of the citizens."
"Huh?"
I didn't have any intention of killing the citizens, though?
"Lord Groom, when a lord draws their bow against the Empire, their citizens are usually put to death as well," Veronica explained.
"How are you supposed to govern a place like that?"
"By bringing in people from other territories—in this case, from Marquis House Kamishiro."
"No, that’s impossible. A massacre is out of the question."
Setting aside the ethics, it was the height of futility.
"So it seems. You should thank my groom," Veronica said.
"Ha-haaa!"
For some reason, Jordan dropped into a full dogeza. I started to reach out, thinking that such a display was unnecessary, but my wife stopped me.
"We have to observe the proper formalities here."
Geez... and yet her family home is so relaxed about things like this.
"Raise your head."
"Ha-haaa!"
At Veronica's command, Jordan looked up.
"Rejoice. By the will of my groom, your sins are pardoned. However, as soon as a Zork testing method is finalized, we will conduct a simultaneous inspection of every single citizen!"
"Ha-haaa!"
That was unavoidable. It was a necessary quarantine measure. Still, he could have handled this remotely. To come all this way just for this...
"Jordan. You have something else you want to tell me, don't you?"
"That... please, accept this."
Jordan held out a recording medium.
"What’s on it?"
"The territory’s black ledgers, the Duke Association membership list, and records of their connections with the Civil Official Faction."
"Wifey... something big just fell into our laps..."
"Yes, this is conclusive evidence."
I’ll just send this over to Melissa. Wait—Fairy, you already sent it?!
And so, we continued to steadily gather evidence... or rather, the evidence just kept rolling in on its own. I guess when you reach a certain level of importance, you start getting this kind of boost.