What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 230

Curtain Call (3)

“What is this…”

The great whale spouted a house-sized breath from its blowhole!

-Kuuuuuu…!

I was aghast. Truly, no other word came to mind.

The colossal creature, soaked in seawater, shimmered endlessly in the moonlight.

It was like a god’s creation made of platinum.

We stood there, drenched and gaping at it.

It was the most surreal sight I had witnessed since my possession [reincarnation/transmigration].

Like a majestic tower collapsing, the whale twisted its body and slowly nestled into the ocean’s embrace. Sploosh…!

-Kwaaaaa!

A screen-like spray of water shot up vertically. Oh, this is going to capsize the ship!

“What’s happening! Momma!”

“Christel!”

“Mamma Mia!”

Christel shrieked with a mix of joy and shock, Isabel reacted, and the navy erupted in admiration.

The precious troublemakers, fully awake, held onto us with vines.

I’m experiencing everything in life. Even IMAX won’t cut it when I get home now!

-Bee!

“Yeah, the whale friend is amazing, isn’t it!”

-Kkiiii!

“Hold on tight, Hyung [older brother/term of endearment]!”

-Awooooo!

I was shaking like crazy, but I flinched at Tete’s cry.

His round, black eyes twinkled as if seeking praise.

For a moment, I felt completely mesmerized.

“You…”

The little harp seal freely commands marine life.

Unlike the lesser pandas, who can’t even summon land creatures despite being earth elementals, Tete could summon mackerel and seaweed before me.

Until yesterday, I was content enjoying seasonal seafood with this little one’s help.

-Auk

“Oh my god.”

But our baby knew how to invite even bigger friends!

-Woooo…

The whale in the sea cried out as if singing, circling around the pirate ship. A shiver ran down my spine.

I put an ether orb in the mouth of the striving little one and turned to look at the crown prince, who had approached unnoticed.

Through his black hair, dripping with salt water, his vermilion eyes shone with a rare light.

I thought he would hate being wet, but he seemed to find this fun.

He’s just like the hot-blooded protagonist’s fiancé.

“He’s calling his comrades.”

He said quietly.

I patted Tete, who was gulping down ether, and nodded.

Beyond the tilting mast, I saw Admiral Emma Corleone, her gray-green eyes gleaming.

The great whale seemed to be a rare sight even for her, who was addicted to stimulation and pleasure.

‘Hahaha!’ The middle-aged woman stroked her hook arm and burst into a heroic laugh.

When she was craving Christel, she just seemed crazy, but now she seemed like a completely unhinged warmonger.

Surely she’s not thinking of hunting….

-Kwaaa!

“Gasp!”

The second anomaly unfolded right in front of me. My jaw was starting to hurt.

-Splash, splash, sploosh…!

Smaller great whales than before were leaping out of the water, dancing.

It was a surprising and beautiful sight.

We were completely out of our minds, but the whale family seemed very peaceful.

I heard John’s voice, laced with laughter.

“They’re pushing our ship.”

“Pardon?”

Only then did I realize that the pirate ship was moving forward rapidly.

Looking back, the distance between the navy and us was rapidly widening.

The first great whale that appeared was blocking the admiral at the front and confronting her.

The woman’s thunderous voice echoed across the ocean.

“It’s been a while! My nemesis of a hundred years… Monstro!”

My eyes widened. What kind of setting is this again?

“Today is the day I get my arm back!”

“Waaaaa!”

The Liester Navy raised their weapons and shouted.

Kwaaang! A blank shot was fired from the fast ship.

The middle-aged woman jumped into the black sea. Soon everyone was receding into the distance, smaller than fingernails.

I let out a hollow breath.

So the mountain-like ‘Monstro (100 years old, blue whale)’ was the culprit who swallowed the admiral’s right arm a long time ago.

It’s like a fairy tale.

Maybe it feels scary because it’s something that person is involved in. Anyway!

“Thank you, Tete! You did a really good job. You’re today’s MVP [Most Valuable Player].”

-Awoo, awoo!

“Tete! You are my savior!”

Christel, the admiral’s mermaid, leaning on John, also gave a thumbs up.

The harp seal replied happily.

I pressed my forehead against the admirable and lovely little one for a while, then held the precious troublemakers and looked out at the sea.

Chwaaa, chwaaa! The black waves parted coolly.

The whales were playing with the ship and pushing it, so it seemed more than twice as fast as a fast ship. At this rate, we’ll be in the Imperial City soon.

“Good work, everyone! Shall we wash up and rest now?”

Marquis Francois, soaked to the bone, suggested, brandishing his mace.

Only then did the tension break and I realized how cold I was. We nodded with a smile, gasp!

“Francois!”

That patient is going to faint again!

*

The Liester Imperial Palace looked peaceful on the surface.

Except for the emperor and the cardinal’s closest aides, most of the staff didn’t know what was going on.

It was only natural, as it was the sovereign’s stern will.

The palace was in turmoil inside and out due to the academy founding ceremony terror incident, but everyone was careful not to say anything because the investigation had not yet been completed.

In the meantime, many servants quietly met with Aurelie Boutier and lost their memories.

The rumor that the dead perpetrator wished for the prosperity of Prince Yesser Venetian and the Divine Kingdom spread throughout the country in a week.

However, the majority of the people were skeptical. That was also natural.

‘The prince even buys goods from the stalls of old men in the alleys. There’s no way he could do such a terrible thing.’

‘I heard that rumor too. They say his heart is as soft as silk, right?’

Despite the bitter cold, the first snow was strangely slow.

However, Liester at the end of the year was unfailingly festive.

Magical lights hanging on clotheslines brightly crossed between buildings.

The commoners gathered in the streets were drinking wine like water and raising their voices.

‘That’s right! My fifth cousin lives in Serenite, and they say the prince only collects 10% in taxes. And he invests all of that in the territory business. My fifth cousin’s baby even received a blessing from him.’

‘Oh my god. Is there such a lord? I honestly thought the prince might have been aiming for the Crown Prince….’

Of course, there were some who suspected the prince.

Elizabeth silently pondered the story she heard on her way to work.

‘Ehe! It’s slander, slander! A precious person is even loved by the country’s lord, so someone must have been plotting something.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Haven’t you heard about the Andreji family, who went bankrupt recently? They’ve been abandoning babies for generations!’

‘Oh my! Who would do such a thing wearing a human mask?’

These days, she rode her beloved horse between the Count’s residence and the Imperial Palace instead of a carriage.

She deliberately detoured through streets lined with tea houses and restaurants.

The weather just before the New Year was so cold that it stung her nose, but understanding public sentiment was important at times like this.

Since her direct superior, Guard Captain Herve, was away, her responsibility was heavy.

‘They abandoned illegitimate children because they were dirty, but it turns out that even if the child was legitimate, they rejected them if they were sick and not perfect. It was the Crown Prince and his friends who caught them!’

‘Is the prince one of those friends?’

‘That’s right! Use your head a little. A young master from such a family called the prince’s name and dared to attack the Crown Prince? What could be the reason?’

The Deputy Guard Captain had a new thought as she walked through the corridors of the Imperial Palace.

Some nobles thought that commoners were more foolish and lacking than themselves.

But that was never true.

There was only a difference in status, but there were always bright and lacking people everywhere.

‘Well, why. Didn’t the As Merchant Guild leader go to jail? For committing painting fraud. It’s the biggest merchant guild in the west.’

‘Did Prince Yesser catch that too?’

‘That’s right, have you been living being deceived!’

And the people of Liester generally followed the opinions of those who were smart.

It was a very exemplary case as a country.

‘I don’t know about anything else. I saw the prince myself at the Crown Prince’s investiture eve party. Purple eyes, blonde hair, he was as beautiful as an angel. He even flew in the sky with wings! Could an evil person create such harmony?’

‘Purple eyes. I want to see him in person too.’

‘He is truly of the blood of the chief god. ‘The eye is the window of the soul.’ There’s even such a saying in the Bible.’

‘This friend even reads the Bible!’

‘Wahahaha!’ A boisterous laugh erupted. Elizabeth was lost in a brief reverie.

Seidy and the prince, Christel and her friends. And the time she had steadily walked together….

She was happy that the things she had tried her best to do had returned as the result of their trust and affection.

-Step, step, step

“……”

But the conspiracy was not over yet. The inspector renewed her unwavering determination.

Herit and Father Sant had collected the leaflets full of nonsense, but she shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if they had spread.

The Duke of Sarnese noticed that the leaflets were not doing their job, so he did not repeat the distribution.

He was holding back because he knew that the paper had fallen into the emperor’s hands.

Elizabeth had planted plainclothes guards in Claire Square, but there had been no special events so far.

But soon the evidence would be gathered. It had to be.

Because only one day was left of the week that His Majesty had given to the Dium family.

“Um.”

At that time, the following servant cautiously called her. It was the problematic woman ‘Ginette’, who was in charge of the Imperial Palace accounting work, assisting the chamberlain.

Until recently, Christel had suspected that she was her father’s affair partner.

“Does the Deputy Guard Captain know why His Eminence the Cardinal is calling me? The chamberlain’s office has been in disarray lately….”

The woman asked in an anxious voice.

At first glance, she just looked nervous because she couldn’t grasp the intentions of her superiors.

Elizabeth replied softly.

“It seemed like he was going to review the budget for His Majesty’s birthday celebration and banquet next month.”

“Ah. I see.”

The woman’s face brightened.

The Deputy Count sent a smile and then stared ahead with a stern expression again.

The Cardinal’s office was nearby. The maid Natalie announced their arrival and opened the door.

-Click

“Your Eminence.”

“Welcome, Elizabeth. Take some refreshments.”

“Thank you.”

“Your precious cheekbones have sunken in.”

The Cardinal’s unique gentle voice was heard.

Ginette entered the office with great relief. The atmosphere in the Imperial Palace had been strange recently.

Of course, it wasn’t as scary as when Prince Yesser was assassinated, and it wasn’t as tense as before Princess Eliser entered the palace.

But it was somehow eerie and ominous. The terrorist incident also added to the anxiety.

The woman was nervous that she might get caught for what she had done.

“You are Laura’s accountant. I called you because I have something I’m curious about.”

“Please ask, Your Eminence.”

“Yes. It’s nothing much.”

But fortunately, it seemed like she hadn’t been caught.

It seemed like the reason she felt the palace was gloomy was because of the weather.

Ginette bowed politely and waited for her superior’s words.

“Did you steal the prince’s spending details and give them to Simon?”

A chill ran down her spine. She quickly raised her head.

The beige eyes in the upper seat were staring directly at her.

Clearly the corners of his lips and eyes were smiling, but no emotion could be felt in the completed expression.

Clang. The sound of the door locking behind her. Ginette gaped.

“What, what are you talking about, I don’t know….”

“Everyone is like this at first. I volunteered to take on the job, but it’s a bit boring.”

“Your Eminence. I,”

-Paaaa…!

A dazzling radiance, a sacred golden circle, surrounded her.

Ginette’s limbs began to tremble as if they were sick.

Elizabeth glanced at the woman with a familiar look and munched on her apple mille-feuille.

[Stay still. There’s nowhere to run.]

It was a terrible sensation. As soon as the oracle fell, her legs didn’t move at all.

Instinctive fear stuck black to the depths of her lungs.

The woman gasped and looked at the Cardinal.

[I’ll ask again. Did you give Simon the prince’s spending details?]

“Yes, yes. Yes! I did! Huk, but the Duke told me to do it. I didn’t know anything!”

Her urgent voice cracked.

Maybe today, she would leave the palace as a corpse.

That fear drove the woman to madness.

[I see. Then the next question.]

“Yes! I’ll answer anything. Just save me,”

[Are you a spy of the Divine Kingdom?]

Oh my god.

“No, no! Absolutely! A-Although I have committed a serious crime, I would never dare to betray His Majesty and the Empire even in my dreams….”

‘Heok.’ Ginette stopped speaking and grabbed her head with both hands.

Soon, a wave-like pain washed over her.

“Ahhh! Ughhhh!”

The woman fell to the floor, bent over, and screamed.

Her brain burned as if it were burning hot, then it was chillingly cold as if it had been dipped in ice water.

It became heavy as lead and ached as if it were splitting in two.

She would rather just die.

It was so hard that tears streamed down her wide-open eyes. The Cardinal’s figure flickered in her blurry vision.

“Ah! It hurts…! Please save me! Ahhh!”

[You’ve been brainwashed.]

For the first time, an expression appeared on her face. It was ‘pity’.