30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

4 – 3. Terrorism always occurs on the Academy Admission Train. (2)

*

When asked by freshmen why the United Kingdom was called the ‘Union’ Kingdom, Ivan would suggest they look at the train route map.

During the war with the Demon King, this massive railway network, carrying military supplies, served as a vital artery connecting not only cities but also nations.

Metal beasts that could cover the vast distances that would take over ten days by carriage in just one day. The true heroes of the past war.

“Who’s arriving first?”

“It’s Ainar from Dron, senior. Princess Esidis is expected to be the first to depart!”

“Still in January?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard. Who in their right mind comes two months in advance to wait for the admission day? Even the royal family! Such a nuisance.”

The guy laughed cleverly.

“It seems Princess Esidis had a tough time. From her hometown! Well, I guess the folks in Dron must find playing instruments amusing.”

“Instruments…?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention it? Princess Esidis applied to the Music Department. Majoring in the Symphony Orchestra, specializing in the violin. Isn’t that amazing? The bloodline of ‘that’ King Ainar as a violinist.”

Ivan paused for a moment upon hearing that.

The Ainar he remembered, before becoming a king. Ainar, a member of the warrior party, wielding two axes, collecting orc heads in the morning and minotaur heads in the evening—a madman.

-hahahahaha, look at this ‘little’ Ivan! This is how you wield an axe!!

Usually, daughters don’t resemble their fathers…?

No, no.

It’s been several years, but the faint image of Esidis that came to mind was that of a slender little girl. She adored her father.

Actually, there were hardly any resemblances. Fortunately, for everyone.

Anyway, it seems the strongest music student is about to be born. Ivan left a brief reflection.

Esidis may not resemble her father in appearance and personality, but when it comes to wielding an axe, she took after him.

“By the way, senior, are you sure about this information? That there will be a real terrorist attack on the train?”

“Yeah.”

“Who is it? Well… if you ask who it is, there are too many sharp-tongued folks around… But still, she’s Princess Aynar. If caught, you’ll face the Eagle of Blood.”

The Eagle of Blood is the most favored folk game among the citizens of Droan. Roughly speaking, it holds a status similar to traditional games played during holidays or festivities, like yut nori or swing rides. (At least in the sense that many people gather to watch.)

The details are too gruesome to be explained to the civilized society citizens of the Kingdom of Krasilov.

“If you follow the shortest route from Droan to Yansk University, here.”

Ivan ignored the guy’s words and drew a thin solid line on the route map.

Route 12.

One of the trade routes connecting the Kingdom of Krasilov to the Kingdom of Droan.

“And presumably, this place, Igorbichi Station. It seems to be the most likely.”

“How can you be so sure…? Who would announce a terrorist attack in advance and not sow people, Senpai, did you plant someone?”

“Well, they’ll set it off near the border.”

Who will carry out the terrorist attack is unknown. It’s unpredictable.

They have withdrawn from the front lines, and they are not connected to intelligence agencies.

But speculation is possible.

Assuming that the terrorist act itself is a constant,

Now, match ‘why,’ ‘who,’ and ‘how’ one by one.

“The purpose of the terror would be Princess Aesidis, right?”

“Well, um… if a real terrorist attack happens, then yes?”

“Why?”

“…What?”

Of course, to create conflict elements between Krasilov and Droan.

Up to this point, it’s natural.

“In that case, there won’t be any terrorism south of the Droan border. To shift the blame to the Kingdom of Krasilov, it must happen within our border.”

“Uh… yes. That makes sense, right?”

“But once this route passes Igorbichi Station, it goes through three military zones in total.”

Even if trains are vulnerable to terrorism, it’s not within military zones.

Not all directions of the route were surrounded by military zones, but it at least pierced through three military fortresses.

This is essentially a trace of the railway being designed for military purposes.

“And as it gets closer to the capital, the vigilance naturally becomes stricter. So the most vulnerable place is Igorbichi Station.”

“Oh… yes, I see.”

“What is Princess Aesidis’ scheduled departure time?”

“Two days later, at midnight, the train.”

“Well, then we’ll arrive around 10 in the morning three days from now. It would be just right if we leave now.”

Ivan folded the route map and nodded.

His junior, who had been staring at his face for a moment, chuckled and said, “Seriously, what’s going on? I don’t think it’s a mission entrusted to us, and I’ve never heard of you predicting anything, even back when you were active. I can send agents for counter-terrorism, but I need evidence to convince the higher-ups.”

“Shall we make a bet then?”

“… A bet?”

“Without on-site support. Just see the results.”

Ivan smirked and turned to look at his junior.

There was no evidence. There might not even be an informant. But terrorism would happen. It’s ‘common sense.’

There was no time or room for persuasion on this issue. There would be more instances of this ‘common sense’ in the future, and how would he convince each time?

So, Ivan decided to cut it off from the first button. On top of that, he had confidence in himself.

If terrorism didn’t happen, there would be little burden since he hadn’t requested support in the first place.

If terrorism did happen, his words would now gain serious credibility. He had rescued the daughter of the hiking leader.

Moreover, Hiking Einarr wouldn’t have sent his most cherished daughter alone. Naturally, an agent would be accompanying her.

‘But if terrorism is constant, it means they are confident in facing all of Acedis’s agents.’

It was a risky move, but there was much to gain.

Even Ivan had the opportunity to verify whether his ‘Academy Official’ was accurate. If he failed some of these tests, well, it might not be an Academy thing.

“You seem really confident. Well, okay. I’ll keep my hands off for now.”

Ivan didn’t bother to reply. Not believing was the obvious thing to do.

Normally, sane anti-government groups don’t cause terrorism on civilian transportation railways.

Train terrorism consumes a multitude of human resources. From the moment the incident occurs, those involved lose all the carefully built up goodwill over years to decades.

Losing overwhelmingly outweighs gaining from simply blowing up a civilian railway.

Even if it’s the assassination of Einarr the Great’s precious daughter, it’s the same.

Unlike assassinating while staying in the country, what happens on the train has somewhat unclear responsibility. In other words, it may cool diplomatic relations, but it’s unlikely to escalate beyond the level of a dispute.

Blowing up a civilian railway just for such a goal is nothing more than a disgrace. Therefore, the Krasilov royal family doesn’t invest more than the minimum security in it.

That’s the ‘common sense’ of the people of this world. Rational reasoning and judgment.

But Ivan’s ‘common sense’ was different. This was an official matter.

In this peaceful four years, where ominous events like terrorism and conflicts disappeared with the Demon King.

It wasn’t strange that Ivan was the only one who could anticipate something like train terrorism.

Even if a princess from abroad were to arrive, the extent of preparation and ceremony would be confined to the capital’s history.

“I have to do this three more times.”

Ivan sighed deeply as he descended to the train platform. The party of warriors departing from a foreign land, excluding the saint, numbered four.

Even in this tiresome world.

Ivan boarded the train, pressing his temples.

*

As Ivan departed on the train towards the border, his junior headed to the palace to report dutifully.

“Your Highness, Sir Dmitry Cherkatov has entered the palace.”

“He is the palace minister in the palace.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Carved wood, gilded inner walls, a lavish private office.

A workspace outrageously spacious for a single person.

In Princess Elizaveta Kirillovna Krasilov’s office, adorned with marble and ivory, stood a massive ebony table.

Behind the cluttered table, a woman casually toyed with a pen.

“Report.”

“Petrovich left.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“He suspects a train terror attack. The time and place are quite clear.”

Upon hearing this, Elizaveta halted the pen.

“Does Vanka have an informant?”

“No, there hasn’t been any indication in the past four years.”

An information network ultimately relies on human resources. And all human resources require steady management and proper lubrication as essential components.

Given that handling the task of pinpointing a ‘shadowy anti-government organization’ without any support or management was impossible, even if it meant relying solely on guesswork.

Yet, despite his actions being nothing more than conjecture, there was a certain type of ‘confidence’ emanating from him.

Just like four years ago when he left on his last mission.

Claiming an act of terror was common sense without any evidence.

If someone other than Ivan made such a claim, Elizaveta would have easily labeled them as ‘mad.’

“This information might be proven wrong, but at least Petrovich is still active. Your Excellency, the legend is still very much alive.”

The reliability of information is a secondary concern. Since Ivan left on his own without requesting support, even if the information was wrong, there would be no loss.

Dmitri trembled slightly as he recalled something more important than the current situation. It was the first time he had gone to meet Ivan.

The ability to naturally silence footsteps unconsciously is a basic skill for the eradication unit.

However, after accurately determining the unseen opponent’s position and height behind the closed door.

The posture of revealing one’s presence, leaning and preparing for a counterattack by exposing one’s movements while crouching was a training state not easily found even in active-duty agents.

The thick premonition and the dry vitality felt the moment the doorknob turned.

Instinctively raising his voice to inform Ivan of his location felt like second nature. Because if he had kept quiet, an axe blade might have flown in the next moment.

“Hu, huhu.”

A small laughter echoed from beyond the table.

In Dmitri’s memory, it was a pleasant laughter heard after three years.

“Your Excellency…?”

“Attach people. Record every move of Bantka in detail, even the smallest actions. Make it an urgent report, available for inspection at any time.”

“If… if Your Excellency wishes to see it, wouldn’t it be better for you to inspect it personally…?”

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have just been reporting for four years.”

Elizabeth chuckled and moved the quill again.

“Meeting at a better moment, at a more perfect timing, is the right thing to do.”

“Oh, yes…”

“Stop making empty words and go protect the country. Understand?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Dmitry Cherkatov will retire with honor.”

Dmitri stepped back with a solemn expression and left.

No, receiving reports on every detail of daily activities is neither straightforward nor romantic.

At least, he hoped his lover wouldn’t think that way. Dmitri hurriedly left the Eastern Palace.

When the agents dispatched by Dmitri arrived at Igorbich Station, they received three neatly packaged body bags.

At the meticulously cleaned crime scene, there was no sign of Ivan Petrovich.

At that moment, Ivan was running through the forest, wielding an axe.