Episode 37 of A Coincidence in the Game Becomes Reality
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Episode 37 of A Coincidence in the Game Becomes Reality
12. Avoiding Suspicion (2)
Have I been through so much that way?
Only five days have passed since the war with the Croysen Empire ended, but it already feels like more than ten days have gone by.
The problem is that this pace seems likely to continue for a while.
Tomorrow, I have to appear at the Nobles' Audit Office together with Arcia, and two days later, I'll attend the royal war-commemoration ceremony and the awards ceremony hosted by the royal family.
And three days after that, I'm planning to visit magic towers at home and abroad to buy Sky Fortress and Vanguard equipment.
Thanks to that, I hardly have any time to log in and level up.
Of course, that doesn't mean I haven't been logging in.
I do log in every day without fail, but it's a shame that my time there has become shorter.
"I never get tired of looking at how much there is."
Today, I cut into my sleeping time and logged in to Chronicle Online.
The place I'm currently in is Manuel Lucas's magic tower, which could be called the center of the coincidence.
Whenever I get tired from hunting, I come here and look over the various materials Grand Duke Lucas left behind for me.
Skill and magic books are acquired in a form that is directly input into the brain, but ordinary research materials remain as nothing more than literal documents, so I'll need to understand them in advance if I want to use them as needed.
So this is also an important task I can't afford to miss.
[Sky Fortress Construction Manual]
[Vanguard Equipment Construction Manual]
[Next-Generation Force Device Research Manual]
Given my current position, I have no choice but to regard materials like these as important.
But the disappointing part is that, among the materials that amount to well over tens of thousands of volumes, military-related materials make up not even 1%.
The weapons Grand Duke Lucas developed changed the course of the war, but that means his inclination was far from war itself.
Then what research did Grand Duke Lucas, who is said to have devoted his entire life to research, put the most effort into?
[Why Rondel Cannot Advance Into Space Despite Having Sufficient Resources]
[On the Gods That Support Rondel's Worldview]
[Why Humans Cannot Travel to the Celestial Realm, the Demon Realm, or to Spirits Even Though They Exist in the Same World]
[On the Special Nature of Rondel's Dimension]
[The Possibility of Dimensional Travel]
It was dimensional travel.
That means Grand Duke Lucas never gave up, even until the very end, on returning to his hometown.
"He never married, never took in a disciple, and spent his whole life devoted only to research... all just to return home."
Grand Duke Lucas is called a great sage who changed the world, but in truth, he was a deeply lonely man.
The fact that he left clues here and there proving he was an Earthling was surely because he wanted to meet someone from his hometown.
Although his wish was only fulfilled after he had already lived out his lifespan, the arrangements he left behind became hope that was passed on to me.
"Dimensional travel, huh..."
Of course, if I could return to my hometown, I would want to go back.
But compared to Grand Duke Lucas, the reason I feel less desperate is not just that I gave up early because I lacked the ability myself; it may also be because, unlike him who was known as an orphan, my mother stayed by my side.
"If I could move between the two worlds at will, that would be amazing."
Was Grand Duke Lucas hoping that someone would carry on his wish?
It feels as if he couldn't fulfill his own dream, so he was telling me to go back home in his place.
"If that was my master's will, then I have to carry it on. I'll do my best."
The moment I thought of the words dimensional travel, memories of my hometown came rushing back vividly.
But for now, I can't afford to devote time to researching dimensional travel.
I still have far too much lacking.
Something like research, which requires a great deal of time, will have to wait until after I've reached all nine circles and handled every coincidence.
"Adrian is someone who knows how to respect a sage."
As I placed the books on dimensional travel back onto the bookshelf, a familiar male voice came from behind me.
He was Chester, the coincidence manager who was a complete copy of Grand Duke Lucas in life.
"I'm just an ordinary person. Isn't this the normal reaction?"
"How humble."
He is the master who passed on everything he had.
Respect and reverence toward him are only natural.
There are plenty of strange people on Earth and here alike, but Chester's high opinion of me seems a bit excessive. ## New Terms Manuel Lucas = Manuel Lucas Chronicle Online = Chronicle Online Chester = Chester
"I was actually looking for you because I had something to ask, so this is perfect timing."
"Yes, please go ahead."
At the moment, the things I can ask Chester about are limited.
Even though he could more or less guess what I was going to ask, he simply listened without a word.
I have two questions for him.
"There won't be any issues with money laundering, right?"
That was the first.
Just a simple check, nothing special.
I know how excellent Grand Duke Lucas's coincidence system is, but with the nobles' attention focused too heavily on me, it was a question for my own peace of mind.
"It's not that there is absolutely no possibility of arousing suspicion."
"Pardon?"
"If you track down every single missing transaction record of investors worldwide, right down to the small-timers, and add up those amounts, you can confirm that more funds have been moving than the actual trading volume."
His initial answer threw me off, but the rest of his explanation made me let out a hollow laugh.
Who would conduct such a crazy investigation?
In short, it meant there was no realistic chance of getting caught.
Seeing Chester, who looked like a jolly old grandfather but answered in such a sly way, I shook my head and moved on to what you could call the real main topic, the second question.
"Could you tell me how the fake coincidence holder operation is progressing?"
"Yes, understood."
I, Adrian Lawrence, am a great mage of the 7th circle, and at my side is Arcia, an Aura Master.
But even so, if the fact that I am Grand Duke Lucas's coincidence holder were to be revealed, there is a high chance I would be unable to protect what I have in my hands.
Starting with Grand Duke Lucas's homeland, the Bringham Empire, I doubted that our country could protect me from the pressure of the great powers, and I did not even trust the Linehart royal house.
In conclusion, I am in a position where I have to survive on my own, so until I reach the 9th circle I must thoroughly conceal my identity.
That is why I came up with the fake coincidence holder operation.
It was a plan to make someone else into Grand Duke Manuel Lucas's coincidence holder in my place and divert the world's attention to them.
Along with the title of the Duke of Riverdale's disciple, it is an important operation to shake off any arrows of suspicion that might be aimed at me.
To carry this out, I used the fourth of the five Hollywood system administrator uses I obtained upon reaching the 8th floor of the Magic Tower, and I even copied and handed over part of the rewards I had acquired to instill complete trust in the target.
Of course, only the ones that weren't all that important.
"The target is Lewis Fairmont. He is a 29-year-old intelligence agent of the Prius Republic and the team leader of the Manuel Lucas coincidence exploration department. Perhaps because his father is the president of the Prius Republic, he is famous for being an arrogant brute who doesn't recognize anyone above or below him."
In response to my request for a status report, Chester brought up a document along with his explanation.
It was a report containing information on the fake coincidence holder, and looking at his past conduct, there was plenty there that left me dumbfounded.
A textbook example of a clueless second-generation chaebol.
That was my impression of the fake coincidence holder, Lewis Fairmont.
* * *
The *Prius Republic* is, along with the Bringham Empire, the Elysian Coalition, and the Croysen Empire, counted among Rondel's four great empires, and is virtually the only major power that espouses democracy by electing its president through elections.
The Prius Republic calls itself the nation of enlightenment and revolution, but if you look inside, you cannot exactly call it a country for the people.
Corruption and collusion between politicians and business are a given.
The prosecution and the press are little more than the government's dogs.
But the biggest problem is the fact that a single president has been in power for a whopping fourteen years.
Presidential Palace of the Prius Republic.
"You truly are my son. At this rate, it won't be hard for you to become president after me."
The president of the Prius Republic, *Katro Fairmont*, spoke to the young man sitting across from him, who was swaggering to the utmost.
"Of course. Who would dare compete with me? I, Lewis Fairmont, have practically already beaten the Bringham Empire in competition."
Despite his inappropriate attitude, President Katro chuckled to himself and patted the shoulder of his son, *Lewis Fairmont*.
"You saw the articles, right?"
"They picked a great headline. Calling me the hero who saved the nation. Heh!"
"You're nothing less than Manuel Lucas's successor. That kind of title is only natural."
"But will this really be okay? Those bastards from the Bringham Empire are going to be furious."
The Bringham Empire.
It is Grand Duke Manuel Lucas's home country and the world's greatest superpower, so strong that even if the other three of the four great empires joined forces, they still could not be certain of victory. ## New Terms Bringham Empire = English Hollywood system = English Magic Tower = English Duke of Riverdale = English Lewis Fairmont = English Katro Fairmont = English Manuel Lucas = English Presidential Palace of the Prius Republic = English
In response, President Katro waved a hand and said there was nothing to worry about.
"If we attack first, we don't stand a chance, but if we only defend, then we do have a chance. They'll know that too, so they won't rush in easily."
"Wow, I'm glad my homeland is a great power."
"Your father is the president of the republic, after all. You can just focus on securing the fortune without worrying about a thing."
At the mention of securing the fortune, Lewis Fairmont, who had been keeping up his suave demeanor, frowned.
The reason was that he had reached the fortune, but had not yet fully made it his own.
"Damn it! Why do they have to distribute the fortune in stages!? Thanks to that, even though I got the fortune, what I've managed to get my hands on still feels so shabby!"
Indeed.
The fortune he had obtained was, after all, one Adrian had arranged as a way to stall for time, so it had been made extremely difficult to secure.
In Adrian's case, once he leveled up in the game and killed special monsters based on his accumulated combat experience, various rewards were granted and a circle would be formed automatically.
But the fortune Lewis obtained required him to first provide cash and research materials, and only after he personally formed a circle and grew stronger could he receive the next stage of rewards.
Of course, to make it look genuine, Chester, the fortune manager who possessed Grand Duke Lucas's memories, served as his master and spared no effort in backing him up, but in terms of efficiency, it could not compare to Adrian's real fortune.
Still, perhaps because Chester's teachings were so excellent, Lewis succeeded in forming a 1st circle just three days after obtaining the fortune.
"Don't be too hasty. Forming a circle in just three days is an astonishing speed, even among those called geniuses, is it not?"
This was an achievement more than enough to encourage those watching.
But with a method like this, stagnation would soon arrive.
No matter how much of a genius one was, reaching the 7th circle would require at least a decade, if not more.
"Shall we head out now? There are quite a lot of people who want to see you."
Shaking off his stray thoughts at President Katro's words, Lewis curled up the corners of his mouth and stood up from his seat.
Then the two of them left the Presidential Palace, escorted by numerous Vanguards.
Reporters were camped out in front of the Presidential Palace, and the moment they spotted Lewis, they swarmed in like a pack of dogs.
-Click! Click!
Although the reporters had to keep some distance because of the fierce aura of the Vanguards guarding Lewis, their mouths moved without a care.
"How did you obtain the fortune?"
"Exactly what did you get?"
"I heard the assets Grand Duke Lucas left behind are comparable to the Bringham Empire's national budget. Is that true?"
"What are you going to do with Grand Duke Lucas's assets? Do you plan to return them to the nation?"
Lewis only smiled calmly at the barrage of questions pouring in.
But just before he got into the vehicle, one beautiful female reporter's question succeeded in drawing Lewis's gaze.
"How do you feel right now?"
In response, Lewis revealed his feelings for the first time.
"I'm very happy. So many people laughed at me and said I was wasting my time chasing after Grand Duke Lucas, but in the end, I've proven that what I did was right."
"Can you tell us about your future plans?"
"I intend to spare no effort to help our republic develop even further through the fortune."
And then Lewis got into the prepared vehicle.
The reporters were frantic, trying to squeeze out anything more, but to Lewis there was something even more eye-catching than them.
"Long live! Long live Lewis Fairmont!"
"National hero! Lewis!"
It was the sight of the people gathered densely beyond the Presidential Palace's walls, cheering wildly.
Ten thousand? No, it looked like well over a hundred thousand.
Lewis looked at the citizens with a surprised expression, then soon rolled down the window and waved.
"Waaah!"
In response, the people's cheers rang out even louder, and he could feel his heartbeat quickening along with them.
Up until now, he had done countless things for pleasure, but this was an experience he had never felt before.
Thanks to that, it was only natural for Lewis to think this.
'Yes, cheer.'
The arrogance that had taken root in Lewis's heart grew even larger.
'I am your savior.'
If Adrian had heard such thoughts from Lewis, he would have applauded and said he was doing very well