Editing Tytania:Volume 3 Chapter 8 (section)

=== III ===
Once Count Elman Tytania took his leave, the hideout of those rogues instantly reverted to a place of boisterous debate. At the time, this house bore the overly beautiful name of “Green Wind<ref name="ftn34">“Early summer breeze manor” or more literally “Green Wind Manor” (緑風荘) is pronounced “Green Wind”.</ref>,” though the only remnant of that title was the green paint that had seeped into parts of the walls. Against those walls, the voices of the rogues, enjoying their freedom of speech, echoed in a chaotic scramble.

It was said that the proposal had originated from Count Elman himself, but it would become official once the Clanner granted his sanction. The rogues, who had hitherto been cast out and hunted as enemies of Tytania, would suddenly find the greatest power in the universe on their side. In Mahdi’s words, it was “a remarkably prosperous prospect”, but it was Seraphine who attempted to dismiss it outright as being “out of the question”.

“No matter how good the terms are, it is out of the question. Isn’t Tytania supposed to be our enemy!?”

“Which Tytania do you mean?”

The irony resided more in the fact itself than in the voice or the words. Looking down at the speechless Seraphine, Doctor Lee cleared his throat and resumed his lecture.

“Now that a concrete example has been presented before us, I believe the matter has become easier to understand. However, such situations could occur infinitely many times across the entire universe in the future. It is an unpleasant thought, but there is no denying the fact that the modern era itself is being led by Tytania.”

He took a breath and drank some water, an action that seemed quite characteristic of a professor.

“It is a strange paradox, but by splitting into the Clanner faction and the anti-Clanner faction—if that is how one ought to call them—Tytania’s overall influence has actually increased.”

A loud voice responded:

“In that case, there’s no need to interfere. We should just let the two sides fight to the bitter end while we enjoy the view from a safe distance. If all goes well, we could reap the rewards once both sides are utterly exhausted. It’s not my favourite way of doing things, though.”

Miranda was the one who made that proposal. Although her resentment towards Tytania, the force that had destroyed her husband’s vocal cords, ran deep, she possessed a pragmatic sense of strategy and did not allow herself to run wild with emotion.

“We shall have both sides present their terms. If they are in a position where they must make demands, we can drive the rewards as high as we please. Now is the time to make them pay their absolute maximum.”

Such was the tone of Mahdi’s voice, which was tinged with excitement. The grudge he held against Tytania was the sort that could be settled with a vast sum of money.

It was Amzekar who raised a doubt, casting a sidelong glance at him.

“Why did Count Elman throw such tempting bait before us? While sudden reversals of fortune are common enough, this feels somewhat extreme.”

“It is because the Clanner faction believes their chances of victory in actual combat are slim. They need talent capable of opposing Lord Ariabert. Given that, regardless of past history, there is no one else but Fan Hyulick.”

Desperate times called for desperate measures. That was Miranda’s opinion on the matter. She held Fan Hyulick’s ability to devise and command tactics in high regard. Amzekar shared this sentiment, though he presented a slightly different perspective.

“However, one could also look at it from the opposite side. If we were to occupy a central position within the Clanner army, it would certainly not be pleasant for those of the Tytania hereditary nobility. It might go as far as them attempting to exclude us or losing their will to fight, but there is even the possibility that they might defect to the anti-Clanner faction on the battlefield.”

“Are you suggesting that is Count Elman’s intention? I feel you might be overthinking it slightly.”

Miranda tilted her head slightly, and her husband, Captain Casimir, had a small nod while wearing a pensive expression.

“I wonder, Doctor.”

In response to the question, Doctor Lee took up the conversation:

“It seems necessary to consider why Count Elman came this far in the first place. Or rather, how he was able to do so. I suppose I’ll have to give that some thought.”

“They must have maintained a channel for contact all this time.”

“It is not our conditions but theirs. Ordinarily, it would not be surprising if Count Elman were under house arrest by the likes of Lord Ariabert. There must be a reason why he is able to move about so freely.”

A sense of unease settled over the rogues. The possibility of a surprise attack by Tytania crossed their minds. Once Count Elman had confirmed their presence in this house, perhaps armed soldiers would surround them and burst in.

That was indeed a concern, but Doctor Lee denied the possibility. He claimed it was not even a matter of that level<ref name="ftn35">“Level” (水準) is pronounced “level”.</ref>.

“Both dukes are likely aware of Count Elman’s movements. Because there are too many uncertain variables, they are probably just letting him run free to see how he reacts. If necessary, they could simply turn us into stardust along with him.”

“In that case, why not just side with Lord Ariabert and his lot? It’s worth trying to negotiate. If Count Elman continues down this path, we could just catch him and hand him over to Lord Ariabert as a nice little gift.”

Mahdi made the suggestion, only to be met with a cold glare from Miranda.

“How easily you change your tune. Were you brainwashed during your time in Tytania?”

“I simply refuse to cling to useless things like empty notions of justice. Besides, I only dislike certain methods used by Tytania; I don’t hate Tytania itself.”

“There is no need to make excuses. Everyone is well aware that your conscience is held in a deposit account at a Tytania-affiliated bank.”

“Ah, and it has been accruing interest every single day, so by now, I ought to be a saint good enough to be called Saint Alan.”

“Is that so? I suppose if you wring out all the wicked parts of your soul, only the angelic parts will remain.”

“W-what? Are you looking for a fight?”

With a low growl, Mahdi quickly ducked behind Walenkov’s massive frame. Miranda stepped forward with a fearless smirk.

It was at this moment that Doctor Lee saved Mahdi from his predicament. He did not go so far as to say, ''“Those who want to cause a disturbance can stand in the corridor,”'' but he did restrain the Princess with a pacifying, “Now, now, Miranda,” adopting the air of a true pacifist.

“There is no point in fighting amongst ourselves here. We are, so to speak, the Jokers in the deck. Whoever acquires us might find us simply too much to handle. The real issue is how we are treated.”

Fan Hyulick responded bluntly:

“If it were me, I would burn the Joker. It would be much less trouble. If you possess such a thing, you are constantly anxious about when it might be snatched away, and if it were used against you to cause a defeat, the regret would be unbearable.”

“I only wish that no one would notice.”

Doctor Lee wore an expression akin to a professor who had discovered a mistake in his own grading. It was then that Salam Amzekar sought to speak. He did not go so far as to raise his hand, but through a sort of tacit understanding, it created the impression that he was delivering a research presentation to Doctor Lee.

Amzekar’s opinion was as follows:

In the first place, was this not all a grand theatrical performance staged by the entirety of Tytania? Since Lord Ariabert had suffered defeat in the undersea battle, the Tytania Clanner, Ajman, had abandoned the idea of subjugating Fan Hyulick’s faction through purely military means. Perhaps, disregarding the potential for clan division, he had instead devised a treacherous scheme to summon Fan Hyulick’s faction as mercenaries, lure them into the interior of Uraniborg, and massacre them all.

“Count Elman spoke at length about his honour as a nobleman and such, but the history of Tytania is a continuous series of power shifts. Even if others were to condemn us in unison, Tytania would feel no sting. It would be enough if Count Elman alone bore the infamy. What do you think of this idea?”

“It is certainly something Tytania might well do…”

Miranda crossed her thick, muscular arms and fell into thought. The reason Mahdi shifted uncomfortably, though he had been prepared to argue against her, was likely because he felt an undeniable persuasiveness in Amzekar’s words.

Then, Pagès voiced an even more dangerous possibility.

He suggested that there might be a plan in motion at Uraniborg to appease Lady Theresa, the mother of the late Lord Zarlisch. It was a strategy that sought to kill two birds with one stone: to satisfy her by avenging her sons and thereby persuade her to withdraw her claim to the dukedom.

Rather than answering that, Doctor Lee addressed another student:

“So, what shall we do, Mr&nbsp;Hyulick?”

“Simply standing by with our hands tied, watching the conflict between the Tytania factions, would be far too passive.”

“Then, shall we depart for Uraniborg?”

“Before that, we must figure out how we are going to leave this planet.”

“There is no need to worry about that. Count Elman will escort us. That should be well within the scope of his plan.”

At this juncture, it was the responsibility of the administrative authorities, not the scholars. It was what all the students felt Doctor Lee was implying.

“Even if we decide on that, what about the stance of the Bargash government? If we make a choice different from theirs, they will naturally attempt to obstruct us.”

Mahdi’s voice responded to Walenkov’s:

“As if those people had any right to complain. Not when they can’t even provide proper necessary expenses.”

That was certainly true; under the current dire financial circumstances, it would have been impossible for Mahdi, the treasurer, to line his own pockets.

“There is no need to concern ourselves with Bargash just yet. However, there are indeed far too many concerning matters regarding Tytania itself.”

“For instance, Doctor?”

“For instance, the recent internal conflict and division within the Tytania Clan seems a little too clear-cut in its pattern. Uraniborg, the stronghold of evil, and the two unfortunate dukes driven from it. Good versus evil. It is a sight that feels a bit too dramatic.”

“True enough.”

Fan Hyulick brought the faces of Ariabert and Jouslain to mind. ''“They had faces that appealed to the common people,”'' he thought, with a slight sense of inferiority.

“In that case, Lord Idris would be viewed, in terms of imagery, as an agent of evil.”

“The man himself might be feeling quite innocent excitement. Believing that the Clanner’s throne is finally within his reach.”

In reality, as long as both Duke Ariabert and Duke Jouslain remained alive, Idris was nothing more than the third candidate for the next Clanner. Since both dukes had been exiled at the same time, it was only natural that the flames of his ambition would roar into life. However, whether those flames could endure until the very end remained to be seen.

In the first place, it was Doctor Lee who had committed the crime of spreading malicious rumours of “treasonous intent by Lord Idris” throughout the frontier sectors. It was Balamy who had gathered these reports and presented them to Uraniborg. While the matter appeared to have been settled in a half-hearted manner, Ariabert and Jouslain would, of course, use those rumours to their advantage in both political and military manoeuvres.

“Ensure that everyone is prepared to depart by the time further word arrives from Count Elman.” With those words, Doctor Lee dismissed the group of students for the time being.