The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 184
Kwaaang!!!
“Ha! Van the Legend? That’s not even funny. What kind of childish nickname is that?”
“Such a country bumpkin from the empire.”
“We can’t just let this go!”
The Ran Republic is a nation of magical engineering.
Magical engineers, or mages specializing in magical tools, held high status.
Their pride was immense, often dismissing the empire’s magical engineering.
This article provoked outrage in research labs throughout the republic.
“He’s coming to the expo? Good.”
“We’ll have to teach this bumpkin the greatness of our republic’s advanced magical engineering.”
“I wonder if he’ll even understand. Grasping the republic’s greatness requires a certain level of competence.”
However, there were those who reacted differently.
In the heart of Steam City.
The streets here were cleaner than in other parts of the city.
There stood an exceptionally large and majestic mansion.
“As expected, that Van fellow has arrived, Young Duke.”
A boy with a sinister look said.
Handsome, but filled with greed and selfishness?
In a word, attractively wicked.
It was Senin.
The sub-main character of the merchant class, with a personality more villainous than villains.
“As per our contract, ensure that Van is buried in the magical academic community.”
A middle-aged man smirked and stroked his beard.
It was the Grand Duke Rutger.
The godfather of the Mafia Royal Family and one of the most influential figures in this republic.
“Don’t worry. Everything is already prepared. Isn’t that right, Doctor?”
“Yes, Your Grace. At the expo, that bumpkin will face social death as a mage.”
A man with a sharp look responded.
He was another big shot.
Dr. Kaplan.
The one who had been bestowed the title of ‘Meister,’ given only to the finest magical engineers.
He was the head of the engineering lab operated by the Royal Family.
“This man will become a major criminal in the realm of magical technology, never to set foot in the magical community again.”
It was a curious conversation.
The crime was committed by them, as they had stolen the technology.
Yet, they planned to make Van the criminal?
Furthermore, to bury him?
Considering Van’s recent stature and the background of the Ecclesia family, it seemed absurd, but for them, it was possible.
The Ran Republic being a leader in magical engineering wasn’t just about having advanced technology.
They were also far ahead in crimes related to technology patents.
Stealing someone’s technology and then framing the victim was commonplace in the Republic.
Especially the Royal Family were experts in such affairs.
For them, stripping a country bumpkin from the empire and then making him the offender in court was trivial.
“He will end up being a plagiarist who has stolen our technology, owing a huge sum in damages. His Vanmily Company, Armand Corporation, will go bankrupt.”
“If that happens, the subsidiary trading companies that originally belonged to the Rapalt Ducal Family will have to transfer some shares to me, as per our agreement.”
Senin hastily said.
“Haha, don’t worry. Do you not trust me?”
“No, I trust you.”
“Young Master Senin, you will become part of our Royal Family, taking on the role of dominating the empire’s commercial world.”
“Thank you!”
“You’ll hear good news soon, so you may leave now.”
After Senin left, a sneer flickered in Duke Rutger’s eyes.
Dr. Kaplan Meister shared a similar expression.
“Such a naïve young duke, unaware of the ways of the world. Do you really plan to share the trading company’s shares with that kid?”
“Of course not. Once his usefulness ends, he’ll be disposed of.”
“To think that this foolish child, rejoicing without knowing what’s in store for him, was praised as a commercial genius. The standards of the empire are pitiful indeed.”
“Well, thanks to such fools, we make our fortune, don’t we?”
Greed shimmered in Duke Rutger’s eyes.
“Especially the automobile. This will change the world. It’s certain to herald my second golden age.”
Duke Rutger was profoundly shocked when he heard about automobiles.
He had an intuition.
That the future would herald the era of automobiles.
Since then, he had been planning this.
“In future history, I will not be recorded merely as a mafia godfather but as the king of automobiles.”
Van and Count Armand and the like will remain as clueless extras, merely obstacles.
After all, history belongs to the victor.
* * *
“Are we in the right place?”
“The address matches this location.”
“But what kind of condition is this building in? Were we scammed?”
Hans and I stood dumbfounded in front of a secluded building.
It was large but old and dirty, just like the scenery of the surrounding slum streets.
‘This is the presidential office? Really?’
I had never visited the presidential office while progressing through the storyline.
The real powerhouses of the Ran Republic are the godfathers of massive mafia families.
The President, especially the current one, was almost an extra in terms of significance.
‘The sign says it’s the Presidential Office, but this looks even more suspicious. No security personnel?’
Then, a door with a broken window creaked open, and a man emerged.
A face that seemed familiar.
He recognized me first.
“Ah! You’ve come. I did send an invitation, but I didn’t really expect you to come!”
“And you are?”
“Ah, you don’t remember? I’m Eckmann, the Chief Secretary of the Presidential Office! It’s disappointing. We fought against a terrible monster together…”
Eckmann’s voice trailed off.
He had noticed Sylphin standing beside me.
For the record, the terrible monster we fought together was the Massacrist Mage.
“Thinking about it, it’s time to knock off. No one can stop a public servant from leaving. I’ll be going now.”
“It’s 1 PM, what do you mean by knocking off?”
“Don’t go, play with me, fun uncle~♥”
“Ahhh. Why did you bring that monster along?!”
He was noisy, as I had felt before.
Or should I say, Hans-like?
“Tsk, such a frivolous person as the Chief Secretary. That says a lot about the standards of the Ran Republic.”
…Hans was indulging in some self-loathing.
‘Or perhaps, it’s jealousy because of the good looks. While their personalities may be similar, their appearances are completely different.’
While Hans making a fuss was unsightly, Chief Secretary Eckmann, being naturally good-looking, made even the fuss seem charming.
Just as the Black Dragon’s silliness seems stylish thanks to my outstanding looks.
“The President is upstairs. Would the rest of you mind waiting down here, please?”
“Oh! Professor Van and I are like a needle and thread together!”
“Would you allow Hans to accompany us as well? He’s an assistant who will help with the project.”
Thus, Hans and I were guided up the stairs.
‘This is the Presidential Office.’
I felt slightly nervous.
Beyond this shabby door was the highest authority of the Ran Republic.
He was among the continent’s top figures, alongside the Emperor of the Empire, the Demon King of the Demon Realm, the Elf King of the Great Forest, and the Sovereigns of the Seven Kingdoms.
“When meeting the President, there is one thing you must be mindful of. Do not laugh under any circumstances.”
“Why would I commit such a breach of etiquette?”
“You’ll understand once you see him. Please be careful.”
“??”
After entering, I understood why the Chief Secretary had issued such a warning.
A bald head was in sight.
Not just any baldness, but a large, circular pattern of baldness, like a crater in the middle.
Baldness is common enough to be no issue, but the real problem was the man’s appearance.
He was a breathtakingly handsome man.
As expected of an elf of the fairy race.
And his expression was worn with fatigue, like a corporate worker accustomed to overtime.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation. My name is Arlmen. Though I may not be much, I’m in charge of governing the Republic.”
A surprising revelation.
This circular-pattern bald handsome elf with an overtime worker’s expression was the President of the Ran Republic!
He seems like a distinguished person.
What do you mean?
Look at that circular baldness. It’s undoubtedly a symbol of passion for the nation and its citizens!
Ignoring Hans’s nonsensical remarks, I showed respect.
“It is an honor to meet you, President of the Ran Republic. I am known as Van the Legend.”
“Legend? That’s not your original surname, is it?”
“I consider it another name that more accurately represents me.”
Damn.
It’s not like I wanted to introduce myself like this to the head of a nation. It was all due to the indiscriminate flamboyance of the Black Flame Dragon.
“You’re as peculiar as the rumors suggest. Are all the empire’s mages oddballs like you?”
“……”
“Anyway, thank you for coming all this way. I apologize for not being able to offer a proper welcome. As you can see, the Presidential Office is not in the best of situations.”
I guessed internally.
‘It’s because of the mafia.’
As previously explained, the Ran Republic is under the control of mafias.
Often, the President is just a figurehead put forward by the mafias, but this man was an exception.
He was a legendary figure who won the election by a landslide against a candidate who was a spokesperson for the mafias.
‘As Hans said, the circular baldness might also be due to the stress of worrying about the republic.’
However, despite being a remarkable figure, there was a reason for his minor role in the storyline.
This President is going to die soon.
More precisely, he will be assassinated.
‘He will be assassinated before the second semester starts.’
It’s a shockingly significant event that will be widely reported even in the empire.
There’s just over a month left.
“Have you been informed about the project we are currently undertaking?”
“Yes, I am well aware of it.”
“The rest of the design is all set. Professor Van, you just need to solve the efficiency problem of the conductor as promised.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.”
“What?”
The handsome elf President frowned, and Eckmann beside him looked flustered.
“Isn’t that different from what was discussed before? You said it could be solved, didn’t you?”
“With my genius, it wouldn’t be difficult to develop a theory to increase the efficiency of the mana conductor. But that’s not the issue here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you truly believe this ‘River of Holy Light’ project can be completed, facing opposition from the mafias?”
The President’s expression hardened.
My words had struck a nerve.
“That is…”
“The problem with this project isn’t technical. In this republic, nothing can be done without the mafia’s permission.”
The River of Holy Light project, simply put, is about purifying a polluted river.
However, this is something the mafias would dislike.
The mafias had been profiting hugely by monopolizing alternative water sources in place of the polluted river.
“I had thought of measures to counteract the mafia’s interference…”
“Yet, if Your Excellency is assassinated, the project will inevitably fail.”
“Professor Van! You’re going too far!”
Eckmann exclaimed in shock.
But I didn’t retract my statement.
Because it’s something that will actually happen.
“Don’t you also suspect, Your Excellency? If we proceed with this project, what fate ultimately awaits?”
“So what are you suggesting?”
The President growled with an angry expression.
“Should we stop doing what’s right for the citizens and the nation just because I’m afraid of dying? Is that the way of your great empire?”
