༺ Fake News ༻

I am weak.

In terms of mana, Qi, or other skills. At best, I merely exist.

The taste of dry and bitter tree bark was not pleasant, but if one asked whether it had a taste or not, I could only answer that it did indeed exist. After all, even a bitter and dry taste was still a taste.

That was exactly what the power I possessed was like.

It existed, but it was not pleasant.

Even if I scraped together all my strength, I could never surpass the level of an ordinary human who had trained a little; it was just mediocre talent.

However, there was a saying.

It was not that the strong survived, but that those who survived were strong.

“Nehru. Is the information that urgent?”

And one way to survive was…

Pretending to be far stronger than any and every other person.

Pretending to have some hidden trump card. Pretending to be some extraordinary existence. Bragging excessively, but in reality, using Mind Reading to sow discord and instigation.

All without using my own hands or revealing my power. I moved others to achieve what I wanted. That was how a Mind Reader survived in the back alleys.

“I’ll warn you in advance. Can you handle the consequences?”

Nehru smiled wryly and responded to my words.

“Handle it, you say. Darling, is this right for me to interpret this as you knowing about the Taboo?”

“I have one guess.”

Beaskin, with their added ears and tail, had a sense of hearing and balance several times better than others. What did this mean, you ask?

It was optimized for sneaking into places and eavesdropping.

Was that perhaps why? I, who openly gathered information using Mind Reading, found their underhandedness hard to understand.

“But are you sure it’ll be okay?’

“Hmm? Why wouldn’t it be?”

Nehru was a persistent paparazzi, always sneaking into places to uncover secrets. And on top of that, being the Editor-in-Chief of a private magazine, at first glance, seemed completely opposed to the Military State.

However, there was one thing to remember. Excessively curious cats had already died long, long ago. The private magazine Black Cat had never crossed the State. Instead, it cooperated with the Military State by exposing corruption and scandals.

Revenge for being exposed? That would never happen.

Let us not forget. This was the Military State. If corruption allegations were proven true, anyone less who had a status less than that of a general officer would have their heads roll. Literally.

Though it didn’t mean instant death if Black Cat bit, if the hammer of military law fell, nothing of the body would remain. Unlike the superstitions, in the most literal sense, Black Cat called forth death.

That was why even as a soldier, one could not reign supreme.

“The moment you know this truth, you and your magazine might be in danger, you know?”

But could one stay calm knowing the hammer of the law hung over their head?

“Something said to be dangerous by the Magician himself. Oh dear, how scary.”

“It is best if you don’t take it as a joke. You might black out in shock when you hear it, you see. You will probably fall into great distress. You’ll wonder whether you should write about it in your magazine. Whether someone will get hurt because of it. Every single letter you write will be fraught with fear. A pen might be mightier than a sword, but it is most definitely far heavier to wield.”

Flinch. Startled, her twitching tail momentarily paused; she was a bit frightened by my threat.

｢A bluff? Or, is it really something that significant…? Magician, Shadow. What exactly do the two know?｣

It was a bluff.

Taboo? If I knew about a Taboo that could boss around the Military State, I would have used it already. Why give it to someone else?

｢The Magician doesn’t want to reveal the information to me. In the case that the Military State captures and tortures me, I’ll naturally betray the Magician, and the State’s surveillance network will turn towards the Magician, after all….｣

So you don’t have a single thought of enduring torture and keeping secrets, huh?

Let’s see if I give you guys any information from now on. Fat chance of that.

｢But, we can’t back down like this. Mister Mackellin died and Chateau is in a coma. For the revenge of our family, no, to prevent such things from happening again…We need to know their plan.｣

Nehru clenched her teeth and forced a smile.

The most vulnerable to indiscriminate violence were the weak. Especially beastmen, with their poor reception, were susceptible to organized and collective crimes.

Though Family was formed to prevent that, the opponent in question just had to be a secret organization descended from the old kingdom. Family, defeated and pushed back in a power struggle, prepared for them far more than any other organization.

｢We will survive. By any means necessary.｣

Nehru was an informant and an informant had her own way of fighting. Firmly resolved, Nehru faked smiling eyes.

“Darling, you’re quite cooperative today, huh?”

“I’ve always been cooperative.”

“Hmph. Lies. You were even reluctant to pay condolences before I mentioned the Captain, you know?”

｢I don’t know about the Captain’s affiliation, but it seems the Magician is quite protective of her. If he even let her into his abode…Hoohoo. This could be quite useful.｣

Until now, Black Cat had been a great straw to me, delivering well-processed information right into my mouth.

But maybe due to the urgency, it seemed that the instincts inherited from her distant ancestors were starting to surface. Look at her prodding at me with those front paws just because I showed a little care.

Humans made a mistake, a big mistake. Humans really did. If only they weren’t the dominant species on the surface, beastkin would never have had to exist.

Haaa. How should I let slip confidential information that would absolutely explode in her face at the slightest hint of a touch?

Right as I was in the middle of my dilemma…

From afar, a silhouette in uniform could be seen. It was the Captain. The Captain was walking right in the middle of the concrete, angular alley with straight movements.

Nehru also recognized the Captain before quietly speaking in a casual manner.

“Speak of the Devil. How did she find this place?”

“Just a moment.”

Actually though. How did she know? Even though we were sitting at a table out in the open road, this place was a quiet alley with hardly any passerby.

Should I read her mind?

｢Target found. Disconnecting.｣

Soooo, you’re telling me…

The Captain synchronized with the golems deployed throughout the Military State, and after searching one by one, she found me?

…Was this the power of a signaller?

What in the world? Had I been under surveillance all this time? Just a single individual, without being detected by me, was able to find me? And from such a distance at that?

In a sense, wasn’t she a superior version of me?

While I was feeling doubtful about the meaning of a Mind Reader’s existence, the Captain approached me. She looked back and forth between me and Nehru, before walking up right to me.

“I request your cooperation.”

Though it was Captain Abbey who suddenly interjected, the Captain was still a captain. While it was up in the air whether I could defy her behind-the-scenes, in the open like this, I could not resist. Nehru, hiding her discomfort, spoke to the Captain.

“Oh my, such a distinguished presence like the Captain in such a humble place! Could you please wait a moment. I shall finish our conversation quickly and yield to you.”

Flexibility was the virtue of an informant. Despite the Captain’s advent, Nehru spoke gently without a hint of fluster.

Unfortunately, even though this Captain wasn’t even a proper or normal one, she adhered more strictly than anyone to the rigid FM.

“I am on official duty. Excuse me, but I must ask you to postpone your matter.”

Stiffness inevitably leads to conflict. Nehru’s brows furrowed.

“Just a moment, Captain. There’s an order to things. We had a prior appointment, you know?”

“Official duties take precedence over everything.”

“Official duties? What is the matter?”

“It is confidential.”

In my case, I read thoughts with Mind Reading, so I didn’t really have any issues, but hearing it again, her way of speaking really did feel like one that was perfect for stoking anger.

After all, Nehru was irritated because of that.

“Are you joking?”

“I do not joke.”

Usually, Nehru would have stepped back and made an appointment for next time, but now she was unable to see past the agitated state of affairs.

Ah, and this is by no means an insult to the visually impaired. What would be the point of insulting visual impairment to beastkin? It would rather be more of a compliment.

“He was about to sell me information. Please wait until we’re done.”

“Information?”

This time, the Captain was the one who reacted.

“You are buying information from him?”

“Yes. Why? Is there a problem?”

“Negative. There are no regulations regarding the commercialization of information. Non-luxury transactions are free. However….”

A signaller of itself was top secret. The Captain, her very existence a classified information, glanced at me.

｢You are most likely not planning to sell the information that I am a signaller. I trust and have faith in you…However, I cannot afford to be negligent in surveillance.｣

The Captain moved to the seat next to us and sat down upright at that table. She turned with her ears tilted towards us.

“Then, I will observe here until the transaction is completed. Please continue your transaction.”

“What is she saying. Darling, that woman is strange.”

Yeah, I’m not gonna lie. She really is strange. But her behavior is somehow extremely delightful, so… Well then, it’s decided. I’m on her side.

“My word. How dare you. How can you call the Captain strange when she works so tirelessly for us citizens! Tsk! Mere paparazzi should at least have some shame!”

“If the information you are about to trade is not dignified enough to mention in front of me, there is no choice but to suspect illegality in the information itself.”

Nehru, cornered by authority from the Captain and common sense from me, narrowed her eyes angrily.

“Look at you two, all in sync. Are you dating or something?”

“NEGATIVE! Stop your baseless accusations immediately and finish your business!”

Hmm. Regardless of whatever the Captain blabbered, Nehru was now cornered. Without information equivalent to the situation, she would not move according to my will.

But as mentioned, it was hard to talk about such matters in front of the Captain. For now, I needed to send her home and then finish the conversation.

“Do not think of sending me away. I will not move from this spot until your conversation is concluded.”

But how could I send this obstinate Captain home?

Ah, that’s right. What did Nehru just say? Should I try using that method?

“I can’t take this anymore. Bbey. I’ll say it now, okay?”

“…? Why are you seeking my consent?”

｢Is he perhaps going to reveal that I am a signaller…? That cannot be allowed. The moment that happens, I will have to eliminate all witnesses using every golem I can mobilize.｣

How terrifying. If she decided to do so, I wouldn’t be able to read her thoughts and respond.

Don’t worry, it’s not that.

I gestured to her. The Captain, tilting her head in confusion, plodded towards my side.

As the Captain stood beside me, I grabbed her then and there, pulling her towards me. In a blink of an eye, the Captain ended up sitting on my knee.

｢…? Question. What is the meaning of this action?｣

While the Captain, full of questions, sat on my knee, I smiled awkwardly, as if to express that I was at a loss for what to do, and spoke.

“That’s right, Nehru. To be honest, I’m in a sincere relationship with her.”

“……?!?!”

｢I have never heard of such news before, though?!｣

Obviously. After all, today’s the first time I’ve said it.