Chapter 223: The Empire Demands Answers

The massacre at Saint Aurelia Preparatory Academy had thrown the Imperial Capital into an uproar.

By the following morning, newspapers across the city carried the names of the children who had died.

The Imperial government had confirmed that none of the young hostages survived, and the announcement sparked demonstrations outside government offices, demands for resignations, and widespread condemnation of the Cult of the Second Dawn.

For many citizens, the most disturbing revelation was that the perpetrators had prepared their operation months in advance.

They had entered the school under false identities, transported equipment through legitimate maintenance contracts, and established underground facilities without attracting sufficient attention.

The investigators had already uncovered evidence that several individuals involved in those preparations possessed connections to previously investigated research circles.

Naturally, people wanted to know how such an organization had operated for so long without being stopped.

The Imperial government wanted answers too.

Unfortunately, the people responsible weren’t particularly eager to provide them.

At the Imperial Bureau’s detention facility, Albrecht Voss had refused to cooperate with investigators since his arrest.

He continued insisting that his research represented a necessary step in humanity’s development, even after being confronted with the deaths of every child held inside Saint Aurelia.

His surviving assistants were considerably less enthusiastic.

Several had already begun offering testimony in exchange for consideration during prosecution.

Their statements confirmed that the cult’s senior members deliberately concealed the results of earlier experiments and misled junior researchers about the risks.

More importantly, the investigators had recovered information concerning financial supporters who had helped fund the occupation.

That discovery attracted the attention of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau.

The Cult of the Second Dawn evidently possessed resources beyond those of an isolated group of fanatical scholars.

Ilya learned about these developments when an Imperial investigator visited the Chastellain residence.

Professor Antoine was resting upstairs after spending most of the previous day completing Lucile’s unfinished communication device. He had barely slept, and Ilya had persuaded him to take a few hours away from his workshop.

The investigator, a middle-aged man named Inspector Laurent, had previously supervised several interviews involving the recovered research materials.

“I apologize for arriving unannounced,” Laurent said. “I was hoping to speak with Professor Chastellain, but perhaps you could answer a few questions.”

“That depends on what you’re asking. The professor’s in no condition for another lengthy interrogation.”

“I’m aware. The Bureau has instructed us to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the families.”

“Then we’re already making progress.”

Laurent accepted the remark without complaint.

He explained that the investigators were preparing a complete reconstruction of the occupation, including the research conducted beneath Saint Aurelia and the assistance provided by SkyRune.

Several documents identified Ilya as a contributor to the investigation, particularly the work that enabled the Imperial Guard to enter the school.

The Bureau wanted his account.

Ilya agreed to cooperate.

However, he requested that the interview be conducted away from the professor’s residence.

Laurent understood immediately.

They arranged to meet at a nearby Imperial office that afternoon, leaving Antoine undisturbed.

Before departing, the investigator mentioned another matter.

The government intended to recognize the researchers and soldiers who had contributed to the rescue operation.

Ilya found that announcement rather difficult to appreciate.

“Recognition?”

“The Imperial Guard successfully apprehended the perpetrators and prevented the experiment from spreading beyond the school. Several officers demonstrated exceptional conduct.”

“I don’t doubt that. But calling it a successful rescue might upset a few people.”

Laurent agreed that the wording required care.

The government wasn’t planning to celebrate the operation. It wanted to acknowledge the individuals who had performed their duties under extraordinary circumstances, particularly those who had risked their lives attempting to protect the children.

Ilya understood the distinction.

Captain Reinhardt and his soldiers deserved recognition for their efforts, regardless of the outcome.

Nevertheless, he hoped the authorities would exercise some judgment concerning the announcement.

The families had buried their children only yesterday.

A public ceremony would hardly improve their opinion of the government.

Fortunately, Laurent explained that the proposed commendations would be postponed until the investigation concluded.

That was sensible.

Ilya thanked him and returned upstairs after the investigator departed.

Antoine was awake.

The professor had brought the completed communication device into his study, where it now rested beside Lucile’s drawings.

He was examining several of his older research notebooks when Ilya entered.

“Someone came to see you, Professor. An Imperial investigator.”

“What did he want?”

“Another statement concerning the occupation. I told him you were unavailable.”

“Thank you. I’ll speak with them when I’m ready.”

Ilya accepted the answer.

Antoine appeared more composed than he had the previous morning, although his exhaustion remained obvious. He had spent much of the night sitting in his daughter’s room, and the household staff had eventually persuaded him to rest.

The professor then asked about the latest developments.

Ilya summarized the information concerning the captured cult members, including the discovery that several financial supporters remained unidentified.

Antoine listened carefully.

“They had outside funding?”

“Apparently. Enough to prepare the school and maintain the operation.”

“Then someone helped them do this.”

“Several people, most likely. The investigators are following the money.”

Antoine considered the information before asking whether the authorities intended to pursue those individuals.

Ilya assured him that they did.

The Imperial Intelligence Bureau had already become involved, and the political pressure surrounding the massacre made it unlikely that the investigation would simply disappear.

That was one advantage of committing an atrocity in the Imperial Capital.

The entire government suddenly became very interested in finding someone to hold responsible.

Unfortunately, Ilya suspected that uncovering the complete organization would be considerably harder than arresting the people who had occupied the school.

The cult had apparently operated through separate research circles for years, with members using intermediaries to exchange materials and funding.

Its surviving supporters might have already begun destroying evidence.

Antoine understood the problem.

However, he insisted that the investigators continue searching.

“Those people mustn’t be allowed to do this again.”

Ilya agreed.

For the professor, the matter was deeply personal. But the danger extended beyond his family.

If the cult possessed other facilities and financial supporters, Saint Aurelia might not have been its only planned experiment.

That possibility warranted serious investigation.

Later that afternoon, Ilya attended the interview arranged by Inspector Laurent.

The questioning was straightforward.

He described his involvement at SkyRune, the research conducted under Antoine’s supervision, and the circumstances surrounding the Imperial Guard’s successful entry into Saint Aurelia.

Laurent recorded his statement carefully.

When they reached the final examination, however, the investigator asked whether Ilya believed the technical investigation had overlooked anything important.

Ilya considered the question.

There were several possibilities he could imagine in hindsight. The researchers might have devoted more attention to the cult’s objectives earlier, or perhaps the authorities could have recognized the danger posed by the examinations before the final stage began.

However, those conclusions were much easier to reach after discovering what had happened.

“I think we worked with the information we had,” he answered. “There are things I’d investigate differently now, but that doesn’t mean we could reasonably have known them beforehand.”

Laurent appreciated the response.

The Bureau was already receiving numerous accusations from people who claimed the tragedy could have been prevented through decisions that seemed obvious only after the catastrophe.

The investigators were attempting to distinguish genuine failures from speculation.

That distinction mattered.

There had undoubtedly been mistakes during the occupation, particularly in the security arrangements that allowed the cult to prepare its facilities.

Those deserved investigation.

However, blaming every participant in the rescue would accomplish little beyond discouraging people from accepting responsibility during future emergencies.

Laurent then asked about Professor Antoine.

Ilya explained that the professor had contributed extensively despite having his daughter among the hostages.

“His research helped us enter the school,” Laurent said. “The Bureau recognizes that.”

“He knows. I’d appreciate it if your report didn’t turn him into some tragic example of professional dedication.”

The investigator understood.

Antoine had lost his daughter.

Whatever the Empire thought of his contributions, he deserved the opportunity to grieve without becoming the centerpiece of a political argument.

The interview concluded shortly afterward.

Before leaving, Ilya asked whether the investigators had discovered anything concerning the cult’s surviving members outside the capital.

Laurent couldn’t provide classified information, but he confirmed that the investigation was expanding beyond Saint Aurelia.

Several properties had already been identified, and the authorities were preparing coordinated searches to prevent suspects from escaping.

Ilya found that encouraging.

At least the Empire wasn’t wasting time arguing about responsibility while the remaining perpetrators destroyed their records.

However, the investigator offered a warning.

“The people who occupied Saint Aurelia weren’t necessarily the entire organization. We don’t know how many members remain active.”

“Then I hope your colleagues are prepared for a lengthy investigation.”

“We are.”

Ilya believed him.

The Imperial Intelligence Bureau possessed resources far beyond those available to an academy student, and its officers had already demonstrated that they were capable of conducting serious investigations.

There was little reason for him to attempt to replace them.

Nevertheless, he intended to remain informed.

Lucile’s death had made the matter difficult to regard as someone else’s responsibility.

When Ilya returned to the Chastellain residence, Antoine was waiting in his study.

The professor had received an official letter from the Imperial government.

It expressed condolences for Lucile’s death and thanked him for his contributions to the rescue operation.

Antoine had placed it beside several similar messages.

He hadn’t opened most of them.

Ilya understood.

There were only so many ways strangers could express sympathy before the words began losing their meaning.

However, another envelope lay among the correspondence.

This one bore the seal of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau.

Antoine had opened it.

According to the letter, the authorities had recovered several documents suggesting that the Cult of the Second Dawn had maintained contact with private research institutions operating outside the Imperial Capital.

Some of those institutions possessed legitimate licenses.

The Bureau was investigating whether their involvement extended beyond ordinary academic cooperation.

Antoine handed the letter to Ilya.

“Read the final paragraph.”

The document explained that the authorities might require his expertise to identify technologies mentioned in the recovered correspondence.

They also requested that he preserve any relevant materials from SkyRune’s previous research.

Ilya finished reading.

“The investigation’s going to continue for some time.”

“Yes.”

Antoine returned the letter to the table.

For a while, he examined Lucile’s completed communication device.

Then he spoke.

“Belozersky, I’d like to return to SkyRune tomorrow.”

Ilya considered the request.

The professor had barely rested since his daughter’s death, and returning to work so soon might be difficult.

However, he also understood that forcing Antoine to remain at home indefinitely wouldn’t necessarily help him.

“Are you certain?”

“I don’t know what else to do.”

That answer was more troubling than a confident declaration would have been.

Nevertheless, Ilya didn’t attempt to forbid him.

Instead, he suggested that they visit the workshop together and leave whenever Antoine felt ready.

The professor accepted.

Outside, the Imperial Capital was still struggling to comprehend the massacre.

Investigators were searching for the cult’s surviving supporters, officials were preparing inquiries, and families were beginning the painful process of burying their children.

For Antoine, the next morning would mean returning to the place where he had spent years pursuing discoveries he once hoped to share with his daughter.

Ilya intended to accompany him.