Chapter 18: They Do Not Know
Joshua trusted Number Three's speculation.
The artificial intelligence girl originally would not have used words like 'suspect,' 'possibly,' or 'maybe.' In her computational logic, there were very few ambiguous intermediate states, almost none at all. But due to prolonged contact with humans, Number Three had learned to use these words. However, this did not mean her logic had changed.
Her suspicions and guesses were, in reality, one hundred percent certain. Euphemisms did not alter the facts.
"Dead, then."
Joshua tilted his head, his gaze somewhat absentmindedly fixed on the western part of Moldavia's main city, his eyes staring at the mansion where Alfonso Carlos had once lived. "Come to think of it, it's been two years."
Two years had passed since he had crossed over into this world. In these two years, he had changed many things, altered the fates of many people. Although Joshua had not deliberately protected or guarded anything, very few people had died for no reason because of him—almost none, in fact. Alfonso might be the first.
Two years was not a long time. The warrior still remembered that winter day when the first snow fell, and the middle-aged merchant who had kindly warned him. Alfonso was a man of good character, possessing ambition, courage, decisive resolve, and excellent conversational skills. Joshua felt at ease entrusting his business to him. The warrior could see that this man believed in contracts and responsibility, that he would not betray him, and so the authority he granted Alfonso grew greater and greater.
But he died. Perhaps that was precisely why he died.
No one would target and deliberately murder an ordinary merchant, then conceal the news of his death. Without even using his brain, Joshua could figure out with just his gut that those plotting behind the scenes were definitely targeting the Radcliffe Family—in other words, targeting him.
"Over a week ago, I was at the Holy Mountain, and His Majesty Israel happened to leave as well."
Joshua looked at the bustling street, his voice calm, betraying no emotion. "Master Nostradamus is at Winterfell Academy, studying the Black Blood Plague with those Imperial mages, while the Kaos Family's power has been dispersed as Brandon heads to Moldova. Indeed, in some people's eyes, this is probably the weakest moment of my influence. Cutting off my arms right now is the most opportune time."
Number Three did not speak. The sharp artificial intelligence could tell that Joshua's body truly lacked anger. His heartbeat was slow and steady, his breathing calm and powerful, his blood flowing through his vessels alongside surging life energy. All of the warrior's vital signs were so normal... that it made her feel a sense of fear.
"Alfonso was just an ordinary human. His strength was so weak it could be ignored. Killing him would leave few traces. By forging reports and communications to conceal it for a while, most of the clues would naturally break off." Not noticing Number Three's expression, Joshua murmured to himself softly. "But why? Why would someone target me?"
His tone was low, a heavy sense of bewilderment echoing in the air.
And from the soul—an instinctive terror—spread deep within the artificial intelligence's spirit.
Number Three felt an invisible energy, one she could not detect at all, interfering with her magical projection, causing her body to begin rippling and distorting like an image in water.
This was merely caused by Joshua's instinctive mental fluctuations. A trace of his anger inadvertently stirred the invisible elements and mana in the atmosphere, even activating their activity, causing the temperature on the roof of the Lord's Manor tower to gradually rise, even producing magical flashes like the aurora.
Just as Number Three's magical projection was about to dissipate from this, Joshua turned his head, noticed the situation, and immediately reached out his hand to help the artificial intelligence stabilize her form. The turbulence of the elements was calmed. Joshua steadied his emotions, causing all the strange phenomena around him to vanish. He let out an apologetic chuckle, and after Number Three stabilized her form, she calmly took over the conversation: "Joshua, there have always been many people targeting you."
She did not mind this small incident. Instead, she floated before the warrior and listed reasons as if reciting them from memory: "The Radcliffe Family is one of the exclusive ore suppliers for the five legions directly under the Emperor, occupying a large portion of the profit pie. It's not surprising that other ore merchants target you. That's the first reason. Second, your family's industries are gradually transitioning, preparing to take over the entire production chain. Long-established merchants related to weapons and armor also see the Radcliffe Family as a thorn in their side."
The following reasons were mostly about interests. After hearing them, Joshua was not surprised. Any noble or merchant had countless natural competitors—so-called enemies. In this Empire, before the pie was made bigger, everyone's share was fixed. Only by taking from others could one grow stronger.
His industries were no different. Previously, the warrior and Alfonso had been seizing market share from the old weapon merchants, which had certainly caused widespread dissatisfaction. And with Alfonso dead, the Radcliffe Family's industries would fall into chaos, and naturally, others would replace the Sword-Holding Hand's market share.
In the time between Alfonso's death and its discovery, many shares might have already been seized under their manipulation. The longer it dragged on, the greater the loss.
Beyond interests, Number Three also listed several political reasons.
The conflict between the Imperial faction and the noble faction, the conflict between commoner mages and noble academies, the conflict between nobles of the Imperial Capital and those from the provinces, the conflict between the Northern and Southern factions, the conflict between new nobles and old nobles, the disputes between military merit nobles, traditional nobles, and commercial nobles... The vast Empire was filled with factions, each field having countless different groups forming alliances and competing. Take the small Northern Four Territories, for example: some leaned toward the Imperial family, some were close to the Church, some had good relations with the Imperial Royal Mage Association, and some were content to be local lords.
Human hearts were so changeable. With the growth of the princes and princesses, many factions had gradually begun to split along these lines, secretly supporting different royal children. This, too, was a major faction.
"The Radcliffe Family, because of your activity, has drawn the attention of the entire Empire. While this brings us great fame, it also invites much opposition. Joshua, do not underestimate your own reputation. Mr. Carlos's death might even be an assassination by one of your subordinates trying to rise up, aiming to gain your attention. This is not impossible."
As Number Three spoke, she floated to the warrior's side. Joshua extended his left hand, allowing her small form to sit on his arm. He turned his head to look at the artificial intelligence girl, his brow furrowed. "Has it really come to this?"
"Of course it has." Number Three shook her head slightly and sighed softly. "How many Ultimate-rank experts are there in the Empire? How many on the entire Mycroft Continent? As the youngest Ultimate-rank expert in history, you are practically guaranteed to advance to Legendary in the future. Many people will not dare to offend you because of this, but there is still a small group of bold ones who want to test your mettle."
"In their eyes, this might be just a small probe. Assassinating an irrelevant manager sent to the Imperial Capital is nothing to a great noble family with an Ultimate-rank expert. It won't provoke too much retaliation, and it will let them see your strength and your family's reaction, so they can plan their next move."
"Next move?"
Hearing Number Three say this, Joshua couldn't help but let out a scornful laugh, as if he had heard the biggest joke. "Won't provoke too much retaliation?"
He did not continue. Instead, he cast a cold glance in the direction of the Imperial Capital, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
—Of course not. There will never be a next move.
Hearing the warrior's muttering, the artificial intelligence sitting on his arm blinked her eyes, then silently smiled.
—Those people do not understand you. They think you are an ordinary noble, an ordinary warrior, an ordinary person who can be tested, guessed at, and analyzed.
They are wrong. Number Three thought to herself, watching the light in Joshua's eyes gradually brighten, becoming as blazing as fire. Number Three knew this was the sign of the warrior beginning to take things seriously. His anger was burning in his heart, gathering strength.
For the first time, the artificial intelligence felt a trace of pity in her heart for those enemies who were still unknown—pity for the ignorant who were doomed to die, for the arrogant, reckless, and insufferably conceited.
—They will never know what they have provoked.