The Freak Show Foreman

The police operation this time had not been notified in advance, not even to the manager, Bouvalle, let alone the sponsor, Viscount Mustung.

To enter a building owned by nobles, it was a principle to obtain prior consent.

Even if it was an urgent matter and they couldn’t give advance notice, at least giving a warning before entering was the minimum courtesy.

However, the police did not follow this protocol.

They stormed in like a gang of robbers, smashing doors and wielding batons.

Viscount Mustung upon realizing the situation, turned almost ashen with embarrassment.

Arrogant police officers were dragging away the guests invited by him.

As a noble, there was no greater disgrace than this.

His angry eyes scanned the party guests.

The young cavalrymen from the circus Grand Prix, who was enjoying the attention focused on him, was ignored.

Such an operation was definitely not something a mere sergeant could carry out.

There must be high-ranking nobles looking out for them.

Indeed, there was a group huddled in the corner, peering at them and whispering among themselves.

Some avoided eye contact when they met Mustang’s gaze, while others smiled triumphantly and met his gaze head-on.

Viscount Mustung carefully examined their faces.

The anti-market faction that ridiculed him for running a theatre dedicated to the nobility from a young age. The owners of other theatres who resented the Rose Windmill Cabaret becoming the representative theatre of Charlotia. Shareholders of the Vergsong Company in competition with the market. And the high-ranking bureaucrats of the Luz supported by them. This incident was their collaboration.

Viscount Mustang was furious.

Perhaps it was because of his sense of entitlement.

He was extremely sensitive to his honor and detested rumors about him.

But they really crossed the line this time.

A cold tension hung between the group that had hatched this plot and Viscount Mustang.

Nobles and socialites were quick to perceive such situations, more so than anyone else.

Those who understood how things were going quickly made their choices.

Some criticized this incident, some defended it, and some remained neutral.

"We never used such cowardly tactics in our time! It’s a disgrace! Nobles have their own etiquette!"

"Cowardly, you say? Isn’t he a dangerous suspect? I think the police did a good job."

"To do this with foreign guests present. Isn’t that embarrassing?"

"Actually, I find the theater’s behavior, covering up such crimes, more embarrassing."

"To arrest a mere itinerant magician! The Viscount was just an eyewitness. No problem according to the regulations."

The neutral ones were foreign dignitaries or those with good relations with both sides.

They carefully chose their words and observed the situation.

In the midst of the confusion, Viscount Mustang approached Baron Vergsong.

The two of them had no prior connection.

It was also distant, and their fields of activity were different.

But this time, they both boarded the same ship.

In the face of a common enemy, they had to cooperate.

"Mrs. Vergsong, as the owner of the theater I apologize for not being able to prevent this."

"We are equally regretful. We are sorry for causing trouble instead of celebrating such an occasion."

Lord Mustang appreciated her calm demeanor. She was known for her reputation as a prominent lady of the upper class, but at just 20 years old, she was still a young woman. He had worried that she might panic, but her eyes and her voice were composed, and she had the demeanor of a soldier preparing for battle.

"Do you have any idea what happened?"

"I haven’t heard the details, but I am certain that the gentleman is innocent."

Lord Mustang noticed a momentary softening in her gaze as she looked at the young blonde man among the police officers.

Indeed, there seemed to be something between the two of them, as the rumors had suggested. Lord Mustang had been involved in philanthropic activities in the performing arts for a long time, and it was understandable that there could be a connection between sponsors and artists. The problem was that it wouldn’t help resolve the current situation.

Rushing to defend him recklessly could only make matters worse.

"Don’t jump to conclusions. There will be nothing unusual today. We should hire a competent lawyer, gather favorable testimonies, and we can win in court."

Anais nodded after considering Lord Mustang’s advice.

She understood as well.

The wisest choice here was to step back, quietly observe the situation, and strategize. Shouting that the man was innocent here would bring no benefit.

It was not the behavior befitting the president of the Grand Council. Displaying a loss of control would only strengthen people’s confidence in the rumors.

Stay calm.

Think.

You’re an aristocrat who calculates profits and losses, not a lovesick woman.

Don’t worry about that man.

Don’t show such an expression.

Anais reminded herself.

She couldn’t afford to become an infatuated woman right now.

She needed to be rational.

There would be no trouble.

All they had to do was wait for the trial.

The head of the circus troupe, sponsored by the council, being accused of murder was a significant matter. With the council’s honor on the line, the board of directors would actively support the legal team. Right now, it was best to exercise restraint.

If they waited, everything would work out.

However, their adversaries were more cunning than they had anticipated.

***

I felt relieved as I saw Anais wearing a chilly expression and distancing herself from me.

Luckily.

It seemed like she had also calmly assessed the situation.

Her approaching me here was an opportunity for both me and her to make amends.

Sub-Quest: Trial

You have been charged with the crime of being the Ghost of the Cabaret. Clear your name and restore the Circus’s honor.

Conditions for success:

Prove your innocence before the Circus’s reputation reaches 0. (Current Circus reputation: 21)

Reward for success:

[Circus’s reputation +50]

Penalty for failure:

[Temporary suspension of Circus Grand Prix activities]

When Sabo accused me of being the Ghost of the Cabaret, I was taken aback.

I was about to respond in bewilderment when a quest popped up.

Reading its contents helped me understand the situation.

I was being mistaken for the Ghost of the Cabaret. How did things get so twisted?

The penalty for failing the quest worried me as well.

A temporary suspension of Circus Grand Prix activities? Did that mean I’d be held in custody until my innocence was proven?

With no better alternative at the moment, I followed the instructions of the police officers and headed downstairs.

[Circus’s reputation has decreased by 1.]

[Circus’s reputation has decreased by 2.]

[Circus’s reputation has decreased by 2.]

As I entered the hall, our reputation started plummeting rapidly.

The Cabaret’s patrons were murmuring about my arrest for murder. The news had already spread far and wide.

Our Circus’s reputation had dropped by 5 in the blink of an eye.

At this rate, reaching 0 was just a matter of time.

I hoped that Anais would defend me here.

If the chairwoman of the board publicly supported me, the rumors of me controlling her would spread even further.

Fortunately, she obediently complied with my wishes.

But that only served to slightly extend the quest’s deadline.

"Prove your innocence before the Circus’s reputation reaches 0."

While the quest was titled "Trial," it was still a kind of game.

Here, the Circus’s reputation could be considered my "health."

If my health reached 0, the quest would fail.

The problem was time.

Right now, the hall’s entrance was blocked by the police officers.

In two hours, the patrons would be allowed to leave the hall.

If I didn’t prove my "complete innocence" by then, the quest would fail.

Having even the slightest suspicion would lead to my name appearing in newspapers and magazines all over.

"If that happens, my reputation will be ruined."

It will plummet straight to 0.

A time limit of 2 hours.

If my reputation reaches 0 within that time, it’s obviously a failure. And even if I manage to defend my reputation, it will still drop to 0 if I don’t prove my innocence.

Of course, if I go through a formal trial, I’m not the criminal, and I’ll be acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The problem is that I didn’t know how long it would take until then, maybe months or years.

The main quest was also likely to fail.

"It will work out. I will hire the best legal team for you," Anais said, trying to appear supportive, despite her deliberate look of anger.

People might see her teaching me as something to criticize.

"You will definitely be acquitted. So please trust me and wait."

Although her efforts may seem virtual, they didn’t provide much comfort to me.

What’s the point of being acquitted at that time?

The main quest would already have failed.

At that moment, Viscount Dosville approached us with a smug expression.

"Oh dear, my lady. Are you consoling your lover?"

Anais’s expression turned icy as she looked at him.

"Today, something seemed off, and it seems you had a hand in it too, Lord Dosville."

"I do have quite a bit of knowledge, don’t I? Being a lowly lord without any territory makes it easy for me to be useful. Thanks to that, I was chosen as the prosecutor for this trial."

At his words, Anais snorted.

"Hmph. Do you really think you can win against our esteemed legal team with your meager knowledge?"

"Legal team? Huh? I don’t see any here."

"Of course, they’ll be here for the formal trial."

At her words, Lord Dosville looked surprised.

"Formal trial? What formal trial? Today’s trial is a summary judgment, isn’t it?"

"What…?"

Behind Lord Dosville, a distinguished elderly man with a bald head and a long white beard emerged.

From what I heard, he seemed to be the judge in charge of the Luz region.

"Lord Dosville is correct, my lord. A summary judgment will be held here."

"Absurd! Isn’t that something that can only be done by soldiers in wartime?"

Lord Dosville flicked his finger and clicked his tongue.

"Article 13. Summary judgment can be carried out for nobles accused of heinous crimes and vagabonds."

"What…?"

"Shall I add another one? Article 4. Summary judgment results in a single verdict. Same law, Article 14. Summary judgment allows for immediate execution."

"Unbelievable…"

Anais turned to me, her face filled with fear and worry.

But I smiled.

It wasn’t because of the man who made me laugh.

"Lady Vergsong, whatever happens, please do not intervene."

Certainly, the system wouldn’t throw a quest that had no way to be conquered.

There was a way to survive.

"W-What are you talking about?"

She looked at me with a frightened expression.

When people saw her actions, they started murmuring again.

[The Circus Troupe’s reputation has decreased by 1.]

Look at this.

She should be worried that she’ll be misunderstood if she acts this way towards me.

"For each other’s sake. Porche Grape, please take care of Lady Vergsong."

Porche Grape nodded solemnly as he looked at me.

Anais’s complexion turned pale as she stepped back, supported by Porche Grape.

I put aside my worries about her for now.

What mattered now was the trial about to take place.

Those who planned this surprise show didn’t seem to have any intention of waiting for a formal trial.

Of course, it was a chance for me to turn things around.