One-way traffic

It was that old man known as Wilhelm.

Chapter Seventy: Crusch's purpose was—

Wilhelm van Astreya.

To others, this old man might just be the Karlsten family's butler, but those familiar with the past would not see him so simply.

He used to be known as the "Sword Demon".

Just like the title of Reinhard's Sword Saint, Julius's Best Knight, and Roswaal's Court Magician, Wilhelm also had this universally acclaimed title when he was young.

Because he was very strong, so strong that he was considered a demon among swordsmen.

However, for now, he is merely a butler for the Karlsten family.

As always, he came to the courtyard today to weed.

"Ok?"

Wilhelm, who had been just doing his work, suddenly paused and turned around.

A familiar aura approached him.

"This aura, could it be...?"

He turned around and looked behind him, and sure enough, it was the person he was looking for.

A figure with white hair and red eyes immediately came into view.

A hint of surprise flashed in Wilhelm's eyes.

"As expected of you."

"You're much better than those amateurs at detecting my presence so quickly."

Recalling the treacherous officials in the court, Accelerator subconsciously made this assessment of Wilhelm.

The other person blinked, but didn't say anything.

"You must already know about the invitation my master extended to Lady Emilia, right?"

"Yes, I do know, but this and that are completely different things."

Under Wilhelm's gaze, Accelerator spoke calmly.

"I'm here to meet your master in a personal capacity, that is, Crusch, right?"

"In a personal capacity..."

Wilhelm's face showed a thoughtful expression.

He sighed slightly.

"If you are here to meet Lord Crusch in your personal capacity after a recent and intense battle with that person, then we shall give you a grand welcome."

This statement immediately made Accelerator click his tongue in displeasure.

Did you already know that?

Damn it, he definitely hates this kind of troublesome development even more.

"Then you can lead the way for me."

"understood."

There wasn't much interaction between the two. Wilhelm naturally took on the role of butler, leading Accelerator directly into the Carlsten mansion.

Even so, the two of them still had some definition of each other in their hearts.

Accelerator believes that Wilhelm is indeed a person who deserves to be called powerful. Although he does not know the specific strength, his aura and temperament at least determine that he is not an ordinary person.

However, Wilhelm believed that the definition of Accelerator had not changed at all.

From the very beginning, he viewed his opponent as a monster, so even after learning that Accelerator had achieved a stalemate with the famous swordsman, he was not too surprised.

Because he was supposed to be so powerful, like a monster.

——————————————————————————————————————

Originally, Accelerator thought he should have simply gone to the meeting room and been done with it.

But it seems that the actual situation is not like that.

"...What's this?"

Looking at the table full of food in front of him, he couldn't help but feel a strange sensation.

Weren't we here to negotiate?

"Are you planning to eat at a buffet? I didn't come here to eat, and I've already eaten."

"Is that so...? Hmm, Phyllis said that to show sincerity when receiving guests, one must prepare the most lavish banquet. Isn't that right?"

"That's true, but isn't Crusch going a bit too far?"

Even though Accelerator had already said he had lunch, the fact that he could still prepare such a huge meal, almost enough to entertain a dozen people, left Accelerator speechless.

And who could possibly eat that much?

"Well then, let me introduce myself first."

Clearing his throat, the person in front of him stood up.

Accelerator also turned his gaze towards the other side.

A girl in military uniform, with long green hair and dark gold eyes, stood before him.

She looks about the same height as me, which is considered quite tall for a girl.

It is precisely because of these various reasons that the other party appears to be full of heroic spirit just from his appearance.

The girl said this.

"I presume you already know my identity. My name is Crusch Karsten, and I am the current Duke of the Karsten family."

Logically speaking, dukes should all be male, but the girl in front of him, despite her dashing appearance as a woman dressed as a man, was clearly still a girl.

But Accelerator wouldn't care about such trivial matters.

"Actually, I did have some idea of ​​negotiating with you. It was only recently that I learned from Knight Reinhard that you are neither under Roswaal's command nor under Emilia's command."

"I don't think anyone has forgotten my declaration this morning, right? If anyone still thinks I'm some kind of knight after hearing that, then that's a really bad joke."

"That's true."

Crusch sat back down in her chair.

"However, that does not affect my own thoughts."

"Because, in the end, the main reason I want to negotiate with Emilia is because of you."

"what?"

This time, it was Accelerator's turn to be stunned.

Crusch ignored his surprise and continued speaking.

"Indeed, what you said at the royal selection meeting was not something a knight would say, but it had a kind of excellence that was different from the way of chivalry."

"From your words, I can tell that you are a very upright person who would never beat around the bush or do anything underhanded. For me, the best personality to negotiate with is actually like this."

"I am an extremely upright person. I would never do anything underhanded, and I would do whatever I want to do with integrity."

The implication is that Crusch feels that her personality is actually very similar to Accelerator's.

Crusch is a very upright person and has had no negative impact so far. Although her behavior is quite different from Accelerator's overly violent manner, her integrity and straightforward speech are exactly the same.

Many people may have kept Accelerator's words to Wang Xuan to themselves, but how many would dare to say them to those officials in the same way? How many would dare to reveal their thoughts without reservation?

In Crusch's view, Accelerator's personality might not be friendly or gentle, but he is definitely a straightforward person who never resorts to underhanded tactics, says what he means, and acts with integrity.

Many people were dissatisfied with those noble officials, but dared not speak up. Accelerator, however, was able to express all his thoughts without any fear or hesitation.

This kind of straightforward person who is not afraid to speak his mind is exactly what Crusch wanted.

As a negotiating partner, she is actually easier to negotiate with than Emilia.

She looked again at Yifang Tongxing, who was resting his chin on one hand across the table.

"I think the reason you came here is because you have something you want to talk to me about, right?"

"Tsk, you have a pretty sharp eye."

"That's natural. I myself possess the ability to see through lies, and I'm also someone who leans towards that kind of personality."

Accelerator raised an eyebrow and continued to calmly observe the woman dressed as a man in front of him.

"And then, why did you come to me?"

"For power."

Crusch spoke directly and frankly.

"The news of your duel with the knight Reinhard today has spread throughout Lugnica. Almost everyone in the streets and alleys knows about it."

"Therefore, I want to obtain your combat power. I want to use your powerful strength to help me achieve certain goals."

To achieve the goal, huh?

There are many people who want to use their power, and Accelerator has seen far too many of them in his life.

It was like this since I was a child at that special research institute. I had a simple misunderstanding with a child in the park, which led to the other child's parents coming to the park. However, due to my strength, I broke the parent's arm. Then the police came, but they couldn't help me either.

After that, troops, aircraft, tanks, air-to-air missiles, supersonic fighter jets, and so on were deployed, but none of them mattered. Even nuclear bombs could not harm the First Party. Even the most advanced country in the world, the United States, with the power of a world war, would be nothing more than a pile of junk to it if it used biological and chemical weapons.

Accelerator's power is such that it's enough for him to survive even after the Earth is destroyed. Even if a meteorite hits the Earth and causes the extinction of the dinosaurs to happen again, or if nuclear weapons from various countries are used to launch a world war, none of that would matter to Accelerator.

His power is so terrifying, so powerful, that it is truly equivalent to the power to destroy the world.

Many people have tried to exploit his power, so what is Crusch's motive?

Even if he didn't ask, the girl in front of him would still answer that question.

She looked back at the first person in front of her.

"I wonder if you've ever heard of a certain word?"

She said softly.

"—Do you know what a beluga whale is?"

"Um…?"

Even Accelerator was taken aback.

He knew the word; he had seen related content in Roswaal's library not long ago.

In this world, there exist beings called magical beasts, and the magical beasts that Meli controlled in the forest were among them.

But those were just minor items.

What's truly terrifying are the monstrous beasts that bring calamity on a scale akin to the end of the world.

There are three in total, and it seems that they were all created by a witch from the past.

One of them is named Beluga Whale.

It is an enormous monster with immense power, and it has a very, very long history. Almost no one has ever seen it alive and survived.

Even now, the existence of beluga whales remains a source of vigilance.

So, why would the White Whale, one of the so-called three great magical beasts, be mentioned at this time?

Considering what Crusch said earlier—that she intended to negotiate with Emilia for Accelerator's power—we can already guess the answer.

"That's right, just as you thought."

Crusch's eyes immediately brightened.

"I want to defeat the white whale... no, I should say, kill it!"

In that instant, Accelerator sensed it.

—A sense of resonance from the depths of one's heart.

That's a system notification.

Chapter 71 Because I am an evil party