"I've always been very tolerant of enemies who pose no threat to me."
Ask answered calmly, his eyes fixed on the screen without the slightest attempt to avert his gaze.
Schneizel could find no opening, but he did notice Ask's concern, and hastily added:
"Rest assured, there's no one beside me, and this conversation won't be overheard. We agreed to be candid with each other, so naturally, I'll show my sincerity."
"..."
Ask did not answer immediately. If such assurances could sway him so easily, he would never have held his position as leader of the Radical Faction so securely.
"My sincerity is this: I had nothing whatsoever to do with what happened to Euphemia."
"Is that so..."
After a moment's thought, Schneizel nodded.
"Then I'll believe you. I'm preparing to visit the Chinese Federation, and afterward, I may stop by the EU as well. I hear there are Geass Ruins there, too."
The call ended.
Leila asked with a frown:
"I never expected Prince Schneizel to have figured out so much. Even the fact that you're supporting the Black Knights..."
"He was probing me."
"Probing you?"
"The matter with Euphemia, too."
Ask nodded and said:
"The reason he tacitly allowed the Island Nation Special Zone to be established was to quiet Area 11 and eliminate the Black Knights as a destabilizing factor, making it easier for him to continue investigating the Geass Ruins."
"And he knows I've always wanted to bring about cooperation between us. So, if I interfere with his investigation and cut off his sources of information, then as long as he still intends to oppose the emperor, his best remaining option will be to support me with everything he has."
As he spoke, Ask suddenly burst out laughing.
"Heh, heh, heh, hahahahaha-"
"If I sabotage the