With all the commotion, officers and knights were immediately dispatched to the scene. However, by the time they arrived, the situation had already been contained.
Every member of Code Vanguard had been subdued unconscious, with not a single one of them dead.
And at the center of it all was the youngest son of the Schneider Group.
Whether he was a victim or the one responsible for ending the threat was unclear at first glance, but the truth quickly spread through the ranks. It was he and his group responsible for neutralizing the terrorists.
The sight was unexpected. To the officers, it was proof that Johannes Sievernich Schneider's lineage continued to produce excellence.
For the Schneiders, this incident would not be a scandal. It would be an opportunity that would elevate their influence and cement their dominance across Europe.
But the reporters on the scene saw it differently.
Just a few hours earlier, Julius had already made headlines after being spotted at Aiseline's orchestra performance. Now, barely a night later, he had been caught in yet another spectacle.
From the initial reports, it appeared that Julius had been ambushed by Code Vanguard operatives on his way home. The assumption among the press was that the heir of the Schneider Group had survived a terrorist attack.
Dozens of cameras surrounded the bridge. Uniformed officers had already cordoned off the area, keeping the press at bay while investigators gathered evidence.
——Mister Schneider, were you aware of Code Vanguard's intentions?
——Did they attack because of your father's position in the council?
——Can you confirm if Code Vanguard was after your father?
Questions flew one after another, but Julius remained composed. He didn't bother responding to a single one.
"Step back," one of the officers ordered. "This is a restricted area."
Standard procedure dictated that Julius be brought in for questioning to explain how the situation had escalated and to offer his view on why he had been targeted.
But Julius made his position clear. He instructed that his bodyguards handle the questioning, insisting that he had more pressing matters to attend to.
The officers exchanged uncertain looks. By law, they could have insisted. However, Julius was the son of the future Chancellor, giving them no choice but to relent.
In the end, they stepped aside and let him go. Julius departed without a word.
Julius tried contacting Gabriel, but no call would go through. A frown creased his face as he stared at the unresponsive signal. Minutes passed in silence during the car ride before his phone finally buzzed again.
"Yes. Hello."
——Mister Schneider! I saw the news! Are you alright?! Gosh!
It was Isolde. She had clearly seen the headlines from her home.
Julius leaned back against his seat, glancing out the window at the passing city lights.
"I'm fine," he said. "There's no need to panic. This isn't the first time I've been targeted by delusionals."
It was true. Even as a child, Julius and his older brother Jeremy had experienced frequent kidnapping attempts, assassination plots, and extortion threats due to their status.
Back then, Jeremy had been the protective older brother who often doted on his sibling. But time had hardened him. The warmth in his eyes had long been replaced by the same cold demeanor that defined their father.
Julius, on the other hand, had been a bright boy who used to smile easily. But after those experiences, he had been consumed by paranoia and cynicism.
But then again, that time was long past. For Jeremy, it had been two decades since those days.
But for Julius, it felt like a lifetime ago.
"But, Doctor, you shouldn't be watching things like that with a child in the house," he said.
——Oh, no, Anne's already asleep. I'm just taking a short break before getting back to work.
"Work? At this hour?"
——Yup. It's better to get my ideas written down while they're still fresh. Once I have a proper team assembled, we can start immediately.
"I see," Julius said. "Then I wish you well, Doctor."
——Thank you. You should rest too. You've had a long night.
"Of course."
He had no intention of doing that. Ending the call, Julius glanced at the screen just as another call came in.
"Yes?"
——I know you were told not to get involved, but it seems we were ludicrous to think you wouldn't be targeted.
The voice on the other end belonged to his sister-in-law, Sabine Schneider, Deputy Commissioner of the Directorate for State Preservation.
——Still, a fine job. The Directorate will see to it that your efforts are rewarded appropriately.
"Sister-in-law," Julius said, ignoring the praise. "Grant me clearance to the concentration camp in Upper Bavaria."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
——Lichterfelde? That facility's under full lockdown. Why do you need access?
"There's something I need to confirm."
——You're aware that stepping into Lichterfelde without authorization could put you under Directorate review.
"When have I ever been concerned about that?"
Sabine sighed. He could almost picture her pinching the bridge of her nose.
——Fine. I'll grant you temporary clearance. But listen carefully, whatever you find there, report it directly to me.
"Understood."
——And Julius… be cautious. That facility's been flagged for irregular activity even before the Adler incident. Something's wrong in there.
"Yes."
Sabine had already deduced his intent. It didn't take her long to realize that Julius's sudden request for clearance was connected to Friedemann Adler, the man entangled in the recent terrorist affair.
As the line went dead, Julius placed his phone aside and leaned back against the seat.
"Even before the Adler incident…"
A chill crept up his spine at the thought. If his assumptions were right, someone had infiltrated Camp Lichterfelde long before Adler's capture, as though they had anticipated his arrest and placement there.
The alternative was no less concerning. Perhaps there was another prisoner, already within the camp, who had been orchestrating something long before Adler ever arrived.
Either scenario pointed to the same conclusion.
There was something, or someone, inside Lichterfelde that shouldn't be there.