Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: White Crow Unit (1)
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"The White Crow Unit is a secret society I created. It took a lot of effort to recruit my comrades."
In the dead of night, with Mrs. Schmidt fast asleep, I was having a serious conversation with Daniel in my room.
"Why the White Crow Unit, of all names? Does it have some special meaning?"
"It's from an old legend. You know the one. After the Great Flood, people who drifted on the ark followed a white crow sent by an angel and set foot on this continent."
"That story from the Book of Genesis? I didn't know you were such a devout believer."
Most people on the continent where Schupaven was located followed the same religion.
It was similar to Christianity from my Earth life but different in character.
They believed in a monotheistic God called the Lord and held masses in cathedrals, but there were no prophets like Jesus or the Virgin Mary, and no sectarian conflicts.
Instead of sects, it seemed they fostered internal unity by persecuting heretic elves as a common enemy.
After the Republican Revolution, the church's power had weakened considerably, and under the Krüger regime, even religious figures became his lackeys. Still, Schupaven remained a nation that believed in God.
Anyway, Daniel waved his hand dismissively.
"It's not like that. I don't even go to church. It's just a symbol of hope."
"Hmm, fair enough. Anyway, how many members are in the White Crow Unit? And what do they do?"
"Five including me. Our main activity is making flyers criticizing Krüger and posting them around. Otherwise, we investigate incidents that don't make the newspapers or compile lists of his die-hard supporters."
For a moment, despair washed over me, and I covered my face with my hands.
"Flyers... flyers, huh."
"What's wrong?"
Daniel tilted his head.
'This is totally just a club-level operation. God, I figured it was something like this since they escaped so sloppily, but this is seriously bad. Is teaming up with Daniel a smart move?'
From what I'd observed so far, Daniel Hartmann himself was a good guy. Smart, spirited, full of promise. That's probably how he gathered comrades in these harsh times.
But I wasn't sure if I should stake my fate on the White Crow Unit.
Making critical flyers was impressive in itself. In this country, even that could get you tortured or executed, so they must be brave young people to take that risk.
But just distributing flyers and sorting supporters wouldn't change a thing. It wouldn't even scratch Krüger's rule.
'I didn't expect them to seize an army and go for Krüger's head, but five people? That's way too few!'
Five meant these were all of them, the ones I'd seen.
Sudden fear gripped me.
I'd already spilled my guts with a gun to my face to earn Daniel's trust. No backing out now.
But joining the White Crow Unit meant putting my life on the line. Who knew when Ossel might grab me again!
Having been arrested twice already, I was surely under scrutiny.
Pulling out now? Daniel wouldn't allow it. The clean way would be to cut his throat.
God, I wanted to avoid that nightmare.
'Fuck it! No choice.'
I dropped my hands and grinned.
"So, does that mean I'm a White Crow Unit comrade now?"
"You were kinda forced into it, but yeah. We still need to do the initiation, though."
"Like an ideological screening? Fail and you disappear without a trace?"
"Not that extreme. You meet the comrades and get everyone's approval."
"Nah, you guys need to be that thorough."
I replied firmly, and Daniel cocked his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Better to explain the details when I meet the comrades. Anyway, looking forward to working with you, boss."
I shook hands firmly with the suspicious Daniel.
To survive, I'd have to reshape this ragtag group.
I wasn't confident, but for now, it was the only path I saw.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You're really gonna keep acting like Ossel the whole time? They did the same. Probably don't want the torture chamber's location exposed."
"Yeah, same here. You're not an official member yet, so no choice. Understand?"
A few days later, deep into the night.
Daniel blindfolded me with a black cloth and dragged me somewhere.
With my pale face wrapped in cloth, I must look just like a prisoner being led to the gallows.
"All the other members did the same on their first day."
In the dead of night when no one was around, avoiding patrols, blindfolded to an abandoned house on the village outskirts.
"This feels bad. Smells like mold."
I muttered like I was reciting a song, describing the obvious scene ahead.
"Roof with rotten beams falling in spots, yard overgrown with weeds, windows mostly shattered from kids playing."
"Gives me chills. You been here before?"
"I've got killer intuition."
Daniel chuckled softly.
"Rumor has it a vengeful ghost haunts the place, which makes it perfect for secret meetings. We're here."
We entered a building, climbed short stairs.
Daniel made me kneel on the creaky floorboards and removed the blindfold.
The room was shrouded in darkness.
All windows boarded up, blocking even moonlight, with only faint candlelight illuminating the small space.
In the candle's glow, unfamiliar faces stared at me intently, their expressions tense and unusual.
Eyes mixed with curiosity, anxiety, wariness.
'Okay, this gives off real secret society vibes. Classic, but effective.'
Tension hung in the silence.
'Feels like a job interview.'
Memories of job hunting as a desperate fresh grad flooded back. The fear of death if I slipped up was on another level, though.
"Alright, let me introduce our White Crow Unit comrades."
Daniel cleared his throat and spoke.
"First, Erika Braithner."
A sleek black-haired beauty with a cold aura gave a slight nod.
"Richard Enke."
A plain-faced young man with platinum blond hair and freckles. Whatever he did, he had a serene, Buddha-like kindness.
"Georg."
The surveillance guy who called me a rat.
His tanned skin hid it, but he was small-built and boyish-faced. Generously, maybe thirteen or fourteen. But his eyes shone sharply under shaggy straw-colored hair.
"Lastly, Oscar Fischer."
A sleazy-looking redhead swept his hair back and grinned.
"Guys, this is Lucas Redan. As I said, he's joining us from today."
"Lucas Redan here. As Daniel probably told you, I'm a 9th Grade Clerk at the 13th District office."
I greeted politely and offered handshakes one by one. The members looked surprised or reluctant but accepted meekly.
After a brief silence, Oscar spoke first.
"So, you're the guy who lives with our boss?"
His first words dripped with smugness, as expected.
Arrogant, narcissistic type. Good thing they're easy to handle. I smirked back.
"Yeah, shared a house, meals, baths, the works. Why?"
I kept it short, and Oscar's eyes narrowed. I shrugged and grinned at him. Neither backing down, it turned into a staring contest.
"Ahem!"
Daniel, fed up, cleared his throat and waved at glaring Oscar.
"Oscar works at the munitions factory."
"Assembling massive airships. With the mindset of stealing enemy core tech."
Oscar replied cheekily, as if he'd never frowned.
"And the other three?"
"Richard runs a surgical hospital. Georg delivers newspapers. Erika's a political science student at Lüdelheim University."
"Hmm, a doctor, eh. Newspaper boy? Might've bumped into you on the street. But political science? In that brainwashing mill full of Krüger's influence?"
My sarcasm made displeasure flash across Erika's cold face.
"You don't even know and you're—"
"Yet you joined the White Crow Unit, so your convictions must be rock-solid. Impressive!"
I showed genuine admiration. As expected, she blinked in confusion.
"Same for the rest. Breaking through lifelong indoctrination to do this... Makes me ashamed, since I worshipped Krüger like a god until recently."
Daniel struggled to hide his 'what's with this guy?' face at my cringey praise, but the others seemed to soften a bit.
'Not great.'
Success on first impressions, but watching their amateurishness left a bitter taste.
The problem was they weren't naive enough for me to fully manipulate.
If they were, it'd be easier. The wary atmosphere lingered, just slightly eased.
I'd stumbled into a headache.
"Thanks for the praise, Lucas. Introductions are done?"
Daniel clapped to refocus attention.
"What do you all think? Does Lucas fit the White Crow Unit?"
Silence fell. They were mulling it over.
"...Well, you're the one who scouted him. No point kicking him out now."
Oscar said bluntly, but Erika frowned in disagreement.
"A mage would've been better. One mage would help a ton."
"How do you recruit a mage? They're strategic assets under government watch."
"I know, just saying. Quit nagging, bro!"
I chuckled at bickering Georg and Oscar.
"I'm not a mage, but I'm a civil servant. No public officials here, right? Clerks access state info. Even as a lowly clerk in a small office, I can read records freely. I've already dug up plenty."
"Like what?"
Erika asked coldly. I smiled at her guarded face.
"You'll find out if you accept me."
Erika bristled, but Daniel intervened.
"Enough. Let's do a proper vetting. Any questions for Lucas?"
Georg hesitated to raise his hand.
Squeak!
A faint wood creak brushed my ears. Everyone heard; tension spiked.
"Probably from yesterday's rain. Old wood warps when wet then dry."
"Quiet."
Oscar whispered to dispel unease. I irritably waved him off, blocking his mouth and perking my ears.
As we held our breath.
Creak!
It came again. Right outside the door.
"Fuck..."
The curse slipped through my gritted teeth.
We're screwed.
Bang!
Something hard slammed the locked doorknob.
"Everyone, down!"
I yelled shrilly, flattening myself and reaching for Daniel.
"Daniel! Pistol!"
Pale-faced Daniel, confused, pulled his gun.
Slide!
I caught the skidding pistol and hooked my finger on the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
The knob half-broke off. Glancing back, everyone scrambled to corners or windows, huddling in shadows.
Erika, chest to floor, spotted the center candle and blew it out. Darkness swallowed the room.
Smart move.
Boom!
Door flew open as light extinguished. Magic lamp light flared blindingly.
I gripped my trembling hand and tensed my finger.
"Special Police! You evil reactionary scum, all of y—"
Bang!
Muzzle flashed.
The lamp clattered down, shaking light revealing red blood spraying.
A blond man clutched his thigh, staggering.
"Y-you bastards!"
As his right hand twitched, Daniel snapped out of shock and charged.
Thud!
Full-force tackle sent the man flying. I crawled through dust, snatching his dropped pistol.
"Hah... hah..."
Stepping on the fallen man's neck, I scanned the members.
"Anyone here ever killed before?"
My voice trembled uncontrollably.