The Smuggling Trap
“People will be watching your every move from now on. So don't come looking for me anymore, starting this moment.”
“Understood. And your words... I'll keep them firmly in mind.”
With all the necessary talk concluded, he exchanged farewells and left the room.
“Haa.”
What the hell was a soldier, anyway?
Back when he was just a private, all he'd dreamed of was discharge and sucking on the sweet honey of civilian life. But now, an unbearable weight crushed down on him.
Suffocating.
He wanted to run. God, he wanted to run so bad.
Just get through this one mission, and it'll be over.
Alpen had told him before: since his identity was exposed in this operation, close-quarters insertions like this would be his last.
“Just hang in there a little longer. Only a few days left.”
To shake off the frustration, he headed to the training grounds and swung his sword—again and again.
“Young master, you did show up... but are you serious about this?”
It was 1 a.m. Katon, the branch manager of the Oclo Trading Company's Alverum outpost, arrived at the rendezvous point alongside the battalion commander.
“No need to worry. I've prepared for every possible contingency.”
Once he'd made the decision, he'd had just two days to get ready. In that time, he'd fleshed out the plan with the battalion commander and mapped out responses for every scenario.
If this were real, it would've gone off without a hitch and netted a massive haul.
But unfortunately, the goal of this deal wasn't money.
“Even so, if the trading company owner finds out...”
“Just keep your mouth shut, branch manager. I'll handle the rest. You know how the family's situation is right now, don't you?”
“O-of course I do. You'll really take care of me?”
“Naturally. How long do you plan to rot away as a branch manager in some backwater? Time to head to the capital.”
The tantalizing offer made Katon's eyes sparkle brighter than ever.
Sorry, buddy. Retirement might be in the cards, but the capital? Nah.
The current trading company owner was none other than his father. How could he let some punk who jumped at a mere heir's word to run smuggling ops stick around? This was the type you never entrusted with anything important.
“Thank you so much! I'll do my absolute best to help!”
“Good. You got everything prepped?”
“Yes! And after reviewing the plan you sent, I spotted a potential risk, so I rushed to modify the wagons.”
“Modify?”
“See for yourself.”
Following Katon's lead, he climbed into the wagon's cargo hold.
“Looks ordinary from the outside, but we've layered the floor—take a look here. Heave-ho!”
Lifting the cargo bed revealed a deep hidden compartment below.
This guy's no slouch—a real pro.
Maybe retirement in the provinces wasn't such a bad idea after all. No, perhaps keeping him close and managing him could work.
One thing was certain: he needed to remember this man's name.
“Haha! Brilliant idea. Excellent work.”
The battalion commander, peering in beside him, grinned approvingly at Katon. Palan gave a satisfied thumbs-up too.
“Didn't even have to ask, and you nailed it.”
“Thank you! I spent two sleepless nights racking my brain just to be of service to you, young master—I'm overjoyed it paid off.”
Flawless bootlicking to boot. A true sycophant.
“Escort troops... well, since we're inside the unit's area, no need to bring them, right?”
“Exactly. I came alone, so no worries about leaks.”
The guy who seemed the most worrisome of all, but Palan nodded anyway.
“Battalion commander, when are those guys showing up?”
“Promise time's soon—they'll be here any minute.”
The battalion commander exuded a relaxed confidence utterly at odds with a smuggler. Palan's heart rate, meanwhile, kept climbing without end.
“Back's busted from the cold, and with the wind howling, it's downright creepy.”
Just tossing out words to lighten the mood.
“Makes sense with the forest looming. They're running a bit late, though.”
The commander checked his watch and scanned the surroundings for some reason.
“Lost their way or...? Hey, isn't that them?”
He pointed at two wagons approaching from the distance.
“Looks like it.”
As the wagons drew nearer, he couldn't even imagine how many magic bullets two loads might hold.
“They'll handle moving the goods, lieutenant—so rest up for now.”
“But I can help—”
“Mana artifacts can break if mishandled.”
“Got it.”
Break if mishandled? What bullshit.
They just didn't want him seeing the contents.
Grind...
The wagons crossed the border line and pulled up in front of them. Escorts pushed their numbers just over ten.
Why the hell are they wrapped up like that?
Hoods over their heads—could they even see?
If these guys turn on me... I'm dead for sure.
Actually, the battalion commander would sort him out first.
“Tough trip—good work.”
“No trouble. We'll move 'em now.”
“Let's do it.”
As the commander headed to the wagons, one robed man approached Palan.
“What do you wa—”
“Duck.”
“Huh...?”
BOOOOM!!!
A deafening explosion rocked from the wagons, threatening to burst his eardrums.
Fuck—shit, what the hell?!
His brain struggled to process it. But one thing was clear: everything had gone straight to hell.
“What the hell do you think you're—wait, what?”
The blast had torn off the man's hood, revealing an unexpected face.
“Captain Eden? What are you doing there?”
“Shut up and get behind me. The real fun's just starting.”
As the dust settled, another man strolled casually from the smoke.
“Well, this is awkward.”
A voice he'd heard endlessly over the past month—but from a completely different Major Ollmen.
No, Sadis had survived the blast.
How? How the fuck is he still standing?
His uniform was shredded, but his body showed no damage.
“Surrender—if you want to keep your lives.”
Captain Eden leveled his sword at Sadis.
“Hmph. That's our line.”
Shhwick.
Aditz Empire troops melted out of hiding in the forest, dropping their stealth. Hard to count in the dark, but definitely more than them.
Damn... this is bad. Real bad.
They were outnumbered.
“All the vermin gathering in one spot—how convenient.”
Did he really think they could win? Eden showed no hint of doubt.
“You haven't grasped the situation. And you—a lieutenant? I'll hold you accountable later.”
Who the hell was he planning to blame? One thing was sure: that man's life was fucked.
“Think you can just walk away? Pathetic judgment for a major.”
Sadis's eyes flickered for the first time.
“How do you know th—”
“No obligation to tell you. Panicking yet?”
Eden smirked mockingly.
“If there's no obligation... I'll make you talk.”
Whish!
Sadis hurled a dagger in a blur too fast to track. Palan would've been skewered without reacting, but Eden swung precisely in time.
Clang!
The clear ring of metal on metal as the dagger embedded in the ground. The signal for battle.
“I'll take the head. No need for captures—just kill them all.”
Intelligence agents sprang into motion at Eden's command. Palan drew his sword too, but honestly? Nothing he could do.
This level... it's way beyond me.
Not just Eden and Sadis—the other fights were too fast to follow.
Whoooosh!
As he zoned out, a sword whistled from behind.
Damn—too slow on the reaction.
He'd spotted the attack too late. Whirling around desperately, but the distance was too shor—
Clang!
As he instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, another blade parried the strike.
“Keep your damn eyes open!”
Lieutenant Alpen had blocked the attack aimed at him.
“S-sorry!”
“Less talking, more hiding! This isn't your fight!”
“Yes, sir!”
Actions over words—he bolted from the melee's heart. But he'd overlooked one thing.
Clang!
“Urk!”
The enemy outnumbered them, meaning at least one could chase him down to kill.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Swords flashed in the dim light. Up close, he saw the man's face—scarred to hell.
We're screwed.
Anyone could see: master swordsman.
Clang! Clang!
Blocking a headhunter's heavy blow sent vibrations and numb pain through his arms.
“Think what you want, but I'm not involved here.”
A desperate lie for survival—but no dice.
Whish!
The man's sword sliced the air viciously. Palan barely dodged by jerking his neck back; strands of hair drifted before his eyes.
If I'd been a split second slower...
No need to imagine—his head would've been rolling.
“No tongue, huh?”
He tried hiding his fear, but steadying his trembling hands? Impossible.
Stay here, and I'm dead.
Time to flail wildly, then.
“Haaah!”
First strike wins. He closed the gap aggressively.
Clang!
Blades met in empty air. He'd put his weight into it, but the man didn't budge an inch.
Thud!
Leaning forward boldly, the enemy hooked his leg.
Wha—?
Off-balance, he toppled pathetically to the dirt. Completely exposed.
The fight's end.
“Palan Oclo, your head's mine. Might even snag a promotion. Heh.”
The man spoke for the first time—voice rank and repulsive.
“P-promotion? You'll kill me for that?! Fine—I'll pay more!”
Humans turned ugly fast when death loomed.
Survive first, pride later.
He was too weak to play hero.
“Money? Interesting. How much?”
“Ten thousand gold. You know our family's wealth.”
Ten thousand gold. A soldier's lifetime earnings.
“Heh, tempting. But why trust you?”
“Trust is a merchant's lifeblood. Don't you get it? Spare me, and I'll not only pay—I'll help you settle down.”
This offer should hook anyone...
“Too bad. Real shame.”
“This should be enough—”
“I chase pleasure over coin.”
“W-women, then? I'll introduce you to the empire's finest beauties.”
He knew no such women, but desperation spilled the words.
“Women? Nah—I prefer this.”
The man stroked Palan's throat with cold fingers.