Chapter 178
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178
The next day.
Early in the morning, Ciel and I headed to Traum Street. I needed to get the suit that had been ruined during my fight with Amur repaired.
Jingle—
With the clear chime of a bell, we entered Altair’s tailor shop. Altair, the tailor, clicked his tongue as he inspected the tattered side of the suit.
“Good heavens, what on earth did you do to ruin it like this?”
“...I was hit by someone incredibly strong.”
“There’s a hole punched right through the side in the shape of a fist. What, did you get into a fight with a Master-level being or something?”
“Technically, he was even stronger than that.”
After all, Amur at full power was close to the Grand Master level. But Altair just shrugged, his expression making it clear he didn't quite believe me.
“Such a braggart. Anyway, I get it. I'll contact you when the repairs are finished. But it might take a while; materials are hard to come by these days.”
“Is it because of the conflict in the underworld?”
“That’s right. It’s absolute chaos. The whole atmosphere is tense because of it.”
Altair shook his head as if the mere thought made him shudder.
While I was away at my family home for summer break, the civil war in the underworld had entered a new phase. Big Brother, the symbolic ruler of the underworld, had passed away after a long illness. The factions governing each branch had immediately moved to succeed him, sparking an all-out war.
I’d heard that Alfredo and Rebecca, with whom I had a deep connection, were also caught up in this succession dispute and were having a difficult time. Still, the situation for the Panopticon’s Western Branch, which Rebecca governed, was relatively stable. It was adjacent to Stella Port, which connected to the mainland, and was also linked to the Union’s underground, giving it a very solid foundation.
Thanks to this, they reportedly held the upper hand in their battles against the other branch chiefs. The reason Rebecca came to rule such prime real estate was likely because Big Brother had considered her his successor.
In any case, despite the civil war, the Western Branch was in a relatively strong position, and their battles were going smoothly.
There was just one problem.
‘The news that Lize was kidnapped by an enemy faction.’
I quietly clutched the letter in my pocket.
“We’ll be heading down now.”
“Alright, take care.”
I bid Altair farewell and headed to the basement with Ciel. On the way, I didn't forget to leave a small token of appreciation for Gretel. We passed through Traum 9 and 3/4 Street and arrived once more in the underground city.
“It’s quiet.”
“Indeed, it is.”
The area around the colosseum, which should have been bustling, was silent. The market, usually crowded with visitors and mercenaries, was devoid of energy. Furthermore, Panopticon security guards in black armor were stationed at every shop and alleyway.
Is this what it feels like when the clouds of war gather? An indescribable, sharp tension and an eerie silence blanketed Heukseongchon.
We walked through the streets of Heukseongchon and headed for the Panopticon’s Western Branch headquarters.
“We’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”
Wearing golden masks instead of black ones, we were guided inside the building without any trouble.
“You’ve arrived.”
After a short wait in the reception room, Alfredo greeted us, looking quite haggard. Lize, however, was not with him.
Alfredo sighed and asked me, “Did you see the letter?”
“Yes. I heard Lize was kidnapped.”
Just a few days before I returned to the Union, assailants had attacked Lize’s shop and abducted her. Alfredo bowed his head to me.
“I am deeply sorry. We should have provided her with more thorough protection.”
“Don’t be. It would have been difficult to expect perfect security for Lize in the middle of a civil war.”
With sporadic battles breaking out all over the underground city, it would have been a tall order to protect her perfectly.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“So, have you identified the ones who kidnapped her?”
Alfredo adjusted his monocle. “Yes. We believe it was the work of Blood Moon, a new organization formed through a collaboration between the resistance forces opposing our Panopticon and the Eastern Branch, with whom we are currently in conflict.”
“Blood Moon…”
The blood-red moon. Judging by the name, it seemed to be a new faction formed around Carmilla. I recalled a similar name appearing in the game as well.
“What about the other branches?”
“We understand that the remaining branches are also negotiating with Blood Moon with the aim of checking our Western Branch.”
“I see.”
The Western Branch, ruled by Rebecca Schofield, was the wealthiest and most powerful branch aside from the central headquarters, which was the main battleground. It seemed the other branch chiefs were banding together to keep Rebecca in check.
“The situation isn’t good.”
I sighed and leaned back on the sofa. No matter how strong the Western Branch was, it couldn't take on all the other factions alone. On top of that, the enemy now had the existing resistance forces on their side. If the Northern and Southern Branches also joined the enemy, the Western Branch would lose its current advantage and be defeated.
“Is it difficult to persuade the other branch chiefs?”
“Yes. They were never on good terms with Lady Rebecca to begin with.”
True. With Rebecca’s personality of finding everything a bother, it was unlikely she would have been friendly with the other branch chiefs. And from their perspective, they wouldn't look kindly on Rebecca for occupying such prime real estate.
With no room for diplomatic maneuvering, battle was inevitable. I stroked my chin and asked, “What’s the difference in military strength between our side and the enemy?”
“If we only count the forces within Panopticon, we have about forty percent, and the rest have sixty.”
The Western Branch alone accounted for forty percent. That was a higher ratio than I expected.
“No wonder the other branches are ganging up. What if you include the resistance forces?”
“Then the enemy’s strength would be more than double ours.”
“More than double, huh.”
Considering the faction war I experienced during the summer training camp, a two-to-one power difference was certainly surmountable. This wouldn't be a pitched battle on a wide, open beach like back then. By making good use of the ant-hill-like terrain of the underground city, a gap of that size could be overcome tactically.
However.
‘There are a few variables.’
First, the existence of demonkin. Demonkin were an unconventional power that couldn't even be compared to regular soldiers; they were incredibly difficult to deal with. You’d need to be at least an upper-tier Sword Expert to handle one with ease.
And.
‘Carmilla’s involvement.’
I tapped my fingers on the desk, lost in thought. Originally, the main villain of the Underworld Conflict quest was Carmilla’s vassal, Gulados. The Dark Mana Stones he distributed would spread throughout the underworld, causing a civil war and many casualties.
But this time, something felt different. The Twelve Honored Ones had begun to make their move in earnest. It was highly probable that Carmilla herself had acted this time instead of her vassal. She might have even personally broken through the security and kidnapped Lize.
The fact that the other Panopticon branches were all cooperating against the Western Branch should be seen as the result of them all crawling under Carmilla’s thumb.
In any case.
‘If Carmilla intervenes directly in the battle, our chances of winning will plummet.’
To stand against her, I’d have to bring in the Chairman or his secretary, Watson.
‘Of course, that’s assuming the worst-case scenario.’
If this followed a normal course without Carmilla’s intervention, my abilities alone would be enough to lead this conflict to victory. I crossed my arms and slowly nodded.
“Alright, I’ll cooperate on this matter.”
If I wanted to continue receiving support from the underworld, the Western Branch needed to remain intact. Furthermore, if Rebecca won the civil war and took Big Brother’s place as the ruler of the entire underworld, it would be a good thing for me as well. Besides, Lize was an indispensable talent for deciphering Roen’s diary. I had to rescue her.
As I declared my cooperation, Alfredo bowed his head deeply.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Lord Roen.”
“But I’m not helping for free.”
The underworld was a good partner to have, but I needed to gain something tangible from this. The Western Branch was in a desperate situation, cornered by the enemy alliance. I could negotiate terms that were entirely in my favor.
“Of course. Is there anything you desire in particular…?”
At Alfredo’s question, I stated confidently, “If we win this conflict, I want a stake in the operation of the underworld. Thirty percent should be about right.”
“...!”
It takes a lot of money to build an academy, after all. Faced with my rather excessive demand, Alfredo bowed his head, deferring his answer.
“I apologize, Lord Roen, but that is a difficult matter for me to confirm on my own.”
Demanding a stake in the underworld meant becoming a major shareholder with influence over the entire organization. Well, Panopticon wasn't run like a joint-stock company, but they would at least have to give me a position equivalent to a branch chief with that much authority.
Just as Alfredo was showing his hesitation—
Slam—!
“Just give him the damn thing.”
Rebecca suddenly threw open the door to the reception room and strode in.
“Pardon?”
As Alfredo asked blankly, Rebecca scratched her disheveled hair and repeated herself.
“Thirty percent. I said give it to him. If we lose, we're all dead anyway. What's there to be stingy about?”
Thud—
Rebecca perched on the edge of the table, looked me in the eye, and said, “But you have to win. Got it, kiddo?”
I smirked and readily answered Rebecca’s demand.
“Hah. You don’t even have to ask.”
I had never once considered the possibility of losing. Now that I had entered the fray, this conflict would end in nothing but victory.
*
After the meeting with Rebecca, I returned to the Student Council President's office. Ciel asked me with a worried expression, “Will Miss Lize be alright?”
“She’s probably fine.”
It was a rather optimistic observation, but the chances of them harming Lize were low.
‘Lize is an exceptionally talented technician.’
Now that the true value of her skills had been revealed through her recruitment by Panopticon, the enemy would covet her abilities as well. They would be more likely to try and coax her to their side rather than threaten or harm her. She might even be receiving lavish treatment and living quite comfortably.
This was all the more likely since the faction was created under Carmilla’s leadership, not by some brutish resistance group. At the very least, she wouldn't be sold off by human traffickers like before.
Of course.
‘Even so, I can’t leave Lize in their hands for long.’
You never know what might happen in this world. It would be better to resolve the situation and bring her back as quickly as possible before any new variables arise.
I sighed, pressing my hands to my temples. “What a headache, the moment I get back.”
For trouble to break out as soon as I returned to the Union... I didn't even have time to rest properly. Ciel poured me some black tea and spoke in a comforting tone.
“Try to look on the bright side. The fact that so many places need your help, Lord Roen, means you have more opportunities to extend your influence, does it not?”
“What’s gotten into you?” I asked. She was saying something nice to me for a change.
“...I have misspoken.”
“No, you’re right.”
I brought the teacup Ciel handed me to my lips, thinking. Just as Ciel said, this was an opportunity to exercise my influence. If I handled this well, I could strengthen my influence over the underworld, and perhaps even bring it completely under my control. I might gain thirty percent—or maybe even more—of the underground world’s vast distribution network and financial power.
To achieve that, I needed to start moving. After calming my mind with the tea, I stood up from my seat.
“First, we’ll go to Izelin Academy. I’ll check the construction status of the underground passage leading to the underworld. After that, we’ll stop by the barracks where the Devalis Knights are staying.”
“Understood. Shall I also contact the Chairman to inform him of your visit?”
“Yes, please do.”
Ciel always knew what to do without me having to give specific orders. It would be wise to share the situation with the Chairman to prepare for any contingencies.
“Here you are.”
“Let’s go.”
I put on the school uniform jacket Ciel handed me, and we left the Student Council President's office together.