Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Allies for the Eradication
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103
1
It had been four days since I met Pierce.
When I returned to the dormitory, a letter was lying on the floor, rolling around.
Judging by the lack of a sender's name on the envelope or even a seal serving as postage, it hadn't been sent through the postal service properly—it had been slipped directly into my room.
A letter from Pierce.
He must have somehow breached Esterro Academy's security, made it all the way to the dormitory building, and shoved it under my door.
It was a show of strength and a warning.
A message that they had the skills to fulfill what I wanted and could deal with me if needed.
"At least that's a relief."
If he'd come into my room, he might have spotted Pudding.
Who knows what an intelligence guild would do if they learned about a dragon...
"How've you been?"
Pudding was too busy rolling around on the bed to answer.
Choco, looking oddly fatigued, trotted over, so I picked him up and held him.
"You've had a tough time watching your little sibling, huh, Choco?"
Choco had been the one looking after Pudding while I was in lectures.
I'd just told them to play together... but Choco was so smart, he'd probably taken care of everything.
I petted Choco as I tore open the letter.
I skimmed the thick stack of information he'd provided, just as requested.
"Not much has changed."
I'd wondered how much would have shifted since Leon cleaned out Wifera's hideout faster than the inquisition, but the changes were minor—just a few hideouts relocated.
They were still thriving on crime, leveraging connections with high-ranking officials.
And now they were even distributing the drugs we'd found in Popuri Forest, meaning they'd fully stepped into the spotlight.
With no major changes, I'd love to hand it off to Leon...
But I'd already dipped my toes in; backing out now wasn't an option.
Besides, it was established fact that even Wifera were just underlings of the Precursors.
I'd already planned to hit the Precursors from behind, and Wifera was a cancer on society anyway. Better to wipe them out quickly.
"Always such a hassle with people."
I spread the documents out on the desk.
Using the intelligence guild made tracking Wifera's crimes easy.
The reason the kingdom couldn't catch them boiled down to the high-ranking officials under Wifera's influence.
They'd taken bribes and run thorough information ops, even blocking the king's eyes.
Where there are three people, even a nonexistent tiger appears.
With more than a couple officials on Wifera's payroll—and all facing execution if exposed—they were all keeping quiet.
I could understand why the kingdom wasn't handling it properly.
"Too many thugs in the country."
Officials should be incorruptible by nature.
Might as well clean out Wifera and the corrupt bureaucrats while I'm at it.
Of course, I had no power or authority for that, but I'd never planned to do it myself.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
And connections for connections.
2
"The aroma is delightful. I like it."
In Esterro Academy's reception room, filled with the fragrant scent of tea, Ludwig spoke with what he probably thought was solemnity.
Of course, at 12 years old without even a voice change yet, it came off more cute than stern.
"You came all this way yourself. The least I could do is serve good tea."
Ludwig, third prince of the Tekat Kingdom.
He was the furthest from the line of succession, but that didn't mean he could wander about carelessly.
Our previous meetings had been at festivals or the beach...
But today was different from those leisure outings.
I'd sent a letter myself requesting a meeting with Ludwig.
I'd never imagined he'd come to the academy in person.
As expected of the prince of benevolence (future).
Good thing I'd hastily asked Mayrill to procure some fine tea leaves.
I offered tea to his escort page as well, but she stood by Ludwig's side like a statue, unmoving.
"So, what is this important matter? You said it concerned the lives of the common folk, so I came."
Ludwig set down his teacup and asked.
A prince of a nation wouldn't visit without reason.
Our festival and beach connections might fall a bit short, so I'd written in the letter that I wanted to discuss a vital issue directly tied to the people's livelihoods.
And Wifera's problem was indeed tied to the populace.
"Do you know of an organization called Wifera?"
"I do. A crime syndicate based in the capital, right?"
"If you're aware, that speeds things up."
The palace was rife with information warfare.
Even without knowing the full truth, just awareness of Wifera's existence was enough.
"I'm going to wipe out Wifera entirely."
"Hah, that's no easy task, yet you say it so casually. But why tell me?"
Even at 12, he was royalty.
Trained in the arts of kingship from birth.
Having lived his whole life from a ruler's perspective, reading others' intentions seemed to be a specialty.
"I'd like Your Highness's help."
I pulled out the evidence from Pierce out of my pocket.
The page's hand twitched toward her sword hilt for a moment, but Ludwig raised a hand to stop her.
The young prince examined the evidence I offered without a change in expression.
"This... Officials who should serve the people and kingdom are this corrupt...?"
Ludwig, grasping the evidence quickly, trembled slightly.
His heavy green eyes steadied his breathing before regaining calm.
To reach conclusions from skimming such vast, complex documents...
He seemed naive, but royalty was royalty.
The first and second princes were too busy building their factions to spare attention for this.
They lacked the connections for such talks anyway.
"You want all these punished?"
"Yes, but I know the evidence Your Highness just received makes that difficult."
My plan to clean them out hadn't changed.
The issue was how.
Even mobilizing Kyriakos, rounding up every last Wifera member was near impossible.
And even if caught, handing them to the kingdom without private execution meant...
Those bribe-taking officials would pull every string to free Wifera's boss and key members.
This was where I needed Ludwig's help.
Timing it to oust the officials shielding Wifera.
To handle everyone connected to Wifera at once, hassle-free.
"You're right. With unclear sourcing, we couldn't wipe them all out. Maybe three-tenths at best."
"Then clear provenance would suffice. Say... ledgers written by Wifera themselves."
"You have the ledgers?"
His green eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope.
This time, I neither nodded nor shook my head.
"I know where they are."
Wifera's ledger hiding spot was obvious.
The hideout hadn't moved, so it was certain.
"That should do it. I can help. I assure you."
Ludwig nodded gravely.
His thin, high voice, yet to deepen, carried sharp anger.
Anger at those ruining the nation, as royalty?
I'd tested his reaction to see if he'd help once I secured the evidence...
But seeing this, no need.
"I'll contact you again soon."
"Yes, I'll prepare and wait."
I exchanged farewells with Ludwig and grasped the reception room door handle.
Just before pulling it open, a sudden question slipped out.
"Your Highness, do you know anything about dragons?"
"Dragons? You mean the giant lizards with wings? I've read plenty of fairy tales with them. Are they connected to Wifera somehow?"
"No, nothing like that. Just curiosity."
I'd wondered if the royal family had any dragon legends, but apparently not.
Fairy tales, huh.
Kids will be kids.
3
"...And that's the overview. Any questions, senior?"
"None."
Past midnight.
Kyriakos, who'd snuck over Esterro Academy's wall, shook his head.
Dressed in black instead of uniform to avoid identification, he oddly resembled a pro assassin.
Well, he was a former pro assassin.
My outfit wasn't much different.
No mask, but same as when I infiltrated Leon's room.
Thanks to my black hair, I was head-to-toe darkness.
I'd considered calling Leon if possible... but things were already tangled.
He'd come if called, but Leon had his own schedule.
To prioritize that, it was just me and Kyriakos this time.
"Good thing there's no moon tonight."
Thick clouds covered the sky.
Kyriakos's dark hair made him hard to spot in the shadows without light.
From weather to timing, everything was ideal for stealth.
All other prep was done.
But... Kyriakos visibly tensed.
Natural, with long-awaited revenge at hand.
"Let's wrap it quick and head back. Got class tomorrow."
"Worried about attendance?"
"Yeah. One more skip and it's expulsion. Used a sick day once, but still some buffer, so tomorrow's fine to miss."
Self-absences were safe up to twice.
Wiping out Wifera in one night was impossible, so a bit more time was okay.
"No need. I'll end it tonight, come what may."
"You don't need to obsess over attendance?"
"You attract incidents. Best assume the worst."
Facts hurt.
I didn't want to get tangled in events either.
But at some point, my very existence became a troublemaker in another sense.
Breathe, and trouble finds me.
A total elementary school detective—body regressed, brain intact.
"That's unfair."
Kyriakos just shrugged.
Then rubbed his eye area.
"My tension's gone. You can stop."
Already caught on, huh.
I'd babbled nonsense to loosen him up.
Usually unreadable, almost otherworldly, but sharp when it counts.
Anyway, with Kyriakos ready, we were set.
Wifera and their backing officials—all in one sweep.
Miss this, and it'd drag into messy, brutal mudslinging.
A huge, tedious pain.
So, handle Wifera now, no question.
"No second chances. Senior."
"Hunting dogs don't miss opportunities."
His calm murmur carried conviction.
Yeah, no need to worry about him.
"Let's go."
"Right."
We advanced side by side through the darkness toward Wifera's hideout holding the key ledger.