Chapter 65
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Underground Infiltration
Minos finished his long tale and caught his breath.
1. Secret gatherings are held regularly within this duchy.
2. Strict identity checks make entry difficult.
3. Thorough invitations and initiation rites mean membership credentials can't even be obtained.
To sum up the long story...
The moment I heard it, a rather shady club came to mind.
Controlling access at the entrance for "water management."
The underground location was the very picture of a club.
'Suspicious.'
I crossed my arms and quietly reached a conclusion.
This absolutely had to be investigated.
"Guess I'll have to check it out once."
I mumbled with a sigh, and the women nodded.
Going in openly would mean they wouldn't show their true colors.
So sneaking in was necessary, but it didn't look easy.
The Salvation Church was a religious organization.
In practice, similar to a national intelligence agency, but not an official one.
Not being official meant it lacked power, and lacking power meant it had limits.
The state hadn't granted it any authority either.
Power dispersion, dissatisfaction and abuse stemming from a lack of real force...
Religious groups growing too large became nothing but headaches.
'Unbelievable.'
Mana detection at the entrance?
Even if Aktaion used invisibility, detection was inevitable.
Like dodging human eyes with a disguise but failing against thermal sensors.
Identity flexing wouldn't work, and the invisibility that had allowed freeloading was useless.
Another method was needed.
"Yes. Do you have any clever plan?"
Minos let out a short sigh as he asked.
His expression showed he wasn't expecting much.
"Not off the top of my head. I only learned about this place's situation today."
"Fair enough."
"The duke said it was nothing serious, right?"
"Yes. I looked into it personally, but all I heard back was that there were no issues. Just some mild debauchery, nothing worth paying attention to."
I clicked my tongue at Minos's response.
Part of me wanted to target the duke, but there was no justification right now.
Crushing him over a single party? Unless I was some tyrant, it was behavior to avoid.
Even claiming interest in drug-fueled orgies wouldn't be believed.
I wouldn't buy it myself.
Above all, with the duke seemingly involved, speaking up was even harder.
Better to strike quietly.
"What's the building layout like?"
"There's a fairly large structure on the west side. The previous territory lord used it as a mansion—do you know it?"
"A count, right? Can't recall the name."
I mumbled while recalling the history, and Minos nodded.
"Yes. It belonged to a family wiped out 270 years ago. Now it's used as a warehouse."
"That building itself isn't suspicious?"
"There's a nondescript house nearby. The banquets happen irregularly, but they're easy to spot."
"Makes sense."
I didn't know what went on inside, but I knew people gathered there.
That was enough.
Hosting parties so secretive that nobles covered for them implied serious influence.
Naturally, the guests would be far removed from common folk.
"With me here, will they hold off until I leave? Or carry on like nothing's wrong?"
"It'd be wise to lay low, but who knows. Humans don't always think rationally."
"True enough."
In my case, it would be fine.
Or they'd lose control and bungle things spectacularly.
Causing unnecessary drama that tanks a company's value.
Or blowing fortunes in the billions on personal whims.
The late Count Kruger was a prime example, as were plenty of others.
Humans ruined by their desires were a dime a dozen.
So they might do this, or they might do that...
Better to assume they'd hold back for now.
"I'll pretend to tour normally first, then circle back."
"Planning to sneak in?"
Minos's eyes sparkled brightly.
She seemed to have read my intentions completely.
"Yeah, then they'll act like usual."
"What about the carriage?"
"Leave it with one person. Me and two others will return. That's the plan."
I finished organizing my thoughts and stood.
Heading out today would look too suspicious, so tomorrow it was.
"Act normal today, and I'll come back tomorrow. Let them know ahead of time."
"Yes. I'll pass it along. Shall we make a password?"
"Good idea. If they ask who, say 'Gachwi'."
Gachwi wasn't a word used in Ion, or any other country for that matter.
Perfect for a password.
"'Gachwi'? No idea what it means, but that'll make identification crystal clear! As expected of Your Highness!"
Minos poured out excessive praise again, clapping her hands together.
Her actions screamed sycophant.
"...Thanks. I'll come tomorrow night."
"Yes. Anytime that's convenient. We'll keep things locked down tight—no leaks."
I nodded and rose from my seat.
Her fanatic loyalty was exhausting, but it was equally trustworthy.
I traveled far from the duchy before turning back.
Me and Aktaion as one team.
Antiope and Ekyon stayed outside as the other.
I'd originally planned to leave just one behind...
But leaving only one felt burdensome, so I split it evenly.
Plus, I'd forgotten about one more ally on my side.
Bringing just one was ideal.
"Can you scale the walls?"
"Of course I can. What about you, Master?"
"Never tried wall-climbing, but I can manage. It'll be slow, though."
I drew out white light and jammed it into the wall.
This would be the foothold.
One, two.
As I drove in thick, elongated wedges of light, a rickety framework of stairs took shape.
"Ah, like that?"
"Exactly. Keep making them like this, step up, and when you're high enough, leap over in one go."
I couldn't jump a high wall directly, but from midway up—or higher—it was doable.
Aktaion seemed to grasp it, nodding obediently.
"Head out now?"
"No need."
I shook my head and leaned against the wall.
If it were just the two of us, we'd climb right away, but that wasn't necessary.
"Got a method?"
Aktaion tilted her head and leaned beside me.
Her voice was so soft I had to strain to catch it.
"Oh, didn't mention? She'll be here soon—just wait."
I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the brief respite.
She'd see it herself soon enough; no need for explanations.
Sizzle.
As expected, Manes tore open space and appeared before us.
"Right where you promised?"
Manes beamed as she threw herself into my arms.
She must have missed me terribly—her arms wrapped around with considerable strength.
"Ah, uh...?"
Aktaion's eyes went wide watching us.
True to her trained assassin roots, she didn't make a sound even in shock.
"You know about the people sent from headquarters? We coordinated through them."
I met Aktaion's gaze while stroking Manes's waist.
I wanted to grab her ass firmly, but I held back.
"That's how it is. Just you two moving?"
Manes looked up at me.
She gave Aktaion a quick sidelong glance, but showed little interest.
"Yes. Even on church grounds, moving the whole carriage would draw too much attention."
"Fair. Better to stuff people in a room."
Manes nodded and pulled away from the embrace.
Disappointing, but I'd make up for it soon.
"Follow me. Leads straight to the High Priestess's room."
"Yes, Auntie."
I took Aktaion's hand and stepped through the rift.
Same High Priestess's room as a few days ago.
"Welcome. I've been waiting."
The High Priestess, clad in her lewd nun habit, bowed with solemn dignity.
Utterly different from her bubbly self days prior.
'Now she looks the part.'
I met Minos's eyes, nodded, then spoke.
"Planning to head out right away—is that alright?"
"The sooner the better for me. But I've never been inside, so direct transport's tricky."
Manes linked her arm slyly in mine with a smile.
The words sounded problematic, but her relaxed expression said otherwise.
"Just need to get inside, right?"
"Not hard. Question is, did they dig an escape tunnel? Or set up a new venue? That's the crux."
"From what I checked, no other tunnels. They're probably reinforcing the existing one."
"That's viable."
They were pinned to one spot, likely with an exit dug out.
Low odds of a new hideout.
If there was one, we'd uncover it eventually.
'Start there.'
Thoughts sorted, I turned to Minos.
"Want to head there first. Is it open tonight?"
"No. Still playing cautious—it's closed. Shall we go now?"
"We have to."
I stated my intent, and Manes nodded.
"I can open the front door since I've seen it. But no one's around, right? Getting caught opening it would be a mess."
"Yes. Positive."
"Good. Let's move. If it goes south, you handle cleanup."
Manes shot Minos a warning before ripping open space.
A dark alley, and the door of a house looming squarely ahead.
Blatantly shady.
'No presence.'
As reported—no distant signs of life, no shadows.
Definitely closed tonight.
"No one outside, but inside? Empty?"
Manes peered through the rift, and Minos replied.
"Can't confirm that far, but probably some staff deeper in. Watched from afar—the passage is long."
"Likely a caretaker inside. They wouldn't leave it totally empty."
Manes unlinked her arms and stepped through.
Recklessly bold.
Aktaion, Minos, and I followed a beat later.
The rift sealed, leaving a clammy silence.
'Let's check.'
I approached and inspected the door up close.
It opened both ways, with a slim gap at the seam for peeking inside.
Whooo.
The heavy rush of air suggested considerable depth.
Felt like deeply excavated earth.
Guards would be down there for sure.
More precisely, in the space beyond below.
"No presence, right?"
"None. Probably down low. Can't see well through the gap—it's dark. Something's visible, though..."
Manes frowned.
If she could see, she'd rift over—but she couldn't, and it irked her.
"Then light it up."
I scanned around, then immediately conjured light.
As expected: a dark, elongated corridor, devoid of people.
"Nice one."
Manes smoothed her brow and opened a rift.
The door's slight gap allowed a clear view inside—perfect for transit.
"Our High Priestess, head back first."
Manes returned, sealed the rift, then opened one to the High Priestess's room.
Her presence would just be a hindrance.
"Yes. Understood."
Minos caught on and moved without protest.
Overzealous loyalty, or cool-headed assessment—either way.
"Just us is fine anyway. She'd only get in the way. Right?"
"Probably."
Word was the High Priestess could use magic, but no need.
Being able to cast didn't mean combat prowess.
'PVP's all about experience.'
No experience meant fumbling attacks like a lagged game.
Likely to play out as Manes predicted.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Auntie."
We slipped through the wide-open rift.
Cautiously, without footfalls, we descended the corridor.
'Here.'
Soon, eyes adjusted to the gloom.
We halted before a massive door blocking the way.
Plain wooden door, light seeping from beyond.
Presence detected.
"Hold up."
Manes ignited mana on her fingertip, then squatted to the floor.
To rub at the door's base.
'Oh, o...?'
Dig, dug.
The sturdy door eroded bit by bit, until a small hole formed.
Just thumb-sized.
'If she can do that, why...'
Momentarily dumbfounded, Manes went fully prone.
"Can dig wood, not stone or iron. That's why spotting gaps matters."
Manes answered softly, peering through the hole.
How'd she read my mind again?
'Chills.'
As I shuddered, Manes slowly rose.
No sign of discomfort from sprawling on the floor.
"Got the spot to breach the door. Straight in."