Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: War Against Crime (1)
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The situation was dizzyingly chaotic, but precisely because of that—like the adage "the more urgent it is, the slower you go"—I needed to calm down and take in the full picture as objectively as possible.
Otherwise, I'd likely miss the most crucial context.
So, to clear my head a bit, I spoke to a soldier passing by.
"Could you bring me some hot tea and snacks? I haven't eaten a thing."
"Yes, sir."
After a short while, the soldier returned with a generous spread of snacks and two cups of tea.
I handed him five fairy tale silver coins, popped a snack into my mouth, and washed it down with tea.
The sugar rush cleared my mind right up.
"Guard Captain, are these informants reliable?"
"Yes, my lord. Given the scale of this incident, we've only deployed sources we've built relationships with for at least a year."
For the most part, informants are hardened criminals caught for theft, assault, fraud, or gang activities.
They're generally not trustworthy, but ones who've worked with our soldiers for over a year? Those we can count on.
After all, informants are paid from the soldiers' own pockets and Guard funds. No fool soldier would keep shelling out their hard-earned coin for dead weight.
"Then the informants are credible. Meaning what they've reported is solid... By chance, do we have any captured members of the crime organization alive?"
The Guard Captain replied in a deflated tone.
"We infiltrated a few soldiers based on informant tips, but we lack the numbers to take on the whole group, so..."
"You're just gathering intel for now, then. Good work. Better not to half-ass it at all."
"Can you share everything we've uncovered so far? With 300 Guards at our disposal, if even mobilizing them all wouldn't suffice... I'll have to step in myself."
"Yes, my lord. One moment, please."
The Guard Captain left me briefly and headed to his office, returning soon with a black box secured by a lock.
He unlocked it and pulled out the documents inside.
Approximately 40 personnel stationed at each of 5-6 locations in Blueport; estimated total of 70-80 members. One suspected knight-level executive per site; executives occasionally cook and eat Northern Alliance dishes, as if homesick. Currently planning noble kidnappings for ransom, sabotage of merchant facilities, artisan abductions, etc. With numbers like that—plus suspected knights as executives—it had to be backed by some powerful noble.
And on the surface, those executives screamed lowborn Northern Alliance nobility.
Their playbook? Kidnapping nobles, ransom demands, sabotage, artisan grabs—crimes designed to gut our territory.
But botch uprooting an organization like this, and it burrows deeper, metastasizing into a cancer that corrupts society.
So I let loose my highest praise for these vile foes.
"Unbelievable, these satanic bastards! They really learned how to stab people in the back from Mom and Dad!!!"
As I vented, the Guard Captain beside me bowed his head in apology.
"I'm terribly sorry for causing you worry due to my incompetence."
"No, if you'd intervened sloppily, it would've gotten worse. Thank you for assessing the details and reporting up."
I handed the Guard Captain a pouch brimming with bonus pay.
"I taught you to gauge the situation when trouble hits and report if it's not doable. You followed orders to the letter. Things are about to get busy, so let your men clock out on time today and spend it with family."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back in my office from the Guard barracks, I pored over every document the Guard Captain had brought.
My takeaway? Their intentions were rotten to the core...
Because...
As I mulled it over, the door opened and three people entered.
"Colonel Bierman and two others, reporting as summoned, my lord."
"Good work. Take seats. The situation's grim."
"Yes, my lord."
I unrolled a large map and laid out the Guard Captain's report for them.
"Crime groups claiming Northern Alliance origins have infiltrated the docks, Districts 5, 7, 8, and 12. Guard forces alone can't handle it, so they've requested backup. Also—and this is unconfirmed—investigators under the Guard Captain report knights among the leadership."
Their faces darkened.
"How low can you sink? Trashing your honor to invade our lands and commit crimes? Must've shoved their principles up Mom and Dad's bedroom."
"Incomprehensible. Breaking knightly oaths, turning to evil, even joining criminals. Unthinkable for a knight."
"Kroitel has never once waged unjust war, yet this is too much."
"But war is like this. To destroy the foe, you poison and undermine so long as your public honor stays intact. They're just doing what nobles do."
Classic moves: assassinate enemy lords or kin, spread rumors to tarnish reputations.
Deeper plays include unleashing crime syndicates to wreck security or cornering grain supplies in import-dependent territories with massive capital.
I'd figured it'd happen someday, but actually facing it felt even shittier than imagined...
"Enough. Our thousands of soldiers and hundreds of knights haven't stirred—this is war in its own right. No, trying to starve my citizens with these underhanded tactics makes it graver than open war. We must eradicate these criminals ASAP. Here's the plan."
The three bowed their heads.
"Colonel Bierman, command all but the minimal training garrison to sweep the criminals. While you're away, limit recruits to basic drills and civil aid. Resume full training once resolved."
"Understood."
"Major Valentine, Scout Battalion commander, disguise all but essential scouts as slum dwellers and infiltrate the criminals. Claim expenses freely."
"Yes, my lord."
"And Major Frost."
"Yes, my lord."
"My unit and yours will assault their confirmed HQ fully armed. Alternate rest and training for the men; advise against brothels draining their strength. Dismissed."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Luck was on my side today.
Sure, I'd just woken up and dragged myself to work...
On the way, I spotted a silver fairy tale coin on the street and picked it up. Even scored a noble-grade wheat-and-milk loaf from my usual bakery cheap.
Oh right, as an ensign now, I'm nobility too.
And not just that—I nabbed the murderer I'd been hunting since yesterday.
Heh heh... Thought it was my lucky day...
But the moment I clocked into the office, Sergeant Major Long—who usually salutes sharp—spoke gravely.
"Major Valentine wants you. Looks like a big mission."
Valentine's "important tasks" are always brutal and risky.
I straightened my uniform and entered the Scout commander's office, saluting.
"Ensign Short, reporting on Major Valentine's orders!!"
"At ease. Sit. Whew... Tough one. Want a snack? It's choux cream His Lordship invented—surprisingly good."
This guy's 40 and sweets-obsessed; buys meat and booze for the troops with his pay but hoards his own treats...
Hasn't even started talking, yet he's offering a fresh batch from the Count?
This'll be a monster job. Damn, should've known my luck was too good.
I steeled myself and bit into the choux cream.
Crispy shell shattering at the touch, filled with sweet cream melting like snow... Holy hell, it's divine.
Worth dipping into my pay.
"Good, right? Made by His Lordship and Ella. An honor to receive sweets from them."
I nodded vigorously, savoring it.
Once I finished, Valentine slid a sealed letter stamped with the Count's insignia across the desk, tone dead serious.
"Lately, we've had frequent disappearances and sabotage. Guard investigated and pinned it on blue-blooded Northern Alliance rats pulling strings."
"Isn't that for the Guards? They've got plenty of trained men, even if not elites..."
Valentine sighed.
"Over 500 visible, possibly 1,000+. One more warehouse torched, and the territory's done. Lucky those were empty—sugar or salt would've meant delayed pay."
Other territories delay soldier pay routinely, but in Kroitel...
That only happens in famines killing thousands.
So ignoring this could doom the county?
"Dire."
"His Lordship personally tapped you—the guy who soloed Helsman Castle, killed two knights, and swiped top secrets from their captain. This letter's your orders. Take it and read."
I stepped aside to a quiet spot and opened it.
Orders to Ensign Short. From receipt of this letter, you are on 2-week leave by my command. Infiltrate the enemy HQ at the docks and gather maximum intel. I'll lead Major Frost's battalion to smash it based on your findings—investigate thoroughly. Success merits promotion to lieutenant and commensurate reward. Reading it, certainty hit.
Fail, and it's dishonorable discharge if lucky... execution if not.
What a lucky day.