Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: War Against Crime (2)
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Generally speaking, when sneaking into somewhere covertly, the most common method is to wear black clothes late at night and slip in under the cover of darkness.
However, dressing in black to infiltrate only works for things like stealing a single confidential document from the enemy or carrying out an assassination.
In any other case, trying to sneak in wearing black or a concealing robe is just asking to get stabbed for looking suspicious.
So, since things had come to this, I decided to play the role of a decadent noble who'd been pushed out by Count Kroitel's reforms, in order to succeed in my mission.
The Northern Alliance was summoning someone of knightly status, so they had to like corrupt nobles who belonged to the city's entrenched elite but would sell out their own side for information.
To carry out that plan, I headed to Blueport's Fiscal Bureau operations budget division, which disbursed funds.
I showed them the letter stamped with Count Kroitel's seal on the envelope and my ID, then said,
"I'm Ensign Short, platoon leader of the reconnaissance platoon directly under Scout Leader Valentine. I need budget funds to carry out the operation ordered by His Excellency Count Kroitel. How much can you provide?"
"Understood, Ensign Short. How many personnel are needed for the operation?"
"About five, including me and the informants."
Then, the budget manager in front of me fiddled with an abacus a few times before speaking in a cold voice.
"I've confirmed this is an order using an A-rank seal. Accordingly, we can allocate 30 gold coins for the operation. If you need more, fill out the reason form over there, and you can receive up to 70 additional coins. Also, for post-operation budget expenditures, you must submit detailed usage reports approved by a major or higher commander, or you could face an embezzlement investigation. Please be careful."
They give you exactly as much budget as you need, but make it so hard to even touch a single silver coin without submitting every expenditure detail...
Of course, it's better than not getting any, but I never imagined claiming budget would be this tough.
The budget manager handed me a parchment with a gold border stating "30 gold coins" and forms for recording budget expenditures, then said,
"We wish you victory, Ensign Short."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A blue silk outfit that didn't suit me at all, a thin shirt made of very soft linen with gold buttons on the pants, and a cane with silver tips at the end.
Dressed like this, I naturally gave off the vibe of a brainless noble who couldn't even dress properly.
And sure enough, as I walked down the street...
"Mom, that uncle's a noble, but his clothes are weird! No wig, blue top with black pants, and shiny gold buttons up top!"
"Hush, child. He's probably one of the nobles Count Kroitel elevated, so he just doesn't know how to dress like one."
"Oh, I get it! Mom knows everything!"
I even became a laughingstock to kids around my own semi-noble level.
Damn it. Once this mission's done and I get promoted to lieutenant, I'll use the bonus from His Excellency to buy proper clothes and hire a servant. What the hell is this nonsense?
Like that, I spent about 30 minutes drawing people's stares as I headed to the meeting spot with my informants underlings.
A street where, even in broad daylight, the shady alleys had rats squeaking around, and huge cockroaches occasionally fled in surprise at the sight of me.
Exaggerating a bit, it was the kind of place where even if someone died, no one would notice. When I arrived, a big burly guy stepped out and said to me,
"Sir, the password."
"The Black Count brings white death."
Hearing the password, the brute politely extended his arm, pointing inside, and said,
"Your contact is waiting inside, sir."
"Thanks."
As I entered, a sharp-featured old man with white hair stood there.
"Greetings, sir. You look dashing in that outfit—it suits you."
"Cut the crap. His Excellency the Count is in a bad mood because of the rats scurrying around Blueport lately. So now I'm stuck chasing their tails. Anyway, have you found a way to approach them?"
Hearing that, the guy rubbed his thumb and index finger together slyly, hinting at payment for the info.
So I handed over 10 gold coins and said,
"Feeling talkative now?"
"Of course. I've already prepared a way for you to approach. In two hours, go to the tavern called 'Bat's Rest' and say 'The Mother in the North is already dead' to the guy looking for his mother in the north."
"'The Mother in the North is already dead'..."
"That'll connect you to the one who can get you into the meeting."
"Got it. Then I'm off. You've already infiltrated the other informants, right?"
"Yes, I've sent in four sharp-minded guys. I've also instructed them to mention Ensign Short as someone full of grudges against society."
"What exactly did you tell them?"
The guy in front of me hesitated a bit, then asked,
"I took a bit of liberty, but it was to fulfill your request, sir, so please don't be too harsh."
"We're beyond that, aren't we? No need to spell it out. A brainless loser over 30 who can't even get married, crazy about women, and full of complaints about His Excellency the Count."
I live wealthier than I could've dreamed before enlisting, thanks to His Excellency overvaluing my abilities...
But the old Kroitel nobles who'd enjoyed privilege from the start and got weeded out by us are full of resentment and skirt-chasing.
That'll make it more convincing.
"Exactly. But that alone might not be convincing enough... so I added that you want to help these guys kidnap a beauty like Lady Ella..."
That lunatic? Even if this op succeeds perfectly, if that gets back, His Excellency will grab a sword and say, "Insulting my favorite Ella? I need to put three holes in your neck." And dance with his blade?
This bastard must have a grudge against me.
"You madman! Even His Excellency..."
"No one will find out. And if they catch those guys, they'll blab about you, but do you think His Excellency will believe it? Besides, it's not Lady Ella herself, but a beauty like her, right? Use that as your excuse if questioned."
"Damn it, I trusted you and brought the remaining 20 gold coins... You'll get them if I survive the mission!"
Normally, these guys would throw a fit like, "We've done our part—why no pay?" But guilty as they were, he said nothing.
Then I set off for the tavern.
Damn, even if this succeeds, His Excellency might give me all sorts of 'fun' experiences.
A few months ago, some idiot captain made his usual sexual jokes about Lady Ella in the barracks and got caught by His Excellency—ended up beheaded in front of everyone.
Sure, joking about the Count's concubine is lèse-majesté and deserving of death...
But if things go south, won't I get nailed for the same? I won't lose my head, but forced labor and stripped rank sound 'fun'...
"I thought the Slum King was good at his job, but he can't shake that habit—telling me to tie a stone around my neck and jump in the river! Argh!! If any idiot from his turf gets caught, I'll personally crush him for revenge!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After meeting the Slum King, I quickly headed to Bat's Rest and found the contact.
To dispel his suspicions about me, I poured out my grievances in an almost pleading voice full of righteous anger.
"I've served Kroitel as Emil Brown for four years, and my family has served His Excellency's house for over 200. But that Count—no, that bastard Count—doesn't reward my loyalty. Sure, I slacked off a bit, but now Frost, who couldn't even meet my eyes before, just nods and walks past! Damn it all!!!"
"What? I'm incompetent? Ridiculous! I've only served the Count for four years, but I've fought alongside him on countless battlefields! I just couldn't keep up with his radical reforms! Fine, if he ignores my loyalty, I'll wreck his territory to make him recognize my worth! Yeah, someone like Count Petergburg in the north will appreciate me."
"And I've heard the northern beauties are stunning and open-hearted. Only a woman like that suits me, right? A friend of a friend introduced me here. This isn't rebellion—it's revolution."
"Oh, right—you're the one introducing me to Count Petergburg now. Good, take this. Two gold coins, so let's do well... Just put in a good word with the boss."
After all that fuss, I'd convinced the contact leading me to the cadres. He no longer seemed suspicious.
He just figured, even if he didn't fully buy it, I was some lunatic selling out his master to the Count of Petergburg with no concept or common sense—use me and discard.
Like that, I followed him to where the cadres of these self-proclaimed Northern Alliance HQ gathered.
"Knock three times and say, 'When morning breaks, lift Katyusha's skirt.'"
"Got it."
Then I knocked three times as instructed and said,
"When morning breaks, lift Katyusha's skirt."
The door opened.
Inside, men I assumed were cadres sat wearing half-plate armor, quilted jackets with crests, surcoats, and such.
I shrewdly took the lowest seat available and announced loudly enough for them to hear,
"I'm Emil Brown. I've come to serve the wise Count Petergburg and escape the tyranny of Count Kroitel, who scorns the nobility."
They seemed to like my slightly humble introduction for a noble. Soon, the man in the best chair at the far back smiled and said,
"I thought a knight with a fief would look down on us, but you're surprisingly humble. The informant brought a good one."
"I'm a noble, sure, but only in Count Kroitel's domain. And if I'm defecting to the Northern Alliance, I should treat my seniors right, no? Heh heh... Be kind to me, sirs."
"Sirs? Being called 'sir' by a fief-holder—must be Count Petergburg's prestige. Good. You look like you haven't eaten... Anything you'd like?"
It was late at night, and instead of booze, he asked what I wanted to eat...
This choice would decide if they trusted me or not. Of course, with my initial impression as a discarded noble, they'd only see me as a disposable pawn anyway.
As a proper noble, I'd feed them real intel to make them feel I was trustworthy.
What I needed now was food that strongly showed my intent to defect.
"Northern Alliance delicacies, please. From the moment I arrived here, I'm a retainer to Count Petergburg, the great pillar of the Alliance. I should eat northern fare."
"Excellent. Borscht and piroshki coming up. I'm sure you'll love them."
Soon, a strange soup loaded with red broth and thick doughy lumps were set before me.
"Eat up. From nobles to commoners, everyone in the north loves these."
"I'm looking forward to it."
I first lifted the borscht bowl, sipped some broth, then popped a piroshki in my mouth.
The borscht had a turnip-heavy broth with a slight sweetness and meaty aroma. The piroshki blended thick wheat dough and meat for instant fullness.
"Delicious. Especially this borscht—way better than I expected."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And this red pickled radish on top..."
"Ah, in the north, we season with pickled radish instead of just salt. Try mixing it into the broth."
Mixing the pickled radish into the borscht gave a faintly familiar taste.
Yeah, that flavor from my childhood...
"The borscht is amazing. The pickled radish makes the seasoning perfect—so tasty. I never imagined a soup where sweet and salty blend so well in my life!"
"Glad you like it... If you're done, try the Northern Alliance's signature spirit, vodka. It's strong but good."
I drank from the white glass beside me filled with the harsh liquor.
It burned my throat like fire, so I covered my mouth with a napkin and coughed.
"Kuhk kuhk, it's spicy."
"That's vodka's charm. To be one of us Northern Alliance folk, you gotta drink it like water."
"Really?"
Then the leader raised a glass brimming with vodka and shouted,
"A toast to Sir Brown, who abandoned wicked Kroitel to serve Count Petergburg!!!"
With that, we all downed a glass.
After a few more toasts like that, I followed the informant's lead back to Bat's Rest.
Then I hurried to Scout Leader Major Valentine's house.
This needs a direct report to His Excellency the Count, I think. Those idiots aren't even hiding it—trash who weren't taught right.