Knowing a Good Thing When You See It... (4)

The contents of the message Giyan sent to the central branch leader of the Isco Kingdom's mercenary outpost ran roughly as follows.

Ah, better strike that last line. Claymore might not like it.

Giyan immediately dispatched a carrier bird to the Isco Kingdom.

At the latest it would arrive within a day or two, and a reply would return in three or four. Generously estimated, the reinforcements would reach him within a fortnight.

Ten thousand gold coins. With that kind of money, do I even need to stay in the branch-leader's seat?

Giyan already felt as though the sum had entered his hands.

But I have to be careful. Careful again and again.

Even if it was only a baronial house, it was still the bloodline of a lord family that owned a vast territory. The mere fact that they had held their lordship for hundreds of years meant they could not be taken lightly.

And this place was nothing less than the very heart of the kingdom. From the city guard to the royal defense forces and countless central nobles—their escort knights and monsters swarmed the streets. If the affair grew too large, the ones who would end up at a disadvantage would inevitably be his own side.

It has to be done as quietly as possible.

Giyan began mobilizing every connection he possessed to investigate Roy.

Somewhere beneath Crown City.

In a dim space where almost no light reached, six powerfully built men had taken their places.

"This gentleman is Sir David of the Order of the Death Knights of the Isco Kingdom. And this one is Sir Needle of the same order. Both are of distinguished count lineage. They will play major roles in this war."

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Giyan, deputy branch leader of the mercenary outpost in these parts. I am truly grateful that you have made such a difficult journey."

"Good to meet you. David."

"Needle."

Two knights who had inherited the blood of Isco count houses. Both were in their mid-twenties and boasted robust frames. Eager to earn merit in the coming war, they had volunteered the moment the mercenary band requested support. Of course they had also received their knight-commander's permission. This infiltration mission might well decide the outcome of the entire war; it was a golden opportunity to distinguish themselves.

"Introductions are enough. Shall we get down to the real business?"

"Of course."

The man who had introduced the two nobles was a deputy branch leader of the Isco Kingdom's central branch, equal in rank to Giyan. That side had already decided to throw its full support behind the Isco Kingdom in this war and was already encamped on the border.

That's why the support arrived so quickly.

Not only the two knights of count blood, but the mercenaries who had come with them were formidable experts as well. The deputy branch leader had casually let slip that all four men possessed roughly equal skill.

That means four knights with count-level mana... Failure is impossible.

Giyan was certain of the operation's success.

"How stands the border situation at present?"

"No real progress yet. Only occasional small skirmishes. Hot-blooded fools who want to show off their strength come out and trade a few blows—that's all. It hasn't reached the level one would call war."

"Is that so? So you are waiting for that, then. Geren's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weapons."

"Something like that. So what's the plan?"

"I have already finished mapping his movements. Rather than the mansion where his family and servants live, we will seize him when he is at the separate building he visits. Fewer eyes there. A boy and a girl come and go with him, but they always return home before sunset, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we simply wait until after dark."

"Distance?"

"Close by. First, change into the clothes I prepared."

Giyan handed over the garments he had readied in advance.

"These? Merchant clothes, aren't they?"

"Exactly. Merchants regularly drive wagons to the building where the target stays. They appear to be supplying materials for magic weapons. If we approach disguised as those merchants, even if there are unexpected witnesses we will not draw suspicion. We will take him inside the building, away from prying eyes, put him to sleep with the drug I prepared, and load him into the cargo bed of the wagon. It will be seamless."

"Wagon ready as well?"

"Of course."

"Well done. If this succeeds, His Majesty himself will praise your achievement highly."

Giyan swallowed dryly.

Ten thousand gold coins—and further reward on top of that? He might even receive a territory and a title. With the mana he possessed, a barony was not out of reach. After all, what ordinary merit was this? If the magic weapons fell into Isco Kingdom hands, he would have claimed the greatest credit of the entire war.

Buoyed by expectation, Giyan was already drinking the kimchi soup before the meal was served.

"But can a mere twelve-year-old boy truly craft magic weapons?"

"Yes. Absolutely certain. From what I have investigated, high society is already buzzing with rumors that he must be some sort of mutant. Even at the Knight Academy, despite being from a baronial house he mixes with the children of counts, and the son of a margrave even treats him as a rival..."

"Ha. A mere baron's bloodline? The Steel Kingdom must be finished. Or else the nobles of this country have been mixing their bloodlines all over the place."

"That I wouldn't know..."

"Anyway, if it's certain, that's enough. Whatever the rumors, if we can't capture one little brat then the name of the kingdom's strongest Death Knights is wasted."

"Of course! The Death Knights never drop their guard. This operation will decide the war. We stake our lives on completing it!"

"Yes..."

The mercenaries looked bewildered by the knights' declarations, yet had no choice but to match the atmosphere.

Three mercenaries who had crossed the border, two knights, Giyan, and his five subordinates—eleven men in total set out to seize Roy alone.

Third floor of the building opposite Roy's magic research institute.

Giyan and one of the Isco Kingdom knights were secretly watching Roy and the Amin Merchant Company.

"That building?"

"Yes."

"What are those merchants carrying out?"

"I'm not sure... Perhaps magic weapons..."

"What!? Hmm... We need to grab the target quickly and ask him about the situation."

Changing the plan at this point was impossible. If they tailed that wagon now they might learn what was inside and where it was headed. But the risk was far too great. What if its destination was the royal palace of this country? What if they were discovered midway? Better to avoid a disturbance, proceed as planned, seize the boy right here, and hear the story from his own mouth.

"When do you intend to execute?"

"Once the merchants leave, no one will remain inside that building except the boy and a man named Marek who serves him."

"Marek's skill?"

"Hard to say. At best, quasi-baron level mana."

"Then nothing to worry about. Shall we go in soon?"

"Yes!"

At last the operation was set in motion.

Confirming the signal, two unfamiliar wagons halted in front of Roy's research institute. As though they were people about the same business as the Amin Merchant Company that had just departed, they dismounted naturally and headed for the building. They did not even hide their faces, playing ordinary merchants and laborers. Except for one man left on watch, a crowd of ten gathered at the entrance in an instant. Each carried an empty crate or wooden barrel. It was a plausible performance.

Giyan knocked casually on the door.

"Young Master Roy. Young Master Roy. We've come from the merchant company."

Yet no one came out.

Strange.

David whispered low to Giyan, though his expression looked ready to devour him.

"What's going on? Why isn't anyone coming out?"

"Just wait a little longer."

But no matter how long they waited, not even a presence could be felt.

"Damn it. Stand aside! I'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smash it."

Needle seized the door handle and twisted hard. With his raw strength there was no need to use mana on a mere wooden door.

"......?"

"What are you doing, Needle? Move. I'll do it. ...Huh?"

The door would not open. It would not break either. It was so solid it did not budge an inch.

"...Looks like magic is on it."

"...!?"

Everyone checked one another's faces with startled eyes.

"Hmph! Using tricks like this only proves your words were true. This is no ordinary brat."

Mana bloomed along David's sword—an Aura Blade.

With a sharp crack the pure-white glowing blade sheared straight through the research institute door. The magic circle Roy had woven was destroyed in a single stroke. Not only that—the protective barrier that had blanketed the entire building vanished as well.

"Two of you take the back door. Two stand guard here. The rest follow me inside. Giyan, you cast the lighting."

"Yes!"

At the aura that dyed the entire blade pure white and blazed so brilliantly it seemed ready to burn, the mercenaries once again felt keenly who held command in this place. Truly a member of the Death Knights—he had shown them with his own eyes why the order was counted among the finest in the Isco Kingdom.

"It will get a little noisy, but it can't be helped. Now that things have come this far, we finish the job as fast as possible before the commotion grows!"

"Yes!"

Everyone except Giyan's five subordinate mercenaries stormed into the building.

"......!?"

Yet the interior felt slightly strange. Beyond the short corridor, lights were lit. They had expected the boy to be hiding somewhere, aware of the assault—yet he had left the place brightly illuminated. Was he in his right mind?

"Young Master Roy, are you here?"

Giyan called out.

"Over here. Come in."

He had only pretended to search, yet an answer came back at once. A boy's voice.

Unable to hide their surprise, the mercenaries and two knights advanced toward the source of the voice. The illuminated place was the largest living room inside the building. In one corner of it stood a boy.

"Welcome, everyone. I have been waiting for you. Shall we introduce ourselves first? I am Roy Greenhilt, master of this research institute. And you gentlemen?"

"...Sorry, kid. From now on you'll be coming with us."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, my lord Count."

"...!?"

"How did you know?"

"Oh! So I was right. Then the gentleman over there is also a count, I take it? My, sending two of count blood just to catch little me—could you gentlemen happen to be from the Isco Kingdom?"

"......!"

The fact that the boy knew everything left everyone who had entered the building unable to conceal their shock.

"Don't tell me there was a traitor among us?"

At Giyan's words the air turned cold in an instant. They began watching one another warily.

David shattered the atmosphere.

"Everyone, draw weapons! We don't know when someone might burst in!"

Watching the scene, Roy let out a light scoff and opened his mouth.

"Hahaha, don't worry. No one is coming. The one who would be most troubled if anyone arrived right now... is me."

His expression had gone ice-cold. Before anyone noticed, the boy's eyes had turned a pure gold.