Chapter 33
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Secretly and Greatly (3)
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The inside of the guild froze in an instant. Judging by his face, I get the feeling he doesn't usually get a good evaluation, but still.
Beating up the guild's security guard right in front of everyone meant he had successfully seized control of the atmosphere in record time.
"What should we do, Platoon Leader?"
"Hold on, Lumia."
I stopped Lumia, who was about to move. This wasn't the time for us to step in.
Whatever the reason, for the city's guard captain to act so violently, there must have been some conflict between the guild and the "authorities."
Along with the sudden freezing of the transport ledger, there was an indescribable smell.
The smell of an incident.
I pulled Lumia away from the reception desk and found a spot in a corner. It was a blessing that we weren't in uniform.
If we had drawn unnecessary attention, the whole point of our disguise would have been ruined.
Just as expected.
As soon as we moved, Ramur slammed his fist onto the reception desk.
"Shakov! Bring him out!"
"Calm down, Captain Ramur. You're scaring the merchants."
At that moment, a man appeared leisurely from inside the reception office. He looked to be in his forties, with clearly defined wrinkles on his face, but his eyes were as fierce as Ramur's.
'So that's Shakov, the guild master.'
His clothes were also distinctly different from the other receptionists. If he wasn't the guild master, he had to be at least a high-ranking executive.
"What the hell is this?!"
My mere speculation soon turned into certainty. The guard captain grabbed him by the collar and growled.
"Shakov, are you trying to get us all killed?"
"You should let go. According to the plan, you were supposed to slip away while I took the fall, weren't you?"
"...You bastard!!"
The guard captain's fist was raised high. He throws a punch at the drop of a ball. I think I have a rough idea of why he's in league with those thugs.
Just as I was thinking it might get serious enough for me to intervene...
Ramur's attack was blocked by an invisible wall. I could clearly feel the flow of mana. A green haze bloomed in the air.
"Making a scene like this will only hurt you, Captain Ramur."
"Guh...!!"
Captain Ramur finally looked around. Not just us, but everyone gathered was watching the two of them.
Even if he brought guards with him, he couldn't just kick out the customers without a proper reason.
Eventually, the one who lost the momentum was the guard captain.
"Damn it. Let's talk inside."
"Can you have your soldiers step back a bit? They're interfering with business."
"Everyone, stay put. I have something to discuss with the guild master alone."
"But..."
"That's an order. Step back."
At the captain's words, the guards reluctantly backed away. Seeing this, Lumia subtly approached me and whispered carefully in my ear.
"For someone who brought heavily armed guards, he doesn't seem to be planning on making that much of a scene."
Her warm breath tickled the inside of my ear, but I did my best to ignore it and replied.
"It seems it's a conversation his guards aren't allowed to hear. Besides, both the guild master and the guard captain seem to have each other's weak points in their grasp."
I mulled over the guild master's words. "According to the plan, you were supposed to slip away while I took the fall."
The sudden freezing of the guild's transport ledger was probably related to that.
'Once the guard captain leaves, I should meet with the guild master.'
I don't need to dig too deep.
It would be best to reveal that I'm from the 3rd Battalion and ask why the ledger was frozen.
It's a perfectly reasonable question to ask as someone requesting military supplies.
As the two men disappeared into the guild's interior and the intimidating guards dispersed...
The tense atmosphere around the guild master began to return to normal. The merchants finished unloading their cargo and left the guild.
Those who had come for transactions or currency exchange started haggling heatedly as if nothing had happened.
And among them was our silver-haired magic non-commissioned officer.
"Then, since the ledger is frozen, lower the transport fee ratio or lower the unit price."
"Th-that's a bit difficult..."
"I'll relay that comment exactly as it is to my battalion commander and the logistics officer. They're already in a rage because of the recent fee hike, so they might really come to crush the guild master."
"I-I understand!! Then we'll lower the ratio by a certain percentage. Please sign the documents here..."
The fact that she seems to be enjoying this act of corporate bullying is probably just my imagination, right?
***
"Well! Here you go!"
"Thank you!"
"Hey, that guy over there looks kinda familiar. Have we met before?"
"Ah, yes..."
I answered with a slightly evasive voice.
We had decided to have lunch at the restaurant Bell Mayer took me to last time, but I had momentarily forgotten that I was currently in disguise.
"Hmm, well, we get all kinds of people in our shop. We must have met somewhere! Hahaha! Enjoy your meal!"
"Ah, hahaha."
It's not like it would be a huge problem if my identity were revealed since he's' in the food service industry, but having to explain it would be a real pain.
Fortunately, our jovial owner didn't pay any further unnecessary attention to us.
"By the way, did you know about this place too, Sergeant Lumia?"
"Ms.Bell... I mean, Sergeant Bell told me about it. I used to come here often when I visited the city."
"You two get around surprisingly well."
"...Sometimes, when it gets really tough, just coming to the city is enough."
Lumia said this and put food in her mouth. After chewing a few times, her violet eyes sparkled.
"Ah, it's delicious."
"This place is always good. It's a real hidden gem."
"Right?"
Lumia nodded with a wide, happy smile.
"Well then, let's eat."
I started eating right after her.
Last time was in the morning, so it felt more like brunch, but this time it was a proper meal.
From this angle, it looked a bit like a Korean 'baekban' restaurant. At those places, if you're a good restaurant, you don't really have any other options besides the set meal, right?
There was warm beef soup, white wheat bread, and a chicken cutlet dripping with oil.
'Damn, this is really good.'
As the saying goes, even spying is best done on a full stomach. You have to eat well to do a good job.
We have plenty of time, so it's important to gather intel as discreetly as possible.
We might as well do some food exploration while we're at it.
If we get caught, it's all for nothing. We need to enjoy this downtime so suspicious people don't catch on.
"Platoon Leader."
"Yes?"
"...Thank you."
"What's this all of a sudden— *cough, guck!* *Heuk!*"
I was so flustered by the sudden thanks that I choked on my food. As I was gasping for air, Lumia hurriedly brought me some water.
"Platoon Leader! Water, water!!"
"*Cough!* *Guck, guck!* *Ugh, cough!*"
After gulping down the cold water, my burning throat immediately calmed down.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes... Ah, I'm fine now."
"I-I'm sorry. I startled you all of a sudden."
"It's nothing. There's no need for you to apologize, Sergeant Lumia."
I said this while brushing away the food that had scattered all over the place. Both the seat and my clothes were a mess. I cleaned my clothes with a napkin that was provided.
It was a good thing I was wearing a cheap robe like Lumia; if it had been a uniform or the new clothes I bought from my shopping trip, I would have shed a tear.
"But why did you say that all of a sudden?"
"Well, I don't think I've properly thanked you for Private Rex yet."
"It's only been two days, what are you talking about. Just seeing you overcome your ordeal is enough for me."
At my words, Lumia stared intently at my face. What is it, is there still food stuck somewhere from when I choked?
"Is there still food on my face?"
"Ah, no! It's not that..."
Lumia hesitated for a moment, then finally managed to speak.
"It's the first time I've seen an officer act like a real officer... No, the first time I've met someone who's truly cool."
Lumia set her utensils down with a clatter.
"There has never been a platoon leader who cared about our platoon this much."
"That's... I'm a newly commissioned officer. It's only natural that I can't abandon my first platoon members, isn't it?"
"No, you're special, Platoon Leader. I was sure you would accept when Colonel Soni Chepelin scouted you last time."
"I thought you would think that too, Sergeant Lumia."
I gave a light, self-deprecating laugh.
I had already seen the platoon members' reactions back then.
"But I really want to work hard with this platoon for a year."
"I'll work hard following you too, Platoon Leader. I trust you, Platoon Leader. Please trust me too."
"Of course."
I could feel a strong bond forming between me and Lumia.
The garbage platoon.
A group of members who were called by such a derogatory term and received no attention or protection from anyone.
One of my goals is to turn them into proper soldiers over the remaining year.
I plan to melt down all the know-how of a 10,000-hour veteran and pass it on to them.
Even if we're destined to part ways, you never know when, where, or how you might meet again.
The five years we've been given isn't that short of a time.
"By the way, Lumia, don't you smell something burning?"
At my words, she sniffed the air. Her perky nose twitched, and her expression contorted.
"Now that you mention it... It's a pretty strong smell, but it doesn't seem to be coming from the kitchen..."
As she stood up, having noticed something strange...
*Bang!!*
"Oh no, sir, we've got a big problem!"
A man with a pale face burst into the restaurant as the tightly shut door flew open.
The smell of burning grew stronger the moment the door opened.
This was a fire.
"The merchant guild building is on fire! We need to evacuate quickly! It's about to spread to the entire market!!"
The moment I heard the man's shout...
"Lumia!"
Lumia and I dashed out of the restaurant, heading straight for the guild building.