Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Hilda Ragnar (3)
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“Director of Intelligence, you’ve been pulling off these deeds in the shadows quite adeptly. But... it somehow feels a bit sloppy for something you’d do.”
Julius muttered softly as he set down the report Evelyn had submitted on his desk.
There was an indescribable sense of unease.
A nagging unease.
“What do you think, Intelligence Bureau Chief?”
As Julius lifted his head, a black shadow fell across him.
“What’s there to think? We just arrest the culprit as the evidence points.”
The Black Dragon snorted lightly and tossed another document in front of Julius.
“The evidence is solid. He’s a top-class assassin from the Season of the Serpent with quite the colorful record. He was the perpetrator in last year’s assassination of the Gale Blade Squadron’s Second Unit Commander.”
Julius paused while examining the new document and tilted his head.
“By the way, have you been injured somewhere? Your left arm looks uncomfortable.”
“...Mind your own business and just look at the document.”
Julius knew better than to press further, as the Black Dragon wouldn’t answer, so he turned his gaze back to the document.
‘Looks like he got into a big fight somewhere. Even this monster of a man gets hurt?’
But Julius’s curiosity vanished the moment he read the contents.
Last year, there had been an incident that shook Winterler to its core.
While the Gale Blade Squadron was out on an external mission, their commander was found murdered in their safehouse.
It wasn’t a death in combat during the mission—it was an assassination in their hideout, something impossible unless internal information had leaked.
“I thought it was classified as an unsolved case because no clear traces of the culprit were found... but that wasn’t the case.”
“That’s how it was announced externally. We had to keep the crafty weasel’s eyes off it.”
Crafty weasel.
It was Ed Troyvan’s hidden nickname.
“At the time, the Gale Blade Squadron was locked in local skirmishes with Troyvan over the conflict at the ‘White Tower Ruins.’ They gave Troyvan quite a headache.”
“So Troyvan was the prime suspect?”
“The Central Intelligence Chief mediated at the time, securing the ruins’ jurisdiction for us, but there were reports that Troyvan’s family head was quite furious.”
“Hmm.”
Julius let out a groan.
Though the Black Dragon had phrased it vaguely, it meant they had grasped all the circumstances of Troyvan’s covert movements.
Black Snow’s intelligence capabilities were already the best in the world.
“And that wasn’t all. Many of the gains we had quietly attempted or considered were preempted by Troyvan and his subordinate organizations. There were even high-level secrets mixed in that would be impossible to know without a mole planted in our core.”
Behind the mask. The Black Dragon’s eyes sank deeply.
No emotion could be felt.
Yet that made the gaze all the more terrifying.
“So, who would be the first one under suspicion?”
“The Central Intelligence Chief and the Third Madam, no?”
The Black Dragon nodded.
“No matter how much they publicly announced cutting ties with Troyvan, they could still secretly pull strings. So, just in case, we conducted targeted surveillance for over a year.”
“So you were tracking their tails.”
‘If Black Snow caught their tail, it means it reached the Family Head’s ears from the start. And yet he kept them in place without purging them. Hmm.’
It felt like Kyle’s schemes extended far beyond.
He could already smell blood.
A very fishy scent of blood...
“Yes. And to secure even more concrete evidence, we stationed our own agents around the prisoner.”
At that moment, one of Julius’s eyebrows twitched.
“You planted shadows in the main unit’s headquarters without even telling me?”
“That’s my job.”
“Hah!”
It meant he had suspected him too.
A blade capable of suspecting and cutting down even loyal allies if necessary.
That was why the Black Dragon was shunned by all the organization heads and executives, inspiring only fear.
“The problem is our agents never even got a chance to act.”
At this point, Julius couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.
“Our Evelyn did a fine job, didn’t she?”
“Is it true? That Theo Ragnar predicted this.”
“Indeed. It was a success thanks to the suggestion from the Intelligence Bureau Chief’s sharp nephew.”
“I see.”
Snicker.
Julius’s eyes widened at the chuckle from behind the mask.
‘This guy is laughing?’
Even Julius, who had served Ragnar for decades, was seeing this for the first time.
“Theo Ragnar...”
“No.”
“I haven’t even finished.”
“Your intent is obvious. You want a transfer to Black Snow, or at least a dispatch. Something pointless like that.”
“Well, something like that.”
“So no.”
“...”
“That boy is mine. If you want him, you’ll have to gut me first.”
Julius thrust out his belly.
The Black Dragon looked at him in disbelief.
“To think the Demon Dragon of the world would stoop to this.”
“With the Black Dragon of the world trying to steal my precious fledgling, how could I not bare my teeth? Don’t come at me. I might just bite down hard.”
“...Well, no helping it then.”
The Black Dragon smacked his lips lightly.
Julius shook his head inwardly.
He’d have to watch Theo even more closely to protect him from these beasts(?) in the future(!).
‘Because of these guys, I can’t even sleep easy.’
“Anyway, since we’ve caught the tail, let’s start the hunt.”
At the Black Dragon’s words, Julius stopped joking and nodded gravely.
“Yes. Let’s do it.”
* * *
Clop-clop-clop—
A carriage raced along the well-paved road.
“Black Snow has caught the tail?”
Ed, riding inside, slightly lifted his head at the report from above.
And the following telepathic messages.
“...I see.”
Heh!
Ed chuckled lightly.
“Family Head... you really are something.”
Then, hardening his expression again, he said,
“Everyone, stand by in place until further orders. And relay this to Father: the dragon will now begin writhing in earnest. The plan to stab the reverse scale is already dead in the water, so I’ll gather what’s necessary and come see you soon.”
Soon, all presences atop the carriage vanished.
Ed leaned back halfway into the seat and closed his eyes.
“Indeed... what move will you make after seeing this? I’m already curious, Theo Ragnar.”
* * *
At the eastern end of the Winter Mountains.
Theo arrived at a cabin that appeared to be an ordinary hunter’s shelter.
The Erika siblings had parted ways to carry out other missions.
Creak—
As he opened the door and entered, three pairs of eyes turned toward him.
Two were familiar faces, one was not.
“Last night.”
The unfamiliar face stood and asked in code.
“The quail cried.”
“Theo Ragnar, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Musol Cleve.”
A military tone and precise movements.
A woman with short-cropped hair and sharp eyes that left an impression.
But what surprised Theo was something else.
Musol.
Black Snow’s representative elite agent stood before him.
‘Black Snow is clenching its teeth.’
Theo clasped the hand Cleve extended.
“I’ll be the commander of this mission and your examiner. I’ve heard a lot about you from the Bureau Chief. Let’s get along well.”
“Likewise, please take care of me.”
“The other two are familiar faces, so no need for introductions?”
“Yes.”
Theo nodded and looked at the other two.
Evelyn let out a deep sigh.
“Once he takes someone under his wing, he says to see it through to the end.”
“Still, with the squad leader here, I think I can focus more easily on the mission.”
“Should I take that to mean I’d just be a hindrance?”
Hazel, next to Evelyn, interjected with a displeased look.
“That’s not what I meant, but if it came across that way, I apologize.”
“No, I said it hoping you’d take it that way. I plan to thoroughly monitor whether you’re properly participating in the mission.”
Hazel openly showed her dislike for Theo.
‘She seems hurt that I said I have no intention of becoming the Plum Palace Lord’s successor.’
Theo smiled wryly.
She had once said she couldn’t easily allow him to become the Plum Palace Lord’s disciple, but now that he agreed, this was her reaction.
As if the Plum Palace Lord had been insulted. What a tiring person.
But Hazel’s skills were the real deal, so there was anticipation too.
‘White Dragon Knights, Plum Palace, Black Snow. Two advanced swordsmen and one equivalent combat swordsman... All monitoring me while providing support. I have to succeed no matter what.’
This mission went beyond the promotion exam—it was groundwork to sever Ed’s limbs.
With the political strife against Ed now in full swing, defeat was not an option.
“Now that introductions are done, let’s start the briefing right away, given the urgency.”
As Cleve spoke, the other three’s gazes turned to her.
“The mission details are as pre-notified. The four of us infiltrate the Season of the Serpent’s headquarters and attempt to wipe them out. Upper command has ordered no survivors necessary.”
Total extermination order.
Ragnar had no intention of letting those who dared invade their territory live.
“And return to Winterler with evidence related to this incident... especially all links connecting to Troyvan or the Central Intelligence Agency. Any questions?”
Theo raised his hand.
“Speak.”
“The Central Intelligence Chief is meticulous. Is there no chance he’s grasped our movements?”
“Good question. Another operation is already underway for that.”
“May I ask what it is?”
Cleve ticked off on her fingers.
“Simple. First, we’ve spread rumors in the shadows that the prisoner was found murdered, ensuring it reaches the Central Intelligence Chief’s ears.”
Her second finger folded.
“Second, we’ve begun digging into the Central Intelligence Agency’s corruption that Black Snow had only monitored until now.”
Theo’s mind quickly pieced together Black Snow’s scheme.
“A diversion. Draw the Central Intelligence Chief’s attention elsewhere, then fully seize the tail.”
Make Ed Troyvan think the target is the Central Intelligence Agency, while actually striking the Season of the Serpent directly to uncover direct links to the Troyvan family and Ed.
“Time is life, then. We strike before the assassin’s capture reaches the Central Intelligence Chief.”
“The Bureau Chief was right—you’re the perfect fit for Black Snow. You really fifteen?”
Theo smiled silently.
Cleve let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
Seeing the reputation in person was astounding.
On the other hand, it was a relief.
It seemed absurd to include a mere trainee swordsman in such a critical mission, but with this insight, he wasn’t a hindrance—he was like wings attached.
-Scout him carefully and recruit if suitable, anytime.
The Black Dragon’s words before departure flashed in her mind.
‘This’ll be fun.’
She’d heard Theo and Ed were already bitter enemies across an unbridgeable river, so it would be even more entertaining.
“Oh, and before we depart, take this first.”
Cleve tossed something to Theo.
A palm-sized wooden box.
It emanated a mystical aura.
Theo’s eyes sparkled.
“What is this?”
“A reward for this mission’s merits. [Clear Spirit Pill]. An elixir that purifies mana. And one more.”
Theo caught the second item thrown.
A worn booklet with nothing written on the cover.
“[Thunder Link Method]. A supplementary breathing technique for the Lightning Flash Quick Draw. It reinforces your existing breathing method and helps integrate the Clear Spirit Pill into your body.”
“...!”
“I’m also an instructor in the Thunder attribute. I’ll teach you the detailed operation on the way, so master it all by the time we arrive.”