Chapter 321
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 321
Chapter Title: Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?
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[La, Labyrinth! Please help us!]
"Huh?"
[The New York branch has been discovered! We barely escaped, but we don't know when those bastards will catch us!]
"What?"
The specter ranked fourth in the Liberation Brigade.
Labyrinth's eyes widened.
He grabbed the communication item tightly and shouted urgently.
"Wait a second! What about my collection there?"
[Pardon?]
"I'm talking about the research materials I had stored there! You must have grabbed them when you fled, right?"
[Th-that...]
The executive could only stammer in panic, unable to respond.
He had barely escaped with his own life; there was no time to grab such things.
Guessing the answer from that reaction, Labyrinth's veins bulged on his forehead.
"Hey, you XXX comrade! Even if you die, you should've saved my research materials!"
[I'm sorry. I'll make up for this mistake somehow, so please, at least provide an escape route...!]
"Make up for it? Screw that—just drop dead!"
[La, Labyrinth? Labyrinth...!]
Kwachik!
Ignoring the desperate voice on the other end, Labyrinth smashed the communication item.
He huffed and puffed for a while, then swept everything off his desk and bellowed.
"Uwaaaah! You damned fools!"
If this were the first time, Labyrinth might not have been so furious.
The problem was that this was already the umpteenth such report.
Those who made contact were the lucky ones.
Several executives whose communications had gone silent turned out to be dead or captured.
It was inevitable.
Dozens of millions, blinded by the enormous bounties, were hunting the Liberation Brigade.
Even super clerks and neighborhood housewives carried wanted posters, so executives with records were getting spotted at the mere sight of their faces.
Even so, it wouldn't have led to executives getting caught one after another like this.
They could change identities and flee.
Hide in safe houses.
The executives had taken countermeasures.
Normally, that would have gotten them through the crisis for a while.
"You traitors! How dare you sell out your comrades?"
The problem was singular.
Their enemies weren't just outsiders.
Nay, if anything, more executives had been caught when their locations or safe houses were exposed due to betrayals from within.
It was only natural.
The Liberation Brigade was a player criminal organization made up entirely of low-quality criminals from the start.
Unless they were proven loyal executives, the rank-and-file could earn a lifetime of luxury just by ratting out the organization.
It was far too tempting a deal.
Betrayals led to farcical scenes of mutual informants getting swept up together everywhere.
And it wasn't just about watching for betrayals.
Riding a car into the mountains.
Making a call on a smartphone.
Searching on a computer.
Anyone using Bahamut Corporation products and leaving even a hint linking to the Liberation Brigade was getting exposed one by one.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Over ten branches had already crumbled because of this.
Considering how rare it had been for Liberation Brigade branches to be discovered up to now, it was an absurd level of damage.
Moreover, with executives too busy hiding and fleeing, unable to trust each other, the brigade's discipline itself was falling apart.
Labyrinth had no choice but to lose it.
"My research materials! Do you know how much money and time it takes to gather them again...!"
...In truth, what pained Labyrinth's heart wasn't the organization's losses, but the research materials lost with the branch.
He had already taken a huge hit from losing long-prepared toys so pointlessly.
And now, the materials he'd painstakingly gathered by ordering the branches were gone entirely.
It was enough to drive him mad.
"Madjian, that idiot comrade! What does he mean, just hunker down quietly?"
Thus, Labyrinth cursed Madjian, the specter ranked second.
If he'd acted sooner, he could have prevented the Liberation Brigade from falling into such chaos.
Now, they were barely holding on.
Labyrinth wanted to demote him on the spot for accountability.
'Damn it, if it weren't for the Star's prophecy...!'
But he couldn't.
Since that decision was based on the Star's prophecy, holding him accountable would drag even higher-ups into it.
For Labyrinth, who saw even the lord Madjian as a rival, that was unthinkable.
So in the end, he redirected his resentment elsewhere.
Toward the Seven Dragon Society, which had suddenly gone mad and started hunting them.
And toward the culprit who had gathered the Seven Arcs, blocking them and cornering the brigade.
"Rimon Asfelder, you damned bastard! I'll kill you myself one day!"
Unaware that both ruining his plans and leading the Liberation Brigade hunt were Rimon's doing, Labyrinth burned with hatred toward him.
After deciding to accompany him to Africa.
Rose immediately began preparations.
She discussed travel plans while handing over her duties for the time she'd be away.
That wrapped up quickly.
With London's reconstruction on track, her aide Lucas could handle most issues.
The real challenge was dispelling the worries of Lucas and the clan.
"Princess, are you sure about this?"
"Of course."
"At least take the Blue Dragon Guard..."
"Sir Lucas, that's already settled."
Rose gave a wry smile.
She understood Lucas's anxiety about sending the princess alone.
But she had no choice.
A horde descending on Africa would draw eyes not just to the Black or White Dragon Clans, but to her Blue Dragon Clan as well.
They'd banned additional dispatches to avoid attention.
She couldn't drag a train of escorts along.
"I understand your feelings, but I'm not going there to fight."
"......"
"Besides, I'm not going alone."
She was just a mediator.
Even if issues arose, nothing major would happen, she assured calmly. Lucas reluctantly nodded.
Anyone else, maybe not.
But with Rimon accompanying her, her safety was assured.
"Since you say so, I won't press on escorts, but remember Africa differs from Europe in many ways."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Still unable to shake his worry, Lucas voiced concerns to the end. Rose smiled gently and took the travel backpack he offered.
It would have clashed horribly with her usual uniform, but not now.
Thin shirt and thick vest.
Tight jeans.
Non-prescription glasses.
Cap hiding her blue hair.
Professional camera dangling from her neck.
Fully geared, Rose looked like any tourist or cameraman.
The sword poking from her backpack was packed like a tripod.
"This should blend in even in Africa."
"Not wrong, but..."
"Something off?"
"...No, your outfit is fine."
Her beauty, too striking for a mere tourist, couldn't be hidden by clothes alone. Lucas swallowed the words.
No mask covering her whole face would fix that anyway.
'Come to think of it, this kind of trip is a first for me.'
Missing Lucas's turmoil, Rose smiled brightly.
As Seven Dragon Society princess.
And as Countess Serpent.
She had always lived by formality.
Now, hiding her identity for travel stirred even her rigid heart.
Especially with Rimon as her companion.
Kkiiik.
The parlor door opened, revealing a black-haired girl.
"Rose, ready?"
"Yes. We can leave now."
"Good. The Sword Duke's finished preparing too."
"Is that so...?"
Rose looked puzzled.
If preparations were done, why hadn't Rimon come?
Not just that.
White-haired Ainsha, dark-red-haired witch Ciel with Yuna Kyung slumped on her shoulder, Youin with a small shoulder bag.
Among those entering with Li Chingwei, one unfamiliar face stood out.
"By the way, Li Chingwei, who's that behind you?"
"Who do you think?"
"A guide, maybe?"
"Could say that."
"Why suddenly...?"
Their Africa trip was top secret.
Only key clan figures knew.
Why bring such a 'peculiar' person at departure?
Rose eyed her questioningly and flinched.
Seeing the face hidden behind Li Chingwei.
Her suddenly racing heart froze her for multiple reasons.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Countess?"
And right after.
Rose felt a shock like her heart stopping.
The unfamiliar voice carried a strangely familiar tone.
More than that, those apathetic eyes sparked an absurd guess.
"...Sword... Duke?"
"Call me Rimo. That's on my ID now."
"...!"
No way.
She must be mistaken.
Even thinking so as she asked, Rose felt dizzy at the response.
She had it better.
Lucas behind her gaped, on the verge of fainting standing up.
"Th-that... appearance, how?"
"You said make it thorough to avoid detection. So I did."
'Even so, there's a limit!'
As Rose swallowed those words with effort.
Li Chingwei smiled.
"Even you didn't notice, Rose. This should fool Hasneti too."
"Perfect. As expected of Li Chingwei. Devious as ever."
"You're too kind."
[Puhahaha! Right? Who'd guess that's our team leader?!]
"Heh, live long enough, you see everything."
The two dark-and-light princesses chatted satisfiedly.
Yuna Kyung, slumped on Ciel's shoulder, rolled laughing and tumbled off.
Ciel caught her, chuckling.
Rimon, seemingly used to it, took the shoulder bag from Youin and slung it on, extending a hand to Rose.
"Let's go."
"Pardon?"
"You're handling space movement, right, Countess? Or should I?"
"Ah... No. I'll do it."
Snapping to, Rose shook her head to clear the daze.
After brief hesitation, she took Rimon's hand, paused, took a deep breath to calm herself, and turned to the others.
"Then, we're off."
"Safe travels. Stay hidden."
"Good luck. No prophecy, but if it's you, Rimon, you'll manage."
[Don't forget souvenirs on the way back.]
"Got it."
Rose activated psychokinesis.
A place she'd never been, but knew from photos and coordinates.
Toward Mount Kilimanjaro.
The moment Rimon and Rose vanished from Leviathan's parlor, crossing space to Africa's heartland.
Kuwaaaang!!!
A ferocious explosion engulfed the two.