Chapter 411
Chapter 411
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 411
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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“Huff… huff…”
The middle-aged man, who appeared to be the master of the mansion, frantically manipulated the bookshelf.
Thud…
Thud…
As he hastily pulled out several books and dropped them to the floor, the bookshelf began to move.
Rumble…
A secret passage was revealed behind it.
The middle-aged man quickly slipped inside.
“Monster… it’s a monster…”
Once the bookshelf returned to its original position, he lit a torch.
Sizzle…
Whoosh—!
Flames rose, illuminating the dark passage.
And with it, the silhouette of someone.
“Aha… so this is where you were.”
“…H-how?”
A woman wearing a fox stole, with a beauty mark under her eye, leaned against one side of the passage, staring at the middle-aged man.
“It’s over. Give up.”
The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Freena! This breaks our agreement! There’s a limit to treating Federation nobles like fools. If we join forces, scum like you will be wiped out in an instant…”
Pfft-pfft-pfft—!
Three daggers plunged in a row into the middle-aged man’s chest.
“Urk…”
“What, everyone says the same thing. Stuff about rooting out evil, making the likes of us vanish from the world.”
Thud—!
The man collapsed to the floor.
“But you know?”
The woman giggled.
“Not a single one of those who’ve said that has ever succeeded. I wonder why… Do only the weak spew such nonsense?”
Smack—!
The woman grabbed the middle-aged man’s hair, lifted his head, then dropped it.
“He’s dead. Couldn’t even stick around to hear the story. What’s the rush…”
Rumble…
The woman returned to the mansion.
Crash—!
Lightning struck outside.
As light flashed, the mansion’s horrors were laid bare.
The mansion’s servants and family members.
All lay dead, sprawled on the floor. Many corpses were gruesomely mutilated.
Extraordinary figures stood around them.
“The heavens must be furious. Did they see us?”
“Don’t jinx it. Even the heavens would be terrified at the sight of you right now, Freena.”
“Hee hee… you think? Ah… it was boring. Why is everyone so weak? Wasn’t it dull?”
“That’s humans for you. They tremble and tear up at the mere sight of a blade smaller than themselves. Most of them, anyway.”
Sizzle…
Sizzle…
A man put a cigarette between his lips.
Blood splattered on his glasses.
“Well, I like that about them. And you’re the only one who treats work like entertainment.”
“My heart doesn’t race anymore. It’s been ages since a proper battle. It’s all cowards. I miss fights filled with the thrill of staking our lives, pushing for the best and the ultimate.”
“It’s because the organization has grown too big. Can’t be helped. Peace has arrived.”
“Peace? Hee… that’s funny.”
Crash—!
Lightning struck again, reminding them of the mansion’s carnage.
“How is this peace?”
“I’m not debating the definition of peace.”
“Edric, should we… just drop this job?”
“Then you can have all the thrilling battles you want. The organization will hunt you down.”
“Hee hee… that sounds fun too.”
Swoosh…
Edric pushed up his glasses and asked Freena.
“When do you make contact with the Toad?”
“Hmm… the higher-ups say to assist him closely… but I’ll just handle the cleanup.”
Edric brought up something that might interest her.
“I hear there’s someone recently interfering with the Toad’s business.”
“I know. That’s why I’m heading out right away. How bold must this guy be? I can’t wait!”
“…That’s a bad habit that’ll get you killed early.”
“Killed? Me?”
Freena smiled brightly.
“I don’t die. I never have.”
“Those who died today probably thought the same until yesterday. …Well, I hope I’m wrong.”
Edric knew that when the weak get entangled in the strong’s affairs, their lives become as worthless as a fly’s. Freena didn’t know that. She’d lived her whole life as one of the strong.
Deciding his concern as the senior was enough, Edric stubbed out his cigarette with his shoe and left the mansion.
* * *
The explosion at the clock tower fortunately injured no one.
However, it left Ishii and Yeva with bitter memories.
Ishii and Yeva requested protection from the Federation government, and soon, capable agents were dispatched to escort them to safety.
The fact that it all happened so swiftly proved how high Ishii and Yeva had risen in the Federation.
They were among the very few who could properly communicate with the Whigeltung glacier tribe, after all.
Relieved, Kang Seol began reverse-tracking those targeting Silvia.
“Huff… huff… I don’t know! I really don’t!”
The child in front of Kang Seol was the one who had sold Ishii the flower rigged with a bomb.
Kang Seol said expressionlessly.
“We’ll find out once I check.”
Zzzzt…
Bloodshot Eyes, rummaging through the target’s memories.
- Anyone of you who can get close is fine.
[You have obtained additional information for the random adventure ‘City’s Night.’]
[Random adventure will occur if conditions are met.]
……
The child was telling the truth. All the loiterers around the clock tower were their underlings.
‘Still… I learned one thing.’
The face and voice of the one who assigned the kids this dangerous task. Half his face was masked, but that wasn’t enough to fool Kang Seol’s sharp eyes and senses.
He even imprinted the shape of the mana emanating from the man deep in his mind.
Mana shapes were like fingerprints. Finding them was only a matter of time.
A day later, after scouring the city, he found the man.
“St-stop…”
Kwaaak—!
A sword pierced through the man’s hand.
“Arghhh!”
“To think you’d stick around near me with such nerve.”
“I-I had to… for surveillance orders…”
Smack—!
Kang Seol grabbed the man’s collar and activated Bloodshot Eyes.
Zzzzt…
The toad-like man reappeared. This time, his face fully exposed.
- The council has issued a summons. A meeting’s set in Shurilen. Prepare to move.
Zzzzt…
- We’ll use the Kastureng. Time is…
Zzzzt…
The man writhed in agony as his memories were torn out.
“Urgh…”
Kang Seol smiled at the struggling man.
“You left a trail.”
* * *
The train Kang Seol and Silvia planned to take was delayed two extra days for repairs due to the blizzard.
Fortunately, repairs were complete, so it should reach Shurilen without issue now.
However, Kang Seol had no intention of boarding it.
“You’re… really sure?”
Kang Seol nodded.
“Yes. Don’t worry. With Ur and Karen, no one can approach Lady Silvia.”
Kang Seol’s group decided to split into two for this one time.
Ur grumbled with a displeased look.
“Ah, traveling with that noisy brat…”
Kang Seol replied to Ur’s complaint.
“Karen’s with you too.”
“That’s why—two of them. Two noisy brats.”
He meant both Tansia and Karen.
Karen smirked and said to Ur.
“Call me a brat too, and I’ll throw a tantrum.”
“…Kang Seol, can’t I join your side? Looks way more fun than babysitting.”
Karuna extended his hand forward, signaling refusal.
“Declined. Loyalty insufficient.”
“…I miss Jamad. At least he was someone I could talk to.”
Sigh…
Ur shook his head and said.
“Anyway, come straight after.”
“Yeah, I’ll probably drag the problem all the way to Shurilen.”
Smirk…
Ur flashed a meaningful smile.
“That’s exactly what I’m hoping for.”
Squeeze…
Tansia grabbed Kang Seol’s hand.
“Daddy, going somewhere again…?”
Ur picked up Tansia.
“Your daddy’s busy. Little ones follow Uncle.”
“Not uncle, Ury!”
A vein bulged on Ur’s forehead.
“Fine… fine, call me whatever.”
“Daddy! Don’t wanna go! Come with us!”
“Karen.”
“Yeah.”
Swoosh…
With Karuna staying by Kang Seol’s side, Karen hoisted Tansia onto her shoulders instead.
“I’ll be waiting! Hurry!”
“Yeah, just a little snacking.”
Tansia, who listened well once given a piggyback, turned into a happiness missionary.
- Does the piggyback trick really work?
- She’s scary now….
- Isn’t the kid gonna end up spoiled?
Whooo…
Chug-chug…
Chug-chug…
The train carrying them vanished into the distance.
Kang Seol and Karuna remained at the station.
Kang Seol murmured quietly.
“Alright… let’s wait and see.”
* * *
Days later, the Kastureng stopped at Cherije.
Hiss…
The Toad arrived at Cherije. It would only stay for about ten minutes, but there was a reason it had to stop here.
“Kuhahaha… Freena. Good to see you.”
“Likewise, Toa—no, Lord Tekon.”
The two shook hands.
Both wore identical rings.
The only difference was that the Toad’s ring looked a bit tight on his finger.
Withered branch.
The organization’s symbol.
Those gathered under this emblem were all in the same boat. So, despite finding him repulsive inside, Freena shook hands with Tekon.
“That stole suits you. I have some fine fur; I’ll gift it when I return. Kuhaha…”
“Oh, I’d be grateful. I’m already prepared to receive it gratefully.”
Tekon’s gleaming eyes.
They scanned her figure, then the surroundings.
Tekon’s gaze wasn’t unpleasant. It wasn’t sly.
It was the look of a coward.
Relentlessly searching for anything that could harm him.
Realizing Tekon was just that kind of man, Freena kept smiling and asked.
“You have a problem?”
“Ah… straight to business, then. There’s been a snag in the operation.”
While Tekon and Freena talked, Tekon’s aides stood at a distance, guarding them.
“Freena in person—first time seeing her.”
“With her on it, the saboteur won’t last past today.”
“She turned a whole barracks into a tomb, they say… As expected…”
As their murmurs died down, Tekon and Freena’s conversation ended.
“Then, I leave it to you.”
“Yes, simpler than expected. If the saboteur’s alone… you’ll hear soon, within two days.”
“Kuhaha… I trust you, Lady Freena. Then, I’ll be off.”
Tekon and his men reboarded the Kastureng.
Soon, the train departed.
Chug-chug…
Chug-chug…
Tekon sank into his seat and said.
“Tricky woman. Don’t want to deal with her.”
If Tekon called her tricky, the rumors about Freena were true.
Yoi asked Tekon.
“That bad?”
“Yeah, a murder-crazed lunatic. Not right in the head. No need to keep her close.”
Judging the headache would resolve smoothly, Tekon grinned.
“Yoi, this world’s broken somewhere.”
Tekon would spout his philosophy to someone when in high spirits.
Usually Yoi.
“Broken… you say?”
“Yeah, it’s weird, isn’t it? I’ve filled the entire Kastureng with my men. Kicked out all the innocent passengers’ bookings. The moving fortress, Kastureng, is mine alone.”
“……”
“We who hid in shadows now wield immense power in the open. No one suspects, no one stops it.”
“…A grand achievement.”
“Kuh… With gold and violence, anything’s possible. The Federation’s interests will soon be torn apart and fed to the wolves.”
Smirk…
“And I’m one of those wolves.”
Tekon gulped down the contents of his wine glass.
The tunnel entrance appeared through the window.
Zzt…
“…Hm?”
But as they entered the tunnel, the train’s lights suddenly went out.
The interior plunged into pitch darkness.
“What?”
“Looks like a brief lighting issue.”
Swoooosh…
The train exited the tunnel, light flooding back in.
Now Tekon could assess the situation.
His vision felt oddly constricted.
Two people now occupied previously empty seats.
Without turning, Tekon said.
“…What?”
“……”
Only then did Tekon take in the man who had appeared in the seat.
Instinctively, he knew who it was.
“…It’s you. Did you cross paths with Freena?”
“Freena? Oh, that woman.”
Kang Seol pointed at Tekon with his finger.
“Right beside you.”
“…What?”
Tekon looked at his suddenly heavy left shoulder.
The fox stole caught his eye first.
“Fre…ena?”
A clean hole pierced her chest.
A single strike that shattered her heart, executed flawlessly.
She was unlucky.
That was why she died.
Sizzle…
Sizzle…
Tekon’s hand trembled as he lit his cigarette.
“……”
“……”
Clack…
Clack…
The train entered another tunnel. Only the cigarette’s glow shone in the darkness.