Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Rats Sneaking into the Kingdom
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Darkness enveloped the kingdom's walls.
Even at this late hour, the area around the castle gate blazed with light, and there was a good reason for it.
A long line of people seeking to pass through had formed nearby.
The guards had lit torches everywhere in line with their duties, scrutinizing each one.
"Papers, please."
The soldiers demanded identification or anything that could serve as proof from those trying to enter the gate.
"Hmm, an adventurer, eh? No issues here... You're clear!"
Those with solid credentials passed through without a hitch.
But for the suspicious ones, arguments often broke out.
"No papers? Then you can't pass!"
Anyone without clear identification had to turn back the way they'd come.
The guards repeated this tedious process over and over.
"Next!"
The soldier waved one person through and called for the next.
But the next in line wasn't just one person.
"Well..."
It was a merchant caravan.
Not a huge one, but there were wagons loaded with goods, surrounded by a fair number of merchants and their escorts.
Roughly two dozen people, give or take.
"I'm Liana, leader of this caravan. We're still small, so we don't have a fancy name yet."
In other words, they were wandering merchants.
And the one leading them was a woman, not a man.
'Young for a caravan leader.'
Far too young for a typical drifter merchant.
The soldier eyed the ID Liana handed over.
"From the Kingdom of Adonil... That's a long way to come."
The Kingdom of Adonil lay at the southernmost tip of the continent, bordering the White Church's territory.
Which made it quite a distance from here.
"Liana, is it? This checks out?"
"I swear it on the name of the Goddess."
"Whoa, no need to go that far..."
Living near Church lands meant plenty of Goddess worshippers around.
She was probably one of them.
The soldier chuckled briefly at her words and handed back the ID.
Then he moved to inspect the merchants behind her and their cargo.
Sometimes shady types slipped into caravans.
He raised his torch, checking faces and papers one by one.
Along the way, he glanced at the wanted poster in his hand.
It showed sketches of fugitives—just a routine check for matches.
"All good. Now for the cargo."
Next, he approached the wagons.
But Liana stepped in front of him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The soldier snapped back at her in an irritated tone, as expected.
"I'm truly sorry, but we have a delivery deadline for a contract, and time is short."
"Personal excuses don't matter! Everyone gets inspected by the same rules!"
The soldier scolded the young caravan leader blocking his path.
It was already late, he was exhausted, and the line wasn't getting any shorter.
On top of his foul mood, this nobody was delaying things further.
His face flushed red.
As he opened his mouth to bark something else—
Liana discreetly slipped him something.
"You must be tired. When your shift ends, how about a little snack and some drinks on me?"
"Ahem."
The soldier cleared his throat a few times and checked the pouch in his hand.
It was heavy.
'...!'
Gold coins, no less.
Glimmers of shining yellow peeked through the seams.
He glanced at the pouch, his face conflicted for a moment.
'They really seem in a rush. There's city watch inside anyway, so no big deal.'
He was working while everyone else slept.
A little something for his trouble seemed fair.
"Ahem. All clear. You're good to go!"
His tone turned polite.
"Not that it's my business, but the Sail Kingdom's in a rough spot right now."
He whispered a warning to Liana as thanks for the bribe.
"Why's that?"
Liana played dumb and asked back.
"Church delegation's coming in a few days. I'd suggest wrapping up and leaving before then, if I were you."
"Thanks for the advice."
The young leader smiled with her eyes and expressed her gratitude.
And without missing a beat, she added a final farewell.
"May the Goddess's blessings be with you..."
Soon, the wagons and people passed through the gate.
Now they were in the Sail Kingdom.
The group kept walking after passing the gate.
Before long, they arrived at a building.
But its exterior was in terrible shape.
"Ugh..."
It was rundown enough to draw sighs.
"Unload everything."
Liana, at the front, pointed to the cargo and gave the order.
Everyone glanced around at her command before starting to unload from the wagons.
It was late enough that no one was watching.
Still, some stood guard just to be safe.
The rest swiftly dropped the cargo to the ground.
First came the metallic clangs of swords hitting the dirt.
Hardly the sort of goods typical merchants traded.
Once the swords were out, next came the armor.
Not heavy steel plate, but lightweight leather layered thickly for protection.
They pulled the armor from the wagons and donned it on the spot.
With the leather armor equipped, they strapped swords to their sides.
Once everyone was ready, they filed into the building one by one.
Unlike the decrepit outside, the interior was at least somewhat maintained.
An elderly butler greeted them first upon entry.
"Welcome, noble knights!"
They'd entered as merchants, but the butler's title for them was different.
In response to his welcome, Liana—who'd just been called caravan leader—spoke up.
"Brother's been well, I see? The building's falling apart; I thought something happened."
But her voice carried a chill.
"Th-that's because the Church has so much power here in the Sail Kingdom..."
The butler sensed her coldness and tried to explain.
But—
Slash—
Liana's sword pierced his throat first.
"Guh! Grrgh—"
The butler clutched his gushing neck, staring at her in shock.
He tried to speak, but only blood bubbled from his throat.
"To mismanage a sacred Church building like this? You deserve to die a hundred times over."
Her action was extreme.
Hardly befitting a caravan leader.
Leaving the impaled, dying butler behind, she turned to her companions.
"We are the Church's proud knights. We must fulfill our duty as Holy Knights."
They weren't merchants at all.
Their true identity: Holy Knights of the White Church.
"The delegation arrives in a few days. Gather as much intel as you can before then."
The Church delegation was due in the Sail Kingdom soon.
They were the advance team, sent ahead to collect information.
Only a handful of Sail Kingdom nobles knew this.
If exposed, it would spark a diplomatic disaster.
So they traveled as Holy Knights with no proof of their affiliation.
They carried nothing linking them to the Church.
Even their hidden gear and weapons were mundane.
Their current outfits looked like any adventurer's.
No one would suspect Church ties.
In short, this was a special mission under Church orders—but one that couldn't invoke the Church.
"Our target is the Sail Kingdom. Find as many weaknesses as possible. If there aren't any, make some."
She didn't hide her true intent.
That was the advance team's purpose from the start.
'Pressure the Sail Kingdom.'
A quiet directive from above.
"By the name of Liana, vice-commander of the Holy Knight Order, I command you."
The group bowed their heads at her words.
Technically, Liana was the commander's adjutant.
But with former vice-commander Verter Leobain missing, she'd taken the role temporarily.
Not official, but it didn't matter.
She wasn't attached to the title.
The Church's growth was reward enough.
The Church's joy was hers.
"One more thing: do not sully the Church's name."
Any who did would be dealt with.
"At dawn, start by tracking down the missing Yuel."
Priest Yuel's disappearance.
The incident that prompted the Church to dispatch Holy Knights and Heretic Inquisitors to the Sail Kingdom.
Dawn broke.
"As expected, the rats have slipped in."
She'd pulled an all-nighter on work, yet no trace of fatigue showed on her face.
Instead, she smiled.
Like a child with a new toy.
Celia closed her eyes briefly, organizing her thoughts.
- Holy Knights from the Church have infiltrated the kingdom.
Information uncovered overnight.
"Hmm, what to do?"
The tip came from Narriel the elf's confession.
After recruiting her, Celia had pried out all sorts of details, including who commissioned the request.
Of course, the elf hadn't dealt with the noble directly.
Just a lackey.
Luckily, elves had sharp eyes.
Narriel recalled the client's appearance.
And described it to Celia.
- Elderly man with white hair, beard, large scars on left eye and hand.
Using that, Celia passed it to Princess Irena via her shadows.
"Princess Irena is certainly capable."
It matched someone in the princess's memory.
And she traced it all the way to the noble he served.
"Recruiting Princess Irena was the right call."
Celia nodded, pleased.
All she'd implanted was one simple thought.
'Serve the great one.'
Everything else flowed from the princess's own will.
And she was excelling at it.
They learned Count Bierton sent adventurers to the mountains—and set shadows to watch him immediately.
"Who knew he had such entertaining plans..."
The Church delegation would take days to arrive.
Yet they'd sent Holy Knights ahead in secret.
"Shadow, pass this to Princess Irena."
The shadow behind Celia bowed.
"Tell her to deliver my gift to the nobles."
Celia planned to eliminate her thorn-in-the-side nobles this time and seize the kingdom.
All for the great one she served—a true act of loyalty.
A special mission has occurred!
📍 Dispatch: Send Maru (★★★★) to the dungeon 'Nest of the Evil God'.
🎁 Reward: Maru (★★★★)'s 5-Star Transcendence Ticket