Chapter 171: The Guard Uses Clone Technique (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 171: The Guard Uses Clone Technique (1)
Robanovsky was a seasoned interrogator. She had once been part of an organization within the Guard, but as the need for her skills grew, she became a standout talent in the now-independent Board of Audit.
"I heard she’s a total pervert."
"So what? As long as she’s good at her job. Don't worry, we’re not her type anyway."
The problem was that she drew attention not just for her skills, but for her peculiar tastes. Regardless, she had just seized a monumental opportunity in her life.
The Prince actually knows who I am.
He had told her that as long as she didn't advertise her preferences too loudly, he would put her to heavy use. The condition was that she had to extract useful information from the ninja captured by a guard named Sma.
Sma was the one who had given her the toy named Hans, and Sma was the one who had handed her this new opportunity.
I really should thank that guard one of these days.
She had thought that just a few days ago. She hadn't expected to meet him like this.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sma."
She had gone to an inn room to report the information she’d squeezed out of a Mid-Rank ninja. Inside were the Prince, several escort knights, and Sma.
"Ah, yes. I'm Robanovsky. Please, just call me Roba."
"You have a unique accent."
"It's because I'm from the North."
"Aha."
Sma didn't show any further interest. Roba felt inwardly relieved. Based on the spiteful mumblings she’d heard from Hans, she had expected a lecherous man who couldn't keep his hands off any woman in sight, but in person, he was quite polite.
Honestly, it was unexpected.
Well, I suppose if you have that many women, it would be hard to find interest elsewhere.
Unlike women, a man’s stamina wasn't infinite. Even the youngest, most vigorous men couldn't keep up with Roba’s sexual appetite.
If he were a bit younger, I might have considered it, but he’s not really my type.
After finishing her introductions with Sma, Robanovsky began her report. While the Prince remained silent, an escort knight summarized her findings.
"So, you're saying the ninjas have established five safe houses in the capital alone?"
"Yes. Among them, the safe house near the eastern wall is the most dangerous."
"To think they planned to rush out and seize the gates to lower the drawbridge during a siege... If they had dozens of Aura Users, it might have actually worked."
"If it had been realized, that is," Rominas de Hugo, the second prince of the Hugo Kingdom, muttered casually.
Roba had her doubts, but she didn't voice them. She was someone who knew the extent of royal authority all too well. While the current generation protecting the Hugo Kingdom was decent, in the previous generation, it was common for royals to frame commoners and order interrogators to beat out false confessions.
That was also why the interrogation department had been separated from the Guard. It was easier to manipulate an independent body than to mess with the Guard, who were tied to the dungeons.
Rominas’s escort knight smiled with satisfaction after observing her posture.
Her attitude toward royalty is well-disciplined.
On the other hand, the guard named Sma was far too arrogant. The only reason no one said anything was because of his achievements—being a High-Rank Aura User and capturing ninjas.
"Sma achieved something quite remarkable yesterday. I heard he actually tamed a High-Rank ninja."
"Is that true?"
Robanovsky was so shocked she forgot her royal decorum. She had used every means at her disposal just to get information out of a Mid-Rank ninja, yet he had made a High-Rank ninja submit?
How on earth did he do it? Did he use... those methods?
Roba had used methods that even she considered heinous. She had even administered a truth serum to the Mid-Rank ninja that could turn a person into an imbecile. To think he had broken a High-Rank ninja when she had barely managed to get information that way.
"Yes. I even brought her here. May I call her in?"
"Lord Rominas."
"I’ve been curious about what a ninja looks like. Fine. Bring her in."
The escort knight tried to dissuade him, but Rominas readily agreed. When the self-proclaimed ninja finally appeared, Roba’s train of thought came to a screeching halt.
A maid?
"Greetings. I am Akiko, a former High-Rank ninja and the head maid for my Master."
"You’re a High-Rank ninja?"
"I am."
The escort knight cast a suspicious glance but quickly withdrew it. Robanovsky wasn't an Aura User, so she couldn't tell, but as a pressure similar to that of a knight radiated from the woman, she realized the truth.
She really is a High-Rank ninja!
She was dying to know how a man like Sma had made a High-Rank ninja submit, but she didn't dare ask here. To suppress and torture a High-Rank ninja into becoming a maid meant Sma was either incredibly capable beyond her imagination or a complete madman. She didn't want to get on his bad side by saying the wrong thing.
"Akiko. Control yourself."
"I'm sorry—no, my apologies."
A self-reproaching Akiko stepped back behind Sma. Roba’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Is that really a High-Rank ninja?
The escort knight, seemingly thinking the same thing, asked, "She’s far too submissive. Are you sure she’s the real deal?"
"Show them what you showed me yesterday."
"Yes."
"Wait a moment, Prince. What do you mean 'yesterday'? Did you go out somewhere behind my back again?"
The escort knight barked, but he couldn't capture Rominas’s attention. The Prince was looking forward to the performance Akiko was about to give.
"Akiko."
At Sma’s command, Akiko’s form split into two.
"This is the secret technique of a High-Rank ninja," the first one said.
"The Clone Technique," the second one finished.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Rominas gave a standing ovation.
"I saw it yesterday, but it’s still amazing! To think a person can multiply into two! It’s no wonder ninjas are so famous despite being secretive spies!"
"Ahem... Well... it is indeed impressive..."
Even the escort knight was captivated. When he tried to touch the clone, Akiko nimbly dodged.
"Only my Master is allowed to touch my body."
"Good girl. Our Akiko is so well-behaved."
"Master..."
Roba squeezed her eyes shut. She must have been seeing things because she’d received too many shocks in such a short time. When she opened them again, Akiko had returned to a single person, and the atmosphere had turned solemn.
"Right. So you're saying the safe house in the eastern district was a trap?"
"Yes."
"That’s a lie! I even used truth serum..."
As Roba shouted, Akiko gave a chilling laugh.
"Hmph. Truth serum is something ninjas drink like water during their training."
"That’s insane. An overdose of truth serum turns you into an imbecile..."
"If one cannot endure even that much, they have no right to be called a ninja."
Everyone except Sma was struck dumb with horror. They had heard of the ninjas' notoriety, but they hadn't realized it went that far!
A ninja who can beat truth serum that turns people into idiots declared herself a bitch the moment she got a taste of dick?
Only Sma tilted his head in confusion. Regardless, under Akiko’s guidance, a new operational plan was drafted.
"If this information leaks, the ninjas will be able to adapt, so we will finalize everything here and move straight into the operation. First, we will deploy personnel to the safe house to make it look like we fell for the false information."
"As a distraction?"
"Exactly. Meanwhile, we will raid the other safe houses. I originally intended to give Sma the lead role, but with so many locations, we’ll have to split our forces. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're well-compensated for your contribution."
"I'm fine with that."
"No. If it weren't for you, we would have walked straight into a trap. For now, I will grant that request you made yesterday."
"Thank you!"
Sma had reported to Rominas as soon as he had tamed Akiko. At that time, he had asked if his achievements could cover for his past indiscretions. Rominas’s statement just now meant he was accepting that deal.
"I'll even see to it that she’s issued kingdom citizenship. Escort knight, you heard that?"
"I will see to the orders."
"There’s much more I want to give you. I’ll leave those as a surprise."
With the discussion of rewards concluded, the participants for the operation were selected. They chose guards who weren't associated with the ninjas and who wouldn't look suspicious patrolling near the safe houses.
"So, three Guard Captains and Sma. Are there any other Aura Users?"
"I'll look into it."
"Time is of the essence. Have the list ready before the day is out."
"Yes, Sire."
"If we’re short on people, we’ll have to mix in some knights."
"Let's use death row inmates as meat shields."
"They can be consumed to trigger any traps."
Listening to the conversation between the Prince and the escort knight, Sma nodded. As expected of an eroge world, they didn't view criminals as human beings.
Looking at the map with them, Sma pointed to a specific spot.
"May I take charge of this location?"
"A safe house with a High-Rank ninja? Will you be alright?"
"What happened once can happen twice."
"Haha! I like your spirit!"
Rominas laughed heartily and granted the request. Sma bared his teeth as he looked at the map.
The one here was the one who tried so hard to stop Akisa, wasn't it?
If Akisa had listened to that person, Sma wouldn't have been able to enjoy a sister sandwich, let alone train Akiko this quickly. Sma was a man who never forgot a grudge involving women.
Soon, he would make that High-Rank ninja pay for her sins. Sma’s eyes gleamed with a cold light.
*
In one of the several safe houses in the Hugo Kingdom, the High-Rank ninja in charge of the most important branch urged her subordinates.
"Hurry! Akisa failed to rescue Akiko, so we don't know when the guards will move. Kunis! Has there been a report from the lookout at Sma’s mansion?"
"They say Sma hasn't left the house. A Guard Captain visited and left with a grim expression, so it seems he was injured by Akisa."
Sma had actually left the mansion with Akiko in tow, but the one monitoring the mansion was a Mid-Rank ninja. They lacked the ability to notice the departure of a group that included a High-Rank ninja.
"Then we still have some time—"
Just as the High-Rank ninja was feeling relieved, the wall shattered, and Sma stepped through.