Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Chapter 46: Unstoppable Momentum (2)
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The Haipel Empire lay at the northernmost edge of the Western Continent. Its vast territory was harsh and unforgiving, overrun by monsters, leaving precious little land suitable for human habitation.
Fittingly dubbed a cursed land, the far north of the Western Continent had forced the Haipel Empire to conduct endless research into survival from time immemorial. In the end, they mastered the art of thriving in this barren soil, forging a mighty national power in the process.
But several years ago, dark shadows had begun infiltrating the empire's underbelly—the Doomsday Society.
They started their corrosion from the shadows, moving in secrecy. Yet the Haipel Empire was no easy prey.
The Haipel Special Affairs Bureau had detected unidentified entities gnawing away at the empire from within and reported it accordingly. In response, Emperor Dylon secretly mobilized the Internal Affairs Division of the Special Affairs Bureau.
Among those pursuing the Doomsday Society's backers under imperial decree was Aegis, the division chief leading Division 11 of the Internal Affairs Division.
Just recently, he had obtained intelligence pinpointing a suspected Doomsday Society hideout. He had deployed Division 11 agents to surround the site.
"We're ready to breach."
His adjutant approached and reported in a calm voice. At the end of Aegis's gaze stood a modest villa of unassuming design.
It looked utterly ordinary, but fresh intel confirmed it as a Doomsday Society hideout, leaving him no choice but to act.
Thirty elite agents, cloaked in the night's shadows, had the villa encircled, awaiting the order to storm.
"Breach."
Aegis issued the command without a moment's hesitation.
No sooner had he spoken than a red signal flare shot into the dark night sky.
With a near-perfect encirclement in place, he intended a loud and forceful entry.
"Breach!"
The agents hidden in the darkness sprang forward with sharp cries.
They drew their weapons and vaulted the villa's walls. Only then did the Doomsday Society's combatants realize the ambush, pouring out to resist.
Clashes erupted between the two sides. The number of combatants guarding the villa was few.
No more than ten at most, all of whom were either slain by the Haipel Special Affairs Bureau's elite agents or took their own lives just before capture.
"Hideout neutralized."
About thirty minutes into the skirmish, the adjutant approached Aegis, who had watched from atop a tall tree, and made his report.
The enemy numbers had been low from the start, allowing a swift suppression.
Aegis nodded in satisfaction and spoke.
"How many did we capture alive?"
"They all committed suicide. My apologies."
The adjutant bowed his head in regret, but Aegis's expression remained unchanged.
His investigations into the Doomsday Society had taught him just how ruthless they were.
They died easily enough, but capturing them alive was another matter—they were prone to suicide. He had learned this the hard way through bitter experience.
"What about the documents inside the villa?"
This was the crucial issue. He didn't care about taking the combatants alive, but they needed to secure as much intelligence on the Doomsday Society as possible.
"The advance team secured them safely before the flare went up. Shall I have you confirm personally?"
Aegis nodded at the adjutant's words and took the lead, heading toward the villa with his agents.
The villa's interior was ordinary. But hidden beneath was a secret chamber packed with documents befitting a hideout.
There were traces of attempts to destroy them. Had he not sent agents in ahead of the flare, most would have been incinerated during the brief time it took to neutralize the combatants.
"Most of the documents are encrypted."
As Aegis picked up a prominent file, the adjutant explained with a regretful look.
Indeed, even a glance revealed sophisticated ciphers that would take considerable time to crack.
"Still, we've obtained a substantial haul of what appear to be Doomsday Society secrets. Encrypted or not, it's no small achievement."
Aegis nodded at the adjutant's words and replied.
"Secure every last one and send them up the chain."
"Yes, sir!"
The agent in charge of transport stuffed the documents into a subspace pouch. By the time they had cleared out the underground chamber, horses for the journey stood ready before the villa.
"Moving out immediately?"
One of Division 11's agents asked cautiously. Aegis nodded in response rather than speaking.
Save for a minimal crew to handle incineration, they would depart at once. Their destination was the nearest Internal Affairs Division outpost.
Two days' ride away.
"Move swiftly."
Aegis issued the order in a steady voice. The agents spurred their mounts. They rode without rest toward the nearest outpost.
Since their movements were under strict secrecy, he assumed no interference en route. But that assumption proved wrong.
"We've got tails."
Aegis was stunned by the adjutant's report.
"Tails?"
"Yes, sir."
He had left rear guard to the adjutant and other agents while riding furiously himself, oblivious even to their presence.
"How far back did they pick us up?"
Aegis asked. His voice was nearly lost to the rushing wind, so the adjutant furrowed his brow before replying.
"Not from the villa. The presence started around the midpoint—looks like they were lying in wait."
"Meaning they knew our route."
"Highly likely."
Aegis swallowed a curse at the adjutant's answer.
Their knowledge of the route implied a mole in the Special Affairs Bureau—specifically, Internal Affairs. Indescribable rage surged within him.
"How many?"
"Presence is unclear—can't get an exact count! At least twenty!"
The rear guard agent shouted.
"At least twenty..."
Aegis muttered to himself. He had no read on their strength, but proceeding with tails to the outpost was impossible.
"About face! Annihilate the pursuers!"
The agents wheeled their horses as one, weapons drawn. The pursuers revealed themselves in turn.
All wore black masks, but Aegis instinctively knew they were Doomsday Society underlings.
They exuded the same ominous aura as the villa's defenders.
"More than expected."
Aegis murmured, voicing his gut thought. Contrary to the rear guard's report, their numbers were overwhelming.
Over thirty strong. In contrast, his subordinates had dwindled to twenty-four after the villa fight.
Enemy strength unknown, but numerically disadvantaged.
"Chief..."
"Engage right away?"
The agents asked in uneasy, trembling voices. Elite and rigorously trained as they were, the foes' intimidating presence signaled they were no pushovers.
Aegis gave no reply. Instead, he flashed a brief hand signal and spurred his saddle, leaping forward.
A blade of brilliant mana erupted from his longsword. Beneath the dark sky, azure sword beams rained down, and Doomsday Society combatants crumpled, spraying blood.
"Charge!"
The Society's fighters didn't sit idle. They swiftly encircled Aegis, but the onrushing Special Affairs agents shattered their formation.
Soon, Bureau agents and Society combatants tangled in fierce melee.
With no mages on either side, it was a brutal, bloody affair devoid of flashy magic.
Aegis channeled mana to its limit, swinging relentlessly. His blade felled Society fighters effortlessly.
He thought he'd cut down many. Yet somehow, their numbers kept growing, while his agents fell one by one, spilling blood.
"Damn it!"
A curse escaped him. Through vision stained red, he saw his men collapsing limply.
Worse, among them was the agent carrying the subspace pouch from the hideout, now being stripped of it.
"No!"
He swung fiercely, scattering mana. A fountain of blood erupted; three blockers staggered and fell. But before he could reach, the pouch thieves withdrew.
"Damn it!"
Another curse. Still over ten foes remained. Aegis was exhausted.
He sensed his death approaching. But he had no intention of going quietly.
"Come on, in the name of the Haipel Empire. I'll take you with me."
He steeled his resolve, spewing blood-red killing intent. The Society combatants recoiled.
Fear? No. A presence stirred behind him, followed by whistling wind and a volley of arrows.
Bwoooo!
A horn blast. The signature call of the Haipel Empire's elite 'Ranger Legion'.
"Might King Celion of the Free Isirian Kingdom be harboring other intentions?"
Count Acon, commander of the Northern Central Army, voiced his cautious opinion. But Raymond thought differently. He slowly shook his head and replied.
"According to Central Intelligence Agency reports, even with tensions this high, the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom and Edriger Kingdom show no signs of mobilizing border forces. With the Free Isirian Kingdom effectively excluded from the tripartite alliance, the odds of their surrender being a ruse are low."
"Even so, Your Majesty, we must not lower our guard."
This time, it was Marquis Crayer. Still bandaged, his complexion had improved markedly, suggesting significant recovery.
"What if it's a trap set by the Free Isirian Kingdom..."
A noble holding a baronial title bit his lip, trailing off. True to their loyalty to the Philius Empire and the imperial family, all prioritized the emperor's safety first.
It was a natural response, yet Raymond found it stifling, like invisible shackles.
"Your concerns won't come to pass. Lord Cassius and one Imperial Army legion will escort me right into the capital, with the Royal Guard providing my personal detail. Moreover, they've agreed to station imperial forces in the central city adjacent to the capital."
Raymond rattled off his prepared assurances like a machine gun. King Celion of the Free Isirian Kingdom had expressed unconditional surrender, accepting most demands from Raymond and the Philius Empire.
Among them was the stipulation that the Imperial Army accompany for protection during the emperor's stay in the capital.
"My forces and the Imperial Army will stake our lives to protect Your Majesty."
Cassius declared in his usual confident tone.
"If they're luring us into the capital deliberately, one Imperial Army legion won't suffice for secure escort."
Marquis Balgatz, who had joined from the Eastern Army, spoke up. Several nobles nodded in agreement.
"Then my knight brigade will join as well. That should allay any concerns, yes?"
Senior knight Villian stepped forward. He had taken command of the brigade in the field, standing in for their absent leader.
Though not highly publicized, his knight brigade had shone in numerous engagements.
"With the knight brigade along... that eases my mind."
Marquis Balgatz conceded. The other nobles nodded. With the famed elites of the Imperial Army, knight brigade, and Royal Guard escorting the emperor, the mood shifted to reassurance.
Gauging the atmosphere, Count Denitz spoke with a faint smile.
"An hour ago, we received a report from Central Intelligence. The Second and Third Marshals' armies have disarmed and opened the path to the capital."
With the defensive lines parted, all that remained was a bloodless entry into the Free Isirian Kingdom's capital.