Chapter 493: Things Hidden Deep Underground
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 493: Things Hidden Deep Underground
In a big city, the night sky is devoid of stars.
The streets were exceptionally quiet, save for the sound of their footsteps. Only occasionally could the distant clip-clop of patrol horses and the long, fading notes of a guard’s whistle be heard.
"This place..."
As they ventured deeper, Muen watched the silhouettes of the surrounding buildings grow increasingly grim. His brow furrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he sensed something unusual.
"This isn't the way to a restaurant or a hotel, is it?"
"What made you think I was taking you to a restaurant or a hotel?"
Celicia walked ahead, twirling her small parasol. Even on this muddy, treacherous path, her gait remained as steady as a lady out for a spring stroll.
"Well... after that invitation you gave me earlier, anyone would think you were looking for... you know, that."
Muen rubbed his chin, speaking with a perfectly straight face.
"What exactly do you mean by 'that'? You can speak plainly."
Celicia shot him a piercing, cold look.
"I don't mind, and I won't get angry."
"My deepest apologies. I was talking nonsense."
Muen folded as quickly as he always did.
In his mind, however, this wasn't being a coward—it was merely a "circuitous tactic."
"So, where exactly are we?"
"Can't you tell yet, Mr. Dark Emperor?"
"Please... coming from a real Princess like you, that title just sounds weird. Don't call me that."
"It's exactly what it looks like."
Celicia suddenly came to a halt.
"The sewers."
Muen froze.
As Celicia stepped aside, the roar of rushing water surged toward them.
A massive torrent of water cascaded from a multitude of thick pipes, plunging into a colossal basin a hundred meters below. From there, it flowed along man-made channels toward the distant Gulain River.
Muen had noticed the sound of water earlier, but standing before this artificial waterfall now, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shock.
A human felt so insignificant before such a gargantuan construct. It was hard to imagine that a world with this level of industry could produce something so magnificent.
Then again, this was a fantasy world. He could only sigh and marvel, as always, at how magic truly made anything possible.
"This is the convergence point for Belland's entire underground sewer system."
Celicia stood by the railing, looking down at the massive waterfall.
"Countless gallons of sewage, rainwater, domestic waste, industrial runoff, and even corpses of unknown vintage—all of it flows through the intricate, sprawling tunnels beneath Belland to gather here. After being purified by the massive magic formation below, it flows into the Gulain River, vanishing from this world forever without leaving a trace."
"It even has a purification function?" Muen was stunned.
"Do not underestimate the Empire, and do not underestimate Belland. This is the most prosperous city on the continent," Celicia said.
"Without these hidden systems maintaining it, Belland would have long ago become a chaotic city mired in filth and ravaged by plague."
"Fair point." Muen nodded.
Given the population density of the Lower District, sanitation and water management would be a nightmare without a specialized solution. Muen recalled his previous world; before the dawn of the modern era, malaria and pollution were the eternal, unsolvable problems of every great metropolis.
"It's not just for sanitation. As you can see, Belland is a city rich in water, with three major rivers cutting through it. We also get several heavy rainstorms every summer. These sewers serve as the city's primary drainage system."
"I'm familiar with that part."
Muen scanned the titanic flow of the waterfall and nodded slightly. Drainage was the primary function of most sewers in any world; that wasn't surprising.
"But I still don't understand why you brought me here." Muen rubbed his chin, puzzled. "Is touring critical public infrastructure some new dating trend? Have I somehow fallen behind the times?"
"If you'd like a tour, I can encase you in concrete at the top of one of these pipes. That way, you can watch to your heart's content."
"..."
Muen’s expression stiffened, and he silently looked away.
Being embedded in a concrete pipe was a hard pass. If he had to be "embedded" in anything, he’d much rather it be between a beautiful girl’s long, black-stockinged legs.
"The reason I brought you here is actually quite simple."
Celicia walked along the platform and entered one of the tunnels. Her cold voice began to echo within the pipe, taking on a strange, layered quality.
"The Inner Council."
She let those three words hang in the air.
"The Inner Council?" Muen’s gaze sharpened. "Are you saying their nest is in the sewers?"
"..."
Celicia raised a hand and lightly pressed it to her forehead.
Though her face remained expressionless, Muen could read her thoughts: If this man’s brain were even the size of an apple core, my life wouldn't be this difficult.
"The Inner Council is composed of Imperial nobles, including some of the highest-ranking Great Nobles. Do you really think a group of 'Masters' who would fly into a rage if a single speck of mud touched their clothes would set up their base in a sewer?"
"...Good point."
"The location of the Inner Council's headquarters is still difficult to ascertain. However, we can follow the clues left by things connected to them."
Celicia stopped abruptly and turned around, looking Muen in the eye.
"For example... the black market."
"The black market?"
Muen’s pupils contracted slightly. Unpleasant memories surfaced, causing his emotions to waver. Elizabeth hummed softly at his side; only when Muen touched the cold hilt did he quickly regain his composure.
"A woman?" Celicia said suddenly.
"...No. Why do you always jump to 'a woman' as your first guess? Do I look like the kind of scumbag who only has entanglements with women?"
"Yes or no?"
"...Yes."
Celicia let out a soft, cold huff through her nose.
Fortunately, she seemed to realize that Muen’s expression this time was different from his usual antics. She didn't press him further and continued walking.
The Illumination Spell Muen cast lit the way through the dark tunnel for her. Beneath Celicia’s feet, wherever her deerskin boots stepped, a layer of frost would form over the uneven ground. All the mud and filth were frozen solid beneath the ice, allowing Muen to follow without even getting his soles dirty.
"When this sewer system was being built, vast hollows were excavated beneath Belland. Even today, those hollows still exist, serving as the true domain of darkness beneath this city."
"So, the black markets are in those hollows?" Muen remarked casually. His mind drifted back to the black market he had visited before; it had indeed been located in a massive underground cavern.
"Correct. Not just black markets—many things that cannot bear the light naturally hide in places where the sun never shines. The 'dark side' of Belland is a literal description."
Celicia continued, "However, much of that darkness was purged during the recent upheavals."
"Upheavals?"
"For instance, the time I was targeted for assassination during your Coming-of-Age Ceremony."
"..."
Muen pulled his head back slightly, feeling as though he had accidentally stepped onto a sensitive topic.
Celicia, however, showed no sign of distress.
"After that assassination attempt, Father dispatched the Royal Knight Order to conduct a series of purges in the Lower District. Of course, a city this massive cannot be cleansed of all darkness in a single sweep."
"So Father used the Silent Moon incident as an excuse for a second wave."
Muen: "..."
"In short, after two purges—and with you, as Mr. Bruce, taking control of most of the Lower District's gangs and cutting off several smuggling routes—most of these underground black markets have been forced to close. At least temporarily, regardless of which powerful figure stood behind them."
"So... we're looking for the black markets that haven't closed yet?" Muen rubbed his chin, thinking.
"No," Celicia countered. "Quite the opposite. We need to pay attention to the black markets that have closed."
"Huh? Why?" Muen was confused.
"It's simple. A black market can never truly be closed; it just moves to a different location or changes its form. As long as there are people in this city, there will be demands that cannot see the light of day. While the authorities conduct periodic purges, they usually turn a blind eye most of the time."
"But..." Celicia’s tone grew heavier. "If a site that used to be a black market is officially 'closed,' yet supplies are still being funneled into it in massive quantities... what do you think that means?"
"That..." Muen blinked, his expression suddenly turning grim. "Something even more illicit than a black market is being kept there?"
"Exactly. Something even more unspeakable. In this city, the two most powerful factions are the Royal Family and the Great Nobles. If even I, a Princess of the Royal Family, have no idea what those 'unspeakable things' are, then they can only belong to the other side."
"And it's likely not just one person, but several."
Celicia stopped walking. This time she didn't turn around. Instead, she slowly folded her parasol and pointed the tip upward.
"We're here."
"We're here?"
"Yes. Directly above us is a food processing factory. I discovered an anomaly while I was personally investigating the cakes they produce."
"Oh... wait, what? Why would a Princess personally investigate the cakes from a food processing factory? That doesn't sound very—"
"Be quiet."
"Oh."
"During my investigation, I noticed that the volume of raw materials they were bringing in didn't match their production output at all. Even their procurement was strange; I couldn't even trace the source of some of their supply lines."
"I see. It certainly doesn't sound like an ordinary food processing factory." Muen couldn't speak, so he used his eyes to convey the sentiment.
Celicia shot him a look that told him to keep being quiet before continuing:
"Unfortunately, I was placed under house arrest by Father shortly after that and didn't have the chance to conduct a detailed investigation."
"It wasn't until you came to see me a few days ago that I had Wei'er pull the original construction blueprints for Belland's sewers from the Royal Library. After comparing them with the internal records of the Royal Knight Order, I discovered that directly beneath this factory..."
Celicia flipped her parasol around and slammed the tip into the ground.
"...is the site of a former black market that was supposedly completely purged and abandoned."