Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: A Solo Mission
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A wild chase had ensued, but I remained uncaught.
I'm not the kind of guy to go easy on someone just because she's a woman.
Adelle entered the meeting tent, her face flushed.
I followed nonchalantly behind her.
“It seems your conversation went well. Please, have a seat.”
Ellington beamed at the two of us as we entered together.
He seemed to think my involvement would ensure the operation's success.
“But did something happen? You seem a bit flustered.”
Noticing an unusual air about them, Ellington tilted his head and asked.
Adelle and I gave conflicting answers at the same time.
“No.”
“Just a typical day for us. A common occurrence in any close relationship, you could say.”
“……”
At that, she spun around and glared daggers at me.
I feigned innocence, a playful smile on my lips.
Surely she wouldn't unleash that fierce palm of hers in front of the Third Prince, would she?
Fortunately, it seemed that wouldn't be the case.
Adelle quickly composed herself and focused seriously on the meeting.
“The Second Prince’s army is currently at the northernmost point of the Allente region, on the border with the Corinth Kingdom.”
“I hear they’ve entered into back-channel negotiations with the Western Defense Force.”
“They likely won’t participate directly in the civil war.”
“Given Count Campbell’s reputation, I’d have expected him to jump in already. This is rather strange.”
Ellington frowned, picturing the stern face of the Western Corps Commander, Campbell.
A classic opportunist—weak to the strong and strong to the weak.
That was the general reputation of Margrave Campbell.
But Adelle’s assessment was different.
“Though rumors of his vile conduct circulate, he is fundamentally a clever man.”
The discussion about Count Campbell continued, but I just sat there, picking at my ear.
The movements of the Western Defense Force's commander were a critical factor for our side's safety.
But if Adelle was right, it seemed we didn't need to worry too much.
It also seemed to have little to do with the mission I was about to undertake.
I summed up the situation in a bored tone.
“So he’s not the type to defy the Emperor’s will? He’ll probably just help the more advantageous side with supplies and take credit for it.”
“In summary, yes.”
“……”
The people in the meeting tent nodded.
Then, they all stared intently at me.
Wow, was my summary so perfect that it warranted such a reaction?
‘They must be captivated by my occasional flashes of genius.’
I lifted my head confidently, but the looks I received were strange.
It was as if…
They were thinking, *Aren’t you the one who just helps with supplies and takes all the credit?*
It was a highly subjective interpretation, but it felt right.
Their gazes said it all.
“What are you all staring at?”
But that kind of silent pressure couldn't intimidate me.
“…Please continue, Lady Richter.”
“Ahem! Sh-shall I?”
As Ellington mediated, the uncomfortable stares instantly vanished.
Ignoring them, I focused on what Adelle was saying.
I was just curious about what mission she had been so hesitant to reveal.
“The Second Prince’s army has already been reinforced by troops from Reilhasch. However, in a few weeks, it’s expected to grow much larger.”
“They’re already so powerful we can’t guarantee a victory. Even more than this?”
Raul, who had been silent, asked in a bewildered voice.
The news was certainly shocking enough to warrant it.
Adelle’s brow furrowed as she gave a heavy nod.
“Yes. The Corinth Kingdom has made contact with the Second Prince and sent troops.”
“……”
Silence fell over the meeting tent.
An alliance between the first and second princes of Reilhasch was absurd enough, but now Corinth too?
Frankly, it was hard to comprehend.
Could Franz's diplomatic skills really unite two nations that were such bitter rivals?
‘Rather than offering some incredible incentive…’
It’s more likely they see the Second Prince as having a higher chance of claiming the throne.
Admittedly, based on current momentum, Franz was the safer bet.
The difference in troop numbers was nearly two to one, and his top-tier forces were far superior.
Of course, that was before I joined the Third Prince’s army.
“Who from Corinth is leading them?”
After taking a breath, Adelle answered Raul’s question while pointing to one end of the map.
“The Butcher of the Abyss, Kroll Karim.”
“Hah!”
“Dammit…”
Sighs and gasps erupted from all around.
And for good reason. Marquis Kroll Karim was one of Corinth’s most celebrated and powerful figures.
In terms of reputation alone, he was a man nearly on par with Jerome Klevitz.
With such a behemoth intervening in the Empire's civil war, their future must have looked bleak.
In contrast, I calmly surveyed the somber faces in the room.
‘Kroll Karim… He would have been a burden before, but now that I’ve mastered the Nine-Ring Annihilation?’
I couldn’t be certain of victory until we clashed, but I didn’t feel like I would lose.
I had now reached a level where I could even surpass Jerome Klevitz.
As I was thinking this, Adelle broke the silence and took charge of the meeting.
“Our top priority is to prevent them from joining forces. The problem is that we’ll have to enter Corinthian territory and face Kroll Karim.”
Conducting a disruption operation in enemy territory?
It was an incredibly dangerous task, even for an elite ranger unit.
The probability of success was also low.
All because of a formidable figure like Kroll Karim on the enemy side.
‘And that’s why they need me.’
Adelle was likely betting on it.
A belief that even if I couldn't kill or defeat Kroll Karim, I could at least hold him off.
This was all because of my track record of defeating the Four-Armed Knight.
Having witnessed that immense power firsthand, their trust in me had skyrocketed.
“The operation outline is as follows.”
She immediately explained the infiltration route into the Corinth Kingdom and the detailed plan.
When Adelle finished, silence once again enveloped the meeting tent.
“……”
This mission offered the greatest glory, but it was just as dangerous.
That was why no one was rashly stepping forward.
Anyone who did might come face-to-face with the true horror of the man called the Butcher of the Abyss.
In the suffocating silence where not even a breath could be heard, Ellington’s eyes glinted with resolve.
“Student Council President Ray Carter, please take charge of the ranger unit.”
I was waiting for him to say that.
Amid the continuing silence, all eyes turned to me.
They seemed curious about what my decision would be.
Among them were the envious glares of those who didn't think much of me.
It felt as if they were thinking, ‘Even you can’t pull this off.’
But as I had already discussed with Adelle, I intended to accept the offer.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
“R-Really?”
“On one condition.”
As I replied with a flick of my index finger, Ellington swallowed nervously.
His expression showed he was ready to accept whatever I said.
I offered a slight smile and gave an answer no one in the room expected.
“I go alone.”
“What?”
Ellington’s expression went blank for a moment.
The others at the meeting looked no different from the Third Prince.
Adelle, too, was so surprised her jaw dropped.
In the midst of it all, I shrugged as if it were nothing.
“I’m used to working alone.”
Of course, what I just said was merely an excuse. There was another, real reason.
It would be troublesome if anyone saw what I was up to.
And with that, the Third Prince's military strategy meeting came to a close.
* * *
A few days later.
I was in the southern region of the Corinth Kingdom, in the territory of Count Merilket.
The Corinthian army, led by Kroll Karim, was stationed right here.
Crossing the border had been laughably easy.
I didn't even need to use an advanced concealment art like Soul Shadow Evasion.
Since I was alone, all I had to do was pose as a traveler.
‘The problem is that they’re camped out in the open.’
The Corinthian army’s camp was situated squarely in the Merilket Plains.
There wasn't even a common forest nearby, nor was anyone else approaching.
Their security was so tight that anyone who got too close would be turned into a pincushion by a volley of arrows.
“What are they doing?”
This was their own territory, still a considerable distance from the battlefield.
Yet they were already reacting like this?
This clearly meant something had gone wrong internally.
Otherwise, there was no reason for them to be so sensitive.
‘What on earth happened?’
Whatever it was, the outcome was quite favorable for me.
If my target was dawdling here, it meant I had more time.
Of course, I had no intention of dragging things out.
“This army… I wonder what they’re like at night.”
At night, it would be impossible to spot an approaching person with the naked eye.
No matter how many fires they lit, there would be a limit to their visibility.
Besides, since people had to sleep, the number of guards on duty would decrease.
I stopped by the Merilket territory, bought some snacks, and observed the Corinthian army.
But then, they made a strange move.
As if to mock their earlier heightened security, they swarmed out and surrounded the Merilket territory.
‘What’s this? Why the sudden move? Has the commander gone mad?’
*Rumble!*
Simultaneously, the territorial soldiers sealed the castle walls and gates tight.
It looked as if the Corinthian army and the Merilket forces were about to go to war.
But I soon realized it was only for show.
Because despite getting extremely close to one another, no battle broke out.
It seemed they were cooperating to achieve a single objective.
For example…
“A search, perhaps?”
No sooner had I muttered the words than they surrounded the Merilket territory and began to search every nook and cranny.
In that instant, I was certain they were looking for me.
—Is the plan to cloud your judgment by showing you her underwear, then stab you in the back? A ploy that would work perfectly on a lecher like you.
That was Alkheim’s comment as we watched the Corinthian army’s actions together.
But it was too much of a leap.
This was simply a matter of an information leak.
There must be a traitor among the Third Prince’s key figures.
“It’s fine. Escaping won’t be difficult. In fact, I can use this as an opportunity.”
My plan was to infiltrate the Corinthian army and assassinate Kroll Karim anyway.
If they were coming to me on their own, I should be grateful.
I was about to turn and begin the operation.
But it was at that very moment.
“Hahaha! Is this really an opportunity?”
A sinister voice, originating from somewhere unseen, pierced my ears.