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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 197: Whose Picture Shall I Ruin?
After finishing the strategy meeting, I called Zizek and Nagan separately to give them additional instructions.
"Zizek, you know, right? Among us, you're in the most danger."
"Seems like I'm pretty screwed..." Zizek replied with lifeless, dark eyes.
"Don't worry, we have a plan for everything."
I instructed him, "First, pack your belongings conspicuously."
"So anyone watching will think we're relocating our base?"
"Exactly."
Zizek was a man who understood instructions well.
"And set up guards too. As if you're preparing for an attack from the Black Night Society."
"Understood."
I handed Zizek a pouch filled with gold coins and jewels.
"Hire mercenaries generously. It needs to look like we're preparing for battle to anyone watching."
"Wow, where did you get this much money?"
"Young master Allenvert gave it to me. Said to use it as war funds."
"Ah!"
Of course, its true source was the money earned from capturing Nepherus. Clean and honorable money.
"When that madman from Svaltalfar makes his move, draw attention by relocating your group. But don't make it too obvious or it'll look like a trap. Just make it somewhat similar—casual, like when you're doing the dishes."
"Got it."
"Then they'll definitely attack. When that happens, it's important to hold out and buy as much time as possible."
Even if we succeeded in drawing out Huten, the mission would fail if Zizek got taken out.
"When you move, take good care of Moritz and his brother."
"Yes."
"If they get hurt, you're dead too."
"Could you worry about me a little too?"
"Shut up."
I dismissed Zizek's words and added:
"Don't worry too much. I'll request help from a reliable ally."
Zizek caught my meaning immediately.
"Ah, the one we met before...?"
"Yes."
With Rudgarda's Special Operations Division members stepping in, surely they wouldn't die?
"And one more thing."
This time I turned to Nagan.
"Huten probably won't move easily for a few days."
Nagan responded in agreement with my assessment.
"I think so too."
"During that time, he'll try to regroup. Naturally, he has backers, and he'll get additional help to clean up this mess."
I figured he was probably a mid-level member of that organization.
If so, he'd likely have to deal with the repercussions of this failure and might have some difficulties in the process of receiving new support.
"Those few days of downtime are our opportunity. During that time, survey and clean up the subordinate organizations that have sided with them."
"Hmm."
Nagan's gaze deepened.
"Whether they've gone into hiding, set up defenses, or are trying to surrender to us—if we figure that out, we can somewhat predict his next move."
Nagan understood.
"I'll do that."
"Be especially careful with those claiming to surrender. They're either desperate or trying to spy on us."
"Noted."
Nagan nodded.
"I'll make contact from the shadows, or if necessary, suppress and capture them first. They should pay the price for betrayal before they become reinforcements for our enemy."
"Above all, we need to send people to other organizations to explain the situation and gain their approval. We can't afford to get backstabbed when we're vulnerable."
"I'll handle that part thoroughly as well."
I appreciate his straightforward answers.
To accomplish all this during a brief period of calm would keep Nagan quite busy.
But if one wants to be called the lord of the underworld, one must show the ability to handle crises skillfully.
"While both of you work hard at your positions, I'll need to be away for a few days."
"...!"
Nagan asked in surprise, "Karzan, where are you going?"
"I have matters to attend to."
I reassured Nagan, "Don't worry. Huten knows that this whole mess started because of me alone, so if I disappear, he'll be even more cautious."
Even if Huten prepared a surprise attack faster than we anticipated, he'd have to be careful as long as I was absent.
"And about the Svaltalfar brothers—since you can communicate with the younger one, only talk to him."
I suspected they sent Drak along because sending him alone would be pointless. They needed some minimal level of control.
"If the older one acts up, apologize first. Nothing good comes from unnecessary conflict."
Nagan asked, slightly offended, "Is he that aggressive?"
"Simply put, he's a murderous lunatic born into an assassin clan."
"..."
Nagan's expression turned serious.
"If you don't want your subordinates to die pointlessly, remember what I said."
Sorry, but Nagan's combat ability was inferior to mine or Ghir's. In other words, without me, there was no one to stop him by force.
"Alright, I understand."
Fortunately, Nagan was a reasonable man.
"I'll assign the most timid and harmless men to serve him."
"Good."
In short, assign someone like Peter to him.
"And Zizek, one more thing, out of caution."
"Yes."
"Remember when I told you to set off fireworks if things get dire?"
"Ah, that? Of course."
Zizek nodded.
"Don't reach for your dagger first—use that. I'll come running somehow."
"...Understood."
I looked at Zizek and Nagan in turn and said:
"Comrades, I leave things in your hands for the next few days."
I needed to return to being Allenvert Grunewald. I couldn't stay away too long.
***
Before returning to the duke's castle—
I secretly met with Turnak, the commander of Rudgarda's Special Operations Division 6th Battalion and a retainer of the Angantyr.
"It's an honor to meet you, Young master."
He greeted me with the discipline befitting a retainer of the ducal clan and an honorable soldier.
"Turnak, it's good to meet you."
I removed the Mask of Aminicrus, revealing Allenvert's fairy-like face.
"!"
The temperature difference was so great that even Turnak flinched slightly.
"...You were disguised with quite a rough man's face."
"Just 'quite' rough?"
That's a bit disappointing.
But after living as Karzan for so long, I'd heard such comments until my ears developed calluses, so I decided not to show my feelings.
"Anyway."
I examined Turnak's appearance anew.
He was an immigrant man with strange patterns covering his face.
"I can tell at a glance. You are a remarkable warrior."
Turnak.
To me, he was a retainer who had served my enemy's clan, and a hostage who had been abandoned...
He was also a loyal vassal who had protected and served Rudgarda, with whom I had formed a blood oath.
'He's quite large.'
Dark skin, patterns, build. He was an imposing man in many ways.
'Compared to Harold, well... he's certainly not inferior.'
He might even be stronger.
"I heard you were once the swordsmanship instructor for Rudgarda, the 6th Battalion Commander."
"That is correct. However, with her outstanding talent and unparalleled desperation, she surpassed me, so as both her teacher and retainer, there could be no greater joy."
Turnak smiled as if simply hearing about his lord brought him happiness.
"By the way, Young master, you are truly strong."
Turnak narrowed his eyes as if trying to gauge my abilities.
"It doesn't seem strange at all that you defeated Harold."
Yet Turnak himself appeared to me as a warrior who surpassed Harold.
'It's as if Harold has become the standard for measuring combat power.'
I began to broach the main topic.
"Turnak. I've come because your help is essential for my operation—"
I explained the plan in detail.
"...Therefore, I hope you can help Zizek and his people."
"I will be ready to deploy at any time, so don't worry."
Turnak cautioned me, seeming more concerned about my safety.
"But be careful, Young master. If this man Huten defeated the head of the Bisakino Brotherhood, even I might struggle to defeat him alone."
Huten had surely surpassed the mid-level of the 6th tier, making him an enemy one entire tier above me.
He might be a far more formidable opponent than even the genius ducal lady Ete Nistyrnur, the 6th seat of the Valkenhain clan.
'And the gap between 5 and 6th tier is much greater than that between 4 and 5th tier.'
Overcoming this would not be easy in many ways.
"Young master, may I add one more thing out of concern?"
"By all means."
The immigrant warrior's eyes shone with wisdom.
"As you know, the eyes of Grunewald are watching you. You must not overlook this."
I was curious about this man's perspective.
"Why do you think my clan tolerates Karzan's existence?"
"...Perhaps."
Turnak carefully chose his answer.
"Duke might have wanted to see exactly this kind of behavior from you."
That's a meaningful statement.
Then what exactly does Father expect from me?
'...How much does he actually know?'
And Verdzig, that serpent of apocalypse—why is he so quiet?
I thought that perhaps they had already discovered all my activities.
'Damn it. Because of that madman Ghir, I'm completely exposed.'
It would be too naive to expect that no one saw us after fighting so recklessly.
'Well, we both already knew what we needed to know anyway.'
In any case, before confronting Huten, I needed to confirm Grunewald's intentions.
***
As Karzan had worried, thanks to the commotion caused by Ghir, Skella's blood bat was able to observe Karzan's battle.
Even the scene where they joined hands and moved somewhere.
'Although I couldn't see where they were heading.'
That was because Drak quietly threw a dagger, killing the blood bat after noticing it watching.
"...Finally caught their trail."
But having confirmed that much, there was actually no need to see more.
"Well done, Skella."
Verdzig nodded with satisfaction.
"Harald. What do you think?"
"The existence of this man called Karzan is too unnatural. Despite appearing suddenly, he has twisted the flow significantly, as if everything was arranged."
Verdzig's adjutant, Harald Grimar, answered.
"It is quite coincidental that this man is at the center of the storm in many ways."
"Correct."
Verdzig smiled.
"It's all too obvious."
Naturally, Verdzig easily figured out who Karzan was.
"Allenvert, Allenvert. To think you had infiltrated the Bisakino Brotherhood already. Just how far ahead did you see?"
[PR/N- Oh no.]
From Verdzig's perspective, even many things that Allenvert had done improvisationally without planning appeared to be within his calculations.
It was true that Allenvert's actions were remarkably opportune enough to create such a misunderstanding.
"I knew you had created connections in the underworld, but to think you were looking at such a grand scheme."
Verdzig admired it.
"You plan to create a new head of the Bisakino Brotherhood with your own hands?"
It was something even he hadn't thought of.
Even weakened by Huten's rebellion, they were one of the five major organizations ruling the night of Grunewald.
If obtained, it would be equivalent to a vast army. Even Verdzig would find it difficult to take lightly.
"You continue to surprise me, Allenvert."
"My lord, what will you do?"
Harald asked.
"With just a little more manipulation on our part, we could drive Huten and the Bisakino Brotherhood to mutual destruction. Then Young Master Allenvert would suffer a great setback."
"Yes, all kinds of schemes come to mind."
Verdzig's gaze sank deeply.
"For instance, even an assassin sent by Svaltalfar would find it difficult to match 'my' blade Skella."
Verdzig's finger lifted Skella's chin.
"What do you think, Skella? Where shall I point your blade?"
"...Why ask the blade?"
Skella responded coldly, as if it made no difference to her either way.
"Haha."
Verdzig laughed as if her unchanging contempt was welcome.
"Yes, continue to hate me while remaining bound to me."
Because her twisted obsession somewhat awakened Verdzig from his boredom.
He had no intention of releasing Skella.
"Now, let's think."
Verdzig turned to Harald and said.
"Taking whose side, ruining whose picture would be the better choice."
...The fruit of patience was sweet.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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