tiny cracks (1)
The top line of the guild, which is a dark merchant, has all died. Thanks to this, there was a small commotion inside the dark district.
One organization was literally in a situation where it was in a state of catastrophe, but it was not enough to describe it as a small disturbance. It was so secret that no one noticed, and it was also because the response was swift.
That’s why the dark side maintained the same appearance as usual. While maintaining the look that someone wanted… … .
chuck-!
“Communication has arrived.”
And I got the news right away.
Her eyes, arrogantly lowered, shone fiercely at the report George had brought with her.
“… … Not bad.”
As expected, I felt a sense of satisfaction with his simple and quick actions.
Two days. It was the time it took for the dark merchants’ guild to be completely disbanded and organized.
Of course, there were many places to fix, not just the dark merchant guild. It is a natural procedure to make it move according to your taste.
However, the reason why he chose the first guild, which was a guild, was simple.
‘It’s because they cooperated with Asus.’
Even after knowing that Asus was stuck with the Commonwealth, he maintained a relationship. Rather, he tried to gain advantage by clinging to the 4th prince.
There was no reason to let them go as long as the greatest power in the shadows, the underworld, was now under my hand.
‘Well, of course that’s not the only reason.’
The corner of my mouth went up a little.
“Aside from that, there must be something else that has been communicated via telecommunications?”
“Suddenly, they asked for the ‘advance payment’ of the request.”
“Right.”
Promises follow fidelity, and contracts require a price.
I also waited for them to finish their work, so it was very welcome.
But my words, which eventually came out, had nothing to do with advance payments.
“Did you hear any news from the Federation?”
“… … A federal empire?”
no, all of a sudden?
George scratched his head at my words and continued.
“Well, for now, there is no news other than that the war with the barbarians is continuing. Since the healers of the Holy Empire have been dispatched, I thought they would send a political message.”
Names, provocations, envoys, etc.
That was the case even if it was an urgent situation due to the fight against the barbarians.
The name of the empire, it wasn’t that there wasn’t even room for that.
“I guess that means they were expecting it anyway.”
“About the meeting last fall?”
“okay.”
I nodded and lightly crossed my legs.
Fall came when an envoy from the Holy Empire led by the saintess came.
It is a fact that anyone can guess that some kind of talk was exchanged between Esteban and the Holy Empire in the process.
Once you’ve checked that far, it’s easy after that.
… … Cooperation between the two countries to keep the federal empire in check.
The dispatch of the healer itself must have been unexpected, but it is said that it was not something that could never happen.
but.
“You wouldn’t even think that Esteban would be holding the initiative.”
I closed my eyes and opened them.
The relationship created by two elements: the hidden secret and Shin Seong-cheol.
It was, in effect, Esteban holding them by the leash.
‘In the future, cooperation beyond what they predicted will happen.’
And to the Commonwealth Empire, who did not predict it, it will literally open its eyes and come as if it had cut its nose.
But that alone wasn’t enough. That’s why I brought up the story about them.
“Creating internal cracks and slowly eroding them is the trick they use the most. Do you know?”
“Well, yes. It was the same with Asus, but it was for that reason that the operative was sent.”
“But, is there any reason not to call it us?”
“her!”
The corners of my lips twisted.
So far, I have made and changed something to prepare for the war against them.
But what if that’s not limited to what Esteban does? What if you could go directly into their base and sabotage it?
The guy also understood what I was trying to say, and spoke as if he was holding back a laugh.
“Darkness, it was no accident that we occupied it.”
“okay.”
I only said that I was providing John Hedwig with lucrative information, but I never said that it was not Esteban’s business.
In that sense, the power of the shadows was really attractive.
“Unlike the knights, they are free from moral notions. Because I don’t choose the means or the method.”
“There’s no need to spend too much time on it, since I’ve been developing abilities and powers that are specialized for it.”
“okay. It is to do with their hands what the royal power alone could never do.”
Hearing that, George stroked his chin and his eyes lit up.
“By using the special environment of being at war.”
“That is correct.”
If the story had reached that point, further explanation was meaningless.
Indeed, George nodded and stroked his chin again.
“Well, it wouldn’t be impossible if there was only the malice of wanting to ruin the other person.”
“… … Where did you hear that?”
“It’s like a creed in its own way.”
I narrowed my eyes in a bit of surprise. It’s because ‘guy’ before returning was a word he used to say like a habit.
At that moment, George’s lips curled mischievously.
Just like when he was active as a staff member of the Federation Empire… … .
“If possible, add one more to it, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the plan to ruin them. There is something that just came to mind.”
“… … Whoa.”
tall-
My fingers, which had been unconsciously tapping on the desk, felt an unexpected emotion and stopped.
At the same time, my heart started beating. Indeed, the same confidence as the guy before the return emanated from his appearance.
And I was convinced as I listened to the next guy’s explanation.
‘… … George Hegmes.’
From noble mtl dot com.
Now, it has already been close to a year since I brought him.
He was slowly coming out with the look I wanted.
In the form of that notorious staff member who mercilessly destroys opponents with malice that rises to the depths of his heart.
* * *
Esteban The darkest of the dark forces.
They were a huge power enough to dominate most of the nearby territories, including the capital.
However, if there was no enemy, that was not the case. In places where the power of the underworld could not reach, there were small forces, and sometimes there were cases where individual nobles who managed the territory managed the shadowy area.
And the one who took control of the back alleys of the Billen estate was a force that satisfied both.
A dark force that has grown by borrowing the power of the nobility. Since it was far from the capital, there was no reason to be checked by the underworld.
Even if it was a small territory, it was said that it was enough to develop an independent means of making money.
However, a sudden disaster struck them as well.
squeak-
“aaagh!”
“Eh, run away!”
Normally, they weren’t scoundrels who would tolerate running away in front of an enemy.
But it is unavoidable. Because there was no way to defeat those who flashed daggers among the rows of hideous corpses.
“Follow me.”
“yes.”
As soon as someone gave an order, the shadow moved.
The fleeing thugs ran without looking back, but they could never evade the disciplined movement.
hooked!
Awesome!
“Cuck!”
“Ugh!”
‘Damn it!’
A gangster who had been watching the scene from hiding gasped in fear.
Anxiety appeared on his face whenever the number of corpses lying coldly on his face increased.
Exactly, it was fear. A primal fear that if you’re unlucky you won’t be able to escape from this place.
‘To think that the direct assassination squad would come to a place like this… … .’
The strongest assassin guild in the underworld and a secret weapon.
It must have been. It was clear that they had that impression and skills.
So I didn’t understand at all.
‘You said you’d never get caught… … !’
Baron Billen, who had a connection with them, wanted money. And it was the same for them.
The two forces that had interests in that way created a single business without even knowing a mouse or a bird. That was this place.
However, contrary to the baron’s boast that he would never be caught, things eventually exploded.
It was discovered by the underworld, not by anyone else.
‘At least I can’t give this place away like this.’
This place is a facility that must be operated in utmost secrecy.
So, even if he returned alive, there was a high possibility that he would be killed by Baron Billen as long as this place was taken away.
Rather, the evidence should have been destroyed now.
Swoop-
The man who had been hiding like that took something out of his chest.
It was a matchstick.
‘please… … hurry… … .’
Fire-!
‘done!’
Fortunately, Match, as if knowing the urgency of the gangster, quickly burned his head and expanded his body.
He threw a matchstick with a gleeful expression.
… … No, I was going to throw it.
“You are the last.”
“… … !”
hooked!
The moment I turned my head to the voice I heard from behind, I felt the cold feeling of metal stuck in the nape of my neck and collapsed.
The last thing I saw were the eyes of an insensitive assassin hidden under a black hood.
Swoop-
The assassin looked at the last survivor and stepped on the match to put it out.
“… … It’s done.”
“Get it sorted out.”
“yes.”
After confirming that there were no more people left alive, the assassins dispersed and cleared the area.
During that time, John Hedwig, ruler of the underworld, watched the scene leisurely.
‘… … It’s amazing.’
A large underground space hidden between private houses.
What was visible in it were sack sacks and mysterious tools that were quietly enshrined in the corner.
John Hedwig approached it.
The sack I peeked through was full of white powder. There was no way he, who ruled the underworld, would not know the identity of the powder.
‘drug.’
This facility was built to manufacture drugs. The drugs made here must have been secretly distributed through the power of the nobility.
However, the surprising fact was that it was none other than Prince 1 who occupied this place.
– Take away the drug manufacturing facility in the Billen estate.
second command.
It was a very inappropriate order for a prince of a country to give.
Not to destroy it, but to take it away?
“… … Didn’t you say you’d take care of Baron Billen’s business yourself?”
In fact, it was no different from ‘officially’ entrusting the drug distribution facility to the underworld.
This is John Hedwig, who did not believe the instructions and followed them all the way here. But it’s just more interesting than seeing it in person.
“The distribution of drugs.”
John Hedwig muttered involuntarily.
There was no point in arguing whether it would make money or not. This facility was not enough to receive the advance payment, and it was overflowing.
In an instant, I remembered the conversation I had with the first prince that day.
-Because that will come back to me as well.
In other words, it was said that distributing these drugs would help the first prince as well.
Of course I understood. Because Prince 1 strictly forbade the distribution of drugs in Esteban.
Then, there was only one distribution route left.
“Ku-k-k-k-k-uh… … It’s really fun. Do you have any other convictions? Or do you believe in me that much?”
No, if he is. If you’re the kind of person who was alone, there’s no way you’d blindly entrust everything to me and leave me alone.
It is ‘knowing’ in advance.
what i will do
John Hedwig’s bizarre voice was full of laughter.
Gradually, I began to get a sense of what the prince was drawing.
“Funny, really fun.”
Ordinary people are prone to hypocrisy. Especially when it comes to noble people at the top.
But interest is different.
It was the first time in my life. A person who ‘really’ does not choose means and methods for a purpose.
If the other side showed me this far, this one too… … .
“You should do what you want as much as possible.”
okay. As you wish, this side looks thoroughly distributed. to the best of my ability
“What kind of taste would it be to destroy the Imperial Army from the bottom up?”
I’m looking forward to it.