Chapter 65: Schemes Progress Quietly
《Side ???》
A cold air drifted through the dimly lit room.
A candelabrum sat in the center of a wide table, its flickering flame illuminating a man’s grim face. He issued orders to his subordinates in a grave voice.
“The First Platoon was wiped out, you say!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Your only task was to kidnap or assassinate Liese, the Margrave’s attendant! It should have been a simple mission! So why did they end up completely annihilated?! Who interfered?”
His anger from receiving the report still hadn’t subsided.
The First Platoon was supposed to be an elite unit composed of skilled individuals. And they were wiped out.
This fact was simply incomprehensible. Had the Margrave dispatched someone capable enough to eliminate our skilled operatives? We hadn’t heard of the Margrave making any moves from our other surveillance.
His Private Knights Order should also be accompanying him.
“Well, no matter. Regardless of who eliminated them, I have no intention of easing up.”
I narrowed my eyes and quietly clasped my fingers. The subordinates waiting at the back of the room listened with tense expressions.
“Dispatch the Second Platoon. Find Liese, who is hiding in the Dukedom, and kill her immediately. The more time we take, the stronger the enemy’s encirclement net will become. Act swiftly.”
“Yes, sir!”
The subordinates responded in unison and immediately left the room.
♢
The next day, the Assassins of the Second Platoon headed towards the Dukedom.
Having been given their “eyes,” they moved silently through the Forest, searching one ruin and private house after another where the target might be.
Possessing both loyalty to their mission and ruthlessness, failure was not an option for them.
“If the information on the target is accurate, we should reach the heart of the Dukedom soon.”
The man who seemed to be the leader gave a low command. Under his direction, the unit split up and began to search the Dukedom.
However, as they advanced deeper into the Forest, they began to sense an unsettling presence.
“…It’s too quiet.”
The sound of the wind, the chirping of birds—the natural sounds that should normally be audible—had vanished. The Assassins immediately went on alert.
“Wait… Someone’s coming!”
The moment they all readied their weapons at the leader’s voice, soldiers from the Dukedom emerged from the thicket all at once.
“It’s the Dukedom’s soldiers! We’re surrounded!”
Before the Assassins could react in surprise, a rain of arrows poured down.
“Damn it, was this a trap?!”
The leader shouted, and the unit scattered to try and fight back, but the soldiers’ numbers were overwhelming.
“Secure an escape route! We’re retreating for now!”
The leader calmly gave the order, but the Dukedom’s soldiers had anticipated it.
“Don’t take any of them alive! Kill them!”
The soldiers’ orders were merciless. One after another, the Assassins were cornered.
“Guh… Is this… it…!”
The leader, though the last one remaining, continued to fight. However, he too was pierced by a spear and collapsed on the spot.
♢
《Side Duke Everett》
In the Office, a report on the recent disturbance had arrived.
“…So they’ve made their move, as expected. How foolish. Not content with one attempt, they seek to mock me a second time.”
“They must be underestimating us.”
I muttered softly while looking through the documents.
Standing before me was my aide, Andre.
“Andre, the suspicious unit Kyl mentioned has been annihilated, correct?”
“Yes, sir! The net to prevent foolish infiltrators from entering the territory has also been reinforced.”
I nodded in satisfaction at Andre’s report.
“Excellent. This enemy isn’t just a group of ordinary Assassins. It’s highly probable they anticipated our movements and made their move. However, we were able to turn that to our advantage. It seems the time may have finally come for us to act.”
“What shall we do?”
That brat will be here soon. It would have been better if he had just quietly let himself be devoured, but he’s a foolish brat who only ever resists.
But if it weren’t so, there would be no point.
“We will seize the tail of the mastermind behind the enemy. This incident cannot be made public, but seize everything you can from them behind the scenes! Trace their steps back and take everything from their Hideout!”
“Understood!”
Andre responded calmly to my voice.
“Do not overlook Serios von Aegrid’s movements either. That brat is no ordinary Margrave. He’s a fool, but one who makes you hold expectations for the future.”
“Understood.”
As Andre bowed and left the room, I gazed out the window. Reflected in the glass was my face as a Duke—cold and ruthless, yet at the same time, slightly aged.
“…Claris, I shall ascertain for myself. The partner you have chosen.”
As my quiet soliloquy echoed in the room, I took a sip of wine, bathed in the moonlight.
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Afterword
Hello, this is the author, Iko!
That’s all for today!!
As I mentioned in my activity log, my new book will be released on January 30th!
“The Holy-Attribute Healer is Working as a Support Healer for the Female Knights Order!”
I added 70,000 characters of new content for the book version!
The illustrations feature four heroines drawn incredibly beautifully!
Please check out the illustrations in my activity log and pre-order it!