Chapter 112 - A Villain's Scheme
After buying breakfast from a street vendor on Central Avenue, we took a seat on a bench in the shade and waited. Next to me was Josephine. Today, we were both dressed in dark overcoats to blend in with the city and avoid drawing attention.
Valeria, our guard, was staying behind. Today, we were just here to observe, and I had no plans to engage in combat. Besides, a beauty like Valeria would stand out no matter what.
We were here because Rosmerta had asked us to oversee an event. We were to watch what would unfold here, and it would soon become clear what was about to happen.
This wasn’t a matter of prophecy or foresight; it was all due to Rosmerta’s preparation. We would soon see if what we had been told would come true. It was time to see her handiwork.
"This is quite delicious," Josephine remarked.
"...Yukari-san, how many of those have you had now?" I asked, ignoring her exasperation as I reached for my fourth doner kebab. That’s when things started to move.
From our vantage point on the shaded bench, we could see a high-end restaurant. In the midst of the devastated Royal Capital, there were still enough nobles and wealthy individuals to keep such establishments in business. A luxury car pulled up to the front of the restaurant.
After the driver and a few men got out, an elderly man with a distinguished appearance followed. He had a prominent beard and looked like a man of both wealth and power.
His name was Carlo Vese, a senior member of the Novara Gang, one of the two major forces controlling the Royal Capital from the shadows. They were, of course, underworld residents sent from Retnark and hence our enemies.
"That’s definitely Carlo Vese. Yukari-san, it’s about to start," Josephine said.
"Yes, it seems so," I replied, continuing to observe while sipping my homemade iced tea.
As Carlo Vese was about to enter the restaurant, someone came out from inside. It was a young man.
He approached casually, and Carlo Vese’s bodyguards, as expected, focused their attention on him. It’s only natural to be cautious when you’re a bodyguard.
The young man reached into his pocket, which was suspicious enough.
Underworld bodyguards don’t hesitate. If someone seems suspicious, they take them down without question. Misunderstandings don’t matter to them.
And then, in the moment when the young man had everyone’s attention...
Several men who had been hiding in the bushes suddenly attacked Carlo Vese.
When both sides have equal skill, numbers make the difference. With more than double the attackers, it was inevitable that they would overwhelm the defenders.
Instead of targeting the guards, they went straight for the main target.
It was probably an instant kill. Carlo Vese, a senior member of the Novara Gang, met his end abruptly.
The broad daylight stabbing sent shockwaves through the crowd. As expected, a major brawl broke out among the men involved, causing chaos as people fled the area. This was Central Avenue, after all. Even in the morning, there were plenty of people around.
"Let’s go, Yukari-san. If the magic starts flying this way, we might get caught in the crossfire," Josephine said.
"Yes, let’s return and report our observations to Rosmerta," I replied.
We climbed into a jeep parked nearby and calmly returned to our base, leaving the shouting and chaos of the restaurant behind.
The assassination was carried out by men from the Giuliano Gang, one of the two major forces controlling the Royal Capital.
The underworld of the Royal Capital was dominated by the Novara Gang and the Giuliano Gang, both sent from Retnark. They were the two largest organizations among the foreign forces.
The Novara and Giuliano Gangs had long been in control of the Royal Capital, but they were far from friendly.
While the leaders of major organizations might cooperate, the lower ranks were always at odds, harboring deep-seated hatred. Moreover, both organizations were conglomerates of smaller gangs, making them difficult to control, especially the younger, more energetic members.
That’s why strong leadership was necessary. Whether through violence or wealth, the larger the organization, the more significant the control required. Even if they managed to maintain order, once a rift appeared, it was even harder to mend.
Rosmerta had identified the discord between the two major forces and the restless young members as an opportunity to exploit.
If the Brenark forces alone couldn’t eliminate the Retnark forces, then a mutually destructive conflict would do the job. It was a simple plan. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy, but it was a straightforward strategy.
It hadn’t happened overnight. The Kikyo Society had been preparing for this for a long time, gradually laying the groundwork. Rosmerta hadn’t just been lying low all this time.
The assassinations we had witnessed were just the beginning. According to the plan, similar attacks were taking place simultaneously at other locations.
At one of these locations, a senior member of the Giuliano Gang was to be killed by the Novara Gang. Meanwhile, the lower ranks of the two organizations were to engage in a fierce conflict.
It didn’t end there. The drug warehouses of both organizations were also to be raided.
Once things escalated to this point, it wouldn’t be a simple skirmish. A minor conflict wouldn’t escalate into a full-scale war; the leaders wouldn’t allow it. They knew that such conflicts would only benefit the local Brenark forces.
This time, however, the assassinations of senior members couldn’t be brushed aside. Even if it was a bad move, the reputation of the underworld demanded that they retaliate.
It was a quagmire from which there was no turning back. This was Rosmerta’s ruthless plan.
Back at the base, we gathered to discuss the situation.
In the hall, the senior members of the Kikyo Society, along with Rosmerta and her subordinates, were assembled.
"We observed the beginning of the conflict," I reported.
"We saw it too. Some bigwig from the Giuliano Gang got taken out," Ophelia added.
Ophelia and Mia had been assigned to observe the other location.
"The initial plan seems to have worked out well. It’s almost certain that the conflict will escalate into a full-scale war. Even if they try to contain it, the seeds of conflict will easily reignite," Rosmerta’s deputy secretary continued, indicating that the other plans were also proceeding smoothly.
"Still, you did a great job. How exactly did you pull it off?" Gradena asked, sounding impressed. It was understandable, given the chaos that had already erupted among our enemies.
"It did come at a cost. However, my methods were simple. The two forces were already at odds, and there were many ambitious men. I just provided them with inconvenient truths about each other, and they were motivated to act. The lower ranks are diverse, making infiltration easier," Rosmerta explained.
She let the lower ranks fight each other, fueling their hatred. Even among Retnark’s organizations, the one with more medals could assert their superiority.
The motivations were varied—ambition, desire, fame, pride, and hatred. The competition between the two major forces turned into a full-scale conflict.
Still, this was just the beginning.
What we had done today was merely to observe the start of the conflict.
"The beginning went smoothly, but what happens next is crucial," I said.
"Yukarinowe is right. We need to capitalize on the chaos unfolding tonight," Josephine added.
In battle, there are many important factors.
First, you must know your enemy. From the structure and numbers of the organization, to the key figures and their roles, their objectives and plans, their equipment and training—knowing everything about your enemy reveals their patterns and weaknesses.
Second, you must seize control. With meticulous planning, strike first to throw your enemy into disarray. Even if it’s a hasty move, striking first is advantageous.
Third, maintain momentum. Keep your enemy from regaining their footing.
Even with my limited knowledge, I could think of these points. Rosmerta, being far more experienced, would have thought through every detail.
The combination of Rosmerta’s plan and the Kikyo Society’s might marked the start of something significant.
"When you say ‘capitalize,’ do you mean taking out the boss?" Gradena asked.
"Hehe, not just the boss. Tonight, a meeting of senior members from both the Novara and Giuliano Gangs is scheduled. This meeting was planned, but the recent events will ensure it happens. They’re likely to discuss ways to avoid the conflict, but we can’t let that happen," Rosmerta responded.
"So, what exactly do you plan to do?"
"We’ll take the heads of all the senior members present," Rosmerta declared.
All of them! If we take out the majority of the senior members, including the boss, what will be left will be a disorganized mass. It’s a decisive move, but will it work so smoothly?
"Is it really that easy? We’re confident we can hold our ground in a direct confrontation, but the security will surely be tight. The senior members will likely flee as soon as things turn violent," Gradena pointed out.
Most senior members of organizations wouldn’t stick around in a firefight; they’d try to escape. And our enemies wouldn’t be incompetent enough to give us that kind of opportunity.
"Don’t worry. The security they planned will mysteriously disappear," Rosmerta assured us with a smile.
It was a chilling statement, but it made sense. If that were the case, we could strike the senior members directly.
But, it seemed a bit excessive.
"If that’s the case, do we even need the Kikyo Society’s might? Some of the senior members are strong, but the Crimson Knights alone should suffice, right?" Gradena asked.
"No, they are essential. Tonight will be the decisive moment. Once we finalize the attack plan, we’ll take a short break," Rosmerta responded.
"Alright, that’s fine."
We then discussed the specific plans for the night. The discussion was more about listening to Rosmerta’s ideas and raising any concerns.
We could only admire her. A distinguished noble family like hers didn’t gain its reputation for nothing. The information we had gathered, while impressive, paled in comparison to what they possessed. Not only the quantity and quality of information, but also their connections, resources, and power were on a different level.
Even our capable intelligence team, including Josephine, couldn’t match the foundation of an organization. It felt like a display of power.
The world is truly fascinating. Just because I know a bit about the underworld doesn’t mean I’m all that experienced.
Still, it seems we have a significant role to play. We might as well earn their gratitude.
Tonight is the first step. According to the plan, I might even get to face someone I’ve been looking forward to.