Chapter 176 - Top Priority
I entrusted the external security to Mia and her team while I dealt with the aftermath of the carnage alone. I lined up the coffins against the wall and used magic to clean up the blood and filth. I left the broken furniture and scattered debris as they were and started waking up the unconscious members one by one. After forcing them into a hurried change of clothes, I went to tidy up myself. Looking like a mess wouldn't do for a president.
I quickly shed my dirty clothes and picked out a new outfit. I put on my usual undergarments, but this time, I donned combat gear instead of casual wear. The sturdy shirt and cargo pants, custom-made by Torietta-san, are a deep gray with a pattern that resembles nighttime camouflage. Despite their practical design, they have a stylish silhouette, thanks to the craftsmanship. They fit me perfectly, a testament to the tailor's skill. I swapped my shoes for black tactical boots and threw on a long, ink-black peacoat.
"Yukari-dono, what happened?"
I turned around, picking up my equipment as I did. It's unusual for the Vice-Commander to enter a room without knocking, but I had told everyone it was fine to be impulsive in emergencies. Besides, the door wasn't locked.
"Have the executives gather. I'll explain once everyone is here."
I wanted to call them immediately, but I couldn't interrupt the ongoing operations. The battles had to be resolved—either by defeating or escaping the enemy—before they could return. Even then, they would need to maintain vigilance. However, this was a situation where the executives needed to convene.
I spoke casually but met their eyes firmly. This was not something I wanted to repeat multiple times. I would only tell the gathered members once, and in front of everyone.
"...Understood. But given the situation, it might be dangerous to gather all the executives. The deputy leaders can continue to command their respective areas, and only the top brass should be called in. Some are already here, but I'll keep them waiting."
"That's fine. I'll join you shortly."
The Vice-Commander is always reliable. She might see the situation more clearly than I do.
Now, let's finish preparing.
I stuffed a few throwing knives, healing potions, and magic potions into my inner pockets. The placement is usually consistent unless I'm wearing something unconventional. The weight of the equipment always helps me feel more focused.
I ran my fingers through my hair, securing it with a magical hairpin, and then slipped on my combat gloves. Perfect. I grabbed my Silver Super-Hard Bat and left the room.
Stepping into the newly ravaged office, I was greeted by a harsh voice.
"What the hell is going on, you here? What's the deal with this mess?"
The first to confront me was Gradena. She leaned against a coffin, her gaze piercing. I had no intention of making excuses. I met her stern eyes without flinching, but I was concerned by the way Frederica lowered her head.
"Settle down, Gradena. I don't think Yukari-dono is at fault. We need to understand the situation first. Josephine, do you have any information?"
I expected more harsh criticism given the casualties, but it seems Siegrune was trying to ease the tension. He must have spoken with the others before I arrived. If anyone had something to say, I was ready to listen, but I wasn't about to belittle myself. This wasn't the time for fruitless arguments. I was grateful to the Vice-Commander. Gradena wasn't really blaming me; she just needed to voice her frustration. We've known each other long enough to understand that.
But this isn't a situation where anyone can remain calm. I understood that everyone was trying their best to hold it together. I appreciated their efforts.
Despite the turmoil in my mind, I paused Siegrune's inquiry.
"Wait. I understand your urgency, but is this everyone who can gather?"
I tried to maintain my usual tone. We would proceed once all the available executives were present. I usually let Siegrune lead the discussion, but I needed to stop him this time. Josephine's report could wait. The gathering was still small; Valeria wasn't here, and I missed her absence a little. I wasn't worried, but I hoped she would return soon.
"Things have just calmed down in the other areas. They're on their way back. They should all be here soon... Ah, someone's back."
As Siegrune spoke, Angelina returned. One by one, the others started to arrive. They must have been worried about the attack on the Headquarters.
The room, filled with coffins and destruction, cast a heavy shadow over even the usually cheerful members. Each time someone looked at me or called out, Siegrune gently reminded them to wait until everyone was present.
After a moment, the top executives and a few deputies had gathered.
"Everyone's here, Yukari-dono."
A few deputies had joined the top brass. Valeria, who had just returned, silently clung to me before backing off, sensing the mood.
Phew, stay calm. Just stay calm.
I unfolded my arms and widened my eyes. There were no chairs, so everyone stood. As Siegrune called for attention, all eyes turned to me.
"Before we get into the details, I need to explain what happened here. I know you can guess, but there was an attack on this Headquarters using explosives."
A murmur of tension rippled through the room.
"President, you're sure it was explosives?"
"I'm certain."
My firm response filled the room with shock and anger. In our line of work, using explosives is a taboo. No matter the reason, it is never allowed. This kind of magic item is considered a forbidden weapon.
In the unpredictable battles of our world, death is a constant threat. Members of the Kikyo Society, and anyone living in the underworld, have likely thought about the possibility of dying in an attack. Encountering life-threatening situations isn't uncommon.
The Secretariat members always knew there was a risk of being attacked. The idea of dying unexpectedly was a possibility they all carried. From the beginning, the Kikyo Society ingrained the idea that our work was life-threatening. But using explosives is different. Despite our many conflicts with other groups, we've never faced this before. I've never heard of it happening in other group rivalries either.
Like any war, the underworld has its unwritten rules. For example, one of the biggest taboos is ratting out to public authorities. No matter how dangerous the situation, we never go to the police. Even if our interests conflict, we settle matters among ourselves. Breaking this rule means losing face and making everyone an enemy. While it might be possible to get away with it if you're not caught, it's not something you can openly do.
Other taboos include impersonating members of other organizations and patricide. While not directly related to the Kikyo Society, betraying a brother is also forbidden.
Beyond these, there are more serious rules. These are common knowledge, accepted by both old and new organizations. One of these is not using explosives in the city. This is the worst possible method because it can harm innocent civilians. We live in harmony with the city's residents, so such actions are never allowed. Using them would make us outcasts, and we would lose our place in Exembra.
While the explosion wasn't caused by gunpowder, it was a magical explosion, which is just as dangerous. In this world, there's no need to use dangerous substances like gunpowder. The Gandrault Gang used poison gas against the Anastasia Union, which was a grey area. They avoided widespread damage by using a space-fixing magic item. If the gas had affected the surrounding area, it would have been a clear violation of the rules.
Using magic in the city is also generally prohibited by the administrative districts. The reason is the same: stray spells or wide-area magic should not harm the general public. However, during serious conflicts, members often use magic against each other as long as it doesn't affect third parties. In more strictly governed regions, this might not be the case.
The Adventurer Guild once blew up one of their buildings, which was a highly unusual and dangerous move. But that was an exceptional case.
In any case, a forbidden method was used in this attack. The enemy will use any means necessary, without regard for consequences. There's no honor left. They are only thinking about eliminating their obstacles. They are not sane.
There's another reason explosives are taboo. Beyond the unwritten rules, the Magic Item Guild, which has significant authority, does not recognize explosive magic items. Magic items are incredibly useful and can only be created by specialized craftsmen. The guild, which protects the rights and freedoms of these craftsmen, wields considerable power, even influencing the state. While there are some rogue craftsmen, most are guild members, as it guarantees their status.
Official guild members do not create or approve of the creation of explosives. They are essentially illegal and non-existent in the public eye, and even the military doesn't openly possess them.
While creating them from scratch is difficult, those familiar with the mechanics can modify existing items to create something similar. When the Adventurer Guild exploded, such modified items were likely used. I'm not sure about this time.
The use of explosives is, in itself, a shocking event.
"Explosives!? What a bunch of scum!"
"It has to be the McDallian Family."
"I always thought they were a bunch of scumbags, but I never expected this."
"No matter what, this is too far..."
You have to understand, I don't have a problem with underhanded tactics. It's all about winning, and using whatever means are available. But breaking the unwritten rules is different. It's not about being fair; it's about maintaining order in the underworld. If these rules were ignored, it would lead to chaos and unwanted intervention by public authorities.
If indiscriminate destruction continues, the residents will demand action, and our relationships with the administrative districts and guilds would deteriorate. The order maintained by underworld organizations would collapse, and we would be forced to rebuild a new system. This would make it impossible to control our territory, and we would become targets for exclusion.
Such a world would be extremely difficult for outlaws like us. The unwritten rules exist to prevent this. It's not just about us; it's about maintaining a broader order.
Of course, none of our members, especially the executives, would misunderstand this.
The anger at the broken rules was palpable. Among this, Josephine, who had been investigating, spoke up.
"Yukari-san, how many explosions were there?"
"...How many?"
"From the traces, it looks like there were three explosions."
"Wait. I only sensed the first one, and even then, I didn't notice it until it was too late."
Josephine crouched down, picking up a metal fragment, and nodded in understanding.
"This fragment seems to have been part of the casing of the explosive. It's a common metal, but it was processed with a special monster material that blocks magic. It's often used in containers for valuable magic items."
Using this material to hide the magic and create a chain reaction was a sophisticated trap. It's nearly impossible to detect, and the power must have been immense.
"A magic-blocking trap. This is quite elaborate."
"They don't give a damn about unwritten rules."
"Three explosions. You must have been lucky to survive, Yukari..."
This was a carefully planned attack to kill me, the president. I survived partly by luck, but my gaze naturally turned to the coffins.
After a moment of silence, Frederica raised her head and asked.
"Yukari, are all the victims here? Who are they?"
It was a reasonable question. Most of the casualties were from the Secretariat, under Frederica's command. However, I hadn't fully identified everyone yet. Neither had anyone else. The bodies were too damaged for easy recognition. The only way to confirm would be to gather all survivors and take a roll call. For now, we didn't even know their names.
I shook my head silently, and Frederica understood. She asked one more question, her voice tinged with regret.
"...So, Claris didn't make it?"
Claris was Frederica's secretary, who was definitely with us at the time. She wasn't among the survivors.
I nodded silently, and Frederica's face showed a mix of sorrow and frustration.
Claris, the secretary to the Head of Operations, was a key executive in the Kikyo Society. Her death, caused by a rule-breaking method, and the casualties among the Secretariat, intensified everyone's anger. Though no one spoke, the room was filled with a palpable rage.
Everyone was waiting for my words. They expected me, the president, to give the order. They wanted to hear from the one who survived the explosion and lost her subordinates.
From the evidence, it was almost certain that the McDallian Family was behind this. I planned to gather evidence, but now wasn't the time for trivialities. The course of action was already clear.
I am the president of an organization. I always think about the aftermath. While I've acted on impulse before, I've always considered the long-term consequences.
We once opposed the Marzio Family, a group under the McDallian Family, along with six other organizations. After demonstrating our strength, we formed alliances with groups we could work with to prevent chaos in the vacated territories. It was a wise and considerate move.
This time, the McDallian Family is on a much larger scale. The multiple factions within the main family and the numerous groups under their control are likely aligned with one of the factions. It goes beyond just seven organizations. The McDallian Family's influence is vast, extending to fourth- and fifth-tier groups.
Even if we destroyed all of them, the Kikyo Society couldn't manage the resulting vast territories. It would create a power vacuum, inviting new forces and causing more chaos. We can't eliminate everyone, and dealing with the remnants would be inevitable.
The rational decision is difficult, but my answer is clear and simple.
"...We will kill them. We will avenge our fallen. We will do it."
The anger of my fallen comrades is my anger. There is no reason to suppress it. Even in a calm state, this is the right decision.
Killing should be avoided if possible, but there are situations where it is necessary. We've been through this many times, and today, everyone's opinion aligns.
I am angry, more than ever. Controlling my surging magic is impossible. I let it rage like a storm, speaking for the unfulfilled wishes of my fallen comrades.
Just do it. Worry about the aftermath later. Being paralyzed by fear is foolish.
Our priority is clear. The most important thing for us is not the management of the McDallian Family's territories but avenging our fallen. Nothing else matters. No matter what happens, we must eliminate them first.
"Rooooooooaaaaar!"
Everyone, unable to contain their anger, let their magic surge as they shouted in unison.
After the roar, they started moving with purpose.
"Josephine, gather the necessary information!"
"I'll collect and organize it right away. Just give me a moment!"
Leaving this unchecked could lead to another attack, possibly soon. We can't waste time and risk more danger.
We will settle this with the McDallians as quickly as possible.