Chapter 179 - Aftermath of Discord
While heading toward the Headquarters, I can't help but think a little about the McDallian Family's impending doom. Tonight, an unbelievable number of people have already lost their lives in Exembra. Some are still in the process of meeting their end. I don't have any new feelings about it now. We simply did what we had to do. No one can complain.
Including those fighting elsewhere, the retaliation will be complete. But retaliation begets more retaliation. The so-called cycle of revenge could go on indefinitely, and it's undoubtedly the worst scenario in a rational world. Uninvolved people might sneer and criticize, but such concerns are entirely unnecessary.
Retaliation for retaliation, huh?
Bring it on. If they have the energy, we'll go all out. We'll fight until the last one is dead. We're not acting recklessly; we're doing this with resolve. Let's see whose resolve is stronger. If they can do it, let them try!
However, we'll return a thousandfold for every slight. We'll show them, make them understand. That's the way it is. Whenever and whoever, bring it on. We have the power to carry it out.
But more pressing is what happens next.
Killing is easy. Just like we did a moment ago. But what comes after. It's clear that things will be difficult from now on.
I haven't heard the results from the other combat units yet, but the McDallian Family will certainly be wiped out. By annihilating the core faction, it's a sure thing. The central figures of the McDallian Family will be eliminated.
However, we won't crush every single member, down to the lowest ranks. It's impossible for them to find legitimate jobs, and it's unlikely they'll show allegiance to the Kikyo Society. More likely, they'll disperse, forming smaller factions.
If they try to regroup and form a new McDallian Family, we'll crush them this time. But I think the likelihood of that is low. Even though the factions have been defeated, the animosity between them won't disappear. With all the charismatic leaders gone, it's easy to imagine the smaller factions fighting over the vacant territories.
These so-called vacant territories will have a significant impact. The Kikyo Society intends to secure the major areas, but we can't take everything. Most of it will remain untouched.
The vast vacant territories will likely see intense competition among the remaining small factions of the old McDallian Family and new organizations vying for control.
Naturally, this won't be just a spectator event for the Kikyo Society. We'll be buried in trouble. But being busy is a good thing, I suppose. It's karma, after all.
There's a lot to consider, but for now, just understanding the situation is enough. We can think about the rest later.
Hurrying back, I see some of our members along the way. Frederica and April are on guard duty, and everyone is mobilized. I make eye contact with them as I pass. Even a glance can convey a lot.
When I arrive at the Headquarters, Josephine is waiting inside.
"You two were quick."
"We left the rest to Verone and came back early. So?"
When I ask about the signal flare, Josephine tells me with an intrigued look.
"We informed the Clad Family of our attack on the McDallian Family, but there was an unexpected reaction."
"Unexpected?"
I inadvertently echo Valeria, and we exchange glances.
"It's a message from Don Clad. Apparently, they plan to ally with the Anastasia Union and leave the rest to us to settle with the McDallian Family."
So they've finally moved. I didn't expect them to side with the beleaguered Anastasia Union, but it seems they intend to team up and face the Gandrault Gang.
With the power balance in Exembra shifting dramatically tonight, they couldn't stay out of it. It's a relief that things are moving in our favor. I don't know the details, but it's a comfort to know that my little sister has a powerful ally.
Interesting, the players are gathering.
"So, you didn't just recall us to share this information, right?"
If it was just that, there would be no need to hurry. Valeria and I would still be at the scene.
"Not at all. Shortly after receiving the message from Don Clad, the situation changed. The Anastasia Union, who had gone into hiding, just joined the Clad Family. And almost immediately, the Gandrault Gang launched an attack on the Clad Family."
"They attacked!?"
The developments are swift. It's good that the Anastasia Union has joined the Clad Family, but the Gandrault Gang attacking them without hesitation is truly unexpected.
The Gandrault Gang must have foreseen this scenario or planned to confront the Clad Family from the start. Their proactive approach suggests they believe they have a good chance of winning.
The Clad Family, one of the Five Great Families, should have been the strongest. With the addition of the Anastasia Union, their strength is even greater.
If they fight a proper battle, defeat is inevitable. The ruthless Gandrault Gang wouldn't engage in a fight without a plan. Something is amiss.
Ugh, thinking too hard with a limited brain is exhausting.
"Hmm, I didn't expect things to turn out this way..."
"Yukari-san, I thought you should make the decision. What do you think?"
Should we move or wait and see? Normally, we'd rush to join the fight. The Clad Family aside, I want to support my little sister, and we're already enemies with the Gandrault Gang. It would be best to act while the allies are strong.
But we're still in the middle of a conflict with the McDallian Family. It will take time for everyone to return, and we can't abandon this fight.
So, should we mobilize the remaining forces?
We still have the Ninth Combat Unit as reserve, and Valeria and I are here.
Hmm... No, let's not rush into action. Even if the Gandrault Gang has something up their sleeve, the Clad Family won't go down easily. We have time to think.
The reserve forces should remain as a contingency against the McDallian Family. Even if they aren't used, it's a sign of our resolve.
Logically, this should be the right move. Logically.
...Ah, I see. Logically. I feel a strong sense of unease. This is an extraordinary situation. Josephine is asking me, as the President, what to do.
I reconsider. In an unusual situation, what's the point of doing the usual? Valeria and I can handle reserves, and Verone will be back soon. Do we really need reserves?
I voice my revised conclusion.
"Move the reserve forces. Tell Liliane to wait near the Clad Family's main house. Observe the situation and continue to wait as much as possible. Make decisions as needed."
For now, we'll move the location. To be ready for any emergencies. If the Clad Family falls, the power structure of Exembra will be fundamentally altered. If all the Five Great Families are gone, the city's strength will be almost entirely depleted. That's a loss we can't afford.
I trust the Kikyo Society, but not other organizations. Expecting them to act in our favor is a mistake. We need to move forces we can trust. If necessary, we'll need to lend a hand.
"Understood. I'll arrange the messenger right away. What about you and Valeria?"
I respond lightly as Josephine writes a letter for the messenger.
"I want to know the status of the combat units and territories. If any are struggling, I'll go to support them. I'm also concerned about the Clad Family and the Gandrault Gang, and I want to settle things with the McDallian Family as soon as possible."
I need to understand the situation before acting. There's no time for sentimentality yet. I can indulge in that later.
Josephine gives a concise update on our current situation, including incoming reports. I get the gist of it.
So far, there have been no attacks on our defensive positions. This is because we're attacking the McDallian Family en masse. They're too busy defending to do anything extra. The Gandrault Gang won't divide their forces when attacking the Clad Family. There are no signs of third-party interference, so we can be less concerned about defense.
The attacks are progressing smoothly. It's not easy with the large numbers and defensive magical devices, but our combat units' firepower is formidable. Some units are nearing the final stages. We'll break through their last resistance and achieve our goals. There's no need for me to interfere.
Verone's unit, in particular, is already in the mopping-up phase. Once they clear the remaining stragglers, they'll return soon.
After a tense wait, Verone finally returns, later than expected.
"I sent the faction leader to hell."
It's the words I was waiting for. This will help ease the spirits of our fallen comrades.
"It took quite a while. Was there something unexpected?"
I ask, slightly concerned. Verone and our members don't waste time on unnecessary things.
"Yes. That unexpected thing took time. I managed to deal with it, but it was a surprising opponent. I left some members to handle the aftermath and came back."
She looks unusually tired. Another unexpected, unforeseen event. Curious, I listen to her next words, which are like a bolt from the blue.
"The ones with the eye tattoos."
I'm genuinely surprised.
"What do you mean, the Legisamo Cartel was there?"
"It didn't feel like they were attacking the McDallian Family separately. They seemed to be part of the faction to me."
Given the situation, I turn to Josephine, who likely has the best grasp of it.
"The McDallian Family and the Legisamo Cartel. Interesting information. It's unexpected, but not impossible to understand. It might be a coup where an external organization was brought in and used. We don't know the details, but it's a common story. The question is, who was using whom?"
Indeed, it seems plausible. The attack at the assembly would have been easier with inside help from the McDallian Family. While it's premature to conclude, the situation Verone described suggests a high possibility.
I agree with Josephine's cynical assessment. It seems the McDallian Family was used. Even one of the Five Great Families can't match the Legisamo Cartel in strength and scale. It's a reckless plan to think they could.
To rise to the top, they might even kill their own parents. And use external forces to do it.
The McDallian Family was stable under Don McDallian. Problems with the Kikyo Society were ongoing, but overall, it was a stable organization. At least on the surface. The city's situation, with the mutual non-aggression pact, also limited opportunities for achievement.
In a stagnant situation, rising within the organization requires waiting for chaos or creating it.
A year in this world is long. It's been a while since the mutual non-aggression pact was signed. For ambitious forces, it might have been long enough to act recklessly.
The Five Great Families are mature organizations. They might have lacked the opportunity for growth like the Kikyo Society. If they had ambitions but were held back, frustration would have built up. Understanding the urge to tear everything down, I still won't tolerate them targeting us. Never.
"So, the McDallian Family was the mastermind?"
Valeria tilts her head.
"Perhaps, but I don't think that's the whole story. Verone, how many members of the Legisamo Cartel were there?"
"Two, acting as communication agents. I didn't realize they were from the Legisamo Cartel at first, but their abnormal fighting style, ignoring pain, made me suspect. They were formidable, so I couldn't capture them alive. I confirmed the eye tattoos on the bodies."
That's understandable. If Verone couldn't handle them, they must have been formidable.
This reveals the presence of the Legisamo Cartel and their elimination. They were likely just with the faction Verone and her team destroyed. The others attacking different factions are unlikely to encounter the eye tattoos. Still, Verone only faced two. Where are the rest?
Were they among those killed by the thorny magic? That seems unlikely, but possible. It's hard to search through the pile of bodies, and they might be unrecognizable.
"By the way, what about the others? And the aftermath you left to the members?"
"The faction members, including the leaders, were nothing special. The last thing I wanted to hear was the leaders whining about their wives and children."
She grimaces, remembering the troublesome scene. The families of enemies are a nuisance. They'll likely seek revenge. But we don't kill them unless they take up arms. They might become future enemies, but if they're not enemies now, we let them be. It's better for the mental health of our members.
Verone is kind, listening to their pleas despite not intending to kill their families.
"The combat itself wasn't a problem, but the aftermath is more challenging. It's not finished, but I called back half the team. Body disposal."
Disposal, huh. I thought it could wait, but it's better to do it sooner. Leaving so many bodies is impossible. Verone and her team are likely more busy with this than combat. We have members who can use magic for disposal, but the sheer number will take time.
Despite her annoyed look, the person who created the mess left early. I understand her frustration. I pat her shoulder and promise to buy her a drink next time.
Indeed, the aftermath will take up a lot of time for all the combat units.
Now that Verone is back, I can leave the waiting members in her and the Sixth Combat Unit's hands. We have a good grasp of the situation.
"Sorry, Verone. We'll join Liliane. You get a detailed update from Josephine."
Valeria and I are always in combat readiness, and our magic has mostly recovered.
"Wait, what?"
"Josephine, continue coordinating and briefing the returning members."
"If anything happens, I'll need to let you know before you act, but I guess that's not an option."
"Probably not. We'll have to be flexible. Let's go, Valeria."
"Yes, Onee-sama."
We hurry to join the Ninth Combat Unit.
The Clad Family and the Gandrault Gang. What a mess.
We've climbed another hill, so the afterword is back.
The conflict with the McDallian Family is almost over.
The scene now shifts to the Clad Family.
Here, a character who has been part of the initial cast but hasn't had much screen time will finally make a proper appearance. I hope you enjoy her story.
Stay tuned for the next chapter: "The Calm One's Truth"!