Chapter 299 - Reaper’s Retribution
A midsize jeep drove briskly down a deserted street in the middle of the night. In the countryside, it’s common to see no one around at this hour.
Following the GPS, the jeep pursued the mastermind, whose destination was a bar on the outskirts of the pleasure district, where the Vigilante Captain was waiting. Members who had arrived ahead of us had blocked off the main route, guiding the target into a trap.
"Right now, they’re driving parallel to us on the second alley. Turn right at the next intersection and follow behind. They’ll soon be trapped in a dead-end alley." This report came from a member observing from the rooftops.
Following the instructions, we soon encountered a car reversing in front of us. In the narrow street where a U-turn was impossible, we closed in on the reversing car.
Under normal circumstances, the driver would have complained, but the mastermind, sensing something was off, tried to move forward and ended up stopping again in a dead-end.
Wearing dark cloaks and skull masks, Siegrune and I got out of the jeep and approached.
We wanted to finish this before he could cause a commotion.
We circled around to the driver’s side. Siegrune forced the door open with brute strength, and I leaned in to deliver a punch. Without hesitation, I struck the middle-aged man’s midsection and face, rendering him defenseless. We dragged him out of the car and brought him back to the jeep.
"There’s probably no witnesses. It went smoothly."
"Thanks to the perfect diversion. Now, let’s interrogate him before we take care of him. Is there a good place?"
"There’s a cave by the shore. We can make as much noise as we want there."
We left the driving to one of the members and moved to the cave. I also instructed the member who had been giving directions to dispose of the abandoned car.
After a short drive, we reached a stretch of shore that doubled as a running path. We walked to one of the caves, carrying the unconscious mastermind by his belt.
The shore was dark and the sand was slippery, and the waves were crashing loudly. It was a windy night with high waves.
"You found this place well."
"It’s famous among the locals. It’s a shallow cave, not suitable for tourism."
We cast a light spell to illuminate the cave and threw the mastermind into a tidal pool. Startled by the sudden immersion, he woke up, disoriented and panicked. Despite his fear, he managed to keep his composure, though the terror was evident on his face.
"You know it’s pointless to make a fuss."
"W-Who are you?"
"Don’t play dumb. Who would you think?"
Even with our skull masks, our voices and build revealed that we were women. The mastermind, more familiar with the town, knew that women wouldn’t be kidnappers in this situation.
The only logical conclusion was that we were the new arrivals from the notorious Kikyo Society.
"Alright, let’s get to the point. Before I take care of you, I have some questions. Listen carefully. Very carefully."
Siegrune took over after a few seconds of silence.
"...Do you understand? You will die here. You can either die painfully or easily. Your choice."
"It’s better not to lie to us. For every lie, one member of your family will die."
"You have a large family, don’t you? Three daughters, three sons, and even a newborn grandchild. Plenty of room for lies."
"Stop it!"
The threat was real to him, even if it was just a bluff. Someone from Exembra, who knew us well, would see through this, but to him, it was terrifying.
Considering the broader implications of the threat, eliminating the entire family might have a high impact, but it would make us enemies with everyone. It would also be a mental burden for our members.
For the Kikyo Society, it was a bad strategy, and potentially a disastrous one.
We kill when necessary. If we decide to kill, we will. Sometimes, it might even be a mass killing.
But we aim to minimize the violence. Targeting innocent children is out of the question.
"You, who ordered a bombing without checking for non-combatants, have some nerve to say this. Did you verify that there were no non-combatants present?"
"If you do it, you’ll face retaliation. It’s a basic principle. Should I rig your entire hideout with bombs?"
"You will pay for underestimating the Kikyo Society. I have questions, and I expect honest answers."
Depending on your response, you might only face death, which would be a merciful outcome. The skull mask added to the intimidating atmosphere, enhancing the credibility of our threats.
The mastermind had indeed ordered the bombing. There were no higher-ups, but we discovered accomplices who had helped gather the bombs and gather information on our movements. They would not be spared.
Having extracted the necessary information, it was time to dispose of the mastermind.
"Now, geh—"
Before he could beg for his life, I struck him down without a word. Dragging his skull-caved-in corpse to the shore, I hurled it into the waves.
Siegrune’s sword flashed multiple times, slicing the body into pieces. I used wind magic to push the remains into the sea, and Siegrune burned the clothes to ashes. The fish and small aquatic creatures would soon consume every trace.
Only remnants like shoes and accessories might remain, but even if someone found them, they wouldn’t bother retrieving charred remains.
The retaliation for the bombing attempt was complete. Despite the grim task, we moved on to the next one.
Objectively, if we weren’t the ones they were up against, the bomb plan would have been a decent strategy. When facing a superior opponent, you can’t afford to be picky.
However, it takes a lot of resolve to carry out such a drastic plan, especially if you’re not deeply involved in the underground world. The mastermind and their accomplices showed a frightening level of determination.
This was a lesson to never underestimate even a group of minor criminals. We needed to stay vigilant.
Under normal circumstances, defending against six bombs would be impossible. Even if we survived, we would be in a state of near-destruction, with many dead or severely injured.
Even if reinforcements from Exembra arrived, without evidence, it would be difficult to know who to retaliate against.
We might have won a major victory if we weren’t the ones they were up against.
The outcome was the opposite of what they expected. There were no casualties on our side, the mastermind was dead, and the organization would likely be dismantled by the Vigilante Captain.
Those who ordered a bombing deserve nothing but death.
Now, with that out of the way, let’s move on to brighter things.
"I thought there might be a twist with the Vigilante Captain being the true mastermind, but it seems not."
"It was a possibility, but I’m relieved it didn’t play out that way."
"But did the Vigilante Captain not foresee the potential for such a situation? If he had ignored it, he would be equally guilty."
"I don’t think so. The Captain and the mastermind were rivals over the distribution of ‘Crack.’ Given our demonstrated strength and the past enmity, I don’t think he would take the risk."
It’s easy to overthink things. If he had deliberately ignored it, the events of tonight would likely change his mind.
"Next time we meet, I’ll point out the possibility and warn him that he’ll be held accountable for the actions of his subordinates. For now, I’ll let it slide."
"I’ll step up surveillance. As for the two organizations that aided in the bomb acquisition, we’ll handle them. The President and Vice-Commander should rest."
The two additional targets were already under basic surveillance, as they were known to the Intelligence Bureau.
"I’ll finish the job."
"I appreciate that, but the two targets are not the type to walk around openly. Even if the Captain calls them, they’ll likely find excuses to stay home. Especially after what happened tonight, they’ll be even more cautious."
"Secretly eliminating them requires stealth. It’s best to do it tonight while they’re least alert."
While possible, stealth isn’t our strong suit. It’s better to leave it to the experts.
"I’ll start as soon as we get back."
"If that’s the case, I’ll leave it to you."
"I’ll also report and warn the Vigilante Captain. The pressure on them will be significant."
"It’s not good to push our allies too far. Handle it well."
That night, three bosses of minor factions disappeared.
One vanished after leaving his mansion, and the other two disappeared from their homes during their sleep. They left no trace, vanishing without a trace.
Despite working late into the night, I maintained my usual morning routine.
Waking up, washing my face, stretching, and getting ready—everyone followed a similar routine, except those who disliked mornings.
Without specific orders, we gathered in front of the warehouse and set out for a run.
After a run to warm up our bodies, we repeated the now-familiar beach sprints until we were exhausted, then moved on to combat training.
The morning training by the sea, basking in the sunrise, was quite invigorating. It felt like a school club or a youth activity.
The members were energetic.
Whether it’s a bomb threat or a dirty job, maintaining a routine and doing enjoyable activities is good for mental and physical health.
Even a short, intense training session left the beach in a state of disarray, which we all worked together to restore before heading back to the warehouse.
After the training, it was time for a meal. We feasted on a hearty soup packed with fresh seafood, followed by an elegant tea time. It’s important to maintain a balance, even in rough times.
While savoring tea and sweets, I casually listened to the after-action reports from the previous night. Sensing the approach of a small vehicle, clearly not a local, I suspected trouble.
Even without hiding our location, it seemed to have spread quickly.
The reinforced composite armor walls would withstand cheap explosives, so there was no need to be overly cautious.
The worst-case scenario would be if they entered and detonated themselves, but I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. If it did, we’d have to rely on our resolve.
"Who could it be now?"
"Maybe another messenger from the Vigilante Captain?"
As we chatted, the member who had gone out to greet returned without dismissing the visitor.
"Pleased to meet you, the famous Kikyo Society. I’ve heard much about you, but you’re quite a large group."
The man, a plump merchant, scanned the warehouse with two burly men who were not armed, presumably his bodyguards. He seemed to be trying to show that he meant no harm.
Everyone’s gaze fell on the member who had let him in.
She made a playful gesture and showed what looked like a silver coin. She had been bribed. Well, I suppose we could hear him out.
"Today is just a social visit. I’ve brought a gift!"
Caught off guard, he started promoting himself loudly.
"Hey, come over here and show your faces to everyone. What do you think? They’re handsome and fit. I’ve trained them to be capable guards, and they can handle any miscellaneous tasks. They’re enchanted with high-priced magic items, so they’d never disobey. Oh, and, heh heh, they’re quite energetic in that way too—"
He was a slave merchant, trying to sell to us.
His audacity was impressive, despite the cold, hostile atmosphere.
Everyone’s gaze returned to the member who had let him in, but she pretended to be oblivious.
As I pondered how to deal with the pointless sales pitch, another small vehicle approached.
The instigator from earlier went outside, and the member showed another silver coin, this time to a new visitor.
"Nice to meet you... Wait, you! You fraud!"
"Who are you calling a fraud!"
I don’t know what happened, but a physical altercation broke out.
We had no energy to stop or eject them, and we ignored the pathetic fight. Instead, we all turned our cold gazes on the foolish member who had let them in.
Despite their questionable methods, their sudden interest in us was likely due to our alliance with the Vigilante Captain.
Our victory in the pleasure district had demonstrated our strength, making us a valuable ally.
Others would likely follow, and various factions in the town would try to approach us. The next few days might be busy dealing with them.