Chapter 375 - Tiger’s Den: Do Not Enter Lightly
I returned to the Academy from the hotel, preparing myself despite the lack of sleep.
I’d reported everything I’d seen and heard at that suspicious noble’s villa to the Berleeza Intelligence Department last night and left the investigation to them. Since the incident happened on their turf, it was their job to uncover the mysteries and take whatever measures were necessary.
As a group that hadn't even hung up our sign yet, we were busy enough and didn't want to stick our noses into unnecessary business.
It might be a bit late, but I figured I’d hand the Intelligence Department a clear benefit and make sure they didn't involve us in any more chores.
Fortunately, I’d acquired quite a bit of treasure. That would be useful immediately. A gift like that would be very effective, ensuring they’d give us even more special treatment than they already were.
Under-the-table money is great because it has more uses than a formal budget. You can use it for organizational activities, or as a big bribe without anyone complaining. You could even just pocket it yourself.
That’s why even with tax money that should be part of a formal budget, those in power and the officials are constantly creating strange, confusing systems to funnel it into the dark.
And then villains like us move in. We end up in the same boat, and more and more money flows into the deep darkness.
Those in power find themselves in a situation where they can't betray the villains, and a terrible dynamic is born. Once that happens, it’s smooth sailing, a perfect mutually parasitic relationship. We’d be in a position to easily reap the rewards. Well, hopefully.
"Alright, time for another day's work."
Once I’d fixed my appearance, I headed to the dining hall.
I finished breakfast quickly, and it was already time for classes to start. That said, as someone who only had to do patrols during class hours, I was quite free. With the Disciplinary Committee active, the Academy was peaceful, so it wasn't a problem to slack off. I could even manage a nap.
After making good use of my time, I put some effort into my club activities.
Mission number two, the comeback of the Magic Doll Club, had become something I genuinely enjoyed. I made an effort to show up and guide them, and I never slacked on it.
I made sure my sister and Harriet forgot about their worries and focused on the club. Especially for my sister, this was a rare study-abroad opportunity and a chance to enjoy club activities. Putting aside the Anastasia Union’s internal struggle, I didn't want her getting caught up in any other strange fights.
Once my time at the Academy was finished, tonight was the big night for the raid.
Valeria and the others would stay at the Academy to guard my sister, so they wouldn't be part of the Badu-Lot raid. Having Gradena and the others come to support us meant we could split our forces like this.
After another nap following dinner, the violence was finally about to begin.
Apart from Heidi and the other Intelligence Bureau members who were watching the enemy, Gradena and I headed toward the enemy hideout and met up with them.
Gradena left two members at the hotel and met up with six people, including herself. Counting me, that made seven.
Objectively speaking, each of these seven was a match for a thousand. Even one of us was enough to take down a small organization, so seven was definitely overkill.
I didn't think we could lose, but I made sure to stay sharp. Our opponent was a dark organization that even the Berleeza Intelligence Department had failed to grasp for a long time. They weren't just common thugs.
Still, we didn't hold a position as one of the three major families in Exembra, the city of villains, for nothing.
We’d show them once and for all who was superior.
As we moved in two vehicles, I had some small talk with Gradena, who had too much time on her hands.
"So, Badu-Lot is just a bunch of hacks who can only use roundabout magic like curses, right?"
"I wouldn't say that. We don't know much about them. Besides, unknown magic is always a threat."
"So we have to accept that we can't just fight them head-on... how boring."
This time, we weren't going in for a normal brawl. Our plan was to crush them one-sidedly.
A talisman seemed to be able to block their curses, but if we fought them head-on, we had no idea what kind of trump cards they might pull.
It would be one thing if only Gradena or I were affected, but it would be the worst if any backlash hit my sister. You always have to assume the worst when dealing with unknown magic.
"But their organization only has five members, right? That’s tiny. You’re saying all five of them can use curses?"
The number was just what we’d confirmed so far, and apparently, the hideout wasn't large enough to hold many more.
"It’s a rare magic aptitude, so I doubt they all can. Judging by the frequency so far, there’s likely only one curse-user."
"Then that person must be the leader. If we're capturing them alive, we might have to take one curse to the face. They’ll definitely fight like their lives depend on it."
This was another job where we couldn't kill anyone. The Berleeza Intelligence Department wanted to talk to Badu-Lot about the associates we hadn't found yet. They also wanted to ask about unsolved cases, and going along with their wishes was a good chance to earn a favor.
Whether the state agency would actually pay back that favor would depend on the situation, but Moore, as an intelligence officer, was likely the type to care about such things.
Being able to get just a little help when it matters can be a life-saver in a pinch. In a land far from our headquarters, such favors will surely be useful someday. Kindness is its own reward, as they say.
"I have no intention of letting them try any last-ditch efforts, but we’ll have to rely on the talismans just in case."
We wouldn't get cocky. We’d strike hard and fast. If we left them on the verge of death and stripped them of the ability to use magic, we’d be fine.
Once we’d captured them and sealed their magic, we could heal them and take as much time as we needed for interrogation.
As we continued our talk, we arrived at a middle-class residential area.
Apparently, a normal house was being used as a hideout, which explained why it had been so hard to find.
I glared at the enemy’s nest from a rooftop a short distance away.
"This is Heidi. All five targets are asleep. However, we haven't identified the leader yet. Maybe our timing was bad, but they don't move much and barely talk."
Heidi was currently monitoring the hideout, completely erasing her presence. It would take a lot of focus even for me to find her.
"This is Shino-ue. If we don't know, then so be it. Heidi, you and your team continue the surveillance."
After hearing the brief response from the surveillance team, I spoke to Gradena.
"Even Heidi’s team couldn't figure it out? I guess we can't just leave the leader and take out the rest."
"We’ll just have to capture them all. It doesn't change what we have to do. I’ll make the first move, and everyone else will follow my lead."
After monitoring for several hours, you can usually tell who’s in charge. The location of their room, where they sit, and overheard conversations usually give it away. If they didn't know, it might be an organization that didn't have a formal leader.
Fine. We’d just catch them all.
I’d use my opening move to incapacitate them all at once, and Gradena and the others would use magic-sealing shackles while restraining and then healing them. That was the plan. It didn't matter if the target was just the boss or all five. We had enough people, and they were currently asleep. If this didn't work, I’d have to tip my hat to them.
"...Tch, I have a bad feeling about this. It’s like last time. I hope it goes smoothly."
The magic reaction from the Badu-Lot hideout had a uniquely unpleasant vibe.
I couldn't quite put it into words, but it was just... nasty. It was likely the magic being emitted by some kind of artifact.
"Even I can feel a strange presence radiating from there. So this is Badu-Lot. It’s just like Heidi and the others said."
Heidi and the surveillance team hadn't been able to do anything about the various trap-like artifacts placed around the area. It was the same when I tried to sense them.
At the slum building, there was a trap that released a massive amount of poison gas and collapsed the building. This was their hideout. We couldn't rule out the possibility that they were a group of professionals who had similar traps prepared and would choose to die together if it came to it.
And the number of tiny magic reactions was abnormal. This was likely a measure to prevent us from tracing the artifact placement or mana paths. It would be a chore to take them out one by one, and in a case like this, there were likely traps that would trigger if we took out any of the magic reactions.
If we also had to do it without being noticed, the difficulty skyrocketed.
Again, I realized their preparation was anything but normal. They were the most professional group we’d ever faced.
"We have to act while we can, otherwise we don't know what they’ll do. We have to assume the traps will trigger. We’re pushing through."
"Poison gas isn't a problem for us. And they're inside their own hideout, so I doubt they’d use a trap that kills everyone indiscriminately. Don't worry, we won't let them do a thing."
Even the strongest poison gas was nothing compared to the miasma the Evil Dragon emitted in the Netherworld Forest. That was certain.
"Alright, I’m starting. You guys stay sharp and don't let them notice you."
"Leave it to me. Move out, you lot."
Gradena led her team and moved closer to the target house.
The late-night residential area was silent, and we were completely blended into the darkness with our presence erased. It would be perfect if we could just get this done quietly and leave as if nothing had happened.
I focused on my magic from about a block away from the house.
The grounds of the house were already within my domain. I proceeded extremely quietly so they wouldn't feel the magic being cast.
First, I’d use poison gas on my own terms. A colorless, odorless gas that would end things the moment they breathed it in. A boring attack without any style.
It wasn't my taste at all, but this time I was focusing only on results. I didn't want any curses triggered, and I didn't want to miss even one of them. We were finishing this tonight.
Even if they had a magic item to detect poison gas, they’d have already inhaled it by the time it detected anything, so it would be too late. The only issue was if they had artifacts that neutralized poison. I had to proceed assuming they did.
As I secretly funneled the poison gas into the house, I closely monitored the internal mana.
My poison gas was fast-acting. If they inhaled it, they’d collapse without being able to move a muscle. So if anyone moved, it meant the poison had been neutralized.
If it was neutralized, I’d use a thorn spell to pierce their lungs. I kept that spell ready to go. I’d trigger it immediately if needed; no useless resistance allowed.
It took about thirty seconds. By now, everyone in the house should have inhaled the poison gas. It was safe to assume no one was moving.
"...This is Shino-ue. The enemies are silent. They are all silent. Watch out for any of them playing dead."
My worries were for nothing, as it seemed to have worked. Gradena’s team, leaving one person outside, rushed into the house.
Heidi and the surveillance team were watching the surrounding area, so I left that to them and rushed into the house myself. I wanted to see the faces of the Badu-Lot members.
By the time I entered, all five enemies had already been restrained. No traps had been triggered yet. Things were going well.
I dispelled the poison gas and entered a nearby room where Gradena was.
"Every single one of the Badu-Lot guys is out cold. This was too easy."
"Yeah... it was almost disappointing."
Badu-Lot was an organization that even the Berleeza Intelligence Department hadn't been able to track.
We’d shaken down a noble and found their hideout. The nasty magic I could still feel was definitely their style. I didn't think this was the wrong place.
But still, it was too easy. Had I missed something?
"Let's just start the interrogation."
"Right, I’ll detoxify him and wake him up."
No point overthinking it. I’d clear up my doubts while interrogating him.
The bearded man who woke up shrunk back in fear when he saw us in our skull masks. We’d used magic-sealing shackles and restrained his hands and feet. He must have understood the situation and realized that struggling was pointless.
The bearded guy was muttering to himself, as if he were praying. He was creepy.
"Hey, finished with your prayers?"
Gradena’s low voice sounded like a threat even if she was just asking a normal question in this situation.
The bearded man, with his eyes wide and sweat pouring down like a waterfall, started funneling mana into his clasped hands. That was strange. He seemed to be holding something small.
Even if they can't use magic because of the shackles, they can still channel mana, so they can actually use magic items. He seemed to be holding a ring-sized magic item he’d hidden somewhere.
"Just stop. A self-defense magic item isn't going to defeat us, let alone hurt us."
From what I could sense, it was only capable of a low-tier magic attack at best, which wasn't a threat to us at all.
I didn't think he was going to do the same thing as that noble who committed suicide.
"Hey, I said stop!"
The man’s breathing was frantic as he gripped his hands tight and poured mana into them with bloodshot eyes.
Then the magic triggered, and Gradena took a step back.
The active armor in its excited state was supposed to easily neutralize an attack even at close range.
But the attack wasn't aimed at us. It was a self-destruct. The 'what if' had actually happened.
He triggered the magic item he was holding, blowing off his own arm that was bound by the magic-sealing shackles.
"FOR THE GLOOOOORY! IN OUR HAAAAAAAANDS!"
Magic? He blew off his own arm just to use magic?
What a guy. He’s got almost as much spirit as we do.
"You bastard!"
Gradena immediately punched him to death. It was a split-second decision; we hadn't heard anything yet, but it couldn't be helped in this case. However, the magic he’d triggered wouldn't stop.
On the contrary, the magic reactions placed all over the building started to grow as if they were in a chain reaction, and the artifacts that triggered them were breaking one after another. Breaking a single-use item after it’s been triggered doesn't stop the magic it was meant to cause.
"Run!"
I didn't even have to say it; Gradena and the other members were already moving.
We’d just smash through the windows or walls and get out. It was a total unknown what was about to happen.
After a few steps, I was caught. That was fast!
"Guh... GAHAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Gradena roared, and everyone else here let out a similar scream of intense pain.
I was no exception. As blood sprayed from every pore of my body, I resisted the mysterious magic and the intense pain with a scream and pure willpower.
I separated my consciousness from my body, which was gasping and screaming in pain, and analyzed the situation. Pain alone isn't enough to strip me of my thoughts.
The self-destruct of that man was a desperate spell. The trap triggered in conjunction with it. That must have been their goal. In other words, the enemies here were just pawns.
And to set such a large trap that even I didn't notice... that must have involved someone with exceptional skill in concealment. Their technology was undoubtedly top-tier.
In that split second, I sensed and analyzed the magic. I had to do this, or we were in trouble. I couldn't panic; I just had to get it done.
The mysterious magic seemed to drain mana from anyone within its range and used it to increase its power.
The five enemies who were here had already been drained of their mana and lives, and because we were far more resistant and had much more mana, we were still alive and actually fueling the trap’s power. The trap likely wouldn't stop until everyone was dead.
Ah, but I really am a freak.
Even now, even when the intense pain made it feel like my body was being torn apart, I was sure I was smirking.