Chapter 410 - A Complicated Act of Revenge
We moved a short distance away from the tavern to a slightly elevated spot. From here, we can keep an eye on where those thugs from the tavern are heading.
We parked the vehicle and got out, leaving Gradena and Heidi asleep inside.
"Violante, what about the usual hideout?"
I addressed the presence hiding in the shadows of the trees. Emerging from the darkness was the Gochou of the Second Combat Unit. Tonight, he’s been reassigned from his sister’s protection to assist us.
"So far, there’s been no unusual activity."
"Still? Those morons aren’t scared, are they?"
Attacking an empty house with a sleeping person inside should be easy enough for kids. We could do it all in under fifteen minutes, including walking there. I know they’re not as capable, but to take twice that time and still not arrive is ridiculous.
They might have already finished the job, but it wouldn't be surprising if they’re taking a detour or something.
"Wait a moment... I’m picking up some voices. They’re close to the scene and seem to be taking their time. Do you want to listen to their conversation?"
She skillfully manipulates wind magic to pick up distant voices. They must be within range now.
"Probably just idle chatter. If they say anything interesting, let me know."
"...It seems they encountered the Bluecoats on patrol. It took them some time to get past them."
"I see. Berliza’s always working, even at night. That explains the delay."
I focused mana in my right eye to enhance my vision and perception, keeping an eye on the Gulgandi hideout in the distance.
Inside the hideout, only one person remains, and they’re undoubtedly asleep. A group of about ten is approaching, splitting up in pairs or threes, likely to avoid attracting attention from the Bluecoats.
They gathered at the hideout without any issues, muttering quietly about how to break in.
The sleeping man is alone in the rundown shack. They could either sneak in and steal the drugs without waking him, bind him before he wakes up, or even kill him outright.
Even among criminals, a dead body would certainly attract the Bluecoats’ attention. The risk is high unless they have the skills or connections to cover it up.
The hideout is reportedly stocked with a significant amount of drugs. According to Heidi’s reconnaissance, there’s enough to fill half of a two-meter by two-meter, one-meter deep shelf. That’s a lot.
To put it in perspective, it’s like a closet-sized shelf, half-filled with drugs. Each block is worth over two million on the street, so the total value is likely in the hundreds of millions.
For a bunch of lowlifes from a backwater tavern, it’s an enormous amount. But that’s why they’re so eager. The dream of a quick fortune is right in front of them.
I doubt these roughnecks can pull off the job without waking the sleeper or making a mess.
The likelihood of a violent confrontation is high. Whatever they decide to do, our plan is pretty simple. As long as they attack, we don’t really care how it turns out.
"One of them entered through a window earlier, but now they’re going through the front door. The lock-picking is sloppy. They’ll wake him up."
"The sleeping gas should be wearing off soon. Ah, he’s waking up. I can see the mana reactions becoming more active. With all that noise, it’s no surprise. Violante, can you hear what the guy inside is saying?"
"I can hear some commotion, but not the words... Ah, he’s showing his face at the window. He seems to be using a communication device to alert his companions."
"More likely a status update than a call for help. They’ve finally opened the door."
The man inside must have noticed. He leaned out the window and stumbled outside.
But there were more thugs waiting by the window. I expected a fight, but the intruders froze. It looks like some magic is restraining them.
The Gulgandi member who came out didn’t seem concerned. He walked towards the waterway and boarded a surprisingly fast small boat, quickly disappearing from sight.
"...That was a smooth escape."
"They must have decided to run at the first sign of trouble. Impressive given how groggy he looked. He could have killed them, but he didn’t."
A dead body would mean more than just a scuffle. He probably wanted to avoid drawing attention. That’s the mindset of a highly trained operative who’s come from outside the continent.
The thugs who were left behind quickly started filling bags with the drugs.
"Another seed planted."
"Well, it’s just a way to pass the time for us. If it goes well, it’ll be a bonus."
Our enemies are operatives from outside the continent. They’re a small but capable group, and they’ve had several clashes with the authorities in Berliza.
"These competent individuals should normally be free from petty troubles. But how would they handle repeated minor incidents while dealing with a formidable opponent?"
"They might ignore one or two, but if it keeps happening, they’ll get irritated. Especially with the timing of expecting their elite reinforcements."
"Hehe, we’ll keep piling on the petty annoyances until they crack."
We’ll monitor multiple enemy hideouts and intentionally cause minor troubles. Throwing stones to break windows, slashing tires, damaging and stealing property—whatever it takes. They can’t report these incidents to the Bluecoats, so they’ll have to endure.
It’s a silly tactic, but one the authorities would never consider.
This drug heist is a significant event, but it doesn’t hold much value for them. They can’t risk a bigger fuss over such low-value goods.
With Berliza in turmoil over undead-related issues, the Gulgandi are at a critical juncture. They can’t afford to miss their chance to strike a blow by welcoming their elite reinforcements.
If they can endure the harassment, that’s fine. But if they crack, someone will start blaming others for mistakes. Best yet, if they start suspecting betrayal.
While the incidents we’re causing won’t be public, our plan won’t end there. We’ll plant more seeds.
"Shinogami here. The leaf heist went smoothly. Jinna, how’s it on your end?"
"This is Jinna. We’re still monitoring, but I expect movement tonight."
Under Gradena’s orders, Jinna planted the location of a different Gulgandi hideout to a severely addicted drug user. There are indeed drugs worth a ridiculous amount of money stored there.
Addicts with impaired judgment and desperate for money will act without thinking. They’ll steal clumsily, and it’s unlikely to go well.
Stopping the theft would be one thing, but dealing with amateur thieves is a different matter entirely. If someone notices and reports it, the hideout will become unusable.
Even if they don’t know how the addict learned about the location, the Gulgandi will have to abandon it to be safe.
While they can’t directly damage their high-value drugs, forcing them to relocate is a significant inconvenience.
"This is Layla. It went well here too. Something interesting will happen tomorrow or the day after."
"Shinogami here, good work. For tonight, that’s enough. Stand down everyone except the surveillance team."
The final touch was a subtle operation. We secretly damaged the roof of another Gulgandi drug warehouse. The forecast predicts rain all day, so this will cause water damage.
If the expensive drugs get wet, it will be a significant loss. Even if the damage is minimal, it will still be a major issue for the Gulgandi.
Next morning.
As predicted, it started raining early in the morning. The sky was overcast, and the rain was expected to be heavy early in the day, then taper off into a drizzle.
Despite the gloomy weather, today’s harassment will be just as lively.
Early in the morning, supported by the surveillance team, I moved with Roberta to a specific location. We parked the vehicle and waited. Thanks to the rain and early hour, there were few pedestrians around.
"—This is Roberta, understood. Yukari, I’ll get ready."
"Be careful."
"Don’t worry."
Roberta, in a playful tone, stepped out of the vehicle and opened her blue umbrella. Today, she’s dressed like a young student, in a cute checked skirt and a stylish blouse. Combined with the blue umbrella, it’s a look that’s far from intimidating. In better weather, she might have drawn attention.
But under the heavy rain, no one was paying attention to us.
Suddenly, Roberta vanished. It wasn’t movement but the effect of an illusion spell. Now we’re ready. The invisible umbrella repelling raindrops looks quite surreal.
Leaving Roberta invisible, I drove the vehicle a short distance and parked at a vantage point.
The time is now. There are a few pedestrians, and vehicles occasionally pass on the mostly empty road. A car is approaching at about thirty kilometers per hour.
Thirty kilometers isn’t particularly fast. Vehicles around here typically travel at this speed, and the risk of an accident on a clear, well-lit road is low. But not in this heavy rain.
The white car splashed through the rainwater, heading our way. The invisible umbrella moved to the side of the road, then changed direction at the right moment.
Roberta appeared in the middle of the road just before colliding with the white car.
The driver must have been caught completely off guard. There was no time to brake, and the car struck Roberta, sending her flying into a puddle.
She didn’t try to get up. The blue umbrella, lying nearby, looked particularly striking.
A few passersby stopped, stunned by the accident they had just witnessed.
The car that hit her belonged to a Gulgandi member. It wasn’t an accident—it was targeted. She’s well-equipped and trained enough that the impact wouldn’t have harmed her, and I wouldn’t even try to hit her.
After a few seconds, the white car sped away. They had no choice but to flee.
Intellectuals of an enemy nation can’t afford to be caught by the authorities in a traffic accident. I knew they would run.
Once the car was gone, I stepped out of the vehicle, holding my umbrella.
A nearby man, who had been watching, ran to help the fallen Roberta. He seemed like a genuinely kind person, trying to check on her.
"How is she? I have a mid-grade healing potion."
I approached and spoke.
"T-that’s good. She’s conscious, but I can’t tell the extent of her injuries."
The man, intimidated by my intimidating eye patch, stepped back.
I squatted down, holding my umbrella over her, and helped Roberta drink the potion.
"...You can drink on your own. Can you stand?"
"Ugh... I’ll try."
Despite being perfectly fine, she used me for support to stand up. She’s a Drama Club member, so her acting wasn’t bad.
I told the kind man that I would take care of her and sent him off.
"I’m soaked. I want to go home and take a hot shower."
"Hehe, you acted the part perfectly."
"Did you see? I shattered the window too, so the car is probably unusable now."
This will force them to acquire a new vehicle and waste time covering up the accident. The Bluecoats might investigate, and the accident will be a significant issue for the Gulgandi.
These minor troubles will sap their morale. If we can break their spirits by the time their elite unit arrives, we might crush them completely.
Not just through force, but by making them feel like the odds are against them and that they have no chance.
While there’s no guarantee of success, this is a way to pass the time and experiment for the future.
Eliminating the enemy isn’t just about killing them. Considering and executing various plans builds experience that will be useful later.
Yeah, they’re the perfect group to mess with.