Chapter 88

With the full deployment of all the Guard’s troops and the Blueport garrison, I was able to obtain a general idea about them roughly a day after starting the investigation.

First, their organization was called Blue Mold, and the boss and executives came from the Count’s territory in Petersburg in the Northern Alliance.

The lower members were refugees and ruffians from Blueport, and they were occasionally supplied with food, alcohol, and courtesans through Zone 5.

Given that the supply had been ongoing, it seemed likely that at least a mid-level manager from Zone 5 was involved.

Fortunately, I had started taking action now, before substantial damage had occurred…

If I had delayed taking action, something horrifically unimaginable would have likely happened.

As I was gathering and analyzing the information provided, a soldier entered the room and reported.

“I report to Count Croilet Your Excellency! Private Sands, of Lieutenant Mark’s squad, has captured a low-ranking executive of the enemy and, after interrogation, it was revealed that the organization’s leader is a knight named August Nikolai, under the Count of Petersburg.”

A Count from Petersburg, huh? That gentleman mentioned that he was a Count under the Duke of Kiev when he met with the King of the Northern Alliance a few months ago, right?

Still, it doesn’t seem like a wise strategy to threaten me in such a way…

“Continue.”

“The Count of Petersburg ordered August Nikolai to create a route to sell vodka and various illicit alcohol, while simultaneously directing him to obstruct trade in Blueport as much as possible. In a few days, he planned to scatter vodka in Warehouse No. 2 and set it on fire.”

Using highly flammable alcohol with a 70% concentration, they intended to play with fire.

The outcome was all too obvious. If Warehouse No. 2, located closest to the docks, burned down, many sailors and merchant seamen living nearby would surely perish.

In the chaos, they would likely send in their lackeys to seize control of the port to make me look foolish.

While I’m not entirely sure how they meant to outsmart me yet, they could sell vodka–cheap to produce and highly addictive due to its high alcohol content–to the sailors.

Surely, they would start by selling vodka at a very low price, and once they’ve secured a customer base, raise the prices to reap huge profits.

Eventually, they’d entice sailors to get involved in criminal activities through vodka.

I’m glad to have caught wind of this wicked plan now.

“Private Sands has accomplished a great feat; I will reward him later, so he can go now. We still need more information.”

However, the soldier before me didn’t seem to intend to leave just yet, as if he still had more to report.

“Is there still something to report?”

“Yes, this is a letter that I cannot access by my authority, but Major Valentine insisted that I deliver it to Your Excellency.”

“I understand. Just drop that report and then you may leave.”

At that, the soldier saluted and stepped back.

After reading the letter, I found that it contained detailed information on nearly all the regional branch locations and their expected sizes.

It seems these informants are quite skilled at the work they do.

Notably, it was mentioned that upon bringing a language interpreter from the Northern Alliance and translating, a Romanian accent was detected…?

Then I struck my desk and stood up to address those inside.

“Everyone, don your armor and prepare to deploy. The enemy consists of roughly 500 elite troops; even the weakest of them are infantry trained in our territory. Move to convey orders to your respective battalion leaders and act under Colonel Beerman’s instructions.”

“What about Your Excellency?”

I smiled at the young lieutenant who had asked me this question.

“I am your lord and sovereign, and a shield defending this city, or rather, the Croilet Count’s territory. Is that not so?”

“Yes.”

“Then to earn their loyalty, I must fulfill my duty, even if it risks my life. That’s what sets me apart from Count Schwabin.”

**

Next, I took action alongside Lieutenant Short and Major Frost.

“Frost, what’s the armament status of the soldiers?”

“We outfitted those at the front with greaves, and the rest have at least half armor. Since fighting is highly likely in buildings and alleys, they’re equipped with swords, maces, and crossbows instead of just spears.”

“Good. How are the soldiers holding up?”

“There are some complaints since we’re moving out at night, but everyone is physically fit.”

“Understood.”

Then, as we entered the narrow dock area, we divided our 300 troops into squads and advanced forward.

Of all the squad leaders accompanying me…

“Lieutenant Mark, it’s the first time I’ve seen you since Stuttgart.”

Remembering Mark’s name brought an emotional expression to his face, and he struggled to control his voice as he replied.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“I was also pleased to hear that you became a lieutenant.”

“It’s an honor.”

At this, I clapped my hands to draw attention and said.

“According to the operation plan, you and I will lead the charge head-on, placing ourselves in the most dangerous positions… Are you confident you can protect me?”

“Leave it to me. Since the battle in Stuttgart, I’ve trained my troops to the max, and even a sergeant under your command would have the advantage over our opponents. Major Frost has also allocated 50 soldiers for me, citing this as my opportunity for a promotion to lieutenant.”

Although the headquarters we were heading to is the largest scale, as it was essentially composed of Frost’s battalion, my elite guard…

Even if every single one of them were veteran soldiers, we would easily win.

And they probably only have about 50 men…

There’s hardly any chance that I’ll be harmed at all.

“Then I can rest easy. By the way, didn’t Lieutenant Short come along?”

“He’s currently with Major Frost at the rear of the headquarters. He’s likely to flank them perfectly while we suppress the front.”

As we spoke, focusing on the necessary details for executing the operation, we approached quietly.

When we got close to the enemy’s headquarters, Mark gestured to a nearby sergeant.

Receiving the signal, the sergeant waved his hand to lead about ten subordinates forward, and he began to smash the door with a two-handed hammer.

As each thud sounded, the thick wooden door began to weaken, and shortly after, it cracked open.

Inside the cracked doorway were chairs made from almost rotting oak barrels typical of slums, low-quality pickled herring, beer, and half-decayed meat.

Roughly 20 men were staring at us with surprised expressions.

To show them a modicum of mercy and facilitate interrogation, I shouted.

“I swear in the name of SIEL von Croilet, if you surrender, I will guarantee your lives. However, if you resist, you will meet a pleasant end accompanied by torture.”

Upon hearing this, they shouted back loudly.

“Say that nonsense back when you were a kid, holding onto your mother’s skirts and playing hero!!”

“And what is our lord doing here, you stupid little fish!”

“It seems you’re just a fool blinded by achievements to sell out our lord!”

Then they each grabbed various weapons lying on the floor and charged at us.

Our soldiers, meanwhile, approached them, laughing as they raised their shields and said.

“The one standing before you is none other than Count SIEL von Croilet! And you are about to regret this today!!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Thus, the brigands approached first and swung their crude weapons at our soldiers.

At the sound of clashing metal, their weapons were deflected, and some began to shatter.

Next, the soldiers tripped or kicked down the bewildered brigands, who couldn’t land any hits.

“Argh!!”

“Please, please spare me…”

“That’s a matter for the Count to decide. If you want to live, confess everything you know for your sake.”

“We only came here because we heard there’d be food… Please spare us, noble sirs…”

I answered in a cold voice.

“With your limbs intact, how dare you commit crimes in my territory and claim hunger was your excuse… Even beggars in our realm get two meals a day… what a ridiculous excuse.”

I pretended to smash the brigand’s wrist with my mace.

At this, he began to cry and plead with tears and snot dripping down his face.

“Please, spare me. I will tell you everything I know.”

“Good, then where are the executives?”

“If you enter further inside, there’s a large room. The executives’ room is in there.”

After hearing this, I raised the mace I had resting on his wrist and spoke to my soldiers.

“Leave about ten men here to bind them, and the rest will follow me to the executives’ location.”

“Understood, Your Excellency.”

“And Mark, you take the lead. You’ll need it to get promoted to lieutenant, won’t you?”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing that, Mark, brimming with the dream of being promoted, stepped forward with enthusiasm.

Next, our soldiers smashed the door open with their maces.

Inside, the executives were in the midst of a wild party.

With alcohol aplenty, several were toying with women and indulging in pleasure…

In movies, this is the moment where the executives get caught, but in reality, leaders of criminal organizations don’t usually indulge in such at their headquarters…

They must be influential figures from Blueport they’ve invited.

“Damn, Frost must have captured all the executives! Arrest them all!!!”

And thus, we apprehended everyone inside, including the courtesans.