Chapter 56

56.

Inside the audience chamber dimly lit by candles.

I observed the green-haired maid in front of me before speaking.

“Is this person affiliated with the Black Swallow? The Black Swallow, they’re essentially Alberto’s subordinates, right?”

“They are actually a secret organization directly under the imperial household. Charles is one who specializes slightly in assassination among the Black Swallow.”

“I see.”

Though I doubt it’s just ‘slightly.’

Charles, who was kneeling quietly with his head bowed, was clearly present before my eyes, yet his presence and气息 were faint. It felt as though he’d disappear like a ghost if I looked away.

“Come to think of it, when I visited the southern district, I saw him running a spice shop…”

“We conduct outward activities to conceal his identity, and he often disguises himself in various ways. Charles is the most skilled at disguise within the Black Swallow.”

“Indeed.”

Charles’ presence slightly wavered. Could it be that he lost focus from the compliment?

“Anyway, please rise and take a seat.”

swish—

A faint sound barely audible.

Charles subtly moved his body to express his respect. Despite wearing a frilly, wide-skirted maid’s uniform, he produced no noise whatsoever until he was seated. It was a movement that could serve as a prime example of stealthy action.

A small circular table temporarily placed in the audience chamber for pudding was now ready. After Charles took his seat, Alberto poured the tea.

A sweet and refreshing aroma spread subtly throughout the audience chamber.

Sipping the tea, its slightly bitter taste warmed me, driving out the evening’s chill.

“Firstly… The Black Swallow was an organization established by the late emperor. Only the emperor, empress, and chamberlain are aware of its existence.”

After clearing his throat slightly with the warm tea, Alberto continued.

“The organization is rather small in scale, but the reason for the Black Swallow’s creation is simple. The emperor needed eyes, and the Black Swallow served as the imperial household’s hands, feet, and eyes beyond the capital.”

Following Alberto’s explanation, to summarize:

Initially, the Black Swallow was created merely to promptly receive news from the empire.

However, when central nobles and bureaucrats began their power-grabbing antics, its role gradually shifted to become an information guild and an undercover surveillance organization.

As an organization directly connected to the emperor, its members each possess exceptional abilities, and irrespective of their origins, they’ve been well-raised and educated since childhood, ensuring their loyalty to the imperial household.

It’s also said that details such as the number of members, their names, ages, and appearances are strictly kept secret.

When Alberto crossed over to the Eastern Continent to seek a cure for the late emperor’s illness,

He scoured the vast continent with the aid of a part of the Black Swallow, but as their stay extended, their once sturdy information network collapsed.

A suitable supply of talent disappeared, and with the central nobles aggressively searching, they’ve only recently managed to restore functionality.

“Currently, only Her Majesty the Empress and your highness can oversee the Black Swallow’s status and issue commands. My instructions are secondary.”

Alberto’s statement was affirmed by Charles slightly bowing his head.

“Under normal circumstances, I manage and oversee the operations. The main task involves verifying the reliability of collected information and investigating various incidents across the empire. We also control information when necessary.”

“Information.”

As someone who was a modern person in my previous life, I’m well-aware of the importance of information.

Being the first to know can allow one to manipulate the flow of funds.

Through the manipulation and control of information, one could make someone a hero or a notorious criminal.

Equipped with prior knowledge, one could massacre the enemy and turn one’s allies into an undefeated army.

Seeing how the development of communication has revolutionized civilization, its importance is indescribable.

Even the higher-ups in this world must know the importance of information, which is why the counterintelligence agency known as the Central Intelligence Department exists, and why various information guilds operate throughout society.

However, the extent of information’s influence is something known only to the select few involved in running the state.

“Currently, there are three members of the Black Swallow operating domestically. Most of them operate under aliases, with Charles as ‘Owl,’ and the other two as ‘Field Mouse’ and ‘Stray Cat.'”

These two work as a merchant and a mercenary, respectively.

Alberto concluded his statement by lifting his teacup again.

Acting under codenames, a secret organization directly under the imperial household…

“Black Swallow… Could there possibly be anything else hidden?”

“Haha… No, the Black Swallow is it.”

“That’s good. My head already hurts.”

By the way.

This green-haired maid named Charles.

“Strangely familiar.”

Though I’ve never seen their face before,

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu around Charles. It’s that usual feeling one gets when you meet someone you’ve encountered casually in life…

Looking into their amber eyes.

The calm and elegant manner in which Charles drank the tea.

On the surface, she was the epitome of a palace maid. The stark contrast between her behavior when I met her in the southern district and her natural acting skills confirms her prowess in disguise.

Amber eyes. A master-level assassin.

Assassin…

“Ahh.”

I remembered. The group of assassins that appeared when I first arrived in the capital.

The feeling was similar to the last one who appeared, breaking the roof.

“Wasn’t this the person who injected me with poison?”

At my gaze, Charles’ amber eyes subtly moved to avoid meeting my look.

As we locked eyes, with her shifty gaze darting around, Alberto curiously asked,

“What do you mean by ‘injected’?”

A bead of sweat trickled down Charles’ cheek in response to Alberto’s question.

Haha. Look at him.

There’s no way Alberto ordered the execution of a potential candidate.

You infiltrated the group of assassins on your own initiative and fired a poisoned needle at me.

I evilly chuckled and answered Alberto’s question.

“At the selection ceremony, you fired a poisoned needle at me. It hurt quite a bit.”

“What…?”

“At the time, I was so caught off guard that I couldn’t cut off your head, but I almost got into serious trouble when I swung my sword.”

Hearing my explanation, Alberto glared at Charles while sucking in his breath.

“Ah, now it makes sense why the guy who went out to the defensive wall returned with one arm damaged. So there was indeed an incident.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Alberto turned his head after glaring at Charles, who was bowing with a despondent look.

“You mentioned you were struck with a poisoned needle—how was the antidote handled? The poison Charles uses is custom-made, so there’s no readily available antidote.”

“Ah, the poison is fine. It has no effect on me.”

“Y-you…?”

Alberto looked at me in puzzlement, scratching his chin. Charles was also gazing at me with a slightly open mouth.

Come to think of it, I had instructed an investigation into those who had poisoned the food during the selection ceremony.

“Was Charles in charge of investigating the individuals who poisoned the food?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Charles, how far has the investigation progressed?”

“I’ve organized a separate report on the progress. Here…”

Charles suddenly reached into her chest area and pulled out a document, handing it to me.

“It’s been carefully preserved.”

With a confident gaze and a curiously warm document,

The document listed noble families and merchant associations under investigation as targets, along with a detailed description of the poison’s distribution channels.

“It seems to be quite advanced…”

If we track it a bit more, we might be able to catch them for sure.

“When the investigation is complete, how do you plan to handle the situation?”

At Alberto’s question, I rested my chin in thought.

Though storming in and suppressing them is an option, the timing wasn’t ideal.

The grand festival is approaching. The vacancies caused by eliminating nobles and bureaucrats have been slowly healing.

It’s too hasty to handle it now when the aftermath would be more problematic. Simply cutting off the heads of the culprits and confiscating their assets wouldn’t be enough.

‘There are many connections with merchants. Ah, we should look into that too.’

In truth, in order to dismantle the Gluen Cooperative, which has Kierson as its master, we need to grow another merchant house to rival it.

By breaking the merchant houses involved in the attempted poisoning and directing them to be absorbed, it would help their growth. After thinking this through, I informed Alberto.

“At least until the wedding, let’s continue the investigation but delay the execution.”

After all, it’s a grand festival with visitors from other countries.

We can’t invite them to a place where headless corpses are rolling around and blood flows like rivers.

That reminded me.

The numerous requests for fief approval due to the vacancies among the nobles and bureaucrats.

These cursed lords, with the grand festival approaching, are trying to end current disputes quickly to safely absorb fiefs during the festival period.

If the messengers from other countries see all the conflicts happening across the country, it would be an immense disgrace.

Soon, we’ll have to send an official letter written in blood.

No fighting allowed until the grand festival. What happens if you violate it? Try it and see.

Shaking my head as I recalled the mountain of documents piled up in a corner of the audience chamber.

“Charles, do you have any other pending tasks?”

“There is an ongoing common task for the Black Swallow. Investigating and tracking spies infiltrated within the empire.”

“Spies… Spies?”

Is the Central Intelligence Department also handling what the Black Swallow is doing?

If they missed someone like Valray infiltrating the Royal Knights, the state of the Central Intelligence Department must also be concerning.

Although they have the authority to investigate as an intelligence agency, it seems they’re only doing their job halfway.

‘Let’s see.’

Spies, grand festival, Black Swallow, Central Intelligence Department…

Something suddenly came to mind.

“Alberto, I have a good idea.”

“Another plan…?”

Looking at Alberto who was curiously staring, I said,

“During the grand festival, let’s manage all spies active within the empire. Specifically, the reorganization of the Central Intelligence Department while handling the spies.”

“The Central Intelligence Department?”

“Yes. Isn’t the festival the best environment for shadows to run amok?”

During the festival, people’s minds relax, and the atmosphere becomes carefree.

A lax empire. In other words, it’s the perfect day for undercover agents from other countries to be active. Which means it’s a good time for hidden pests to come out.

“Time for cleaning.”

Not only pest extermination but also to reorganize the Central Intelligence Department that’s just eating its pay.

The goal of internal purification isn’t far off.

Enjoy the upcoming festival to the fullest. I’ll enjoy it too!

*

It has been two days since I learned about the Black Swallow organization in the audience chamber.

While reviewing the list of spies investigated by the Black Swallow and secretly discussing specific methods,

I headed toward the small conference room to hold a meeting with representatives of various government agencies ahead of the upcoming festival.

“Please take good care of it.”

“Yes, please leave it to me.”

Alberto left first to prepare for the meeting.

I left Rani in the audience chamber to assist Iris and headed to the small conference room with Charles.

The small conference room is where I held talks with the two dukes.

Back then, it was what one could call a situation of issuing a declaration of war rather than a genuine discussion. However, this time, I came to exchange opinions on the management of the empire.

Although I do plan to convey the spy cleaning plan at the conclusion of the meeting,

‘But I will conduct the meeting properly.’

Thud.

We arrived in front of the small conference room.

Momentarily looking at the door, incomparably small compared to the great conference hall, I turned my head.

“Charles.”

“Yes.”

swish—

Charles, lifting the hem of her skirt slightly before bowing, disappeared from that spot.

The disappearance of a Master-level assassin, like scattering into the air. Her subtle presence vanished as she left to monitor the surroundings of the small conference room.

“Security preparation complete.”

If anyone tries to eavesdrop on the meeting, Charles will handle them.

Her presence, fading as if disappearing from the world.

Acknowledging the performance of this excellent security system, I opened the door to the small conference room and entered.