Chapter 670

“The surveillance network of the Edricksa defense force is flawless. Not only is passing through the castle gate impossible, but even attempting to climb the walls under the cover of night will result in immediate detection the moment you approach. Thanks to the mobilization of eighty percent of the defense force, there are no blind spots whatsoever.”

Frigg began to earn her keep. She drew a flat map of Edricksa on the dirt floor.

“Flying in from the sky is also likely impossible. Some of the border guards are monitoring the skies above Edricksa in preparation for attacks from flying monsters.”

“Thorough. This makes infiltration quite difficult…”

In terms of security level, it surpassed even Exra-shapel.

Well, it’s only natural. Exra-shapel is a city several times larger than Edricksa, surrounded by three layers of outer walls. To create a surveillance network of this level, an entire legion would have to be dedicated to wall monitoring.

There’s no waste quite like that.

“Breaking through the castle gate or scaling the walls isn’t what we call infiltration. We didn’t even consider those two options from the start.”

Frigg shook her head and pointed to a corner of the map.

“Though Edricksa looks like an impregnable fortress, it’s not without its weaknesses. Here, the sewer connected to the Balt River is a prime example.”

“The sewer?”

“Yes. It’s a facility that directs the city’s wastewater into the main flow of the Balt River. The entrance is located deep underwater, making it impossible to observe from the walls.”

“That seems like a pretty critical flaw… Would they really leave it unguarded?”

I twirled the cigarette in my mouth with my fingertips and asked.

“They probably left it. That sewer also serves as an emergency escape route for Intelligence Department personnel. Hrapun Krakar, the head of the Dane Intelligence Department—Muninsira—said it was a getaway route prepared in case the royal family decided to dispose of him.”

Frigg effortlessly spilled Dane’s classified information.

In terms of combat ability, she’s below even Hersh, let alone Nigel. The reason I brought her this far was for this very purpose. No one knows Edricksa better than a Dane Intelligence Department agent.

Right now, she was quite literally a righteous traitor. In a way, she’s like my junior.

No, actually, she’s closer to being a proper traitor.

While I, the senior traitor, gained my position through strength and achievements, Frigg was securing her position by selling state secrets without hesitation, as befits a traitor.

Anyway, Frigg seemed to believe that currying my favor would ensure her and Knut’s safety, and despite her carefree expression, she was actively selling out Dane.

======[ Edricksa ]======

Edricksa’s mid-level clerk, Broman, was the epitome of a middle-aged civil servant you’d see anywhere.

He entered the royal palace daily, but without much to do, he idled around until the sun began to set, then clocked out—a true salary thief.

To the lower-ranking officials, he was practically a role model. Who wouldn’t envy a life where you laze around and still get paid on time?

Of course, Broman didn’t do *no* work.

Though it wasn’t common, when the workload became so massive that even the entire clerk staff couldn’t finish it on time, Broman would abandon his leisurely attitude and hunker down at his desk, scribbling away at piles of documents.

During those times, Broman would showcase a level of efficiency that lower-ranking clerks couldn’t match, proving why he hadn’t been fired despite his usual laziness.

‘Even so, a mid-level clerk is still a mid-level clerk.’

‘Right, if he were truly incompetent, he wouldn’t have risen to that position.’

‘If only he were a bit more diligent, he could’ve been promoted to a senior clerk.’

‘You don’t get it. That’s the art of living. If he became a senior clerk, he wouldn’t be able to laze around under the royal family’s watchful eyes.’

A capable middle-aged man enjoying a peaceful, happy, and leisurely life in a sweet position. Among the clerks, Broman was seen as just that kind of person.

Exactly as he intended.

—-

“Seven sausages, four grilled salmon, and three portions of lamb, properly packaged.”

“Haha. That’s more than usual today! Please wait a moment!”

After leaving the royal palace, Broman stopped by his usual restaurant to order dinner.

It was a routine affair. After clocking out, he would often visit this restaurant to pick up dinner before heading home. Though the amount was a bit much for one person, the order itself was nothing out of the ordinary.

Shortly after, the restaurant owner, who had gone into the kitchen, handed Broman a small box containing the food wrapped in oil paper.

“Thank you.”

“Come again!”

Leaving the smiling, bowing owner behind, Broman headed home with the box in hand.

His residence was a small stone building located in the eastern district of Edricksa. A single-story, one-room house. Though a bit cramped for a family, it was the perfect size for a widowed middle-aged man living alone.

– Click.

Arriving home, Broman unlocked the door and stepped inside. The interior was dark, as he hadn’t turned on the lights.

Broman placed the box of dinner on the living room table, hung his coat on the rack, and headed to the study. There was a small task he needed to finish before dinner.

“……”

As Broman reached the study door, his eyebrow twitched slightly. His gaze fixed on the doorknob. After a moment of silence, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The dim study greeted him with piles of documents on the desk, shelves filled with books, and a longsword hanging on the wall.

“You’re a bit late.”

Along with an uninvited guest.

—-

In the darkness of the unlit study, a woman leaned against the wall, watching him. Though her figure was obscured by the shadows.

If Broman were an ordinary middle-aged clerk, he would’ve suspected a burglar or assassin and screamed at the top of his lungs. Or perhaps bolted outside to escape.

Instead, Broman calmly closed the study door behind him and let out a faint sigh as he looked at the intruder.

“To walk back into danger after escaping… You’ve become quite reckless. I never taught you to take unnecessary risks.”

“That was before.”

“So now there’s no need?”

The woman leaning against the wall took a step forward, her hand resting on the hilt of the longsword at her waist.

Her carefree face, half-hidden in the shadows, gave off an eerie, ghostly vibe.

The former Intelligence Department agent and wanted rebel knight, Frigg, smiled as she looked at Broman.

“Yes. I’m no longer part of the Intelligence Department, so I don’t need to follow their rules. Isn’t that right, Director Hrapun?”

Mid-level clerk Broman—no, Hrapun Krakar, head of the Dane Intelligence Department—let out another sigh.

“If you fled to the Empire, you should’ve just laid low…”

Before him stood his unfaithful subordinate, who had abandoned the Intelligence Department for a man.

—-

“There’s only one way to infiltrate Edricksa without causing a commotion. Did you sneak in through the sewer?”

“Yes. Aside from the smell, it was quite a pleasant passage.”

Frigg twitched her nose slightly as she recalled the sewer’s stench.

The smell was so bad that even the Empire’s Greatest Sword, wearing a strange mask, complained that purification devices were useless.

For Frigg, it felt like a murderous tiger had sunk its teeth into her neck.

“Crossing the Empire’s border and returning means you’ve chosen to fully cooperate with them. Coming straight to me… I see. You plan to eliminate His Majesty the King and Ragnar?”

“Quick on the uptake. I like that.”

“You and Knut alone couldn’t pull that off, so you must’ve brought someone from the Empire. Who did you bring?”

Frigg raised her left hand, pointing not at Hrapun, but at the study door behind him.

“He’s right behind you. Meet him yourself.”

No sooner had her words ended than the study door swung open.

Hrapun reflexively turned and lashed out with his right hand. A pitch-black dagger shot out from his sleeve, aiming for the intruder’s throat.

“Your greeting’s a bit rough.”

The swift and precise attack, worthy of a seasoned assassin, was caught and crushed like clay in the intruder’s left hand. The black iron dagger couldn’t withstand the grip and crumpled.

“Hmm…”

Hrapun let out a low hum as he looked at the uninvited guest who had effortlessly neutralized his ambush.

Eyes glowing a vivid blue even in the darkness.

Cloaked in a black robe and wearing a strange mask over his face, his identity wasn’t hard to guess.

“The Empire’s Greatest Sword…!”

Ai-shan Gi-or Ha-shal-leur stood before him.