Chapter 86

The situation is so chaotic that I need to calm down and look at the whole picture as objectively as possible, just like the saying goes, “The more urgent it is, the more you should take your time.”

Otherwise, I might miss the most important context.

So I spoke to a passing soldier to cool my head.

“Could you bring me some warm tea and snacks? I haven’t eaten anything.”

“Yes, understood. Your Excellency.”

After a little while, the soldier returned with a good amount of snacks and two cups of tea.

I handed him five coins and took a snack from in front of me, washing it down with tea.

As sugar entered my system, my head cleared.

“Captain, are the informants reliable?”

“Yes, they are. Since this incident is of a large scale, we only deploy those we’ve built a trustworthy relationship with, at least for over a year.”

Most of the informants are seasoned criminals who were caught for theft, assault, fraud, and gang-related activities.

So generally, they are not to be trusted; however, those who have worked with the same soldiers for over a year can be believed.

Because, usually, informants are paid with the private funds of soldiers and the support of the guard, so unless the soldiers are fools, there’s no need to hire someone useless while splitting money that is like their own blood.

“Then it seems I can trust the informants. That means what they heard is certain… Do you happen to have any known members of the criminal organization captured?”

Hearing that, the captain spoke in a subdued voice.

“We tried to infiltrate with a few of our soldiers based on the information provided by the informants, but we lack the numbers to take on the entire organization. So…”

“So currently, you’re just gathering information. Good, if you’re going to do it half-heartedly, it’s better not to do it at all.”

“Then can you tell me all the information you’ve gathered up to now? If we have 300 soldiers assigned to the guard, and even if we mobilize them all, the scale of the issue would still be too much for us… I might have to step in.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Please wait a moment.”

The captain left me for a moment, went to his office, and returned shortly with a locked black box.

He opened the box and took out the documents inside.

[There are about 40 members stationed in about 5 to 6 places in Blueport, estimated to be around 70 to 80 in total. Each of the leaders presumed to be knights is stationed inside. They occasionally cook and eat dishes from the Northern Alliance as if longing for their hometown. They are currently planning kidnappings and ransom demands targeting nobles, sabotage against the facilities of merchants, and the abduction of artisans.]

Seeing so many members and leaders presumed to be knights certainly indicates a lot of power behind this operation by some noble.

From what is visible, the leaders look like lower-ranking nobles from the Northern Alliance.

Moreover, their actions—kidnapping nobles, extorting ransoms, sabotage, and abducting artisans—point to a strategically criminal organization aiming to deal a fatal blow to our territory.

However, if such an organization is not uprooted but instead mishandled, it will evolve into a malignant entity that delves deeper and corrupts society.

So, I could only exclaim my utmost disdain towards this wicked opponent.

“I can’t believe it. These wicked devils! They certainly learned how to take advantage of others from their parents!”

As I grew furious, the captain beside me bowed his head and apologized.

“I’m truly sorry for causing you concern due to my incompetence, Your Excellency.”

“No, if you had intervened clumsily, the problem would have become worse. Thank you for reporting it after understanding the details.”

I then handed the captain a pouch of rewards.

“When problems arise, I instructed you to assess the situation and report if things seemed unmanageable. You followed that command perfectly. Things will get busier from now on, so let the staff go home on time today to spend time with their families.”

**

After returning to the officer’s quarters from the guardhouse, I read all the documents the captain had brought.

My impression was that their intentions were incredibly sinister…

Because…

While I was lost in thought, I heard the door open, and three people entered.

“Colonel Beerman and two others report to Your Excellency as ordered.”

“You’ve worked hard; please take a seat. The situation is dire.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

I then unfolded a large map based on the documents prepared by the captain in front of them and spoke.

“Currently, a criminal group claiming to be from the Northern Alliance has entered the dock area, Region 5, Region 7, Region 8, and Region 12, and we’ve received a request for support as we are struggling to respond with just the guard’s forces. This isn’t certain yet, but according to the investigators under the captain, it seems there is at least one knight among the leaders.”

Hearing that, the expressions of the ones sitting in front of me grew grave.

“How could they have dishonored their oath to the point of invading our territory to commit crimes? They must have completely lost their marbles.”

“I simply cannot comprehend. To break the oath as a knight and turning to a path of evil and engage in crime… It’s utterly unacceptable behavior for a knight.”

“Croilet has never strayed from its duties during a war; this is simply too much.”

“However, war is originally like this. If they aim to destroy the opponent, as long as their outward honor remains intact, they must use poison to control them. Thus, they are merely acting in line with what is expected of nobles.”

For example, common actions include assassinations to kill enemy lords, nobles, or their families, spreading false rumors to damage reputations, etc.

Delving deeper, there are actions like deploying criminal groups into an enemy territory to disrupt law and order, or mobilizing tremendous capital to monopolize food in territories reliant on imports.

Though I suspected we would face such actions someday, now that we’re experiencing it, the feeling is far worse than I imagined…

“Enough. The fact that thousands of soldiers and hundreds of knights have not mobilized does not change the fact that this is war. No, it’s even worse than a war; they are trying to starve the citizens of my territory using such devious means… Thus, we must eliminate these criminals as swiftly as possible. I will now convey future directives.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the three in front of me lowered their heads.

“First, Colonel Beerman, command all soldiers except the minimum necessary for training to eradicate the criminal group. While you’re away from your position, instruct the trainees to provide minimal training and support to civilians. Once the problem is resolved, commence with full-scale training.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Scout Commander Valentine, you are to disguise all but the absolute necessary scouting forces as peasants and infiltrate the criminal organization. If funds are needed, do not hesitate to claim them.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“And Frost, you…”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“My unit and yours will suppress the enemy headquarters as soon as our headquarters is confirmed. For a time, alternate resting and training for the soldiers, and advise them not to waste their energy by going to the barracks unnecessarily. That will be all.”

**

Today, fortune smiled upon me.

Though I just woke up and barely made it to work this morning…

On my way, I found a silver coin on the street and picked it up, and I was able to buy a bread blended with wheat and milk, akin to that of nobles, for a cheap price from the baker I often patronize.

Oh right, I’m a noble too since I’m now a second lieutenant.

Anyway, not only that, but on my way, I also caught the murderer I had been searching for since yesterday.

Hehe… Perhaps today is simply a lucky day, but…

As soon as I stepped into the office, Long, the private who usually saluted me, spoke in a serious tone.

“Colonel Valentine is looking for you. It seems an important mission has been assigned.”

The tasks given by that gentleman Valentine are always arduous and dangerous.

I adjusted my uniform and entered the office of the scout commander to greet him.

“Lieutenant Short, I have received orders from Scout Commander Valentine!!”

“At ease. Please sit. Huh… this is going to be challenging. By the way, would you like a snack? It’s a cream puff made by Count Valentine; it’s surprisingly delicious.”

That gentleman, being over 40, loves sweets so much that even though he buys meat and alcohol for the soldiers with his salary, he never shares snacks for himself…

Even before we even began talking, this snack junkie offers me a sweet treat granted by Count Valentine.

He’s certainly throwing me into a monumental task, damn it, I felt lucky today.

As I readied my mind, I popped the cream puff into my mouth.

It crumbled in my mouth with a delicate crunch, and inside was sweet cream melting like snow… Damn, it’s incredibly delicious.

I might have to splurge on my salary to buy some.

“Is it good? The Count made it together with Ela. It’s an honor for the family to receive pastries made by the Count and Lady Ela.”

I eagerly shook my head in agreement while savoring the flavor of the cream puff.

Once I finished the cream puff, Valentine placed a letter stamped with the Count’s seal on the table and spoke in a serious tone.

“Actually, we’ve been investigating a string of disappearances and sabotage incidents that have been occurring frequently for the past few days. Upon investigation, it was revealed that a group presumably from the Northern Alliance is manipulating things.”

“Then isn’t this a problem the guard should resolve? While they may not be elite soldiers, there are quite a few trained individuals stationed in the guard…”

Upon hearing this, Valentine sighed.

“The number of these visible enemies is at least 500; it could be over 1,000 in reality. And if they set ablaze even one more warehouse, the territory will be in peril. Fortunately, the warehouse they have consumed was empty; had it contained sugar or salt, we might have had delayed salaries.”

In other territories, it’s common for soldiers’ wages to be postponed for months if needed, but in Croilet, the idea of wages being delayed…

Is simply something that doesn’t happen unless a famine arises that could cause thousands to starve.

So, does this mean that neglecting this issue could lead to the ruin of the territory?

“This is extremely serious.”

“That’s why the Count has ordered you, who killed two knights while infiltrating Helzman Castle, to carry out vital missions. The letter I placed on the desk is the commander’s order. Please take a moment and read it.”

I then stepped away to a quiet place and opened the letter.

[Lieutenant Short is hereby ordered that from the moment of receiving this letter, you are to be treated as being on a two-week leave of absence under my command. During this time, infiltrate the enemy headquarters located at the dock and extract as much information as possible. Based on that information, I will personally lead Colonel Frost’s battalion to destroy the headquarters, so I ask you to investigate thoroughly. If successful, you will be promoted to lieutenant and receive reward money based on the degree of your accomplishments.]

After reading the letter, I felt certain.

If I fail, I’ll either end up dishonorably discharged with luck or face execution without it…

Today truly is a fortunate day.