Chapter 87

When sneaking somewhere, it’s generally common to wear black clothing at night and take advantage of the dark to enter.

However, wearing black clothing for infiltration should only be for stealing enemy confidential documents or for assassination.

In other cases, sneaking in wearing black or concealing robes can lead to getting killed as it may appear suspicious.

So, I decided to play the role of a noble who has fallen into luxury, cast out by Croilet Count Your Excellency’s reforms in order to ensure the success of my mission.

If the Northern Alliance is summoning even knights, they must belong to the city’s privileged class, but they would most likely prefer corrupt nobles who would provide information even if it means selling out their own.

To implement this plan, I went to the Blueport Treasury Department’s Operations Budget section where budgets are allocated.

I showed them a letter stamped with Croilet Count Your Excellency’s seal and my identification.

“I am Lieutenant Short, a scouting squad leader under Commander Valentine. I need a budget to carry out the operation ordered by Count Croilet; how much can you provide?”

“Yes, understood, Lieutenant Short. How many personnel do you need for the operation?”

“About five, including myself and my informants.”

Then, the budget manager in front of me adjusted an abacus a few times and spoke in a cold voice.

“I have confirmed that this is a command using an A-grade seal. Accordingly, the amount we can allocate for the operation is thirty gold coins. If you need more, you can write a letter of justification over there and receive up to seventy additional coins. Also, be careful as you will need to submit accounts for all budget expenditures after the operation, and failure to get approval from a commanding officer of Lieutenant Colonel rank or higher may lead to investigation for embezzlement.”

It’s one thing to receive the necessary budget, but to be told I have to submit all operation records makes it hard to even embezzle a single silver coin…

Of course, it’s better than not getting anything, but I didn’t expect budgeting to be this difficult.

The budget manager handed me a parchment bordered in gold that stated thirty gold coins and a document to write the budget execution details.

“Wishing you success, Lieutenant Short.”

**

Dressed in a blue silk outfit that doesn’t suit my disposition, with a very soft shirt made from hemp fibers, trousers with gold buttons, and a cane tipped with silver.

Wearing all of this made me feel like an idiot noble who can’t even dress properly.

Maybe because of that, as I walked through the streets…

“Mom, that guy is a noble, but his clothes are weird! He’s not even wearing a wig and wearing blue clothes with black trousers! The gold buttons make his waist shine!”

“Dear, that person probably just doesn’t know how to wear noble clothes because Count Croilet made him a noble.”

“Really! Mom seems to know so much!”

I was also a target of ridicule for the semi-nobles similar to me.

Damn, after this mission, if I get promoted to lieutenant, I’ll use the bonus received from the Count to buy proper clothes and hire a servant. What is this nonsense?

So, after about half an hour, drawing attention from people, I headed to the place where I was supposed to meet my informants.

In an alley that had a gloomy atmosphere even in broad daylight, rat-like creatures scurried about, and occasionally, gigantic cockroaches would see me and flee in fright.

To exaggerate slightly, it felt like no one would notice if someone died in a place like this, and then a large fellow came out and spoke to me.

“Sir, the password.”

“The Black Count brings the White Death.”

Upon hearing the password, the large man extended his arm politely and pointed inward.

“Inside, sir, you are being awaited.”

“Thank you.”

As I entered, a swift-looking old man with a head full of white hair was waiting inside.

“Greetings, my lord. You are dressed splendidly, it suits you well.”

“Enough with the nonsense. Count Croilet is a bit displeased lately due to the rat-like creatures loitering around Blueport. So, I’ve been stuck chasing their tails. So, have you found a way to approach them?”

Upon hearing this, the man looked at me and mimicked rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, hinting for information payment.

So, I handed him ten gold coins and said, “Do you feel like talking now?”

“Of course. I have already prepared a way for you to approach. Go to a tavern called the Bat’s Rest in two hours and tell the one looking for Mother in the North that ‘Mother in the North is already dead.’”

“Mother in the North is already dead…”

“When you do that, I will connect you to the one who will allow you to join that gathering.”

“Got it, I’ll take my leave then. Have the other informants infiltrated as well?”

“Yes, I’ve already sent four sharp-minded ones in. I’ve also instructed them to mention a semi-noble named Short who is quite dissatisfied with society.”

“How did you tell them to present it?”

Then the fellow in front of me hesitated for a moment and asked.

“U-Um, I did it on my own, but I did it to match your request, so please don’t be too harsh.”

“It’s between you and me, right? It’s obvious. Over thirty and still unmarried, he’s a pathetic fool who’s very fond of women, meanwhile complaining greatly about Count Croilet.”

Although I have been recognized for my abilities by the Count to a degree beyond what I had envisioned before enlisting,

Those who have been part of Croilet’s nobles and have fallen out like us are simply full of complaints and chasing after women.

Saying it that way would have some persuasive power.

“Yes, but that’s still slightly lacking to convince them… Perhaps you could say that he wishes to kidnap a beauty like Ela with your assistance…”

Is this guy insane? Even if I successfully complete this mission, the Count would surely say, “To insult my beloved Ela, I’ll have to put three holes in your neck.” and come at me with a knife!

This bastard must have a grudge against me.

“Are you crazy? No matter how it is…”

“It won’t get found out anyway. And after I catch those guys, they’ll probably hound you about Short, but do you think the Count would believe that? Besides, it’s not that he wants Ela, but someone like her, right? If you are pressed about it, you can make excuses saying that.”

“Damn it, I was planning to hand over the remaining twenty gold coins to you because I trusted you… I’ll give that to you if I survive after the mission!”

Usually, they would throw a fit saying, “Hey, why aren’t you giving us the money after we’ve already done our job?” but perhaps because he had committed a crime, he fell silent.

And I moved towards the tavern.

Damn, even if I succeed, I might just end up getting a lot of delightful experiences from Count Croilet.

A few months ago, a foolish captain was beheaded in front of others for making sexual jokes about Lady Ela in the barracks.

Of course, making such jokes about the Count’s concubine is an act of blasphemy and he deserved to die…

But what if things go awry and I end up getting caught for that blasphemy? My head might not roll, but enjoying forced labor and having my position stripped from me would be…

“The ruler of the slums thought I would do well, but because he can’t get rid of that bad habit, he tells me to jump into the river with a stone around my neck! Damn!! If that bastard hurts someone from my jurisdiction, I’ll personally make him pay!”

**

After meeting the ruler of the slums, I quickly went to the Bat’s Rest and found the person I was supposed to meet.

That guy was nearly pleading with a voice overflowing with grievances and indignation to rid himself of any doubts about me.

“I, Emil Brown, have served Croilet for four years, and my family has served his family for over 200 years. Yet Count, no, that Count doesn’t repay my loyalty. Though I may have slacked off a bit, that bastard Frost, who couldn’t even look me in the eye before, recently nodded at me as if he owned the place!!! Dammit!!!”

“What? You say I’m incompetent? How ridiculous! While I’ve only served the Count for four years, I have fought alongside him on countless battlefields! It’s not that I couldn’t keep up with the Count’s progressive reforms! Having reached this point, I’ll ruin the Count’s territory that disregards my loyalty to acknowledge my value! Indeed, perhaps Count of Petersburg will recognize my worth.”

“And I heard the beauties from the North are beautiful and broad-hearted. Doesn’t such beauty suit someone like me? I happened to be introduced here by a friend of a friend. This is not a rebellion but a revolution.”

“Oh, come to think of it, you were acting as a bridge to introduce me to the Count of Petersburg. Fine, take me. I’ll give you two gold coins if you do well… But make sure to speak well to the commander.”

After causing a fuss like this and persuading the informant to return me to the commanders, he seems to no longer doubt me.

For some reason, he seems to think that selling out his master for a madman from Petersburg who has no common sense or concept is a good deal.

Thus, I followed that guy and was guided to a place where the officers of those claiming to be in the Northern Alliance gathered.

“Knock three times on the door and say ‘When morning dawns, I will lift Kachusha’s skirt.'”

“Got it.”

Then, I knocked on the door three times as instructed and said, “When morning dawns, I will lift Kachusha’s skirt.”

And then the door opened.

Inside there were people who seemed to be officers, each dressed in half armor, quilted armor with designs, and surcoat cloaks.

I intuitively moved to the lowest seat and spoke so they could hear.

“I am Emil Brown. I have come to escape the tyranny of Count Croilet, who disregards nobles, and to serve the wise Count of Petersburg.”

My slightly humble introduction as a noble seemed to please them, as the man seated in the innermost good chair smiled and said,

“I thought a knight with land would look down on us, but you are surprisingly humble. An informant has brought a fine person.”

“Though I am a noble, that is merely the story of Count Croilet’s territory. If I am to defect to the Northern Alliance, I must treat my seniors well, right? Hehe… please take good care of me, sir.”

“Sir? To hear that from someone with land, it’s all due to the Count of Petersburg’s prestige. Very well, but you seem to have not eaten, do you want anything?”

Since it was late at night, and instead of alcohol, he asked what I wanted to eat…

It seems they are contemplating whether to trust me based on this choice; of course, given that I have given the impression of a fallen noble, I would be regarded as nothing but a throwaway if they did trust me.

I, being a noble in name, will share real information to ensure that they feel like they are gaining trust.

What I need to show is strong determination to defect through food.

“I would like a delicious dish from the Northern Alliance. From the moment I arrived here, I’m a vassal of Count who is the great pillar of the Northern Alliance, so I must eat Northern cuisine.”

“Very well. I’ll serve you borscht and pirozhki. I believe you will find it delicious.”

Before long, a strange soup full of red broth and a dish resembling thick dough were placed in front of me.

“Please eat well. In the North, both nobles and commoners enjoy this dish.”

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

I then picked up the borscht in front of me, took a sip of the broth, and put a pirozhki into my mouth.

The borscht was rich with turnips, had a slight sweetness, and smelled of meat broth, while the pirozhki was thick and filled with meat, providing a satisfying fullness with just one bite.

“Very delicious. This borscht is far tastier than I expected.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, and this pickled turnip on top…”

“Oh, rather than seasoning with salt, it is traditional in the North to use pickled turnips for seasoning. This time, mix that with the broth and taste it.”

Mixing the pickled turnip with the broth in the borscht created a slightly familiar taste.

Yes, it was the taste I remembered from my childhood…

“This borscht is truly delicious. The pickled turnip melds in so well, making it truly delightful. I never thought I would have such a delicious soup that combines sweetness and saltiness in my life!”

“Is that so… If you finish, you should try our Northern Alliance’s unique drink, vodka. It is very strong but tasty.”

Then I drank the strong alcohol filled in a white glass.

As soon as I drank, it burned like fire in my throat, causing me to cover my mouth with a napkin and cough.

“Cough, cough, it’s really strong.”

“That’s the taste of vodka. To be a part of our Northern Alliance, you should be able to drink this like water.”

“Is that so?”

Then, the representative in front of me lifted a glass filled with vodka and loudly declared,

“To Sir Brown, who deserted the vile Croilet and has come to serve Count of Petersburg!!!”

With those words, we each took a drink.

After a few more toasts, I followed the informant to the Bat’s Rest.

I quickly headed towards Commander Valentine’s house.

It seems this too must be directly reported to Count Croilet. Those fools, these uneducated ones will surely not hide this.

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