Chapter 90

The sprawling city of Jido, renowned as one of the largest in the empire’s territory, is bustling with countless people every single day.

In such a city, there is a man, Walter Bailey, who operates his business without worrying about expensive land prices or monthly rents.

Entering the tavern later than usual in the morning, he wiped the tables of the yet-to-open establishment with a cloth.

As he neatly organized the displayed bottles and polished the glasses with a dry cloth, Walter sat down and muttered to himself blankly.

“It’s going to be packed again today….”

Recently, word had spread about the delicious snacks at his tavern, unexpectedly attracting a large number of guests. Just yesterday, the guests had filled the tavern, and it was likely to be full again today.

Of course, a ‘normal person’ would be pleased with such good fortune.

Walter was not a normal person. He began muttering with a frown.

“Damn it, I could at least take some backdoor money… There’s no need to tuck it in a corner like this….”

For a long time, instead of just cleaning up the dirty rumor mill for the so-called ‘higher-ups,’ he had earned huge sums of money engaging in corrupt activities.

His salary as an agent for the Federal Intelligence Bureau wasn’t satisfactory, and networking with those in influential social positions was quite a tempting reward, so he took jobs without hesitation.

However, there was a problem with the last request he accepted about three years ago.

The task he was given went sideways unexpectedly, leading an unidentified employer to report Walter’s corrupt actions to the head of the intelligence department.

Walter rubbed the scar he had received many years ago and expressed his displeasure. This burn scar was a remnant of a ‘minor accident’ that had occurred due to the job he had taken that day turning out differently.

“Just because the job didn’t go smoothly, the higher-ups were informed… I bet I won’t take another job he offers me again.”

In the end, a long tail always gets caught. Not only were the illicit riches he had accumulated over the years at risk, but the work he did in return for backdoor money was also exposed.

The only fortunate thing was that the employer hadn’t said a word about his request. Thanks to that, Walter was able to evade suspicion in that incident, although in his eyes, it only looked like a thief whose foot was caught.

Still, it was a fortunate thing. He heard that quite a number of casualties had occurred due to the incident that day.

However, even without that incident, taking backroom money was a significant crime. He would have normally been immediately dismissed, but the connections Walter had built up over the years did not betray him. He was assigned to a modest tavern somewhere in Jido.

On the surface, the tavern he managed appeared to be just another ordinary establishment in Jido, but its essence was different. It was one of the many rendezvous points for agents operating in Jido.

Walter neatly arranged the cleaned glasses. Despite his grumbling, he secretly smiled at the neatly lined-up glasses.

Having run the tavern unintentionally for three years, he had become almost like the owner of the establishment. His body had grown stiff, and it was questionable whether he could function as an agent of the intelligence bureau as he once did.

‘When I retire, maybe I’ll run a restaurant.’

As he had that thought, just as he was about to place the cleaned glass back on the shelf.

– Tap! Tap!

The sound of tapping on glass reached his ears. Walter turned his head toward the noise.

Four men in maintenance uniforms were tapping on the glass door of his tavern. Walter scratched his head and approached them.

“Is today the inspection day?”

They were staff from the maintenance office who checked the power meters, magic power devices, and various kitchen facilities.

They had been working together for about two years. After inspections, they occasionally drank together and became quite friendly with one another.

Perhaps because they did rough work, their banter was lively, and they drank well, making them great drinking buddies. Seeing familiar faces, Walter waved at them with a welcoming expression.

– Ding—!

“Hey. Was today the inspection day? I completely forgot.”

“…….”

“Ah, you’ll check the power meter first, right? It’s in the shed outside, just look for the key under the flower pot….”

– Ring—!

At that moment, the phone on the counter began to ring. Walter casually rushed to answer it.

“Yes. Bailey Tavern. What can I….”

[I’m hungry. I want to be served right now.]

In an instant, Walter’s expression hardened. He asked in a tense voice.

“…Of course. What would you like?”

[One jumbo-sized salad with tomatoes.]

“I’ve noted the menu. What time should I bring it?”

[At 5 PM sharp. Another dish.]

Another dish. Walter stared at the phone with regret.

‘…Am I exposed? It’s a new phone, damn it.’

Walter’s gaze shifted to the clock on the wall. The hour and minute hands pointed precisely at 8:45 AM.

“Understood. Then.”

Click.

Normally, he would wait for the other party to hang up first, but Walter didn’t wait and hung up first. Immediately, he checked the state of the entrance.

The maintenance workers seemed to have gone to check the power meter in the shed outside. Walter hurriedly ran to the door and locked it.

– Today’s business is closed.

‘I’ll have to ask them to come back later.’

After flipping the tavern’s sign, he dashed back to the counter, violently yanked the phone line out, and headed for the kitchen with the unplugged phone in hand.

“Phew….”

Entering the kitchen with the door firmly shut, Walter immediately tossed the phone into the trash can, then grabbed a hammer from the corner of the kitchen and smashed the phone mercilessly. The phone, which had screamed with a dull sound, was eventually shattered into pieces and scattered inside the trash can.

Not satisfied with that, Walter took out a magic wand and cast a magic circle. The fire-type magic circle was his specialty.

“Burn it (Κάψτε το).”

The broken phone was engulfed in flames in an instant. Walter sprinkled cold water over the blackened remains of the phone, which had become unrecognizable.

After staring at the damage for a moment and confirming that the phone was completely destroyed, Walter looked around.

There was no one other than Walter, and he could hear nothing but his own breathing. Opening the kitchen door and checking outside, even the glass entrance door was still firmly closed.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Walter opened the storage cabinet under the sink. Digging through the cupboard filled with frying pans and pots, he felt a small doorknob in his hand.

Pulling on the doorknob, Walter squeezed his bulky body inside. It was an uncomfortable passage to crawl through at any time, but there was no room for complaints.

Beyond the small door he entered, various communication devices were lined up, and headsets for eavesdropping and receiving commands were carelessly strewn about.

Walter hurriedly put on a headset and immediately set the frequency for the communication magic.

‘Channel red. Frequency J-855001….’

– Crackle—.

As he tuned in, a desperate voice came through the headset along with a mechanical sound.

[This is Periscope One! Periscope One! Is Whiskey Two receiving well?!]

“Whiskey Two. Receiving well.”

[Currently…. is…! Crackle… happening!]

“…This is Whiskey Two reporting, and please relay to Periscope One.”

[Crackle—. Whiskey Two! Whiskey Two! Get out of there immediately! Repeat! Whiskey Two! Evacuate immediately! The crawfish has breached the trap! Repeat! The crawfish has breached the trap!]

“……!!!”

[Crackle, crackle—! Whiskey Two! Changing the menu to chicken tenders! Repeat! Changing the menu to chicken tenders!]

– Crash—!

The sound of shattering glass. The sound was very faint due to the soundproofing of this room, but Walter’s heightened sense of hearing, severely heightened from the tension, did not miss it.

In that instant, a bell rang in Walter’s head.

“Damn it!”

Walter immediately tossed the headset aside. As a habit, he cut off all the power to the communication devices and yanked open the door he had just crawled through, quickly escaping outside.

Returning to the counter from the kitchen, he was met with a shocking sight.

“Ah…!”

Far away, beyond the glass wall. A single red flower faintly blooming at the very end of Jido.

And, the four maintenance workers who should have been checking the power meter were now attempting to break through the glass window.

‘Magic is delayed!’

Walter quickly aimed his concealed pistol. This was probably the fastest he had ever drawn his gun in his life.

– Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three gunshots rang out, hitting three of the maintenance workers; one in the thigh, one in the abdomen, and one in the shoulder.

– Bang!

However, the fourth bullet failed to hit the last maintenance worker. The gap of several years had rusted his skills.

The maintenance workers continued pouring through the glass window. Walter rushed to aim at him and shouted.

“Fuck…! What the hell are you…!”

At that moment, the man who had been shot in the shoulder suddenly swung his arm and threw something. Walter quickly aimed his pistol at the man’s head, but the object he was holding was much faster coming towards him.

‘A bag…?’

It was a toolkit bag that the maintenance workers carried. Through the half-open zipper of the toolkit, something that looked like a ticking clock was faintly visible.

‘…A bomb.’

A bomb. While a single magic bomb wouldn’t have a huge effect, a bag full of bombs like that could be catastrophic.

And next to the tavern was a boiler room. If someone reversed the magic and gas being used there, even a minor explosion…

In the short span of that thought, Walter caught sight of the maintenance workers grinning at him with blood running down their faces.

And he also realized they were saying something. Walter’s mind, honed through his early training in alchemy, naturally registered the information.

‘Farewell, garbage.’

“Shit—!”

– Boom—!!!

Walter’s last words never came to be, consumed by the massive fireball that engulfed his tavern.

* * * *

A loud explosion. The sound of something blowing up.

Indeed, that fireball. Two towering flames erupted, spewing scorching heat.

Chief Curbin stood there dazed, staring at the scene. Thoughts of questioning Professor Antorelli for information had completely vanished from her mind.

And what quickly filled that void of thought was.

‘…Terrorism.’

Someone had unleashed a terror attack in the middle of Jido. Whether the motive was to eliminate someone or destroy something was uncertain.

In Chief Curbin’s mind, names of individuals capable of such an act began to line up. Among them were the sabotage agents from the dwarves and elves, as well as radical groups opposing the imperial decisions.

Thus, in that brief moment of contemplation, Chief Curbin concluded.

‘For now, I will return to the intelligence department.’

She rapidly gathered her thoughts.

There is always an order to things. Since such a situation has arisen, it was acceptable to set aside pressing questions for Professor Antorelli and focus on understanding the situation better first.

‘Wait. What about Professor Antorelli….’

If only that thought hadn’t flashed through her mind like lightning. Chief Curbin hurriedly turned to her side.

“Ugh, ah…. Ah…”

Professor Antorelli was already hunched over on the ground, facing the courtyard flower bed. Unintelligible sounds continued to spill from his mouth.

“Oh, no…. Please, not again….”

‘Damn it! This is the worst!’

Chief Curbin roughly pulled up the frozen Professor Antorelli. There was no time for gentle encouragement.

“Professor Antorelli! Pull yourself together!”

“Ah, ugh….”

“We need to get to the Main Chapel! Right now!”

Two agents. She had to hurry and take them back to the intelligence department. That was the only thought in Chief Curbin’s mind.

“Why, why…. Why always….”

The previous brilliance had vanished from Professor Antorelli’s dazed eyes. Chief Curbin squeezed her eyes shut and raised her palm.

– Slap—!

“Pull yourself together!”

“…….”

When she slapped him, with a resounding sound, Professor Antorelli’s head turned. Chief Curbin grasped his collar and shouted.

“Professor! We need to go to the Main Chapel! Quickly!”

“Wh-what just….”

“There’s a chance the Sub-priest is in danger! We need to hurry!”

“……!”

The brilliance in Professor Antorelli’s eyes returned. With regained composure, Professor Antorelli shrugged off the grip on his collar and promptly stepped forward.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

However, their steps soon came to a halt.

“Head Priest!”

“Chief!”

They spotted four figures rushing toward them, which made both Professor Antorelli and Chief Curbin exhale in relief upon seeing their unharmed status.

As they looked at the rushing Sub-priest Sofia with anxious expressions, Professor Antorelli suddenly gazed up at the sky.

And he recalled. The flame of hatred that had burned fiercely in Cesar’s eyes. His whispered mutterings consumed by anger.

– I will have to exact retribution in kind.

A catalyst of destruction that painted the morning sky of Jido red.

That was how it reflected in Professor Antorelli’s eyes.