The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 220
The severity of this incident was reflected in the Alliance’s subsequent response.
City access was immediately blocked, and blatant security checks were carried out. Search parties even made surprise visits to the abandoned mansion we were using as our base.
“Phew, somehow managed to deceive them.”
Due to the unexpected search, I had no choice but to handle it personally. Though by ‘handling’, I mean I only used charm.
“A-amazing. To think those guys with such murderous expressions would believe your words and leave so easily.”
Ash expressed genuine admiration.
“What happens when you use that on girls?”
“Better not to ask.”
“Ugh! I wish I was born with the light attribute too! Damn, I’m a prince too, so I should’ve had that kind of quality!”
“Stop talking nonsense. Go do some reconnaissance again.”
“How long has it been since we got back? You’re working me too hard.”
“There’s no one else who can do it.”
The external operation team, including Elena and Gaspar, had left too many traces.
They might be using some kind of tracking magic based on those traces, so the external team had already left the city.
Only Sophia and our internal team remained at this mansion.
However, since my master and I had somewhat of a reputation within the Alliance, we couldn’t wander around during such a sensitive time.
Ash complained but returned after spending about two hours surveying the city.
His expression wasn’t bright.
“Security’s gotten even tighter. I heard that entry restrictions have been imposed on all Alliance branches in Uland.”
“They suspect someone from within the Alliance. It’s a reasonable suspicion.”
“Yeah. That’s why Elliot can’t come. Dorofei seems to be stuck too.”
“Isn’t there any way to bring just Elliot here?”
“It’ll be difficult. He’s an executive in the Alliance. They must be having a terrible time right now. They brought back quite a lot.”
“So their situation is worse than ours.”
“Yeah. At least all we brought from there were stacks of documents.”
In contrast, Elliot’s group brought out about ten witnesses. If their existence was discovered, Elliot’s Alliance would be destroyed, and Elliot himself would die.
“Dorofei’s life might be in danger too at this rate. What should we do?”
“No matter what, they wouldn’t dare harm a future teleportation mage. If he gets detained, I think we can save him then. If we move carelessly now, things might get even more complicated.”
Ash agreed with this.
“Well, that’s that then. What about Yumir?”
That was the problem.
We needed Elliot’s tracking magic to find out which upper Alliance was hiding Yumir.
“Those self-proclaimed apostles of justice must be in a difficult situation too because of what we did.”
Ash spoke in a sarcastic tone.
They’re just as guilty of exploiting the mine and slave hunting. They only want to expose other Alliances because it benefits them.
“If during this search they discover that they were sneaking out slaves from the underground city, Yumir, who’s hiding in that Alliance, could be in danger too. I heard her due date was around now? In that case, wouldn’t it be difficult for Yumir to handle the situation on her own?”
“I know that without you telling me!”
I snapped irritably without meaning to.
“Huff! Sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay, I completely understand how you feel. If anything, it’s scary how calm you are. If it were me, I’d be half-crazed by now. Want a cup of tea? I’m not great at making it though.”
“Thanks.”
At that moment, my master, who had been observing from the second floor window, came down.
“Ars, there’s something I want to discuss with just the two of us.”
“What is it? Can’t we talk here?”
“Hmm.”
Master glanced at Ash, who shrugged.
“I’m your comrade now too, right? No secrets.”
“If that’s how you feel, I suppose it’s fine.”
Master continued, arms crossed.
“I wanted to talk about the remaining missing persons. I thought Aggert might have been at the place we just raided.”
Aggert was captured by slave hunters and sold to some Alliance. However, Aggert couldn’t be found in that underground city.
“While it’s possible we simply haven’t found them yet, if we exclude that possibility, we can assume that illegally captured slaves are being moved to other secret facilities besides the underground mines.”
“That seems like the natural conclusion.”
“Yes, I think that’s the only possibility. Except for Melodie, the princess, and your sister Julia, the other missing persons all had outstanding abilities. The fact that there have been no leads for half a year suggests they’re being detained for some reason, like in Yumir’s case.”
“Or they could be in the Lost Lands, like Master and Estelle were.”
“Whatever the case, they’re in a situation where they can’t move. To save them… And to protect ourselves, our current way of operating won’t be enough.”
Finally, I understood what Master was trying to say.
It meant that we couldn’t find the missing people in the light anymore, and that we’d have to deal with matters in the shadows, like this current situation.
“This incident has convinced me. I’ll enter the shadows. I’ll take responsibility for handling the underworld matters. Leave it to me.”
In the Magic Continent, we didn’t have to worry about underground matters because Juras handled them, but that wasn’t the case here.
Considering the future plans to install Princess Rosa as king, there was a high possibility of political enemies targeting my life and those of my acquaintances. So Master was planning to prepare for movements in the shadows.
Spies, assassinations, security, and other dirty work.
“That’s…”
I felt the necessity too, but I had been deliberately avoiding thinking about it. There was no suitable person for the job.
Master grins.
“You were probably thinking of Gaspar.”
“Yes, but Gaspar is elderly too. I didn’t want to put him through such hardship at his age.”
“I agree. It’s about time he gets some rest. Let him spend time watching his grandchildren’s faces.”
“But if we’re talking about that, Master, you have a newborn child!”
“It’s none other than my son. He’ll grow up fine without a mother’s care. Besides, Anton is there.”
Ash, who had been watching, cries out in shock.
“S-someone of your caliber volunteering to enter the darkness…! Do you understand? That’s not something a sane person would do! Especially someone like you who takes pride in martial arts!”
“Heh, come to think of it, you were a prince too, Ash. You must be familiar with such circumstances.”
“You bet I am! I know exactly how it ends! Dying during an operation would be better! But most end up being discarded and betrayed! Not that I’m saying Ars would do that…! Anyway, please reconsider, someone like you doing such work is nothing short of tragic!”
“There are no suitable alternatives. We can’t ask Eonia or Ms. Elena to do this kind of work. Gunther and you are still too naive.”
“Can’t we get help from the Ellan Kingdom?”
I thought that at first too.
However, looking at it long-term, that wouldn’t help. The Ellan Kingdom was ultimately a kingdom we needed to conquer, and above all, their agents’ top priority was loyalty to the royal family. There was a possibility they would betray us when push came to shove.
“Master, I don’t want to entrust you with that work either.”
“Do you have an alternative?”
“Not yet, but I’ll find one somehow.”
“Sigh! You’re still naive when it comes to acquaintances. Though that’s one of your good points…. Alright. If you can’t find someone suitable, tell me anytime. I’ll enter the shadows without hesitation.”
“…”
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Just then, Sophia, who had been examining documents alone in the reception room, came out looking puzzled.
“The mood seems down. Did something happen?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Hmm, I was going to share some good news, but with this atmosphere, it might be difficult?”
“What good news?”
Sophia continues speaking with a triumphant smile.
“I think I’ve found it. Which higher Alliance is hiding Mr. Yumir.”
“Really?!”
“I’m not completely certain yet. So let’s review together.”
It felt like getting a runner on base in the bottom of the ninth inning.
After reviewing the materials Sophia presented, I reached the same conclusion as her.
One of the higher Alliance, ‘Rampart’.
They were the Alliance with the second-highest ratio of non-human races after Roar.
“I’ll move before security gets tighter. Ash, scout around Rampart’s headquarters first. Master, please prepare for the operation. I’ll escort Princess Sophia and Gaspar outside the city and return.”
All that’s left now is the game-winning hit to bring the runner home.
I decided to begin my final operation in Uland.
***
The Alliance was in turmoil due to the raid carried out by Ars’ group.
Due to the initially thin trust, everyone became suspicious of each other. In this situation, Rampart, who was preparing to expose the existence of the underground city, had no choice but to be nervous.
Rampart’s executive Ivor was sweating profusely while dealing with the Alliance’s investigation team.
‘Who on earth carried out this operation!’
This matter needed to be exposed at just the right timing, carefully, or it would just be like stirring up a hornet’s nest.
That’s why they hadn’t exposed it yet, even though they had secured sufficient evidence.
And now someone had brazenly raided and caused an uproar.
After somehow sending away the investigation team, Ivor hurried to Alliance Leader, Upretin.
“Leader, we have no other choice now. We must destroy the evidence quickly!”
Physical evidence could simply be destroyed. But what about the witnesses?
Destroying witnesses meant, in other words, killing and secretly burying them.
Alliance Leader Upretin shook his head.
“No. I cannot kill those who depend on us. I won’t do such a thing.”
“This is not the time for such words! If this fact is discovered, all Alliance members’ lives will be in danger!”
“If it comes to that, it means we committed such evil deeds. Participating in slave hunting and sending innocent people there…”
Upretin let out a self-deprecating laugh. Ivor paced anxiously.
“Compared to other Alliances, our level of involvement is embarrassingly low! Moreover, if discovered, those despicable ones will target us! It’s absurd to have our karma settled by them!”
“Yes, at least we can’t let them execute justice.”
“Then…!”
“I will expose everything about the underground city at this opportunity.”
Upretin declared a head-on approach.
Although Ivor tried to dissuade him saying the timing wasn’t right, there was no other way except destroying evidence.
Ivor left the meeting room with slumped shoulders.
Alliance members approached him and said,
“Sir Ivor, we’ve succeeded in evacuating many people through gaps in the surveillance network.”
“What! Is that true! But where were such gaps?”
“We’re not sure exactly how the gaps appeared. It can only be called luck…”
This was the gap created by Ars using enchantment when evacuating Princess Sophia. Rampart had coincidentally used the same gap.
“How many remain?”
“Twenty people. Those with injuries making movement difficult, the elderly, and three pregnant women. One of them has gone into labor and has a midwife attending to her. These people couldn’t move together due to high risk of discovery.”
“…”
Ivor’s eyes grew cold. While he was reluctant to kill everyone, twenty people was a different story.
‘The Leader will turn a blind eye to that many. Everything is for the Alliance’s survival!’
Without reporting to the Alliance Leader, Ivor led his direct subordinates in taking independent action.
***
Standing before Rampart’s Alliance base, I felt a strange unease.
Each Alliance’s base had its own form – some had just one building, while others owned territory within the city.
Befitting its reputation as a high-ranking Alliance, Rampart’s base was quite large. About the size of a university campus.
“This will be more difficult than searching the underground city.”
Master Ilya shook her head at Ash’s complaint.
“No, back then it was difficult to move because our intrusion had been discovered. Now we can move secretly.”
As he spoke, with a swift movement, he captured a passing Alliance member.
I decided to extract information directly.
“People brought from the underground city!? I-I don’t know anything!”
The man whimpered in fear.
It seemed this information was only known to executive-level members. I decided to change my questioning approach.
“Pregnant women…? There are a few…”
“Where are they staying?”
“Why do you…”
Swish! After I made a slight gesture of cutting his skin, he tearfully confessed everything.
I knocked him unconscious and targeted one location.
It was a temporary area inside the base. There were several hastily erected tents here, but for some reason they were empty now.
‘Were they always empty?’
That seemed unlikely given the traces of life scattered about.
“Ars, I sense people.”
Master pointed to a tent at the center of the area.
And simultaneously, Ash, who had been watching the surroundings, frowned.
“Something’s wrong! A unit is moving this way! We shouldn’t have been discovered, so why…!?”
I felt the situation had become strangely complicated.
“Master! Buy me some time! Ash, find an escape route!”
I ran toward the tent where a small number of people were gathered.
Here were those who had difficulty moving due to injuries, and elderly people.
They fearfully watched me, masked and barging in.
‘Where is it?’
I was about to grab and interrogate someone nearby when I heard a familiar sound first.
“Ugh…! Kuk…!”
“…!”
The sound of someone enduring pain.
There was no way I could mistake that voice.
As if entranced, I moved toward the tent where the sound was coming from.
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