Chapter 39: Covert Operations (1)

Carl was dining with Laysis Alforam and Yuria Euclid.

At around the same time, a report reached NOX about this.

“Is the Master dining with those two?”

“Yes. Ninth Lord arranged an appropriate restaurant and prepared the venue.”

“Hmm.”

Queen tapped lightly on the table with a complex expression.

Suddenly, what the Second had said came to mind.

Queen had seen Laysis and Yuria before, at a distance.

“Both are exceedingly beautiful.”

They hailed from distinguished backgrounds and possessed both beauty and intellect.

…though she hated to admit it, neither of them was incompatible with the Master.

Still, that was separate—she had to fulfill her duty as Queen.

“Six, I had wanted to give you more days to prepare, but the schedule has become tight. Can you move tonight?”

“Yes. I’ve finished maintaining the doll, and I have already noted the key details.”

“Please do. There shouldn’t be any big unpredictables.”

“Understood. Well then, I shall go tidy up after the troublemaking Youngest Master.”

Six picked up his mask from the table and rose from his seat.

Unlike the other Black Label members, Six’s mask covered only above his nose.

The extra numbers of Black Label were allowed to customize their mask’s shape somewhat to their preference.

Of course, only the Master Carl could engrave the crescent moon emblem on a mask.

The other extra numbers had their individual number engraved below the eye, in intaglio.

Step.

Six, wearing his mask and letting his robe trail, exited NOX headquarters.

His destination was a building in Lahan of the Western Third Commercial District.

Ironically, even while running Flick, the underworld organization did not base their quarters there.

They claimed confidence in not needing to hide underground, and wanted to show that they were different from those vermin.

In essence, although they belonged to the same kind, they acted as if they had a sense of chosen‑one superiority.

“Wahahaha!”

“Hey there, take a look at my goods!”

“What time were we supposed to meet today?”

Though it was well into the evening, the streets were still crowded.

The slum area where NOX’s headquarters lay had few wanderers after dusk.

But step just a bit away from it, and the streets quickly filled with people.

……

Looking at that scene, Six felt murderous intent welling up inside.

He wished to massacre those insect‑like vermin in one blow and cleanse this street.

“No, can’t do that.”

He lifted his hand and swept up his hair.

The blowing wind scattered his platinum hair listlessly.

He had barely disciplined his mind, and he could not undo that effort with a brief impulse.

He initiated mana manipulation, chanting the “incantation” the Master had taught.

As his surging bloodlust gradually subsided, Six kicked off from the ground and ascended to the upper part of the city.

Thud.

Rather than brushing past people on the street, this was surely better.

After all, the streets were packed with people, and hardly anyone paid attention up here.

Moving with stealth, Six sped through the night city until he reached his destination.

Landing in a suitably secluded alley and emerging, not far ahead he saw Lahan’s stronghold.

Despite being an underworld organization, they had erected a plausible business facade as a front.

Of course, this was possible because they regularly paid generous bribes to relevant officials and nobles.

Thunk.

When Six attempted to enter, the guards at the entrance blocked his way.

……

Six smiled and tapped his mask lightly.

Diersen had already joined hands with NOX.

Indeed, as if they had been given a heads‑up, they slowly stepped aside and opened the way.

Six gave them a nod and climbed the stairs.

Diersen was on the topmost, sixth, floor.

When he stood before the door, it opened by itself and guided him inside.

“I have been waiting. …Hmm? This is a face I haven’t seen before.”

Diersen, wearing a brilliant red jacket as if preparing to go out, asked puzzled.

At the same time, Six lightly bowed his waist, showing courtesy.

“The Master has gone to Turga to survey their movement. I shall escort until Flick.”

“I see. Tell him he did well. And what should I call you?”

“I am…”

Six adjusted his lips briefly.

The number Six, which symbolized him, was his NOX number.

At the same time, it was also a special name to him.

Thus, he did not want someone unrelated from outside to call him that.

“Please call me Noah.”

“Very well, Noah. I entrust this matter to you.”

“I will do my utmost.”

Six bowed once more in respect.

It had been a long time since anyone had called him by that name.

“You’ve already finished preparations. Let’s depart immediately. To make the timeline, we must leave now.”

“Understood.”

Tonight, a gathering of major organizations from the Western Commercial District took place to foster unity.

Typically, the boss or heir of each organization attends, but Lahan’s succession structure had not yet solidified.

So they intended to arrive before Turga as a preemptive strike.

Clack‑clack.

A carriage carrying Diersen and Six rolled into the street.

Though delayed by the crowds, since the destination lay in the underworld direction, the ride became rather smooth in the middle.

……

Six leaned against the window and gazed at the street scenery.

Around the carriage, not only Diersen’s subordinates but also NOX operatives hid in the shadows, tailing them.

After confirming there were no issues, Six shifted his gaze to Diersen, who was reading a newspaper, to observe his demeanor.

“Is there no problem with the indoctrination sector?”

Seeing that side not suspicious and accepting things well, it seemed the Master’s indoctrination had taken hold effectively.

Well, after all, someone had directly intervened. Surely the job was done thoroughly.

How far had they gone?

At that moment, Six narrowed his eyes at the communication coming from outside the carriage.

“Mr. Six. Movements have been observed from Turga side. It seems they might be preparing an ambush.”

“What is the approximate number of enemies?”

“It appears to be around ten. …Further information: rather than a direct assault, they seem to be laying traps to delay the carriage’s movement. It seems intended so they might reach Flick before Diersen.”

“They’re playing dirty with petty tactics. Please dismantle their traps and eliminate them. Make it as quiet as possible.”

“Understood.”

Just as Six was about to relay instructions to his subordinates, Diersen, reading the newspaper, spoke.

“I appreciate NOX’s cooperation. If I safely become the boss of Lahan, I will assuredly repay that.”

“We here also bet on you, Lord Diersen, in order to survive. It’s a critical matter.”

“That’s right. A plan for mutual benefit. But if that wretched Turga seizes Lahan, everything will collapse. That greedy wretch won’t be satisfied as second-in-command and will try to engulf the organization. He’ll eventually consume the entire Western Third Commercial District.”

“We must prevent such a dictatorship.”

Six responded with a faint smile, affirming.

Wouldn’t anyone want to monopolize everything around them by consuming everything?

When Diersen gains power, he’d likely think the same.

All the while pretending to align with NOX.

Once he becomes Lahan’s boss, perhaps he will strike NOX first.

‘He must expand power and reward his loyal supporters.’

Surely not just one or two people need tending.

Even if he purges upper leadership and fills it with his own people, limits remain.

In that case, the best tactic is to turn attention outward.

If he uses NOX as prey to expand his power and grants them a position, it would be justifiable and visually effective.

“…Lord Six, my apologies. We lost two out of ten. They proved more capable than expected.”

“And our side—what about casualties?”

“Three are seriously wounded and the rest have minor injuries.”

Six tapped the edge of his mask lightly, smiling faintly.

“Hmm? Why are you doing that?”

Diersen, nearby, was the first to detect the subtle shift in his atmosphere.

Six, without removing his smile, replied.

“…It seems bothersome insects have attached themselves. My subordinates are cleaning things up, so you need not worry.”

“That wretched Turga. How does he never miss an expectation by even an inch? Well done.”

“Understood.”

Six nodded and parted his lips as he faced out the window.

“Keep distance and only track their movements. No further conflicts permitted.”

“Understood.”

Six crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and touched the thread within his mind.

He intended to step in personally before any greater harm befell his subordinates.

Ding—.

A single thread inside his mind emitted a faint resonance.

That resonance, imperceptible to human ears, traveled beyond the city’s noise to some distant location.

Click, click.

Another Six, crouched in darkness, opened his eyes.

His body twitched briefly as he regained awareness, then his reddened eyes flashed as he leapt from the carriage.

Swiiish!

Instantly springing off the ground, Six began leaping across the city’s streets.

Thanks to traces left by his subordinates on the ground, he quickly spotted the enemies and caught up to their rear in an instant.

‘Indeed.’

Those two were experts whom the White Label could not handle.

‘This scenario exactly reveals NOX’s flaw.’

There is no middle tier in NOX.

The gap between Black Label and White Label is vast.

Even among Black Label, whether one is an Extra Number or not makes a stark difference.

‘It’s bizarrely abnormal.’

Judging by executive strength alone, they could crush most organizations.

Yet the middle tier is far too thin.

This flaw emerged from NOX’s small, carefully selected elite recruitment.

They’re gradually expanding and reforming internal standards, but it seems wise to wait for the Master’s decision a bit longer.

‘Therefore, White Label agents must be used sparingly.’

They are the talents who will fill the mid-tier after growth.

An indispensable element for NOX—losses must be minimized.

‘I’m curious what identity my Master truly holds.’

To operate and nurture such an organization at such a young age.

And the martial arts he occasionally taught arouse curiosity.

How does he know such techniques?

……

At long last, Six closed in tightly on the fugitives.

The two glanced at Six, who had pursued nearly to their side, then split off running in opposite directions.

To apprehend one necessarily means letting the other go.

But Six smirked and flicked a finger.

“You can’t just leave them like that.”

Shhaaash!

Thin, numerous filaments shot into the air.

They sliced through the wind, entangling the fleeing bodies and drawing them back to the center.

“Graaah…!”

“…Kehk!”

It happened in an instant.

Clutching the air firmly, Six slowly approached them.

Thud, thud…

The assailants’ bodies were shredded in an instant.

Invisible, razor-thin threads bound them tightly.

“…We…”

“…We don’t want to hear it.”

He could have extracted information, but Six chose not to.

They simply exuded a suspicious aura.

He only tightened his grasp on the thread.

Plink, plink, plink.

Dozens of chunks of flesh fell to the ground.

Six flicked blood off and twisted his body away.

The night was only just beginning.

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