Chapter 69: No Mercy (2)

After leaping over the wall of the lord’s mansion, Harman didn’t even stop by the temporary inn he had secured and ran straight toward the castle gate.

He couldn’t afford to give himself a moment’s rest.

Soon, he slipped into an alleyway within the castle’s residential district.

Harman took a small flute from his breast pocket and blew into it.

Beep! Biiiiiip—!

A small, sharp sound echoed through the surroundings.

Moments later, five men emerged from another alleyway.

They were all knights belonging to the same organization as Harman—the Dagger of Darkness.

“How did it go?”

One of his subordinates asked carefully.

“The situation isn’t good. We need to get out of the castle and return to the Royal Capital as quickly as possible.”

“But the gates are closed. If we try to scale the walls now, we’ll only draw attention.”

Harman acknowledged the validity of his subordinate’s point.

“This is a matter of grave importance. Prince Raion is planning the independence of this territory. On top of that, he has a 5th Circle Magician under his command. If things continue like this, the Chancellor’s plan could become meaningless.”

The subordinates’ faces twisted in shock at his words.

Harman continued speaking.

“We leave the castle immediately. Since we might get caught while scaling the wall, we’ll move separately. Regroup at the assembly point in the Clamen Mountain Range before tomorrow night.”

“Understood.”

“Then begin.”

The five men dispersed at once, melting into the crowd in search of a suitable spot to cross the wall.

Left alone, Harman also began to move.

By blending in with the townsfolk, he could reduce the risk of being tracked.

The castle gates were firmly shut, as curfew had already fallen.

Turning to the right, Harman glanced at the guards patrolling the wall.

He planned to time their movements and throw a rope over the wall to climb down unnoticed.

Soon, the right moment presented itself.

Harman climbed the wall’s staircase, secured the rope, and began his descent.

“Phew…”

Once he reached the Clamen Mountain Range, his safety would be guaranteed.

Thinking so, Harman allowed a faint smile to surface and prepared to run.

Puuk—!

Suddenly, a long blade pierced through his abdomen from behind, the point protruding from his stomach.

Startled, Harman slowly turned his head.

Behind him stood Raion, expressionless.

“W–When… how…?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice that Duke Alito’s rat had crept in?”

“Kh—! Khurghhh!”

Forcing himself forward, Harman drew himself off Raion’s sword and pulled out the dagger hidden in his breast pocket, pointing it at him.

“Still trying to fight back?”

“I didn’t even notice you… approaching from behind and stabbing me… Your Highness.”

His breathing grew ragged from the blood loss, but Harman managed a faint, mocking tone.

“To be honest, I was watching you for a while already. I just waited since there were too many people around.”

“Th–Then, since when…?”

“Since you were with your five subordinates.”

Harman silently prayed that while he held Raion’s attention, his men had managed to escape safely.

But Raion had already grasped the full extent of their numbers.

“No way…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already brought your subordinates.”

Raion opened a nearby storage shed and dragged out five corpses, laying them before Harman.

The sight of their pale, lifeless faces made Harman’s own complexion turn white.

“How… in such a short time…”

“That’s all you’re curious about? Not what’ll happen to you?”

Raion strode forward, swinging his sword to fling off the blood clinging to the blade.

“If you rats don’t return, Alito will just send more. He’ll keep sending them—and each time, I’ll pile up your corpses.”

“Y–You’re insane!”

The Raion that Harman saw now was utterly different from the one he had known in the Royal Capital.

There was a glint of madness in his eyes, radiating a murderous intent that said he was ready to kill anyone in his way.

“Looks like the questions are over. Farewell.”

Swaaaak!

In an instant, Raion passed by him, slicing through his neck.

He moved so swiftly that Harman only realized his throat had been cut when he saw the spray of his own blood—and then collapsed.

Thud—!

“It’s over.”

Finishing the job, Raion stretched out his hand toward the corpse.

“Decomposition.”

At his mutter, a translucent window appeared before him.

[Would you like to decompose the designated target?]

“Yes.”

With his answer, the decomposition of the corpses began.

The six bodies, along with their clothing, were broken down into the basic components that made up the human body until their forms were no longer recognizable.

No trace of them remained.

* * *

Patrick Waver, who had briefly left the Kanas Territory, arrived in Hasein on horseback.

“The atmosphere of this territory isn’t great.”

To avoid leaving any trace of the royal family, Patrick used the iron badge that Raion had made for him.

It was created under the name of a fictitious Dragonia Family, allowing him to avoid pursuit from the Royal Capital.

“First, I should find the Blue Sunset.”

After dismounting, Patrick secured a room at an inn.

Once he checked in and left his horse in their care, he headed into a secluded part of town in search of the Blue Sunset.

“Is it this way?”

He sought a place where mercenaries and adventurers gathered.

It was located south of Hasein Castle, near the border with the Kingdom of Rozarin.

The streets were crowded with people carrying swords, bows, and spears.

After straightening his clothes, Patrick entered a street lined with taverns.

It looked quite similar to the streets of the Canel Royal Capital.

Drunken people filled the alleys, casting a dark and heavy atmosphere everywhere.

“…Hmm?”

As Patrick walked ahead, he suddenly turned into a left alley and vanished from sight.

At that moment, a hooded woman appeared from behind him, glancing around quickly.

She seemed to be searching for the Patrick who had just disappeared.

The woman wandered a bit, then stepped into a narrow alleyway.

That was when Patrick’s calm voice came from behind her.

“Who are you to be following me?”

“…Still as sharp as ever, Patrick.”

At the sound of that voice, the woman turned her head and removed her hood.

“Regina?”

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

Regina was dressed in a pale red dress adorned with the same seductive lace that trailed from beneath her hood.

“As always, I get by. But why are you here instead of the Royal Capital branch?”

“Why else would I come? Because of the Hasein branch, of course.”

Regina smiled faintly, but her expression quickly turned cold.

Someone within Eye of the Moon had been caught trying to steal a client’s goods—something that understandably infuriated her.

“Do you have a plan?”

“I wouldn’t have come here empty-handed. But you arrived sooner than I expected.”

“I thought it would be best to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

“Then please, follow me.”

Regina guided Patrick deeper into a secluded alleyway.

Once they reached a deserted spot, she pressed against a wall, which slid open to reveal a hidden passage.

“This is quite a curious place.”

“It’s a safe house used by Eye of the Moon in emergencies. Each branch operates it independently, so even the Hasein branch doesn’t know about it.”

“Still, I’m impressed you knew I entered Hasein.”

Patrick had come through the western gate and gone straight to his inn.

It hadn’t been long at all, so her timely appearance was surprising.

“I have people stationed at every gate. Money can buy anyone here—especially in Hasein.”

At her explanation, Patrick glanced around the interior of the safe house before speaking.

“I see. Hmm… then tell me. What exactly is the situation?”

“The branch manager, Zolav, has been illegally producing and selling Dragonia products. He’s already made an enormous profit.”

The term Dragonia products referred to the items Raion had created—things like recipes, Jagir, and Chers.

At her words, Patrick’s brow twitched slightly.

“The amount of product that’s already been distributed must be considerable. How was this even possible?”

“At first, he hired lowlifes to harass any merchants selling those items. Then, he left alone anyone who bought from him instead. Those who hadn’t purchased directly from him were eventually forced to buy, seeing what was happening.”

The Hasein branch manager, Zolav, was using truly despicable tactics.

“Unauthorized production and sales, then. This isn’t a simple problem.”

“It’s been a huge headache for us too. Since he’s tampered directly with a client’s products, he must be punished—but the officially listed owner of the goods being sold is a man named Andrew Alqurey of the Alqurey Trading Company.”

“So Zolav and the Alqurey Trading Company are in league together.”

“Exactly. And even Hasein’s lord is involved. That’s why nothing’s been done, despite the enormous amount of money changing hands.”

In short, the entire territory was scheming to profit off Raion’s creations.

“To resolve this neatly, we’ll need a proper approach. What’s Eye of the Moon’s plan?”

Patrick knew Regina wouldn’t have come all the way from the Royal Capital without a strategy.

With a sigh, Regina replied,

“I came under the pretense of inspecting the branch as a Central Division Manager. And what I’ve learned is exactly what I’ve told you—this is the worst-case scenario.”

Since even the lord was involved, a careless move could easily backfire on them.

“So, you’re saying we need documents that can prove those products belong to Dragonia.”

“Right. But to obtain that proof, you’ll have to take the lead. I’m not sure it’s even possible, though.”

The Eye of the Moon branch in Hasein had effectively betrayed them.

If mishandled, the organization’s entire reputation could be at risk.

That was why Regina was being especially cautious.

“There shouldn’t be a problem. I think it would be best to meet with Zolav first.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Let’s proceed with whatever the Central Division has prepared. My turn will come after that.”

“Will that really be alright?”

“If you trust me, it will.”

The two left the safe house and made their way to the Blue Sunset in Hasein.

A large man with an unpleasant look blocked their path.

In a threatening tone, the man growled,

“This isn’t a place for ladies or refined gentlemen. Best turn around.”

Patrick simply glanced at Regina.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep