Jump!
Tarsha deftly jumped, slipping outside through the window that faced the inner courtyard. Blanc and Parco, watching from around the corner of the alley, hurriedly waved their hands at her — but their faces imdiately froze.
— Tarsha! Where’s Gunther?
— ...What?
At the mont Tarsha turned around in alarm, Gunther slid down the wall and landed right in front of her.
— Took a mont. Covered our tracks.
A tactical retreat. That was the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) conclusion he had reached. He had hesitated between subduing Lieutenant Colonel Ridel Vain for interrogation or, at the very least, remaining hidden to observe... but reason firmly rejected both options.
This was the Upper City. One careless move would not only put their lives in mortal danger, it could also beco a burden for the entire Night Raven. Even Seraz’s influence had limits.
— Let’s go.
They hurried toward their prearranged escape route. Right then Levain reported over the comms that he was returning to the rendezvous point.
— I’m here.
Levain had already arrived and was waiting for them. Despite the middle of winter, drops of sweat beaded thickly along his neck, glinting in the moonlight. He vigilantly scanned the surroundings and only exhaled in relief once he saw his comrades. Gunther did not miss that the boy’s face looked strangely tense.
— Everyone’s alive. What a relief.
— Levain. Did sothing happen?
— ...Sothing did. Maybe we should talk once we’re back?
Shhh—
Levain’s communication device kept blinking. It seed he had intercepted the frequency of the Public Security Bureau: ssages about incidents began crackling from the speaker through static.
Shhh—
[Inha Street, house 27, report of ho intrusion, window breach confird and signs of theft. Nearest patrol units imdiately provide support, over.]
[Inha Street, 27... what? Inha Street, 27? That’s Inspector’s residence...]
[I said provide support imdiately!]
Soon the entire area would be flooded with Bureau forces. Their ti in the Upper City was coming to an end.
.
.
.
Uuuuum—
The mbers of the Fourth Platoon were finally able to relax a little only when the lift began its slow descent. A strange sensation of weightlessness wrapped around their bodies, and with each level the bright night lights of the Middle City grew closer. Levain leaned his back against the wall and exhaled calmly.
— All right, maybe I’ll start.
— Yeah, go ahead.
— ...In one of the houses I searched, I found so very strange traces.
While Parco and Blanc tilted their heads in confusion, Gunther continued:
— Nasty sli everywhere... and traces like soone vomited?
Levain’s gaze darkened.
— You saw it too?
— Yes. In the last house... the house of Lieutenant Colonel Ridel Vain we found the sa traces.
Gunther briefly explained to the others what they had seen. Confusion appeared on the faces of the platoon mbers.
— So kind of ritual? An offering or sothing like that?
— I don’t know. There were no magic circles. No ritual vessels either. Besides, if such a ritual had been perford in the middle of a residential district, it would definitely have been exposed.
— M-maybe they’re secretly raising the mother of an evil god? I an, a big shipnt of contraband arrived recently.
— ...In an apartnt building?
Tarsha snorted with laughter.
— I think even keeping a puppy in that house would be difficult.
Speculations multiplied, but no clear conclusion erged. Parco lightly nudged Gunther, who was deep in thought, with his elbow.
— Gunther, you said sothing before we entered the last house.
— What exactly?
— That you found sothing in common between all the houses. What was it?
Gunther rembered the fact he had montarily forgotten.
— ...Food.
At that unexpected answer, the gazes of all the platoon mbers turned to him.
— Food?
— Think again. There wasn’t any food in any of the houses.
He rembered completely empty pantries and dining tables covered in dust.
— Even if it’s a lonely workaholic who only lives along the route “ho–work,” having absolutely no food in the house defies common sense.
— Hmm, maybe they like eating out? Was it the sa in the last house?
— No, there wasn’t ti to check. What about you, Levain?
Levain shook his head as well.
— I didn’t even think to look that far.
Apparently deciding it wasn’t such an important clue, the platoon mbers didn’t dwell on it. They continued discussing, but still reached no conclusion.
Gunther felt the sa. The strange sense of impending trouble that had arisen in those Bureau officials’ houses refused to leave him, but there were too few clues to dig deeper.
— Well, for now I’ll share the information we gathered with Seraz. Maybe she’ll notice sothing. She certainly has far more knowledge than we do.
After finishing his words, Levain quickly began tapping on the terminal keys. Under the complex chanical sound, rows of characters ran across the screen. And at that very mont:
Tiling!
[You have successfully gathered clues about the defectors and delivered them to Seraz]
[Side scenario “Defectors?” cleared!]
[Level increased! / Lv. 57]
[Strength 47 → Strength 48]
The scenario ended.
“...What is this?”
Gunther’s eyes widened slightly. Had there really been sothing decisive among the few clues they had passed on? Even though nothing had been clarified, the scenario completion ssage had appeared.
Beep—
The corners of Levain’s lips slowly lifted as he checked the ssage.
— I think we shouldn’t be too disappointed.
— Oh?
— Even identifying people whose involvent in treason was suspicious is more than enough result for one night raid. The important thing is that Seraz seems satisfied.
— And what does she say?
Instead of answering, Levain showed Gunther the terminal screen.
[Excellent work. But next ti let the handso guy send the report, not the four-eyes.]
The mont Gunther let out a short chuckle, the ssage that seed finished continued.
[Further investigation will be handled by us. If an opportunity for cooperation arises, I will share the relevant materials.]
[Good night.]
Only then did Gunther understand why a scenario completion ssage had appeared despite such vague results.
Tiling!
[Side scenario “Defectors?” is transforming into a linked scenario]
[Side scenario “The Reverse Side of the Incident” has erged!]
[Displaying abbreviated description]
— You successfully gathered clues and delivered them to Seraz.
— However, the conditions are not t, so you cannot continue the scenario.
— Strengthen your bond with Seraz Bolton to approach the truth behind the strange incidents in the Upper City.
[Progress Condition]
— Reach affinity level with Seraz Bolton of 20 or higher to intervene in the investigation.
[Expected Reward]
— Inclusion of Seraz Bolton in the scenario.
— Hidden reward exclusive to the Upper City.
— Reduction of Luthien’s influence.
※ Condition must be fulfilled within 28 days.
Gunther swallowed.
“A linked scenario...”
In the ga, linked scenarios always ant enormous scale. It ant that behind a single incident lurked a grand ga. And the reward was equally significant.
“If Luthien is involved, this is sothing that must be unraveled.”
Gunther firmly decided to et Seraz again soon. With her help he could uncover the nature of those “strange traces” they had encountered.
Clap—
Levain, who had been reading the ssage together with him, muttered:
— “If an opportunity for cooperation arises”... That ans sit quietly and wait.
There was a hint of grumbling in his voice, but the tone wasn’t truly hostile. In the end, it was predictable. No one expected Night Raven to be casually invited into an operation of the Public Security Bureau.
“If not as a group, then as an individual... maybe.”
Gunther instinctively felt that this matter had to be approached not collectively, but individually... and extrely carefully. Levain seed to think the sa, as he nodded and added:
— For now let’s leave everything to Seraz and wait until she contacts us again. She’s capable, right? Let’s just be satisfied that we established connections in the Bureau.
Those were words marking the end of the mission. Levain looked over the platoon mbers and smiled.
— Everyone worked hard.
In the relaxed air, the tension finally faded from the fighters’ faces. As Levain had said, the result was significant for the organization. They had pushed a high-ranking Bureau official to begin investigating Luthien, and in the process even made her feel indebted to them. There was now a possibility of receiving more information in the future.
— Good, good.
Tarsha, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, lazily stretched.
— Then can I go sleep now? In the morning I’m supposed to go to the hot springs with my baby...
Cutting herself off mid-sentence, she cast a playful glance at Gunther.
— Want to co with us? Do you like public baths?
Tarsha’s silly joke. Thanks to it, the confusion in his head seed to settle a little. Gunther couldn’t help but smile.
— Thanks, but no. I have my own tastes too.
Pshhh—
With singed hair, he trudged ho.
.
.
.
[You brilliantly completed the mission while cooperating with platoon mbers]
— Reputation within “Night Raven” has increased!
— Affinity with all platoon mbers slightly increased!
— Received 30 Night Raven rit points. Current rits (432)
***
By the ti he returned to the mansion, morning had already co. Although the sun had not yet risen, the kitchen light was on, and Eddie sat there looking utterly exhausted.
“What is this, déjà vu?”
Crunch—crunch—
He was chewing food with difficulty, but when he saw he slightly raised his hand.
— Yo.
— Just got off work?
— No, a little earlier.
Even as his eyes nearly closed, he kept working with the fork. I rembered how earlier I had advised him to gain weight. Eddie was thin. No matter how much he strengthened his body with mana, increasing destructive power required basic body weight and muscle strength. The guy was diligently following the advice.
— ...What a guy.
— What’s that supposed to an?
— Nothing. And Brody?
Eddie didn’t even have the strength to speak, so he pointed outside with his chin.
— Still in the office?
— Slept a little and just left again.
— Truly incredible endurance.
— Because of that the subordinates are dying. Anyway, she asked you to stop by the office when you’re free.
— Really?
Good news. It seed the ti for announcing the results had finally co.
[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats hopes that you will finally obtain that developnt technique]
Perfect timing — I also had business with Brody. The mont I touched the item Nine had given in my pocket, Eddie yawned widely and continued:
— Going right now?
I shook my head.
— I need at least a little sleep.
The night had been long. From training the gang’s subordinates to the raid in the Upper City — I hadn’t closed my eyes. No matter how good my endurance had beco, I was already at the limit. Eddie nodded and added:
— Then before you go to Brody, stop by the temple.
— ...The temple? Why?
He suddenly looked embarrassed. At the mont I flinched at such an unexpected reaction...
— Left sothing there... uh, a gift. Say my na and pick it up.
— ......?
— I prepared it because I’m grateful to you for a lot of things, so don’t refuse.
Eddie, the tips of his ears turning red, finished the sentence while looking away.
— Hmph, it’s nothing special of course!
...Nice, but sohow unsettling. A strange feeling.
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