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Chapter 411
Once things begin to accelerate, they quickly spiral out of control.
As cracks started forming within the Avengers, suspicion spread from one person to another.
By obstructing Garlan’s healing to suppress coordination, and by endlessly sowing doubt among the insiders, the situation was carefully destabilized.
Individuals with weak alibis were frad as though they had caused problems, provoking mutual suspicion.
The result was inevitable—people who had never betrayed anyone began accusing each other of treachery.
If the first ti wasn’t difficult, how could the second be?
Watching the internal rift expand in an instant, Isna looked at with a visibly unsettled expression.
“You… weren’t you bad with human relationships?”
“It’s nothing special. I’ve seen sothing similar before.”
I couldn’t exactly explain the social experints I’d witnessed in my previous life.
There was a reason mafia-style gas existed in the first place.
That said, while I’d thought the idea might work, I hadn’t been completely certain it would.
“Now they’re the ones running out of ti. We can afford to wait. You should rest a bit too.”
Isna hadn’t properly rested even once during all this, so managing her condition was important.
Though her expression was complicated, she didn’t argue—probably because she could still monitor the situation at any ti through her undead.
After she left, I sank into a rocking chair and thoroughly enjoyed my leisure.
With my eyes closed, I observed the traitors among the Watch, who must have been in complete chaos thanks to the havoc I’d caused.
* * *
Just casually stirring things up with undead until the enemy weakens?
What strategy could be better than that?
Military doctrine says the greatest victory is winning without fighting.
That was exactly the situation now.
But then again—if a tail grows too long, it gets caught.
After recovering to so extent, Garlan quickly noticed the presence of the undead and responded decisively.
Unfortunate, but it seed impossible to keep ssing with things using undead any longer.
“That’s the situation. It’s not ineffective, at least.”
“When do we move?”
“Hmm… let’s do it in three days.”
“Three days? Is there a reason?”
“Even if we raid their hideout now, they’ll already be gone. In about three days, the undead will be able to resu activity and discreetly transmit their location.”
Isna frowned slightly at my explanation.
“But we already know where he’s hiding—”
“That’s a bluff. He knows you’re chasing him. He made sure you’d notice, then led you elsewhere.”
She let out a short hum of acknowledgnt.
Then a thought occurred to .
“Isna.”
“What.”
“That Garlan guy—if he really wanted to restrain you, couldn’t he just expose your identity across the continent?”
The thought had struck suddenly.
The 13 Great Houses.
The rightful daughter of House Mielephon revealed to be the leader of the continent’s largest criminal organization?
That kind of information would cause absolute chaos.
Yet Garlan hadn’t done it.
Why?
As I pondered this, Isna let out a brief sigh.
“I don’t know the exact reason either. But I erased most of the evidence that I was the leader. Without proof, shouting accusations would be aningless.”
Even so, just rumors alone would be enough to trip her up.
I thought it over, but unless the enemy explained his reasoning himself, there was no real way to know.
“Rest well for three days. Once they move their hideout, we’ll crush them.”
“Then I’ll stop by my family for a bit.”
“Go ahead.”
“You two stay here.”
“You’ll be fine alone?”
“I’m just checking in. I’ll be right back.”
With that, Isna vanished like the wind.
Despite appearances, aside from , there was likely no human who could defeat her.
After seeing her off, I headed toward the Imperial Academy to take care of sothing I had planned.
The reason was simple.
I intended to et Paris Oldian—the man currently in a situationship with lissa.
With fate gone, he was no longer the cursed existence that drove his spouse to ruin, but there was still sothing I needed to confirm personally.
Ashuria sohow heard that I was heading to the Academy and tagged along, so I brought her with as a guide.
“The Imperial Academy is on holiday today.”
“That explains it. I was wondering why there were so many cadets in uniform around.”
Normally, they’d be in class at this hour, but today the city square near the Academy was filled with uniford students.
“So… Professor. How are you going to find that guy?”
Pick one—formal or casual.
Don’t switch back and forth.
“Well, first I’ll check the Academy and—”
Before I could finish, Ashuria tugged at my sleeve.
“Professor.”
“What?”
“I found him.”
She pointed toward a tense-looking boy nervously scanning his surroundings in a secluded alley.
Ah.
That was fast.
It was Paris Oldian.
* * *
Paris Oldian was a prince of the Kingdom of Oldian.
However, he was far down the line of succession—soone who could be taken as a son-in-law without causing major issues.
His combat ability was average, though he was said to be hardworking.
Honestly, he didn’t impress at all.
How was soone that frail supposed to protect lissa?
His looks weren’t even worth comnting on.
He cautiously slipped deeper into the dark alley, clearly trying to do sothing discreet.
Ashuria and I cast Invisibility on ourselves and silently followed.
“Where’s the item?”
He was eting soone in the darkness.
“Now, now. Why the rush? It’s not like we broke our promise.”
“I already prepared the paynt. I just want to confirm the item is intact.”
Several rough-looking n snickered at his words.
“Alright, alright, young master. You’ll get what you want. But since it’s a sensitive item, it’s in our hideout.”
“Lead the way.”
He tried to sound firm, but the tension was obvious.
At least he had so caution.
Unfortunately, caution without proper judgnt was a derit.
From an older brother’s perspective, a punk getting cozy with one’s little sister was never going to look good.
Regardless, Paris followed them deeper in, eventually entering what appeared to be the thugs’ base.
“Where’s the item?”
He asked while staying alert.
Points for vigilance.
Points deducted for not grasping the situation.
“It’s right here.”
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A rough man with the air of a back-alley boss appeared, revealing a box containing a beautiful accessory.
“So. You should’ve kept better care of it. Losing it like that.”
“Enough. The paynt’s here. Give it back.”
Judging by the box, it was clearly his property.
After checking the coin pouch Paris handed over, the man grinned and tossed it to another thug.
“Sorry, but this isn’t enough.”
“What?”
“We recovered your lost item, didn’t we? And that took considerable effort.”
A painfully obvious ploy.
Paris drew his sword in anger.
“You con artists!”
“Whoa, calm down. We never said we wouldn’t give it back. You’re just lacking a bit of sincerity. Don’t you agree, Prince of the Oldian royal family?”
“…You know who I am and still dare do this?”
“Of course we know. That’s exactly why we’re doing it.”
He snickered.
“Do you know which kind of person looks like the biggest sucker to us? Soone with money, but no power.”
“…You filthy bastards—!”
That was when Paris’ eyes widened as he pointed into the darkness.
“That guy’s a pickpocket! Don’t tell —you bastards?!”
“Oh. Caught on, did you?”
The man chuckled.
“Bring twice the money you have now, and we’ll return it.”
“You think you’ll get away with this?”
“What’s the problem? We just recovered a lost item. Or are you planning to threaten us with that toothpick of a sword?”
They showed no sign of backing down.
People only act like that when they have sothing to rely on.
Ashuria and I silently pulled out popcorn and watched.
There was a reason I wasn’t stepping in yet.
So things only beco clear in situations like this.
He clenched his teeth and spoke.
“If you won’t return it, I’ll take it by force. I know you’re the thieves who stole it.”
“Hahaha. By yourself?”
“I am Paris Oldian, prince of the Kingdom of Oldian. The Oldian royal family does not teach its children to flee from injustice.”
“Well… a powerless prince from a minor kingdom doesn’t have much standing. But more importantly, there’s soone who really wants to see you.”
As he turned his head, a man in an Academy uniform stepped out of the shadows.
Another cadet—sa Academy as Paris.
“You… Gadis?!”
“Paris Oldian. Look at you. I told you not to get uppity.”
“….”
Judging by his deanor, he was a noble’s son from the Empire.
The thugs all bowed to Gadis.
“What should we do, young master?”
“What else? Rough him up a bit. Don’t worry about the aftermath. My father’s backing is bigger than whatever’s behind him.”
The Empire was vast.
Naturally, it had all kinds of people.
Nothing new.
“What did I ever do to deserve this?!”
Gadis replied flatly.
“Nothing special. You just annoyed .”
“….”
“What, going to ask for help? Why don’t you beg those won who cling to you?”
“They only helped by coincidence. Don’t say things that could be misunderstood. I have no relationship with them.”
“Heh. Fine. Do whatever you want. Get to work already.”
The thugs moved in, and Paris imdiately drew his sword to fight back.
But these weren’t ordinary street thugs.
They were at least knight-class fighters.
Private soldiers, then.
As that thought crossed my mind, I considered things briefly.
Should I just let this play out and see what he does?
Paris was, after all, in a budding relationship with lissa.
Just invoking her na would resolve everything instantly.
Yet he didn’t say it—not even once.
Co to think of it, lissa had said their relationship was kept secret.
Paris fought hard, but numbers and skill overwheld him.
Among the thugs were not just basic aura users, but even expert-level fighters.
He couldn’t last long.
He was quickly subdued and pinned to the ground.
“Crush one of his arms. Make sure he can never use it again. Seeing him show off that bit of sword talent really irritated .”
“Yes, sir.”
The man gestured calmly.
“Bring the hamr.”
“Let go! Let go of !!”
Paris struggled, but they ignored him and brought out a massive hamr.
“Hold his arm steady.”
They moved to smash his arm.
All he had to do was invoke lissa’s na.
But—
The hamr swung.
Paris shut his eyes tightly.
Thud!!
Of course, his arm wasn’t crushed.
The test had gone far enough.
I casually blocked the hamr with a wooden stick lying nearby.
A flimsy-looking piece of wood effortlessly stopping a hamr that must have weighed dozens of kilos was not sothing easily understood.
“W-what?!”
The thugs recoiled in shock as soone suddenly appeared out of thin air and stopped the hamr.
“Paris Oldian.”
I spoke calmly to the boy lying on the ground.
“You are…?”
His eyes widened.
Though it was our first eting, he seed to recognize .
“One question. Why didn’t you use lissa’s na?”
He stayed silent for a mont, then answered.
“She’s soone I want to protect—not a knight ant to protect .”
“Heh.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
“You almost lost your arm.”
“I’ve never treated her lightly enough to change my resolve over a single arm.”
Oh.
I should rember this line and use it on Luna soday.
At his answer, I flicked a piece of popcorn from my hand.
Boom!!!!
The popcorn struck the thug holding the hamr square in the head, and he collapsed with a loud thud, unconscious.
Paris Oldian.
It was my first ti speaking to him directly.
But… he said sothing I rather liked.
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