Chapter 1237 – 1237. Dark Moon
The Guardian Saint Martha and the First Sword of London, Sir Pucksibal.
Both are powerful figures that cannot be ignored in this world.
Knowing this, the squad members were all frozen, staring at the hologram.
“Don’t be nervous. I’m not ordering you to fight the Guardian Saint and the First Sword of London. All you have to do is show off your skills at the commemorative event. Prove your worth at the event.”
Instructor Venus, speaking emotionlessly, switched the hologram.
The event schedule popped up. A brief rehearsal starts at 9 AM, and the main event begins at 1 PM after lunch.
“The event will be broadcast worldwide. Be careful not to show any unsightly behavior.”
Instructor Venus pointed to one of the schedules.
The introduction of the new magic special forces unit, scheduled for 5 PM.
“Our allotted time is 30 minutes. During this time, we will showcase our magical firepower. Also, Number 31 and Number 211 will spar for 10 minutes.”
The squad members’ gazes turned to me and Number 31. She, with purple hair and red eyes, sat upright in her chair. Even though she was mentioned, she showed no agitation.
I raised my hand.
“What is it, Number 211?”
“I understand that this is a demonstration spar. But is it really necessary for Number 31 and me to spar against each other?”
“Because it’s a demonstration spar. Aren’t you and Number 31 the two strongest in the unit?”
“Excluding the instructors, yes.”
“It’s meaningless for instructors, including myself, to step forward. What the higher-ups want to see is your power.”
It’s probably more about seeing the results of the project.
I quietly lowered my hand. It seemed the decision was already made. Even if I said I didn’t want to, it wouldn’t be accepted. If they say do it, I have to do it. That’s my current position.
“Number 31 and Number 211. Even if it’s a demonstration spar, do your best. Killing is prohibited, but minor injuries are acceptable. Show your combat power to His Majesty the King and the people.”
“Yes.”
“We will do our best.”
Number 31 and Number 211 replied.
Instructor Venus continued to explain the event.
***
After the briefing, Instructor Venus called me aside.
“Number 211.”
“Yes, Instructor Venus.”
“The instructors of Unit 667, including myself, highly evaluate you. You are an excellent soldier.”
“……Thank you for the compliment.”
“To put it bluntly, lose in the spar at this event.”
“……Is it related to the higher-ups?”
“Yes. You must know that Number 31 has a high status.”
“Just how great is her background?”
“I can’t say. It’s definitely much higher than you think.”
I originally had no intention of winning the spar. I had to hide my power. But hearing this, a rebellious spirit rose within me.
“…I will follow the order.”
“I believe in you, Number 211.”
“Yes.”
I cooled my head. I maintained a cold rationality. I had to lose in the spar. I had to hide my power and prove to Instructor Venus that I had no intention of rebelling.
‘This isn’t an opportunity.’
The event is broadcast live. Use it to expose Unit 667 and the Battle Mage Project? I can’t be sure it would have a big effect. This world belongs to the powerful. Even if I expose them, no one will help me.
‘Those so-called human rights activists are all bought off.’
I know from the original work. Human rights activists are slaves to power and money.
And revenge through such means is unacceptable.
Simply killing them isn’t enough.
They have to suffer more than I did.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Number 211.”
“Yes, Instructor Venus.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. If you keep doing what you’re doing… you might be assigned to the Capital Defense Force.”
The Capital Defense Force. The military unit that defends the capital of the Freecell Kingdom. There’s a rumor among soldiers that being assigned here guarantees a bright future. Especially if your first assignment is the Capital Defense Force? It’s like boarding the golden elevator to the best life.
“…I will work hard.”
“Lastly, tomorrow, you, Number 31, and Number 212 will be assigned a mission. You will hear the details of the mission from the instructor in charge tomorrow.”
I saluted him and went outside.
***
It was a mission with Number 212 after a long time. On the other hand, I was used to Number 31. Since the strongest people in the unit were me and Number 31, we often went on missions together.
This mission was a noble escort mission.
A mission to escort a noble for three days. Number 31 and I had done escort missions a few times, but this was the first time we were escorting a noble.
The escort target was Baron Ptelgar.
A lower noble of the Freecell Kingdom. A businessman who runs a mechanical parts factory.
Currently, his factory was shut down. The workers who were supposed to work had gone on strike. And in three days, Baron Ptelgar was scheduled to negotiate with the labor union.
“Honestly, to be stuck at home because of those bastards who live off me… it’s truly the worst.”
Baron Ptelgar was a plump middle-aged man. He sat on the sofa and scanned me, Number 31, and Number 212. Since it was an external mission, we were wearing masks, but even though Number 31 and Number 212 had their faces covered, their figures were outstanding, and their overall aura was that of beauties.
However, Baron Ptelgar immediately turned his gaze away.
It seemed he had heard something about Number 31. Or maybe he didn’t want to get involved with the military. Even for a noble, the military wasn’t something to be easily ignored. In my opinion, it was probably the former.
“I heard all of you are Battle Mages.”
“All three of us are Level 3 Battle Mages.”
“I know. I wouldn’t have accepted you otherwise. Well, you’ll be useful.”
He stretched his hand to the side. A woman wearing sexy lingerie placed a glass of beer in his hand. Judging by the atmosphere, she wasn’t his lover. Probably a prostitute.
“We are aware of the basic information for this operation. We will escort you for the next three days, Baron.”
“My friend praised your work. I trust you’ll do well.”
He seemed to be in a good mood after gulping down the cold beer.
“…Baron. I have a personal question. May I ask?”
“What is it?”
“I heard that the final negotiation is in three days. There have been over ten negotiation opportunities so far. Why haven’t you accepted the workers’ demands?”
“What are you? Are you on their side while being my escort?”
“No, please don’t misunderstand. I heard that the workers’ strike has been going on for almost four months. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to accept the workers’ demands, even if it means taking some losses?”
“Ah. That was the question. Heh heh. You seem a bit interested in business?”
“……”
“It’s nothing, so I’ll answer. As you said, if the factory stops, losses will continue. Huge losses. It’s not just a problem with the products that could have been completed on that day. The biggest problem is losing trust from partner companies. Customers disappear.”
“…I heard the strikers’ demands are for improved working conditions and a 5% wage increase. Isn’t that something you could accept?”
Originally, it was improved working conditions, a 15% wage increase, hiring additional staff, and performance bonuses. As negotiations dragged on, the workers’ demands decreased.
“How presumptuous.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Those pigs and dogs who have been living off the money I give them dared to revolt against me, demanding more food. That behavior is so infuriating that I can’t stand it!”
“……”
“You wouldn’t understand with your brain. Because of that, I destroyed a factory that earns hundreds of millions of credits every year. But I’m different from you. I have money and connections. I can just start a new business.”
“The final negotiation… the outcome is already decided.”
“Heh heh. Yes. I will give up the rights to the factory. The factory will be auctioned off, and then my friend will win the bid at a low price. My friend will receive business subsidies from the Ministry of Industry.”
I don’t think that subsidy will go to the workers.
“The reason the workers are targeting you, Baron…”
“Among the pigs and dogs, there are bound to be some who are a bit smarter. If I die, the factory ownership will go to the local government, not an auction. The local government will normalize the factory and then sell it to someone.”
“From the workers’ perspective, it’s better for the factory to go to the local government.”
“It’s better than losing their jobs altogether. Haha. Are the questions over?”
“Yes. Thank you for answering my questions.”
“If you’re done, go do your work. I’ll be enjoying myself in this room for the next three days.”
We turned around and went out of the room.
Just before the door closed, the prostitute’s artificial moans echoed. Number 212 turned her gaze away as if embarrassed, while Number 31 showed no reaction. We returned to our assigned room.
***
Back in the room, we projected a hologram onto the table and checked the situation.
Number 212, manipulating the hologram, explained.
“This is the structure of the mansion. It has four floors in total and 19 rooms. In the basement, there’s a wine cellar and a food storage. The Baron’s guards are 20 people, excluding us. Half are mana users, and the other half are specially trained mercenaries.”
I nodded.
On the surface, it seemed thorough, but it wasn’t very substantial. That’s why Baron Ptelgar paid the military for escort troops. He didn’t really trust his own guards.
“Still, with this many guards, we don’t have to do tedious patrols.”
“One of us has to take turns on night watch. We can’t trust the guards here.”
As the briefing was coming to an end, I looked at Number 31 and asked.
“What do you think?”
“…About what?”
“The assassins. Do you think they’ll attack within the next three days?”
Baron Ptelgar hired us because he was anxious, even though there was no information that the workers would hire assassins. In my opinion, the possibility of them not coming was higher. The workers have been on strike for four months already. Where would they get the money to hire assassins?
“They’ll come.”
“…What’s the basis?”
“A feeling.”
“……”
I nodded with a serious face.
It was hard to ignore her feeling. I had benefited from her intuition more than once or twice while working with Number 31 on missions.
“Number 212. What do you think?”
“Bill Claxon, the labor representative leading the strike, is cornered. People who are cornered… sometimes make extreme choices.”
“You think assassins will come. Okay. Shall we get more serious? Number 212, install surveillance cameras inside and outside the mansion. Number 31, set up a barrier around the Baron’s room. I’ll go out for a bit and check the terrain.”
They followed my instructions without any complaints.
