Chapter 255: Operation Start (2/2)

On the evening of the day Serge was attacked, within the reception room of a certain store of Gimuru, were two men in the middle of a disturbing conversation.

Hows it going, Wanz? [Man]

Everything is as the report stated. [Wanz]

Not even a week to prepare, and yet everything instructed was carried out perfectly, huh. Im sure some werent happy about us taking command. [Man]

Youre right on both. Weve been lurking in this city for a long time preparing. Months for the most recent, and years for the least. But just when our efforts were about to bear fruit, the orders were suddenly changed. Moreover, you people, who brought the new orders out of the blue, would also be the ones taking command of the operation. Naturally, there would be people unhappy.

But while the way we do things might differ from you, in the end, we also belong to the Dark Guild. Orders from above are absolute. So long as theres an order, well follow it even if that means doing our best under you. [Wanz]

I see, that is true. Well then, a.s.suming that the plan is ready, I have an inquiry Id like to make. [Man]

Whatever you want. [Wanz]

Tell me everything you know about the boy named Ryouma Takebayas.h.i.+. [Man]

When the man said that, Wanzs expression stiffened.

I believe Ive made a report about that boy already. [Wanz]

And your report has been received. Consider this a confirmation of sort. Tell me everything about him, down to the smallest details. Because part of our new orders aside from the plan is the a.s.sa.s.sination of that boy. [Man]

Oh? Youre going to a.s.sa.s.sinate him? You and your men against a mere child? Talk about excessive. I almost feel sorry for him. [Wanz]

Despite saying that, Wanzs face was filled with glee.

We think so too, but orders are orders, and besides, the boy is too good at magic to be taken for a mere boy. [Man]

He goes around every morning shoveling snow with that huge water spell of his. I dont know how good he is in combat, but he appears to have a lot of mana. And I hear he managed to make some delinquent adventurers submit to his strength too, but even an amateur like me could tell that those adventurers are complete rookies compared to you and your men. Well, he did lecture me pretty arrogantly, and got in my way too, so He knows how to talk big? That would probably be it as far as his skills go. [Wanz]

Is that really all there is to him? [Man]

What do you mean? [Wanz]

One of our men went to a.s.sa.s.sinate the president of the Morgan Company, but the man hasnt returned yet, while the safety of the president has been confirmed. Its safe to a.s.sume that he failed. [Man]

The president of the Morgan Company appears to be deeply involved with the dukes family and the boy, so its understandable that he would be targeted. But for the boy to prevent the a.s.sa.s.sination? The president has mercs from the Wild Golden Falcons around him all the time. If anyones stopping anything, its got to be them. [Wanz]

Were aware about the Wild Golden Falcons. Thats why we prepared the invisible blade that could a.s.sa.s.sinate the target even while under the protection of the mercenaries.

The location of the attack was Ryouma Takebayas.h.i.+s security company. According to our intel, they should have been dining together. Moreover, our instructions explicitly stated that the president needed to be murdered in a way that Ryouma Takebayas.h.i.+ would immediately learn of it. They wanted us to have him at the scene if possible, so its likely that he was there. [Man]

Even then, Ive already told you everything I know that might relate to his combat abilities. Perhaps, he did something with his magic, but I still dont think he would be able to stop the Invisible Blade.

I think the Wild Golden Falcons were still the most likely culprit in stopping the attack. It wouldnt be strange to suspect that the security company mightve hired an upper-tier adventurer too. If its about that, then I still have some information I can share. [Wanz]

Lets hear it then. [Wanz]

Like that, Wanz presented the information that he knew to the man one after another.

Well, thats about all I know. [Wanz]

I see, youve done well. [Man]

The moment he ran out of things to say was the moment his life would come to an end.

W-Why [Wanz]

The small knife the man had hidden on him had found its way into the pit of Wanzs stomach.

! W-Werent You Going to save [Wanz]

If I hadnt said that, you wouldve run away without completing the preparations. I just wanted to get the most I could out of a useless man. [Man]

N-No Someone Save

Wanz strained himself to eek out that voice, but it reached no one but the man before him, and then He died.

After confirming Wanzs death, the man pulled the knife out and cleaned it with Wanzs outfit, then opened the door.

There, appeared a man wearing clothes too similar to Wanzs murderer, a man that looked just like an unimpressionable traveling merchant.

Im done. You? [Man 1]

Ive installed those things all over the store. The office will be the point of origin. [Man 2]

In that case, Ill bring the corpse there. Just to be safe, this room should be covered in oil too. [Man 1]

Alright So, Wanz was done away with, after all. [Man 2]

He seemed aware of how useless he was for failing to carry out his orders, but he still clung to hope, thinking that hed be able to survive as long as he showed his worth. Yet for all that, he could barely present any new information. In the end, all I got from him was an opinion piece filled with unnecessary conceit. [Man 1]

He mustve fancied himself to be a member of the Dark Guild, so he thought hed be able to explain himself at least. But as far as were concerned, hes just another disposable p.a.w.n. [Man 2]

If he understood that much, then we might have still had some use for him, but Its all water under the bridge now. More importantly, has the Invisible Blade not returned yet? [Man 1]

Even the last of the regular reports say that hes yet to return. [Man 2]

I see Even if something just went awry in our communications, the antidote wont make it in time anymore. Well just have to carry out the plan without him. Well use as many disposable p.a.w.ns as necessary. And while theres a chance of a third party having intervened, we should be wary of Ryouma Takebayas.h.i.+ too. Contact me if theres any movement. The operation starts now. [Man 1]

Understood. [Man 2]

The two men that looked like traveling merchants quickly carried away Wanzs corpse. When they came back next, they had a bottle full of oil that they scattered all over the room, then they took off their clothes and left.

Before long, all that was left of Wanz was a corpse that spoke no tales, but it would be a long time before anyone would find him.