[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 63
Commander Ingrid paced back and forth inside the barracks with an anxious expression.
Just then, the crystal ball flickered.
The commander answered the crystal ball communication.
"So. How did it go?"
The person on the other side of the crystal ball relayed the situation with the detained Zeke.
"That Paynun bastard refused Draker's offer?"
The commander's expression brightened.
With the Black Yaksha currently on the run, Zeke alone didn't have enough evidence to report anything to Delfoa's higher-ups.
He could complain to Delfoa through Draker, but without evidence, it would be impossible to prove that there was something going on between him and the Black Yaksha.
Moreover, the higher-ups wanted to maintain this unit.
Ingrid didn't want to lose his advantageous position where he could accumulate both money and experience.
'If I hold out for one more year, I can move up to the center. With a bit more luck, I might even be able to run for the position of Magic Tower Master.'
With Paynun refusing Zeke's offer, Ingrid quickly began to picture his rosy future.
While he was lost in his imagination, his adjutant entered the barracks.
"Commander. What are your orders regarding the attack on the fortress?"
He put away the crystal ball and said,
"Make some noise and withdraw."
His adjutant was also involved in this collusion, so he didn't question the commander's orders and immediately left the barracks.
Ingrid smirked and prepared for battle.
'Depending on the situation, I'll have to tell that Black Yaksha bastard to come back. I'll let him hold out until this year and tell him to move somewhere else next year.'
A tail that was too long would get caught.
With this incident, things could become more dangerous.
He intended to end things cleanly once he had accumulated the necessary experience.
As soon as Ingrid organized the mage unit as he had ordered his adjutant, he led them up towards the fortress.
He planned to cast a few flashy spells towards the fortress, pretend to be defeated after attacking from above, and then retreat to the barracks.
'I can just let that Jorge bastard take the blame.'
After positioning themselves in their usual spot, Ingrid ordered the mage unit to cast their spells.
Whoosh!
KwaKwaKwaKwaang!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Spells with loud and flashy explosions flew towards the fortress.
However, he made sure that the attacks were directed in a way that wouldn't cause direct damage to the fortress.
After a certain amount of attacks, Ingrid ordered his troops,
"Retreat!"
It was time for the counterattack from the fortress.
However, unlike usual, no arrows or stones flew from inside.
'What's going on?'
Ingrid was flustered by the lack of response from the fortress.
It was then.
The main gate of the fortress opened.
"C-Commander."
The adjutant next to him also called out to him in surprise.
And someone emerged from the main gate.
Ingrid's eyes widened.
"Y-You!"
Surprisingly, Zeke was walking out on horseback at the forefront.
Behind him were Zeke's party and even Paynun.
Ingrid stammered, pointing at Paynun,
"P-Paynun! How in the world? B-But clearly...!"
Zeke cut Ingrid off and said,
"Why, are you surprised that the outcome is different from what you overheard?"
Ingrid was speechless.
Zeke already knew that they were monitoring and eavesdropping on their quarters.
So, when he talked to Paynun, he used a magic scroll to prevent eavesdropping.
And Paynun, realizing the corruption of Ingrid and the Mage Corps, had immediately decided to cooperate with Zeke.
"If that happens, you won't be able to build up your career in Delfoa anymore, Professor."
"It's better to give up than to build up my career dishonorably."
Contrary to his weak appearance, Paynun was a man of strong and firm will.
In preparation for eavesdropping, he pretended to refuse Zeke's offer and immediately went to report the corruption to the higher-ups.
Soon, someone appeared behind Paynun.
Ingrid's face turned pale when he saw the emblem on their robes.
'Scales and a sword... T-The Inspection Unit...!'
Delfoa wasn't a place stained with corruption and irregularities like the Southern Continent.
This was possible because of the existence of a powerful inspection agency.
Delfoa's Inspection Unit was notorious for its harsh investigations and punishments.
The head of the Inspection Unit stepped forward and arrested Ingrid.
"Ingrid Haxen. You are under arrest for collusion and communication with a continental public enemy, and for corruption."
Magic-suppressing handcuffs were placed on the hands of Ingrid and the mages of the Mage Corps.
Ingrid shouted at the head of the Inspection Unit,
"T-This is a false accusation! I have never colluded with anyone!"
The head of the Inspection Unit glared at him with sharp eyes.
"We have already secured all the evidence of collusion from within the fortress. Don't even try to deny it."
Realizing that he was completely cornered, Ingrid shouted,
"Damn it! If I get caught, do you think I'll die alone?! There are so many higher-ups who are connected to me! If I open my mouth, everyone will get hurt! The whole of Delfoa will be in an uproar!"
It was then.
Zeke approached Ingrid and slapped him across the face.
"Cough!"
Zeke's single blow completely ruptured the inside of Ingrid's mouth.
He spat out a few teeth along with blood and screamed, "Y-You!"
Zeke looked down at Ingrid with cold eyes and said,
"Not only you, but all the other trash connected to you will be dragged down as well. You have a lot of connections? Use them as much as you want. I am a direct descendant and pure-blooded awakened of Draker, and the sole successor of Duke Draker, the former Black Knight. It'll be fun to see whose connections are stronger."
Ingrid's face turned deathly pale at Zeke's words.
He finally realized who he had messed with.
Ingrid collapsed in front of Zeke, begging,
"I-I was wrong! I... I was wrong! Please! F-Forgive me...!"
Zeke glared at Ingrid and said,
"Beg forgiveness not from me, but from the knights who died meaningless deaths because of you, you piece of trash."
In the end, Ingrid was dragged away by the Inspection Unit with a devastated expression.
The head of the Inspection Unit approached Andrei and expressed his gratitude.
"We will send an official letter of appreciation to the Draker clan and Valhalla for your assistance."
"Thanks to Delfoa's swift response, we were able to conclude this matter safely. Thank you."
The Inspection Unit escorted the Black Yaksha group and the mages they had captured from the fortress and cleaned up the scene.
As they were watching this, someone approached Zeke.
"Sir Knight."
It was Jorge and the 8th Knights.
They were excluded from the inspection thanks to Zeke's testimony that they were not involved in the corruption.
However, without the 8th Division, a magic unit, the Knight Order belonging to it couldn't exist either.
Therefore, unless another Mage Division took them in, the 8th Knights would inevitably be disbanded.
But there was no place that would accept knights who were branded as traitors to their Mage Division.
Zeke looked at Jorge and said,
"No regrets, Jorge?"
Unlike before, it was clearly informal speech, but Jorge accepted it casually and scratched the back of his head, saying,
"No regrets. I just feel sorry for my colleagues who died unjustly. For having such an incompetent commander..."
Jorge choked up, and the other knights sniffled.
They all looked rough and tough enough to scare even mountain bandits, but they were quite tearful.
Zeke, watching them, said to Jorge,
"If you're alright with it, I'd like to offer you new jobs."
Jorge was surprised.
"N-New jobs?"
Zeke took out a contract from his pocket.
Jorge's jaw dropped as he received the contract.
"S-Sir Knight, this is... The conditions are too good. Are you sure there's no mistake with the amount?"
"You have to be paid this much to work with me."
"W-With you, Sir Knight?"
"Yes. I've established a new company. I needed an escort unit there, and I'd like you to work there."
"O-Oh my god. Are you saying you'll hire all of our knights?"
"Why, are you not interested?"
Jorge shook his head.
"Of course not! What are you all waiting for? Let's greet our lord!"
Jorge and the knights all knelt before Zeke and bowed.
Zeke clicked his tongue and said to Jorge,
"Well, it's not all going to be easy. There's a scary instructor there."
Zeke was thinking of sending them to the South for a while to be trained by Simon.
And while they were at it, he would have them guard the new factory that was going to be built.
After settling the 8th Knights' situation, Zeke said to Paynun,
"Professor Paynun, please come to Atlas as soon as Delfoa's affairs are settled. There's much we need to do together."
Paynun nodded.
"Understood, Master."
Zeke and Paynun, who had a teacher-student relationship, now had a new master-servant relationship.
Zeke finished his business in Delfoa and returned to Atlas with his party.
He didn't know what kind of evaluation he would receive, as the results of the special graduation mission had taken an unexpected turn.
***
Thud!
In a secret location in Midland, people dressed in black uniforms gathered.
The uniforms they wore were the same as Draker's, but instead of the Dragon-slayer emblem, they had two pairs of black wings.
Those who were Draker, but not Draker.
Nevertheless, the ones who were most like Draker were the Black Ops members.
The head of the Black Ops sat at a round table, with the deputy commanders on his right and left.
All the key members of the Black Ops were present at the meeting.
The head of the Black Ops, a stern-looking man with no hair or eyebrows, stroked the black gloves of the pure-blooded awakened on his hands and said,
"I apologize for calling you all when you're busy."
Baron Draker.
The head of the Black Ops was the only one among them who was allowed to use the name Draker.
He said to the Black Ops executives,
"I believe you'll all handle the minor issues yourselves, so let's just go over the biggest problem."
The head of the Black Ops' gaze changed.
"The Southern Continent has been quite noisy lately."
The Left Wing Deputy Commander next to him said,
"Sir, they're just thugs who sell drugs. You don't have to worry too much."
Even within the Black Ops, the Left Wing was mainly a combat unit.
In terms of their combat power, the cartels were nothing more than insignificant gangs.
Then the Right Wing Deputy Commander spoke up.
"The Southern cartels have grown rapidly in a short period of time. Don Juan of the McCain Cartel, for example, has amassed enormous wealth by taking control of the entire South and monopolizing the production, manufacturing, and distribution of Soma. They are not an opponent to be taken lightly."
Unlike the Left Wing, the Right Wing was in charge of espionage, intelligence gathering, and analysis.
Just then, the head of the Black Ops spoke.
"Don Juan is dead."
All the deputy commanders were surprised.
It was unbelievable that none of the Black Ops members, who held all the information on the continent, knew about this.
The Right Wing Deputy Commander calmly said,
"Sir, it's currently understood that Don Juan has disappeared to avoid the offensive of the Favela Cartel."
The head of the Black Ops slowly opened his mouth.
"After Don Juan disappeared, the McCain Cartel was torn into several pieces. The Favela, who are at war with them, are in a similar state with most of their bosses dead. But isn't it strange that Don Juan hasn't shown himself in this situation?"
The Right Wing Deputy Commander closed his mouth at the commander's words.
In fact, he hadn't thought deeply about the Southern cartels, assuming that Don Juan was simply in hiding.
When the head of the Black Ops placed his hand on the table, a magic image appeared in the air.
"This is a video taken by Favela a month ago."
The video showed people wearing black masks.
He flipped through the screen.
"And this is a video taken by McCain."
Similarly, there were pictures of people wearing masks.
When the head of the Black Ops spread his hand wide, several pictures of people wearing masks were arranged in a row.
He pointed at the screen and said,
"The person in the middle. That person moved between McCain and Favela and brought down both cartels. But no one has been able to identify him yet."
The head of the Black Ops looked at the image with sharp eyes and said,
"From this moment on, find that person. Find out who he is. And why he's meddling with the major cartels in the South."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Black Ops members in the room rose from their seats.
Draker's Black Ops, the most powerful intelligence agency on the continent.
They began to follow Zeke's trail.
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]