I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 119

The simplest way to bring down Albino is just one:

Capture Ravinia Way.

Because the members of Albino are all connected through White Noise, once Ravinia Way, the head, is caught, the organization would naturally collapse.

But finding Ravinia Way immediately was a bit tricky.

The information Luca obtained through searching did not contain Ravinia Way's exact location.

'Details about White Noise are on a higher information tier and are restricted. Most likely, Ravinia Way is near White Noise right now.'

The true secret base of Albino—

Luca knew about it.

That's because, in the original novel, the place where White Noise was hidden was shown.

'The problem is whether she's still there, even at this point in time.'

Given that it was still several years before the protagonist would fight Albino in the original story, it was entirely possible the location had changed.

Therefore, right now, he had to find a way to defeat Albino without relying on that information.

'If I can't strike at the head directly... then I'll have to cut off the limbs first.'

It was a long detour, but it was all he could do for now.

Luckily, Luca had just the tools needed to sever Albino's limbs.

[Crime Organization – Albino]

Overview: A criminal organization based in the southern region of the Hernan Empire.

This information about Albino obtained through the search app—

Not only did it contain the identities of Albino's members, but also their hideouts, the guilds they collaborated with, and even the businesses they operated.

In effect, Albino was as good as sitting in the palm of Luca's hand.

'I could use this to wipe out each base one by one myself, but that would take time, and, like Bella said, there's a chance some mercenaries will come for me.'

Even if not actual mercenaries, they might place a bounty through the guilds they worked with and attempt to have him killed.

'Many of the assassins in crime organizations are a pain to deal with.'

It's rare for criminal organizations to have master-level fighters.

So if it was a head-on fight, Luca was confident he wouldn't lose.

But assassination was a different matter.

'Those guys will use any dirty trick in the book.'

Just from what the protagonist went through in the original, things like poison were basics—there were all sorts of annoyances, like someone masquerading as a passerby and suddenly stabbing with a knife, or detonating a magic stone bomb at an inn while he slept.

'I don't want to make Bella work even harder than she is already.'

If Luca went with this method, Bella would have to struggle through those threats, and imagining that made him drop the idea.

So how could he use this information to respond to Albino?

'Simple. I just need to hand this off to someone who finds these guys troublesome.'

Luca didn't need to use the information himself.

He could pass it to someone who would make more profitable use of it.

'The Security Guard Corps.'

Places like Bizen at the very southern end may be out of the imperial family's reach, but the southern region was still a valuable imperial territory.

Naturally, the empire invested resources to maintain security there.

Unlike the east or west, where there was the threat of war, or the north, where it was cold, the south attracted many applicants.

With so many people applying, only the most outstanding made the cut—and thus, their skills were exceptional.

In short, the Security Guard Corps of the southern region was an elite group.

'Albino must be quite a thorn in their side.'

If they touched the group rashly, they might end up at war with crime, so they'd avoided direct confrontation. But if they could wipe them out, they wouldn't hesitate—Albino had grown too big to be called just a small crime organization.

'So, I need to give those guys an excuse to act.'

Thinking this, Luca looked at the information on Albino he spent all night transcribing.

With this, unless the head of the Security Guard Corps was an idiot, wiping out Albino would be simple.

Albino's dangerous point was that only officers who completely trusted each other shared information—nobody knew the locations of the hideouts or the members' identities.

But all Albino's information was sitting in Luca's hands.

This nullified Albino's greatest advantage.

'But still, just this probably isn't enough to make them move.'

If he simply handed over the information, the Corps might doubt its credibility, or use it for something else.

That meant he needed to provide them with justification that would make them take action against Albino.

"Bella. From now on, write exactly what I dictate. In a handwriting different from mine."

"Yes, young master!"

Bella smiled brightly and began writing Luca's words in the letter, but soon her expression soured.

"Young master. This is..."

"Oh, Bella. By the way, I have a question."

Before she could protest, Luca grinned slyly.

"Do you happen to have the seal of the Traverse family?"

"... W-What?!"

Even Bella couldn't help but be startled by such a bold question.

* * *

Albino's hideout in the commercial city of Minda.

Minda was a major trading city where various merchant groups came to buy local southern specialties, making it a key source of funding for Albino.

Accordingly, several high-ranking officers guarded it.

"Wow, looks like it'll be a busy day again."

Baroda, a regular member, looked over the logistics manifest that had come in at dawn and smiled with satisfaction.

Many other members bustled around him.

Though Albino was a criminal group, not all their business was illegal.

One of their main sources of income was quickly gathering resources using their southern branches and supplying them to partner merchants.

So, regular members like Baroda were busy every day.

Crash!

"?"

But today, suddenly, a group of people armed with spears and shields broke down the door to Albino's warehouse.

Baroda quickly ran over when he realized who they were.

"Oh no! Sir Amolon! What brings you here?"

They were the Security Guard Corps stationed in Minda.

At the front was Amolon Helteria, the head of the Minda branch.

Baroda, who had met him several times, bowed obsequiously.

"Was there a tip about some suspicious goods in the warehouse? Please, check for yourself! There's nothing suspicious here!"

"..."

"Sir Amolon...?"

Amolon stared coldly at him, making Baroda sense something was wrong.

Thud!

"... Gah!"

In a blink, Amolon's spear pierced Baroda's chest.

Baroda coughed blood, groaning, and Amolon shouted:

"Kill all the dogs of the crime organization Albino!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Security Guard Corps members fanned out on his orders, stabbing everyone at work.

"S-Save—Aaargh!"

Stab! Stab! Stab!

The warehouse instantly became hell.

Blood and screams filled the air as terrified people tried to flee.

But every last one was cut down by the soldiers' spears.

"Stop! What on earth is going on here!"

At that moment, a high-ranking Albino officer, Tarunda Way, burst in, shouting.

Amolon spun his spear and replied:

"White hair and red eyes—you're an officer of Albino, aren't you?"

"We haven't caused any trouble and have been living quietly. Why are you attacking us?"

"Quiet? Not causing any trouble?"

Amolon's eyes narrowed fiercely at Tarunda Way's words.

"Did you think you could lay a hand on an imperial great noble and get away with it, you vile fiends!"

"What are you talking about...?"

Tarunda Way paused, not understanding. But then Amolon clarified:

"Even after touching the precious heirs of the Hernan Empire's fang, the Traverse family, you act innocent! How shameless!"

"Traverse... Don't tell me...!"

The Empire's fang—emerald green hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with some sense of imperial politics knew about them.

In the past, Abel Traverse, known as the Empire's Fang and the greatest swordsman in history, was always mentioned among the founding heroes.

And Wylde Traverse, called his second coming.

His unique emerald green hair and blue eyes were famous.

'So it really was them...'

Tarunda felt a sharp headache.

When the official notification came, he'd worried for a second—did we really mess with the Traverse family?

But since it was the southern region, not the east, he'd dismissed it, thinking there was no way a Traverse would show up here.

'Isn't the Traverse family's eldest son still attending the academy? Why is he here?'

Ordinary folk had no way of knowing Hernan Academy was on a temporary break.

After thinking for a moment, Tarunda said to Amolon:

"I-I think I understand the situation. We'll look into this on our side and—"

"Too late! A precious scion of the Traverse family already demands your deaths!"

Thud!

Amolon stomped the floor and took up a throwing position with his spear.

The spearhead glowed with an ether blade.

"For letting criminals run free, I'll obliterate you now and beg forgiveness from the honorable family that protects this country!"

"... Damn it!"

Tarunda hurriedly wrapped himself in tentacles.

At the same time, he sent White Noise to the officers nearby.

—The Security Guard Corps is here! Support needed at the warehouse!

Stab!

"!"

But before he could act again, Amolon's spear was already through his torso.

Even the tentacles of White Noise were useless against the ether blade.

"Urgh!"

Tarunda ripped off Amolon's spear, tearing his own body.

With the power of White Noise, his torn flesh soon regenerated.

Stab! Stab! Stab!

"Aaaargh!"

But more spears flew from the side, each one sheathed in an ether blade.

"Did you think we wouldn't know your tricks?"

The other guards who had already slaughtered the regular members surrounded Tarunda with cold eyes.

"We'll kill you as many times as it takes."

"Stop... stop...!"

Stab! Stab! Stab!

That day, Minda and all of Albino's major bases were annihilated.

* * *

"S-Sir Tron. The Minda branch has also been destroyed."

Hearing Bray's report, Tron closed her eyes.

It wasn't just the Minda branch.

All of Albino's key locations were being destroyed.

'The Security Guard Corps might attack us. But this is far from normal.'

The Corps was only targeting the branches necessary for Albino's operations.

That was insane logic.

'Unless all of Albino's information was leaked to them, this would be impossible.'

No one could selectively attack only Albino's key bases without intimate insider knowledge.

Lubak's domain seemed untouched only because Tron had absolute control there, but everywhere else was being decimated.

'And it's happening so fast that we can't even respond. Do we have a traitor? That's impossible.'

Only officers knew sensitive information.

So even if the enemy tortured the regular members, they couldn't possibly get so much data.

Besides, due to how Albino was run, it was impossible for its officers to betray.

The White Noise inside their bodies made it impossible for them to act against Ravinia Way's will.

Tron bit her lip.

'What are we going to do? Ravinia isn't even here...'

Rustle.

Just then, someone silently appeared behind her.

Snow-white hair, blood-red eyes, skin so pale it showed blue veins.

It was a girl who stood out even among Albino's officers for those traits.

"Ah! Sir Tron!"

Bray's eyes widened at the girl's appearance.

Tron, puzzled, turned and then yelled in surprise.

"Lady Ravinia!"