novelraw Chapter 94 : Calm Before the Storm (5)
Chapter 94 : Calm Before the Storm (5)
Calm Before the Storm (5)
On the way back to the shop after finishing the company commander-level meeting.
I organized the information I had gathered so far, rubbing the spots where Hank had hit me.
1. The Duchy's knight order, White Fang, is hostile toward Granfen. The reason and purpose are unknown.
2. Squire Jeros has left, but the remaining squire Schutmann is still present. Granfen is cohabitating with an enemy beyond their means.
3. For some reason, the battalion commander does not trust Schutmann 100%.
Of these, number 3 is the most hopeful.
'But why doesn't the battalion commander trust Schutmann?'
First of all, the commander's snake-like personality likely plays a role.
To put it nicely, he's cautious; to put it badly, he doesn't trust people.
But I wonder if my hint last time wasn't a bigger factor.
The hint about whether Jeros didn't deliberately leave traces behind.
'As soon as he heard that, the battalion commander called for Lantz first.'
I'm guessing the result of their discussion sparked suspicion towards Schutmann.
Even if that's right, that presents another problem.
'If it's Schutmann, he could have figured all this out already.'
Schutmann probably knows everything I've told the battalion commander.
Considering his abilities, it's more than possible.
There's a high chance that Schutmann eavesdropped on the commander's conversation with Lantz as well.
'That means he might already know Legion is alive.'
This is a real pain in the neck. It's the perfect example of the saying, "There's always someone better"—but—
'Regardless of how good Schutmann is, I have to catch up.'
If I can't deliver the information I have, I have a feeling something disastrous will happen.
After all, we're dealing with a squire.
My head throbbed with anxiety, but in the end, there was only one thing I needed to do.
'I have to deliver what I know to the old man—without Schutmann finding out!'
So, how am I going to meet with the battalion commander?
Granted, I can't shake off Schutmann's tail or surveillance, but even a squire can't be in two places at once.
Which means—
'Unless he uses some kind of clone technique, he can't keep eyes on multiple people at the same time.'
In my head, Schutmann's surveillance radius narrows.
He'll focus more on the battalion commander than on me, especially if his goal is to observe Granfen's overall flow.
So my conclusion is this:
'No matter what, verbally conveying the information to the commander is out.'
Naturally, "in writing" came to mind, but even that isn't guaranteed to be safe.
Schutmann could easily check it while the commander is reading.
'Schutmann could definitely pull that off. His stealth was on another level.'
So should I deliver it in a coded note? Hm, that probably won't work either.
Even an ordinary code would be child's play for someone like Schutmann.
'There's no code Schutmann wouldn't understand...'
"Ah!!"
Suddenly, it hit me.
There IS a code not even Schutmann could decipher!
'The battalion commander and Legion! Don't they have a code only the two of them know?!'
If that's the case, Schutmann wouldn't be able to figure it out.
With a secret code known only to those two, I could convey the message safely even if Schutmann was watching.
The moment I landed on the answer, I couldn't help but feel the corners of my mouth turning up.
'I need to find Legion!'
It's the slimmest hope, but it's not zero.
I don't know where she is, but she's definitely alive.
'Then I have to try!'
I stopped in my tracks on the way to the shop.
Finally, a laugh escaped me. Anyone who saw me might have thought I was crazy, but thankfully, no one was around.
"Fufufu."
I never got around to playing those deduction adventure games because I was so busy with Belkhazium, but I did enjoy watching Kindaichi and Conan.
So let's reason this out, Ian. For the sake of Grandpa and Miran's honor.
'Where would Legion be right now?'
I ran my brain at full capacity, scanning the clues I had.
Suddenly, something the battalion commander once said flashed in my mind:
― Jeros went into the beastkin village, he said. Boldly, right through the entrance, without any disguise."
That information came from Legion. Which means—
'Legion is likely still hiding out among the beastkin.'
Maybe she disguised herself with rabbit ears like she did before?
No, that can't be it.
Legion is officially considered dead—she must have disguised herself differently, so her face can't be recognized.
'So what kind of disguise did Legion use? And where in Heroni's village would she have holed up?'
That was the real question, and naturally, the people who might know are—
'The special operations guys who used to be close to Legion.'
I have to find those guys and ask them.
Admiring the deduction skills of Detective Ian, I headed for the officers' training ground.
*
A few officers were in the training ground, and luckily, there were some familiar special operations corporals among them.
Ricky, and—
'The helmeted woman?'
When heading out to the spirit stone quarry battle,
She was the tall woman in the helmet who had asked me about Jeros.
Those two, the helmeted woman and Ricky, were sparring.
The woman's short spear and Ricky's sabre were clashing furiously, sparks flying.
As their special operations leader, I approached, pleased by my subordinates' zeal, when—
"!!"
Ricky suddenly thrust his sabre at me.
'Is this bastard insane?'
I whipped out my kitchen knife and knocked away the blade aimed at my neck—clang!!
Pretending to block his follow-up, I dodged and landed a side kick to Ricky's chest.
Wham!
"Keh!"
Ricky tumbled away, choking and spitting up red saliva.
"Ptui."
He'd been like this ever since the sparring match at the spirit stone quarry.
I told him to challenge me anytime—and that he could have the "big brother" title if he ever beat me.
'It works out for me—a stress relief punching bag anytime I want.'
I was about to get lost in idle thoughts when the helmeted woman's voice snapped me back to reality.
"What do you want? It's not exactly pleasant for a junior to barge into a sparring session."
I could sense hostile intent through the slit in her helmet.
'I did beat up Ricky and refused to share info on Jeros, after all.'
Still, projecting that I wasn't here to fight, I responded smoothly:
"I have something I'd like to ask."
"We're not obligated to answer just because you ask... but go ahead. What do you want to know?"
Judging from how she spoke, it didn't seem like she'd be forthcoming, but I figured I had nothing to lose, so I started talking—carefully laying some groundwork first.
"This conversation includes the battalion commander's wishes, so please keep this between us."
That finally piqued their curiosity.
"Alright. I'll trust you for now. You're also directly under the battalion commander like us."
Good. With that, nothing should leak.
"This is a hypothetical."
"..."
"Hypothetically, if Special Operations Commander Legion were alive, where and how would she be hiding?"
"!!"
The tip of the woman's spear wavered noticeably.
She looked clearly rattled, and Ricky got up, brushing off dust and asking me,
"Why do you want to know that?...sir?"
Their wariness was plainly obvious.
As I debated how to coax them, the helmeted woman answered, a beat quicker than expected.
"I can't tell you. Absolutely not."
Ricky glanced at the helmeted woman, but said nothing, and I replied as calmly as I could.
"Why not?"
"Our special operations information is classified. It's never to be shared except with the battalion commander or the Special Operations Commander herself."
That was firmer than I expected.
Should I try the "orders from above" angle next?
"As I said, this question is on the battalion commander's behalf."
It was a trump card, but the helmeted woman smirked and replied:
"That's strange. The commander would never send you to ask something like that—he'd already know the answer himself."
Classic special operations.
They're built differently from Granfen's regulars in both operational security and intelligence.
'Of course, my shoddy cover story didn't help.'
Alright, let's try asking indirectly.
"Where was the last place Commander Legion was confirmed alive? Actually, I just wanted to know about her recent movements."
This time, Ricky was the one to answer, twirling his sabre.
"Get lost, big brother Ian. Didn't you hear? We don't want to tell you."
Ha. Nothing comes easy for me—maybe it's just my fate.
'Maybe I should just ask the old man to officially make me Special Operations Commander.'
The thought crossed my mind,
But quickly realized it'd be too much hassle and take too long.
Guess I have to go with plan B. Fine. Let's just force it.
"... That's a pretty lame excuse."
"?!"
Both of them flinched at my sudden shift in attitude.
Of course, I leaned in and pushed further, aiming to provoke.
"You two probably don't want to talk because you did nothing when Commander Legion died. Isn't that right?"
Their tempers began to flare. Good.
'If they won't open their mouths, I'll just make them.'
When I was wet behind the ears, diplomacy was my only tool.
But now, I had a bit of strength to back me up.
No reason to hold back.
'I'll just win the information in a spar!'
I added a light sneer for effect.
"You two aren't even special operations—you're a disgrace to Commander Legion. Cowards."
Guess my acting's improved a lot;
Ricky's face twisted up in rage.
I couldn't see her face, but the helmeted woman stiffened, gripping her spear and growling:
"You damn bastard. Outsider, through and through."
Ricky also gripped his sabre reverse-hand and readied a dagger in his other hand.
Just as I was about to suggest a bet for the spar—
"Zaiya. Let's kill this guy."
... What? This is escalating faster than I thought.
"No. That guy's cooking is Granfen's firepower. We shouldn't kill him."
"Tch!"
Phew. Thank god.
If two third-ranks came at me with real killing intent, even I'd—
"Let's not kill him—let's just slice off one of his legs."
"Heh. That works."
At that, the two of them readied their preparatory stance at the same time.
'Are you kidding? I wanted to fight one at a time and you're both coming at me?!'
This was an unexpected development.
Special operations breaking northern honor with a gang-up?
Maybe I pushed them too far.
FWOOOSH!!
"!!"
The spear flickered, surging toward my face.
At the same time, Ricky launched himself low at my flank. Fast.
'The tempo shift is huge!'
Compared to Derek and the others' brawl at dawn, this was another level,
Made worse by the fact that I didn't even have a strength buff right now.
CLANG!
I barely knocked away Zaiya's spear with my quick sword,
Stepping back fast to put some distance.
'Didn't think they'd charge right in, both at the same time, either.'
Ratatatat.
Instead of counterattacking, I kept retreating and scanning my opponents.
A few shocked faces among the officers lingered in my peripheral vision but I ignored them and focused.
'My foot speed is superior.'
All that sweat and work wasn't wasted after all—
Even without a strength buff, my back-steps matched their forward dashes.
Keeping the distance and parrying the spear as it poked in, I did some quick calculations in my head.
'Nine times out of ten, I lose if I get caught in their coordinated attack.'
Rank and numbers are absolute.
Even if my combat skill is higher than theirs,
If two who are both 3rd-rank like me charge in at once, it's just too much.
So there's only one answer.
'I need to break them up and take them one at a time.'
How to prevent their pincer attack and isolate them?
As I tried to work out the answer, poisonously hyped-up Ricky hollered,
"You coward! Just gonna keep running?!"
Then he pulled out a handful of steel marbles and started flicking them at me.
Click. Thwack! Clang. Click.
Luckily, they weren't much of a threat.
Without my flowing sword techniques, I couldn't block them all,
But the marbles were small and light, making them easy to dodge.
Even if they hit, it would hurt like hell, but not cause real injury.
But there was another problem.
'If marbles keep rolling on the ground, it'll mess up my backward movement.'
He was trying to increase my chances of slipping and slow me down.
Still, I couldn't help but smile at Ricky's little trick.
'Thanks for the hint.'
I stopped short, grinding my soles for a sudden brake, and took my throwing posture.
Time to use the "ranged" skill I'd been neglecting.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
I heard the sound of a biological clock, drawing a grid around Ricky.
'It's been ages since I've used Hunting Time with a kitchen knife instead of a utility knife. Not since the duel with Pab, I think.'
The weight difference forced me to focus even harder.
Tick-tock.
Transferring physical force from waist, to shoulder, to arm, to wrist, the kitchen knife left my hand.
Shhhhk!!
The blade flew straight for Ricky's center of mass.
Ricky dropped his marbles, reaching for his belt dagger, looking truly rattled.
'Did I throw that too seriously?'
Hoping he'd block or dodge it somehow,
I channeled mana and blasted off the ground.
Bang!
My new target: Zaiya the helmeted woman.
'Ricky will be stunned for 1-2 seconds parrying or dodging the knife.'
That gave a 1-2 second window—just me and Zaiya, a one-on-one.
I'd have to finish her in a move or two for any chance of victory.
With this in mind, I charged.
FWOOOSH!
Zaiya whipped her spear furiously to intercept me.
It was so full of force and intent, parrying didn't seem possible.
But her spear technique was the strong variant of Flow-Strong-Quick Forms.
'And the strong can't beat the quick.'
I slipped between her guard faster than her strike,
And WHUMP!!
I drove the pommel of the kitchen knife deep into her solar plexus.
"Guh!"
She grimaced in pain but didn't go down.
For the finisher, I uppercut her chin with my fist. THUNK!!
'Nice, got her this time.'
As Zaiya toppled backward,
Her helmet—dented at the chin—popped off.
Soon the dented helmet hit the ground with a clatter,
And the helmetless Zaiya collapsed—when—
'Huh?'
Seeing Zaiya's bare face, I couldn't hide my surprise.
That face was—
'Le...gion?'
* * *
Pab, platoon leader of Hank's company, 1st platoon.
The scrawny platoon leader was on his way to the officers' training center for the first time in a while.
His ribs, broken by the rhinoceros beastkin, Shahino, the company commander, had mostly healed.
'Outsider, no, it was thanks to the vegetable rice porridge the mess platoon leader prepared for me that I recovered so quickly.'
There was a time when he had tried to eliminate Ian for the sake of Hank's company commander's order and the northern region's pureblood policy, but he had failed.
Back then, the shame was enough to make him want to die for real,
but these days, he even felt it was a good thing that he lost.
'Because thanks to that guy's food, I'm getting stronger day by day.'
Of course, intoxicated by those feelings of getting stronger, he made the mistake of missing Shahino's attack in the previous battle,
but he wouldn't ever make such a mistake again.
He'd survive, keep growing stronger, and definitely be promoted to 4th-rank and become a company commander!
'No matter what anyone says, the strongest platoon leader in Granfen is me.'
With that kind of determination, the moment Pab's steps brought him to the officers' training center—
"?!!"
Pab, like the other platoon leaders at the training center, was turned to stone.
'Ricky and Zaiya are attacking Ian, at the same time?!'
Two of the special operations corporals—3rd-rank like himself and strong enough to compare with him—were attacking Ian.
They showed movements full of killing intent, not holding back in the slightest, genuinely intent on killing him.
But Ian was receiving their attacks with precarious ease.
Just from his movements, he'd already surpassed 3rd-rank.
It was like watching a feat of acrobatics.
Maybe that's why.
Although it was a situation where Ian could get hurt and Granfen's overall fighting strength could drop,
nobody stopped them.
Ian's gaze was fixed on victory.
'Is Ian really going to defeat two special operations corporals?'
Pab clenched his fist without even realizing.
A blend of jealousy and awe wormed underneath the sweat in his fist.
At that moment—
Shhhik.
The kitchen knife in Ian's left hand cut the air with a sharp metallic sound and flew at Ricky.
While Ricky wavered between blocking or dodging in that split second,
Ian charged at Zaiya like an arrow. Pang!
Yes. That scene was just like—
'Je, Jeros?'
It was enough to remind anyone of Jeros,
Thwack! Thunk!
And Ian knocked Zaiya down with just two hits.
"Ah......"
A gasp escaped Pab's mouth.
He realized that he was no longer the strongest platoon leader in Granfen.