Alimo (3)
Chapter 179
Ray exchanged final greetings with the knights who had agreed to accompany him before leaving the fortress.
A relatively tall knight introduced himself first.
“Call me Bang.”
It wasn’t his real name.
Considering they were entering a dangerous area, he had chosen a short and concise new title for the mission.
The knight standing beside Bang spoke up.
“Call me Knife.”
“…”
After a brief silence, Ray looked out the window.
Beyond the dim sunset, the face of a young Knife he once knew flickered in his memory.
‘Has Rifa found a good man during my absence?’ Ray worried unnecessarily.
‘Till Rifa finds a suitable husband and sets up a home, how can Knife leave with peace of mind?’
“…Master Ray?”
Hearing Bang’s call, Ray snapped back to reality and responded belatedly.
“Ah, well, Knife isn’t quite right… Let’s go with Jetteu.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Jetteu, whose name had suddenly changed from Knife to Jetteu, nodded.
Ray scratched his head and pointed at himself.
“As for me… something like ‘Ron’ would work, perhaps?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Luna had agreed on the alias ‘Rune,’ and Ray glanced at Bang and Jetteu.
These two knights were both assistants and supervisors.
While their help was undoubtedly valuable, having them around made Luna uneasy about revealing her full strength.
‘I should find a chance to separate them when possible.’
Killing them was out of the question.
If anything happened to these two, it would raise Ernst’s suspicions, and Ray never enjoyed taking lives.
Having exchanged introductions, Ray gathered the equipment they would use in Alimo with the knights.
Among the gear Ernst had prepared was a staff that revealed a blade when turned.
After checking the staff’s condition, Ray handed Luna a robe-shaped artefact with protective functions.
“Here, Luna. If you want, try improving it since we might get more later.”
Luna silently nodded.
Bang, clutching a sharp and resilient bundle of threads in his arms, advised Ray.
“You shouldn’t fully trust the Empire’s intelligence unit either.”
“Yes, I’ll be careful.”
Even intelligence operatives dispatched to foreign lands couldn’t be monitored in real-time from the central command.
Replacing operatives wasn’t easy either.
Thus, commanding, punishing, or restraining an intelligence unit precisely as desired was incredibly challenging even for the Empire.
That the Empire managed to operate intelligence units at all was a testament to its strength, but the risk of betrayal remained ever-present.
“Well… Regardless, please take care, Bang, Jetteu.”
“If we pass through the warp gate, drop all honorifics entirely. As Master Leon is our superior, follow accordingly.”
As time passed, just before departure, Ray bid farewell to those staying behind at the fortress.
Alesya whined, Karen bit his ear, and Johanna, while verbally clicking her tongue, waved goodbye.
After finishing farewells with the others, Ray departed with Bang, Jetteu, and Luna.
They immediately boarded a carriage heading toward the warp gate.
The warp gate near the Imperial Capital differed greatly in size compared to the one at the Prislan Clan Fortress.
Before the massive warp gate stood numerous officials from the Empire conducting negotiations with Alimo and their assistants.
Meanwhile, Ray’s group waited quietly among baggage carriages carrying tributes meant for Alimo.
Eventually, when the time came, the warp gates were opened simultaneously by both the Empire and Alimo.
A grand procession sent by the Empire advanced through the warp gate toward Alimo.
“…”
With eyes closed, Luna felt the workings of what was considered the most advanced artefact created by the study of magic.
She methodically analyzed and memorized the flow of essence in space magic that had been perfected into this form.
Tszzt!
The carriage carrying Ray’s group passed through the warp gate.
Ray sensed the sky darken abruptly.
Ray’s group had arrived at Alimo, located far to the east of the Imperial Capital.
There was a moment of commotion nearby.
Everyone inside the carriage held their breath as Ray pressed his ear against the wall.
‘Is this a gateway?’
The gateway constructed by Alimo protected the warp gate from external enemies and eliminated any unauthorized entities emerging from it.
Even the Empire’s grand procession couldn’t bypass verification to exit the gateway freely.
Now, there would likely be a prolonged identity confirmation process.
At that moment, someone tapped on the floor of the carriage.
Tok! Todorok! Todok! Tok!
Upon hearing the prearranged signal, Ray’s group donned waterproof suits and opened the lower part of the carriage.
Below the opened section lay a deep trench.
Beneath the trench ran a sewage pipe designed to handle waste.
In the upper part of the sewage pipe, there was a hole large enough for a person to pass through, and Bang, Jetteu, Ray, and Luna squeezed themselves through one by one.
Splash…!
Ray caught Luna as she landed in the sewage pipe filled with foul water.
He then took the steel plate lying beneath his feet, placed it over the hole, and roughly welded it shut with magic.
Once the hole was sealed, complete darkness enveloped the sewer.
Covering the exposed trench discreetly and refilling the empty carriage were tasks left to others.
”
Crouching low to crawl through the sewer, Ray stifled a groan.
The stench was overwhelming.
The air was so polluted that a regular person could faint simply by inhaling it slightly.
Compared to this smell, the odor emanating from Johanna’s old training pants seemed like a floral fragrance—such thoughts crossed Ray’s mind before he shook his head.
Now was the time to focus.
Whoosh!
The intelligence officer who had previously tapped on the carriage’s underside to signal waved a glowing artefact, indicating for them to follow.
Following the crawling intelligence officer, Ray’s group began moving forward through the murky wastewater.
Clutching his teeth, Ray moved ahead, literally swimming through filth.
Training exercises involving plunging heads into monster entrails for knights or immersing oneself in sewage for special forces in previous lives weren’t random hardships after all.
Ray was concerned about Luna, who hadn’t received much physical training, but surprisingly, she followed closely behind him.
“”
The intelligence officer leading the way signaled by shaking a luminescent artefact up and down, indicating a barrier ahead.
Since rats and insects also traversed this sewer, the barrier didn’t alert mages to every living creature passing through.
To cross this point, the volume of the living entity needed to be small, the amount of mana carried minimal, and the crossing swift.
Wooong!
The intelligence officer activated a long artefact prepared beforehand.
This artefact temporarily distorted the barrier, making the volume of passing objects appear much smaller.
The intelligence officer mimicked swirling fingers around their heart and quickly crawled through the barrier.
Bang, Jetteu, and Ray halted their cores’ movements forcefully and proceeded forward.
After crossing the barrier, Ray bent down momentarily, grabbed Luna’s hand, and pulled her through.
The intelligence officer, viewing this action disdainfully, resumed crawling ahead.
After advancing without breathing almost entirely, they reached a place where light seeped in.
The intelligence officer rhythmically tapped the top of the sewer, and another waiting intelligence officer opened the iron plate above.
As the iron plate opened, starlight poured in more strongly.
“Huff, huff…”
After squeezing out of the hole, Ray gasped for air.
After a brief rest,
Ray’s group and the intelligence officers welded the sewer hole shut, covered the ground, and sealed the waterproof suits.
Once cleanup was complete, the intelligence officer gestured toward a carriage they had prepared.
It was a signal to board.
Ray’s group climbed into the dark cargo area of the carriage.
The carriage soon entered the city, evident from the bustling sounds heard without needing to look outside.
‘This isn’t the capital of Alimo… It must be a nearby town.’
The warp gate they had passed through was located near the capital of Alimo.
Given it was close to a national capital, the surrounding towns were developed, though still rural compared to the Imperial Capital.
“Hey!”
“!”
Someone outside forcibly stopped the carriage.
Bang and Jetteu tightened their grips on their sword hilts.
The carriage driver asked the guard stopping them.
“What is the matter?”
“Just that, the alcohol you smuggled last time was pretty decent,” the guard chuckled, referencing the incident where he had confiscated some bottles from the organization the driver belonged to.
The driver skillfully played along, handing over a few coins to the guard.
The guard assumed, as usual, that the carriage contained ‘contraband’ and, following tradition, collected his pocket money before letting the carriage proceed.
The carriage moved again.
As it navigated through a maze of alleys, the door slightly opened.
The intelligence officer pointed downward with his finger, signaling to disembark.
Thud…!
Everyone silently leapt off the carriage.
The carriage continued on as if nothing had happened, slipping through the alley.
Meanwhile, Ray’s group descended hidden underground stairs nestled within the alley.
Thanks to Aptel’s assistance, Ray could sense that this area was intricately covered with sophisticated surveillance and soundproof barriers.
An intelligence officer guiding them opened what appeared to be an ordinary wooden door.
Once the door opened, a spy agency hideout disguised as a tavern was revealed.
“We’ve arrived.”
The intelligence officer, who had remained silent since the gateway, finally spoke.
A man leaning against what would typically be a bartender’s position raised his glass.
“Welcome to Pearlglow.”
Pearlglow was the name of the town located near Alimo’s capital.
Ray looked at the man.
“Are you the branch chief here?”
“Hmm… Not exactly high-ranking, maybe deputy branch chief. Call me Comet. And you?”
Without answering the question, Ray scanned the surroundings.
On the table were bottles of liquor, the air was thick with cigarette smoke, and traces of card games remained.
Rubbing his chin, Ray asked Comet.
“…What progress have you made investigating the Ult Guard?”
“I’m still working on it. It’s late, so let’s talk business tomorrow. You should clean yourselves up.”
Because of the lingering stench from the sewer, the intelligence agents already present in the hideout burst out laughing.
Ray silently stared at Comet before speaking again.
“Organize whatever data you’ve gathered so far and share it with us. Incomplete information is fine too.”
“Why are you in such a rush? Go clean up first, oh mighty mage sir,” Comet chuckled, looking around Ray’s group.
Two 3rd Circle Mages. Two Expert Knights.
Not formidable opponents, nor particularly impressive force.
And since none of them belonged to the Intelligence Bureau, Comet judged that the Empire didn’t consider the Ult Guard matter significant.
Superficially, this judgment wasn’t wrong.
“”
As Comet glanced around Ray’s group, his eyes met Bang’s.
From Bang’s gaze, Comet read contempt, anger, and mockery.
Slightly irritated, when Comet turned back to Ray, Ray had aimed his staff at him.
It was an obvious threat.
Clang!!
A female agent named “Richel,” using an alias, swiftly struck Ray’s staff away.
Having lost his staff, Ray frowned and lunged bare-handed at Richel.
Richel found Ray amusing.
What could a mere 3rd Circle Mage, who relied on a staff for support, possibly hope to achieve?
While mindful of potential magical manifestations, Richel swung her sword casually.
Her intention was to slash deeply across Ray’s shoulder, but Ray’s right hand caught the blade mid-swing.
Zzjeek-!
“?!”
The density of mana in the center of the blade caught by Ray’s hand increased sharply before Richel could react.
The blade snapped cleanly, flinging sideways.
Richel watched as the broken blade embedded itself into a fellow agent’s shoulder.
That was the last thing Richel clearly remembered.
Zzeekk!!!!
Seizing Richel’s hair from behind, Ray slammed her face into a wooden shelf.
Gripping a handful of her hair, Ray dragged her sideways.
Chunks of splintered wood easily pierced Richel’s skin.
Seeing this, a bulky intelligence agent charged at Ray.
However, before the bulk could reach Ray, two wolf-shaped wind spirits appeared.
Kwaak!!!
“Aggh…!!!”
The bulky figure rolled on the ground, his shoulder and leg bitten by the spirits.
Kagagang!!
Knives were drawn from various corners.
Just as the fight was about to escalate, Comet raised his hand.
The agents hesitated, glancing at Comet.
Meanwhile, Ray nervously picked bits of wood and flesh from the nearly unconscious Richel’s face.
“Damn…”
Brushing off blood-stained hands as if they were dirty, Ray grabbed a potion bottle from his robes and smashed it over Richel’s head.
Kaang!!!
Drenched in potion, Richel collapsed onto the floor, completely unconscious.
With an irritable expression, Ray clicked his tongue and sat down on a chair in front of a long table.
“Listen.”
Ray pulled two glasses near Comet towards himself.
Magic manifested, creating several chunks of ice that dropped into the glasses.
Ray then grabbed a bottle near Comet.
“I didn’t come all the way here to waste time playing power games with you guys.”
Shaking the bottle a few times, Ray poured drinks into the glasses.
“I’m not here to investigate your operations either. I don’t care where your expensive liquor and cigarettes come from. Got it?”
Both glasses were filled.
Ray pushed one glass towards Comet.
“All I need is to find and bring back the Ult Guard. Once I grab him, I’ll leave.”
Ray lifted the glass to his lips but then hurled it forcefully at the wall.
Pa-gak!!
The glass shattered, scattering liquor and shards across the floor.
Ray ran his hand through his hair and stared at Comet.
“At least cooperate minimally, and I won’t bother with whatever schemes you’re plotting here. Hand over the information you’ve gathered about him. Or did you find nothing at all?”
“”
Staring silently at Ray, Comet picked up the glass that had slid towards him.
The ice clinked melodiously in the glass.
