The building complex was completely burned down, leaving only charred frames behind.
The faces of the merchants who had been bustling about just a few hours ago were utterly hollow.
“Lumina.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Without needing to be told much, Lumina went about her duties one by one. She was practically at the level where she could be immediately promoted to squad leader.
She scanned the gathered crowd and soon found someone she knew somewhat, approaching them closely.
After all, she had been in the unit longer than me and had always been in charge of interior work.
It was natural for there to be someone known in the city’s merchant guild.
“Mr. John Clerk!”
“Oh! Sergeant Lumina.”
“Do you know where Chief Secretary Alphera is?”
“Chief Secretary Alphera should be working inside as a secretary… As you can see, it has turned out like this. I don’t really know.”
“Then, if you could at least tell me where his house is…”
Lumina persisted, but he shook his head in response.
“I’m sorry, I’m not in my right mind right now, so I don’t think I can help you with anything.”
“Oh, no, I apologize!”
“Others might not know either. Mr. Alphera was famously meticulous about his personal life.”
That’s why Shakhov left him in charge.
To buy time if Lamur was tracking us.
Lumina continued asking about Alphera’s whereabouts, but all she got were ramblings from merchants who were half out of their minds.
Finally returning, defeated and dragging her feet.
“What do we do now?”
“If Alphera truly went into hiding to avoid being tracked by Lamur, then given how the merchant guild building looks, he would have hidden even more carefully.”
They blatantly set the building on fire to destroy evidence. It wouldn’t make sense to be poking around the area in such a situation.
Especially considering his meticulous management of his private life, he would likely have discarded his old address and holed up somewhere truly secret.
“We should return to our unit. It’s getting late.”
Better to return quickly and report to Colonel Lannister than to continue searching.
Our visit to Chernov City was merely for preliminary investigation, not to tail the Night’s Watch or the merchant guild.
If only Lamur hadn’t burned down the guild building, we could have been leisurely taking a walk right now.
This situation was purely coincidental.
“And Lamur might notice something.”
Even though I was disguised, once discovered by the Night’s Watch, it was only a matter of time before they learned I was the officer who caused the previous disturbance.
It’s better to avoid confrontation with such a criminal organization, even if it means being accompanied by the National Guard.
If I ended up in another physical altercation like last time, I might fall ill again tomorrow.
There’s no way to use magic on civilians, so it’s best to retreat quickly.
‘I could delegate further investigation to Claude or Bella.’
Those two would surely handle it well.
…But that might not be the case.
For now, returning to the unit seems to be the right decision.
I avoid the mess, not because I’m scared.
At that moment.
Someone lightly bumped my shoulder and passed by.
“Hey, wait!”
Seeing the person who bumped into her first and didn’t apologize, Lumina called out indignantly. Through the slightly exposed hood, their eyes met mine.
In that instant,
I instinctively felt that the man was Chief Secretary Alphera.
“-!!”
As if beckoning, the man slipped away into an alley.
“Let’s go.”
“Huh? Where to… No, Captain!”
I immediately followed the man, and Lumina, without understanding, followed me too.
Entering the alley, he ran skillfully through the path cluttered with garbage and boxes.
Finally stopping at a dead end.
“You’re quite fast.”
The man grinned under his hood. Removing it, his jet-black hair came into view.
‘Somehow unexpected.’
I thought the Chief Secretary would look like a bookish person with glasses, but he had the appearance of a nimble deliveryman.
He looked back and forth between me and Lumina, asking,
“It doesn’t seem like you’re from Lamur’s side… Who instructed you to find me?”
*
“Frankly, I didn’t expect such a high level of intelligence.”
When I mentioned the code I received from Shakhov, Alphera gasped in admiration.
“Of course, it’s the National Guard…!”
“Hmm.”
To be honest, it was just luck, but neither Lumina nor I felt the need to correct him.
It’s better to let them misunderstand; otherwise, they might play tricks.
“Does the Night’s Watch know about this?”
“No, they don’t. We’re moving temporarily until solid evidence is found.”
I smoothly lied. It felt like a long time since I last did.
‘Back then, it was so hard to do this.’
During the time when I still wore military uniform.
Every time before an operation, what held me back wasn’t my shooting skills or stamina, but my communication skills.
All the communication techniques I learned from seniors, which I was beaten up to learn, are still effective in the world of Hearts of Generals.
Lumina seemed to want to say something, but seeing me calmly handling the situation, she looked slightly surprised.
“So, I just need to show you the evidence, then?”
Nodding silently, I stood up. Alphera also rose from his seat.
He said this place was the secret archive of the Chernov Merchant Guild.
A kind of ‘archive’ known only to those close to Guildmaster Shakhov, including Chief Secretary Alphera.
Not only documents related to the artifact theft, but also all kinds of illegal activities conducted covertly by the Night’s Watch and other merchants are fully preserved here.
“These are all evidence of corruption?”
Seeing the piles of ledgers, Lumina made a disgusted face.
“Guildmaster Shakhov is always prepared with a dagger.”
Alphera said, pulling out a sealed envelope from among the stacks of documents.
“Here. Security documents, including those submitted by the client who requested transportation to Belgorod Fortress, are included.”
I tore open the seal and checked the contents of the document.
[Freight Manifest]
[Item: Fresh Food]
[Destination: Regular Military Rations Supply]
To others, it might look like a regular freight manifest, but the problem lies in this part.
[Note: Special Inspection Target]
The phrase scribbled on the document, along with the Night’s Watch Commander’s seal below.
“The special inspection of military rations is a common occurrence, so I just overlooked it. However, it’s rare for the Night’s Watch Commander to personally inspect.”
As expected of the Chief Secretary, he meticulously examined any anomalies in the document.
“Would this be enough to prove it?”
“More than enough.”
I took the envelope and handed it to Lumina.
Just thinking about it, it’s a huge discovery.
With the intelligence that the informant is Lamur, the National Guard will surely act if we return to the unit like this.
Without needing to drag it out, it’s as good as done once we receive Colonel Lannister’s request.
Isn’t there another diamond right in front of our eyes? It feels like one more will be added.
But I didn’t show any excitement.
Until everything is settled, we must remain calm.
“I’ll take responsibility for your cooperation.”
“Thank you.”
Alphera bowed, and I nodded slightly before standing up.
Leaving the alleyway, we finally arrived at the carriage stand where the driver was waiting.
But it was already occupied by heavily armed guards. The driver, seeing us, turned his head, and the guards’ attention focused on us.
“We found him—!!”
The gathered people weren’t just the Night’s Watch.
“Y-Yeah, it seems so.”
One of the men, dressed differently from the guards, pointed at me with his finger.
Somehow, I recognized his face. He was one of the delinquents I dealt with alongside Bella Meyer.
‘If they’re resorting to delinquents, it means they’re pulling out all the stops.’
It’s clear that the Night’s Watch Commander has noticed something.
Given that I’ve already been identified as a military officer, there’s no reason for the guards to treat us this way.
“Lumina.”
“N, no?!”
Even the sergeant didn’t expect the Night’s Watch to react this strongly.
Unless Lamur recognizes us as part of the National Guard or a similar force.
If we fall into their hands, it won’t be good.
Better to detain us and negotiate or threaten, rather than let us report.
But that’s only if we can’t escape the city.
“Earlier, after we returned to the alley, hide and wait for the carriage to take you straight out of the city.”
“Eh!? Then what about Captain?”
“I can take care of myself.”
Two people attract more attention. Alone, it’s better for buying time.
“Take care of the manifest. Report the current situation in the city to the battalion commander as soon as we reach the battalion.”
“Captain Enok!”
“Hurry! If we get caught, we’ll be in trouble!”
Prompting her, Lumina, looking displeased, disappeared to the rear.
“Pff.”
I took a deep breath and immediately deployed my magic.
Instantly creating a blazing fireball, the guards who charged recklessly stopped abruptly.
“Don’t come closer.”
“We are executing our duty according to proper procedures! Withdraw your magic!”
“Proper procedures?”
That’s a ridiculous excuse.
“I’m exercising my right to self-defense according to proper procedures.”
“Y-You really plan to use magic? Unauthorized attack spells are a serious crime…”
“I’ve already used it once. It gets easier after the first time.”
Rex was saying the same thing, so I properly dealt with him.
And besides,
If your backing is the Night’s Watch Commander, mine is the Marshal.
“Anyone who wants to desert, step forward.”
Come on, give it a try.
Brats.
