Book 5: Volume 4 Chapter 11, The Royal Family’s Dark Organization

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

A plan had moved forward without authorization carried out under an ‘order’ that was never issued, and when two positions were filled and the attack came, each base fell at the same moment.

 

To summarize what had happened in the capital, that was it.

 

The head of the dark guild set the informant’s report face-down on his desk with deliberate calm, then looked up at his subordinates.

 

“What does this mean?”

 

Within this guild, no action was ever taken without a direct order from the head. The framework for issuing those orders had been laid down carefully over years. The thought it had been exploited… that someone had understood the system well enough to turn it against them… this was the part that refused to sit still in his mind.

 

The fall of the capital’s base had not surprised him. When forces are gathered in one place under the assumption of safety, a well-timed strike will end it cleanly. That much was understandable.

 

What he could not comprehend was how the enemy had known how to issue the ‘order’ in the first place.

 

One of his subordinates, pinned by the boss’s gaze, spoke up reluctantly.

 

“There are rumors that the King’s shadow is on the move.”

 

“We know that.”

 

Anyone working in Smith Kingdom’s underworld knew the Royal Family maintained a covert unit. It was common knowledge. And it was understood that this unit operated at a level comparable to the most capable dark guilds.

 

But that was not the part that troubled him most.

 

“…Why now? Why did they suddenly move now?”

 

No one answered immediately. The guild had operated for years. Their capital base was not a recent establishment. And until now, the Royal Family’s unit had shown no interest in them whatsoever.

 

Carelessness, perhaps; but even so, the timing felt deliberate in a way he could not yet name.

 

“Maybe…” The leader’s eyes moved toward the subordinate who had muttered it.

 

“Go on.”

 

“It’s just a rumor. Nothing substantiated.”

 

“Say it anyway.”

 

“…There’s talk going around that our organization is being directed by foreign forces. I was wondering if that might have something to do with their decision to move against us.”

 

“…What?”

 

The leader’s frown deepened. The subordinate pressed on before he could speak.

 

“It’s only a rumor. But one of the reasons they’ve historically moved against other dark guilds is to prevent foreign interference. The guilds within Smith Kingdom have never formed alliances with other countries partly because of that. Even those who aren’t sure whether the rumor is true act as though it is, just to be safe.”

 

The explanation was offered without concrete evidence. That was clear. And yet the boss, listening, felt something cold turn over inside him.

 

None of his subordinates present knew this, but it was true. The guild was operating with the support of another country. Three people knew, himself included. The other two were not in the room, but they understood what was at stake. He trusted they would not speak of this.

 

Still, the discomfort stayed with him.

 

What he couldn’t quite admit to himself was that this was a failure of his own making.

 

Even in the smallest guilds, where people gather, money changes hands. And where money moves, patterns emerge. Even without a single word spoken in confidence. What separated organizations was not what they kept secret, but whether their enemies possessed the patience and skill to read those patterns.

 

The Royal Family’s organization had built itself around exactly that capability. Not combat, but observation.

 

The leader had not known. And not knowing had cost him.

 

While his subordinates offered reassurances: “that can’t be true”, “it’s only rumor”, etc.. he cut across them.

 

“I don’t have time for baseless speculation. More importantly: can you confirm that organization is still active?”

 

“As far as we know, they’ve existed for a long time. Beyond that…” The subordinate shook his head. “We genuinely don’t know what they’re capable of.”

 

The leader exhaled slowly.

 

“Forget it. What’s the situation at Gabont?”

 

A different subordinate stepped forward, his expression tight.

 

“Nothing can be done there. The location is unusable for the foreseeable future. It was completely burned down.”

 

“I see…”

 

He let the words settle for a moment before turning them over. The capital was already a headache. Gabont was something else. It had been a significant source of funding. Sending in new people was possible, but the buildings themselves would have to be rebuilt first, and rebuilding cost money.

 

Worse, the network of contacts that had quietly kept the base intact, insulated from the army’s attention, had been severed in the attack. Starting over from scratch with new personnel and no existing relationships would take time, which he was not sure he had.

 

All of it meant delays. The plan they had been building toward was going to fall behind.

 

He was still turning that over when something else crossed his mind. Something that made his expression shift.

 

“Wait. Ichii and Niruni. What’s happening there!?”

 

His face had gone pale. His subordinates exchanged uncertain glances.

 

“We’ve only received the usual reports from both locations.”

 

“Then send someone in person right now! Don’t just send messages. One of you, go and check yourself!”

 

“Boss? W–What’s wrong?”

 

“Think.” His voice came down hard. “This is someone who could read our orders. If they understood that much, you have to assume they know about those two locations as well.”

 

Ichii and Niruni were internal nicknames used only within the guild, not on any document that left their hands. Both were critical to keeping the organization standing.

 

The understanding moved through the room slowly, then all at once. Expressions changed.

 

“You mean, they might already be gone?”

 

“That’s what I’m telling you to find out. Stop standing there and go. If they’re safe, tell them to immediately increase security. And from now on, communication goes through direct messengers only. No letters.”

 

“Boss… that’s going to cost us even more time!”

 

“I know what it costs. But it’s the only method I trust right now. Use your head.”

 

Even a new communication method could be learned. An organization that had already decoded the capital base’s system wouldn’t find it difficult. Sending someone directly, someone known and trusted was indeed slower, but it could be trusted.

 

He watched his subordinates scramble into motion and said nothing more, hoping quietly that Ichii and Niruni were still standing.