I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 91

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[091] Kairon Trading Company
Around noon the following day, disguised as ordinary pedestrians, we conducted surveillance on the trading company located on the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
“So that’s the Kairon Trading Company.”
“The scale is enormous… but the security is far more stringent than I expected. The guards look quite formidable too.”
“Well, this is the Royal Capital, so it’s only natural that even ordinary soldiers here are of higher caliber.”
Due to the towering walls and barbed wire that resembled a prison, I couldn’t see inside, and heavily armed soldiers guarded the perimeter with an iron grip.
‘Sneaking in undetected won’t be possible this way.’
Obviously, to steal the secret ledgers, I first needed to infiltrate the trading company’s interior.
And penetrating a large-scale trading company while bypassing countless surveillance measures and barriers was no trivial task.
There wouldn’t be any hidden passages here, and with so many watchful eyes, transforming into an Imp and infiltrating from above was equally impossible.
That left us with one option.
“Karen, let’s proceed with the plan we originally conceived.”
“Right, the Butler should be ready by now.”
When we stopped by one of Belmont’s Mansions scattered throughout the Royal Capital, the Butler I had previously owed a debt to bowed respectfully.
“Preparations are complete. I’ve loaded the goods you mentioned onto the carriage, and I’ve arranged an appointment for our visit to the Kairon Trading Company.”
The carriage the Butler had prepared was packed with expensive items including silk and tea leaves.
I planned to infiltrate under the guise of conducting business with the Kairon Trading Company using the name of the Ignas Family.
And the crux of this operation was….
“You’ve disguised yourself as a Night Stalker!”
“A rare jaguar-type beast that’s treated as a semi-legendary creature!”
I transformed into a Night Stalker and climbed onto a large pedestal in the center.
On the brass nameplate beneath the pedestal was clearly written “Night Stalker Taxidermy.”
No trading company would refuse an expensive gift from a nobleman, so if I posed as a taxidermied beast this way, I could gain access to their treasure vault.
—Growl…!
As I displayed my jet-black spotted coat while looking down, Malton, Karen, and Radi examined me in turn, stroking their chins.
“Hmm… truly a captivating beast. But the problem is it’s far too lifelike. It looks exactly like a living monster.”
“Well, it is a living monster. You’re right about that.”
“Oh, I have a polish I use when maintaining my crossbow! If we apply this, wouldn’t it look more like taxidermy? Most animal taxidermy is finished this way….”
Radi applied polish and oil to my claws and fur in various places.
My companions nodded in satisfaction at last.
“Yes, now it looks more like taxidermy. Is this how you plan to infiltrate, Karen?”
“Yes, the Butler has agreed to help with the rest.”
“Then Radi and I will wait outside. We’ll be ready to flee immediately if anything goes wrong.”
—Sniff…!
After we finished our preparations, we waited until the appointed time before heading back to the Kairon Trading Company.
As I, disguised as a beast taxidermy, Karen, and the Butler approached the main gate of the trading company, heavily armed guards blocked our path.
“Stop! This is private property of the Kairon Trading Company… W-wait, the Ignas Family?! My apologies!”
“You’re on today’s visitor list! …I beg your pardon for the discourtesy.”
After passing through three security checkpoints and entering the grounds, I quickly surveyed the surroundings through the gaps in the carriage.
In a vast space resembling a training ground, Knights and soldiers were engaged in drills, and military equipment like swords and armor were stacked everywhere.
Though the atmosphere was somewhat tense, as if war were imminent, it was hardly unusual given that Kairon Company regularly supplied military provisions.
A trading company of this scale naturally maintained its own soldiers to combat the monsters and bandits encountered during transport.
After the carriage came to a halt, a man who appeared to be a high-ranking official of the company emerged.
“Welcome after your long journey! I am Leonardo, overseeing all operations at Kairon Company! I understand your territory has been overrun with monsters and you urgently require military equipment! We have always eagerly anticipated cooperation with the Ignas Family!”
“Thank you for graciously accommodating our sudden visit. I am Alberto, butler of the Ignas Family, and I present myself formally on behalf of my Master. We have long heard of Kairon Company’s distinguished reputation.”
“Haha, our company is the finest military supplier in the Royal Capital, after all! Please, come inside. Let us rest from your travels and discuss matters at leisure.”
After several rounds of perfunctory pleasantries, the merchant’s attention turned to the carriage behind us.
“Might I inquire what the carriage behind you contains?”
“This is a modest gift our family has prepared as a token of goodwill.”
“Oh, what exquisite silk! And rare tea leaves from the Eastern lands as well! And this is….”
As the butler drew back the partition, my entire form was revealed beneath the bright light.
The moment the merchant saw my beast-form disguise, his eyes widened and he gasped in astonishment.
“These black tiger stripes and claws…! Could this be the Night Stalker, so rare and precious?! How much could this possibly be worth…!”
“You recognized it at a glance. This is a gift prepared by the Ignas Family.”
“I cannot even fathom the hardship endured to capture this creature without a single wound…! The preservation is absolutely flawless—it looks as though it could spring to life at any moment!”
As the merchant reached out with trembling hands to touch my fur, I rolled my eyes and glared at him.
‘…How dare you lay hands on me.’
Should I tear out this insolent human’s throat right now?
Suppressing the beast’s urges, I held perfectly still, and before I knew it, the negotiation had concluded.
“Then… let us meet again next time to discuss the specific terms.”
“Good dealings naturally require patience. This meeting between the Ignas Family and our Kairon Company will surely prove mutually beneficial!”
“We hope so as well. And regarding the gift our family has prepared… we do hope you will make good use of it.”
Just before departing, Karen exchanged a meaningful glance with me.
Once Karen and the butler had left, Leonardo examined me with admiring eyes, looking me over from every angle.
“Hmm… I’ve heard the Ignas Family harbors nothing but monsters, yet to capture a Night Stalker without a scratch is quite impressive. But the more I look at this taxidermy, the more lifelike it seems. …Could it possibly actually be alive?”
The merchant leaned in close, pressing his ear near my chest.
Just as I was contemplating whether to bite off his head and subtly bared my fangs, the door suddenly burst open and a man entered.
“Leonardo! How did the meeting with the Ignas Family go?”
“Ah, they didn’t suspect a thing. Even if they’re nobles, what can they do? But we mustn’t let our guard down yet. Especially regarding that old man Belmont of the Ignas Family—he’s close to the Royal Court.”
“Understood. But what exactly is that monster taxidermy?”
“They brought it as a gift. Nobles are generous with their spending, which is convenient. Who knows what might happen in the Royal Capital soon… I’ve had it placed in the Treasure Vault for now. We’ll report it to the company director when he returns.”
“Very well!”
Workers appeared from beyond the door and began moving me along with the pedestal.
“Be careful. I hear it’s the taxidermy of an incredibly rare creature. If you so much as scratch one of its claws, that meticulous Leonardo won’t let it slide.”
As we entered the Treasure Vault, the door closed and darkness descended.
Now began a battle of patience.
I relaxed my body and waited for time to pass before finally stepping down from the pedestal.
‘By now, the sun should have set.’
As I quietly opened the door and stepped out, the grounds shrouded in night came into view.
Despite the late hour, sentries were visible at various points throughout the Trading Company Grounds, but this posed no real obstacle.
“Huh? Did I just see something…?”
“What is it? Something wrong?”
“No, I thought I saw some dark creature over there….”
“A monster in the heart of the Royal Capital? Come on. Anyway, how about a drink after we switch shifts?”
The Night Stalker’s black fur, which absorbed light itself, was perfectly suited to dissolving into the darkness.
Having ascended to the roof of the Trading Company building through shadow leap, I lay flat and quietly surveyed the entire grounds below.
‘The security is unusually tight. They’re hiding something.’
Even accounting for the fact that this was a military supplies contractor for the Royal Capital, the security was excessively stringent.
As for where the ledgers might be kept, I should start by checking that lit building over there.
While surveilling the Trading Company, I witnessed the sentries who had finished their shift changing clothes in an annex building before emerging.
‘Bingo.’
I infiltrated through the annex window, shed my disguise, and changed into armor.
｢You have successfully disguised yourself as a Guard of Kairon Company! Be careful not to be discovered!｣
‘To infiltrate the building and examine the ledgers, a human form would be far more effective than a beast.’
I shouldered a spear and headed toward the lit administrative building.
As I approached the entrance, the guards looked at me with puzzled eyes, but having been honed through countless infiltrations, I smoothly played along.
“You two must be exhausted. I’m here on an errand for Leonardo.”
“An errand? Why does he keep sending people out at this hour?”
“Who knows. He’s been working us to the bone.”
“Just slack off a bit and take it easy.”
“Thanks.”
I waved my hand and stepped inside the building.
After exchanging casual greetings with the guards and Merchants I encountered in the corridor, I climbed one more floor and spotted what appeared to be an office.
‘No guards…’
Entering the room and rifling through the documents on the desk, I found a ledger sitting plainly in sight.
I quickly reviewed its contents, but found nothing particularly suspicious.
“This is definitely a laundered fake ledger.”
The numbers aligned too perfectly, which was itself suspicious. The real one must be elsewhere.
After replacing the ledger and leaving the room, I noticed an employee at the end of the corridor pause.
He glanced both ways, then cautiously descended the staircase—a decidedly suspicious action.
‘There’s something down there.’
I silently approached and struck the back of his head, knocking him unconscious, then snatched the key from his pocket and descended the staircase.
And as I opened the iron door that appeared at the bottom and stepped through, the sight before me was….
‘…What is this?’
Rather than a simple warehouse, “armory” would be the more fitting description.
The basement of Kairon Company was far larger than I’d expected, and an acrid, unidentifiable smell permeated the air.
Along the basement walls lay disassembled siege weapons scattered like the remains of giants, and countless wooden crates were stacked in towering piles throughout the space.
As I slowly moved forward and opened one of the crates, I understood.
The truth about Kairon Company.
“…This isn’t just military supplies.”
The tools here are what the Transmigrator prepared to bring down the Royal Palace.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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