Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 42

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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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‘Could the Temple really be acting entirely on its own?’
What possible reason would the Temple have to align itself with Joaquin?
The problem was dissolving into an increasingly impenetrable labyrinth.
As I remained quiet for a long stretch, Deyan was the first to speak.
“My Lady, didn’t you suggest the possibility of the Temple conspiring with Joaquin, using the fact that he attacked me with a Holy Relic as your basis?”
“I did. Do you think it’s absurd?”
“No. I agree with your deduction.”
It seemed Deyan had some inkling of his own after all.
I remained silent so he could continue expressing his thoughts.
“Since Joaquin’s objective has always been war and pushing into the interior, we can stop him if we simply block the means he has chosen.”
“Yes. And it appears one of the means he chose this time is the Temple.”
Answering him allowed me to grasp a clue from his words.
If their collusion was based on each party obtaining what they desired, the alliance would fracture the moment those desires were stripped away.
This meant one of the weapons in Joaquin’s hand would vanish.
If that were the case, discovering what the Temple wanted was paramount.
In the peaceful heart of the United States, what could they possibly want when they already enjoyed autonomous and independent status backed by public support?
An element where the greedy Joaquin and the Temple’s interests could align.
The independent status of the United States…
“You believe the Temple is plotting a transfer of power.”
“It is merely my strongest suspicion.”
“I suppose so. The Temple’s influence is already immense, but if they transition to a Holy Empire system, this continent will belong to the Cordi Kingdom and the Holy Empire. It will be shared between those two.”
“Though another war might break out at that point.”
Ultimately, it was a battle over who would claim the continent.
‘Are they planning to seize the public’s hearts entirely by taking advantage of the chaos when the continent plunges into turmoil from Joaquin’s war?’
It was nothing more than speculation for now.
Confirmation had to start from this moment on.
Right on cue, the carriage ground to a halt at our destination.
Escaping the downtown area, the deserted street we arrived at was lined with warehouses for storing goods.
The crudely built little wooden structures scattered between them were likely the offices of various merchant groups.
“You can take that off now.”
Even though he must have realized the carriage had stopped, he had waited for my permission before finally untying the cloth.
Since I knew nothing from this point forward, I let Deyan take the lead.
“To be honest, this is my first time coming here personally as well. I have never had a reason to visit until now.”
“I don’t know if that’s a lie to make me feel better or just an excuse, but it doesn’t matter, so just move.”
When I sharply added that the mere existence of a spy was displeasing enough, Deyan shut his mouth.
‘Hmph. He just gets himself cursed at by speaking unnecessarily.’
Looking at him closely, his capacity for learning didn’t seem particularly outstanding.
‘What an idiot, seriously.’
I glared askance at Deyan as he looked around the surroundings.
Soon enough, he began moving his feet, and I tagged along right behind him.
Walking and stopping like that repeated several times.
As if there were a secret sign only they recognized, Deyan thoroughly examined the doorpost of a building before turning back to me.
“Is it here?”
“Yes.”
“Go in first.”
I pulled the hood of my robe even lower, tilting my head slightly so a shadow cast over my face.
Then, pressing closely against Deyan’s back, I hid my presence as much as possible.
When he knocked on the door using the iron handle, a heavy, metallic clatter echoed out.
Dampened and muffled by the rain, the dull sound heightened the tension.
After a brief moment, a loud clanking of a lock being undone sounded from within, and the door swung open.
“Who is it?”
A man of completely ordinary appearance poked his face out.
He seemed momentarily taken aback by the massive silhouette dominating his vision, but when he raised his eyes and recognized Deyan, he was startled once more.
“Who is it?”
He ended up repeating the exact question he had just asked.
Deyan swept his gaze across the interior as he stated his business.
“I came to see Willet. Is he here?”
“Willet?”
“The skinny Willet.”
“Skinny… Ah. Please come inside.”
His mouth falling open, the man nodded vigorously and threw the door wide.
Deyan stepped into the building first, and I moved right behind him like an attached growth.
For some reason, I felt the man’s stare lingering on the side of my face.
Feeling uneasy, I pulled my hood tighter and hunched my shoulders, prompting Deyan to shield me with his massive frame.
“Please wait a moment. I don’t have much to offer you.”
“No need.”
Deyan declined the hospitality with a simple nod.
The man offered us a pair of worn-out chairs.
Deyan had me sit down while he stood somewhat diagonally in front of me.
After casting repeated glances at that arrangement, the man suddenly bowed deeply and respectfully toward Deyan.
“Is there something you require, Your Excellency?”
My eyes widened in surprise, but I quickly caught myself and lowered my head again.
I couldn’t tell where the tacit signal began or ended.
Even though I had been watching with my own two eyes.
‘So they operated this thoroughly, did they?’
It was both absurd and infuriating.
I couldn’t even fathom how far ahead I would have had to foresee just to keep up with them.
As I glared piercingly at the back of Deyan’s head, he felt my gaze and glanced back at me slightly.
I tilted my head, signaling him to get back to the conversation.
“I wish to check on the movements of the United States.”
“The movements of the United States, you say?”
The moment the United States was mentioned, the man’s expression darkened precipitously.
Simultaneously, Deyan’s expression shifted as well.
“What is it?”
“To tell the truth, several of our personnel infiltrated into the United States have vanished recently.”
“Who were they?”
“Most of them were those monitoring the Temple.”
‘The Temple…!’
At the man’s words, I clenched my fists inside my robe.
Could this truly be a coincidence?
I tapped Deyan’s back, conveying that he should dig for more details.
“Since when?”
“It has been barely three months. Complete loss of contact happened recently, but the regular exchange of information began dwindling much longer ago.”
This time, the man’s words struck my ears with a sharp sting.
‘What? Regular?’
So they had been plotting all this time, regularly monitoring movements and trading news behind my back?
“Ugh.”
Out of sheer resentment, I secretly pinched Deyan’s side, causing him to let out a small groan.
Fortunately, the man didn’t seem to notice as he spilled the information he possessed without hesitation.
The report was so incredibly detailed that the explanation felt endless.
Cutting out all the information deemed unnecessary, the summary of the situation in the United States was as follows:
Cracks had begun to form in their once-solid alliance.
The cause was a clash of opinions between the faction supporting the Temple’s influence and the faction opposing it.
What the Temple desired had not surfaced explicitly, but according to the arguments of the supporting faction, it was safe to interpret that they wished to enter politics.
Because the spy planted inside the Temple had gone missing, grasping deeper circumstances was difficult.
Even so, the primary objective itself was achieved.
‘As expected, it’s a lust for power.’
With this, it became certain that Joaquin Perez had joined hands with the Temple.
The Temple’s purpose would also closely align with what Deyan had deduced.
I rose from my chair to let Deyan know that this was enough.
However, Deyan did not move.
Instead, he questioned the spy regarding something we hadn’t discussed.
“There is one more thing I would like you to investigate.”
‘What is it?’
My nerves instantly spiked as I hid my hand deeper inside my robe.
My fingers brushed against the dagger concealed in my belt beforehand.
‘This isn’t some kind of secret code, is it?’
I worried that Deyan might be trying something foolish.
However, noticing my tension, he showed me his palm.
It was a gesture asking me to wait.
“It concerns a certain weapon.”
“Please describe its appearance.”
As Deyan described the weapon’s appearance in detail, the man brought over paper and a pen, sketching it out with swift strokes.
Only then did my thoughts catch up to the Holy Artifact that Joaquin might possess.
‘So there was a method like this.’
Admiring Deyan’s judgment, I stole a glance up at his back, which looked entirely accustomed to such work.
“Is it this?”
The man finally displayed the finished sketch to Deyan.
“Precise.”
Deyan nodded.
Immediately after, his large hand covered my field of vision.

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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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