On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 261

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 261

 

The More Money, the Better

 

Practical training was approaching.

 

As it drew near, both the Academy and the Imperial Palace became busier.

 

Osu Island was a dangerous zone.

 

At the very least, the areas to be used for practical training needed to have ‘safety’ secured.

 

Magic beasts, wild animals, and harsh environments were acceptable, but uncontrollable factors had to be eliminated.

 

Therefore, today as well, the joint investigation team from the Imperial Palace and Academy was busy securing safety throughout Osu Island.

 

‘Today is Zone 30.’

 

Agent 8 from the Imperial Intelligence Department, who had been dispatched to the previous Academy practical training, continued looking around to check for any dangerous elements.

 

Agent 8 was an Intelligence Department member who had been in charge of last year’s first-year students.

 

At that time, the entire Intelligence Department was thrown into chaos due to the appearance of Ruinbark.

 

Although the investigation revealed it was the work of the Siren family, the Intelligence Department was also held partially responsible and had suffered for a while, a memory that remained vivid.

 

‘This time, absolutely.’

 

It felt a bit unfair that because of that damn Siren, they had to come all the way to this terrifying Osu Island to prepare for practical training.

 

But what could be done?

 

Being an Imperial Intelligence Department agent didn’t grant any special privileges.

 

When the Imperial Palace ordered something, you just had to do it.

 

Higher-ranking Intelligence Department agents performed more ‘special’ missions, but Agent 8 didn’t yet have the skills for that.

 

‘I need to get promoted quickly and move to something more comfortable.’

 

Still, if they investigated today and tomorrow, the assigned zone would be roughly finished.

 

Agent 8 was quite obsessive.

 

They hadn’t detected the appearance of Ruinbark in advance, and the Intelligence Department hadn’t resolved the resulting situation on their own either.

 

Honestly, if it hadn’t been for that teacher named Ziel Steelheart, several students would have been injured or, in the worst case, there would have been multiple casualties.

 

Simply put, it was an incident that shook the Intelligence Department’s pride!

 

There were already rumors that after the assassination organization’s collapse, the Imperial Palace was trying to replace that role with the Intelligence Department.

 

Though Agent 8, being only a mid-to-low ranking officer, had no way of knowing if these rumors were true, to secure a position in the Intelligence Department that would change in the future…

 

‘This zone has no problems.’

 

They had to work their ass off to produce results.

 

The Osu Island investigation was important for that reason, and Agent 8 moved to the next zone.

 

“It’s a jungle.”

 

The more you looked at it, the more fascinating this island became.

 

What kind of incident would have to occur for such diverse climates to coexist on a single island?

 

Moreover, the climates existed in distinct sections as if someone had planned it!

 

It was possible to have one foot in the desert and the other on a cold highland.

 

The sensation of having half your body hot and half cold was indescribably strange.

 

Screech… Shriek…

 

As strange bird cries cast an eerie feeling, Agent 8 quickly moved forward.

 

‘If I just investigate this section today and tomorrow, it’ll be finished.’

 

What needed to be carefully observed during the investigation was similar to before.

 

Were there any unexpected threats?

 

Were there any differences from previous investigation results?

 

And though it was impossible—

 

“There couldn’t be any traces of people.”

 

Were there any people living here?

 

Sometimes such cases occurred.

 

Cases where escaped prisoners or wanted serious criminals ended up on Osu Island while being pursued.

 

The bones or corpses occasionally discovered during regular investigations usually belonged to such people.

 

Very rarely, someone would be found alive, so Agent 8 was prepared for such a possibility.

 

“Phew, this is tiring.”

 

An investigation that had been going on for several hours.

 

It was a high-fatigue mission since they needed to thoroughly examine the interior of each section.

 

And this place was a jungle.

 

‘How on earth are students supposed to survive here?’

 

They wondered what those naive students could possibly do in such a harsh environment.

 

“Kraaaak!”

 

Look at that.

 

There were even magic beasts.

 

“Grrr…”

 

There were also predators that hadn’t noticed Agent 8’s presence.

 

Of course, this was the central zone.

 

The place where the most dangerous magic beasts and predators gathered, so this area wouldn’t be assigned as a practical training zone.

 

Still, to throw students into places full of comparable dangers for practical training.

 

‘Is it better than Ruinbark?’

 

Anyway, Agent 8 continued the mission.

 

“Now all that’s left is… just here.”

 

Agent 8 looked up at the massive tree situated in the center of the jungle section.

 

It was damn huge and thick.

 

So large that even dozens of people standing and linking arms wouldn’t be enough to encircle it.

 

Agent 8 casually walked around the tree once.

 

Since they’d come this far, they could finish the investigation and return to soak in hot bath water…

 

“Huh?”

 

Just as they were completing the circle.

 

Agent 8 witnessed a strange phenomenon.

 

‘Am I seeing things?’

 

It didn’t seem like it.

 

Part of the tree bark definitely seemed to be distorting…

 

Agent 8 immediately pulled out a mana detector. Then activated a magic stone and held it up.

 

“…”

 

There was no particular reaction.

 

Was it an illusion?

 

‘No. I definitely saw something…’

 

A sensation as if something was distorting.

 

Agent 8 recorded this phenomenon while writing a message slip to the squad leader directing today’s investigation operation and sent it via bird.

 

A reply came back shortly after.

 

—If no additional signs are discovered, return immediately.

 

“…Tsk.”

 

Was it because of their low rank?

 

Or did they also want to get off work quickly?

 

Agent 8 remained for quite a while after that, circling near the tree to look for additional signs and conducting examinations.

 

However, nothing particular was discovered.

 

Fatigue was starting to set in too.

 

‘Still, just in case.’

 

The number one principle for people working at the Imperial Palace.

 

Don’t create situations you’ll have to take responsibility for!

 

Thunk.

 

Agent 8 stuck a magic stone signal device into the ground and covered it well so it wouldn’t be visible.

 

‘Just in case.’

 

A signal device meant to collect mana signals from the vicinity.

 

If problems arose near this area, this signal device would serve as a minimal contingency measure.

 

Collecting some records won’t change anything, but at least it will help avoid any misunderstanding that no action was taken when problems arise later.

 

‘I really need to get promoted soon.’

 

Agent 8 left the scene like that.

 

And shortly after.

 

Crack…

 

The tree cracked again, and a person emerged from between the cracks.

 

Practical training preparations were in full swing.

 

Extreme cold.

 

Extreme heat.

 

Jungle.

 

And even highlands and ruined cities.

 

“The oxygen here is too thin…”

 

“Running here would definitely improve stamina.”

 

The highlands were solved more simply and easily than other environments.

 

Emeric worked hard on this one too.

 

“I’ve adjusted the atmospheric oxygen composition to a level similar to the Keltas Highlands. There will be some altitude sickness, but the current second-year students should get used to it quickly.”

 

“Thank you, Professor Emeric Kent.”

 

“Um, then by any chance today too… would it be possible to dine at the 【Unlimited Dining Table】…?”

 

“Yes. If you help construct the ‘Ruined City’ environment as well, I’ll provide it until the day after tomorrow.”

 

“Wow!”

 

Emeric was delighted.

 

Lately, he had the pleasure of enjoying fine dining at the 【Unlimited Dining Table】.

 

If he had eaten there every day, it wouldn’t have been such a big thrill.

 

This sweetness received as a reward after painstaking effort!

 

“I’ll work hard.”

 

“Yes. And if you bring rare ingredients, free meals are possible.”

 

“I’ll try my best with that.”

 

As it happened, there was a business trip to another country planned for the vacation after this semester ended.

 

The purpose was to exchange with mages from that country, and while there, he could bring back ingredients unique to that nation.

 

Anyway, thanks to Ziel’s grand scale and Emeric’s help, the students’ training was proceeding very well…

 

“Professor Elcanto Paredes, Professor Alyx Rockbolt. There are still over three hours left before the third years and first years use it. Standing there continuously is inefficient.”

 

The two professors trying to claim the fruits of labor were waiting to secure their spot again today.

 

“Ahem. Professor Allix? Let our third years go today. Didn’t you do highland training last time too?”

 

“Hmm. Wouldn’t highland training lose effectiveness if done sporadically? We’ll just do it one more day.”

 

“Come now, aren’t you in charge of first years? You should consider our third years’ situation. We’re always being pushed around by the second years…”

 

“If, if you put it that way, I have nothing to say…”

 

“If you have nothing to say, our third years will use it! Confirmed!”

 

Ziel nodded.

 

‘The competition is fierce.’

 

The fourth and fifth years didn’t seem to have any intention of coming.

 

He didn’t know how they trained, but Ziel had no interest from the start anyway.

 

His current interest was focused on only one thing.

 

‘Today’s the day.’

 

It was the new sword.

 

During his assassin days, he didn’t care what sword he used.

 

As long as it was sharpened to maximum sharpness, that was enough.

 

It just needed to pierce accurately through the enemy’s throat or heart, and that was the end.

 

But now that he wasn’t an assassin, things had changed a bit.

 

Using the Harmatan family’s treasured sword had changed his thinking a little!

 

‘A good sword is good.’

 

Nod.

 

Today was the day the sword newly forged by melting Ether River steel would be completed.

 

The two daggers were a bonus.

 

‘I’ll say I bought them from the black market.’

 

It was a plausible plan since he couldn’t let it be known that he was the winner.

 

Daggers of which only two existed in the world.

 

And Ziel’s sword, of which only one existed in the world.

 

His heart was somehow pounding.

 

‘Is this desire?’

 

Ziel was gradually becoming more faithful to his emotions!

 

He felt he should quickly finish today’s training.

 

Right after finishing training.

 

Only after having a hearty meal at the 【Unlimited Dining Table】 did Ziel leave the Academy.

 

Ziel’s steps, wearing a human skin mask, became very quick.

 

‘Swiftly.’

 

Hurry hurry.

 

Ziel finally arrived at the blacksmith shop and received the completed sword.

 

“Mana-blocking plating, matte black coating, rune lines. Everything you wanted is included.”

 

“Is that so.”

 

“I had some trouble, but it was worth making. And there are the daggers too.”

 

Two daggers made like miniature versions of the sword!

 

‘Gilbert and Kelvin will be pleased.’

 

The old man completely burned the blueprints Ziel had handed over.

 

“This concludes our transaction.”

 

Clink.

 

Everything was settled as he paid the remaining balance.

 

From now on, they had never made a deal, never seen this sword, never seen this face.

 

That was the rule of this world.

 

The moment you break it, you face destruction.

 

Therefore, Ziel came outside without worry and only then removed his human skin mask.

 

When he entrusted the Ether River steel sword he received as prize, he was ‘Dark Ghost’, but the one using this sword had to be Ziel Steelheart.

 

So Ziel moved to the actual black market and purchased Ether ore for a perfect alibi.

 

“Now it’s done.”

 

Perfect alibi!

 

Of course, no one could tell from the outside that this sword was made of Ether River steel.

 

Because it was coated with black matte paint and even plated to block mana.

 

He spent some money, but the prize money was generous.

 

Of course, Ziel’s thinking remained consistent.

 

‘The more money, the better.’

 

You have to spend it when necessary, but money is better the more you have!

 

He had converted all the prize money to Dikelen silver coins, but planned to eventually exchange them for actual currency through a laundering process.

 

While future plans were steadily accumulating…

 

He suddenly felt a gaze.

 

‘A strong person.’

 

Ziel gauged the opponent’s level through the mana contained in their gaze.

 

And at the same time, he caught a familiar scent.

 

It was a scent he had smelled recently.

 

“Hey. You there.”

 

Late at night.

 

From across the nearly empty street, that person finally approached Ziel and asked.

 

“By any chance, around this area….”

 

It was the person he had faced in the swordsmanship tournament semifinals-

 

“Haven’t you seen anyone suspicious like Amgwi?”

 

It was Eleonoor Delphi.

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