On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 308

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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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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed Episode 308
Journey to the Northern Region (3)
The Harmatan Family.
Even in the Northern Region, they were nothing particularly remarkable—merely one among countless Minor Houses.
While every region had its similarities, the Northern Region in particular determined a Family’s prestige according to the logic of ‘power.’
For instance, the Family Head’s military force.
Or the number of private soldiers and Knights the Family possessed.
Having solid backing through relatives and in-laws was also a viable method, but ultimately, if the Family itself lacked strength, it would inevitably face a grave crisis.
In that sense, the Harmatan Family was a House that ‘survived’ day by day through the struggles of Family Head Rangl Harmatan.
“What of today’s developments?”
“The Ligron Family shows no particular movement, sir.”
“I see. Understood.”
Rangl gazed out the window at the Butler’s report.
Ligron.
A Family that lurked near the Harmatan Family, always watching for an opportunity to strike.
They didn’t merely covet the Harmatan—they desired the Harmatan itself.
They were sworn enemies of long standing.
‘About a hundred years now.’
A vicious cycle inherited from the Ancestors.
Rangl wanted to break that cycle.
By any means necessary.
But victory through direct confrontation was impossible.
If the Harmatan Family had declined over the past hundred years, Ligron had done the opposite.
Now, backed by the Renfield Family—already quite formidable even in the Northern Region—they were an opponent the Harmatan could never face in direct combat.
“Family Head, it would be best if you refrained from leaving your post for some time.”
“Mm.”
“When you left recently, we discovered a spy from the Ligron Family. It was a close call. Had you returned even a day later, word of your absence would have reached them.”
“….”
Rangl Harmatan.
Even by his own assessment, he was a compassionate man—one ill-suited to the Northern Region.
‘Merely’ to witness his son’s growth, he risked leaving his post in the North.
“Family Head, I added the qualifier ‘if possible,’ but… going forward, it would be best not to leave at all. For the sake of the Family and the Young Master.”
“I understand, Head Butler.”
He knew.
One misstep could mean losing the entire Family.
That cycle inherited from the Ancestors.
He wanted to break it, but could not.
Ligron would never back down.
Because the real issue lay in the Harmatan’s Territory—the ‘voting rights’ once seized from Ligron in the past.
“The Northern Council election draws near.”
The Northern Region possesses a unique political system.
The Northern Council.
The ‘Council Members’ gathered from each region of the Northern Region exercise their voting rights to elect the Council Leader.
Harmatan had once seized those voting rights from Ligron in the past.
The prestige of a Noble Family possessing voting rights and one without them is as different as heaven and earth.
No matter how much Harmatan has declined, the reason other Northern Families dare not touch them carelessly is precisely because of the prestige that comes with holding these voting rights.
Of course, it is possible to seize those voting rights.
By filing a formal ‘Struggle’ or by occupying the Noble Family during a gap when the Family Head vacates their position.
‘The problem is… the candidate that Ligron supports in this election is quite precarious.’
The Council Leader is typically elected from the Lombard or Bernstein Families.
It has been a full three hundred years since a Noble Family other than these two was elected.
Yet this time, that history was about to repeat itself.
Specifically, the Family Head of the Renfield Family, who sponsors Ligron!
‘In merely twenty years, he rallied a considerable number of these Southern Families.’
The unprecedented Swordsmanship Genius, Amil Renfield, brought this about upon assuming the position of Family Head of Renfield.
Thus, what Renfield needs now is voting rights!
To defeat Lombard and Bernstein, a single vote matters in this situation.
The reason for sponsoring Ligron becomes evident here.
The most important thing in the Northern Region is justification.
Without justification, no matter how thoroughly one sweeps away opposition through Struggle, they can never gain support.
Therefore, they sponsored Ligron, who possessed sufficient justification to attack Harmatan, and now that moment was approaching.
‘The letter I sent to Teacher Ziel should have arrived safely.’
Soon my son Yurio would return to the Noble Family.
It was natural for Yurio to participate in the Struggle as a member of the Noble Family, but I could not involve outsiders.
Especially not Teacher Ziel, who sent a letter saying he would make a home visit!
I had already received tremendous assistance because of my son’s affairs.
“The Young Master will arrive by today. Now is the time you must prepare for the Struggle, Family Head.”
“I understand, Head Butler. And should any guests arrive from outside, make certain to turn them away.”
“Yes, understood.”
The Head Butler nodded, understanding what Rangl meant.
‘Our Noble Family’s available military force is five hundred. All soldiers I’ve raised since childhood, but… they will struggle against Ligron.’
Ligron’s military force numbers approximately one thousand.
And if we add the Knights sponsored by Renfield to that…
‘There is no chance of victory. But… we can endure.’
Harmatan was counting on support from either Lombard or Bernstein.
After much deliberation, I sent letters to both Families.
Emphasizing the single vote that Harmatan possessed.
But they lack justification.
No matter how hard I racked my brain, I could not find justification for why these two Families should aid Harmatan.
That was the nature of the Northern Region.
‘It might have been different a hundred years ago.’
Rangl sighed, contemplating the worst-case scenario.
‘If all else fails, I’ll send Yurio to the Capital. No matter what, at least my son….’
While such worries continued.
Not far away, Ziel’s group heading toward the Harmatan Family sensed an unusual atmosphere.
“This village is awfully quiet. People are moving about, yet….”
“It’s, strangely silent.”
Ziel nodded in agreement.
“There’s a palpable tension hanging in the air.”
A small village not far from the Harmatan Family.
They had stopped here to rest, grab some snacks, and have a meal, but the atmosphere felt off.
“I know the Northern Region isn’t particularly welcoming to outsiders… but this seems excessive, Boss.”
Bang!
Before the words even finished, beer was slammed onto the table.
This place served as both a tavern and an inn.
They had come in to rest briefly and ordered beer, yet it took a full thirty minutes to arrive.
“Drink up and leave. Stick around too long and you won’t like what happens.”
“….”
Gilbert also remained silent, gauging Ziel’s reaction.
“Given how long it took, must be quite a fine beverage?”
“Ah, well, that’s… probably because we’re outsiders.”
“Is there such a rule in the Northern Region?”
“…No. It just feels like they’re hinting we should leave based on the atmosphere.”
“I see. I dislike that.”
“….”
Ziel took a sip of the beer.
His eyes widened slightly.
“…There’s a flavor like this?”
Delayed arrival notwithstanding, Northern beer was still considered the finest.
Though resources were scarce, the Northern Region boasted clean and abundant water.
And drinking alcohol in cold regions to warm the body was perfectly natural.
Moreover, Ziel was tasting alcohol for the first time.
And it was beer, no less.
An incredible refreshing sensation!
A magnificent aftertaste!
This subtly bitter yet sweetly lingering flavor!
And the peculiar warmth spreading through my body.
‘So this is what alcohol is.’
I was delighted.
Ziel drained the beer glass in one go and raised his hand.
“Ten more glasses.”
The tavern fell silent in an instant.
Even the proprietor tilted his head in confusion.
“Ten glasses? You’re ordering ten glasses?”
He was questioning whether such an absurd order made any sense, yet an equally bewildering response came forth.
“This table seems to have a maximum capacity of ten glasses, so I ordered that many.”
“….”
A moment later, laughter erupted from all directions.
“Showing off, are we?”
“Ten glasses of Northern beer all at once? Do you have a taste for flat beer?”
“This is why outsiders are….”
Snickers and murmurs filled the air, but Ziel paid them no mind and asked straightforwardly.
“With ten glasses, that should take about three hundred minutes, yes?”
The proprietor flinched.
And a moment later.
Thunk.
Ten more beer glasses were placed before me.
“That was faster than before.”
“…The previous order was backed up.”
“Was it? I watched you for twenty-nine minutes doing absolutely nothing, then preparing my beer only in the final minute.”
When I pressed the matter, the proprietor’s excuse faltered, and he hurried away in a panic.
“P-please, enjoy as much as you’d like.”
I gazed at the proprietor’s retreating figure for a moment, then brought the beer to my lips.
“Excellent.”
“Boss, is this your first time drinking beer?”
“Yes. It is.”
Clink.
I emptied the first glass in an instant and immediately reached for another.
It took less than three seconds.
‘Does he drink with such extraordinary capacity?’
Alcohol was a form of poison, after all.
Naturally, to me it was merely a refreshing beverage.
But there was a certain satisfaction that only beer could provide.
“So the Northern Region has such delightful snacks.”
“Beer as a snack….”
Gilbert stared blankly ahead.
In the meantime, I drained another glass, then another, continuing one after another.
Thus, in less than three minutes, I had emptied all ten glasses.
The tavern was silent.
‘He drank all of that? That quickly?’
‘Where did this guy come from? What’s his deal…?’
That’s how alcohol is.
The Northern People love to drink.
It’s not just a matter of enjoyment—after finishing work, they pour and drink until they become heavy drinkers.
Yet there exists a culture that praises those who remain sober and survive to the end as true Northern People.
‘He’ll collapse like that, won’t he?’
‘There’s no way he’d be fine after drinking ten glasses straight….’
But Ziel pointed to ten empty beer glasses and ordered in a perfectly measured voice.
“Ten more.”
“B-Boss. Is it really okay to drink like that? You’re not getting drunk or anything?”
“Drunk? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Ziel was not intoxicated.
In fact, it had been a long time since my body became incapable of getting drunk even if I wanted to.
Beer was simply a delicious beverage.
I quite enjoyed this bitter yet refreshing sensation.
‘It would be nice to bring some bottles back with me.’
Ziel asked Gilbert.
“Is the Northern Region originally famous for beer?”
“Not just beer—we drink all kinds of alcohol here. It’s cold, after all.”
“Y-yes, that’s right. Even the Mercenaries d-drank a lot when it was c-cold.”
Ziel nodded.
“I’ve found a good snack in the Northern Region.”
“Alcohol as a snack….”
That was something only Ziel, who didn’t get drunk, could say.
Rather, because I didn’t get intoxicated and had a refined palate, I could discern all the subtle flavors contained in the alcohol.
“The Northern Region is very much to my liking.”
Gilbert and Kelvin couldn’t agree with that.
After the home visits, training disguised as travel awaited them.
They had already trained in the Trenia Mountain Range, but that was only the beginning.
‘Should I run?’
‘Maybe it would be better to wander alone in the Northern Region….’
Meanwhile, ten more beer glasses arrived.
But then.
“Could you leave a space for one more glass?”
Someone approached.
It was the Bearded Man who had been in the corner on the left side of the tavern since Ziel entered.
“It’s my first time seeing an outsider drink like this. How about we share a table?”
Ziel glanced at the Bearded Man and answered calmly.
“No. I need to drink my beer, so you should go.”
Gilbert and Kelvin were taken aback.
The Man was equally flustered.
The romance of shared seating!
And the incident that unfolded because of it!
The three of them, who had imagined something like that, never anticipated Ziel’s composed reaction.
“…Well, Boss. In the Northern Region, this is considered culture….”
“I see. But it interferes with drinking beer.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be good to sit with them once to understand the atmosphere of this place? And… it seems the people here like you, Boss.”
Gilbert was right.
As Ziel continuously gulped down beer and displayed his drinking capacity, the eyes around him changed.
The vague prejudice Northern People held about outsiders!
It was precisely the perception that they were weak, frail, and couldn’t drink more than a few drops of alcohol.
But this Silver-Haired Man who appeared to be an outsider was somewhat different.
That was why the man who had been drinking alone in the corner felt interest and approached.
“Mm.”
At Gilbert’s words, Ziel pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Very well. Let’s sit.”
Something felt odd, but the man sat down in a dazed manner nonetheless.
Though only briefly.
He cast an intrigued gaze.
“Actually, I’ve been curious. These days, the only outsiders who come to the Northern Region are either reckless Trading Companies or people I can hardly imagine.”
Yet here was an outsider who sought out a village and drank beer without pause.
How could one not be curious?
“Why is that the case these days?”
As Gilbert asked on behalf of Ziel, who was earnestly drinking beer, the man’s gaze turned toward him.
“It’s because of the Northern Council elections. Lombard and Bernstein have been taking turns for ages, but this time it’s different.”
“Ah. You’re talking about the Northern Region’s political system.”
The Northern Region’s political system was quite famous. So while not many knew it well, many people had a rough understanding of it.
“Right, that. This time, the Renfield Family might actually produce the next Council Chairman. There’s a war of nerves brewing over voting rights.”
The man glanced around before bringing up a story about a family all three of them knew.
“The place you’ve come to is exactly there. A region where the tension is thick. It’s where the Harmatan Family resides.”
Ziel’s hand stopped.
And a question came.
“Has the Harmatan Family been caught up in war?”
Ziel had already transformed back into Teacher.

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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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