On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 339

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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 339
Do Good Deeds (2)
Something strange began to happen in the Capital’s slums.
Broadly speaking, District 35 and below.
Narrowly speaking, District 40 and below.
In those lower districts, a procession of good deeds suddenly materialized.
“Come on, take it slowly! There’s plenty!”
“Take more, take more!”
It was the sudden appearance of the Berthe Trading Company.
The Berthe Trading Company was hardly known for charity—it was a trading house that specialized in luxury goods, operating out of wealthy districts.
People living in the Lower Districts often didn’t even know the place existed.
It was the kind of organization that had no reason to meet anyone who wasn’t nobility, royalty, or wealthy.
Yet here they were, conducting charitable activities in the Slum District.
“What’s going on? Trading companies do charity work?”
“How should I know? Just take what they’re giving and go.”
“It tastes good too! How surprising!”
Bread.
Fruit.
Fresh water.
And grain besides.
Cheers erupted toward the Berthe Trading Company as they distributed the very things the poor most desperately needed.
“Thank you!”
“Long live the Trading Company Head!”
The organization members deployed for the charity work initially wondered what on earth they were doing, but soon became intoxicated by the cheers and grew increasingly devoted to the task.
‘Good deeds, maybe they’re actually pleasant things?’
‘After always just doing what we’re told, hearing people cheer for us… it feels so good?’
Praise, they say, can make even magical beasts dance.
Truth be told, the ordinary trading company members hadn’t committed anything heinous enough to deserve execution.
Working in the Underworld could rough you up, but they’d never killed anyone.
They’d simply supplied dangerous items to the Underworld—items that turned a profit.
The question of where those items ended up was somewhat problematic, but fundamentally, they’d never stepped outside the bounds of buying and selling.
The executives were a different story, of course.
The skilled fighters Berthe had hired with money would receive his orders and intimidate or injure people carrying valuable goods, then seize the merchandise.
As a result, they were all limping about now with various injuries.
In any case, the charity work didn’t stop at merely distributing necessities.
“How about this? We learned there’s a shortage of work in the slums, so we’re offering positions at the trading company.”
“Right, we’ve been short on people for odd jobs anyway, haven’t we?”
“Our trading company can’t care for every district, so perhaps we should donate to organizations? What do you think?”
“Is that… a good deed?”
“I’d say so, don’t you? Ah, we need acknowledgment for it.”
“What if we divide the donations? Each donation counts as one good deed!”
Ideas flowed freely among the trading company members.
The reason was simple.
Money.
Because there was money involved, they voluntarily sought out good deeds to perform.
“Really, you don’t need to!”
“Please, take it!”
“No, I don’t need clothes! I have plenty at home!”
“You’re walking around in rags and claiming you have plenty of clothes!”
Though there were instances of forced charity, the overall response was positive.
The Berthe Trading Company’s sudden charitable activities captured the attention of the entire Capital.
“The Berthe Trading Company is doing charity work?”
“That’s correct, my lord. The slums are in an uproar right now. Everyone is singing the praises of the Berthe Trading Company.”
“Hmph.”
The nobles were bewildered.
That was the thing.
Good deeds were just occasional displays for show, at best.
Ironically, loudly staged charitable activities with grand fanfare worked far better than quiet benevolence.
And that wasn’t all.
“Those Berthe Trading Company bastards?”
“Yes, sir. I’m concerned our trading company’s influence may decline.”
“Those idiots have gone mad… no, wait, why did those bastards suddenly stop doing what they usually do and start doing this instead?”
Even other trading companies operating out of the Capital felt their sense of crisis rising!
He’d only asked them to do good deeds, yet the ripples were spreading far beyond expectation.
“This is… better than I thought?”
Though some money had gone out, Berthe felt satisfied as he sensed the unexpected effects.
“This is killing two birds with one stone!”
The trading company’s image improved, and through this they could also disguise themselves as a charitable organization.
Dealing in the Underworld carries great risk, after all.
By steadily performing good deeds like this, they could cut suspicion in half.
‘As expected, the Dark Ghost truly has everything planned out!’
Indeed.
His approach was different.
That’s why Berthe couldn’t begin to fathom what the Dark Ghost’s ultimate purpose truly was.
‘Could it be… that he’s trying to control even the organizations I deal with?’
The identity of those people was shrouded in mystery.
Berthe himself had tried to investigate a little, then given up.
They revealed no information whatsoever.
He couldn’t tell what they were doing, but one thing now seemed certain.
‘With the Dark Ghost on our side, those bastards are finished too.’
He’d been curious about it anyway.
Those precious goods from Black Sky!
Where on earth did they get them from?
He was curious about their true purpose as well.
‘If I can win the Dark Ghost’s favor later, I could abandon trading company life and rise to a higher position….’
Tap-tap.
It happened right then.
A sound of tapping came from the window of the room Berthe was in.
It was contact.
‘He’s arrived.’
Creak.
The sound of the window opening, which at this moment seemed ominous.
One figure slipped in silently, taking advantage of the darkness.
“Ahem, well. You’ve come rather quickly this time.”
“Is that a complaint?”
“No, no, not at all. I’m just saying you came quickly, that sort of thing.”
Thud.
A bag was set on the table.
“Check the goods. The advance payment is 50 million Cel.”
“50 million….”
Berthe’s voice trembled.
No matter how much he ran a trading company based in the Capital, 50 million Cel was an enormous sum.
If they were asking for that much as an advance, it meant the goods inside were worth at least 200 million Cel.
‘I need to buy time.’
“I apologize, but I’m unable to provide 50 million Cel immediately. I only have 30 million Cel on hand at the moment….”
“Is that so. Well, it is a large sum.”
“However, I can arrange it by tomorrow. After visiting the Imperial Bank, how would it be if we met at this same hour today?”
“Very well.”
The other party seemed to have no suspicions.
Or so Berthe thought.
“Is it hot in this room?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re breaking out in a cold sweat.”
“That… I did some exercise earlier… haha.”
The other party, glancing once at Berthe’s considerable belly, fortunately dismissed the suspicion.
“Well, if you want to live long, you should.”
……
“I’ll return.”
And with that, the visitor departed.
Only the sound of the window creaking in the wind remained.
Berthe moved immediately.
It was time to inform the Dark Ghost.

* * *
Ziel was observing Subject One.
“It eats well.”
When he prepared the culture medium according to the research materials and changed it, he could see the absorption happening before his eyes.
He couldn’t yet predict exactly what form it would take when it matured, but the round shape, like dust clumped together, was oddly endearing.
According to the research materials, while it was impossible to perfectly predict the final form once fully grown, it was apparently possible to determine its appearance to some degree.
“I think something modest would be best.”
Ziel’s preferences were consistent.
And preferably small, if possible.
Small meant greater efficiency when carrying it around.
Suddenly, Ziel became curious.
What kind of organization created and researched living beings like this?
During last semester’s practical training, he hadn’t been particularly interested.
There was only one purpose.
Ensuring the students completed their training and returned safely.
Moreover, nothing there had harmed him, and after disposing of what was in the Underground, there had been no further interference.
But he was curious.
Though he had no intention of investigating it further.
It was right after Ziel had finished filling the glass container holding Subject One with culture medium and emerged that—
“Boss, a letter for you.”
The Underworld delivery person, left behind to enable contact with the Dark Ghost, brought him a letter.
“From Berthe’s side, then.”
“Quick, aren’t they?”
After Ziel confirmed the contents, he gave orders to Gilbert.
“We depart now.”
“Is there no possibility this could be a trap?”
“If I don’t fall for it, it’s no problem.”
Gilbert realized he’d just asked an incredibly foolish question.
A trap for the Boss?
As if one would work.
If there were 100 traps in front of him, he’d smash through every one and keep advancing—that was the Boss!
‘A future leader of a massive organization!’
And imagining himself taking important positions in that great organization and brushing aside the likes of “Red Raven” with a mere gesture made his heart race.
“Why are you grinning suddenly? You look like an idiot.”
“Hehe, I’m just excited about what the future holds.”
……
Ziel felt a slight tension.
As before, Gilbert definitely knows something.
“Gilbert.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Do you know something?”
……
Gilbert, who had been thinking for a moment, answered.
“I know. I know everything. Hehe. How could I not?”
……!
“I’ll prepare, Boss.”
And so Gilbert left, and Ziel sank into serious contemplation.
‘He knows everything?’
His secret?
No.
It’s impossible he’d been discovered.
But he couldn’t completely rule out the possibility.
‘I’ll need to be careful.’
Ziel was torn.
They had started with bad blood, but now he’d become a reliable subordinate.
His skill still wasn’t entirely to Ziel’s liking, but he was steadily improving, so it was acceptable.
What if that fellow, later on….
‘Is this what they call the agony of choosing between two paths?’
He’d watched a novel yesterday.
It was about a hero.
The hero stood at a crossroads of choice.
Would he save the one he loved?
Or uphold the greater cause?
A pain comparable to that, if not identical!
‘I’ll need to think about this a bit more.’
There were various methods available.
Just as with the Siren Family incident, he could completely erase his memories.
But he didn’t want to do that to Gilbert if possible.
Because he was a subordinate.
For now, Ziel finished his preparations and stepped outside.
And there he encountered a certain whimpering figure.
“M-Master! I feel left out!”
“What’s there to feel left out about?”
“I’m the only one being excluded!”
“You lack discretion.”
“Oh.”
“There’s work suited for you.”
“W-What is it?”
“There isn’t any right now.”
……
Leaving behind a dejected Kelvin, Ziel and Gilbert headed toward Berthe’s mansion.
Upon arrival, Berthe greeted them as if he’d been waiting.
“Dark Ghost, you’ve come.”
Impressively, he’d even lined his subordinates up in formation on both sides.
‘Is this a trap?’
Planning to attack from both sides as we pass through this corridor?
“I’ve prepared things to the best of my ability for your visit, Dark Ghost. Hehe.”
“I find this displeasing.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t do this again.”
“Ah… understood.”
Berthe thought, ‘Of course, he’s the Dark Ghost.’
‘He dislikes such formalities!’
Indeed.
The very hero of the Underworld, the one who made nobles and royalty tremble in fear!
“It will be tonight, Dark Ghost. They’ll come within the next four hours.”
“Understood. Act as you normally would.”
“Also, might I impose upon you to look at this?”
Berthe produced a thick stack of documents.
It was quite substantial.
“A list of all the ‘good deeds’ our trading company has performed over the past ten days!”
Ziel, unfolding the documents, nodded.
“Excellent. Food distribution, charitable giving, job creation, irrigation repair, slum dwelling repairs….”
“The roster is in the back!”
“Understood. See that all receive their deed rewards without exception. If they are not paid…”
“They’ve all been paid already!”
Berthe puffed out his chest with pride!
Evidence that his actions sprang from genuine feeling!
The Berthe Trading Company had already been receiving inquiries from nobles recently.
Nobles who ruled their own territories like kings were one thing.
But most Capital nobles had nothing but reputation and justification to their name!
So when the Berthe Trading Company recently became the talk of the town for their good deeds, inquiries came in about contributing to the company!
‘The Dark Ghost anticipated all of this. I’m certain of it.’
“Continue your efforts. The more good deeds you perform, the better.”
“Understood, Dark Ghost. We’ll continue our charitable works with renewed dedication!”
Such hypocrisy had rarely been seen, but it didn’t matter in the least.
No one was harmed.
The poor benefited from the unexpected charity, the Berthe Trading Company’s reputation soared to the heavens, and Ziel, without spending a single Cel of his own, had consumed one of the Capital’s major trading companies.
“Now we wait.”
“I’ve prepared a room for you.”
“If I stay in a room, our response will be too slow. I’ll position myself on the roof.”
Truly the Dark Ghost!
Even his waiting position is unconventional.
“Yes, sir! If there’s anything you need, please say so at any time!”
“Very well.”
And so Ziel and Gilbert took positions on the roof and concealed themselves.
“Boss, from what I hear, the Berthe Trading Company’s reputation has risen considerably.”
“Good deeds are repaid with good fortune.”
“Truly, I cannot hope to comprehend your intentions, Boss.”
Several hours passed thus.
Compared to his days as an assassin, mere waiting was nothing, and finally—
“They’re here.”
The anticipated visitor had appeared.
“Boss, should I try this time?”
Gilbert, brimming with recent confidence, asked, but Ziel refused.
“No.”
“…Yes.”
“I pursue them.”
Ziel drew upon the Polar Night Breathing Technique.
“I will discover their hideout.”

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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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