On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 372

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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 372
The Crow in Darkness (3)
Darkness was descending.
As twilight faded into shadow, the street was cast in dim light.
Under cover of that darkness, a group of figures had positioned themselves on the roofs—invisible from below.
“Any sign of the target?”
“Still lost sight, but we don’t think he’s escaped. We’re tightening the perimeter.”
“This has to be finished by tonight. Reinforcements are coming soon. Don’t engage in combat until then—just keep the net closing.”
“Understood. Though… the target seems considerably stronger than anticipated.”
This operation should have ended long ago.
It should have been over the moment the first dagger was thrown. Who could have known it would stretch into this late hour of night?
‘Master-class? Possibly that level. At least at our current standard, he’s difficult to engage.’
The Crows, measured purely by swordsmanship, could not compare to the Empire’s Knights. Yet when one considered their mastery of Mana and their varied tactics, they could more than hold their own in specialized circumstances.
The problem was that the target knew those tactics far too well.
And worse—he had grown far stronger than before.
That was why reinforcements had been called: three top-tier Crows who had been on standby.
Possessing strength and experience incomparable to 1st-Grade Crows—true elite, the Organization’s pride.
The Organization itself had recognized the severity and ordered their immediate dispatch!
“There won’t be any upsets now. Once the seniors arrive….”
“Giving you trouble, are they, Blron?”
“S-senior?”
He spun around to find three figures standing there—he hadn’t even heard them arrive.
The fact that he’d sensed nothing sent a chill down his spine.
‘So this is what top-tier means.’
“Still a rookie, I see.”
“You’ve arrived, senior.”
“Mm.”
Crows typically did not form deep bonds with one another.
Yet occasionally, exceptions existed.
Cases where top-tier Crows directly trained younger ones!
Blron was exactly such a case.
“The situation?”
“We’re currently maintaining the encirclement. The perimeter is tightening, but we’re holding back from direct combat.”
“Report the casualties as well.”
“Six dead. Two wounded. Both injuries are serious.”
“Brutal.”
“My apologies.”
“No. That’s on him for being strong. Can’t fault you for that idiot’s incompetence. We should’ve moved from the start—none of this would’ve happened.”
……
A top-tier Crow—codename Rust.
“Everything will be restored to normal before the night ends.”
“I’m grateful beyond measure, senior.”
“No need to worry. Has there been any sign of movement from Ziel Steelheart?”
“Nothing. According to reports from those watching the Academy, he remains inside.”
“Then that’s settled.”
The sole variable in this operation!
That was Ziel.
According to intelligence, he had defeated Amil Renfield—a master-class powerhouse among the elite—in a single strike.
The entire risk of this operation hinged on that one factor alone!
The Red Raven had staked half the Organization’s fate on it.
Who was Ziel Steelheart?
A man courted by the heads of the Great Families and drawing the interest of the Imperial Family itself!
No one could guess where he’d come from. They could only cautiously speculate that he was the sole heir of the destroyed Steelheart Family, quietly revealing himself.
Which was why this matter had to be handled cleanly—leaving not a shred of evidence.
“The Crow bodies?”
“All recovered and disposed of. Not a trace remains.”
“Good.”
Even if Ziel grew suspicious later, the Organization could only be protected if not a single piece of evidence remained.
“Now we hunt. Blron, stay here and stand watch. We’ll handle this.”
“Yes, seniors. I’m counting on you.”
Thus the top-tier Crows, including Rust, finally moved into action.
“We hold our positions until the command comes through.”
“Understood, sir.”
Blron stopped worrying after that.
With those seniors taking the field, even if their target was Amil Renfield, he would have to accept his own death.
And at that very moment.
“Sigh.”
Gilbert settled into the quiet of an abandoned house.
District 35.
Not far from District 40.
He had tried to slip further down, beneath District 40 itself, but it seemed that would no longer be possible.
“I was just getting warmed up.”
Now that real combat had begun, he understood something new.
He was getting stronger—he could feel it.
More than he’d expected.
But the reality of real combat was far more daunting than he’d imagined.
“Can’t be helped.”
Gilbert pulled out his traps and tools.
He’d use them to buy time.
Then he’d cross beyond District 40 and find the Solaris Church.
Then he’d be safe.
After that, he’d contact the Boss and report the situation—
‘While I’m at it, should I clean them all out?’
It was at that very thought.
The presence of the encirclement surrounding the abandoned house vanished.
Replaced by three far more formidable presences.
Based on the Ki Sensing he’d honed through repeated Hell Training with the Boss, this could only mean—
“Top-tier Crows…”
He was caught.
He should have anticipated this.
With pursuers of similar caliber tracking him constantly, he’d forgotten to consider that possibility.
“Damn it.”
A breath escaped him.
Top-tier grade.
Even during his time as a Crow, he’d rarely laid eyes on such beings.
As a Crow, Gilbert’s talent hadn’t been exceptional enough to train under them.
So he’d only heard about them through hearsay—
“Famous people, every one.”
Gilbert’s mind turned to Ziel and Kelvin.
Not that he needed to die this instant, but faced with this critical situation, his thoughts drifted first to those two, with whom he’d grown close.
Then came the Students.
Then even Zephyros.
Gilbert made his decision.
“I’ll take two of them with me.”
He’d sworn to have his revenge anyway.
He’d already killed six and crippled two more; if he could add two top-tier Crows to that tally—
It would deal the Organization a staggering blow.
He regretted having to die.
He’d wanted to bask in the glory of the organization the Boss would create.
“Let’s try.”
Gilbert rose with resolve burning in his heart.
He swept all his prepared tools and traps into his bag.
His opponents were top-tier grade.
Crude tricks wouldn’t work on them.
If it were the Boss, he’d handle them without flinching, even with traps in play.
Shing.
Gilbert drew his sword and stepped out into the open.
Just as he’d expected.
“So the Crow who turned his back on the Organization was hiding here.”
“You were the ones who stabbed me in the back first.”
“That’s not really the point. You know that, right?”
With a smirk spreading across his face, Gilbert threw down his final bluff.
“If I die, all those documents I smuggled out will scatter everywhere.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’ve already infiltrated the Academy to recover them. For what it’s worth, we sent top-tier operatives.”
“Well, that’s fortunate. You’ll be exposed soon anyway.”
A faint glimmer of hope kindled in his chest.
“Fortunate? You’re talking as if that Ziel character of yours could actually stop us.”
“You don’t think he could? Our boss transcends imagination. You people have no idea.”
“I don’t. And I don’t plan to find out.”
Shlick.
Three top-tier Crows drew their swords simultaneously.
Perfect, synchronized motion.
So this was what it felt like—every hair on his body standing on end.
And yet.
He felt no fear.
‘My standards have apparently shot up dramatically.’
Since his usual opponents were either the Boss or Kelvin, the usual pressure simply wasn’t there.
“Did I achieve enlightenment right before death?”
“Perhaps.”
The instant one of the Crows caught sight of Gilbert’s smile—
Screech, clang!
Remarkably, Gilbert charged first.
These men had tremendous pride and equally towering arrogance.
They would never have imagined that someone they deemed beneath them would be the first to attack.
Crack!
And he succeeded in severing the man’s shoulder.
Whish!
Another’s blade sliced through the space where Gilbert had stood, but he was already gone.
‘It works. One down.’
But contrary to Gilbert’s expectations, the wounded man treated his injury with practiced speed.
Right.
He’d forgotten about that.
“It’s been a while. Does it ring a bell?”
“Yeah. Memories.”
Medicine that temporarily stemmed bleeding and dulled the pain of treated wounds.
Every Crow carried it with them.
Gilbert had too.
He’d abandoned everything when escaping the Safe House.
‘Here I am fighting with just a sword.’
He found himself missing the tools and traps he’d left behind in the Abandoned House.
“The attempt was commendable. But you won’t get an opening like that again.”
They were Crows.
They wouldn’t waste time with honorable one-on-one duels.
How many more did he want to kill?
He’d already slain six and crippled two.
Tap!
All three rushed at him simultaneously.
In that moment.
Gilbert’s eyes caught an infinitesimal opening.
‘Now!’
Crash!
And something extraordinary happened.
Two came with slashing attacks.
One thrust—and yet……
“……!”
That single concentrated strike was halted by Gilbert’s blade.
“Uhhgh……”
The impact drove a crack through Gilbert’s sword in an instant, and his hand trembled with the force.
‘This is possible?’
Gilbert was stunned.
It was far beyond expectation.
That gap he’d glimpsed for an instant!
It felt as though he’d reached something faint beyond it.
The moment when the power struggle came to an end.
“Hup!”
Remarkably, Gilbert lifted his foot to break his balance, and in that same instant, he slashed through one creature’s thigh.
Then he staggered backward, gasping for breath.
“Haah, hah…….”
Adrenaline surging through him!
The sound of his heartbeat thundered across District 35.
‘I actually held my ground.’
Even in this moment where life and death hung in the balance, Gilbert couldn’t believe what he’d just accomplished.
“Heh.”
The three Crows looked at Gilbert as though they found the whole thing absurd.
‘Maybe I’ve really grown stronger than I thought?!’
Unfortunately, the time to savor that joy wouldn’t last long.
The bleeding from his thigh, which his impossible attack had caused, suddenly stopped—and the Crows’ eyes shifted.
“No point in drawing this out. One strike to finish it.”
The three of them charged before the words had even left their mouths.
‘I’ll take two with me.’
Gilbert dropped low, shifted as one came at him, and slashed across its ribs.
But in that instant, a blade grazed across his shoulder and back.
“Urk.”
So this was the end.
“I wanted to finish building the secret base…….”
Gilbert murmured blankly.
So this is what death felt like.
The world seemed to fall silent.
Was the blade poisoned?
To sink this fast from a single slash.
“I should’ve had one more of Theo’s meals before this…….”
“Go eat some today.”
“Oh, well—wait, huh? Wh-what?”
Gilbert answered reflexively before shock gripped him.
His Boss stood before him.
“B-Boss? You’re… you’re really the Boss?”
“Yes.”
“H-how did you—how are you here?”
“Someone tried to infiltrate the Faculty Dormitory. I caught them and got your name out of them.”
There was no need to ask what happened after that.
“Bo-Boss……” *sob*.
Ziel spoke.
“I don’t see any chicken skewers. Or fried bread either.”
Gilbert seized the moment to speak up.
“These bastards attacked and I had to leave them behind!”
“Bad men, then.”
There was a palpable undertone of quiet fury.
Ziel drew a sword and tossed it.
“Pick it up. Gilbert.”
Whoosh.
Remarkably, it was the Etheric-Forced Sword that Ziel wielded.
A blade of deepest black!
“Fight.”
Could this possibly be heaven?
A vision of his Boss appearing at the moment of his awakening, handing him a sword like this…….
“This is no common opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“Yes. Master grade is right in front of you.”
“Master grade……!”
Only then did Gilbert look at the three Crows standing behind Ziel.
He stood frozen in place.
Only his eyes could move.
The Boss had done this to him—no question about it.
Ziel approached one of them and released the paralysis.
“Gasp!”
The man reflexively stumbled backward, desperate to flee, but Ziel simply charged forward and seized him by the nape of the neck with iron grip, dragging him back to his original position.
“Run, and you die by my hand.”
“Gasp!”
The poison vial he’d been hiding in his mouth was already recovered.
“Crow. There’s only one way for you to survive. Defeat Gilbert in combat.”
“…One moment, Boss.”
So this was…
“I told you. This is a good opportunity. If you bring down these three, you can reach Master Grade.”
Hell Training.
The tension that had suddenly snapped made Gilbert lose his words.

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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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