On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 411

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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—Chapter 411
To the Western Region (1)
The Emperor was swallowing the night whole.
It was a night when sleep would not come.
A sparring match with Ziel Steelheart in a few months’ time.
The thought of it stirred a competitive fire he’d nearly forgotten.
‘How long has it been since a proper sparring match?’
He had trained steadily in the interim.
But it was never training to grow stronger.
Even Captain Benjamin, who had often served as his sparring partner, never fought with his full strength.
Because his opponent was the Emperor.
One careless stroke, offered under the guise of sparring, could end everything in an instant.
The Emperor had at first ordered them not to mind such things, to fight freely—but the order fell on deaf ears.
Even an imperial command could not change that.
But why, he wondered, should Ziel Steelheart be any different?
The thought itself seemed to promise something else entirely.
Shing.
The Emperor drew his blade.
The very sword that had raised him to the imperial throne in his youth.
It was not a particularly remarkable weapon.
Yet from the moment his predecessors granted it to him, he had wielded only this single blade to defeat every brother and claim the throne.
‘Father.’
After his father’s passing.
That was when it had begun, perhaps.
Since then, the Emperor had lost a true sparring partner.
His father alone had wielded his blade without restraint against him!
Could Ziel do the same?
‘At last I shall know the measure of his strength.’
Whenever the Emperor met Ziel, he would subtly channel his mana, pressing it toward the man to test his concentration.
Yet Ziel remained utterly unmoved.
At minimum, Master-level in standing.
Perhaps even…….
Beyond—a realm whose very existence had never been confirmed in the Empire’s history.
‘Who is this man, truly?’
The Emperor was no fool.
He had investigated countless times.
He had examined the Steelheart Family records dozens of times over, studied the records of their destruction and the traces left behind.
In the end, he had discovered that a collateral branch couple had fled the family just before its annihilation—and he had even secured testimony confirming it.
Years later, they were found dead.
And there, at that precise point, lay the key.
The sole survivor!
‘I must ask him during our sparring—who taught him the blade.’
The Emperor had many questions.
This Ziel who had appeared so suddenly was now called nothing less than the Empire’s greatest hero—and some even whispered that he had been sent by the gods themselves.
This moment forward was critical.
The instant the Emperor lost the people’s favor, the citizens of the Empire would begin crying out Ziel’s name.
Perhaps that was his aim all along, remaining at the Academy until now…….
‘No. No, I must not rush to judgment.’
At any rate, only when the sparring day arrived could he know for certain.
What Ziel’s true intentions were.
What scheme he was hatching under the pretense of power that brings joy to others.
Though it would be difficult to believe—whether everything he has said so far was truth.
Yet thinking of the latter only deepened the ache in his head.
“…….”
Could such a person truly exist in this world?
Someone possessed of such strength, yet content to remain at an Academy teaching students, whose contest with the Emperor seeks only to gain power that brings joy to himself and others, harboring neither base desire for wealth nor any dark hidden thoughts…….
Could such a person truly exist?
“I cannot comprehend it.”
It was then.
Chief Administrator Leonard appeared at his office door.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes, did you recognize him?”
The Emperor’s heart stirred with peculiar interest.
A report that might just resolve the very concern he’d been wrestling with moments before!
“……Well, he danced.”
“He danced? With whom?”
“With all those who requested a dance.”
The Emperor was not yet at an age to worry greatly about his health.
Moreover, with daily training, he could take pride in his vigor.
But now, even he had to doubt his ears.
“What did you say?”
“He danced with every young lady from each noble family who requested one, sire.”
“……I’d heard he wasn’t that sort of character.”
“No, Your Majesty. This was…… the consideration of Teacher Ziel Steelheart.”
“Consideration?”
Not some libertine who turns away no woman?
“He danced without refusal with every young lady who asked, and beyond that, conducted himself at the masquerade without any private exchanges, Your Majesty.”
“……I see.”
“Word has it he already has a betrothed, but acted as he did out of consideration for the young ladies’ reputations…….”
If that were truly the case, this was a man of considerable depth.
‘He preserved the honor of everyone present.’
Indeed.
Certainly, he was a different sort of man.
“And there is one more matter to report, Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
“Teacher Ziel Steelheart alone consumed half of all the food and drink prepared for the masquerade…….”
“Half of it?”
He took it away?
“He ate it, sire.”
“…….”
Only then did the Emperor recall the report that among Ziel’s notable characteristics was his remarkable appetite.
“Truly…… a different man indeed.”
A man one could scarcely fathom.
* * *
The masquerade had ended.
Ziel departed the Imperial Palace.
He felt a pang of regret.
‘I could have eaten and drunk more.’
This morning too he had enjoyed a formal dinner, sampling nearly every dish on the table, and clearing some entirely. It had been splendid hospitality.
But now it was time to leave.
Time to head west immediately.
When Ziel returned to the Academy, students who hadn’t yet departed greeted him.
“Oh, Teacher Ziel! You’re back?”
“Yes, Delev Kundel. Didn’t you return to your family home?”
“…….”
Delev flinched for a moment before answering cautiously.
“During the break…… I wanted to get some experience with various things.”
“Training?”
“S-Something like that.”
“I see.”
Delev felt relief wash over him inwardly.
It was a stroke of luck that his part-time job at the Mortis Boutique that Karen had introduced him to hadn’t been discovered.
“W-Well then, I’ll be going!”
Ziel watched Delev flee headlong, tilting his head in bewilderment.
“Is he going to the restroom?”
“Teacher Ziel! You’ve arrived!”
The sound of a booming voice rang out at just that moment!
“Quantus Hopel.”
“Have you come back now to rest, sir?”
“No. I’m heading west.”
“Oh, the Western Region!”
“Quantus Hopel. Aren’t you heading home?”
“I’ve resolved to dedicate myself to training until the day I can shatter blackstone with pure strength, sir.”
“That’s impossible for you.”
“Why is that!”
“Because it’s impossible.”
He nodded.
“So go home. Rest, too, is a form of training.”
“If you say so, then I understand.”
Quantus was a student who listened well.
While some students departed like this, others like Celia and Karen remained.
“Teacher, I’ve made up my mind. I want to use my Praise Cards. Will you guide me for a day!”
Celia had scraped together quite a few Praise Cards and brought them to him.
Of course, Ziel refused.
“Not possible. After I return from the Western Region, it will be.”
“What! Why! I already told my family I wasn’t coming back this time!”
“I need to go to the Western Region.”
“……Then when will you be back?”
“I should be back a week before the semester starts.”
“Promise me!”
Celia had resolved something.
When third-year first semester began, she wouldn’t lose to anyone!
So this semester, she forsook her return home and stayed at the Academy.
“Then, sir, aren’t the other teachers here?”
“I heard that Elcanto Paredes is staying this time. Something about preparing a thesis again.”
“Oh! Then I’ll go see him!”
For some reason, Ziel felt apologetic toward Elcanto.
‘Why do I feel sorry?’
He didn’t quite know the reason himself.
Next was Karen.
“Ah, Teacher Ziel? Are you heading to your territory?”
“Yes. To the Western Region. Are you all packed?”
“Yes, well… they say they’ll give me meals and clothes and a sword there. So I’m just bringing the essentials.”
“Learn a lot while you’re there. You’re in third year now, so I plan to raise the intensity.”
The semester hadn’t even started, and yet this ominous feeling crept in!
“I’ll do my very best.”
“No, do it well.”
“Y-yes…”
It wasn’t just Karen.
While all the students had reached Upper Walker Rank and achieved their goals, that very success became a catalyst for them to work even harder, and eager students abounded.
“Everyone gathered? From today, our enters unlimited training!”
The organizer was Maris.
“But why is the group name like that? It’s not cool at all.”
“Shh, Maris gets hurt by that sort of thing.”
“Oh, right.”
About fifteen students had assembled.
It was a considerable number.
Most students had various reasons they should return to their families during break, yet they’d overcome those obstacles to gather here.
“The future of Sword School looks bright, Boss.”
“Hm, hmm.”
Ziel nodded as well.
“Training is important. When I return, I should test the students in that group.”
The three of them, leaving behind the still ablaze with enthusiasm—unaware of that future—finally turned their steps toward the Western Region.
The journey to the Western Region was quite long.
So it was after a long while that Ziel met Potato again.
The moment Potato saw Ziel, he trembled and flinched.
His body remembered fear, even after so long!
“Potato seems pleased to see you.”
“Tee-hee-hee.”
Ziel issued a warning the moment they met.
“Don’t grow weary before we reach our destination. Weary men become horse meat.”
“That’s quite the grim greeting the moment we set out.”
The destination was the Steelheart Territory in the Western Region.
The plan was simple.
“We arrive at the territory, assess the situation, and take necessary measures. That’s all.”
“I think it’d be good to check on that madman supposedly at the mansion ruins too.”
“That’s already part of the plan.”
Gilbert asked.
“Aren’t you thrilled? If I thought about getting my own territory, I’d be too excited to sleep.”
“I have plenty of money.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“With enough money, you can buy land.”
“Ah…….”
In truth, what set Ziel’s heart racing was something else entirely.
Identity stabilization.
Infiltration of the Academy.
Next came official teacher status.
After that, restoration of the family name.
He was progressing steadily down that very path!
‘I need to establish the Steelheart Family firmly not just in the Western Region, but throughout the Empire.’
Ziel was no traditional nobleman. For that reason, the “territory development plans” now forming in his mind would horrify any conventional aristocrat who heard them.
“Kelvin.”
“Y-yes, Master.”
“On the way there, find any other mercenaries who were famous in the Western Region. We’ll use them as security guards for the Steelheart Territory.”
“M-mercenaries?”
“Yes. Mercenaries. See what you can find.”
Using mercenaries as security guards—what an unconventional notion!
Most territories recruited from among the local population, but Ziel was different from the start.
“Boss, wouldn’t employing mercenaries be rather risky? Setting aside their questionable origins…….”
“It’s far more efficient than selecting from existing territorial residents. Besides, you mentioned public safety wasn’t good—we’ll need a security force composed of strong individuals.”
“But mercenaries have a high likelihood of causing trouble. Forgive me for saying so in front of Kelvin, but they lack discipline.”
Kelvin nodded unexpectedly.
“R-right. Yeah, mercenaries. Street thugs!”
His accumulated resentment seemed considerable.
While Kelvin operated alone, mercenaries typically worked in groups of at least three, or formed entire mercenary bands moving as organized units.
The atrocities they committed in the Western Region only quieted down after the Rihart Family stepped in.
“The territorial residents will live in fear, Boss.”
“I have plenty of money.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve heard mercenaries are motivated by money.”
Ziel’s logic was straightforward.
“If mercenaries move for money, they’ll obey if you pay them enough.”
“W-well…….”
“And if you make them compete and promise more money to the winners, that settles it.”
…….
Gilbert stared blankly at Kelvin and nodded.
“Man, your way of thinking really is different from ours.”
“M-money’s supreme.”
Indeed.
The finest way to control mercenaries was always money.
Sometimes clients foolishly scatter coin and get duped, but Ziel was no such fool.
Mishandle it, and things become terribly…….
‘They’d wish they were dead even if they survived, wouldn’t they?’
Gilbert found himself offering premature condolences to the sort of mercenaries he felt certain Ziel would encounter once or twice in the future!
“And Boss, there are also bandit gangs. They operate around the Garnish Mountain Range, and lately, with the Western Region in poor condition, many have joined their ranks, or so I hear.”
“Why is the Western Region in poor condition?”
“Well, it’s where the Central authority’s reach weakens second only to the Northern Region. They’ve had poor harvests, and with so many mountains in the Western Region, if bandits deliberately hide, nobody can find them.”
“I didn’t notice that when I went for home visits before.”
“That was when the Rihart Family was cracking down hard. It seems things have changed since word got out that you were coming.”
“I see. Then why can’t they find the bandit gangs now?”
“Why can’t we find them?”
“Well, it’s a mountain, sir.”
“Is there some reason the mountain makes it impossible? Once we find traces, that’s all we need.”
“Ah.”
“S-Subjugation?”
Kelvin’s question hung in the air before Ziel answered, as if he’d needed a moment to consider it.
“If they interfere.”
Gilbert turned the matter over in his mind.
‘Could a bandit gang actually interfere with the boss?’
Unless they already had, of course.

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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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