On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 99

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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 099

 

 

 

 

 

The Man Who Cannot Part Ways (1)

 

 

 

 

 

The Tollen Trading Company belatedly began pursuing Ziel.

 

In the end, they couldn’t obtain information from the merchants, but they were able to extract information from a certain traveler coming from the direction of the Kundel Family.

 

 

 

“I did see someone heading toward the Kundel Family.”

 

 

 

Eventually, the Tollen Trading Company set their direction toward the Kundel Family, and they were only able to depart long after Ziel had left.

 

 

 

“Sir, Trading Company Head. Though it may be presumptuous of me to say, I heard that this Ziel fellow is currently making home visits. Other families aside, if he’s going to the Kundel Family…”

 

 

 

The guard knight hesitated for a moment before continuing.

 

 

 

“What happens if he requests protection from Kundel?”

 

“We’ll have to pretend otherwise. There’s no evidence anywhere that we sent assassins.”

 

“But just in case…”

 

“Are you anxious?”

 

“A little. Though they say there are no nobles left in the Eastern Region who would oppose us, the South is a different place.”

 

 

 

This feeling of being blocked at every turn!

 

This had never happened in the Eastern Region.

 

All the nobles had fallen for the Tollen Trading Company’s schemes without exception.

 

Thanks to that, Tollen had seized enormous wealth and power in the Eastern Region.

 

So now he was attempting to take control of the South…

 

 

 

‘To think things would get this tangled because of one damn teacher.’

 

 

 

It had been a mess from the start.

 

Approach families experiencing financial difficulties.

 

Then lend them money.

 

But make it so they can’t repay the money.

 

Tollen’s proud vicious method!

 

He had tried to devour Riversong the same way.

 

More precisely, he could have made the truffle business his own, but everything went awry because of one bastard.

 

 

 

“I have to meet that bastard to make up for the losses.”

 

“…”

 

 

 

The opportunity for profit had already disappeared.

 

Then shouldn’t he at least minimize his losses?

 

For Tollen, there was no reason whatsoever to change his beliefs.

 

However—

 

 

 

‘But why did those assassination group bastards withdraw?’

 

 

 

Why the assassins had retreated was still unknown.

 

The only source of anxiety.

 

 

 

‘If he really has an ally…’

 

 

 

So he had prepared in advance.

 

The renowned mercenary group of the South, the ‘Gray Wolf Company’.

 

Captain Compass’s skills were at Grand Knight level, and his subordinate mercenaries were also of considerable ability!

 

Their credibility was also quite high, so it seemed like it would be useful to establish a deal with them now and call on them whenever needed.

 

 

 

“Trading Company Head.”

 

 

 

As soon as he thought about it, Captain Compass suddenly appeared beside him.

 

Tollen was startled enough to make his heart race, but he feigned composure and asked.

 

 

 

“What is it, Captain?”

 

“I heard that this Ziel Steelheart fellow is making home visits to noble families.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then aren’t we needlessly making enemies of the nobles? And the Kundel Family is among them.”

 

“Unless it’s the worst-case scenario, there won’t be any fighting. Your main role is, after all, to create an intimidating presence.”

 

“Didn’t you include clauses assuming combat in the contract?”

 

“Like I said, that’s only for the worst-case scenario. Don’t worry. Your role is creating intimidation anyway. Even if there’s combat, it’ll be at the level of suppression.”

 

“Understood. Well, if it’s just one Academy teacher.”

 

 

 

The guard knight listened to that conversation and sighed inwardly.

 

 

 

‘This probably isn’t worth going this far.’

 

 

 

Was it because what he had spent considerable time and effort trying to devour had failed?

 

Tollen was not his usual self.

 

The money spent hiring even a mercenary group like this was substantial.

 

Of course, compared to the Tollen Trading Company’s total assets, it was an amount that wouldn’t even register…

 

 

 

‘He must already be taking significant losses.’

 

 

 

Still, a loss was a loss.

 

What did the Trading Company Head want?

 

To really avoid losses?

 

Or was he looking far into the future?

 

While they were pursuing for quite some time.

 

 

 

“Captain, two people are approaching. One has been confirmed as Ziel Steelheart based on his appearance.”

 

 

 

Finally caught him.

 

But two people?

 

 

 

“The other one is wearing Kundel’s knight order uniform.”

 

 

 

As expected.

 

There was an ally.

 

 

 

‘So this was why the assassination group gave up.’

 

 

 

Despicable bastards.

 

The assassination group broke the deal because they didn’t want to cross Kundel?

 

Amid yet another misunderstanding, Captain Compass frowned.

 

 

 

“Look here, Trading Company Head. A knight from the Kundel Family wasn’t in the contract.”

 

“Can’t we just have a conversation?”

 

“Coming along means providing escort, doesn’t it? Are you telling us to threaten someone with a Kundel knight attached?”

 

 

 

Damn it.

 

Of all people, the ally had to be a Kundel knight.

 

 

 

“Fine. 30%. I’ll give you more.”

 

 

 

But it was a problem that could be solved with more money.

 

At least mercenaries prioritized money above all else.

 

 

 

“No.”

 

 

 

He refused.

 

 

 

“Then let’s make it 50%.”

 

 

 

But there was one thing Tollen was thinking wrong about.

 

 

 

“Trading Company Head, let me tell you something. Even if you offered double, no, triple the current amount, it wouldn’t work.”

 

 

 

Compass spoke firmly.

 

 

 

“No one in this South can go against Kundel’s wishes.”

 

 

 

This was the South, not the Eastern Region.

 

A place where the Kundel Family existed with influence surpassing even the Imperial Palace.

 

However, Tollen didn’t understand.

 

 

 

“So you’re saying you’ll break the contract now?”

 

“I don’t mind paying the penalty. But this is an exceptional situation. It’s no different from a standard clause in all contracts written in this South.”

 

 

 

In other words.

 

Not opposing Kundel was so obvious it didn’t need to be written in contracts!

 

 

 

“The contract is broken.”

 

“L-look here, Captain! I understand. Triple the amount…”

 

“I’d consider it for ten times.”

 

“Ten times? Are you insane…”

 

“However, on the condition we don’t fight. If we’re getting ten times the pay, it’s worth going to another region to do mercenary work.”

 

 

 

Compass went even further.

 

 

 

‘That would be thirty million!’

 

 

 

Who would be crazy enough to spend thirty million on a mercenary band?

 

 

 

“Triple! No, quadruple! More than that is difficult!”

 

“Then negotiations have failed. Everyone withdraw!”

 

“L-look here!”

 

“Or present some other bait worth giving up mercenary work in this area and retiring.”

 

 

 

The South.

 

As long as Kundel existed as the great lord, no one would go against Kundel.

 

No matter who they were.

 

 

 

“Fine. Five times! No more than…”

 

“You don’t know the South well. Or perhaps you don’t know how terrifying Kundel is. Everyone withdraw!”

 

 

 

As soon as Compass’s order fell, the mercenary band retreated.

 

 

 

“L-look here! Captain Compass! Yes, something else! Something else at least… Even if not right now, later…”

 

“Whatever you give later…”

 

 

 

Rip.

 

 

 

Compass tore up and threw away the contract.

 

 

 

“Is there any fool who would trust a merchant’s verbal promise without a contract?”

 

 

 

With those words, Compass coldly turned away.

 

That ended the contract between the mercenary band and Tollen.

 

 

 

“Those lowly mercenary bastards…”

 

 

 

Tollen trembled with rage as he watched Compass and his ‘Gray Wolf Band’ mercenaries departing, but there was nothing he could do.

 

 

 

“Trading Company Head, this worked out for the better. Let’s just go back.”

 

 

 

The guard knight pleaded, thinking this was his chance.

 

Tollen also fell into contemplation.

 

 

 

‘This way, nothing will be accomplished.’

 

 

 

There was one reason for hiring the mercenary band.

 

Creating intimidation!

 

He thought Ziel would be frightened just by the presence of a renowned mercenary band from the South.

 

But once again, things went awry.

 

 

 

“Trading Company Head, now is the time to retreat.”

 

“I understand. There’s no choice…”

 

 

 

That’s when it happened.

 

 

 

“Trading Company Head, Trading Company Head!”

 

 

 

A trading company employee came running urgently.

 

 

 

“Over there, that way!”

 

“What? What’s happening…”

 

 

 

Tollen turned his head and froze.

 

He saw two people.

 

One person wearing Kundel Knight Order armor.

 

And-

 

 

 

‘Zi, Ziel Steelheart!’

 

 

 

It was exactly that bastard he had been chasing so desperately.

 

Had his decision been too late?

 

He should have returned with the mercenary group when they left.

 

 

 

‘What do I do? Damn, should I just run away like this?’

 

 

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Ziel came galloping toward them at a terrifying speed on his horse.

 

 

 

“Wha, what!”

 

 

 

Just as the guard knight urgently tried to place his hand on his sword.

 

Ziel, who had rushed over urgently, stopped and dismounted his horse, then expressed his gratitude.

 

 

 

“Thanks to you, I survived.”

 

 

 

Huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until just moments before.

 

So it had been about 6 hours since leaving the Kundel Family Manor.

 

Ziel had been suffering without being able to rest even for a moment.

 

 

 

“Teacher, I actually like going to the capital. There’s lots of food and I know a few people there, plus there’s a pretty decent tavern! You want to know where that tavern is? Don’t be surprised. It’s in District 40. Are you surprised? Are you surprised?”

 

“No. I’m not surprised.”

 

“Come on, you’re honestly surprised, right? Usually the good restaurants are mostly beyond the 50th District. People who are too noble from birth would never understand, but anyway, I often go there with my hood pulled up. Even if someone picks a fight, they’re just street robber level anyway, so there’s no worry about getting hurt, and no one I know is there…”

 

“Sir Gunter. You talk too much.”

 

“Right? But listen. The name of that place is…”

 

 

 

Even saying he talked too much was useless.

 

Ziel learned what giving up meant for the first time.

 

The thought that it might be better to give up and shut off his five senses rather than keep trying.

 

But shutting off his five senses was something that could never happen as an assassin!

 

Thanks to that, Ziel suffered through an endless feast of chatter with his ears wide open-

 

 

 

‘Found them.’

 

 

 

Finally, he encountered the Tollen Trading Company.

 

He had known since earlier.

 

That quite a lot of people were gathering over there and coming this way.

 

Although suddenly a considerable number of people had turned around and gone the opposite direction, it didn’t matter anyway.

 

Ziel ran over joyfully as if meeting his savior.

 

Without realizing it, he gripped the reins tighter in his hands.

 

 

 

Thud thud thud thud thud!

 

 

 

“Thanks to you, I survived.”

 

 

 

And as soon as he arrived, he dismounted his horse and spoke with sincerity.

 

 

 

“Huh? Huh?”

 

“Looking at the crest on the flag, you’re the Tollen Trading Company. I heard you were chasing me. Is that right?”

 

 

 

Well, that’s true, but…

 

 

 

“You chased well.”

 

 

 

What kind of reaction is this?

 

 

 

“You guys saved me.”

 

 

 

What is this…

 

 

 

“Whatever you want to say is fine, just talk to me.”

 

 

 

At this completely incomprehensible reaction, chills ran down Tollen’s spine.

 

Was he perhaps provoking them?

 

Deliberately making them pick a fight and then using that as justification to get them involved?

 

 

 

‘Right, they said he came with a Kundel knight.’

 

 

 

He must have definitely told them about the inside story or whatever, about the fact that he was being chased by Tollen.

 

Then it seemed like Kundel had sent a knight along to take this opportunity to drive them out!

 

 

 

‘As if I’d fall for that. This cunning bastard!’

 

 

 

A chilling scheme!

 

Tollen urgently signaled to his guard knight and quickly pretended not to know.

 

 

 

“Y-you’ve got the wrong people. We’re not the Tollen Trading Company, we’re merchants going to deliver goods to the Tollen Trading Company!”

 

“Then why do you have Tollen’s Emblem drawn on your flag?”

 

“Tollen provided it! The Tollen Trading Company cherishes the companies that deliver to them so much that they provide it as protection…”

 

 

 

The true attitude of a merchant who doesn’t forget to promote even in this situation.

 

 

 

“Well then, we’re busy with our journey. Hey! Hurry up and get moving! The sun is setting!”

 

“Yes! Trading Company Head… I mean, Master!”

 

“You just said Trading Company Head…”

 

“I meant Master who receives the care of the Trading Company Head!”

 

 

 

Having escaped from Ziel in an instant, the Tollen Trading Company ran eastward without looking back.

 

A moment later.

 

 

 

“Oh my, Teacher Ziel! What do you mean by suddenly rushing out like that!”

 

 

 

Gunter, who joined belatedly.

 

 

 

“Huh? Who are those guys running away over there?”

 

“…”

 

“Teacher Ziel?”

 

“How unfortunate.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It’s nothing. They say they’re merchants who supply goods to the Tollen Trading Company.”

 

“Is that so? The flag… looks like it belongs to the Tollen Trading Company. Well, it doesn’t matter. The Family Head said he would drive out the Tollen Trading Company himself.”

 

“…”

 

“Teacher Ziel? Are you alright? You’re not saying anything.”

 

 

 

Ziel felt regretful.

 

Truly.

 

He had wanted to have a long, long conversation with these people.

 

To think they would leave like this.

 

 

 

‘What urgent business could they have had.’

 

 

 

“I see, you’re disappointed because it wasn’t the Tollen Trading Company!”

 

“That’s not it.”

 

“It’s alright, Teacher. The Family Head will take care of it anyway. Don’t worry too much, and let’s go to the capital together.”

 

 

 

Ziel began to resent someone for the first time.

 

It went without saying who that was.

 

 

 

‘Eimus Kundel, Head of House. I’ll remember this.’

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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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