Episode 54 — Secret Maneuvering
～ Part 2 ～
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«Tomorrow morning, their representative might come to your house, chieftain.»
Yesterday night, Tokihara had whispered that kind of thing into chieftain Bergel’s ears.
That happened when the cleaning up after the welcome party had completely finished. As usual, chieftain Bergel talked to Tokihara about various things without showing even a shred of wariness. Naturally, he had previously been told not to reveal Tokihara’s name to them. It was difficult to make a reason for this, but Tokihara normally hardly ever showed himself to foreigners, so it wasn’t something too strange either.
The explanation he had given chieftain Bergel was something along the line of «It’s not desirable to have my name and appearance known by too many people due to a magical issue». Tokihara was in charge of Delf Island’s accounting, but most of the islanders believed him to be a shaman come from outside.
While having a drinking bout using the remaining wine, Tokihara listened to the chieftain’s story about the welcome party.
The chieftain thought it was strange that that bunch had left the welcome party midway through.
Looking at the chieftain who was tilting his head, Tokihara thought: this is getting a little troublesome.
That that bunch has left the welcome party midway through is clearly related to the dog chained in the mansion basement. They must have discussed about how to look for that lost dog. May be even the existence of us vampires has been sniffed out.
This human is a good-natured chieftain. He may even organize a search party if that bunch says something like «One of our friends has gone missing». If it comes to that, the one who would be disadvantageous is our side.
Moreover, if that bunch got any closer to the islanders than this, it may even hinder the plan to capture the Queen’s person. I need to plant the seed of suspicion toward that bunch in the chieftain.
«Tomorrow morning, their representative might come to your house, chieftain.»
Therefore, Tokihara whispered so into the chieftain’s ears.
«Please do not believe them immediately no matter what they say. Especially in case they said that one of their friends has gone missing.»
«Why? Is there any relation to how they left the party halfway through?»
«Because I haven’t met them directly, I have no proof. However,»
Saying so, Tokihara floated a gentle smile.
«There’s something absolutely suspicious about those guys. That big black iron ship that has anchored offshore. That looked similar to the magic battleship that the shipyard under direct control of the Empire has monopoly on.»
«Are you saying they’re from the Empire?»
«It’s purely a possibility.»
Despite saying it’s not certain, it’s just a guess, I have no proof, etc., Tokihara skillfully guided the chieftain’s mentality in that direction.
«But there’s not so many who can freely train monsters and made them abide. Except for the Empire’s Army, there are only the magic beast trainers of the Gladiatorial Principality and the riding dragon trainers of the Dragon Knight Kingdom.»
The good-natured chieftain of the southern island instantly believed that.
«I see…. There’s also the possibility of them being the Empire’s monsters…»
«In that case, their purpose may be to prepare to take control of Albadanba that has yet to bend to their will.»
Several naval battle between Albadanba and the Empire had unfolded before. Although one can say that Albadanba was no more than an uncivilized little country when looking at the Empire’s military power, the sea nearby was the habitat of the Sea King, and the sea currents which was created by that Sea King had thwarted the Empire’s invasion countless time.
Therefore, the Empire had sent in monsters on a warship in order to trick the eyes of the Sea King who had strong animosity toward them, Tokihara grandiosely spoke. If thinking calmly, there was no meaning whatsoever to put them on a warship, nevertheless, chieftain Bergel didn’t doubt it.
«First thing they may try to do is probably cutting down the man power of Delf Island. That’s why, please never trust them no matter what they say.»
«Even in case they said their friends is missing?»
«They may try to reduce the people by having a search party formed. And then, I think it’s better to make sure the islanders do not approach the aforementioned battleship since it’s dangerous. We should fish at the east or south side of the island.»
Naturally, this was to clear out the hindrances in his plan to capture the Queen’s person. Of course, Tokihara wouldn’t participate in the operation. The job would be done by the other Pawns, they were to incapacitate the Queen and carry her to his residence. And then they just need to swiftly transport her to the King’s place.
Because that bunch might come to take her back, he should take her blood as an insurance. Even in the worst case that the Queen herself was rescued, as long as he could deliver her blood to the King, the Queen’s body would become the King’s.
And so, his act that was close to brainwashing the chieftain ended with this. Before leaving the chieftain house, he made sure to told the chieftain to detain those guys for as long as possible and try to extract information from them if ever they came to the chieftain’s house.
The operation was to be carried out during the day. The time when the men of the island went fishing. The time when the merchants brought in the merchandise for the trade fair. Naturally, those guys was going to participate in the trade fair as well, so even the monsters that protected that warship would also become thinner. Additionally, it would also be the time when their representative — the dragonewt — visited chieftain Bergel’s house.
“Well, since that’s the case, let’s do this swiftly.”
Standing in front of the Pawns that was left under his control, Tokihara said so.
“Just in case, here’s the list of monsters that require special attention according to Akeno-sama’s report. Everyone escaped from that old castle, so I think you already knew about it though.”
What they need to be most careful of was the skeleton and slime duo. These two were the only one among those guys that had reached Phase 3. Reaching Phase 3 meant that those two would be helpless so long as one could control the Queen’s body, but they were still the most formidable enemy at the moment. Because even Knight Suou was easily brought down, Pawn-class vampires like them would be powerless.
After that were the ‘hit’ species monsters even among the ones who reached Phase 2, these guys were opponents that could oppose them even when alone. The ogre, the dragonewt, the pharaoh. Fighting these guys one-on-one would be risky.
“The operation will fail at the moment we spot the skeleton … but well, they are apparently loitering on the island so that’s okay. Please also be cautious in case there are 2 or more among the ogre, the dragonewt and the pharaoh. If it’s just 1, I think you will manage somehow.”
5 Pawns nodded while looking over the documents.
He was going to have these 5 were head over to the warship anchored offshore and capture the Queen’s person. As far as he had heard, the Queen hadn’t gotten off the ship even once. About 2 months had passed since those guys came to this world. If she hadn’t sucked human’s blood even once until now, it wasn’t so strange even if she got blood crave illness right about now.
Beside, he was having the Pawns equip weapons smeared with the dog’s saliva. Because a werewolf’s saliva had the effect of returning vampire factors to ground state, it should be more than enough to stop the movement of the Queen who was already in a bad condition.
They was going to force all of her factors to ground state — which would suspend her body’s functions — then capture her person.
“Tokihara-san, what will you do?”
1 of the Pawns asked.
“I will remain at the residence for a while. It will be troublesome if we let that dog escape after all. …Ah, that’s right, Asaake-san.”
After Tokihara answer the question, he handed over certain objects.
Asaake received them with a perplexed expression. Those were a bottle filled with blood and a knife.
“Umm, these are…. Tokihara-san.”
“I think I told you. It’s our secret weapon. Because it is exactly as written on the label, please make use of it effectively.”
If it was Asaake who had been working under Akeno before, he would more or less know how to make use of these.
“Well then, I look forward to working with you.”
There was a bit of him that felt like he was hurrying the situation too much, but if he thought about the sparse defense of the warship, this day, this moment was probably the best chance. In the Maritime United Nations Albadanba, the lurking vampires had finally started their action.
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