Earth With Dungeon: Saving the World With an Economic Boom

Chapter 179. Iron Fang

Narashino City is vast. Though not as large as the inner town, it is quite expansive for a walled city.

Sakimori hadn’t noticed because he hadn’t seen the outskirts, but based on the former airport,

The city expanded without fear of monster attacks. As a result, the outskirts are filled with dilapidated houses and buildings.

The low walls couldn’t fend off the monster attacks, allowing invasions that destroyed buildings repeatedly.

From a distance, it appears like a normal city, unlike Tokyo. The buildings are maintained to appear recently abandoned.

It’s cheaper to build new structures on empty lots than to demolish and rebuild. This is Narashino City’s policy.

One of the abandoned buildings has a burnt wall with a large hole and no windows, abandoned after an immediate attack.

In one room of this building, there is a cleverly hidden staircase in the corner.

Descending the stairs reveals a large metal door. Behind it is a surprisingly spacious underground base.

In one of the rooms, a chubby middle-aged man in a military uniform sat at the head of a large operations table, drumming his fingers impatiently.

His name was Yoshisada Nitta, a Major General in Narashino City.

“Still no contact?”

In the gloomy concrete room with a strategy table and folding chairs, a water cooler on the wall, Nitta was irritated by the summer heat.

“No, sir. We expect it soon.”

Several officers and soldiers were in the room. One officer, wiping sweat from his forehead, answered.

“Damn. Relaying the message multiple times was a mistake.”

Nitta clicked his tongue and rested his cheek on his hand. To avoid detection, the message was relayed through several points.

People monitored the relays to cut off anyone being followed. Nitta knew his position well and was overly cautious.

Radio communications could be intercepted, and receiving reports at home risked eavesdropping devices.

Thus, he built this secret underground facility on the outskirts to receive reports directly.

He didn’t trust others, so he weighed the risks of people bringing bad news to his home against being discovered here, opting for this hidden facility.

An escape route was prepared, and the concrete walls made bugging difficult.

The main reason was to move soldiers immediately after killing Niwa Nagahide.

“Do you think this operation is going well?”

He asked one of the strategists, who replied with a troubled expression.

“Niwa Nagahide is waiting for contact, thinking he’s dealing with the Oda family. He might fall for it. Even if he suspects a trap, an overconfident agent would want to check it out.”

“Yes, entering knowing it’s dangerous. He must be skilled. He’ll go to the bar confidently, not realizing he’s the scapegoat.”

This isn’t like a movie. There’s no flashy action leading to a happy ending with the heroine.

Real villains block escape routes and then attack the hero, ensuring a bad ending.

Nitta laughed quietly, wiping his sweaty hair in the stifling heat. An air conditioner would be nice, but using electricity in an abandoned building would reveal the base, so he endured.

Nitta had identified the negotiators from the inner town. Their ranks, skills, levels, combat experience, and backgrounds were known thanks to the Oda family’s intelligence.

Only Niwa Nagahide was an unknown.

It was laughably obvious. His name suggested ties to the Oda family, seeming a mockery.

“The opponent doesn’t expect complete success but won’t imagine being the cause of a coup.”

Nitta quickly devised a good plan for dealing with Niwa Nagahide, adopting and refining an idea from the Oda family.

He chuckled involuntarily. Niwa Nagahide and the inner town officials were invited by the Yuki family to mend relations after the unapproved deployment of military helicopters and an attack on the Ashikaga family.

What if it was revealed that Niwa Nagahide had been with the terrorist Iron Fang?

The inner town colluding with terrorists to destabilize Narashino City, moving in for occupation under the guise of maintaining order?

Listening to Niwa Nagahide’s explanation might be interesting, but he would be reported dead, resisting soldiers at the terrorist base. Dead men tell no tales, an easy cover-up.

“The inner town colluding with terrorists is absurd. Such acts require support from within Narashino City. Who would support them?”

Impatiently muttering, he awaited the report. The strategists also grinned.

“Dead men tell no tales. Moving soldiers is easy for the Yuki family.”

Nitta raised his hands sadly, observing the nodding strategist. His gesture was almost exaggerated.

“I have discovered the truth! The Yuki family supported the terrorists! The terrorists rose to coincide with the visit to the inner town. The army was dispatched to suppress the uprising, and the Yuki family completely took over the city under an absolute monarchy! A terrifying plot, you villains!”

Nitta slammed his fist on the desk, gritted his teeth, and contorted his face in distress. Though all the terrorists had died, the soldiers who realized the Yuki family’s secret support would rise.

“And the troops, armed with the justice cause, will kill the Yuki family and save Narashino City!”

“Splendid plan, sir.”

One of the strategists clapped with an increasingly sinister smile. Nitta shrugged and sat back down.

“Up to this point, it’s like a B-grade action movie. Then, it’s revealed that the troops who rose to defeat the Yuki family were the real masterminds and were condemned. Therefore, the uprising will be led by another house.”

He took a sip of water and squinted as he continued.

“There are soldiers in the inner town. It will be a melee. Suspicious of the uprising, the Yuki family will respond, but a quick suppression is impossible. In the chaos, I’ll appear to quell both sides. No one will be slaughtered; we’ll talk. This way, the Nitta family’s influence surpasses the Yuki family, taking control of Narashino City. Very smart.”

Nitta was to lead the suppression force to help defeat the terrorists and assist the Yuki family. He was hiding in this place for that purpose. If discovered, the commanders planned to kill him and might come after Nitta himself.

Of course, the main culprits will be killed. Nitta will scapegoat the commanders who grew suspicious of his support for Iron Fang. This is the essence of “dead men tell no tales.” They will die like the men who tried to join Niwa Nagahide.

“Perfect. The trick is to make the plan seem full of holes. It must be easy to identify the culprits.”

The plan wasn’t his own. Using others as scapegoats to strengthen his power was the Oda family’s strategy. He boasted to claim the credit since his aides already knew everything and had ensured no bugs were present.

The Oda family’s cunning ways taught him a lot even at his age, though he feared being swallowed by them if he didn’t secure a strong base.

However, he wasn’t foolish enough to act rashly. If it failed, he’d ensure no blame fell on him and retreat swiftly.

To others, it seemed he was tapping his fingers in irritation.

As Nitta waited, someone rushed in, sweating profusely in the summer heat. They stood before Nitta and saluted crisply.

“Sir. We have a report. The initial report said Niwa Nagahide was killed by soldiers, but the latest report says he escaped.”

The report wasn’t from just one person. It was collected from multiple points and relayed through various stations to Nitta.

“He escaped?”

“Yes. The terrorists were wiped out, but Niwa Nagahide’s body wasn’t among them.”

Nitta clicked his tongue and sighed, bored. Waiting in this sweltering, sauna-like basement, only to fail.

“Move to the next plan. We’ll openly accuse Niwa Nagahide of collaborating with the terrorists at the banquet. The impact will be minor, though.”

Disappointed, Nitta prepared to withdraw.

“Well, well, a welcome party would be nice here.”

A young man’s voice echoed in the room, making Nitta tense up.

“Niwa Nagahide!”

The strategists, trained soldiers, swiftly drew their guns, scanning the surroundings.

“It would be fun if you asked who I am.”

Seeing the ceiling crumble into powder and fall to the floor, Nitta’s eyes widened, and he clicked his tongue.

[Sand Ash]

A hole opened in the ceiling, and a man lightly landed on the pile of powder. A boy peeked fearfully through the hole.

“Should I say hello?”

Landing on the floor, the man narrowed his eyes and gave a cold, icy look, grinning slightly. Seeing his smile, Nitta spoke with disdain.

“How did you follow me? No, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you came here.”

“You don’t shout in shock, huh?”

Nitta reached into his pocket and pulled out his target.

“I’m not good at petty villainy. The plan changed, but no matter. I’ll kill you here and mix your body with the terrorists.”

[Spring Spirit]

Holding a glowing black crystal, he channeled mana into it, activating it. Light particles gathered around the crystal, forming a human shape.

“No human can match this new weapon. Too bad for you.”

“Interesting toy, but let’s test it.”

Niwa Nagahide beckoned with a freezing smile.