Surviving as the Emperor's Assassin

Chapter 15. There Was Another Culprit.

“Damn it.”

I kicked an innocent stone.

‘They say if you're unlucky, you break your nose even falling backward, and just dabbling in swordsmanship leads to this mess?’

They looked ready to turn the entire city upside down to find me.

Yet, I couldn't leave Dejong right now either.

Leaving as soon as the search began was no different from proudly announcing I was the culprit.

This became troublesome.

For now, fulfilling requests as a mercenary would suffice, but if they requested support from the Imperial family, someone who could recognize me would surely come along.

It would be impossible to hide my identity from them.

“Pol, what do you think…… Ah.”

Turning my head, I saw Pol with a tearful face, mouthing something.

No wonder it was quiet; Pol had steadfastly kept my command not to speak until now.

“You can talk now.”

Not that I expected much, but Pol might just come up with a brilliant idea.

“Just wipe them all out?”

“So you want to advertise my presence all over town? You know the Imperial Capital is right nearby, right? If even the Sword Saint comes running, will you take responsibility? Haa……. Forget it. Just keep your mouth shut.”

All the city's mercenaries, guards, knights.

If I could easily dispose of the Imperial army arriving later as well, I wouldn't have needed to run away in the first place.

Besides, even if I fought and won once, it wouldn't be the end.

Because I wasn't just a simple criminal.

A traitor who assassinated the Emperor.

They wouldn't give up easily.

Reinforcements would arrive immediately.

Unless the Empire collapsed, there would be no end.

Just the information that I was here reaching the Imperial family would surely make the pursuit relentless, which was a significant burden for me.

‘Should I run? No, in this situation, that's a confession.’

I had to escape after things settled down to avoid suspicion.

Until then, I had to assume I couldn't leave this city.

‘Need a fundamental solution…….’

A way to end this situation without getting caught.

Ultimately, the reason things escalated this far was because they thought Luke Ivers had infiltrated the city.

Everything stemmed from that misunderstanding.

If only that misunderstanding could be corrected.

No one directly witnessed Luke Ivers.

The judgment that there was an intruder, and the conclusion that it was Luke Ivers, was based solely on circumstantial evidence.

If I could prepare a reasonable counter-evidence, I could surely refute it.

“Annoying.”

There was no intruder.

However, that's a proposition that cannot be proven.

A logical limitation known as proving a negative or proof of absence.

On top of that, the sword marks, which these guys considered clear evidence, were the problem.

Unless I could explain how the sword marks on the wall appeared, no story would get through.

“……Does it matter if it wasn't an intruder?”

Someone inside the city could have just swung a sword on the wall.

After repeating futile thoughts, I soon realized the reason.

Only Rank 2 or higher mercenaries or knights could use mana swordsmanship.

Searching the entire city, they would likely be counted on ten fingers, and their identities would be just as certain.

Whether any of them had been on the wall was easily verifiable.

They must have already finished the verification.

‘What if there’s an unknown skilled person…… inside the city?’

As long as it wasn't Luke Ivers.

Unless they were the Emperor's assassin, there would be no reason for the capital to send support, nor would they deploy mercenaries and guards for an internal city search.

‘Alright. Let's sacrifice someone else.’

Once the direction was set, reaching a solution didn't take long.

If another culprit was caught, and it was revealed to be completely unrelated to Luke Ivers, the search operation would stop.

‘The problem is, that's not easy either.’

Those damn sword marks.

The guy framed as the culprit must also be capable of swordsmanship, at the very least.

“……?”

The first person who came to mind was Pol, standing beside me with a clueless face.

A guy whose identity was uncertain but could use swordsmanship.

A guy who would probably even pretend to die if I told him to, so he would surely agree readily if asked to become the culprit instead of me.

But I immediately shook my head.

Pol wouldn't work.

Mercenaries, as well as the guards, saw Pol and me moving together.

The moment Pol was sacrificed, I would also be implicated.

I needed to find someone else.

“Where can I find someone who uses swordsmanship?”

Well, if there isn't one, I'll have to create one.

* * *

The civilization of this world was indeed centuries behind based on human history.

Even the city was far from clean.

The paths between haphazardly built buildings were dirty and complex.

Knights and guards clearly existed for maintaining public order, but the environment wasn't such that their gaze could reach every nook and cranny of the city.

Meaning, it was perfect for various crimes to run rampant.

Naturally, every city had criminal organizations that made money through illegal activities.

While the city's high-ranking officials and good citizens wished for these organizations to disappear, they naturally arose due to the environment, making complete eradication impossible.

Even if an organization is dismantled, a new one takes its place within just a few weeks; that's the ecosystem here.

Criminal organizations like 'Sleeping Wolf' and 'Stone Cat' had established themselves in Dejong as well.

“Then we will investigate the slums.”

As soon as I received the request through the guild, I declared confidently.

Criminal organizations always establish themselves around the weak.

Well, who would live where criminal organizations roam freely if they had money?

The poor head to the slums lacking places to live, and seeking ways to survive, often end up joining criminal organizations.

In a neighborhood where everyone is half-involved with criminal organizations, no one rejoices even if the guards show their faces claiming to maintain order.

Naturally, the guards also neglect the slums.

This creates an even better environment for criminal organizations to run wild.

Heading to such slums meant provoking the criminal organizations.

“Being motivated is admirable, but it's probably best to leave that area to the guards or knights.”

The Guild Master tried to dissuade me.

Those who make money through crime also have things to hide, so they generally try to avoid unnecessary conflicts with the guards.

They would likely tolerate the guards' investigation to some extent, as long as it wasn't aimed at eradicating the organization.

“It's the most likely place he'd hide. If we luckily catch Luke Ivers, our fortunes are made, so this level of risk must be taken.”

The best place to avoid the eyes of authority.

Anyone could see it was suitable for hiding.

“And if those guys have any sense, they won't dare touch us carelessly.”

We had the justification of searching for a heinous criminal.

If they resisted under the invincible logic of 'Are you trying to hide Luke Ivers?', they'd have no excuse even if they all ended up on the execution block together.

“Ahem. If any problems arise, I know nothing about it. It was something you did on your own.”

The Guild Master washed his hands of it again.

Mercenaries aren't that far removed from criminal organizations.

Those who become mercenaries and those who become criminals are often in similar circumstances.

Mercenaries always have the potential to engage in crime.

Conversely, leaving an organization to become a mercenary is also frequent.

Besides personnel exchange, criminal organizations also hire mercenaries.

The Mercenary Guild and criminal organizations are separated by a thin line, merely differing in whether they stand slightly more in the light or the dark.

The Mercenary Guild also doesn't want conflict with criminal organizations, who are like step-siblings.

“Of course. Didn't expect anything anyway.”

I smiled brightly, reassuring the Guild Master.

If my plan proceeded as intended, the feared situation wouldn't occur anyway.

“That's a bit hurtful. You can rely on me. Except for troublesome matters like this time. What kind of relationship do we have……”

The Guild Master grumbled, likely wanting to save face.

Seriously, what a troublesome person.

After this is over, just wait until I get the mercenary tag.

I'm really leaving without looking back.

“We'll be going.”

I gestured for Pol to follow and immediately left the guild.

“……”

Pol loitered in my field of vision with a face full of questions.

He seemed anxious, unsure if it was okay to ask.

I reluctantly nodded.

“Why are we going to the slums?”

Pol asked abruptly.

“To find someone to die in my place.”

“Pardon?”

Pol looked even more confused by my answer.

“Sleeping Wolf.”

I informed him of today's target.

“The criminal organization ruling the slums here, and also the nickname of its leader.”

There was the comparable 'Stone Cat', but a bigger target would seem more natural.

“I really don't know what you're thinking, Brother……”

“You don't need to know everything.”

If my calculations were correct, I could handle this alone.

Bringing Pol was merely a precaution for unforeseen circumstances.

“If a fight breaks out, help. But don't use swordsmanship.”

Getting caught using the Celestial Sword would be a highway pass to the execution block.

How many people in the slums would recognize it? Probably not many, but there's no harm in being careful.

“Yes! Understood!”

Pol gave a resounding salute.

No further preparations were needed, so we headed straight for the slums.

* * *

The city's atmosphere was unsettled.

On the way, I often saw guards stopping residents and questioning them.

The number of people walking the streets was noticeably reduced.

An ominous feeling, as if some incident was about to happen, enveloped the entire city.

“Is this it?”

The moment we entered the edge of the slums, I felt eyes pouring down.

The atmosphere wasn't exactly welcoming to outsiders.

“Excuse me. There are a few things I want to ask.”

I knocked on the door of the nearest house.

“What? If it's about that Luke guy or whatever, I already answered everything earlier.”

A man streaked with grime snapped curtly.

As expected, the guards had already swept through here once.

“I want to meet Sleeping Wolf. Where should I go?”

I asked straightforwardly.

“What?”

The man frowned, seemingly unable to understand.

“Sleeping Wolf. Not the organization, the leader.”

I added an explanation, just in case of misunderstanding.

“Hey, you mercenary riffraff. Is our big brother your friend?”

The man flared up suddenly.

“Oh. You're an organization member? Lucky me.”

I just intended to ask for directions, but this way, I could ask for guidance too.

“What, punk? You young brat…… Keoheok?!”

Thwack.

The man's words seemed likely to drag on unnecessarily, so I lightly chopped his Adam's apple with the side of my hand.

The man immediately collapsed, coughing violently.

“To Sleeping Wolf, please.”

I conveyed my request to the back of the head of the man clutching his throat and coughing.

“H-How dare you……. The organization won't let this stand……”

The man still hadn't grasped the situation properly and stammered out nonsense.

“Being this uncooperative is problematic.”

The navigation system wasn't working properly.

Following the words of ancient sages, maybe hitting is required to fix it?

“Kuaaak!!”

The man screamed, rolling on the ground from my kick.

Still, he didn't get up to guide me.

Inevitably, I kicked him a few more times.

Just as even his groans started to fade.

“You bastard, what are you doing to our guy?”

Turning around at the voice from behind, I saw a burly man with a menacing look leading a group armed with weapons.

“Perhaps, Sleeping Wolf?”

“That's right.”

I was planning to go find him, but he came looking for me instead.

So it wasn't navigation, but an alarm system.

“Looks more like a bear than a wolf.”

I smiled brightly at Sleeping Wolf.

Anyway, I met him, so that's fine.

This guy is the culprit who left the sword marks on the wall.

More accurately, he's 'scheduled' to become the culprit.