NOVEL WEB Chapter 327
Chapter 327. Kind People
“Firstly, regarding the full retreat…”
Observing the expressions of her subordinates, Officia continued speaking.
“While inflicting as much human and material damage as possible on the allied forces, we will escape from the northern border to the Arena Kingdom and join the Demon Lord Army.”
Spreading slow-acting poison in the wells, or assassinating important figures such as those from the Holy Church, trading companies, and officials.
“I’d love to snatch the head of King Tsugiwire while we’re at it,” Outluke said with a wicked grin as he fiddled with his cards.
“That would be quite difficult. Besides, we can’t afford to take the general’s head; fewer heads means fewer rewards.”
“I know, I know. Ugh, this is getting annoying,” Outluke pouted.
— Why aren’t the Night Elves, skilled in assassination, going around killing kings and generals?
The answer is simple: it would diminish the achievements of the demon race’s warriors. They wouldn’t care much if foot soldiers or officials died, but if the Night Elves snatched away the upper-tier combatants, nobles, or royalty, the demons would go berserk.
Thus, while assassinations are possible for the Night Elves, they’ve been instructed to refrain from killing high-ranking officials in the allied forces unless absolutely necessary.
“Besides, that’s not our job,” Paulo shrugged.
There’s the matter of demon honors, but Officia and her group primarily focus on intelligence gathering; they aren’t specialists in assassinations or sabotage. That duty should fall to other troops that specialize in such tasks.
The ‘Living Legend,’ who could pull off feats like infiltrating a fortress and slaying the guarding troops along with a hero, is an exception among exceptions.
“But what will happen to His Highness Zilbagias if we retreat?” Howard asked with a hint of skepticism.
“I won’t involve myself,” Officia replied clearly. Her decisive answer prompted exchanged glances among her subordinates.
“Honestly, I’m not even sure if he’s alive right now.”
Though she said “suspiciously,” her face reflected a ‘probably not’ sentiment. For the Night Elves, expressions are a significant form of ‘words.’ The mere act of putting that thought into words indicated what she truly believed.
— Can we risk our lives for the unknown Demon Lord Prince? Is it worth the trouble?
Disregarding honor or virtue, from Officia’s current standpoint, it boiled down to one word: “We don’t have that luxury.”
(…But what if, just what if, Senior Virosa is still alive?)
If that were the case, it would mean betraying his trust…
“Next, regarding the prospect of hiding. This will be extremely difficult,” Officia continued speaking as everyone nodded somberly, understanding without needing to be told.
“Once the comprehensive holy inspection begins, it’s going to be tough,” Howard said with a weary expression.
“Of course, they’re inspecting not just the beggars from the slums, but even children. It’s… not something we can avoid.”
“Currently, it seems priests and heroes from various regions are rushing to the capital. They genuinely seem motivated to inspect all the residents.”
Paulo also bore a tense expression that he could not hide.
“If we were to hide, how would we evade the inspection?”
“We’ll use the sick and injured that we house in the trading company,” Officia answered smoothly.
The Cortera Trading Company is also heavily involved in charitable activities to win the goodwill of the locals. With the Demon Lord Kingdom’s secret funding, they aren’t particularly focused on making money and have quite a buffer compared to other sane trading companies.
To prevent suspicions about their overly prosperous revenues, Officia and her group need to skillfully create diversions. While some branch managers notice unusual financial movements, the company doesn’t openly go out of its way to harm the alliance, as what they’re doing could be deemed charitable work.
In addition to lending at genuinely low interest rates, they contribute to orphanages and poorhouses. They also directly support war orphans and widows by employing them or providing them housing in their related facilities.
— In Officia’s words, they are ‘taking care of’ them.
The downtrodden who would otherwise have died…
“The comprehensive holy inspection will literally be conducted on all residents. Right? However, with the capital Todomarl’s huge population, even with support pouring in, it’s nearly impossible to complete inspections for everyone in just one day.”
Officia calmly spoke while clasping her hands on the desk.
“I heard rumors from sources within the Holy Church that they’ll likely seal off areas and conduct inspections by district. And since the Holy Church’s manpower and magical resources are limited, ‘those confirmed to be human’ won’t be inspected multiple times.”
— They are working to build a system that eliminates such ‘waste.’
Therefore,
“We’ll show a portion of the sick and injured we keep to the Holy Church’s healers.”
They would invest a large sum as part of their charitable activity, providing advanced treatment to a few fortunate souls.
“And once it’s confirmed they are human, we’ll switch places.”
After being blessed with light miracles and generous holy attributes, recorded as ‘confirmed humans’ in the Holy Church’s books, they would kill, skin, and impersonate them. The bodies can either be dismembered and tossed in the slums or fed to pigs.
“Even when the comprehensive inspection begins, the priests in the same district will know those people are human, so they should skip unnecessary checks… Of course, if they get inspected again, that’d be a serious problem.”
In that sense, this method wasn’t guaranteed. But from Officia’s experience, the financially strained Holy Church was likely to behave as anticipated.
“The advantage is we can maintain activities while changing identities. The disadvantage is losing the privileged status of the trading company and dramatically narrowing our operational scope. We’ll need to find someone who resembles us closely in voice and physique…”
At that, Officia alternated her gaze between Outluke and Paulo.
“As far as I know, I don’t think we can procure sick and injured individuals who resemble you two immediately.”
“So, a compromise, huh?”
“Exactly.”
Officia nodded at Outluke’s words.
“Outluke, Paulo. You two will escape from the capital, coordinating with the saboteurs and other spies hiding in the area as you head north. The Arena Kingdom should be about to fall soon, so if you time it right, it’ll be easier to escape the country with the influx of refugees.”
“…Understood.”
“Copy that.”
Next, Officia turned her attention to Howard.
“Sorry to drag you into this after managing to escape, but Howard, you stay with me. Your document forgery skills will prove invaluable in this situation.”
Howard nodded, half resigned and half mission-driven.
— During the previous attack on the Defteros Kingdom, Howard had forged countless orders and letters, causing chaos and delaying supplies to Evaroti. It’s likely that well over a hundred humans starved because of his single-handed efforts.
And here in the Tritus Principality, Howard, who was well-versed in various procedures, would surely find ways to maneuver. If he received treatment from a high-ranking priest and fully recovered, he could start working under a new identity.
Of course, losing the status of being a trading company member would mean facing greater risks of identity exposure…
“The extinction of Forest Elves is our ultimate goal.”
With a straightened back, Officia declared with a stern face.
“Swearing loyalty to the Demon Lord and aiding the invasion of the Demon Lord Kingdom, all of this is for that cause. And the Sacred Great Tree Forest is now perilously close—there is no room for half-hearted efforts here. For the sake of the comrades who have fallen so far.”
To exterminate every last one of those herbivorous creatures and restore the glory of the Night Elves.
For that, they’d do anything. That’s the kind of race the Night Elves are.
“And… just in case His Highness manages to reach the capital, we need to prepare a facade to assist.”
Saying that, Officia wore a slightly self-deprecating smile.
If His Highness Zilbagias somehow survives and escapes to the capital, it would be shameful if all our spies had already scuttled away.
“Senior Virosa would scold me.”
It would be impossible to face him in the afterlife.
Having pondered Officia’s words, Paulo averted his eyes, Outluke made a grim face, and Howard sighed softly before switching his expression to one of resolution.
“Any objections?”
The three subordinates shook their heads, each carrying their own resolve in their hearts.
“Very well. With that, we’ll move starting tomorrow. Paulo, while managing the trading company’s tasks, prepare supplies for the escape. Considering the possibility that your identity is exposed to the Holy Church, try to operate as inconspicuously as possible. Outluke, it’s risky, but make contact with the Holy Church and arrange for the priests. We’ll have the one-armed soldier and the sick woman we keep in a nearby warehouse treated. Their names are… if I remember correctly…”
She narrowed her eyes, recalling.
“Mock and Isabella, I believe.”
While she barely recalled the soldier, she remembered Isabella well. A ragged, dying woman, but her face and physique were quite similar to her own.
So she picked her up. Just in case of an emergency. Instinctively believing that keeping her alive could be useful…
“That makes it difficult to be discovered, as the only others there are senile old folks.”
“But isn’t it true that the woman has a daughter?”
“Not an issue.”
Officia dismissed the concern with a laugh.
“We’ll—kill her and toss her. Just make it look like the work of a homeless person. The daughter gets killed, and the mother will just pretend to grieve.”
Saying that, she laughed playfully.
“I’m great at fake crying. Oh, my Nina! Why must you go through this? Oh, gods of light! Have mercy!”
With the ridiculously overacted lines and her fake sobbing, even her subordinates couldn’t help but chuckle.
Smiling, softly.
And all the while, chillingly ruthless.