Chapter 182 : Beast Hunt
The destination was set. District 10, 4th Street, the technology development research zone. It was a place name I hadn’t heard in quite a while. The place where I had gone to deal with the Corrupted and had fought a black mage. However, at that time it was a closed research institute, and now it was a contract research institute that had received operation permission from the city government, which was different.
‘It doesn’t seem like a place that Shadowfang went out of their way to secure.’
As the research project was what it was, it required a long time of preparation and trial and error. Although the Brotherhood was a pan-continental organization that exercised influence in all cities, it was still a criminal organization.
They couldn’t just control such an advanced technology research institute as they pleased. Even if money wasn’t a problem, securing manpower, a location, and materials was outside their area of expertise.
‘It’s not like Shadowfang suddenly secured technology that fell from the sky.’
Someone, no, another force had assisted. It was an investment that would be a jackpot if it succeeded, as they would be able to get their hands on a sharp knife called Shadowfang.
However, the process was perilous.
‘In the end, to put it all aside, they showed their fangs to the city government.’
It was possible for the Brotherhood to cause a commotion against the city government. After all, they were an organization of the underworld that had defied the order of the city government and formed their own independent force.
They would surely take appropriate retaliation, but it meant that they could consider that those who deserved it had done it. On the other hand, the force that had sponsored Shadowfang could not be considered that way.
They were the target of the Public Security Bureau’s eradication, who had plotted to shake the order of the city. If their identity was revealed, they would be suppressed. Just as the smuggling market that had sponsored Al-Raid had been crushed by the Public Security Bureau.
‘But was it the Brotherhood that had rebelled against the city government again?’
It was natural to feel that it was a coincidence. Taser Gale, who had transported materials to Al-Raid. At that time, I was competing with the vampire to see who would strike first, and I was so blinded by the spirit beast that I hadn’t paid attention.
Did Taser Gale deliberately open the smuggling market even though he knew Al-Raid’s identity? No matter how much the Brotherhood was a group that did not unite as one, it was unnatural for someone like an underboss to go against the will of the Blood Alliance and choose such a risky gamble.
In fact, if there had been another trick in the middle…
‘That’s a useless thought.’
It was not my business to worry about. If someone had played a trick on the Brotherhood, it was their job to solve it, and if I interfered, it would be an overreach of my authority.
I am a knife they hired. Now was the time to think about the operation that was right in front of me.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t come in my main body.”
The vampire queen, who was possessing Vincent, said.
“If I had my way, I’d like to personally slaughter those insolent beast bastards, but the Public Security Bureau won’t stand for that, will they?”
This was the fundamental reason why Shadowfang could act so recklessly even though they knew the Blood Alliance would retaliate. When they were driven into the worst-case scenario of a civil war, the leadership of the Blood Alliance could not easily go into battle, unlike Shadowfang.
This was because the Public Security Bureau would never tolerate a high-ranking vampire openly participating in battle. Well, it would be a matter of the Public Security Bureau’s prestige if a vampire, who was treated as a monster, committed a massacre in the city.
Even so, given the self-righteous vampire’s personality, it seemed that she would have tried to erase Shadowfang even if it meant facing the consequences. But that was a story for when the only available card was herself.
Fortunately, now there were the contractors she had scraped together from here and there, and among them, I was the core force.
“Instead, they’ve agreed to turn a blind eye to some of my children joining in.”
“The Public Security Bureau has made quite a concession.”
“I told them everything, from A to Z, about what those beast bastards were planning. It’s not just us vampires who find the restoration of the pure bloodline annoying.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
No matter how much the Public Security Bureau did not protect the security of the city, they would not stand by and watch the werebeasts acquire a danger comparable to that of the vampires. That would be a disaster beyond a normal terrorist organization.
Brahms had been thoroughly toyed with by a single member of the Mad House, Mirei. The chaos that Shadowfang, a powerful force, not just one person, would bring would be even greater.
“The best case is the annihilation of the Shadowfang leadership. The next best is to turn their research results into ashes. Oh, and I didn’t tell the Public Security Bureau that the head of Shadowfang was there.”
“Is there a need to hide that?”
“That way, they’ll take into account that I had no choice but to move. Don’t you think?”
“……”
She said she would go for a decisive battle with Shadowfang. Her goal was not to deal a blow that the organization could not recover from, but to completely eliminate their leader.
“Well, it’s not like I came in my main body, so it’ll be a tough opponent. There’s no need to be so desperate to catch and kill him. After all, the Public Security Bureau has decided to step in after it’s all over.”
“The Public Security Bureau directly?”
“The situation has changed with the information I gave them. The city government will never yield to Shadowfang. They’ll choose to crush them, even if there’s damage.”
“What if the vampire’s identity is revealed? Your clan is participating in this operation, so there will be clear traces of vampires. Isn’t that the picture that the Blood Alliance was most wary of?”
“We’ve decided that it’s a damage worth taking to get rid of those beast bastards.”
Was their animosity towards Shadowfang greater than their own safety? It seemed so, but I was speechless at the shocking madness for a moment, and she smiled mischievously.
“You fell for it? The Public Security Bureau has agreed to bear the burden of the cover-up. It’s the price for the information I gave them.”
In the first place, the Public Security Bureau was in a position where they wanted to avoid catching the vampires. It was a deal where they wouldn’t lose out, as the Blood Alliance would greatly reduce Shadowfang’s power in exchange for taking the risk of cooperating in the vampire’s cover-up.
I wondered if it was okay to do this under the name of the Public Security Bureau, but… there were one or two shady operations going on in the city. And most importantly, it was ridiculous for me, who was on the side of the Blood Alliance, to criticize this.
“No matter how the results turn out, Shadowfang is ruined. But still, the best case is to deal with it on our own without borrowing the hands of the Public Security Bureau.”
“If there are no major variables, it will be a successful operation.”
“Of course, it’s just a beast hunt after all.”
The vampire chuckled.
“It’s enough to remind them of the difference between beasts and vampires.”
***
Perhaps the operation that would decorate the end of this request from the Blood Alliance. The Blood Alliance’s advance was no different from when they had aimed for Victor Laznik. And it was even more spectacular than then.
It seemed that the Blood Alliance had brought all the power they could mobilize in Gellerg City. The researchers who had been relaxing on the streets were terrified and ran away in a hurry, and every door of every building in sight was closed.
It was as clear as day that if they had committed looting, 4th Street would have been turned into a mess. But fortunately for them, the Blood Alliance’s forces were heading for only one destination.
“There it is!”
And so, after racing through the streets, bringing terror to 4th Street, the destination came into view. The Parchene Research Institute. It was a huge institution that owned a site that was clearly larger than other research institutes.
The research institute where the black mage had been hiding was also quite large, but this place seemed to be twice as big. But no one was intimidated by its vast size. On the contrary, cheers erupted.
Although there were security forces at the research institute, their numbers were not enough to cover the entire vast site. It meant that they had not expected a surprise attack at all.
“Fire!”
The Blood Alliance’s forces fired shells. Since the goal was to scorch the earth, precise aiming was not necessary.
They just had to aim at the large building and the vast site as they saw it and fire, and it would be a hit. The security forces of the research institute were in a panic amidst the booming explosions, the shaking of the collapsing buildings, and the soaring sand dust.
But it would be strange if a research institute of this size did not have its own defense facilities. A blue mana was sprayed from a strange device installed on the ground, and soon a round, hemispherical mana barrier covered the research institute.
The bombardment that had been pouring down like rain soon lost its majesty. Only then did the personnel inside the research institute let out a sigh of relief, but it was too early to be relieved.
“Take out the next one and throw it!”
The Blood Alliance had said that they would have a life-or-death battle with Shadowfang. It was a full-scale war with no way back, and their will to surely execute the leadership of Shadowfang was evident.
And so, the Blood Alliance even took out all the precious artifacts.
Since conventional weapons had become useless in front of the mystery of mana, this side also used mana. The research institute’s mana barrier could not withstand the foolish method of using an overloaded artifact like a bomb.
Holes were blown here and there in the barrier, and soon it could not maintain its circular shape and scattered, leaving only blue powder.
“Go in! Wipe them all out!”
“Khahaha!”
“Now we’ll have some fun!”
In front of the Blood Alliance’s forces that were rushing in like a wave, the research institute’s security forces were swept away like bundles of straw.
“S, save me!”
“Why is the Brotherhood suddenly…!”
“Aaaak!”
The researchers and related personnel who had fled from inside the building begged for their lives, but there was no mercy in their hands. They might have been innocent people who had gotten caught up in it, but they did not hesitate to swing their weapons.
Well, if they were the type to be bothered by such things, they wouldn’t have devoted themselves to a criminal organization in the first place. They were truly fish in water.
It seemed that I didn’t need to help out with the scorching of the research institute. As long as I had to respond to any unforeseen variables, I was welcome if I didn’t have to waste my energy unnecessarily.
‘It’s about time they came out.’
So far, it was as expected. If the vampire queen hadn’t misread the memories from the Shadowfang messenger, they wouldn’t have just been beaten so helplessly.
“You damn bastards! Do you know where you are to be running wild!”
After a while, Shadowfang finally showed themselves. The werebeasts, who were roaring in anger, were slaughtering the subordinates of the Blood Alliance who were running wild without a care in the world.
Although their numbers were small, no one could block the path of these natural-born warriors. It was when the momentum that had soared to the sky had been broken.
“Kaaak!”
The blood that had exploded like a bomb blocked their steps. They had no choice but to be caught off guard by the attack that had originated from the corpses.
“Blood magic…! This power is!”
In front of them, who were shocked, figures in dark cloaks and pale complexions appeared.
“So it was the vampires! Do you think you can move so openly, you bat bastards who hide in caves!”
“Hehehe, that’s not for you to worry about. The thought of bathing in your blood after so long makes my mouth water.”
The vampires of the Blood Alliance faced the werebeasts of Shadowfang. In the meantime, the advance team of contractors invaded the research institute and completely overturned it.
It didn’t take long for the werebeasts to fall and the Parchene Research Institute to collapse.
“There were werebeasts inside, but only a few!”
“……”
But the leadership of Shadowfang was not inside the research institute. Had they come when they were away?
Even so, there was news that no particularly suspicious space or research results had been discovered.
“Did we come to the wrong place by any chance…”
“If that were the case, the werebeasts wouldn’t have been here.”
A trap? That also didn’t make sense. Shadowfang didn’t know that we knew all their cards. The messenger that Shadowfang had sent was not a bait, but the best card they had chosen to buy time.
That’s why my guess was that we were just missing something.
「The World Tree feels a strange attraction!」
“Uwat!”
And I, in response to the World Tree’s reaction, attempted to search the entire area of the Parchene Research Institute through the plants.
“……The address wasn’t wrong.”
I found it.
“It’s not on the ground, but underground.”
The research institute’s parking lot. In the center, where all the vehicles had been cleared, there was a connecting passage leading to the underground.
(End of Chapter)