How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game Chapter 244 - Portlak (2)

Their night walk happened during Terka’s night watch shift. That gap wasn’t particularly problematic. After all, I was the one who told him to use seduction tactics.

Terka also knew that I would be aware of his absence. Rina also seemed to sense their movement, lifting her head slightly.

“It’s okay, go to sleep first.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

After putting Rina to sleep first, I waited for the two to return. It didn’t matter anyway, as I was considering various possibilities.

After a considerable amount of time, the two came back, walking closely together. They separated near the campsite and quietly moved away.

A moment later, after confirming that Mino Leoble had fallen asleep, Terka came to find me.

“Did you find out anything?”

“It seems almost certain. When I asked about the tattoo, she awkwardly evaded, saying it was passed down in the family.”

If Terka felt that way, her surprise must have been obvious. Well, she probably didn’t expect to become that close with Terka in just one day.

It was likely an action led by emotion rather than reason.

“And while we were talking, she asked if I had heard about the war between the Empire and the devil.”

Although the eastern part was somewhat isolated due to the Trafal Mountain Range that vertically crosses the continent, it wasn’t an entirely different world.

Major events on the continent tended to be known here as well.

“What did you say?”

“Of course, I said the devil should win. Then she agreed and became very talkative.”

There was nothing strange about Terka’s opinion. The Empire and the East have not been on good terms since ancient times due to their different gods.

Of course, ordinary people don’t really care. It’s because exchanges have been going on for so long.

However, the nobles of the East were a bit different. They still harbored religious hostility, bound by fundamentals like tradition and history.

In fact, Arachne also operated with support from the kingdom that protected Lu Nanna’s holy land.

Since Terka had previously mentioned he was a noble, it would have been a trustworthy opinion.

“Then she asked about our family.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yeah. When I said my father lost his position due to faction fighting, she showed interest. She asked if I wanted to reclaim that position.”

Listening to him talk, it seemed that what Terka had said earlier was true.

“Does Count Leoble have the ability to help with that?”

“Well, he’s influential in the Kingdom of Portlak, but not enough to affect the south.”

“That alone suggests she has a reliable backing. Is the woman not too stupid?”

It was a point that needed to be checked, as sometimes people indulge in vain delusions. Terka shook his head.

“I talked with her a bit, and she’s not entirely clueless. She has some common sense. She’s someone recognized in social circles to begin with.”

“That’s not what I saw.”

“That’s because of me. She’s so smitten with me that she appears that way.”

Terka said that and then nodded twice.

“Hmm, don’t you think I’m amazing for seducing such a woman?”

“Not really. Just finish the story.”

“Tch, when I said of course I’d like to if I could reclaim it, she said she’d try to talk about it if we go to the domain together. And she mentioned there’s someone she wants me to meet?”

“Someone to meet?”

If that person was Count Leoble, she wouldn’t have talked about it like that. Something smells fishy. There’s something going on.

“So, did you agree to meet?”

“I said I’d consider it for now. What should we do?”

It was indeed a bit of a dilemma. First of all, it was certain that this Leoble family was connected to them.

From what I heard, it seemed they had connections with some high-ranking individuals as well.

As I had been certain while coming to the Kingdom of Patrac, the devil was clearly nearby.

The point of concern was the approach method. Whether to use Terka as bait to get in, or for us to search from the outside.

So far, it wouldn’t be suspicious if we disappeared. We could just dispose of Mino Leoble and start searching.

‘However, it would be difficult to find.’

Of course, using Terka as bait to get inside would be similar. They wouldn’t give high-level information to a newcomer.

Moreover, if something went wrong, the devil might notice us and escape.

It would be nice if Mino Leoble knew the devil’s location, but… the possibility was low.

“Does that woman seem to know something?”

“It seems like she does. I can tell right away if a woman is hiding something from me. And it’s fun to dig that out. But it’s too early to pry today, I think it’ll be possible in a few days.”

“That’s too late. In two days, we’ll meet Count Leoble.”

“Hmm…”

Let’s think again. Mino Leoble is trying to connect Terka with a high-ranking devil worshipper.

It didn’t seem like we needed to worry too much.

The best-case scenario would be if the high-ranking devil worshipper was on Count Leoble’s land. If so, there’s a high probability that the devil is hiding nearby.

It might really be the case. They might have thought staying near the royal palace was too conspicuous.

Even if that’s not the case, a high-ranking devil worshipper wouldn’t come to meet Terka.

We would have to head to the capital of the Kingdom of Patrac. In other words, we can check this place first and then go to the capital.

“Let’s go for now.”

“Is it okay?”

“Yeah. Before that, try to seduce that woman as much as possible and make her spill more information. After all, you’re the one taking the risk.”

“Me?”

“She said there’s someone who wants to meet you. I’ll watch your back, but you’re the one in danger if something happens.”

“…”

His face looks uneasy.

“We won’t meet the devil right away anyway. So there’s no problem. I said it’s dangerous, but it’ll just be troublesome.”

“That’s true.”

Terka nodded and then looked at me as if he just remembered something.

“Right. I told her you and Rina are lovers. Pretend accordingly.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

My face immediately frowned. Why say such useless things? Terka defended himself with an aggrieved face.

“No, she kept asking about what’s between Rina and me. So I told her that. She’s a bit obsessive. I don’t really like that style, but I did it because you told me to, so you should understand.”

Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped. I let out a small sigh. But I had no intention of engaging in any romantic acts with Rina.

It would be enough to separate for a brief walk during the journey. We need to make time for Terka and that woman anyway.

***

The journey to Count Leoble’s domain was uneventful. As soon as we arrived at the domain, we received intense attention.

It was natural for there to be a commotion when the count’s daughter arrived in a mercenary’s carriage.

Since Mino Leoble explained about being attacked and receiving our help, there were no issues.

We were able to enter safely, escorted to the inner castle. Count Leoble was out on business, so we couldn’t meet him right away.

We heard he was out for a short while on business. I found this part to be coincidental. It wasn’t like he had gone to another city.

Of course, there could be brief outings for military training or hunting… but it didn’t feel like that kind of atmosphere.

-Mino! Are you alright?

Therefore, the only person we could meet right away was the Countess, Mino Leoble’s mother.

Although we were mercenaries, the treatment wasn’t bad as we were the people who had saved her daughter.

-Those vicious bastards…! I should have assigned more guards.

However, from the Countess’s words, I could once again grasp their relationship with the devil worshippers.

She quickly became cautious and watched her words, but it was clear she knew who the attackers were.

-Thank you so much. The Count will reward you when he returns…

Anyway, we received thanks and finished dining together. Afterwards, the Countess took Mino Leoble, who wanted to stay.

They probably had things to discuss privately, given that she had been attacked by hostile forces. We remained in the reception room.

Whether it was for our benefit or not, there were newspapers in the reception room. I habitually opened a newspaper.

Checking information was important. The front page reported on a battle that took place in the northern part of the continent.

‘The front page, huh. They seem quite interested here too.’

Of course, the information wasn’t detailed because it was happening across a mountain range. It said a battle was about to take place in front of the northeastern mountain range. There wasn’t much more to see.

However, an article on the next page caught my eye.

It said that monsters and strange beings had disappeared from what the eastern people call the northwestern mountain range, and what we call the northeastern mountain range.

-Thanks to His Majesty the King, the monsters and beasts have vanished!

It was an article praising the king for the disappearance of the monsters and beasts that had been rampant until now. I had a different worry.

In the meantime, a battle had taken place in the north. And suddenly, the monsters and beasts that had been rampant on the eastern side disappeared. Could these be unrelated events? I didn’t think so.

“Why do you look so serious?”

“Look at this.”

I handed the newspaper to Terka in response to his question.

“What about the monsters and beasts disappearing?”

“The northeastern war, it can’t be a coincidence.”

“Is that so…?”

Terka didn’t easily accept it, but this would be difficult to predict if you didn’t know the future.

Everyone knows that dwarves and elves dislike the Empire, but they were races that had spent everything, betting their race’s fate when facing the devil during the Founding Emperor’s era.

Most people’s perception would probably be along the lines of, “Even so, would they side with the devil, with whom they fought a great battle in the past?”

Come to think of it, the northeastern area had been quite quiet since the subjugation with the three princes and Erendil in the past.

The Emperor occasionally organized and sent subjugation forces. It’s just that the princes and Erendil didn’t go along.

However, the level of danger wasn’t as high as what I had seen in the game. Could they have been experimenting in the east?

‘Maybe they joined hands with the dwarves earlier than I thought.’

Creating monsters and beasts with Flynn Powder is an impressive feat. If they had figured that out early on, they would have helped stockpile the numbers.

They might have even intentionally kept them from appearing on the continent side. To eliminate our vigilance.

Assuming they had already consumed the east, they could sustain the materials and food for monsters and beasts from there.

Those gathered forces… I wonder if they plan to use them against the imperial forces in the northeast.

‘Should I inform them?’

However, now that I’ve seen in the newspaper that they’ve disappeared, even if I contact Erendil as quickly as possible, it would be a beat too late.

All I can do is hope they defend well.

I felt a bit of anxiety too. I don’t think the operation itself will go wrong.

The remnants in the north and the devil can be held back by the current imperial forces. What I’m worried about is that we might miss the devil of domination we were trying to catch.

‘I’ll have to hope Erendil and Campbell do well.’

As we waited like that for a while, Count Leoble arrived before dinner. He was with his attendant.

The Count’s impression was quite stern-looking. To the point where one would wonder how such a person could believe in the devil.

“I heard on the way here. You saved my daughter.”

“Yes, Count. I’ve heard much of your reputation. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Terka answered, but I was more concerned about something else. Not the Count, but his attendant, Meito, was someone I knew.

‘Heretic Inquisitor, he massacred the continental people.’

Being a Heretic Inquisitor is not something just anyone can become among devil worshippers. It means being recognized for devil worship.

It’s a position similar to an executor.

Apart from that, I quite liked this situation. The fact that this guy was here meant there was a high probability that the devil was nearby.

Wouldn’t they be where these guys went to work together? Although it wasn’t my intention…

This felt like we had entered the heart of where the devil was hiding.