Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 76

“We’re going to hold the Tuma tomorrow evening as scheduled.”

Asmun’s brow furrowed at those words.

Hold the Tuma? But the Eloch merchants had already been arrested, the monsters and cargo aboard the ship secured.

The raid had been launched earlier than planned because of Eden. The ship was half-destroyed. Asmun had already given up on the Tuma spectator list.

But Eden, saying the impossible with a confident smile, looked up at him with eyes sparkling with life and strange delight—just as she always did.

***

By the next evening, the Eloch looked as if nothing had happened. Fully restored, the ship was now anchored at the appointed dock.

“That’s the Eloch? Just as grand as the rumors say!”

A plump man in a half-mask looked up at the giant vessel in admiration. The woman at his side nodded in agreement.

“Even more impressive than expected. It’s Eloch, after all.”

“And to think there’d be this many guests. Eloch really knows what it’s doing.”

“There’s even talk that Grand Duke Yuren is attending.”

“What? Ha! That man always pretends to be so virtuous. Knew it was an act!”

“Honey, lower your voice. Too many ears around.”

“Hmph. I don’t care. They’re all the same in the end. Duke or Emperor—none of them would want to miss an opportunity like this. I’m already excited.”

Chatting giddily, the couple strolled down the long gangway leading to the ship.

“Good evening. May I see your invitation?”

A crew member, face fully hidden behind a white mask, courteously asked for their invitation. The man in the half-mask proudly handed it over. He was a count from a prominent noble house—his companion, a mistress.

From high-ranking nobles of the capital, to lords from distant regions, wealthy merchants, and even leaders of criminal syndicates—

It was clear why such a large vessel had been built. More than a hundred guests were already aboard for this Tuma spectacle.

“Thank you. We are deeply grateful for your presence aboard the Eloch this evening.”

“No need for thanks. The Tuma is happening as planned, right? I came all the way from the capital to see it.”

The masked crewman stared briefly, then replied with a warm smile.

“Of course. Please, this way.”

Arm in arm, the couple boarded the ship. More guests continued to arrive.

Around the massive vessel, it looked as if a lavish party was underway. Fireworks burst ceaselessly into the sky, romantic music echoed across the bay.

Expensive party scrolls were being used without restraint, transforming the ship into a palace of decadence.

It was an opulence hard to believe for a derelict dock in a fallen city.

“You’re the last guest. We’ll be departing shortly.”

“Made it just in time!”

The masked crewman tucked the final invitation into his coat and spoke kindly.

“Right this way. May your evening be one to remember.”

As the last guest boarded, the heart of the ship—the Tuma arena—prepared to launch Eloch’s new business venture. The event everyone had come for was about to begin.

“They actually built a Tuma ring this big? Look at those bars! You can see the magical current in them. That’s how strong it is!”

“Told you, didn’t I? Eloch’s Tuma is on a whole different level. Not like those cheap ones with mid-grade monsters. You can tell from the quality of their stimulants.”

“I even heard they got a Palaph!”

“Damn! This is gonna be insane!”

“It’s not dangerous, right?”

“Ha! Don’t you know how well Eloch handles monsters? I’ve bought beasts from them myself. If it were risky, they’d have been eaten first. Relax.”

A mad excitement stirred within the arena. Then, finally, a man entered the expansive Tuma floor. He, too, wore a white mask.

Every eye turned to him.

“Thank you all for your patience!”

His voice rang out, oddly cheerful.

“It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it?”

“Skip the chatter! Start the show already!”

Despite the shouting, the masked man continued undeterred.

“We’re overjoyed you’ve all come willingly. It truly warms our hearts. Thank you for walking so eagerly into our trap! To those fallen to depravity and wicked indulgence—please accept our deepest condolences.”

He saluted solemnly. The eerie tone of his words caused murmurs to spread through the crowd.

“What the hell is this lunatic saying?”

“Outrageous! Get a new emcee in here!”

“This feels off… Are we sure this is Eloch?”

The thrill that had filled the air began to fade, replaced by a creeping sense of unease.

The man went on.

“As winners of the grand hunting festival, you know that Reblum now belongs to His Highness, the Third Prince. Our noble prince is doing all he can to cleanse the rot from this city!”

He placed both hands reverently over his heart, his voice full of passion.

“Ah, I suppose there are some among you who don’t like our prince. How tragic. Then again, if you had good judgment, you wouldn’t be here right now!”

The crowd grew louder with unrest at the sudden mention of Asmun.

“What the hell is he talking about? When’s the Tuma starting?!”

“Asmun? Why’s he being brought up now?”

Behind the curtain, where knights stood in place of monsters, faces went pale.

“Who let that guy—Nakar—on stage?!”

“The new guy insisted! Said it was his dream to be a clown when he was little!”

“Shut that mouth of his up… now.”

Despite being criticized by friend and foe alike, Nakar kept rambling on, completely thrilled.

High above the Tuma arena, Asmun watched it all with an unreadable expression. His mind was on Eden.

“We’re going to repair the ship and proceed with the Tuma tomorrow evening as planned. Not a real event, of course—it’ll all be staged.”

Eden’s plan had been flawless.

“The guests with invitations will arrive as scheduled. We trap them inside the ship, block all escape routes once we set sail, and then arrest them all at once.”

“But the ship can’t possibly be repaired in just one day.”

In response, Eden had shot a grin toward Hegenti.

“It can be done.”

And just as she said, everything unfolded perfectly. The nameless mage had restored the entire ship in just one minute.

Everyone had been shocked, but the mage didn’t even break a sweat—and Eden had looked at him with eyes full of pride.

Pride, and something almost affectionate…

“That way, we can secure all the evidence—not only the Eloch Trading Company but also the full list of Tuma attendees.”

“Anyway! That’s why we’re here—to cleanse this corrupt city of Reblum!”

“What do you mean we? Who the hell are you?!”

“Impatient, aren’t we? I was just about to introduce myself. We’re the knights of His Highness, the Third Prince Asmun Declan, rightful ruler of Reblum.”

A hush fell over the arena.

Nakar continued in a dignified tone.

“As of this moment, you are all under arrest for attending an illegal Tuma. What a glorious haul this will be.”

With a flourish, Nakar yanked off his mask and cloak—revealing the armor beneath. The spectators turned pale.

“Aaaaah! Move!”

People sprang to their feet, trying to flee. Chaos erupted in seconds.

“Gah!”

But the exits were already blocked by stationed knights. No one could move an inch.

Instead of monster roars, it was the screams of the guests that now filled the Tuma arena.

“We have to get out of here! Don’t worry—I brought a boat just in case!”

A few tried to escape via secret ships they’d hidden nearby—but even those were intercepted by guards lying in wait in the ship’s corridors.

“How unfortunate. That ship of yours is probably seized by now.”

“What?!”

“Or maybe blown to pieces. Either way, no compensation will be given.”

Indeed, the boats circling the Eloch had long been detained.

Asmun had anticipated that a few nobles—too cautious to trust Eloch fully—would have prepared escape vessels.

“There’s no way out now.”

With those firm words, the last hope drained from the count’s face. He collapsed to the floor as knights stepped forward to seize him.

The Eloch’s grand “party” had been an overwhelming success.

『【★】Main Quest Complete!

: Successfully secured the list of Tuma spectators aboard the Eloch!

Please select your reward:

<Prophecy / Item / Stat Increase>』

Not only had they seized the Eloch in its entirety—with its illegal monsters, contraband, and Eloch traders—but they had also captured the guest list and every person on it alive.

The moment Asmun secured the evidence, he headed directly for the imperial palace to request an emergency assembly.

“What? There was that kind of Tebel in Reblum?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Our findings show that most of the Tebel was situated out at sea. That’s why it was so hard to detect.”

The emperor, having heard the full report, was shocked by the scope of it all—but he couldn’t help but be impressed by Asmun, who had dismantled Reblum’s core operation in such a short time.