Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 77

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.

The emperor had suspected that something more than mere criminal gangs existed in Reblum—but he had never imagined it would be such a massive Tebel.

Everyone gathered at the emergency meeting felt the same. Even Ivtan stared at Asmun with a stunned expression, as if he’d been struck on the back of the head.

He quickly pieced it all together.

So that’s what it was.

It was the presence of an unofficial Tebel that had caused Reblum to fall into corruption so rapidly. Now that Asmun had exposed it, restoring the city would be a matter of time.

Just then, the chamber doors burst open, and in dashed a disheveled Kylis.

“M-my apologies! I only just heard—”

Everyone glanced briefly at him, then returned their attention to Asmun and the emperor as if they had no interest in him at all.

Kylis cleared his throat awkwardly and took his place beside Patriane. Noticing the grave expression on Patriane’s face, he frowned in confusion.

Having only heard that a meeting was called—and not that Asmun had requested it—Kylis finally spotted Asmun standing at the center of the chamber and widened his eyes.

Why is that guy here? Wasn’t he supposed to be floundering in Reblum by now?

As if answering his unspoken question, Asmun spoke.

“Now I shall present the evidence obtained last night from the Tebel hidden along the coast of Badelnut. First, the Eloch, the ship belonging to the Eloch Trading Company that hosted the Tuma.”

Kylis’s expression immediately stiffened.

“Second, the equipment and monsters stored aboard the ship. And the twenty children—under twelve years old—who were kidnapped to be used as feed for those monsters.”

Gasps were heard throughout the room, but Asmun continued without pause.

“And finally, the one hundred twenty spectators who attended the illegal Tuma aboard the Eloch. Seventy of them hold noble titles.”

The emperor, enraged by the report, slammed the armrest of his chair.

“Those lunatics…! Where are they now? Who are these idiots?!”

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. We’ve detained every single one of them.”

Calmly, Asmun produced a document from his robes and handed it to the emperor. Those gathered watched in horror as the list was passed around.

They didn’t even need to look to know—the names written there were enough to shake the Empire to its core.

The emperor looked at the list Asmun had provided.

“Marquis Hemuel? Kylis! Isn’t this man a friend of yours? And Baron Luirrops—him too!”

Caught off guard by the sudden accusation, Kylis frantically shook his head.

“N-not at all, Your Majesty. We were close briefly as children, but it’s been years since we’ve even exchanged greetings.”

Asmun lowered his gaze dispassionately.

It didn’t matter how he denied it. Half the names on that list were deeply connected to Kylis—either longtime friends, allies, or nobles who had bribed him to gain favor.

The proof? Kylis’s name had also appeared on Eloch’s invitation list.

Of course it had. He was cut from the same cloth as those men.

However, Kylis had been lucky. For some reason, he had not boarded the Eloch that night. And receiving an invitation alone wasn’t enough to convict him. If they pushed too far, even Zephar would be dragged into the mess.

So Asmun had to settle for arresting Kylis’s associates—for now.

“I have one more matter to report,” Asmun added.

The emperor, still fuming as he scanned the list, looked up again.

“Speak.”

“We suspect black mages were heavily involved in this incident.”

At those words, Kylis’s stiff posture tightened even more. He clenched his fists and glared daggers at Asmun as if blaming him for everything.

“Black mages? Why do you say that?”

“To control high-grade monsters, you’d need skilled magic users. Eloch’s current roster of mages couldn’t possibly manage it. Even factoring in the power boost from the Tebel, it’s unrealistic they could control the monsters used for the Tuma.”

The emperor nodded thoughtfully at Asmun’s reasoning.

He’d already received several reports of black mages causing disturbances throughout the Empire recently.

“They fled before we could apprehend them, but if left unchecked, they’ll cause even greater damage than what we’ve seen in Reblum.”

The emperor nodded gravely and stood, approaching Asmun.

“I’ve witnessed your exceptional capabilities firsthand. Therefore, I’m entrusting the pursuit of these black mages to you.”

Asmun bowed to accept the command.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will see it done.”

The emperor gazed at his youngest son, who had matured so rapidly, with pride.

“Asmun, I always believed the day would come when you would prove yourself through such great deeds.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

“You’ve proven what you once promised me—that you are a son who bears my blood. And so, as a father to his son, I will reward you.”

At the emperor’s gesture, attendants who had been waiting in the wings approached, carrying a long ornate box.

When the emperor opened it and drew out what was inside, Kylis’s face froze in horror.

“I bestow upon you the Sword of Hesmoro.”

The weapon looked rough, old, and unimpressive—but everyone present knew its true worth.

“You’re familiar with the legends of this blade, I assume?”

“…Of course, Your Majesty.”