[Vol. 7] Chapter 139: Encirclement and Elimination
"Sigh... What kind of mess is this..."
Curled up inside the tent belonging to his merchant group, Joseph sat on his bed, letting out deep sighs of frustration.
He had been trapped in this valley for more than half a month. Even though the search was progressing at an agonizingly slow pace, the Dragonkin seemed absolutely determined to find the Empire's undercover agent hiding among the crowd, no matter the cost.
There was no solid proof linking the Imperial Intelligence Bureau to this incident, nor any concrete evidence that an agent was actually here. Yet, they were still going to such extreme lengths…
They were madmen. Completely insane.
But no matter what, he couldn’t afford to be caught. Whether his mission succeeded or not, if the Dragonkin got their hands on evidence proving the spy was acting under the Bureau’s orders, the Empire would be in a tough spot.
It would mean they had broken the agreement made between both sides, and the consequences would be something the royal family absolutely couldn’t accept at this critical moment.
If things reached the worst possible outcome, Joseph knew he might have no choice but to take his own life to protect the secret. Just like the other agents who had sacrificed themselves to cover his escape. He had mentally prepared for this ever since he was assigned to the Special Operations Division.
Everything… was for the glory of the Empire.
Fortunately, the timing of their operation wasn’t all bad. International pressure had some effect. At least the Dragonkin weren’t going so far as to forcibly search every single passerby. Instead, they had to conduct their inspections at a painfully slow pace. That delay was the only reason Joseph had managed to stay hidden for this long.
Just half a month, he only needed to hold on for at most another half month.
The World Academy Joint Exchange Conference was drawing closer. Once that globally anticipated event officially began, and the real powerhouses arrived in Sainz City, not even the Dragonkin would be able to keep the roads blocked. Unless, of course, they were willing to make enemies of the entire world.
Joseph wasn’t a religious man, but right now, all he could do was pray, pray that the inspectors would take their time, that his turn would be pushed as far back as possible…
"Clang!!!"
Suddenly, the sharp sound of something shattering rang out from outside, followed by the chaos of hurried footsteps, startled shouts, and frantic yelling.
"Intruder! There's an intruder in the camp!!!"
"Catch him! Don't let him escape!"
"Second squad, move to the right! Cut off his escape route!"
"Ahh!"
"Ugh!!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!"
A series of deafening blasts erupted outside the tent, mixed with the shouts and screams of imperial soldiers. Each sound was like a drum pounding in Joseph's chest, making him tense up instinctively.
He recognized that sound all too well. It was the distinct noise of magic guns, a new weapon that had only recently become widespread in the Empire's military. Resembling long tubes, these weapons allowed even ordinary soldiers to unleash attacks as powerful as real magic casters, making traditional archers nearly obsolete.
Magic guns were strictly regulated, and their power was difficult to control. The fact that they were being fired meant only one thing. The target was putting up a serious fight, and the soldiers weren’t holding back. They were shooting to kill.
But… why?
Who in their right mind would try to sneak into a military-sealed camp at a time like this?
Unless… it wasn’t a coincidence.
There was only one possibility Joseph could think of. His superiors in the Intelligence Bureau had run out of patience and sent an elite agent to make contact with him, intending to smuggle the item out.
But if that was the case, had the Dragonkin already discovered them?
And if the agent got captured… would he give Joseph up?
Agents from the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, especially those in the Special Operations Division, underwent rigorous training and shouldn’t crack easily under pressure. But who knew what kind of strange abilities the Dragonkin possessed? Mind magic? Interrogation spells? Rare, but not impossible.
Joseph clenched his fists. If things went south… he could be in serious danger.
At that thought, Joseph’s already restless mind became even more turbulent.
"Huff... Huff... Huff..."
Taking a few deep breaths, he forced himself to calm down. His professional training kicked in, allowing him to think more clearly. Joseph quickly ran through the entire situation in his head.
The Empire was definitely aware of what was happening here. He had been trapped under strict surveillance for over half a month with no way to contact his superiors. Given the serious consequences if he were exposed, it was entirely possible that the Intelligence Bureau had sent a powerful agent to infiltrate the camp and make contact with him.
But… both sides were under pressure right now. This could also be a trick by the Dragonkin. Since they hadn’t been able to find him, they might be deliberately making a scene, hoping to flush out the real target hiding in the camp.
He couldn’t afford to show any reaction or give himself away.
No matter what… he needed to step outside and assess the situation. Even if this was a trap, as long as he kept the right distance and maintained a natural demeanor, he should be fine.
With his decision made, Joseph rubbed his face, adjusting his expression to that of a neutral bystander. Then, he lifted the tent flap and stepped outside into the chaotic scene.
"Damn… that guy is insanely strong. He might actually be the thief who stole the sacred artifact."
"Yeah, where the hell did he come from? He even managed to fight off both the army and the Dragonkin…"
"What’s going on? What happened?"
Near the entrance, some of the Merchant Guild’s guards and members were whispering to each other, watching the commotion in the distance. When they saw Joseph appear, they quickly straightened up and pointed ahead.
"Mr. Marlon, good news! It looks like they’ve caught the thief who stole the sacred artifact. We might be able to go home soon!”
“But that guy is a real monster. He actually injured over a dozen soldiers and broke through the encirclement. Now the Dragonkin and the military are working together to hunt him down. Look over there!"
As an undercover agent for the Empire’s Intelligence Bureau stationed in Sainz, Joseph would never be foolish enough to use his real name. "Marlon" had been his identity here for fifteen years.
He had climbed to the rank of executive manager in the Merchant Guild, earning the respect of both colleagues and subordinates. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been assigned a private tent.
"Oh? They finally found him?"
His heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, Joseph maintained a slightly surprised expression. Following the direction the guards pointed to, he looked into the distance.
Sure enough, on the steep slopes of the valley, several figures were locked in a high-speed chase, moving with inhuman agility and exchanging blows every so often. The sheer force of their battle sent shockwaves through the rocky terrain, making onlookers' hearts pound with unease.
The one fleeing at the front was a small, cloaked figure in gray, moving swiftly but with their face completely obscured. Chasing them were powerful fighters from the Dragonkin and the imperial army.
Below them, a heavily armed military force was closing in. Soldiers set up lines, fired shots, and forced the fugitive to keep moving. Several [Graemes] had already blocked the only route leading out of the valley. In their massive steel hands, magic-powered capture nets crackled with blue-violet energy, waiting to ensnare the target.
Seeing this, Joseph immediately realized how bad the situation was.
This naturally-formed sloped valley was surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides. Apart from the two roads leading in and out, there was almost no way to escape. Unless one could fly. It was a perfect natural trap, which was likely why the Dragonkin chose to strike here.
With the rapid advancements in the Empire’s magic technology, individual strength had become less and less decisive on large battlefields. The Austre Empire’s military had developed specialized tactics for taking down powerful individuals, deploying [Graemes] as the main force, supported by magic-gun-wielding troops. With just a hundred soldiers and at least three [Graemes], they could handle any lone opponent below the legendary level.
Right now, the chase might look intense and evenly matched, but in reality, the unidentified person was just being forced to run in circles around the valley wall, wasting their energy. Unless they have wings like the winged people, their capture is only a matter of time.