[Vol. 7] Chapter 140: Captured
This is bad…
Although the distance made it hard to see all the details, Joseph had been observing carefully. The more he watched, the stronger his suspicion grew. This cloaked figure was most likely the special agent sent to meet him. And that realization made his unease even worse.
There were several reasons for his judgment.
First, the strange gray cloak. To an outsider, it might not seem significant, but for members of the Empire’s Intelligence Bureau, especially those in the Special Operations Division, it was a discreet way of identifying one another.
Agents in the Special Operations Division were assigned only the most secretive and dangerous missions, often with little chance of survival. One of their core rules was that, even if they failed and died, they could never reveal their true origins or cause trouble for the Empire. Because of this, they never carried any documents or proof of identity. Instead, they relied on coded phrases, specific gestures, or distinctive clothing to recognize allies.
Even Joseph himself had been unaware of these details until he received that letter and was transferred into the Special Operations Division. If even he hadn't known before joining, there was no way an outsider could.
Second, the initial sound of something shattering had been loud and clear, meaning the agent had made a mistake that exposed their presence. And since the incident happened close to Joseph’s tent, before the military and Dragonkin warriors surrounded them, it was likely that the agent had been trying to get closer to him.
Third, and most importantly, even though Joseph wasn’t a fighter, he was still an intelligence officer. He could tell that the Dragonkin attacking the agent weren’t holding back. They were going all out with lethal force.
Their attacks were so intense that even they themselves wouldn’t be able to control them perfectly. If they made a mistake, they could easily cripple or even kill their target.
Joseph knew the Dragonkin well. They were ruthless and domineering, but when it came to their own people, or even their allies, they were fiercely protective. If this was just an act, no matter how committed they were, they wouldn’t take it this far.
And even if, somehow, the Dragonkin had truly decided to put on a brutal performance, what would be the point? No agent hiding in the camp would be foolish enough to reveal themselves just because of a staged fight. So rather than a deception, this seemed more like a genuine show of anger.
What should I do…?
Joseph’s heart pounded as he watched the small, cloaked figure dodging wave after wave of attacks, as if one wrong move would send them crashing down. On the surface, Joseph remained calm, but inside, he was like an ant on a hot pan, barely holding himself back from pacing anxiously.
If the agent was captured, there was a chance that they would reveal information about him. And even if that chance was low, if it did happen, it would be a complete disaster for Joseph.
Yet, there was nothing he could do. In this situation, he had no way to help his fellow agent escape. Worse still, he couldn’t even let a hint of concern show on his face. The sheer helplessness of it all was agonizing.
If he could, Joseph would have preferred to just hide in his tent and wait for fate to decide the outcome. But he couldn't. That wasn’t how "Marlon," the respected leader of this merchant guild, was supposed to act. If he suddenly withdrew now, it would seem suspicious and draw unwanted attention, increasing his risk of exposure.
He didn’t want to die. His loyalty to the Empire didn’t mean he was willing to throw his life away. No matter how bad things looked, as long as there was even the slightest chance of survival, Joseph wouldn’t give up.
And yet…
"See? I told you it’d be easy to find him~"
A crisp, youthful voice suddenly rang out behind him. The casual tone, paired with the oddly meaningful words, made Joseph freeze on the spot.
But in the very next moment, he forced himself to regain control, keeping his emotions and body perfectly composed. Along with the others around him, he calmly turned to look at the source of the voice. A black-haired girl in a white robe, strolling toward them with a group of fully armed Dragonkin at her side.
Joseph said nothing. After all, the girl hadn’t addressed anyone specifically. She was just speaking while walking toward their direction. If he reacted now, it would only make him seem nervous.
Unfortunately, his quick thinking did nothing to change the situation. The petite girl, who radiated an air of holiness like a high-ranking priest from the Holy Empire, walked straight up to Joseph without hesitation, then pointed her finger directly at his face.
"There, this is the guy."
"Oh...?"
Beside her, a beautiful dragonkin woman dressed as a priestess, who looked to be in her early thirties, turned her gaze toward Joseph with an unfriendly expression. At the same time, the Dragonkin warriors behind her immediately spread out, forming a tight formation that surrounded Joseph and his group. Their faces were fierce, and they let out low, threatening growls.
"W-What are you trying to do?!"
"Hey, hey! What’s with the aggression? We’re not thieves! Go after that guy outside!"
Sensing the hostility, the merchant’s guards had no choice but to raise their weapons and brace themselves. But compared to the towering Dragonkin warriors, they were at a clear disadvantage, both in numbers and strength. Most of them were only around second or third tier in skill, while the Dragonkin were far superior, like wolves cornering a flock of sheep.
There was no doubt. If a fight broke out, their defenses would crumble in no time.
At this point, no amount of playing dumb could change the situation. Even though his mind was racing with confusion and alarm, Joseph had no choice but to put on a displeased expression. Using the growing crowd of onlookers to his advantage, he spoke in a steady, low voice.
"I am Marlon, procurement manager of the Dio Merchant Guild. May I ask what this is all about?"
"Alright, alright. I have to admit, your acting skills are pretty impressive," the black-haired girl said, waving her hand dismissively.
"You're terrified inside, probably close to crying, and yet you still manage to act like this has nothing to do with you. A well-trained agent really is something else, huh~"
She completely ignored Joseph’s question, her silver-blue eyes briefly flashing with a strange black-and-white glow. Then, without hesitation, she turned to the Dragonkin priestess beside her.
"I've already found your target. I don’t need to tell you what to do next, right?"
"......"
Claire nodded. Her golden, slit-pupil eyes, burning with the fierce presence of a dragon, locked onto the person in front of her, who was still trying to maintain a calm facade. Taking a step forward, she spoke in a firm, commanding tone that left no room for argument.
"Sir, we suspect you of stealing our sacred artifact and defiling the honor of the Dragon God. Please cooperate with the investigation. Seize him—"
"Wait!"
In a panic, Joseph immediately raised his voice, deliberately shouting in front of the crowd.
"You Dragonkin aren’t the authorities! What right do you have to arrest an imperial citizen at will?! This is a violation of personal privacy! I protest! I will file a complaint with the Imperial Tribunal!!!"
His words were reasonable, and the crowd, stirred by his outburst, immediately began murmuring among themselves. But Claire simply let out a cold laugh, her dragon-like eyes flashing with icy contempt.
"That excuse? You people already used it once… ten days ago. What a joke. We may not have the resources to search thousands of people, but one person? You think we can’t?"
She paused before adding with a smirk, "Besides… who said I need to arrest you?"
"You—Stop! You can’t—!"
"Mr. Marlon!!!"
"Anyone who dares to interfere—dies!!!"
Before Joseph could react, the Dragonkin warrior named Kurt stepped forward, ignoring his resistance entirely. With a single swift motion, he twisted Joseph’s arm behind his back and forced him to the ground. The merchant guards instinctively tried to rush to his aid, but the Dragonkin warriors bared their claws and weapons, unleashing a deafening roar. The sheer force of their presence froze the guards in place, none of them dared to move.
Claire approached, raising a hand as a faint platinum glow spread from her palm. The light drifted down, slowly enveloping the immobilized and pale-faced Joseph. It pulsed gently for a few moments.
Then, that originally very faint aura seemed to resonate with something, suddenly becoming intensely bright, as if reacting to something hidden.
The moment it did, Claire and the surrounding Dragonkin warriors to instantly show expressions of shock and anger!
"It really is you!? You bastard!!!"