Chapter 522.1
Under the Covers (1)
Night.
A group of people was moving forward in the deep darkness, where not even the moon was visible.
Although they were all wearing armor, the noisy metallic noise was eliminated by magic, and the way they advanced in the darkness, where even their footing was uncertain, with only the minimum of light, showed a certain degree of skill.
They were always alert of their surroundings as they moved through the streets of the upscale residential area of the town with a formation of a search-and-rescue operation in place to immediately respond to anything that could happen in the darkness.
Since many aristocrats live in this section of the city, security guards were placed at key points, but this did not pose a problem.
As soon as the group showed them Sigil, which worked as an identification signal, the security guards did not say anything and let them pass by unimpeded.
-The identity of the group was the First and Second Knight Order of the Rogard Empire.
In other words, they were Royal Guard knights.
"Captain, we have secured the surrounding area."
"It is confirmed that the subject is at home. No escort has been confirmed."
Eventually, they arrived at a mansion.
Although large, it was not very ornately decorated and had a somewhat elegant appearance.
Their commander-in-chief was Helger Landros. He was the man who, together with Yuki, was preparing for the Magic Warfare Festival.
Normally, this kind of investigation and securing of targets was the job of the military police and not of the Royal Guard knights, but for this one time, they had come here as the best force in the country to take all possible precautions.
The First Order had existed in the Rogard Empire since before the Undead Dragon War, but the Second Order was organized after the war by the new Ruler who wanted a unit of different races, in other words, a unit organized by politics.
However, it was decided that the Second Order would eventually be absorbed into the First Order, and they would become a single unit. Thus, their overall commander was Helger Landros, the deputy commander of the First Order, who was responsible for the Royal Guards as the de facto head of the group, instead of the emperor, the Supreme Commander.
Above all, Helger knew the country's various behind-the-scenes affairs.
The former emperor Shendra secretly set up a secret spy organization called [Arbent], which continued to protect the country from the shadows even now that his reign was over.
Helger was a member of this organization, and he planned this operation based on the information he received from the organization.
"Okay, let's go. Teams 1 and 2, prepare to move in. Team 3, secure the back entrance. Team 4, guard and secure the perimeter. Just to make sure, even if the target resists, you are not allowed to kill him. Make sure you take him into custody."
[Yes].
Hearing his subordinates' reply, Helger nodded.
"Let's go. -operation, start!"
After that signal, they started to rush into the mansion's premises at once, moving in sync as if they were a single organism, and quickly took control of the interior.
However, since they knew from prior information that only the subject and his family were in the mansion, they secured the area without the need to use force - but then they encountered them.
A couple and their one child.
A man in a nightgown was standing with a sword in his hand, protecting his wife and child who had a frightened expression on their faces.
He was in his mid-forties.
His gray hair and wrinkles showed his age, but his eyes showed the strength of his will as he faced the Knights.
From his eyes and expression, he seemed to be looking straight at knights and analyzing the situation without losing any of his composure.
Upon seeing his face, Helger calmly said, while keeping a wary eye on the sword he was holding.
"You are Senator Alveiro Verbaan, are you not? Please don't put up any resistance. As long as you do so, we promise you that we will not harm you in any way. And, of course, your family as well."
"...The Order of the Knights, and that emblem of your armor, Royal Guards, huh? That's quite a deal, then. All right, fine."
Alveiro Verbaan, realizing that the other party belonged to the state and that resistance would be futile, threw away the sword he was holding with a thud.
Then, as if he knew what he was doing, he meekly held out his arms.
"Now, if you'll excuse me.... Thank you for your cooperation."
Helger then placed the shackles he had brought with him onto Alveiro Verbaan's hands.
The capture quietly ended with both parties not wanting to make a mess of things in front of the frightened-looking child.
Alveiro said, "Don't look so anxious, you guys. They are trustworthy soldiers. They will not harm you as long as everyone follows their orders."
At Alveiro's words, his wife took a deep breath and nodded.
"I understand. I'll be waiting for your safe return."
"Hm, ah, thank you. -Well, then, you guys. Let's go."
With that, Alveiro walked to the prepared carriage, guarded by soldiers at the side.
When his family was out of sight, he spoke up.
"So, let me ask you something. If the Royal Guards have personally stepped in, top brass must think that I am involved in something of national importance. Corruption? Anti-national discourse? Or was I paid off by a rival faction?"
To these amusing words, Helger replied.
"No, Senator Alveiro. You are suspected of the summoning of the monsters in the stadium and the bombing of the airfield. I would like to ask you a few questions about that."
"...What?"
Was this so unexpected?
Alveiro, who had not lost his composure up to this point, gaped at him and said nothing more than that.
Looking at the nature of his expression, Helger thought to himself, "...ah, this may be a mistake," although he did not show it in front of his subordinates.