The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board-Chapter 411

"Oof… Oof…"

A middle-aged man, who appeared to be the owner of the mansion, frantically manipulated a bookshelf.

Thud…

Thud…

He frantically moved his hands, dropping several books to the floor and causing the bookshelf to shift.

WHOOM…

A secret passageway was revealed behind it.

The middle-aged man quickly entered the secret passage.

"Monster… She's a monster…"

As the bookshelf returned to its original position, he pulled on a torch.

Tss…

Fwoosh—!

Flames rose, and light filled the dark passage.

And with it, the figure of someone else.

"Ah… So it was here."

"H-How…"

A woman with a fox scarf and a beauty mark under her eye was leaning against the wall of the passage, staring at the middle-aged man.

"It's over. Give up."

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Frina! This isn't what we agreed on! There's a limit to how much you can mock the Federation's nobles! If we unite, we can wipe out scum like you in an instant…"

Thud—!

Three daggers pierced the middle-aged man's chest in quick succession.

"Ugh…"

"Well, everyone says that. That you're going to eradicate evil, that you're going to make scum like us disappear from the world, and whatnot."

BOOM—!

The man collapsed on the floor.

"But you know what?"

The woman chuckled.

"Not a single one of those who said such things has ever succeeded. Why is it only the weak who say such things?"

Paf—!

The woman grabbed the middle-aged man's hair, lifted his head, and then dropped it again.

"He's dead. He should have listened before going. Why was he in such a hurry…?"

WHOOM…

The woman returned to the mansion.

WHOOM—!

Lightning struck outside.

As the light flashed, the gruesome state of the mansion was revealed.

The mansion's servants and the family who lived there had all become corpses and were scattered across the floor.

Many of the bodies had been horrifically mutilated.

Unusual figures stood around them.

"The heavens are angry. Did they see us?"

"Don't say things like that. And even the heavens would be terrified if they saw your current state, Frina."

"Haha… Is that so? Ah… It was boring. Why are they all so weak? It's too dull."

"That's humanity for you. They tremble and tear up at the sight of a blade, even if it's small. Most of them are like that."

Click…

Click…

The man lit a cigarette.

His glasses were splattered with blood.

"Well, I like that about them. Also, you're the only one who cares about having fun on the job."

"It isn't thrilling. I can't even remember the last time I had a proper fight. They're all just cowards. I miss battles filled with the best and brightest, fighting for their lives."

"That's because the organization grew too much. It can't be helped. Peace has come."

"Peace? Ha… You're saying funny things."

WHOOM—!

Lightning struck again, lighting up the gruesome scene in the mansion once more.

"Does this look like peace to you?"

"I have no intention of debating the definition of peace."

"Edric, should we quit this job?"

"Then you'd finally have the thrilling battles you're craving. The organization will come after you."

"Haha… That sounds fun."

Swoosh…

While adjusting his glasses, Edric asked Frina.

"When are we going to meet the toad?"

"Hmm… The higher-ups want me to assist the toad from the sidelines… I think we just have to clean things up for him."

Edric brought up something that might pique her interest.

"Recently, there's been someone interfering with the toad's work."

"I heard. That's why I'm leaving right away. How big of a deal is this guy? I'm excited!"

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"You know… That's a bad habit that will get you killed early."

"Killed? Me?"

Frina grinned.

"I won't die. It's always been like this."

"Even those who died today probably thought the same until yesterday… Well, I hope I'm wrong."

Edric knew that when the weak got caught up in the affairs of the strong, their lives became as insignificant as a fly's. But Frina didn't know that. She had always lived as the strong.

As her elder, Edric felt he had worried enough. He put out the cigarette with his shoe and left the mansion.

* * *

The explosion that happened by the clock tower fortunately didn't injure anyone.

However, it gave Ishi and Yeva a bad memory.

Ishi and Yeva sent a protection request to the Federation, and soon, capable individuals were dispatched to escort them to a safe location.

All of this happened in an instant and proved that Ishi and Yeva had risen to quite important positions within the Federation.

After all, they were among the very few who could properly communicate with the Frostmaw Tribe, so it was only natural.

Meanwhile, Seol, who had finally relaxed, started tracking those targeting Silvia.

"Eek… I don't know. I really don't know!"

The child in front of Seol was the one who sold Ishi the flower with a bomb attached.

Seol replied with an expressionless face.

"We're going to see that."

Tss…

Dragon Blood Eye went through the child's memories.

- As long as any of you can get close, that's enough.

[You have received additional information on Hidden Adventure 'City's Night.']

[Once the conditions have been met, a Sudden Adventure will activate.]

The child's words were true. The guys lurking around the clock tower were just pawns.

'But still… I've found out one thing.'

The face and voice of the person who had tasked these children with such a dangerous mission.

Although half of his face was covered by a mask, it wasn't enough to fool Seol's sharp eyes and senses.

Not only that, but his mana had been deeply imprinted in his mind.

Mana patterns were like fingerprints, so finding them was only a matter of time.

After another day of searching through the city, Seol found the man.

"S-Stop…"

Thud—!

A sword pierced the back of his hand.

"AGH—!"

"To think you'd have the nerve of staying near me."

"I-I had no choice. I was ordered to keep an eye on you…"

Paaf—!

Seol grabbed the man by the collar and activated Dragon Blood Eye.

Tss…

The toad-like man appeared again. This time, his face was fully revealed.

- The council has issued a gathering order. A meeting has been scheduled in Shirlen, so everyone, prepare to move.

Bzz…

- We're going to use Castrang to move. The time…

The man struggled with the pain; it was as if his memories were being torn apart.

"Ugh…"

Seol smirked as he watched the man struggle.

"So they've left a trail."

* * *

The train Silvia and Seol were planning to take was delayed for two more days due to maintenance caused by a snowstorm.

Fortunately, the maintenance was completed, and now, there shouldn't be more issues with reaching Shirlen.

However, Seol had no intention of boarding that train.

"Do you promise…?"

Seol nodded.

"Yes. Don't worry. With Ur and Karen, no one should be able to get close to Ms. Silvia."

Seol's group decided to split up.

Ur made a displeased face and grumbled.

"Ah, to think I would have to travel with noisy brats…"

Seol answered Ur's complaints.

"But Karen's with you, too."

"That's why I said noisy brats."

He was referring to both Tansia and Karen.

Karen smirked and said to Ur.

"If you call me a brat, I'll also throw a tantrum."

"Seol… can't I join you instead? It seems much more fun than watching over kids."

Karuna raised a hand to signal his refusal.

"Denied. Your loyalty is lacking."

"I miss Jamad. At least he was someone I could talk to."

Oof…

Ur shook his head and said.

"Anyway, come back soon."

"Yes, it seems the problem will remain until Shirlen."

Grin…

Ur gave a meaningful smile.

"That's actually what I'm hoping for."

Squeeze…

Tansia grabbed Seol's hand.

"Dad… where are you going…?"

Ur took Tansia away.

"Your dad is busy. You're coming with uncle."

"You aren't uncle, you're Ur!"

A vein popped on Ur's forehead.

"Fine… Fine, call me however you want."

"Dad! I don't want to go! I want to go with you!"

"Karen."

"Yes."

Swoosh…

Since Karuna was staying with Seol, Karen carried Tansia on her back instead.

"I'll be waiting! You must come back soon!"

"Sure. Don't snack too much."

Tansia became a happy little angel as long as she got a piggyback ride.

- Is the piggyback really that effective?

- It's getting scary at this point.

- Maybe she'll become too spoiled.

Choo choo…

Tss…

Tss…

The train they boarded disappeared into the distance.

Seol and Karuna were left behind at the station.

Seol quietly muttered to himself.

"Then… let's wait and see."

* * *

A few days later, Castrang arrived at Cherije.

Pshh…

The toad arrived at Cherije; although it would only stop for about ten minutes, there was a reason he had to stop there.

"Haha… Frina. It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you, too… No, Mr. Tekon."

The two shook hands, both of them wearing identical rings.

The only difference was that the ring on the toad looked a bit tighter.

Their rings had a withered tree engraved on them.

It was the symbol of the organization.

Those who gathered under this symbol were the same kind of beings. So, even though Frina thought Tekon was repulsive, she still shook his hand.

"That scarf is quite striking. I happen to have a nice piece of fur. I'll give it to you as a gift when I return. Hehehe…"

"Oh, that would be nice. I'm already prepared to accept it gratefully."

Tekon's eyes gleamed.

His eyes scanned her figure before looking around.

Tekon's eyes weren't unpleasant, nor were they sinister—they were the eyes of a coward.

They were the eyes of someone who was constantly wary of anything that could harm him.

Realizing Tekon was that kind of person, Frina continued smiling and asked.

"A problem has arisen?"

"Ah… Getting straight to the point makes things easier for me, too. There's been a hiccup in the plan."

As Tekon and Frina talked, Tekon's subordinates stood at a distance, guarding them.

"It's Frina. It's my first time seeing her in person."

"With her here, there's no way the meddler will last even a day."

"I heard she turned an entire barrack into a grave…"

By the time their chatter died down, Tekon and Frina's conversation also ended.

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

"Sure, it's a simpler task than I thought. If the meddler is acting alone… You should hear news within two days."

"Hahaha… I'll believe in Ms. Frina. Then, I'll take my leave."

Tekon and his entourage boarded the Castrang again.

Soon, the train started moving.

Tss…

Tss…

Tekon sank into his seat and muttered.

"She's a tough one. I wouldn't want to deal with her."

If even Tekon had found her tough, the rumors about Fina would have probably been true.

Yoi asked Tekon.

"Is it to that point?"

"Yes. That woman is obsessed with killing. She isn't right in her mind. There's no need to keep her close."

Seemingly relieved that a troublesome matter would be resolved easily, Tekon smirked.

"Yoi, this world is messed up."

When he was in a good mood, Tekon would occasionally spout his philosophy to someone.

Usually, that someone was Yoi.

"Messed up… you say?"

"Yes. Isn't it strange? I filled the entire train with my subordinates. I kicked out all the innocent passengers. I'm using this moving steel, Castrang, all by myself."

"…"

"We, who once hid in the shadows, are now exerting immense influence over the public. No one questions us, no one stops us."

"It's a great achievement…"

"Haha… A world where gold and violence can get you anything is coming. The Federation's interests will soon be torn apart and devoured by wolves."

Grin…

"And I'm one of those wolves."

Tekon gulped down the contents of his wine glass.

Through the window, the entrance of a tunnel came into view.

Tss…

"Hmm…?"

But as the train entered the tunnel, all the lights suddenly went out.

The interior was plunged into complete darkness.

"What's going on?"

"It seems that there's an issue with the lights."

Swoosh…

As the train exited the tunnel, light filled the interior again.

With it, Tekon could assess the situation.

Strangely, his vision felt obstructed.

Two people now occupied the previously empty seats.

Tekon spoke without turning around.

"What happened…?"

"…"

Only then did Tekon notice the man sitting across from him.

And he instinctively realized who he was.

"So it's you… didn't you encounter Frina?"

"Frina? Ah, you're talking about that woman?"

Seol pointed at Tekon with his finger.

"Next to you."

"What…?"

Tekon glanced at his left shoulder, which felt oddly heavy.

A fox scarf was first to enter his vision.

"F… Frina?"

A clean hole had been made in her chest—a single strike had destroyed her heart. It was a clean and precise technique.

She was unlucky.

That was why she died.

Click…

Click…

Tekon's hand trembled as he lit a cigarette.

"…"

"…"

Clank…

Clank…

The train entered another tunnel. Only then did the flame of the cigarette glow in the darkness.