GMWB 92

Chapter 92

“Why did you get involved in this plan, Executioner?”

It was natural for Leto to ask, puzzled.

He wasn’t speaking to belittle As.

It was just strange that a completely ordinary person, not a military official but someone who simply handled household matters, was listening to a plan to capture spies as if it were nothing.

But As was the most crucial asset in this operation.

“Ugh…!”

“Gah…!”

Before the spies could even scream, As quickly subdued them with the small gardening hoe he was holding.

The hoe struck precisely at their vital points, and the spies collapsed instantly.

“…Are they dead?”

As hurriedly placed his hand under the noses of the fallen spies.

Even if the spies were pretending to be unconscious to counterattack, it didn’t really matter to As.

Fortunately, he could feel faint breaths at his fingertips. The warm breaths were disgusting, but at least they were alive.

“Phew…”

As finally exhaled.

“It’s hard to control my strength after not moving for so long.”

Since he had to capture them alive, As had deliberately worn a skirt and brought a gardening hoe.

Wearing a skirt restricted his movement, and using the hoe, a well-cared-for gardening tool, allowed him to control his strength so he wouldn’t break it.

In other words, As had subdued the spies in one swift move without using his full strength.

Squeeze.

At that moment, something tugged at As’s skirt.

“Oh my.”

The knife-rabbit, which had been sitting quietly, spread its arms toward As.

It reminded him of Clare, whining to be hugged, and As couldn’t help but smile.

As reached out his hand, and the knife-rabbit jumped onto it.

“Thank you for helping. Thanks to you, the job was done quickly.”

As thanked the knife-rabbit.

[Hunt concluded.]

In an instant, the knife-rabbit transformed into a small fluffy ball.

“…I know you’re here.”

Sliding the little ball onto his wrist like a bracelet, As wiped away his smile and looked toward a certain spot.

There was a fairly large tree there.

Even though no other presence was sensed in the vast forest, As was certain.

“If you don’t come out, I’ll kill them.”

Not him, but the spies who were unconscious.

As grasped the hoe firmly, showing that his threat was not empty.

The black blade glimmered in the sunlight filtering through the dense leaves as it swiftly fell toward the spy’s neck.

Thud.

“Good grief, your temper.”

Arti appeared just before the hoe pierced the spy’s neck.

“What a pity.”

As mockingly withdrew the hoe. A tiny red dot had formed on the spy’s neck, and a bead of blood rolled down his throat.

“I could have killed them.”

“It would have caused me trouble if you did.”

“Exactly.”

“There are plenty of other ways to trouble me.”

“Treating me as if I don’t exist is the best… though.”

As casually brushed the dirt from his skirt and looked at Arti, who had appeared before him.

“And the lady?”

“She was safely brought to the Oceanus Mansion. Clare’s friends were escorted home too.”

He even mentioned that he bought each child a delicious treat and a toy, just in case the day turned into a bad memory.

Yet As’s dissatisfaction remained.

“Bastards always do this kind of thing.”

If Tenebre had properly caught the spies in the first place, the lady and her friends wouldn’t have had to go through all this.

That was why As was angrier at them than ever.

“Let’s release the aura.”

Arti smoothed down her messy hair with her hand.

As soon as As exhaled his aura, the nearby Tenebre hiding in the shadows revealed theirs as well.

It wasn’t anger at As’s rude tone but a reflexive response to the overwhelming presence.

Soon, however, the Tenebre retracted their aura and erased any trace of their presence.

“Clear them out.”

As nudged the fallen spies with his foot.

“And don’t prove your incompetence like this again.”

“We’re reflecting, so don’t push too hard.”

“That includes you, young master, right?”

“I’m competent.”

“Are you leaving now?”

“Why? Feeling disappointed?”

“…I’ll go first.”

Exhausted after the brief conversation, As passed Arti and exited the forest.

“….”

Arti watched As’s departing figure for a moment.

“Clear them out.”

She ordered the hidden Tenebre to transfer the spies.

Soon, no one remained at the scene.

That evening, the Oceanus Mansion was bustling after a long while.

“As is here too!”

Clare ran into As’s arms as soon as he arrived. The knife toy was still hanging from her back.

“Miss, did you forget this?”

“My hair ornament!”

As took the bell from his wrist and handed it to Clare.

“Mm…”

In reality, he hadn’t forgotten; he had thrown it at the bad spy.

Then her older brother used the remaining bell to tie her hair back.

“…Thank you for finding it!”

Clare wisely said nothing further.

It was like the lively first meeting had resumed. The Bello family enjoyed a cheerful dinner at the Oceanus Mansion.

After dinner came a sweet dessert time.

The chef personally brought out the desserts. Dimmed lights, a perfectly cooked crepe, rum poured on top, and a spectacular flame show.

“Kyaa!”

Clare was so surprised she couldn’t close her mouth.

“This is amazing! Incredible!”

Excited, she stood up on her chair.

“Everyone, give the chef a round of applause!”

Clare led the applause, and soon the room resounded with claps.

They applauded the chef and the cooks for the wonderful dinner and dessert.

The chef blushed and bowed his head.

After dessert, Clare brushed her teeth, washed up, and put on the pretty pajamas Aitra had gifted her.

“They suit you. Very pretty.”

“Like a dress.”

“Are they comfortable?”

“Hmm, I’ll know once I lie down.”

Clare lay down immediately, and fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes. The pajamas seemed perfectly comfortable.

“Clare is so cute.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“She’s the kind of child who makes people happy just by being nearby.”

Aitra praised her as having a talent more precious than anything else.

Noah now felt a strong admiration for Aitra.

Karina also fell asleep early.

At first, she insisted on playing a bit more with Leto, but when he said he’d put her to bed, she lay down with the happiest expression in the world.

“…Good kid.”

Leto pressed a kiss to his sleeping sister’s head.

With all the children asleep, it was now time for the adults.

“You kids should go to bed early too.”

Gloria gestured toward Noah and Leto, who wanted to follow.

The adults were heading to the basement to have a close discussion with the captured spies.

“…We’re involved too, though?”

Noah asked, claiming that since they had caught the spies, they should participate.

“Can we come along?”

Leto asked as well.

But Gloria merely snorted.

“Stop fooling around and sleep quickly.”

So they could grow taller, she added.

Noah grumbled that he was already grown.

Still, the adults, led by Gloria, left them behind.

“…I understand why we’re not taking Leto.”

Albus asked quietly.

“Why are you like that, Adbello?”

“I have my reasons too.”

“Hmm.”

Albus wisely stayed silent. Yet Gloria’s brief remark was enough to make some predictions.

‘Even the granddaughter-in-law seems to be involved in some way, like Leto.’

What they needed to find out now.

Their destination was the basement of the Oceanus villa.

Though built for a vacation house, it didn’t have an actual prison, but it had a facility similar enough.

The southern region had long been overrun by pirates.

Adlavor’s notable warrior families had a habit of capturing a few pirates even while vacationing at the villa.

Now, three spies were bound there.

Gagged and blindfolded, they appeared unconscious, but their hostility was palpable.

“What about the other two?”

Albus approached the three and asked.

“…….”

Gloria deliberately didn’t answer.

“…I see.”

Albus, sensing her intent, lowered his already soft voice further and murmured seriously.

But the spies showed no reaction, not even moving their lips.

Whether they didn’t care if their comrades died, or they knew it was a lie and remained calm, was unclear.

But this gave Gloria’s group information: these were more rigorously trained spies than they had anticipated.

“They must have said something before dying.”

Gloria referenced materials obtained by interrogating Arti before coming to the mansion.

Included were intelligence that Aitra had discovered independently:

• The spies’ movement routes.

• Names of suspected traitors who assisted them.

• The source of the dukedom’s gold.

• Soldiers injured in the Finichi district explosion, who were later discovered to be involved.

Everything was shocking.

“…….”

Aitra, observing from a distance, frowned.

Even though she already knew the details, hearing it from someone else made her head ache.

And all of this had been orchestrated by a single person.

‘…Why?’

Why on earth?

Why conspire with the enemy like this?

Just then, the spies began shuddering and making strange sounds. Though gagged, they were clearly laughing.

A mocking, derisive laughter.

“…….”

“…….”

Naturally, Gloria and Albus’s expressions twisted.

Behind them, Vis quietly removed his glasses.

Snap!

The tense atmosphere in the basement was broken by a sudden sound. Everyone turned toward it.

The sound of a bomb had actually been Vis’s glasses breaking in his hand.