I joined Drexier's support troops with Bel.

The mercenary corps' support troops were, as expected, familiar faces.

"Oh, our soul partner has arrived."

"...Soul partner?"

It was a strange nickname.

Hella grinned slyly and poked me in the side with her elbow.

"How many missions have we done together?"

"Three, I think."

"Who wants to know the exact number? If I, who came to support you during a busy time knowing it was a difficult mission, am not your soul partner, then what am I?"

The spear shaft slung over her back kept slipping and hitting her shoulder.

It was annoying, so I pushed it away and saw that its appearance and color were different from before.

"You seem to have gotten a new weapon."

"Oh, you noticed?"

Hella's eyes sparkled as she chattered.

"This is what the guy I defeated during the last mission we did together used. They said it was a special alloy made with a secret stolen from the dwarves. I thought it would be good for a spear shaft, so I tried it, and it's amazing."

Dwarves.

They were a race of craftsmen who passed down their secret of handling metal from generation to generation.

They boasted a terrible personality in the name of craftsmanship, but the great quality quelled the complaints about it.

'There was a quest to find the legacy of a dwarf craftsman in the city of winter.'

I knew the location, but it wasn't equipment I could use right now.

If they had stolen their secret, it was a masterpiece, even if it was a degraded version.

Being interested in weapons was a common hobby of mercenaries, so Hella seemed to be the same.

"...But is that color also his taste?"

"No, why?"

"Well, um, it seems unusual."

The spear shaft was a deep pink that looked cheap, as if it had been painted with cheap paint.

It stood out in a bad way.

"But it's pretty, isn't it?"

"Pretty... is it?"

Painting a ferocious weapon that would break people's bones and cut off their heads pink.

It was a bad taste in itself.

It was a taste that was difficult for my common aesthetic sense to understand.

"It's a weapon I'll be using for a long time, so I decorated it a little. Why? Do you not like it?"

"...Would I like it? You're a crazy bitch."

"What?"

I wasn't the one who said it.

It was a voice that came from the tin can right behind me.

"It would have been scary if it were covered in blood. Pink is a really crazy taste."

Even though he had muttered it softly, the pronunciation was clear and stuck in my ears.

Hella, who had heard it clearly, lit up her eyes.

"Hey, what did you say?"

"Hic! Y-you heard that?"

"You were talking so I could hear you. Are you trying to pick a fight? You are, right?"

"S-sorry! It was a mistake. I was just talking to myself."

Hella has a sharp impression.

As befits a mercenary, her temper was also not to be trifled with.

As she growled, the timid Bel cowered even while hidden in his armor.

"So you did think that."

"Well, it is a crazy taste..."

"Oh, you still don't get the situation?"

"Ack!"

Hella beat Bel's whole body as if she were beating a tin can.

Bel's body swayed back and forth with her touch.

'Wasn't that an armor modified from a broken android prototype?'

After tinkering with it for a few hours, it was an item he had boasted would be fine even if a bomb exploded.

It was already full of dents here and there.

Was Hella's skill that great, or was Bel bluffing?

Whatever it was, just as I was about to stop her, Hella withdrew her hand.

"Who is this bastard?"

"A guide who is well-versed in the internal affairs. An essential personnel. So don't bully him too much."

"You mean he's a related person. Then I won't say much, but isn't he too weak to take with us?"

"Ack!"

As Hella hit him on the back of the head for the last time, Bel knelt down.

From the clean, unadorned trajectory, the shadow of Drexier, who used to scold her, flickered.

Was it a skill she had learned with her body from being hit so often?

Bel, who had sat down, was dazed and couldn't come to his senses.

"He'll take care of his own life."

"Hmm, is that so? Well, since he said he would follow, he won't blame us even if he dies."

"…!"

Bel squirmed as if to refute, but his voice could not form a sentence.

It was because the shock to his head had not been resolved.

'Well, even if he says that, there's no danger of him dying.'

If he revealed his identity, Delight Conquem would treat him with respect.

Of course, it was unknown whether his limbs would be intact.

As long as he preserved his life, it was a world where he could easily replace a limb or two.

So, even if he was trembling, Bel had no worries even if the worst situation came.

On the contrary, we were the ones who had to worry.

"It seems you're the only support force from the mercenary corps."

"We've been very busy lately, so we don't have the manpower. Our reputation has definitely gone up, but it's the same that we can't find people. It's like someone is stopping them from coming."

"You heard that Delight Conquem's escort is Madhouse, right?"

"I know."

It was a voice that had suddenly become dry, as if she had swallowed dry sand.

"I asked around through the old man's connections, and they said a reporter from some yellow journalism was eaten by a black beast while covering it."

"A black beast... the Shadow Empress?"

"Probably. There wouldn't be any other human who handles black beasts."

Just like Hella's pink spear shaft, it was a unique characteristic, so it was easy to infer the opponent.

The Shadow Empress, Bianca Melbric.

Although we hadn't clashed directly, we had competed during the request to retrieve the Blade Knuckle of Ainsipal.

'It's the same as the information Cromwell gave me, so it must be certain.'

Since I had cross-verified it, I could put aside the suspicion of false information.

And because of that, there was a question that arose.

"I don't know why that thief got involved in this. Wasn't she a snob who only showed her face when she was trying to steal something?"

It was a strange thing.

Madhouse was a single group, but their bond was loose.

Only a specific few moved on requests, and the rest acted as they pleased.

Bianca was the latter.

She only moved when she wanted to steal something herself, and she had never worked diligently on a corporate request like this.

Since it was something that had never happened even once in the future, the assumption that Bianca had suddenly turned over a new leaf was impossible.

'No, was there just one time?'

The situation was the same as now.

In the end, the request was a disguise, and Bianca had stolen the item and run away.

The fact that her opponent was Centrim meant that her greed was real.

'If it's the same as then...'

A rough outline was visible.

'...It could be the same item that Bianca stole then.'

The purpose was, of course, the android.

If it was really the same machine, it might be a loss to just use it as a menial slave.

'Anyway, I can use it.'

Since I knew the general development, ideas of how to roll it were springing up.

Of course, if I failed the request, it would all be for nothing.

"Infiltration will be difficult for now."

All areas where shadows reached were her territory.

She had a strange surveillance ability that made it easier to be caught the more you were in a corner.

It became impossible to secretly complete the goal.

Hella carefully offered her opinion.

"The more elite the group, the more we should avoid a clash, but in this case, wouldn't it be better to increase the number of people and face them head-on? Since it's a request from Sylvester, they must be rolling in money."

"No, against the shadow army, a bunch of nobodies is meaningless."

The monster that Bianca commanded with shadows was specialized in large-scale battles.

If it were a workforce called just to match the numbers, it wouldn't be of any help at all.

"But if we try to pick a proven expert, I don't know how long it will take. It's highly likely that another side will move first before that."

The groups aiming for Bel's android were too many to count on one's fingers.

If those guys stopped watching their backs and all joined the fray, it would be a mess like no other.

It was best not to drag it out as originally planned.

"Then what do we do?"

"We have to go as we are."

Nothing would change.

"If there's a clash with Bianca, I'll take her on."

I had a track record.

I had already fought and won against the mad dog, Buggy Vile.

If the opponent was the Shadow Empress, it was easier than then.

***

The operation was postponed for three days.

It was to establish a customized strategy for Bianca.

In terms of combat ability, Buggy Vile was of course superior.

'Although it's a very slight difference.'

Even if Bianca was weaker than Buggy Vile, it was a relative standard.

In terms of trickiness, Bianca was more difficult.

...Especially when you consider her sinister inner thoughts.

"Hey, get up."

After Hella left, I woke up Bel, who was pretending to be fainted with his presence erased.

Did he think I would tell him not to come if he acted so weak?

The guy, whose trick had been discovered, got up sluggishly.

"Why? Even if you ask me about strategy formulation or whatever, I'm no help."

"I don't expect that. You're enough as a guide."

Even if he was smart, his field was different.

Manpower deployment had to be in the right place at the right time.

"You have to do what you have to do."

"What do I have to do?"

"You said you'd work without complaining for the rest of your life, right? You'll have to work hard for three days."

"..."

Bel looked at me as if I were a madman, as if asking if it was menial work even in this situation.

But I can assure you, it wouldn't be menial work.

'It's a preparation process for a customized strategy to snipe the Shadow Empress.'

The newly awakened ability of the World Tree would be the solution to conquer this enemy.

***

Grrr!

"Hic!"

At the threat of the black beast shrouded in shadow, the researcher jumped in surprise and fell on his butt.

As the beast growled repeatedly at the fallen him, his fellow researchers hastily blocked the front.

"C-calm down."

"We were just trying to get that tool over there. We weren't trying to touch you."

Grrr!

"Hic!"

Fortunately, as if the researchers' persuasion had worked, the beast turned its steps.

Body fluids dripped from the beast's steps.

Watching the sticky black fluid seep into the shade, the researchers trembled.

"Damn it, what kind of guys are they?"

"I can't move around comfortably since those guys have been here."

"I know we need external security, but shouldn't they protect our lives first?"

The office workers' complaints, as usual, ended without any gain.

"...What's the point of us talking among ourselves? They say it's a beast commanded by the Shadow Empress of Madhouse."

"..."

To be just a beast, its owner was a huge figure.

If they got on her bad side, they didn't know when they would disappear without a trace.

"But isn't that strange in the first place? How did a completely ruined company call such a big shot?"

"I looked into it, and they say the Shadow Empress is a thief by birth, so she doesn't do things like protecting things."

"Then are we entrusting the fish to a cat right now?"

"No way. Still, she received a request..."

The researchers could not hide their reluctance.

A sense of anxiety, what if, no way.

There were not just one or two who harbored such suspicions.

And the Shadow Empress knew of their suspicions and left them alone.

"Oh my, is that so?"

Grrr!

In the room where only darkness was present, Bianca stroked the beast's head.

The beast squirmed as if it were pleased and reported everything it had heard to its master.

[How is the progress?]

Next to Bianca, on the table, a light flashed and a voice echoed.

At the man's question, Bianca answered, retrieving the beast into the shadow.

"I estimate about three days until the test run."

[Three days. It's cutting it close.]

"Hmm, it seems the great Director of Sylvester doesn't have the ability to maintain this standoff for even three days."

[...How amusing, I have plenty of time, even a week.]

The voice answered, grinding its teeth.

[And I believe I've told you repeatedly to correct your title. I am not a mere director of Sylvester, but the next chairman.]

"Unfortunately, the stories I've been hearing lately are different, Director Berman."

[My position has not been threatened. It's a trivial matter that will be resolved once this is successful.]

"Well, yes. If you say so, then so be it."

It was a story that had nothing to do with Bianca.

She was only interested in the spoils he had sown.

"Do you remember the terms of the contract?"

[...I remember every single word.]

"When the android's operation is confirmed, I get the machine and you get the design."

[Yes.]

The researchers' anxiety was exactly right.

Bianca's purpose from the beginning was not protection, but seizure.

But there were many hurdles to overcome for this.

Against numerous companies, even the name of Madhouse was weak.

If a megacorp's pursuit was attached, it would be troublesome even for her.

It was then that the Director of Sylvester, Berman, had contacted her.

"Make sure there's no talk of it being my doing. You know what will happen if rumors spread later, right?"

[You, on the other hand, should not even think of stealing the item and running away in the middle.]

Bianca felt a desire for the coveted object.

Berman needed a result to prove that it was not a failed investment.

Their interests coincided, and Bianca and Berman agreed to divide the machine and the blueprint.

[Three days later, the people I sent will attack you. At that time, make an excuse and leave your post. Then we will take care of it.]

After that, the call was cut off after a detailed revision of the plan was exchanged.

"Hmm, a blueprint."

Bianca looked down at the phone from which the call had been cut off and had a meaningful expression.

"I think my lady would like it as a gift."

Madhouse is a group of outlaws.

"Can't I just cover it up and take it all?"

Fearing the prestige of a fallen kite and sharing the profits was an act unbecoming of an outlaw.

(End of Chapter)