They didn’t exactly specify what kind of crimes one could experience in the Triad.
So, I imagined something along the lines of raiding a shop they managed or robbing an average establishment.
But a bank? Now my heart was racing with unexpected excitement.
As a law-abiding citizen who loves peace and order, I shouldn’t say this, but personally, I desperately wanted to rob a bank.
“Could you please elaborate on robbing a bank?”
“Hmm—if I were to go into detail, there are three other organizations besides ours within the Triad. One of them, ‘Karma,’ has gone off the deep end.”
“Gone off the deep end?”
“Yes, the line we’re supposed to uphold in the Triad is at risk; they’re trying to smuggle ‘magic stone bombs’ into the Zers Empire.”
‘Magic stone bombs’
The official name is ‘Salamander Concentrate,’ a small explosive magical tool made from processing and concentrating the core of a salamander.
Usually, it’s just referred to as ‘magic stone bombs.’
During the war era, it was widely used by ordinary soldiers to deal catastrophic damage on par with grand magicians, and I knew it was rumored to have been banned from production and distribution.
At the mention of ‘magic stone bombs,’ my master’s eyes lit up.
“Wait, are you talking about ‘magic stone bombs’!?”
Those bombs were what my master had fought to ban from production and distribution.
Even if we were just acting, he seemed particularly sensitive about it.
And it seemed that the boss, who was probably feeling slighted because my master spoke casually, was taken aback as well.
Looks like I’ll have to mediate here.
“Hmm…”
“Please understand, Ain may seem this way, but he is a pureblood elf.”
“Ah—if he’s a pureblood elf, that would make sense.”
Knowing that pureblood elves live longer than one could imagine, the boss, Sion, quickly relaxed and continued his explanation.
The scars on his face and his smoking habit screamed ‘crime organization boss.’
Where did they find a guy like that?
Are people like him common in the Triad?
While I contemplated using him as a boss character in the game later, I focused on his words.
“Anyway, if the unidentified magic stone bombs produced in the Yura Republic go to the Zers Empire and are used as fireworks, it’s fine, but those guys wouldn’t use them for something like that. There’s a high chance they will be used for terrorism.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because it has happened before. Do you think the ‘Founding Day Terror’ incident, where the Zers Empire almost went to war with the Yura Republic, just occurred out of the blue?”
I had heard the story before.
On the founding day of the Zers Empire, a magic stone bomb from Zephia exploded, killing dozens and nearly inciting war. I remembered hearing that when I was very young.
Is that really the kind of setup they have here?
Even if it’s just acting, as the depth of the setup deepens, I began to feel a sense of responsibility welling up.
“The chancellor of the Zers Empire warned back then that if something like this happened again, he would burn the Triad to the ground. Since then, we’ve upheld our line and conducted our business, no matter how much money we earn.”
If the city called the ‘Triad’ has survived this long, it made sense.
I had no idea who crafted this incident’s setup, but it was truly impressive.
I’d want to hire that person when making the game later.
Now that the logic explanation is finished, the dark plot should be unfolding soon.
“However, there’s a new boss in ‘Karma’ who isn’t just your average lunatic; no matter how much money he gets, he’s doing things that could turn the Triad into a sea of flames.”
“So, you want us to steal the magic stone bombs before that transaction happens at the bank?”
“Exactly! You’re spot on! A true professional, you grasp quickly!”
I felt I understood the course of this trip.
We, the Black Shadow, would become problem solvers and tackle a conspiracy that could determine the world’s fate while robbing a bank!!
I was worried I’d be stuck playing petty thief, but instead, they prepared such a spectacular travel course; I’d want to thank Apollo and this organization with giant tips if I could.
Drawing from the research I had done in my past life about robbing banks, I requested information.
“I understand the situation. Before we proceed, I need details on the bank’s location, the transfer routes of the goods, and the number of guards.”
“Zwei?”
“Zwei?”
My words, tinged with expertise, seemed to surprise my master and Sora.
I wanted to clarify that this was all acting, but right now, I was the Black Shadow’s Zwei, a merciless problem solver focused solely on the mission.
“Indeed, you’re a pro. You know how to get things done. However, they’re so meticulous in their work that aside from position and time-related information, there’s close to nothing. Nevertheless, we can support our minions, so feel free to ask for anything.”
Despite wanting to move out immediately, seeing my master looking exhausted after our long journey, I decided to request a break for now.
“Understood. First, please prepare accommodations and meals.”
“Right, rest and meals are essential before a big job. Shasha! Treat our esteemed guests well!!”
“Yes! Boss!!”
We followed Shasha, our guide, as she led us to the restaurant.
At the restaurant, we were served what could be considered decent dishes from the Yura Republic and the Zers Empire.
I expected to eat some questionable fare that could give me food poisoning in this crime city, but surprisingly the quality was high enough to shock me.
(“Feels like I’m really having a meal at the headquarters of a crime organization, doesn’t it, Zwei?”)
(“It really does. It’s thrilling, Zwei.”)
(“Shh! Everyone’s trying their best to act here; we shouldn’t ruin it. Let’s put on our best performance.”)
(“The food is good. My disciple!”)
That’s how we enjoyed a comfortable first night with top-notch meals and five-star hotel accommodations, courtesy of Sion’s organization.
I expected to be rummaging through stores and dining on some pathetic emergency rations in a hideout, but I think I’ve misunderstood the nature of this travel package.
I should recommend it to everyone once I’m back.
*
The next morning, the investigation by the Black Shadows began early.
As Shasha received orders to assist them, she stood nervously waiting in front of the hotel, ready to leave first thing in the morning.
They asked her to wear casual attire, so she came dressed in her everyday clothes, filled with worry.
If she accidentally wandered into the Karma territory, things could escalate quickly.
While she was fretting, the Black Shadow party appeared, and Shasha couldn’t hide her shock upon seeing them.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes! I’ll lead the way, Zwei!”
The four of them showed up in brightly colored garments that radiated the sunlight of the Ra Kingdom.
The casual family sandals they wore made them look every bit like perfect tourists.
“I’m curious about how the Karma district is. What do you think, my disciple Zwei?”
“I’m looking forward to it, Zwei!”
“Yesterday, the folks here said there’s a pretty nice tavern there. Let’s have dinner there, Zwei.”
The way they flowed seamlessly into their tourist roles sent chills down Shasha’s spine.
If she couldn’t even distinguish herself as a tourist from them, it was likely that the other organization members observing from a distance wouldn’t think twice about asking questions.
“W-Well then, I’ll start our departure.”
“Don’t be too tense; just relax. Is there any music or something to play?”
“I… I have one! I’ll play it!”
Shasha set up a music shell, and hip-hop music filled the air, fitting for the streets.
With four joyous individuals and one tense one, the beat echoed as the carriage departed from Sion.
*
At that moment, a contact came in at the headquarters of Karma, ‘Last Drink.’
Dalos, also known as Blue, received the communication.
“What’s going on? Gold?”
[“New information has come in. Blue.”]
“New information?”
[“Yes, the Black Shadows have been spotted in the Triad.”]
“What!?”
At Gold’s news, Blue shot up from his seat.
For Blue, that was an inconceivable occurrence.
Because he had hunted down the Black Shadows himself.
“It can’t be… then the ones I killed were…”
[“Probably decoys.”]
“Impossible…”
Chills ran down Blue’s spine.
He had pretended to wipe them out easily, but the truth was they were far from weak.
He resorted to bribing the innkeeper, poisoning them, and waiting until they were weaponless and asleep. Only after careful preparation was he narrowly able to wipe them out.
To think he had only used such skilled individuals as decoys,
Blue couldn’t mask his astonishment at the preparations the Black Shadows had made.
[“We need to prepare even more rigorously. If this goes wrong, we might end up like Grey.”]
“Understood. Leave the back to me.”
Disconnecting the call, Blue felt a chill run down his spine and his heart started burning.
With a formidable rival like this, he felt he would be in for the hottest fight of his life.
“Now this is going to be fun.”
Drawing his magic sword, ‘Rajuli,’ Blue kicked the door open, stepping out of his office.
