Chapter 159. Their Treatment (4)

Elsyde fortress’s top floor.

Footsteps echoed through the modern, lit corridors.

The office door swung open, an Elsyde agent in black tactical robes entered calmly.

White square symbols on his arm and back, marking Intelligence, rippled.

“Executive Grantel, urgent report.”

Grantel, uniformed at his desk, replied in a deep voice, pen unmoving.

“I’m listening. Speak.”

“Last night, an incident in Victoria Kazimieśi’s 19th district outskirts was reported.”

Grantel answered without flinching.

“Recent intel felt ominous. Something’s finally erupted there.”

“…You knew?”

“Somewhat. Victoria’s never quiet.”

He stroked his veined hand over his mouth, eyes calm.

“Since serving the patriarch in succession disputes, Victoria’s been turbulent.”

“As you say, field operators shared reports.”

“Proceed.”

“At 22:35 last night, human-shaped hostile beasts appeared, engaging district officers.”

Grantel’s pen paused.

The agent placed a tablet on the desk.

It displayed incident reports and footage.

“The border checkpoint by the 19th district’s forest was attacked by human-shaped beasts. Heavy casualties.”

“…Human-shaped. Similar to the beast-kin village report.”

Grantel stroked his short beard.

“Details on the incident or combat?”

“Yes. A fallen officer’s body cam recorded it.”

The agent manipulated the tablet, turning it to Grantel.

“This footage.”

Shot in chaos, the screen shook, unlit by flash, nearly black.

Hardly viewable.

The agent snapped his fingers.

Translucent mana formed a mosaic of blinking pixels—a digital signal-handling electric spell.

The footage clarified, paused.

A human-shaped beast, black carapace glowing green. Grantel asked.

“Overview?”

“After the checkpoint fell, other officers with engagement clearance fought, repelling the beasts.”

“Repelled, not captured or killed?”

The agent nodded.

“Yes. They retreated quickly, so none were secured. But we have their data and reports.”

“Share.”

“Yes.”

The agent deployed mana again, swiping the tablet.

Light burst, projecting a 3D hologram video.

A surveillance camera feed, thermal, shot from above in grayscale.

“This?”

“Notable: some beasts have remarkable regeneration.”

The thermal footage showed beasts moving despite headshots from officers’ bullets and spells.

Grantel nodded calmly.

“Rare, but some wilderness beasts have extraordinary vitality. Not sure if to this degree, but seeing it’s surprising.”

“That’s not all. The critical part follows.”

The agent gestured.

The hologram switched to new footage.

A beast pinned an unconscious officer, injecting fluid via a spiked appendage.

The officer began beastifying.

Grantel frowned.

“This?”

“Some human-shaped beasts inject fluid into unconscious people, ‘infecting’ them.”

“Infection.”

Grantel looked at the agent.

“To confirm, have beasts ever infected others to beastify them?”

“No. Beasts are ferocious, but infection is unheard of.”

“As expected.”

His eyes narrowed, staring at the tablet.

“Let’s summarize. Regenerative, infectious beasts. Not mindlessly attacking, retreating strategically when reinforcements arrive. Correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then these beasts may be coordinated.”

Grantel glanced at the agent.

“Intelligence’s analysis?”

“As you said. Likely a commanding entity or equivalent exists.”

Grantel, unsurprised, adjusted his sleeve, nodding.

“If true, they weren’t repelled by firepower but retreated by orders.”

The agent nodded, grasping the implication.

A veiled commander might control these dangerous beasts.

Recalling a possible figure, Grantel nodded slowly.

“Likely so.”

“Then our task is clear.”

Rising, he adjusted his uniform. A butler bowed, awaiting orders. Grantel commanded.

“Summon Nemesis Deputy Commander, Lady Teano.”

“As you wish, Grantel.”

“Quickly, please.”

He added quietly.

“A big event is coming.”

“…Big event?”

“As you suspect.”

Grantel said calmly.

“Victoria Main House will request aid directly from Elsyde.”

***

Half a day later, the office door opened again.

“Executive, you summoned me.”

A knightess in sleek black uniform, Teano, entered, pulling something from her chest, asking calmly.

“I heard Victoria requested combat support. What’s this?”

“As the letter states.”

Grantel looked up steadily.

“Last time, you showed interest in Tantalus, the black mage. These beasts match his experiments.”

“He’s dead.”

“Yes. I suspect his associate black mages are involved.”

“Vendetta?”

Grantel nodded.

“Highly likely.”

“Your opinion?”

“Yes. You’ve arrested the most black mages, your skill admired by all.”

Teano closed her eyes, shaking her head.

“Thanks, but the point?”

“A skilled freelancer pair from Elsyde’s 37th district uncovered details of Victoria’s incident.”

Teano’s eyes widened.

“I heard vaguely from my scout knights.”

“Then this’ll be quick. They reported…”

Grantel added gravely.

“At least 2,000 non-mages vanished across Victoria’s districts.”

2,000. Teano bowed her head. Unbelievable, but black mages defied imagination.

Solutions trumped understanding.

Grantel, agreeing, pulled photos from a file.

“These, from an officer’s scout drone in the forest.”

Beasts roamed, captured. Teano narrowed her eyes.

“Are they converging somewhere?”

The beasts moved deep into the forest, but dense foliage obscured their destination.

Grantel nodded.

“2,000 beasts will soon flood the 19th district. No defenses exist. Defend in all-out war, save citizens—that’s the mission.”

His words carried dire weight.

If 2,000+ beasts attacked the outcast district unchecked, the outcome was clear.

A catastrophe.

Foreseeing horror, Teano spoke quietly.

“Understood, but…”

“A concern?”

“Victoria has its own army, famed dragoons. Shouldn’t they or Victoria’s forces handle this?”

Grantel shook his head.

“Victoria’s nobles are embroiled in factional strife. Large-scale troop movement is difficult.”

He added.

“Elsyde can’t deploy unlimited forces to Victoria’s district either.”

Obvious.

High-grade personnel were limited, and efficient task management was vital for a Main House’s duties.

The task was clear.

Grantel placed his hands on the desk, clasping them, speaking earnestly.

“Thus, Lady Teano, select the optimal squad from Elsyde to resolve this.”

“Select a squad?”

He nodded.

“As you know, aiding Victoria, one of the empire’s twelve Main Houses, requires success as a peer Main House.”

Teano agreed silently.

It was a duty for the empire’s pillars, tied to Main House prestige.

Beyond countless district lives, Elsyde bore heavy responsibility.

“One thing to note.”

“What?”

“As a formal Main House request, this joint mission must include direct-line personnel.”

Direct-line.

Teano’s breath paused.

A boy’s face surfaced—jet-black hair, mysterious direct-line.

Grantel continued slowly.

“Especially against similar black magic, propose this to the direct-line you trust most. I leave their treatment to you.”

“The direct-line I trust…”

Teano closed her eyes.

Opening them, her resolve was set.

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