Chapter 226

Chapter 226

“A spy? What do you mean by that?” Siegfried asked.

“That’s...” General Overlock bit his lips and muttered before he explained, “Things were looking really good after we managed to brainwash the Cryptids. Our coalition forces were able to push them all the way back to their main base, but...”

“But?”

“They suddenly started reading our plans to the very minute detail.”

“Really?”

“We thought we just got unlucky initially since we did move our troops a bit rashly, but we soon realized that wasn’t the case. They were counteracting our plans with pinpoint accuracy, and that was when we realized that they knew everything.”

“So... you think there are some humans that are cooperating with the Cryptids?”

“Yes, and it’s not baseless reasoning. Think about it, they were able to create numerous intellectual creatures to control them, so I don’t see any reason they won’t be able to plant a spy among us. However...” General Overlock trailed the end of his words.

Siegfried finished it. “You probably do not want to believe that a human is on those hideous monsters’ side.”

“Yes, you are absolutely correct,” General Overlock nodded and continued. “I can’t think of any reason for a human to side with them in the first place.”

“Me, too. Anyway, the mission is to find out who the spy is, right?”

“Yes, you’re right.”

A chain quest to the Special Forces quest popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes.

Ding!

[Find the Spy!]

[Find the spy leaking the coalition forces’ plans to the Cryptids.]

[Reward: Restore 50% credit with the Mercenary Guild]

[Progress: 0%]

Siegfried accepted the quest from General Overlock.

[Alert: You have accepted the Quest: ‘Find the Spy!’]

Then, he told General Overlock. “I will do my best to find the spy.”

“Oh! Thank you! I’m confident that I can leave it to you. It’s a very difficult task that could affect the soldiers’ morale, so we sent a request for Mercenary King Grimwood!”

General Overlock had no doubts about Siegfried’s ability at all. In fact, he seemed delighted that Siegfried was taking over the request.

***

Siegfried looked around the barracks before anything else.

The Third Command Center of the Coalition Forces, headed by General Overlock after he got promoted, was filled with high-level NPCs and Adventurers.

‘A spy... There can’t be a spy here...’?Siegfried muttered to himself while flipping through the documents that General Overlock gave to him. The documents were reports of the things the spy had done as well as the failed operations because of the spy.

Unfortunately, the lengthy document wasn’t helpful at all. There was basically no correlation between the operations, and the members deployed were always different. On top of that, even the commanders were always different for each operation, so it was nearly impossible to suspect anyone at this point.

‘What the hell? Does this spy even exist?’?Siegfried scratched his head.

He tried to come up with something, but he couldn’t think of anything, no matter how much he racked his brains.

‘Hmm... Should I try smoking the rat out?’?he wondered. In the end, he decided to call Gringore, who was standing right beside him without any presence.

“Scribe Gringore.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Can you go trail the key personnel of the command center and let me know if any of them are acting strange?”

“Certainly, Your Majesty,” Gringore replied. He hid his presence and immediately moved.

‘Let’s try a few things first. I should get something if I do that,’?Siegfried thought.

He was planning to use the authority bestowed upon him to attack a Cryptid lair with a few Adventurers.

***

On the same afternoon, Siegfried gathered nine Adventurers above Level 200 at random and commenced his own operation.

“We will destroy the hatchery and retreat. Do you understand?” Siegfried asked.

The Adventurers nodded in response.

Siegfried also brought a very powerful ally for this mission...

“Marquis Decimato.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“I have tailed all of the officers except for General Overlock and his adjutant, Guinness, but there was nothing suspicious about the officers in the coalition forces.”

“What about the general and his adjutant?”

“I did not dig into them since they were the ones who made the request to the Mercenary Guild...”

It was then.

“Y-Your Majesty... D-Don’t tell me...?” Gringore stuttered after seeing Siegfried’s eyes become sharp, and then he asked, “Are you suspecting the general by any chance...?”

“Yes, I find it strange that there were only two names who appeared on the reports of the failed operations,” Siegfried nonchalantly replied.

“G-General Overlock and his adjutant... Colonel Guinness...!”

“Don’t you think eliminating them from the list of suspects just because they made the request sounds strange to you?”

“Still... General Overlock had dedicated his entire life to the coalition against the Cryptids... Do you really think he will side with the enemy?”

“Then, that only leaves us with Colonel Guinness...” Siegfried muttered before he racked his brains and came to a conclusion. “It’s very likely that Colonel Guinness is the culprit...”

The sound of hooves suddenly echoed outside the tent.

Clop! Clop! Clop!

‘What’s that?’?Siegfried went out to take a look and saw a shocking scene. ‘What the hell? Why is everyone armed as if they’re going to war?’

“Your Majesty!” Carell, who was in another battalion, suddenly came to him and reported, “A mobilization order has been issued. They are planning to launch a full-scale offensive against the Cryptid Giant Lair.”

“What?! Who gave the command? Which bastard gave such a dumb command?!” Siegfried exclaimed in surprise.

“It came directly from the command center.”

“Wow... crazy... Does this even make sense at all...? They’re aware that there’s a spy in the army, but they’re launching a full-scale offensive? How is this different from sending the entire army to their deaths—huh?” Siegfried suddenly realized something and froze on the spot.

“This is insane!” he gritted his teeth and made a run toward the command center.

***

Siegfried went inside General Overlock’s tent.

“Oh!?You’re here!” General Overlock warmly welcomed Siegfried, and then he said, “I was about to call you just now.”

“General.”

“Hmm?”

“Have you gone nuts?” Siegfried asked with hostility in his voice.

“What do you mean by that?”

“There is a spy in the army, but you are issuing a full-scale attack?”

“Ah,?that...” General Overlock muttered before he pointed at the map and said, “This point here is quite important. This was an important logistic route for us, but we lost it a few days ago. The entire coalition forces will not be able to replenish its supplies, and it will soon be in danger if we fail to retake this point.”

“Hmm...”

“We have to take risks from time to time, don’t you agree?”

“Who gave this command?”

“Who else? I gave the command as the commander in charge of this army. Ah,?so I was thinking... What if you stand at the vanguard for the army this time?”

Pukeok!

Siegfried swung his +15 Gaia’s Fist and smacked General Overlock in the head.

“Kyu?!”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

Hamchi, Gringore, and Carell were stupefied.

“Hey! Owner punk! Have you gone insane?! You just committed treason! How can you kill the commander?!” Hamchi protested.

“I don’t think so,” Siegfried shook his head and replied, “Does that thing still look like General Overlock to you?”

“Kyu?”

“Take a look,” Siegfried pointed at Overlock’s body.

Squirm...! Squirm...! Squirm...!?

General Overlock’s was smashed open, but he squirmed as if he was still alive.

“Keke... Kekekeke...!”?A spine-chilling cackle came out of his mouth.