CHAPTER 16
Chapter 4: The Whirlpool
“Was it really an inside job…?”
Inspector Pale read the report and couldn’t speak for a while.
The recent attack by the Poison King Cult was strange in many ways.
The biggest mystery was how the enemies reached Granble Village without being stopped. It wasn’t like Granble was near the border like Bryce City.
Sure, even the border guards couldn’t perfectly cover the whole area. But even if the enemies somehow slipped past the patrols, there was still a two-day walk from the border to Granble. That route had regular patrols by the Sword King Family’s army, and there were always people moving between the towns and cities.
But no one saw anything. Not even one person reported it.
It was as if the enemies already knew everything—where the patrols would be, who would be there, and when.
Two days before the attack, the knights stationed in Granble were also replaced.
Most of the experienced knights were sent away, and new, inexperienced ones took their place.
Even the Granble Family’s personal guard—thirty private knights—was reduced to half, since many of them were on vacation.
“Of course, the strong ones all just happened to be on break, including the captain…”
It was just too perfect.
Someone had planned for Granble to be at its weakest—and told the enemy exactly when that would be.
There had to be a traitor inside the Sword King Family.
The problem was who Pale suspected. The names of some powerful families written in the report made him feel nervous.
“If I mess with this… the entire Sword King Family might explode.”
He sighed deeply. This was a heavy and dangerous situation.
But it had to be dealt with. Ignoring a rotten wound only makes the whole body rot in the end.
“Huff… I wonder if the young master made it to Bryce safely.”
Pale looked at the large money pouch on his desk and smiled. It had the address of the Highwind Dormitory, the fifth dorm at the Northern Academy, and the name Ray Granble on it.
He planned to send it right away. If all went well, Ray would have the money in two days.
“I hope you graduate safely and rebuild your family… This is all I can do right now. I wish I could help you directly, but I have too much to do.”
“Inspector!”
Suddenly, one of his men burst into the office.
“Bad news! People from the capital are forcing their way in—argh!”
Men in black rushed into the room and took the agent down. Pale quickly drew his sword and shouted.
“Who are you?!”
“Hm? Why don’t you guess?”
A man walked in with a sly smile.
“That might make this easier. Reporting everything is such a hassle.”
“You…”
“We’re from Counterintelligence.”
The man threw a badge and papers onto the table.
“Three swords…”
The badge had three swords on it. One meant administrator. Two meant inspector. Three meant executioner.
Pale could feel the intense killing intent around him.
‘So this is the Counterintelligence Squad? Each one is at least five-star level…’
“Pale Trace. You are under arrest.”
The man lifted a steel binding tool.
The Counterintelligence Squad only took orders from the Sword King himself. Most people didn’t even know they existed. But they had the power to arrest nearly anyone in the family.
“The Counterintelligence Squad… I’ve heard of you, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen you. Don’t you only act on very serious matters?”
“This is serious. That’s why we’re here to arrest you.”
“What’s the charge?”
“Leaking classified information.”
“Hah…”
Pale gave a small, bitter laugh and began drawing in aura.
He had made a mistake.
He hadn’t expected a reaction this fast after just starting his investigation.
‘I poked the snake’s nest…’
He should’ve known they’d react this harshly.
“Leaking info? What info? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“We’ll find out soon enough. Will you cooperate?”
The man waved the bindings as if hoping Pale would resist—so they could kill him and cover it up more easily.
‘Eight of them…’
Pale checked their strength.
‘If I fight, I’ll definitely lose.’
No—die.
Their killing intent was too strong. Even fighting one would be tough. If they all came at once, he wouldn’t last a second.
He wasn’t afraid of dying. He had accepted that risk when he became an inspector.
But if he fought, his men would all be killed too.
“Ugh… Inspector…”
“Don’t move. You have a job to do.”
Pale looked at his pinned-down agent and sighed.
“Tell everyone not to resist. Cooperate. I’m counting on you all to handle things while I’m gone.”
“Inspector!”
“I’ll cooperate. Just don’t hurt my men.”
Pale put down his sword and held out his hands.
The man in black chuckled like it was no big deal.
“Heh. You’d think we were here to massacre the place.”
He wrapped the bindings around Pale’s wrists. The cold metal made his skin crawl.
As Pale stepped outside—
‘Black Knights!’
He saw knights in black armor standing outside.
They were the Black Knights, the private army of the Blackluna Family, ranked first among the eight Sword King Houses.
The very top of the report he’d just read had that name: Blackluna.
‘So fast.’
Their home was far in the south, yet they had already arrived. That showed how seriously they were taking this.
‘Blackluna joined forces with Counterintelligence… If they’re backed by the Sword King himself…’
Pale closed his eyes and sighed.
Things were getting worse fast. The problem inside the Sword King Family wasn’t something a simple inspector could fix.
Meanwhile…
I ransacked Eric’s dorm room like a thief.
But there was nothing. Not even 1 seal.
I thought he’d have a stash of secret money, but nope. What kind of cult sends spies without even giving them cash?
Anyway, I still had only 140 seals. That might last two weeks in Granble. Tibber once said you could get a meal there for just 3 seals.
But this was Bryce—crazy expensive. The cheapest meal I’d seen was 10 seals.
And I had to buy a uniform.
A custom one cost at least 200 seals.
No way I could afford that. So I went for a used one, sold by older students.
Even the cheapest secondhand uniform cost 100 seals.
I struggled to find one in good condition—and even then, it didn’t fit right. I had to pick one that was too big, hoping I’d grow into it.
Now I had 40 seals left.
Enough to last two days, until the semester started. The academy gave free meals, so I just had to survive until then.
One skewer from the farthest market stall cost 5 seals. That would do.
It took hours to get there, and who knew what meat it was—but it was cheap.
Then I saw it:
[Oakleaf Tavern – Bryce Main Branch]
I remembered…
- “Oakleaf is the best! Their food is amazing!” my sister said.
- “I agree. The lamb with the special sauce is top-tier,” my brother added.
I hadn’t cared at the time, but now…
[Tonight Only: Oakleaf Dinner Special – 40 Seals!]
My heart started pounding.
Why 40 seals?
If it were more expensive, I would’ve walked away. But now… I couldn’t move.
Gulp.
My legs were shaking. I felt like I’d collapse from hunger.
Had I even eaten today?
If I didn’t go inside now, I might lose my mind.
But wait.
This hunger—this insane craving—it wasn’t mine.
I sighed and looked up at the sunset sky.
Tibber, calm down.
I’m broke. If I spend my last 40 seals, I’ll starve for two days.
Let’s look for something else. Okay?
But…
No matter how much I begged, I couldn’t take a single step away.
Lamb with special sauce… I could see it in my mind. Even though I’d never eaten it.
It had to be amazing.
After everything I’d been through, didn’t I deserve a reward?
But I had no money.
Still, my chest felt empty.
If I filled this hole, maybe Tibber would be satisfied too.
But if I spend it now, I’ll go hungry.
But it smells so good.
But I’ll starve…
But…
But…
But…
“Ugh…”
I was trapped.
Oakleaf had dug the perfect trap right outside its door.
How long had I stood here?
Ten minutes?
Thirty?
Tons of customers had come and gone. They all smelled amazing.
“Ughhh…”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
My soul had already left my body and entered the restaurant. Now my body just needed to follow.
But then—
“…”
I felt someone watching me.
I turned—and saw a kid in the same school uniform, glaring at me.
“…”
“…”
Who was this?
He was definitely a student. Unlike the guy I killed earlier, I didn’t smell poison on him.
Not all academy students are spies, after all.
But why was he staring?
He had sharp eyes and a scar on his face. Something about him felt dangerous…
