Kays Translations

Chapter 61: Recovery Operations

Jake, the branch manager of the Triston Trading Company. With his cooperation, the investigation will proceed smoothly.

At this juncture, we have reached a conclusion. The situation is not yet resolved, but at least there is nothing Lute can do at this point.

“Colonel Landvald. I’m going outside to retrieve the frozen divine soldiers.”

“I don’t mind, but… Is this investigation okay?”

“I’m sure I’m just in the way. In that case, it would be more efficient to split up. I’ll leave the ones I retrieved at the duke’s residence, and I’ll ask you to check their identities later.”

The true power of the demi-god is combat. Investigations should be left to experts, and are not areas for amateurs to dabble in.

It is much better to quickly complete a task that can be easily handled than to try to act in a field that is not your area of expertise.

“…… Oh, yes, and if any of the Divine Soldiers have nothing to do with the trading company, investigate their identities and report back to me immediately. Liselotte and I will discuss how to respond.”

“Let’s sit in. Let’s be present. Especially if we are dealing with the divine soldiers, it is better to have our forces with us so that we do not have to worry. However, as for the two who triggered the attack, they will be treated as evidence of the attack, so there will be no questioning. Please leave them at the duke’s residence in exchange for retrieving the divine soldiers.”

“Thank you very much. I will contact you as soon as I have completed my analysis of the documents.”

“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

I lightly informed him of my future plans and parted ways with Landvald.

Leaving the Triston Trading Company as it was, he took a light leap. He creates a slab of ice under his feet and ascends directly into the sky at once.

“Now……”

Muttering, he switches consciousness.

The city is still shrouded in Lute’s divine authority. Since it would naturally dissipate if left unattended, it had been maintained in a corner of consciousness until now.

“Um, there were two people inside.”

The reason is for this moment.

The space in which divine authority exists is tantamount to being under the control of a demi-god wizard. Not only can they invoke magic wherever they wish, but they can also perceive events within the space they have taken control of, albeit roughly.

Fluctuations in divine authority caused by various factors. It is like sonar or radar that makes use of it.

The structure of buildings. The movement of people. Flocks of small animals such as rats, cats, and birds. Of course, it can also detect humans who have been put on ice by his own hands.

“I think I’ll just take out the indoor ones first. If we move them too much and destroy the building, that would be a problem…..Then, pick up the rest at the end of the day.”

The policy is set and the movement begins. Its speed is slow because there is no need to hurry anymore.

The ice boat leisurely makes its way through the city’s sky, which is now tinged with the darkness of night.

Time passed so carelessly, partly because we had crossed the climax. Because of that, Lute naturally chuckled to himself.

“…Even so, the Divine Soldiers alone are eight in total.  If you add the other agents, it’s even more. That’s quite a large group, isn’t it?”

What comes to mind is the results of the hunt. We have detained double-digit numbers of enemy agents, which, simply put, is something to be proud of as a great success.

──But Lute was never happy. Not only Lute, but also Landvald, and Liselotte, who will hear the report after this, will not be happy.

“There are eight people who are comparable to divine soldiers and tactical level magicians. The number of people who have been in the industry for a long time is still very small.”

The heroic class, as they are commonly referred to. There are eight people who have the power to influence the course of the battlefield.

Depending on how you look at this fact, their future response will change 180 degrees.

Simply put, it is a major operation that would involve the introduction of eight heroes as intelligence officers. In most countries, it would be counted as a top priority operation where failure is not an option.

However, it is in the territory of Lute, a demi-god. And if you look at the fact that the divine soldiers can be mass-produced in any number of ways, I feel that the importance of this place quickly diminishes.

“Let’s increase the number of personnel just in case.” Because it is a superpower called the Republic state that can add a hero class with that kind of thinking.

“I really don’t like to think that the purpose of this is to be a worthy insignificance for this force. How much easier it would be if we were a little more generous with our intelligence gathering…….”

All will be revealed later. The analysis by Landvald and his team and the interrogation with Lute also present will reveal the truth. It would be more accurate to say that I hope …… that this is the case.

“──Wait. Here.”

While I was thinking about it, I arrived at the sky above my destination. Switch my thoughts and turn my attention to the ground

The target was a tavern. Not the Uminekotei, but a tavern one of several in Sandelica.

Were they trying to gather information at the bar, or were they just there to enjoy a drink? The purpose of the visit is unknown, but what is certain is that the divine soldier is on ice inside the bar.

As if to confirm this, the area around the bar, which would normally be bustling with activity, was filled with a very stark and dim atmosphere.

Furthermore, not only onlookers, who had sensed something unusual, but also guards, who may have been alerted to the situation, can be seen in the area.

“Hmmm……”

This is a natural scene, considering that the person in the restaurant was suddenly put on ice. The fact that the guards are also active is a nice touch for one of the city’s government officials, albeit an ornamental one.

If so, the response should be relaxed. I made a lot of noise today.

The citizens were peaceful and the guards were working diligently. It would be a pity to give them any more stimulation.

Keep the appearance as it is. Withdraw only the pressure. Lute slowly descended to the ground, keeping the visuals that would identify him as the grand duke himself.

“I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to open the place up. I also need to speak to the head of the guard here.”

“W-No way, His Excellency the Grand Duke!?”

The appearance of Lute caused a roar to spread around.

This is probably because most of them immediately recognized Lute’s true identity at first glance because of his distinctive appearance, exactly the same as he showed on his first day in Sandelica.

At the same time, one of the guards comes running toward Lute. He must be the highest-ranking of all the guards here, as he comes at full speed with a bloodthirsty look on his face.

“Are you in charge of this place?”

“Ha, yes sir! You’re right! So, what brings your Excellency, the Grand Duke, to a place like this ……?”

“There must be someone frozen in this bar. I’m here to collect him.”

“Recovery? Certainly, we are currently conducting an investigation assuming that it was a murder by magic, but…”

Lute gave a brief explanation to the man who seemed to be unable to keep up with his understanding.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’re working so seriously, but I’m the one who did it. It’s classified, but we were in the middle of a joint military operation. All this stuff about people suddenly getting iced up and big chunks of ice floating in the sky, it’s all part of it.”

“Huh huh…?”

“So there’s no problem. Don’t worry about it because it’s work officially approved by the lord. It would be helpful if you could tell other colleagues and people about it.”

“I-Well, I’m in awe!”

“Good. Then I’ll collect the frozen guy inside.”

With only one last word, Lute retrieved the divine soldier in the bar. Once again, he maneuvered his ice boat and ascended into the sky.

There was a stirring again below, but I didn’t care about that.

“Okay, next.”

The rest of the process is similar and repeated only once more. Since the rest of the divine soldiers are outdoors, the retrieval process is complete once they are floated all the way up to the sky at once.

In the meantime, if Natra is picked up in the same way and returned to the Duke’s residence, the situation will be almost over.

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