Ch.119119. Main Scenario – Slaves

# Main Scenario: Slave Traders

The clear conditions for this scenario were extremely straightforward.

All I had to do was eliminate the slave trader organization hiding in the shadows of the Empire and trafficking humans.

Though it was a simple scenario commonly used in many media, that wasn’t what Tactical Combat was about.

This scenario existed primarily to increase the player’s reputation, and like the Sigurd clan’s main scenario, it wasn’t necessary to clear it for game progression.

However, since the slave trader organization was parasitic to the darker aspects of the Empire, leaving them alone would allow them to gradually expand until they eventually developed into a massive organization difficult to eliminate.

Moreover, there was an event where they would randomly kidnap companion characters you had painstakingly raised, so players would reluctantly clear it anyway.

“Not mandatory, but practically forced—what a crappy event.”

This was what every Tactical Combat player would say when describing the slave trader scenario.

Gilbert fell into thought as he watched the clearly angry Seraphina after leaving the restaurant. The slave trader scenario typically triggered around the middle of the main scenario, but this time it seemed to be happening earlier.

Of course, he wasn’t particularly shaken, having painfully learned through recent events that not everything would unfold exactly as it did in the game. He was simply trying to recall where the slave traders had been hiding.

As someone obsessed with achievements, he had cleared the slave trader achievement before. Achievements weren’t always tied to righteous or good actions.

Just under half of the achievements could only be obtained through evil-aligned gameplay. Naturally, Gilbert had completed all of them.

Back then, he played with the simple mindset that it was just a game.

The unpleasant feeling from following such a distasteful route was merely an afterthought.

But now that it had become reality, looking back, it wasn’t particularly pleasant.

After all, an organization dealing in human trafficking couldn’t possibly be normal, could it?

Furthermore, Tactical Combat was an adult game. Due to its explicit cruelty and sexual content, Gilbert hadn’t found the slave trader route particularly enjoyable. He had just mechanically rushed through it to get the achievement and move on to the next playthrough.

Still, he was grateful for that experience now. If even half of the game information matched reality, it wouldn’t take much effort to eliminate these criminals.

The problem was how to utilize that information.

This was what Gilbert was pondering.

The slave trader organization, Slaves, had close ties with the power structure within the Empire due to their human trafficking activities. To cater to the perverted desires of nobles, they would indiscriminately capture anyone they could.

When Gilbert played the slave trader route, he had kidnapped all sorts of people for the “Slave Hunter” achievement. He had done whatever it took to complete all achievements in a single playthrough.

At the time, he thought it didn’t matter since it was just a game, though he had winced quite a few times. By the latter part of the route, some aspects were so vicious that he questioned the mental state of the game developers who had designed it.

In any case, their information was kept strictly confidential, making it difficult to obtain reliable intelligence even through ordinary information guilds.

As is typical with such shady organizations, they operated in cells, and investigating them would only expose expendable underlings.

Unless one commissioned at least a Rose-level information organization, it was practically impossible to obtain useful intelligence.

This was the source of Gilbert’s concern. He had the information but wasn’t sure how to reveal it.

If he disclosed too much at once, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. It would naturally seem suspicious if Gilbert revealed things that even decent information guilds didn’t know.

After pondering for a solution, he decided to visit the Rose guild in Obitus soon. At least that level of information guild would be necessary to retrieve intelligence on the Slaves.

“Priest.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I do not think the slave system itself is wrong. After all, slavery is not illegal in the Empire.”

Infractus was one of the places where slavery was still practiced. Criminals were sometimes demoted to slave status depending on the severity of their crimes.

The buying and selling of slaves within the Empire’s established framework was legally recognized.

However, what they strictly prohibited was the sale of slaves through human trafficking.

Even in a place where the class system persisted, the current imperial policy held that indiscriminate slave trading was a cancer eating away at society.

Therefore, to Seraphina, who cherished the Empire, human trafficking slave traders were malignant entities that had to be eliminated.

“But these people have gone too far. To dare conduct human trafficking within my reach—is this not an insult to me?”

“Indeed it is, Your Highness.”

“Gilbert. As my priest and a loyal subject of the Empire.”

Gilbert immediately rose and knelt before her.

Seraphina was no longer addressing Gilbert as her priest.

The moment she called him a loyal subject of the Empire, she became Seraphina Rector Infractus, the Imperial Princess of the Infractus Empire.

“I, First Imperial Princess Seraphina Rector Infractus, command you.”

“As a loyal subject of the Empire, I swear to carry out any command at the risk of my life.”

“My order to you is but one: the complete extermination of these vermin. Your sword shall have neither eyes nor ears. It shall be a blind sword of judgment alone.”

“I, Sir Gilbert Lion Heart, shall obey the command of the First Imperial Princess.”

[Main Scenario: Slave Traders has begun.]

The main scenario began the moment Gilbert bowed his head to receive Seraphina’s command.

***

After completing his covert mission with Seraphina, Gilbert headed to Obitus the next morning to carry out her orders. Though there was no deadline for the command, the longer he delayed after the main scenario had begun, the more momentum the slave traders’ power would gain.

With the princess’s support, Gilbert arrived directly in Obitus through a warp gate.

Arriving early in the morning, Obitus hadn’t changed much since his previous visit. Though at least half a year had passed, it wasn’t surprising given the slower pace of development in this era compared to modern times.

Gilbert left the warp gate administration office and headed straight for the back alleys. He could feel the gaze of pickpockets eyeing his pockets, but none dared to approach him.

Despite the passage of half a year, rumors of Gilbert’s previous visit had spread widely. In places like this, being unaware of rumors could cost one’s life.

As before, upon arriving at the Rose guild, he was immediately able to meet with the manager.

“Well, who do we have here? Isn’t it Sir Gilbert?”

Having met a few times before, the manager welcomed Gilbert warmly. He highly regarded Gilbert for successfully handling the previous information he had provided.

Within the Rose guild, information about Gilbert was always treated as top-tier, reflecting his elevated status.

“Manager, I have a request.”

“Of course. What do you need this time?”

The manager asked about his reason for visiting, accustomed to Gilbert’s consistently blunt demeanor. Having dealt with many eccentric individuals, the manager actually preferred Gilbert’s straightforward approach.

“Information on human trafficking slave traders hiding in the Empire.”

“Human trafficking slave traders… That will be quite expensive.”

“That’s fine.”

“Still as direct as ever. The initial fee is 30 gold.”

Thirty gold just as a down payment? That’s ridiculously expensive.

While this indicated how difficult it was to obtain information on the Slaves, Gilbert, who already knew most of the details, couldn’t help but feel it was a waste of money.

However, if he tried to save a few coins by revealing his knowledge, he might end up being associated with them. He absolutely didn’t want to take such a reckless risk now that things were finally going smoothly.

Gilbert tossed a pouch to the manager.

Though its weight suggested it contained 30 gold, the manager carefully counted the coins. This was partly to avoid giving the impression that the information guild was careless, which could damage their credibility.

Of course, there were also occasionally madmen who tried to cheat information guilds.

“Confirmed. We’ll deliver the information as soon as possible.”

“Is there anything you can tell me right away?”

“There are quite a number of human trafficking slave trader groups hiding in the Empire. However, from what we’ve gathered, they’re all connected under one large organization.”

“The name?”

“Slaves. They’re likely the slave trader group you’re looking for, Sir Gilbert.”

“Slaves… I’ll remember that. Get me as much information as possible. Especially if you can find where their leader is.”

“It might take some time. The Slaves operate in cells, and if they suspect they’re being tracked, they immediately cut ties and flee.”

“I’m not interested in that. I’ve commissioned the Rose guild, and I only need to receive the information.”

“Of course. You needn’t worry about that. By the way, Sir Gilbert.”

The manager, grinning, showed Gilbert something. It was a familiar-looking deck of cards.

“We’ve recently acquired something special… Are you interested?”

Perhaps wanting revenge for his previous defeat, the manager was asking if Gilbert wanted to play Swat.

Though he hadn’t come with the intention of playing Swat, Gilbert was very curious about what the prize might be.

“Something special?”

“A rare mineral called Moon’s Tear. It’s even more precious than the Dragon’s Fruit you took as a prize before.”

Moon’s Tear!

Gilbert’s eyes lit up at the mention of Moon’s Tear.

Moon’s Tear was a material with exceptional magical conductivity. Though currently undervalued because its uses weren’t widely known, it would soon become astronomically expensive once its applications were discovered.

It was rumored to be so receptive to magical energy that it might even be able to contain souls. The fact that such a mineral was at the Obitus branch was surprising.

“I didn’t bring a deck this time either.”

“I’ll lend you my deck just like before. So, shall I take that as your participation?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’ve never lost.”

“I’ll be the one to hand you your first defeat.”

And so, the second Swat match between Gilbert and the manager was unexpectedly arranged.

***

The winner of the second Swat match was Gilbert again.

Don’t underestimate someone from South Korea, where dueling culture reigns supreme.

Gilbert returned to Demeia Academy in high spirits, having secured the Moon’s Tear.