Ch.276[Chapter 276] Repayment

Sir Dominic entered the private room through the open door.

Unlike the grand main entrance, the entrance to the private room was extremely ordinary and modest, giving the impression that one should remove their shoes before entering.

“It seems we need to take off our shoes before entering. I’ll organize them once we’re inside.”

Mister Wang told Sir Dominic to remove his shoes.

Sir Dominic mindlessly took off his shoes, but couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.

What need was there to observe etiquette inside an enemy base?

Nevertheless, after storing their shoes in the shoe rack, Sir Dominic and Mister Wang crossed the entryway into the living room.

“…Brigadier General Joseph?”

Sir Dominic looked at the person standing in the living room.

She was wearing empress attire but had her hair down, apparently in the middle of getting ready.

“S-Sir Dominic? How did you get in here?”

Brigadier General Joseph turned around with a start at Sir Dominic’s voice, pointing in shock at the unexpected visitors.

“I, I came through the front door.”

Sir Dominic scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he spoke.

In truth, no further explanation was needed to describe the current situation.

“The front door? But it should be locked…”

“I opened it and came in.”

“!”

Brigadier General Joseph stepped back in disbelief.

“I-I can’t believe it. You solved that puzzle? The one that even the smartest person in Mountain Bridge Marsh couldn’t solve?”

Sir Dominic thought Brigadier General Joseph was overreacting, but then recalled what Mister Wang had said in the poison gas chamber.

Something about the strange waves making Mountain Bridge Marsh personnel too stupid to betray their organization.

It seemed Brigadier General Joseph, having been a Mountain Bridge Marsh underling for a long time, was also a victim of those strange waves.

“We couldn’t open it ourselves so we gave up on that security system, I can’t believe—”

“Wait, wait. Then how have you been getting in and out until now?”

Sir Dominic asked incredulously.

If she couldn’t use the only entrance to the private room, how was Brigadier General Joseph here?

“Through the window. Do you see that rocket launcher over there? I use it to make explosive jumps.”

“…Don’t you have stairs or a ladder?”

“What are those?”

Through this conversation, Sir Dominic confirmed that Brigadier General Joseph’s intelligence had definitely deteriorated.

Sir Dominic faced off with Brigadier General Joseph while surveying the surroundings.

He was checking if there was anyone else besides Brigadier General Joseph.

“Unfortunately, if you’re looking for the Master, you’re too late. He just went out.”

“Master?”

“The high-ranking official of Mountain Bridge Marsh, Wang.”

“!”

At Brigadier General Joseph’s words, Mister Wang’s eyes widened.

He pushed past Sir Dominic and questioned Brigadier General Joseph urgently.

“Wang! Did you say Wang?”

“Yes. One of the six… no, is it five now? Six? Anyway, one of the pillars of Mountain Bridge Marsh.”

Hearing Brigadier General Joseph’s words, Mister Wang sank to the floor.

“He’s alive. And even became a high-ranking official…”

Mister Wang began silently shedding tears at the news that his son was alive.

Having left Mountain Bridge Marsh and lost all information about the organization, he had also lost contact with his son, but now he finally heard news of him again.

“Wait, does that mean the manager of this base is your son?”

Sir Dominic pointed out what Mister Wang had missed.

“…It appears so.”

Mister Wang nodded at Sir Dominic’s words.

Sir Dominic stared intently at Mister Wang, then picked up his sword and shield and said:

“I’ve made up my mind to strike a blow against Mountain Bridge Marsh no matter what. And the easiest way to do that is to take down a high-ranking official.”

Mister Wang’s face turned pale at Sir Dominic’s words.

Mister Wang wanted to somehow convince Sir Dominic to change his plan, but Sir Dominic spoke first.

“However, Mister Wang, I know well that without your help, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to strike a blow. So I’m willing to give you one chance.”

Sir Dominic helped Mister Wang to his feet.

“Try to persuade your son. If he agrees to cut ties with Mountain Bridge Marsh and their illegal activities, I won’t touch him.”

“…Thank you.”

Mister Wang expressed his gratitude for Sir Dominic’s proposal.

He knew that even giving him this one chance was a generous offer.

In truth, if you only considered Sir Dominic himself, Mountain Bridge Marsh could probably handle him.

But Sir Dominic wasn’t the problem.

The problem was that every single person around Sir Dominic was extraordinary.

Hime, who was close to Sir Dominic, was the daughter of the Unryu clan, the largest ninja family in Gachaland. Sir Dominic’s sister, Remi, was a talent treasured by the president of the Black Group.

Everyone knew that Senator Muscleman from the Tanker Union was his backer, so the Executive branch was also favorable toward Sir Dominic.

And that wasn’t all. The Don Castello and Don Cartello brothers, who were acquainted with Sir Dominic, were sons of the Black Group’s second-in-command, and Sir Dominic himself worked at System Industries.

System Industries was known throughout Gachaland for protecting its employees exceptionally well, even if they only prevented them from going home. So even though Sir Dominic was just a low-ranking security guard, he could receive System Industries’ protection if necessary.

In conclusion, Mister Wang determined that Sir Dominic had connections with all three wings of Gachaland, and if Sir Dominic set his mind to it, he could probably handle half of Mountain Bridge Marsh without much difficulty, if not the entire organization.

Of course, among ordinary Gachaland citizens, many only knew part of these facts or simply thought of him as a successful tanker, but Mister Wang, being well-informed, knew some of the truth about Sir Dominic and could therefore reach such a conclusion.

Of course, Sir Dominic had no such intentions and was simply granting Mister Wang’s request, but that was beside the point.

“Wait, what are you two talking about?”

Just as Sir Dominic and Mister Wang were discussing what to do about Wang, Brigadier General Joseph cut into their conversation with annoyance.

“A Mountain Bridge Marsh official isn’t so easily defeated by a mere tanker. Adding one old man doesn’t change anything. Acting like you’ve already won is truly foolish.”

Brigadier General Joseph suddenly began lecturing them.

Indeed, it might have been arrogant to think that a top official of Mountain Bridge Marsh couldn’t handle a 3-star Sir Dominic and Mister Wang, who was slightly weaker than Sir Dominic.

“Besides, what happens if I call for reinforcements? It might take some time for them to get here, but considering this is the lowest level, it would also take you quite a while to escape.”

Mister Wang’s expression hardened and his face darkened.

Brigadier General Joseph was right.

If they had other support it would be different, but right now only the two of them had arrived for the infiltration.

If it came down to a battle of numbers and stamina, Sir Dominic might be fine, but Mister Wang couldn’t guarantee his survival.

With his past crimes against Mountain Bridge Marsh still recorded in the system, Mister Wang’s death would mean exile.

Was she truly worthy of the brigadier general title?

Although it was a title she gave herself, as the saying goes, the position makes the person—she was now a strategist worthy of the brigadier general name.

…Among Mountain Bridge Marsh members, at least.

“So, what will you do? For your information, I plan to use all my strength to prevent you from escaping. It would be best not to think about running away.”

After saying this, Brigadier General Joseph suddenly threw off the empress outfit she was wearing.

In an instant, she transformed into an officer’s uniform.

Behind her, strangely dressed bizarre individuals began entering through the window.

They appeared to be low-ranking Mountain Bridge Marsh minions.

She must have secretly called for reinforcements during their conversation earlier.

“Everyone focus on draining their stamina! If we capture them and present them to Master Wang, there will be rewards!”

At Brigadier General Joseph’s command, the bizarre individuals began making squeaking noises and causing a commotion.

As if saying they would handle it.

Seeing the bizarre individuals suddenly rushing in, Mister Wang thought they were doomed.

“…Let’s escape through the front door! The bizarre individuals probably haven’t reached there yet!”

Mister Wang shouted this to Sir Dominic, but for some reason, Sir Dominic was staring at Brigadier General Joseph with a stern expression.

“Brigadier General Joseph.”

“What is it?”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“What?”

Brigadier General Joseph calmed the rampaging bizarre individuals and looked at Sir Dominic.

The look in Brigadier General Joseph’s eyes as she gazed at Sir Dominic seemed complicated, but Sir Dominic paid no attention to that.

“This Wang person, has he completely left this place?”

After pondering Sir Dominic’s question briefly, Brigadier General Joseph decided to be generous.

“Yes. He said there was a meeting of high-ranking officials today, so he should be gone by now. Why do you ask?”

Hearing Brigadier General Joseph’s answer, Sir Dominic let out a sigh of relief.

His expression remained stern.

“Then I can keep my promise. May I ask one more thing?”

“…? Go ahead.”

Brigadier General Joseph thought one more question wouldn’t hurt and waited for Sir Dominic to speak.

“What time is it now?”

“Now? Just a moment, the time is—”

Brigadier General Joseph looked at her wristwatch after hearing Sir Dominic’s question.

But she couldn’t bring herself to tell Sir Dominic the time.

Because in the polished glass of her watch, she saw Sir Dominic’s face.

Sir Dominic was smiling.

Holding a pocket watch in his hand.

Yes.

He was smiling brightly.

Brigadier General Joseph raised her head to ask why Sir Dominic was smiling and what the pocket watch in his hand was, but Sir Dominic spoke first.

“Before coming here, I sent a message to my sister. It was the same question. What time is it now?”

And that was the answer he was giving himself to the question he had just asked.

“And my sister said this: ‘Koroshi’ (killing time).”

Brigadier General Joseph wanted to tell Sir Dominic that the joke wasn’t very funny, but what was truly unfunny was what came next.

A thin beam of light appeared in front of Brigadier General Joseph.

An incredibly dense beam of light that should never have been able to enter this secret underground base, especially its lowest level.

The moment the beam of light appeared, Sir Dominic snapped shut the pocket watch he had been holding open.

Still with that bright smile on his face.