episode_0292

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It was long past midnight, the dead of night.

Hero Spade and Club of Squad 7 were in a 【Restricted Area】 where there wasn’t a soul in sight.

They had used a motorcycle to get to the entrance of this street, but because of the noise, they parked it a good distance away from their destination and cautiously approached on foot.

“Club, can you see anything?”

“Um… even with expanding my vision as far as I can at this stage, I still can’t see anything. There aren’t any animals nearby that I can connect with either.”

“I see. Let’s send the cats in as soon as we arrive.”

Club was holding pet carriers containing meowing cats in both hands.

In order to use Club’s magic, 【Clairvoyance】, she needed the eyes of others, including animals.

Since cats had the best wavelength for that magic, she had gone to the trouble of bringing them.

However, a special magnetic field was faintly flowing in the 【Restricted Area】, and perhaps due to that influence, the cats in the carriers were hissing and generally on edge.

The effects on the body had not yet been revealed, and you couldn’t feel this magnetic field without using tools… but animals with sensitive senses seemed to be able to feel something.

Because of that, even the common rats were almost nonexistent in this area….

“Then let’s keep going. It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone around yet, so we can speed up a bit.”

“Yes, understood.”

The two continued through the broken streets, without a single light.

***

The mission handed down by the higher-ups in the Association.

It was to raid the transaction site of a certain villain organization and the overseas mafia.

They knew the existence of the villain organization participating in the deal, but they didn’t know the location of the mafia side, so they had to directly arrest a member of the mafia at the transaction site.

If the opponent was a villain, who wasn’t guaranteed human rights, it wouldn’t be a problem even if they were killed, but if it was the mafia, they were just humans, not Awakened.

Having to arrest them without killing them made the mission slightly more difficult than usual.

‘The number of villains participating in the deal is three.’

‘The mafia side doesn’t know the exact number, but they’re expecting at least twenty or more.’

Things about the mafia were vague, but they received quite detailed information about everything else.

The Association had people with the ability of 【Prophecy】, and there were also excellent personnel in the 『Intelligence Department』.

Perhaps it was because such talented people had put in the effort, but the information was strangely detailed.

Because there was such detailed information, they were only allocating two people like this.

If there was even a little bit more lack of information, Leader Rahe would have cut it and put together a safer team.

“…It’s airtight. It seems difficult to scout any further with just my cats.”

And, about 100m away from the intended location.

Club, who was using cats to survey the situation at the destination from inside a suitable abandoned building, said as if giving up.

Club used magic that connected with animals or people that she had prepared in advance, sharing their senses.

【Empathy Magic】 or 【Synchronization Magic】.

It was a very excellent ability to freely grasp the situation remotely by sharing sight or hearing with multiple beings at once, but most animals couldn’t enter closed spaces or behind closed doors, which made it difficult.

Just like right now.

“There are no open doors or windows. I was hoping there would be a dog hole, but there isn’t.”

“The windows are all covered with iron plates. It seems impossible for the cats to infiltrate for now… and breaking through the windows is impossible like this.”

Club immediately conveyed what she had investigated through the cat’s eyes.

First of all, she found footprints that seemed to have been recently made, and she realized that someone was using that building.

And as a countermeasure against intruders, she also confirmed that there were only two entrances that could be used.

This made it difficult to sneak in, but at the same time, it also made it difficult for the guys inside to escape.

‘What should I do.’

Not being able to know the situation inside was bothering her in many ways.

It might be better to investigate a little more carefully before breaking in.

‘There’s still some time left until the meeting time. There’s still room to investigate….’

The detailed advance information about the mission that came down from above even included the detailed time of this meeting.

If she believed that information, there was still plenty of time left.

There was no need to worry.

Safety first (安全第一).

That’s what Leader Rahe always emphasized, to test the stepping stones before crossing.

Spade was about to instruct Club to continue the investigation.

But the words that came out of her mouth were completely different.

***

『Those inexperienced heroes were foolish. And they were also impatient.』

『The senior hero suggested. ‘Rather than being safe, let’s go with a risky but efficient method.’』

『The two of them carelessly infiltrated the enemy’s lair.』

***

“Club, let’s go investigate directly. If we go ourselves, we might be able to use routes that the cats can’t go through.”

Spade was embarrassed by the words that came out of her own mouth.

Right now, she was thinking that she should value safety a little more and continue the investigation using cats.

Why did her mouth move like this on its own?

‘No… is that right? Is this more correct?’

But that embarrassment quickly subsided, and Spade revised her thoughts.

What she was saying now was right. It seemed right.

Why had she been trying to be safe?

『High risk, high return』.

Why had she ignored that sweet word and tried to make a naive choice like ‘safety first’?

“Let’s move quickly, Club. Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Ah… no. It’s nothing. I just felt a little strange… but it’s really nothing. Let’s move, Spade Senior-nim.”

“…Okay.”

Club, who had been spacing out for a moment, hurriedly waved her hand and got up.

Spade also stood up without delay and came out of the building where she had been hiding.

As she came out of the building, she realized that she had forgotten to contact the leader-nim.

Right now, Leader Rahe would be waiting for the two of them to contact her in the situation room at the base.

‘Hmm… it’s just a hunch, but it doesn’t seem like it will take long.’

‘It’s a bit much to bother Leader Rahe-nim, so let’s finish it quickly and just send a success report.’

Strange.

Strange.

Strange.

Ignoring the ‘safety first’ policy that was the policy of Squad 7 and that Leader Rahe always emphasized.

Not only that, but Spade, who always proceeded according to the FM, was just skipping the contact and report according to the manual.

But the two of them didn’t even realize that it was strange.

The two had no way of knowing that all of this was proceeding according to someone’s ‘scenario’.

***

Squeak.

The door opened carelessly.

And the appearance of the dark interior of the building was revealed.

The interior of the building had the appearance of an old ruin that matched the exterior.

Since the windows were blocked, there was no way moonlight could enter.

Instead, cheap light bulbs were hung here and there, barely securing visibility.

“Spade Senior-nim. Shall we send the cats?”

“……No, let’s not send them.”

What are you talking about?

She had to send them.

Cats have good night vision and make almost no footsteps.

They are very useful for stealth actions in such a dark place.

—However, the words that came out of her mouth were completely different.

“You become defenseless while you’re manipulating the cats, Club. Your reaction will be delayed in case of an emergency.

…First, let’s hide secretly and find a point to snipe the opponent. Just manipulate the cats to follow from behind. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Senior-nim.”

Thus, the two cautiously moved into the darkness.

The cats for exploration were carefully following behind the two.

Spade held a knife in one hand, and Club held a pistol in both hands, guarding their surroundings.

Thud, an unhidden sound leaked out as they stepped on the fragments that had fallen on the floor.

They were trying to move forward as carefully as possible, but it was difficult to move quietly because the visibility was narrow and dark, and the entire floor was full of fragments and scattered materials.

There was no sign of anyone nearby yet.

No one would notice even if they made a sound like this.

At that fact, Spade felt her mind relax without realizing it.

Since when, she didn’t even bother to make footsteps and started walking with thud thud thud.

Club, who was following her, was also boldly following her.

‘Huh….’

‘Was I originally this careless…?’

That question came to mind for a moment, but like the countless questions that had come up so far, the question soon subsided and disappeared.

As they went on like that, stairs came out before long.

Should they go up or down?

As they were worried, they seemed to faintly hear a voice from somewhere.

The sound came from underground.

“Senior-nim, from below…!”

“……Okay. Downwards.”

Spade glanced at the stairs leading up, and took the lead and went down the stairs.

There was no sound now.

In the first place, until just before, she had made her senses keen enough and paid attention, but no sound had been heard.

But why had the sound been heard just a moment ago, at the timing when she was wondering where to go?

Whether that was simply luck or if there were other factors, it was unknown.

***

『The inexperienced heroes carelessly set foot in the space of cunning villains.』

『If they were a little more experienced and skilled heroes, they could have been a little more careful.』

『The intruders had already been detected from the moment they entered the building, and the villains had made full preparations to welcome the two.』

『The inexperienced heroes were not aware of that fact at all, and they just hastily headed underground, confident of their victory.』

『Without anticipating what traps were there.』

『Without knowing how their future would fall into the abyss due to this carelessness.』

『That is right.』

『The two were like that, of the villain——』