The Winner of the Whale Fight is the Shrimp

“Everyone’s leaving.”

Jad and Zodiac returned to the 4th Prince’s side.

Pernok also headed to the capital with Salavan.

Those left behind somehow felt they should do something.

“Where’s Rio?”

“He said he can’t return to the guild until work finishes.”

When Sallio answered, Enri smacked her lips.

“Tsk, are we just watchdogs guarding the house?”

“He said he’ll call separately when needed. Until then, we must sharpen our skills.”

Sallio looked back at the guild member with an identical appearance to Pernok.

“Your only task is filling the guild leader’s empty seat. All work receives approval through us, and be careful never to raise suspicion with clumsy behavior.”

“Yes.”

“Until the guild leader returns, you must live forgetting your name.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Use casual speech in public.”

The guild member transformed as Pernok nodded and entered the office.

When Sallio and Enri headed to the training grounds, Hallam and guild members were waiting.

“We’ll finish building the summit training facility! Also, since we must create material processing plants, move in close coordination with the association!”

“Yes!”

“Remaining personnel will continue training with Deputy Guild Leader Hallam on parts inadequate from the war! If there’s no results even after half a year, you’ll all be demoted! Understood!?”

“Yes!”

“Move immediately! Finish all work before high-grade demon beasts regenerate!”

Resounding voices echoed through the training grounds.

Experienced A-rank guild leaders skillfully operated the guild without Pernok and Rio using their experience.

* * *

Same time, Pernok was looking down at buildings surrounded in the mountain’s heart.

“All look like villas.”

A place not marked even on maps.

But countless mana is felt from within.

“Rather well done.”

A place human feet don’t reach.

If he just collapses that security network, even destroying the research lab makes it hard to know what happened.

Even if contact goes through, reaching here to handle the research lab seemed to need quite long time.

Since no castle or homes exist nearby, the mission completes easily just by handling mages inside.

‘I just need to make the Mana Flash Cannon blueprints mine.’

This side has masters who achieved the pinnacle in each field—Ruin and Baudelaire’s memories.

Reorganizing Mana Flash Cannons with just blueprints won’t be difficult.

Pernok smacked his lips and descended below.

Among numerous buildings, he saw unique mana lines connected to the exterior.

‘Touching immediately activates security alerts.’

Dense security networks are mostly mana traps invisible to ordinary eyes.

Pernok found gaps with Observation Eye and infiltrated.

“Who…”

After subduing a man who suddenly popped out from a building corner, he examined the open door’s interior.

As expected, delicate mana lines sending signals externally filled it.

‘I should dismantle this.’

Grasping all mana lines and tracing reverse order to neutralize—just 1 minute.

After removing both external mana traps and signal networks alerting security, Pernok confidently roamed between buildings.

‘There was underground here. Two level 6 mages and ten level 5 mages are below.’

Practically forces combining two A-rank guilds, but leisurely for Pernok who devoured Cargoras.

“Who’s there?”

“Any contact from outside?”

Passing by, he encountered level 3 and 4 mages.

Ten ordinary soldiers presumed as guards also rushed out together.

‘If traps activated, it’d be dizzying. Even if considerable knight orders came, they could adequately block, and meanwhile signals head to the 1st Prince, so reinforcements soon arrive.’

Facing soldiers, he understood why Salavan didn’t easily touch it despite knowing the research lab’s existence.

And he also grasped how much trust handling this place earns from Salavan.

‘Royals will possess items more threatening than Mana Flash Cannons. I must cleanly handle this place so Salavan targets those bastards.’

Doesn’t leave any enemies alive.

If Pernok monopolizes work they couldn’t handle by displaying overwhelming majesty, he’ll obtain treasures beyond Mana Flash Cannons.

“Identify your affiliation.”

Though outsiders whose mana traps didn’t activate are usually recognized as guests, the momentum flowing from Pernok was extraordinary.

Before they knew it, they drew up mana taking threatening postures.

Thud-thud-thud!

The moment heavy armor fell to the ground, they recognized they’d been cut.

Thus they died with eyes open.

Pernok absorbed the mages’ spiritual power and mana while turning his gaze to the right corner.

A place looking uniquely like small homes rather than buildings.

Numerous human presences are felt in densely packed spaces.

When Pernok opened that door, trembling children and women sat huddled.

‘Civilians?’

They seemed to have seen Pernok kill soldiers.

“P-please spare us.”

“Are you those bastards’ families?”

They desperately shook their heads.

“But why are you here?”

“T-the research director is my husband.”

“Director?”

The woman clutched her child and shouted desperately.

“They promised to spare the child if we cooperated!”

That moment, numerous thoughts flashed through Pernok’s mind.

As if seeking confirmation about the general situation, Pernok asked.

“Are research staff families in other buildings?”

“Y-yes.”

“Does this director bastard think it’s his lucky day, even bringing family into this important facility?”

The woman shook her head.

Even just her fear-soaked face confirmed many facts.

Thus, Pernok whispered sweetly.

“I came to rescue those imprisoned here.”

“Is that really true?”

“Otherwise, would I be crazy enough to crawl up this mountain and kill the 1st Prince’s confidants?”

When the woman made a wary expression, Pernok gently smiled and asked.

“So answer. Why are you imprisoned in this dangerous facility?”

“That’s…”

The hesitating woman saw her crying child in her arms and became resolute.

“…They imprisoned us. Saying they needed my husband’s research materials!”

The woman’s words were truly clear.

Her husband, a research director who improved existing weapons with unique ideas at a weapons research lab, received the 1st Prince’s summons.

The 1st Prince demanded weapons that would sweep away both enemy and ally, and her husband, tormented by ethics, refused.

Then the 1st Prince made the strong move of imprisoning their families here and made her husband and colleagues all participate in Mana Flash Cannon development.

‘Hostages. How crude.’

The detailed circumstances didn’t move Pernok’s heart.

‘If the 1st Prince and research director are in hostile relations…’

If he utilizes this twisted relationship well?

Originally planning to just take blueprints, Pernok changed his mind.

‘…If I bring these blueprint creators under my command and combine them with Ruin’s vast magical knowledge, won’t we develop very excellent tactical weapons?’

Pernok grinned.

“I understand the circumstances well. Don’t worry. I’ll do my best so no one here is wronged.”

“Who are you…?”

“Think of me as having grudge relations with the 1st Prince.”

“…!”

“I’ll eliminate all guards above, so gather all hostages and wait. I’ll bring the research director and all staff.”

The woman burst into held-back tears.

Pernok soothed the woman with appropriate words and handled all guards who came up to the surface.

Though no signals rang, did they sense something strange because guards continuously deployed didn’t return?

High-level mages from underground began ascending.

Pernok immediately activated Jake’s magic.

“Mana…?”

The moment they sensed something, they were all swallowed by black spheres.

Crushing them as is, they disappeared without trace.

Descending while absorbing remaining mana and spiritual power, other mages had gathered.

“Who are you!”

They seemed to notice Pernok’s existence only after he activated magic.

‘Even level 6 can’t easily detect me now.’

Though a level 7 mage would have been even better, Pernok activated Mana Reinforcement as available.

At mana settling heavily in an instant, level 6 mages’ expressions stiffened.

“Above level 7!”

“Why isn’t the security alert ringing!”

Irritated voices and mana entangled together and shot out.

Magic manifesting shadows as forms to sharpen them and unique-type magic squeezing like walls draped like barriers from all directions was considerable.

But they couldn’t properly display original power.

They adjusted output thinking underground might collapse.

In contrast, Pernok could shoot power as is by strengthening his body, so those controlling mana couldn’t even scratch Mana Reinforcement’s surface.

Bang!

One explosive sound claimed two level 6 mages’ breath.

When Pernok shook off his blood-soaked fist, terror-stricken level 5 mages recklessly deployed magic disregarding underground.

When Pernok flicked his finger, Jake’s magic not yet extinguished surged from their shadows and swallowed them.

“Basics aren’t there.”

Mages must draw enemies to battlefields advantageous to themselves.

The moment terrain selection became an obstacle to magic, they easily lose lives even meeting same-level mages.

Like the level 6 mages who just died futilely.

“S-sound the security alert!”

At the sound echoing from the corridor’s end, Pernok immediately reacted.

Handling remaining guards while advancing forward, before long he entered a space thick with metallic smell.

“Are these flash cannon materials?”

Rezhen Kingdom’s weapons seen at the castle lay scattered everywhere in disassembled state.

Scanning equipment while approaching tables, all sorts of blueprints lay scattered messily.

Examining several theories among them, Pernok showed interested eyes.

“Flash cannon’s shotgun method.”

Intended to split concentrated mana into multiple paths to annihilate many enemies.

Very high possibility even allies get swept up.

“They’re even researching special charging methods so flash cannons operate without mages attached.”

Different trajectory from alchemy.

Weapons and theories specialized only for war pulled Pernok’s interest.

All theories applicable to the castle.

Having mostly gone through trial and error, no need for major adjustments.

“Ruin will be very pleased seeing this.”

Pernok separately divided and collected blueprints with results and crude failures.

What expression will Salavan make holding worthless failures?

How much will the 1st Prince rage seeing the attacked research lab?

When collisions increase, today’s spoils of war become Pernok’s share.

“W-who are you!”

Pernok turned his head.

A middle-aged man in research attire had surprised eyes wide open.

“The 1st Prince’s enemy. I came to rescue you, so don’t be too wary.”

“Wh-what?”

“There are families above. I already finished explaining to them. If only you come up, preparations to escape immediately are ready.”

“…!”

“I want to meet this place’s research director. Can you guide me?”

The middle-aged man spoke with trembling voice.

“I-I’m the research director! Will you really spare us!”

“Didn’t you see the corpses outside?”

“I know that. But I don’t understand why you’re rescuing us.”

Distrust-mixed eyes harbor fear.

Does he have anxiety from being kidnapped and abused here?

Pernok put down blueprints and spoke calmly.

“I’m the 1st Prince’s enemy. While wanting to obstruct him, I learned of the research lab’s existence and reached the conclusion that siphoning you away deals very great damage. However, the one who told me this place’s information demands these blueprints as price.”

The research director gulped dry saliva.

“But this research looks very dangerous. Taking it to him as is makes it hard to predict how much damage will occur.”

“If those words are true… I have one idea.”

“What?”

“Please give me the blueprints briefly.”

The research director began bizarrely mixing failures and successes.

Though theory was reorganizing anew before his eyes, it was hard to believe it was fake.

“This should do.”

“What changed?”

“I made plausible fake theory so they recognize this is wrong only after directly making it. This method will keep failing no matter how much used. I made them conclude it’s trial and error from research.”

“Good.”

Pernok divided and took fake blueprints to give Salavan and real blueprints he’ll keep and moved.

“Gather all staff upward. We escape immediately.”

* * *

He collapsed the research lab and evacuated staff and families together.

Pernok rested briefly while climbing the mountain and looked around.

Though he worried Salavan might attach surveillance, he felt no human presence.

“Thank you.”

The research director approached and bowed.

“Where will you go now?”

“Well…”

The research director smiled bitterly.

Having been bred like a dog in the nation he burned passion for all his life, he must feel lost about where to defect.

“If acceptable, won’t you follow me?”

“Are you perhaps not from Rezhen?”

“I came from Illumina. Now I’m leading a guild in the demon beast mountain range. Called Named.”

“Named?”

Apparently the research director had much information blocked from the outside.

“Let’s introduce gradually. Anyway, I can also arrange a place to accept you.”

“What do you desire from us?”

“Power to check the 1st Prince.”

That moment, hostility blazed in the research director’s eyes.

“1st Prince… that bastard…!”

“I have no intention of forcing your research like the 1st Prince. But I need just one thing. Power to beat that bastard, to oppose the kingdom. Can you help me?”

“If family safety is guaranteed.”

The research director spoke as if spitting.

“What can’t I do to beat that bastard to death?”

“I’m grateful. I’ll arrange a separate place to evacuate for now. Hide yourselves there until a safe location is secured.”

“Thank you.”

“Rather I thank you.”

Pernok sent correspondence to the mountain range calling tight-lipped guild members.

He hid Mana Flash Cannon’s real blueprints and research team in covert locations only executives know even in the guild.

And Pernok returned to Salavan holding fake theory.