AIAW Royal Road Chapter 42

(Arc 2 Chapter 7) Red Corp

(Amaya’s Perspective)

From the moment the sun began to go down, me and Katsu made our way to the red Corp building. But we weren’t in the clear just yet. There was still plenty of security patrolling outside, marching with steady steps. One of them seemed to have some kind of rifle on their back, something like a flintlock rifle.

We were crouched on the roof of a nearby restaurant, keeping watch from a distance.

“How much longer?” I asked. This was my first time doing something stealthy like this. As uneasy as it made me feel, part of me was also thrilled. It's like it was super cool spy mission, and i was a very cool Spy.

“Any second now.” Katsu replied, his sights set straight ahead.

Waiting and waiting. Finally, the security up front grabbed their things and left the premises, leaving just one of them to guard the front doors. We had to gain entry quickly. It was only a matter of time till the night shift arrived.

“Alright, Amaya. Just like we planned. I’ll go up and talk to him. While he’s distracted, give him a good wack to the side of his head,” he handed me a small, but firm metalic rod, “Use this.”

“On second thought...do I have to do this? What if i accidently kill him?”

Katsu let out a heavy, disappointed sigh, “Amaya. We don’t have time for this. These men are veterans. They wouldn’t die from something like that.”

Even better, now I’m knocking out a man that fought to protect the kingdom...

“...Okay...If you say so...”

I hid in a bush nearby, waiting for my moment to strike. Watching as Katsu stepped up to the building. He stooped halfway there, catching the security guard's attention.

“You there.” the guard approached him, “You lost?”

“No. This is Red Corp, isn’t it?”

“I’m afraid business hours are over. You can return in the morning.” said the gaurd.

“That’s a shame.”

The guard's full attention was on Katsu. He didn’t seem to notice me in his peripheral view, creeping up behind him.

Just one more step and I’d be in range to swing this rod.

My leg stretched out for that final step. As the bottom of my boot touched down, there was a sudden crackle. A twig, snapping under the wight of my boot, alerting the guard in front of me.

“Huh?!” He quickly turned to face me. Immediately out of reflex, I swung the rod with the full force of my forearms, bashing against the side of his face.

Bmp! Ding!

It was lights out for him. He slumped over, face first into the concrete.

“Ouch...That fall looked like it hurt...Maybe I should’ve at least caught him...” It’s not like I was trying to hurt him crazy bad. I mean, sure, I was trying to knock him out. But the least I could’ve done was catch him before he hit the ground.

“He’ll be fine. Good swing.” Katsu touched my shoulder.

The sound of painful grunting came from behind. It wasn’t over just yet, the guard slowly got up, stumbling around, holding his head in confusion.

“Agh...what the hell...”

Before the man could regain his composure, Katsu threw an elbow strike to the man’s jaw.

Whack!

That did the trick. Again, the man dropped like a sack of potatoes.

“Now. He won’t wake up for a while.” said Katsu.

He grabbed the man’s ankle, dragging him over to a bush where he tossed him inside.

Katsu was sure to snag his keycard though.

We quickly headed inside, doing our best to conceal our footsteps while moving steadily, checking around corners.

A guard almost noticed my head sticking out, but somehow didn’t. He simply turned around and continued patrolling the hall.

“Now. Move.” Katsu whisper.

The both of us moved low, sneaking past. Using the keycard, we got access the stairway. This was going to be the tiring part. We sprinted quietly up flights of stairs. Stairs the seemed like they were never going to end.

Behold! Around thirty stories later, we finally reached the top floor. My face was nearly pouring with sweat. I was hunched over on the railing, huffing and puffing. Felt like I just ran an entire marathon.

“Hurry, Amaya.”

“...Just...give me a second...”

Eventually, I caught my breathe and gave katsu the thumbs up to continue forward. He slid the keycard, and the door out of the stairway opened up for us.

Katsu went first, and I followed behind. But right as we officially set foot on that top floor. I threw my airms in the air as the barrel of a flintlock was pointed right at us.

Seems we didn’t expect a guard to be up here.

“Identify yourselves. I don’t recognize you two.”

Katsu on the other hand, didn’t even flinch at the sight of the gun. He didn’t even raise his hands, which i encouraged him to do.

“I knew this wasn’t a good idea...We’re caught, Katsu. Just put your hands up.”

I had no idea how much damage guns had in this world, but Id assume it was the same as where I come from. And I definitely wasn’t trying to get shot.

Still, Katsu didn’t put it hands in the air.

“Katsu...what are you doing.”

“This.” he replied.

In the fraction of second, Katsu disarmed the man and slammed his face into the floor. Safe to say, that guard wasn’t getting up anytime soon.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

And honestly...I was surprised. Nearly forgot how fast Katsu could move.

“What now?” I said.

The CEO’s room was just up ahead, through a crimson red door.

“You wait here. Keep watch.”

“And... what if more guard show up?”

“Then hold the door to stairway shit with all your strength.”

it was decent plan. Aside from the fact I was NOT strong enough to hold the door against the combined strength of multiple security guards. Luckily, Katsu already thought of that.

“Here.” he handed me a small paper with some sort of writing on it. It wasn’t anything I could read.

“Thank you...Katsu...Just how is a piece of paper going to help.”

“It’s got a spell on it. Place it on the door to the stairway if you heard anyone coming up. That should keep them out.”

“Okay? But...there’s still an elevator. You know that, right?”

“Correct. I almost forgot. Here’s one more.” He handed me one more, “Now. Keep watch. I’ll deal with the guy in that room.”

With a frightening aura behind him, Katsu walked through that door, shutting it behind him.

Now, I wait.

I did exactly what he said, keeping my ears open for any noise that would indicate more security. The nightshift security would be arriving any moment now. That fact made me even more uneasy.

---

(Katsu’s Perspective)

As the door shut behind me. One thing was on my mind. I needed answers. Now. And the man in front of me was the one that provide that to me.

A tall, blond hair man, dressed in a blood-red suit and tie. James Shyne. The CEO of Red Corp. Staring out the window, onto the city below us, he paid little mind to my presence. But maybe that’s because he didn’t know he’d been infiltrated yet.

“Can I help you?”

“You can.” I answered, “What do you know about the hell bringers.”

“Hm?”

James slowly turned to face me, his yellow eyes widened at the sight of me, even if it was just a moment.

“You’re not with my security team.” he took a seat at his desk, proceeding to pour himself a glass of liquor, “Seems I have an unexpected guest. Who are you, then?”

“A monster hunter.”

“I see. You’re one of them, then.” he took a sip out of his glass, before setting it down, “Ah. Of course, how rude of me. Would you like a glass as well? It’s some of the best liquor you could possibly get your hands on. The taste is flavorful indeed.”

I grabbed the glass off his desk, and smashed it against the floor. I wasn’t going to play this game with him. He was clearly shifting the topic.

“That is quite rude.” he shook his head and stood up, “You come into my building, uninvited and begin destroying thing. That was a fine glass of liquor you wasted.”

“I didn’t come for a friendly chat. Now, tell me, why are the Claws suppling weapons the the hellbringers.”

James rubbed his forehead, releasing a tiresome breath.

“Seems there’s no use keeping up this facade. If you’re asking about the Claws involvement, the I'd assume you know who I really am.”

“The Claws have many leaders. However, you’re the one they all resect the most. I have no doubt you're the one who gave the order to supply the hellbringers.”

“You are right about that. I am. I just couldn’t pass up the offer.” He stood from his seat and began steadily walking around the room, gazing at the view of the city lights, “You see. I am in charge of a very important company. We specialize in enchanting weapons for the kingdom’s military, as well as creating new inventions. All for the sake of making sure this kingdom has the advantage, should we ever find ourselves in a war with a rival. It is a very important position.”

If it was all for the kingdom, then why was he aiding a force that’s sole purpose is to reign terror and tear everything down? Something wasn’t adding up. But I didn’t interrupt, allowing James to continue.

“Of course, as all things, this whole corporation uses quite a lot of money. We get quite the paycheck from the military with the equipment we make for them. And I get even more money from running a crime syndicate. As you know, the claws.”

The more he said, the less I could see where anyone of this was going.

Having broken his glass, James started drinking straight from the liquor bottle.

“The hellbringers. They were the ones to seek me out, asking for my assistance. In exchange for supplying weapons to their faction, they’d continue to offer sums of money, as well as rare types of items. Items that even I have trouble coming across. Items that would greatly help Red Corp create newer inventions. Stronger weapon enchantments. You name it.”

How could he say all that? Acting as if he cared about the kingdom. Money was the only thing this man cared about.

I tugged him by his suit's tie.

“You say you care about the kingdom. But you continue to supply the hellbringers. A force that’s goal is to tear this kingdom down and rebuild it in their image. Am I hearing you right? Thousands, and thousands of innocent lives will be lost if they grow strong enough. And you are making that possible.”

His eyes widened, but not in fear. They widened in confusion.

He freed himself from my grip and threw himself in his seat.

“No. What are you talking about? They're not here to destroy this kingdom.”

“What gave you that idea?” I crossed my arms.

I finally started to see it. His expression was the same as a man who’s been tricked, manipulated.

“They told me from the moment they asked for my aid. Their goal was to root out corruption. But they needed weapons to fight against the resistance our military would surely have. Our laws, we don’t allow monsters like them to live among us. We even enslave demi-humans. Hell, we even discriminate against our own people. The kingdom is corrupt. They wanted to destroy that and rebuild it. Then it would be a kingdom for everyone. No slaves, no corruption, no discrimination. They just want a home. A home for everyone.”

The hellbringers fooled him good. He was wrong in many ways.

So I correct him.

“That’s where you're wrong. They can to tear it down and rebuild it. Not for us, not for a better kingdom. They want to rebuild it for themselves. Themselves and whatever ideals they have.”

“...That can’t be...”

I hand a note written by the hellbringers that showed otherwise. And so, I placed it on his desk, allowing him to read it.

“When I took down one of their camps, I found this written by their leader, to the elite of their camp.”

{To my trustworthy Soldier. You have one mission and I trust you will do it I have put you in charge of two camps, lead the hellbringers and cause as much chaos as possible. Why? You may be wondering. Don’t question it. As you know, we have joined forced with a very special somebody. We share the same goal of bringing this kingdom down. Remember why we do this. To rebuild this kingdom in our image. A place us hobgoblins can call home. A place for us, and us only. Now, carry out your mission with everything have and you may be promoted to Chieftan this time.}

I allowed him to read through all of it, until he finally understood.

“What have I done...They lied to me...”

I did my research on James. And I know he had a daughter. I don’t know what it’s like to be a father. But I do know what it’s like to love someone. You care about them, and only want the best for them.

I know James will make the right choice.

“I know you have a daughter, James. If these monsters achieve their goal, nobody will be safe. That includes her. I know you don’t want her to see the place she loves turn to ash. People she cares about, dead. That’s something no child should have to see.”

I knew that for a fact.

“I’ve already supplied them lots of gear...” James's gaze was cast down.

I could see the regret in his eyes.

“You can’t undo what you did. But you can put a stop to it. Put a stop to the weapons that your people are sending out to them.”

James clenched his fist.

“You’re right. I just want a place where my little girl can grow up happy. I know this kingdom isn’t the best. But I will not allow it to become what those hellbringers want it to be. As soon as I can, I’ll send out a message for all my men to halt their deliveries. Consider my deal with the hellbringers broken.”

The root of the problem was solved. But there was just one more thing I needed from him.

“There’s one more thing I need from you.”

“Yes, of course.”

“If you were supplying them. Naturally, that means you know where their camps are.”

James shook his head.

“I don’t know the location of every single camp they have.” He opened up his desk drawer and handed me a notepad, “But I do know some locations of their larger strongholds. Everything should be in those notes.”

This was everything I needed. With this, we had a strong lead. A soon as I can, I’ll deliver this information to the king. When that’s done, I know it won’t be long for us to gather our best monster hunters and knights, then raid every stronghold we can find.

“With this, you might have saved your kingdom.” I said.

“Thank you for bringing this to light before it was to let. And please, if there’s anything you need from me, I’d be happy to help.”

Just one little issue, that security guard we knocked unconscious. And I’m sure the nightshift security has already arrived. As soon as that guard tells them what happened, they’ll come rushing up here with all their weapons.

“Actually. There’s one thing you can do.”

“Please, let me know.”

“We might’ve knocked out a member of your security, or two...I’d like you to walk us to the front so we don’t have to fight your night security.”

“We? Us?”

“Yeah. I brought a friend along.”