There were a total of 10 bases for nefarious purposes that the Principality had obtained through various means in Leasaitolia alone. Nine of these bases were just decoys, manned only by mercenaries or criminal slaves, meant to fool the upright authorities in the Kingdom. However, the tenth base was the true stronghold of the Principality's operations, hidden deep within the treacherous mountains of Leasaitolia. Guarded by a highly trained army of loyal soldiers, this base served as the nerve center for their nefarious activities, ensuring their grip on power remained unchallenged.
Whenever there was a big operation like the attack on the Aether folk settlement, it was always the decoy bases’ forces that were sortied, and almost all their dealings with the kingdom’s corrupt nobles were done there.
In a normal novel, the protagonist would “always” be able to acquire evidence—not just verbal testimony, but one that could be used in court against the criminals through sheer luck. But due to the Principality’s vile meticulousness, no one from their country could be implicated in their activities on the eastern continent. Even if one used Harthela’s testimony or the presence of the Principality’s criminal slaves against the country, they could easily deflect these as mere allegations since the United Nations Aether folk had bad blood with the country for centuries.
And yet, the Principality’s perfect crime stood no chance with a Goblin mommy’s perfect skill, Script.
Among the auxiliary skills “granted” to Reiko, Script was undeniably her most versatile skill. Unlike other “wisdom and knowledge” skills, Script was more like the Supermarket skill. Most information that could be acquired with this skill was free as long as it could be classified as “common knowledge”. However, if Reiko desires to get her hands on classified information, she has to pay for it, like whenever she buys products in Script.
Script also has Mind-reading, Future Sight, and Remote Viewing functions. Reiko would never use Future Sight for one reason: it was always shown as useless in anime and manga since there would always be someone who said, “I’ll defy fate itself!”. Mind-reading has already been used once in the spar against the knights, while Reiko used Remote Viewing to peep on the world’s most beautiful woman—according to the script—Saint Bria Klor, when she was in the bath. Let’s just say that Reiko had a nosebleed while managing to look satisfied after the experience.
And this morning, after the fall of nine decoy bases, Reiko was...
“放して!放して!” (Hanashite! Hanashite!) (Let me go! Let me go) ｡ﾟヽ(ﾟ´Д｀)ﾉﾟ｡
Trying to escape, she wildly flailed her arms and legs while tentacles made of darkness securely put her on hold. Due to her actions as well as the tentacles, Reiko’s bountiful breasts and plump buttocks, glistening in perspiration, were displayed for the world to see.
“You fiend! I'm going to be defiled, right? Don't underestimate me! I could take your dicks all at once!”
Instead of being ashamed of her current state, the idiot was spewing such idiocy all the while blushing and breathing heavily in excitement. Reiko's provocative words only seemed to fuel the darkness surrounding her as the tentacles tightened their grip even further. The mixture of anticipation and arousal danced in her eyes, a strange combination that perplexed those witnessing the scene.
“Abyss, could you plug her mouth for a bit?”
Looking at her with cold eyes was her secretary, Henrietta. Henrietta's stern gaze conveyed both disapproval and a hint of disappointment. She had always hoped that Reiko would grow out of her reckless behavior, but it seemed that she was only spiraling deeper into her self-destructive tendencies. With a heavy sigh, she asked this of the not-maid Abyss, but her innocent response was...
“Which one, Big Sis? The one in the head, the one below, or the one behind?”
A stupid question, influenced by the equally stupid mommy in tentacles. She could only groan in pain due to exasperation. Through gritted teeth, the secretary forced herself to answer, "The one in the head.”
“Mmpfh♥ Bfh♥ Nbh♥”
Expecting Reiko to shut up after that, Henrietta didn’t expect to hear sounds of sucking and slurping from someone who was being gagged. Looking blankly in amazement at the supposed-to-be-mommy who’s acting like a slut, Henrietta crouched down and held her head in vexation, remembering the events that led to this mess.
***
After the operation’s success, the group returned to the fort they had made as their base. The captive women were saved, fed, bathed, and put to bed. The group members felt a sense of relief and accomplishment as they watched the women rest peacefully, knowing they had rescued them from a terrible fate. They knew there was still much work to be done, but for now, they allowed themselves a moment of respite before continuing their mission.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
On the other hand, Abyss easily collected their loot, the stolen treasures and weapons in the bases, as well as the corpses of the criminals, with her shadow. The criminals then turned to women, and their victims made them experience the hell they'd given them. The women, empowered by their newfound "hand", sought justice for themselves and all those who had suffered at the hands of the criminals.
Once everything that had to be done was completed, the group of ladies had their beauty rest at last. After hours of sufficient rest for the last upcoming operation, the ninjas prepared food from the supplies bought from Script with the former slaves’ help. The healthy and abundant food they had, as well as their first comfortable sleep in ages, did wonders for their bodies since they were able to help in the kitchen.
It was after breakfast that information was found out that served as a catalyst for today’s hullabaloo. Using her Script-bought phone, Reiko read through the information dug out by the Investigation Group, the name she had given to the group of sex-changed smart girls.
Likely due to the blunder she made on her first day in Arentha of not reading the full details about her skills, with utmost dedication, she studied the report given to her. Seeing her skill-holder’s diligence for the first time, Henrietta looked at Reiko with approval.
She never expected that Reiko’s diligence would result in this, though.
Before the operation started in earnest, all they knew was the existence of a main base and the presence of a strong warrior there. They were unable to glean more information about this base due to the staggering amount of gold needed. Now, with the recent windfall of treasures the criminals had, Reiko finally obtained information about the elusive base, its location, command structure, distribution of forces, guards’ patrol routes and shifts, places of importance, etc.
If that is all, Henrietta wouldn’t resort to such drastic measures to stop the battle-crazy lady from going there alone. And yet, the moment Reiko declared she’d challenge the base’s commander—who’s an Aether Arts User—without relying on Abyss’ help, Henrietta knew she had to put her foot down.
“Actress Reiko.”
For the first time since she was born, Henrietta spoke with glacial fury, which sent shivers down Reiko’s spine. She stopped her antics and made sure not to make a single sound. That’s how terrifying Ms. Secretary is right now.
Through eye contact alone, Abyss understood her intention and released Reiko from her dark binds. Upon being released, the mommy goblin sat in seiza after she fixed her clothes, looking clearly remorseful. Reiko's lack of comprehension of the secretary's sudden rage was made clear by Henrietta's connection to her holder, though.
With a sigh from the deepest of her being, Henrietta carefully explained to Reiko the seven different energies in Arentha to the best of her abilities.
Spirit Energy. The quality and quantity of this energy represent an individual's health. It is the life force that flows within every living being, sustaining their vitality and well-being. It can be influenced by various factors, such as emotions, physical health, and spiritual practices. Maintaining a balanced and harmonious spirit is essential for overall wellness and resilience.
Soul energy, or Ki. Common folk use this energy unconsciously in their day-to-day lives. On the other hand, martial arts practitioners employ Ki to clad themselves in fire or send blades of wind flying.
Blessed Energy, or Aether Arts, is a much denser form of energy than Spirit Energy and Soul Energy. Use of this energy must be granted by a higher form of being, i.e., a God, and their assistance is essential because a mortal’s mind couldn’t handle the processing power needed to control this energy.
Miasma, or Cursed Energy, is a corrupt and malevolent form of energy used by demons. Miasma is often used to inflict harm, decay, and spread chaos. It is believed that the use of Miasma requires tapping into dark forces and embracing one's own inner darkness.
Mana, or the World's Energy, is a harmonious form of energy formed when an individual successfully harnesses both Miasma and Aether. It is believed that the mastery of both Miasma and ether allows individuals to tap into the full potential of their abilities, creating a delicate equilibrium between light and darkness.
Divinity, or Divine Energy, is a pure and celestial form of energy that emanates from higher beings or deities. It is said to be a source of immense power and purity, capable of healing, blessing, and bringing about positive change. Unlike Miasma, Divinity is believed to be inherently good and free from any corrupting or chaotic influences. Those who are able to channel Divinity are often revered as divine beings themselves, possessing great wisdom and the ability to bring about miracles.
And finally, Malevolence, or Diabolical energy, is the higher form of Miasma and is the polar opposite of Divinity. It is a dark and malevolent force that stems from evil entities. Malevolence is believed to be destructive, corrupting, and capable of causing harm and chaos. Those who harness Malevolence are often feared and associated with darkness and malefic intentions. Unlike Divinity, Malevolence is seen as a source of negativity and suffering, capable of bringing about destruction and despair.
Throughout the entirety of Henrietta's explanation, Reiko listened intently, although not out of curiosity. From what she could hear from their connection, Reiko's chuunibyou thoughts were apparent.
"Uwa, a different kind of name for HP,"
"So I could use Ki to imitate Dance of the Fire God or maybe even Sword Arts by Kirito! I'll try it later!"
"What a pain. So I need a god's help to use aether? What a useless energy."
"Dark Flames! Dark Lightning! Ohhh! Miasma's every chuuni's dreams!"
"MAGIC! SORCERY! WITCHCRAFT!"
Henrietta couldn't help but massage her temples as Reiko continued to immerse herself in her fantasies.
"At least she forgot about trying to infiltrate the enemy base alone."
Henrietta murmured, then sighed in relief, grateful that Reiko's attention had shifted away from her reckless idea. Although she didn't know if Reiko understood the futility of a Ki user fighting an Aether Arts user, Henrietta hoped that she would eventually realize the danger she was putting herself in.
Knowing that their operation's success rests on her shoulders, Henrietta decided to make full use of all the functions Reiko's skill had been granted to her by Henrietta's master. Her mind going full throttle, she reviewed the enemy base's information and every factor that may affect the operation while also taking Reiko's condition into consideration.
Once a plan was formulated, Henrietta asked Abyss for a harisen, a giant paper fan. Her eyes glinted as she raised the fan behind Reiko, and with a swift motion, she brought it down powerfully on Reiko's head, which was still immersed in her fantasies.
The loud *thwack* resounded in the fort, surprising the ninjas in the surrounding area. Startled, they quickly turned their attention towards Henrietta and Reiko, unsure of what had just happened.
"Inform the others to gather in the courtyard. We'll discuss our strategy for attacking the criminal base, then sortie once prep's done."
Henrietta commanded, her voice filled with authority. The ninjas nodded in agreement and swiftly dispersed to relay the message, leaving Henrietta and Reiko, who was holding her with tears in her eyes.