第７９２堀：霧の華 (Part1)
### Chapter 792: Mist of Flowers
**Side: Kirika**
"...And that’s the situation. I’m bringing General Lake of the Sea-Cypho Kingdom and his escorts to Weed now, so I’m counting on you for intelligence gathering."
"Leave it to me, Master."
As soon as I replied, the call cut off without any further words from Master. This was a testament to the trust he placed in our monster intelligence unit. We didn't need to say anything; we understood each other. That was the nature of the bond between Master and me.
"Alright, everyone. It’s been a while since we’ve had a direct assignment from Master himself. Let’s make sure we handle this perfectly."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The response was quiet, yet sharp and clear. Present in this room were the members of the intelligence unit composed of monsters directly under Yuki-sama. The humanoid types blended into human society, while the animal types posed as beasts, all to investigate and strip away the secrets of our targets. We were the eyes and ears of our Master, Yuki-sama... but.
Recently, whether it was the If Continent or the New Continent, the newly discovered lands were plagued by mana depletion or the curses of that wretched goddess, making monster operations difficult. Because of this, we had been focusing our intelligence activities primarily within the Rogari Continent. Just when we had finally made the If Continent safe to operate in, thanks to Narjia-sama, Zargis-san, and Comet-sama, this New Continent appeared.
In short, when Master needed us most, we hadn't been able to be of much use. Even though I was brought into this world to serve him, I felt ashamed that we had come to this. Master always told me it couldn't be helped given the nature of those lands, and he would even offer comfort, saying that our help was needed because of the manpower shortages in the Rogari Continent.
Well, it was true that with the number of countries now connected to Weed, our unit was indeed stretched thin...
"But we cannot simply rely on Master’s kindness. We are the eyes and ears of Weed."
"Yes, ma'am!"
With that, we began our operation. Though, as the captain and chief of the intelligence unit, my primary job was to remain in the command room.
"Captain. For this intelligence operation regarding the VIPs from the Sea-Cypho Kingdom, we will proceed as usual—gathering information while acting as guides or inn staff."
"Agreed. That is for the best. It’s safer to avoid overt intelligence activities."
When people hear "intelligence gathering," they often imagine flashy, movie-style spies, but that is rare. The goal is to quietly surround the target without them noticing or feeling threatened. It’s similar to the information gathering that Villia-sama and her team do while collecting trash. Well, the level of our work is a bit more advanced, of course.
As we were discussing this, the monitor management team spoke up.
"Captain. We’re receiving the feed."
"Understood. Use the central monitor."
"Understood."
As I gave the order, the image of Master and his guests appeared on the large screen covering the front of the command room. Weed’s intelligence command room was no different from any other military command center. It had been properly modernized, with operators stationed to ensure a professional response.
"The man in the military uniform next to Yuki-sama is General Lake."
"He looks no different from the photographs. No, perhaps his demeanor is a bit softer than I expected?"
General Lake, the target on the screen, looked like a somewhat gentle old man compared to the reports and photos we had received. Perhaps those previous images were taken when he was acting as a national representative or the supreme commander of the military. It seemed he was a capable soldier who could shed that sternness when the situation called for it.
"However, according to Yuki-sama, he seems quite suspicious of Weed’s existence."
"Well, that’s only natural. I’d be worried if he believed us so easily. That is precisely why this visit to Weed was arranged. Now, what about his status?"
"It’s ready. Sending the details to your screen now."
As they said this, General Lake’s data appeared. While Master didn't place much importance on the status values themselves, they were useful for checking a person's background, so he had strictly ordered us to keep them updated. Well, there was a certain greatness to a person that numbers couldn't capture.
"Level 75, age 56, status is appropriate. His agility is a bit high, though. His title is 'Guardian of the Sea-Cypho Kingdom.' A rather grandiose title, isn't it?"
The operator shared their thoughts after looking at the General's status.
"We still don't really understand how titles are granted, after all."
Master often said he didn't look at titles because Luna-sama would just go around slapping strange ones on people. In fact, when I asked Luna-sama, I ended up with the title 'Leader of the Kunoichi.' It didn't feel like much of an honor.
"Still, he must have done enough to earn that title. But for the New Continent, his level is abnormally high."
"Indeed. According to our statistics for the New Continent so far, commander and general-class individuals are at most around level 45. Considering that, this is a significantly high level."
That’s right. General Lake’s level of 75 was exceptionally high for this region. Of course, it was nothing compared to us, but it made one wonder how he had reached such a level in a New Continent with so few—no, with *no* monsters.
"It’s about the same level as the magic sword users of the If Continent. It’s not impossible, but... please try to find the reason behind it."
"Yes, ma'am. I will relay that."
On the monitor, General Lake and Master were approaching the gate installed in Haiden.
"Gate activation confirmed."
"He’s genuinely surprised, as expected."
General Lake stared at the gate before him, his eyes wide with shock, before he braced himself. His escorts did the same.
"Audio."
"Yes, connecting now."
As I gave the order, a static sound played, followed by their voices.
*"...What is this?"*
*"This is called a Gate. It’s a magic tool that allows one to travel to distant lands in an instant."*
*"I-impossible. Such a thing exists? Ah, no, excuse me. It’s not that I don't believe you..."*
*"No, no. That reaction is only natural. For all you know, it could be a trick."*
Master was showing his bad side again. He was saying things that might unnecessarily provoke the other party. He was likely testing them, but I was worried it could be taken as an insult.
*"Haha. Yuki-sama, you have a sense of humor. With the trust of the King of Haiden, there is no reason for you to deceive us here. I believe you, Yuki-sama."*
Ignoring my worries, General Lake laughed off Master’s words and said he believed him. The General seemed to have a remarkably flexible way of thinking.
"Target is entering the gate. Wow, I’m surprised. I expected him to hesitate a bit more..."
The monitor showed General Lake walking into the gate without a moment’s hesitation, without anyone leading him. The operator voiced their surprise at the footage. Indeed, even the most daring individuals usually hesitated when seeing a gate for the first time, but General Lake had entered it with complete composure.
"That reminds me of King Blade of Roday."
"King Blade is very curious, after all. Thanks to that, Samantha-sama always seems to have a hard time."