第１０２３堀：次へ (Part1)
**Chapter 1023: Next**
**Side: Yuki**
The conference room, having just finished the emergency briefing, is already empty.
Well, even if it was called an "emergency," there was nothing that required an immediate decision, so there was no need for panic.
If anything, one could say we’ve cleared a milestone.
"Master."
"Kirika, is that you?"
"Yes. We have also received word from the intelligence division. I congratulate you on the successful capture of the remote dungeon."
"Thanks. Though, we’re still in the middle of investigating. There’s a high possibility the enemy left it active just to gather information on us. We’ll have to wait and see how they move over the next little while."
"Given the current situation, even if the Dungeon Master of the dungeon we secured today was lurking near the Hain Empire, do you think it’s unlikely they would send an intelligence unit our way?"
"The probability is low, sure. But considering it was an operational dungeon without any users, it’s possible they were using it as a fallback location."
"I see. You mean to say that even if there isn't a gate there now, they intended to place one eventually?"
"The possibility isn't zero. Well, if they don't come, they don't come. We’ll use this place as a base of operations regardless."
"Either way, then."
"Yeah."
We’re spending the budget, after all.
"It didn't work out" or "it was a waste" isn't an option.
If I let that happen, Eris will make it difficult to secure funds in the future.
No matter the outcome, I have to make sure it’s framed as a success.
Ah, it’s not like I’m trying to lie or fabricate results; it’s precisely because I’m thinking ahead that it *becomes* a success.
"So, how are things on your end, Kirika?"
"We are prepared to begin the dungeon capture operation along the Zulable Empire’s invasion route as planned. We are just waiting for word from the Zulable Empire. As for the Hain Empire, we haven't received any information yet. Master, have you heard from them?"
"Nothing on my end either. I’ll check with Shou. You just stay on standby, Kirika. Also, is there any information from the field regarding the dungeon that caught your eye?"
"No, nothing out of the ordinary. As you might expect, this dungeon seems intended solely to lure in regular adventurers. From what we can see on the surface, there are no traces of it being used as a trade hub like our Weed."
"Hard to verify the hidden aspects, I suppose?"
"Yes. If we could scrutinize the archives of the Hain-side Adventurer’s Guild or the lord’s mansion, we might find something, but our numbers are low, so we are prioritizing the dungeon capture preparations. However, just like with Steve and his team, no one has made contact with us, so they likely haven't even realized we’ve infiltrated."
"Well, you guys are using concealment, after all."
We’re using information suppression to avoid the usual status appraisals and the like.
I can’t have them seeing our true capabilities.
We’re stepping into enemy territory; naturally, we take these precautions.
"If they can’t even see through this much, future developments should be easy... though it’s probably best not to be too optimistic. It’s possible that not us, but the Zulable Empire’s intelligence unit has been spotted."
"That’s a distinct possibility. The Zulable members acting as decoys for the joint dungeon capture were already on-site, right?"
"Yes. We have confirmed it. Though, they are unaware of our presence."
"That’s how the operation is structured. It’s better if we don't know each other; it avoids suspicion. Or rather, we’re both state intelligence agencies. That’s probably the healthy way to do it."
Even if we are allies, it would be a strange state of affairs if our intelligence divisions were on friendly terms. What is this, some kind of 007 movie?
Well, personal connections might exist, but as nations, they don't. It’s just a joint front.
Anyway, more importantly, I need to confirm the details.
"Kirika, I’m going to check with the Zulable side now. Keep gathering intel on the dungeon until the operation begins. You might find something."
"Understood. I shall await your contact."
Well, I want time for investigation, but it’s not like I have an infinite amount of it.
The situation changes depending on when we strike.
Honestly, it’s a pain.
The fact that trying too hard to be fully prepared can actually put us at a disadvantage is...
Still, I suppose my circumstances up until now were just unusually easy.
This time, things have just returned to "normal."
Man, life is never easy, is it?
Thinking that, I contact Shou.
"Yes. Yuki-sama, what is it?"
"Our deployment is complete. We can move at any time. How about you?"
"Our deployment was just completed as well. We received a wireless report from the field."
Looks like the timing was good.
"That’s good to hear. Any changes to the operation?"
"None. We will proceed with the dungeon investigation and capture as planned."
"What about contact with the Adventurer’s Guild?"
"We are working on that as well, but it’s not something that will be resolved in a day or two. First, we secure the dungeon. Once we have the core, the local Adventurer’s Guild won't be able to push us around."
"True. Though, I imagine you’ll be earning some resentment."
The Zulable side intends to recover the core while investigating the dungeon.
The reason is, as just mentioned, to seize control of the Hain Empire’s Adventurer’s Guild.
Just like the conflict between the Zulable Empire and the Hain Empire, the guilds over there are divided between regions with dungeons and those without.
Well, as someone who runs a dungeon, I know full well how much of a moneymaker they are.
It’s only natural for the Adventurer’s Guild to focus their efforts there.
Well, I wonder what would happen if they knew that, behind the scenes, they were gifting DP—a budget—to a Dungeon Master like me?
Eh, never mind that. The plan is for the Zulable Empire’s unit to seize the dungeon and force the Hain Empire’s guild to surrender.
If things continue as they are, the Adventurer’s Guild would likely exhaust all their resources to protect the dungeon, even though this is a war between the Zulable Empire and the Hain Empire.
The plan is to strike the enemy’s vital point before that happens.
Either way, they’re going to earn some hate.
"It would be more troublesome if the enemy army, adventurers, and monsters all joined forces. If all it costs us is some resentment, we’ll take that trade."
"If that’s your resolve, I have nothing more to say. What is the start time for the operation?"
"Yes, let’s set the start time for 0900 tomorrow. We will blend in with other adventurers accepting requests."
"Understood. I’ll pass that along. By the way, have you gathered any notable information on your end? On our side, they don't seem particularly flustered."
I need to confirm if they’ve obtained any information that Kirika’s team might have missed.