The Red Wave operatives within the academy were uncovered, and a mid-level officer who was previously undetected surrendered voluntarily. We also leaked false information to the hiding leader of the Red Wave, drawing them into a trap where the Masked Unit waited while sharpening their swords.

Everything was flawless. Failure in this operation was highly unlikely unless Enen had been compromised by the Red Wave.

'Were all set.'

The term 'all set' somehow felt like a bad omen, but Im pretty sure that it was just my personal anxiety.

"Did you catch them?"

Yes. We captured 13 people, including their leader, and killed 24 of them. There were no escapees.

Thus, the operation concluded without any issues.

'What the heck...'

I was about to sleep when my communication crystal lit up suddenly. It was the 4th Manager.

I became speechless at her report. The outcome was favorable, but the operation was bizarrely executed.

'Again...'

Once again, I did nothing. It wasnt just that I didnt intervene because I was commanding from the back; I was completely unaware and only received the report afterward.

I was finally experiencing my dream scenario of an effortless payday, but actually experiencing it left me feeling odd. I felt incompetent instead of feeling like I got an easy win. How could there be rebels nearby without my knowledge?

"I thought it was two days from now."

Suppressing my turmoil and self-reproach, I cautiously spoke up. The Red Wave's attack on the academy was supposed to be in two days. Robin had assured us of that timing.

Did I misunderstand, or was I so distracted that I hadn't realized that two days had passed?

Still, it would mean I was incompetent and should resign if that were indeed the case. The worst-case scenario would be if Robin had deceived us and acted as a triple agent.

Were still confirming it, but it seems like a unilateral decision by their leader.

"Ah."

I felt relieved at those words. It seemed that they had launched the attack without informing even Robin.

'Had he lost his mind?'

Proceeding without communicating with the field officer? That didnt seem wise.

But then, a person in charge of the Red Wave wouldnt be sane to begin with.

"Ill be there shortly. I need to see things for myself."

Yes, Executive Manager.

The communication ended as the 4th Manager bowed.

It still left me bewildered. I thought it would be a quick wrap-up with all the elements in place, but I never expected it to end so abruptly.

It was like entering the boss room fully prepped with ultimate skills and buffs, only to be greeted with a dialogue event. It was easy yet anticlimactic.

"Hey."

...Hmm? Executive Manager?

The 1st Manager answered in a half-asleep daze as I contacted her urgently.

"We've captured the Red Wave. You just need to go."

Just those two sentences were enough to snap her awake, her eyes widening to a shape similar to a full moon.

I grabbed Robin, who we needed to identify the leader and senior officers, and the 2nd Manager, who was grumbling in Gerhardt's lab before heading to the forest. I didnt ask why he was in the lab at such a late hour.

"Executive Manager."

"Ah, good work."

A Masked Unit member greeted us as we neared the forest.

After I patted him on the shoulder a few times and passed by, the 1st Manager quietly spoke up.

"They look fine. It looks like it was a one-sided beating."

"Indeed."

The Masked Unit member we just passed looked completely fine, both in uniform and expression. Maybe they sent him on purpose because he was supposed to be on guard duty, but he wouldn't have been so calm if he'd been in a fight or if there had been casualties.

As the 1st Manager said, it seemed that the Red Wave was crushed before they could even react. Why did they come two days early?

"Damn it. I was organizing the data because they said it would be in two days."

I pretended not to hear the 2nd Managers resentful murmurs. He had practically become a masters student in the meantime.

The Red Wave may have failed repeatedly, but they still managed to get under the 2nd Managers nerves. Maybe the 2nd Manager and the Red Wave just didnt mix well.

"Executive Manager, over there."

Following where the 1st Manager pointed, I saw a group of kneeling people who were being watched over.

Just as the 4th Manager had reported, there were thirteen of them.

"Ah, Executive Manager."

"The Executive Manager is here. Stand up."

The Masked Unit's attention sharply focused on us at the sound of the 1st Managers voice.

I waved my hand to indicate that those sitting and resting could remain seated. After all, a salary thief like me didnt deserve this much attention.

"Penelia!"

The 1st Manager ran ahead as I walked towards the 4th Manager.

"Wow, you caught a lot, huh?"

She seemed more excited about the novelty of the situation compared to the feeling of happiness for seeing an old friend.

"A lot of them died. Is this okay?"

"Its fine! As long as its not less than five!"

My gaze inadvertently shifted to the group presumed to be the Red Wave. The number was 2.6 times more than five, so the 1st Managers delight seemed multiplied by the same factor.

"Executive Manager."

The 4th Manager approached with the 1st Manager clinging to her. They werent even Yeti and Pepe (mobs in a game), and yet they were stuck together like that

The 4th Managers slightly furrowed brow conveyed that she felt a bit uncomfortable, but she didnt shake off her friend. What a kind-hearted soul.

"Youve worked hard. I should have helped."

"Not at all. The information you provided us with made it easy to handle."

That made me even more embarrassed, especially since that information wouldnt have been available without Robins voluntary surrender.

I awkwardly smiled and then turned to Robin, who had been silent until now.

"Is that them?"

"Ah, yes. Its them.

Robins expression was complicated. Was it guilt for betraying his old comrades? No. That soft, warm feeling didnt quite fit his expression.

'He must be wondering, too.'

His face screamed, Why are they here? They shouldnt be here at this time. Im sure I told them to come here in two days, so why are they here now?

When I announced the capture of the Red Wave, his face went pale. After all, he was put in a position where he could be suspected of being a triple agent.

To be honest, I almost thought that the Red Wave had noticed Robins betrayal and perhaps aimed to exploit our weakness and hoping wed kill Robin in the process.

"!"

However, the sight of the Red Wave struggling with gags in their mouths proved that they had charged in blindly.

...Which made it all the more stranger. Did they really do this without knowing that there was a traitor in their ranks?

'Really, what are they doing?'

This seemed too much even for rebels, whose actions were beyond normal understanding.

"! !!"

"Release him."

"Yes."

At the 4th Managers command, a nearby Masked Unit member hurried over and removed the gag from one of them.

"Ro!"

Thump!

The Red Wave member who tried to speak the moment his gag was removed was promptly silenced by the swift punch of a Masked Unit member.

That was typical Masked Unit efficiency. Their quick reflexes, even in minor matters, were impressive. Even such small actions were enough to bring a sense of satisfaction to me, the weary Executive Manager.

"Who's the leader?"

"The one who just got hit."

Robin's answer made me feel even better. Perfect.

As I nodded in satisfaction, the Masked Unit member began to remove the gags from the other Red Wave members. Perhaps learning from the leader who spoke first and immediately got hit, they remained quiet this time.

***

I sat down on a stump and watched as the Executive Manager grilled the Red Wave.

"Is it okay if you dont join them, 2nd Manager?"

While I watched, a Masked Unit member handed me a water bottle. Just in time. I was feeling thirsty.

"Whats the point of getting in the middle of that? Thats the 1st Managers job."

I took the water bottle and replied. My role was to move before things blew up; what happened after that was the 1st Managers responsibility.

And the 4th Manager, well... she was the type to stick close to the Executive Manager.

"They must have been eager to meet their end to have rushed in like this."

"They might have moved early because they were worried about information leaks," the Masked Unit member replied to my muttering.

It was a plausible explanation. For crucial operations, separate official and unofficial documents were often prepared, and only a very few leaders were informed of the real mission.

But even so, there should be limits to it. If the operation required the field officers cooperation, then doing it without their knowledge was absurd.

'Theyre half-baked.'

That was the feeling I got from dealing with the Red Wave. Although they seemed to have some intelligence and conviction, something always went awry at a critical moment.

It was because of these delusions they indulged in instead of seeking legitimate success.

'Fools.'

I was also one of the red-blooded. I joined the blue-blooded because my father was given a title, which happened after I was born.

The Red Wave was utterly unappealing to me, who had seen that even the red-blooded could achieve success. They were exactly the reason that made the empire stricter towards the red-blooded.

"More than expected"

"Son of a!"

Whack!

"died...?"

I was comparing the number of prisoners to the corpses when a loud shout and a crashing sound interrupted my thoughts.

'What the fuck?'

The Executive Manager had swung a punch at the captive in front of him. The prisoner's head disappeared, leaving the 1st and 4th Managers visibly stiffening behind him.

"The Third Honor member brought up the North in front of the Executive Manager.

I suddenly recalled what the 1st Manager said after the Third Honors subjugation.

No way. Its not what Im thinking, is it?

Please tell me its not true.

***

The interrogation began, but the Red Waves leader remained tight-lipped.

Oh, he spoke alright. However, it was all just useless babbling.

'Maybe I should just kill them all.'

The leader and the senior officers were all here, anyway. If I killed them all, the Red Wave, which operated as a point organization, would inevitably collapse.

However, executing prisoners captured during an operation would be problematic. This was because of the empires policy to make the most out of the captured enemies.

Handling the aftermath of the 4th Manager killing the corpse leader was troublesome enough; we couldnt have that again.

"Youre also dissatisfied with the current system, arent you?"

While I was thinking about that, the Red Wave leader... or rather, their boss, started a conversation with me.

Dissatisfied? Sure, I did have grievances about how civil servants were treated like dogs.

"I just know it. You are a comrade who could join us."

"What nonsense is that?"

I frowned at the absurdity of his words. Why would I align with them?

The boss laughed at my reaction and then continued.

"Youve achieved even greater deeds. Who else would dare harm those who wore the purple crown?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what he was saying. Or perhaps I refused to understand.

Purple crown. The people who were a rank above the noble blue-blooded, referring to the royalty or imperial family.

"I heard from Robin. During the inter-class completition, in front of everyone, you"

"Son of a!"

By the time I regained my senses, I had already swung my fist.

Damn it. This guy just had to dredge up a dark chapter of my past.