Episode 2 of the Overly Competent Villain

Chapter 18

Aburak Abdeslam (2)

Count Jansen von Wittenberg has been kidnapped.

As Elysia moved to the south, Count Jansen, who came with her to serve her closely, was distraught.

Elysia, who has to commute to and from the Investigation Bureau and the Public Security Office, took the Count to a nursing home and visited frequently to check on his health.

[This is dangerous. Abdeslam kidnapped Lord Elysia’s father…]

It’s the worst possible situation.

Elysia’s father, Janssen von Wittenberg, is a war hero who played an active part in the war between the Empire and Pasha 14 years ago.

The Knight Commander who defeated the young thunder wizard Abdeslam who was blocking the imperial army and occupied the palace of Pasha. He did enough to earn Abdeslam’s grudge.

[But is that enough to do something reckless like this? If there was a grudge in the first place, why did you do something cumbersome like kidnapping instead of killing it on the spot?]

“The Count is a man who knows many secrets. He was the first sword of the Empire and was the closest assistant to the Emperor until his fall. It is not strange that Abdeslam is looking for something from the Count.”

I also had something to look for in the Count, so Abdeslam is likely to be in a similar situation.

From noble mtl dot com

[Where should I go? If he’s going to attract Sir Elysia, then where—-]

“There are places you can expect to go to. I’m sure you’ve heard of it? Originally, where did Abdeslam terrorize at this time?”

[no way?]

The reason why Aburak Abdeslam got a fake job in Lombardy in the first place. In the south of the previous episode, in which I did not intervene, Abdeslam unleashed a terror that brought the Empire to its knees.

[Cigarna railway blocking terrorism…!]

Yes. Blockage of almost the only overland route connecting the southern and central parts of the Empire and the massive landing of Pasha separatists.

“Simultaneous bombardment of the naval base of the Aranchi Empire and the air base of Olbia. All military bases in the southern part of the empire were neutralized in an instant, and the southern part was temporarily isolated.”

That period may have been that long… but it was a time that could not be called short either. The Empire has an airship fleet that can dispatch an immediate response force in case of emergency.

Upon hearing the news that the military bases in the south were incapacitated, the Empire immediately dispatched a response force. They wanted to support the south beyond Sigar or the snowy mountains.

“But Abdeslam… was precisely enough time for him and the Pasha separatists. As the counterforce in the south disappeared, they began terrorizing all southern ports.”

The result is astronomical damage to the southern seas of the empire and paralysis of logistics movement.

[As a result, much of the influence on the imperial provinces beyond the Red Sea is lost.]

The Empire had too many territories, and the resulting vulnerabilities were revealed everywhere.

The mass terror of the pasha separatists is just the beginning. The empire could not stop the great evil of me and the Brotherhood from within, and was eaten away by provincial independenceists and enemies from the outside.

All of this is the karma of the empire, but unfortunately, as the empire collapses, ‘the evil star’ emerges.

[I think you destroyed the empire more viciously than that malevolence?]

“I don’t think there’s anything more than an enemy country. In the first place, I don’t have any debt to the empire.”

[I think I know why a terrorist like Abdeslam was willing to cooperate with you.]

that’s not natural As the South became isolated and lawless, I joined hands with the Pashas.

Archmage Osman wouldn’t know. How much money radical separatists make.

“Anyway, the magic bombing that collapsed the entire snowy mountain connected by the railway at the time was the beginning of the connection between Lombardy and the Sigarna Mountains.”

[If you know that far, I think you know the approximate location. But wouldn’t it be too late?]

Even if you know the approximate location, arriving on time is another matter. There was no way that I, an ordinary person, would arrive faster than Elysia, the knight.

“Well, wait and see.”

After escaping through the illusion of the villain, I arrived at an abandoned warehouse not far from the headquarters of the Investigation Bureau. When I knock on that place, a response comes from the other side saying, “Knock Knock Knock.”

“Fly.”

knock on the door twice Soon after, the locked door opened and a politely dressed old man greeted me.

“Welcome, Mr. Pietro.”

“Bastienne! Thank you for coming.”

As I hugged him, he grinned and patted my back. He said.

“You called, and I only answered the call.”

“I am always grateful for your service.”

Bastien is the manager of my business in the western part of the Empire. He was also one of the few people I could trust unconditionally.

“I’d like to open some wine to commemorate the reunion, but there’s something I need to do right now. What happened to what I asked for?”

“We have contacted you with the information you sent. It will be as you wish. As for the team composition… Mr. Pietro’s influence is not in the south. Team composition is a bit difficult. We are recruiting the Heini Squad as our first priority. But, he said he’s currently in the North.”

“You can’t be full on the first drink. But you must have prepared that, right?”

“Yes, because it was Mr.’s first request.”

Bastien took me to the inside of the warehouse. There, something of considerable size is covered by a tent.

“Zeppelin II’s latest airship. It is a high-speed airship using a 14-cylinder 885 mana engine.”

The size of a semi-large class of approximately 50 m. An airship flying in the sky is a fairly common vehicle in this world.

Of course, private non-collaborative ships are not common.

[·······.]

‘I haven’t said anything since before. Is there any problem?’

[It’s a private airship… that alone is surprising.]

Osman asked cautiously, looking at the elegant design of the airship in front of his eyes.

[Isn’t that the latest airship of the empire that will be released only after 5 years?]

‘To be precise, it’s a strategic asset of the Empire classified as a Daimler class.’

[But why is it here?]

Yes… am I the largest shareholder in that company? Since the time of the founder Zeppelin I, my passion for non-collaborative ships has been in line with him.

I gave him the idea of an earth-borne aircraft, and he made me a shadowy figure with human airlines.

It’s a story from 20 years ago, so it’s an old kite. It’s a story about when I was a green boy who was the boss of the back alley.

It was a time when I made good use of the perks of being an earthling.

[·······.]

Osman keeps his mouth shut when he tells the secret story of the empire’s best airline, Zeppelin. Either way, I boarded a brand new airship.

Bastien was the driver.

* * * *

The airship, which attempted a narrow landing over the railroad tracks, immediately flies away and disappears.

It was difficult to find it in a place like this because it was an unannounced prototype non-collaborative ship. If the plan goes wrong, Abdeslam will be the first to blow up that airship.

“I never thought you’d have a non-collinearity. You seem to be richer than I thought.”

“Crime always brings high risk, high return. Unlike thought criminals like you, I’ve been saving money.”

I remember later that the Pasha resistance fighters were distracted by the funds I sponsored.

Armed with patriotism, they were as good as fighting power, but they were always poverty-stricken. Their main source of income was kidnapping rich merchants and nobles to ransom them.

“So? You probably didn’t come all this way to brag about your money.”

“Well, you and I are done, so from now on, it’s like personal advice.”

I looked at Elysia, who didn’t understand the situation. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to have been seriously injured.

“I’m glad you seem to be fine, Ellie.”

“Pietro… what the hell is this…”

“You were reckless. Of course you would have, but at least you should have called support. The opponent is a war hero who stood on equal footing with your father.”

I picked her up and patted her on the shoulder.

“Still, it’s amazing that you’re alive and not killed by that Abdeslam.”

“you······.”

How are you here? And what about the deal with Abdeslam? She seemed confused in many ways, but I have no reason to dispel her doubts.

“Before that, take the count first. It seems to go back and forth, but if you put it in a cold place, you’ll catch a cold. At that age, even a cold is bound to catch you.”

“Do you think you’ll leave it like that?”

Abdeslam, who causes lightning in his hand as if to stop Elysia. There was one reason why he didn’t attack.

Because I’m still attached to Elysia. He is contemplating whether to make me his enemy.

“Abdeslam. Wasn’t your intention to create a terror that would shake the empire? It would be unprofitable to deal with a senile old man?”

“Well. That’s not for you to judge.”

approach him And then speak

“Aburak Abdeslam. Husband of a wife and child sacrificed by the Empire. Patriot of a country that was trampled upon. Personally, I am your biggest fan.”

He eventually goes crazy with revenge and becomes a mad terrorist. His misdeeds in the South plagued the Empire for a long time.

“If it was the way to punish the military bases and high officials of the Empire, I will continue to support you. They have responsibilities.”

“Then why are you stopping me? The senile old man over there must be responsible for that.”

Declaring war on the infidels, the empire crossed the sea, crossed the desert, and ravaged the kingdoms of the East.

The Pasha Kingdom is its first victim.

Landing golems ravaged the beaches of the Pasha Kingdom, and Imperial airships bombarded the city.

Abdeslam fought hard against the invaders, and it was Count Janssen, the commander of the Imperial Knights at the time, who cut him.

Defeated by the Count, he lost consciousness for a while, and in the meantime, the Pasha’s capital was overrun. Abdeslam lost his wife and child.

That is why his revenge is so justified.

Because he is a monster created by the Empire.

“The Count is just a good soldier who did what he was told, but that’s no excuse. You deserve revenge on him.”

“Then——”

“But not Elysia.”

Elysia von Wittenberg is not the target of Abdeslam’s revenge. At least she has no grudge against Abdeslam.

“Your vengeance must be limited or the wrong person will get hurt.”

At that, Abdeslam protested in a fit of rage.

“No! That girl has Wittenberg blood! Her blood is thick, and her children inherit her parents’ lineage! The wealth accumulated by the count comes from the flesh and blood of Pashain! If you benefit from it, you cannot be without responsibility. !”

Counterarguments are possible, but rational counterarguments are meaningless to a vengeful person.

The abyss in his only one eye was so dark and deep… he hadn’t seen the future since some time ago.

“You are a person going through a deep and dark tunnel. Sadly, the tunnel has collapsed at the end.”

Aburak Abdeslam is finally destroyed by the empire.

He dealt the maximum damage to the Empire, but in the end, he could not overcome the great stronghold of the Empire.

“Your revenge target is too broad and there is no clear target. Touching Elysia is just a way to vent your anger.

“If I lose, I’ll let you lose the same! I’ll pay the count the same for my daughter’s favor!”

“From where to where. Whose daughter will you kill? Whose wife?”

“entire···!”

“If you only know the proper image of an empire, revenge will never end. You can’t kill all the people of the empire.”

Abdeslam knows that too.

The opium traders that sparked the war?

The politicians who ordered the war to be waged?

The soldiers who landed on the land of the kingdom and killed the kingdom troops and citizens?

there is another Provincial bureaucrats who occupy Pasha’s land and rule it as a colony.

Again, there is. Arms dealers who profited from the decline of the Pasha Kingdom.

There is again, again, again. Traitors who betrayed their country by collaborating with the empire.

He is destined to collapse from exhaustion after fussing in the infinite yoke of revenge.

“I’ll tell you. The real target you need to avenge.”

“The real target?”

I know. The reason why the Empire invaded Pasha. A captain who pilots a huge ship called the Empire.

Those who have been manipulating everything behind the scenes and have been secretly working for a long time.

“Let’s vent our anger like this. We need to catch the real one.”

Even for Abdeslam himself.

You have to set a stopping point and come back.

At least I decided to.

“·······.”

A momentary hesitation mixes in one of Abdeslam’s eyes. He had just seen a daughter whose father had kept him from being swept away by the aftermath of the battle.

“Wittenberg…”

Whom he must avenge is the count, or everything that belongs to the count.

“No, I can’t. Revenge is made with blood. Even if it’s an innocent life. Everyone has to pay with blood.”

Only then will history not repeat itself. Abdeslam stared alternately at Elysia, who was evacuating the Count, and then stretched out her arm.

towards ruthless revenge.

“Are you disappointed?”

“Very loud.”

“So what are you going to do now, Pietro?”

“I have to stop you.”

“I don’t understand. Why do you go so far to cover the count? You must be an enemy to Wittenberg?”

Yes, it is true that I brought down the Earl, and that Elysia developed a grudge against me in her austere environment.

In the end, we were able to resolve that old grudge relationship only through someone’s death.