The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Ismoken, after descending the mountain, did not head straight to the battlefield.

Instead, he concealed himself once again in a suitable forest. He planned to receive information from the bandits there.

The bandits had infiltrated Boneto territory under various disguises—as local residents, as employees of merchant caravans, and as mercenaries. Whenever they heard of work being offered anywhere, they approached without hesitation.

Fortunately for them, war had broken out. Most of the soldiers had been conscripted and sent to the battlefield, which had loosened security checks.

Due to the war, people and supplies were moving in great numbers across cities and villages. Taking advantage of this, the bandits gathered information from various places without revealing their identities.

"Boneto’s army has already set out."

"They are moving very cautiously, so their pace is slow."

"It seems they are being extra careful to protect their weapons."

Not only the bandits but also hidden informants diligently reported to Ismoken. Ismoken merely listened in silence.

In truth, war-related information was not his primary concern. His goal was to confirm whether the new weapon was actually being used on the battlefield.

Before long, he finally heard the news he had been waiting for.

"Boneto's forces have captured Count Schwarz’s first fortress."

"Did they use the Empire’s new weapon?"

"Yes! Yes! I saw it from afar! There was some kind of operator on top of a cart? It spewed fire! And then—the fortress walls just collapsed!"

"…What happened to Schwarz’s forces?"

"The operator fired it twice more! Even the magic formations on the walls crumbled! They panicked and retreated! I heard they had heard rumors about the weapon but were still unsure if it was real!"

"……"

The explanation was crude, but given that the speaker was an uneducated bandit, that was to be expected. The important takeaway was that the weapon was real—and it was indeed powerful.

There was something there, that much was certain. He could even go closer to confirm it from a distance.

But that alone was not enough. He needed to determine the weapon’s exact structure, the extent of its destructive power, and whether it could be mass-produced.

The best method, of course, was to steal the weapon itself.

'How should I go about this…?'

If he put his mind to it, he could steal at least one of the weapons. The problem was that in the process, his identity might be exposed.

Not only were the territory’s knights and soldiers present, but it was said that the Empire’s secret forces were also there.

If they became engaged in battle, someone was bound to realize his true nature.

Ismoken pondered for a long time. His identity could not yet be revealed.

His allies in other kingdoms were currently causing disturbances. If his cover were blown, their operations could also fail.

Thus, even in a small territory like this, he had no choice but to restrain himself and remain hidden.

But if everything he had heard about the weapon’s power was true, the war would end much faster than expected. He had to seize it before the Imperial agents left.

"…Continue tracking the weapon’s location."

After much deliberation, Ismoken decided to wait a little longer. He intended to bide his time until the perfect opportunity arose.

For the next few days, he listened to the reports brought in by the bandits while waiting.

One thing that irked him was that the bandits were visiting this place more frequently than usual.

'Are they sharing locations too openly?'

He had never stayed in one place for so long while receiving reports, so it unsettled him.