Grimm: Ch. 15

---Grimm's POV---

More than half a month had passed since arriving at the military camp, and even Julius' wedding was just around the corner.

As usual, when moments like this arose, Kadi and his crew couldn't help but stir up trouble. Tonight, for instance, he summoned me to a secluded hill, with his lackeys keeping watch for any disturbances in the area.

"Why call me here so late? What's going on?" I asked.

"Of course, there's something. Tomorrow night, there's a relatively simple task—perfect for you to try your hand at," Kadi replied.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Simple: make sure the Panther Knights' vice-captain, Oka, dies in a way that looks like sudden death."

"Here's what you need to know about Oka," Kadi said, pulling out a piece of parchment. "He's been visiting the Rose Garden brothel in north Weimar every other night."

"Why that specific location?" I asked.

A knowing smirk crossed Kadi's face. "Haven't you heard? The woman he's been pining after for years is about to become Julius' bride. Poor bastard's been drowning his sorrows there."

I studied the schedule Kadi handed me. The timings were precise—Oka arrived at the brothel around midnight and usually stayed until dawn.

"The eve of Julius' wedding will be perfect," Kadi continued. "Trust me, he'll be there. A man's most vulnerable when he's trying to forget the woman he can't have."

The way he spoke made me wonder just how long he'd been having Oka followed. The information was too detailed to be casual observation.

He handed me a packet of powder. The substance wouldn't kill instantly but would cause death two hours after ingestion.

No one might care about the death of a vice-captain, but what if it set off a chain reaction?

The goal was to sow suspicion between the Dragon Knights and the Panther Knights—a classic dirty task. He was undeniably skilled at orchestrating such underhanded maneuvers.

"The moonlight tonight is perfect. Let's do it tonight. Go inform your friend; we'll set out immediately."

This time, they left out Berndhardt.

He was too conspicuous. Kadi gave him simple instructions to buy some things in the city the next day. If anyone asked, he was to say I had gone to fetch wine for Kadi.

With Julius' wedding in two days, the entire Dragon Knights corps was on leave. Nobles were busy mingling, and few were left at the camp.

That night, he brought me to the brothel to make the arrangements.

I donned a modest, slightly faded blue linen outfit, along with a hood that covered half my face—perfect for blending in as a wine-serving attendant at the brothel. However, this disguise couldn't fully shield me from the attention of certain "peculiar tastes."

The lively brothel was bustling.

As soon as Kadi stepped inside, a stunning woman pulled him into a back room, dragging me along as well. What followed was an awkward scene: an unprompted display of affection.

"Felkardi!" The silver-haired woman wrapped her arms around Kadi's neck, whispering his name affectionately before the two shared a passionate kiss.

Kadi let go of me, his hands sliding to the woman's waist as the two became entirely engrossed in their embrace.

I averted my eyes in exasperation and then noticed a child in the room. My pupils shrank in shock.

Huh...? Why is she here?

---Third POV---

The boy, watching the man kiss his mother, seemed bewildered. Strangely, he recalled the time when that bastard's friend kissed him—an unpleasant experience he still didn't fully understand.

Though he didn't grasp why adults seemed to enjoy such acts, he knew from personal experience that it wasn't comfortable. Yet his mother wore an expression she had never shown anyone else before.

"Let go of my mother!"

The boy, entirely focused on the strange actions of the two adults, failed to notice the inconspicuous figure of Grimm.

He pushed against Kadi's leg with all his might.

Though his mother had explained that this man was his father, and he had even received a knight puppet from him last month, despite it being snatched away, the boy's limited interactions with his father hadn't exactly sparked admiration.

They'd only met twice.

"Don't be naughty, Gera," the woman said, laughing as she tousled the girl's hair.

She pulled out a wooden sword from a chest near the bed and handed it to her.

"But... he's bullying you!" Gera said, clutching the wooden sword with a worried expression.

"Your daddy isn't bullying mommy. You'll understand when you grow up. Go play in your room for a while, alright?"

"But..."

"It's something only people who like each other do. Go now, Gera!" she said, giggling before pushing the girl out of the room.

"Only people who like each other..." Gera muttered, dazed, as she shuffled away.

"Who's this child?" the woman finally noticed Grimm, who had been standing in the corner.

"He's part of a mission. Just let him stay as a servant for the day. Apologies for the trouble." Kadi planted a kiss on her lips.

"Not an issue. As long as you're here, nothing's a problem," the woman replied sweetly, throwing herself into his arms as if his presence alone was enough to shield her from the world.

He gently smiled, a rare look of sincerity crossing his face as he stroked her back. "Arrange a place for him to sleep in the morning. Grimm, keep watch outside."

"Yes."

---Grimm's POV---

The intermittent sounds from inside made the long night unbearable for me as I crouched outside. The noise only ceased by dawn.

"The moonlight's so beautiful," I muttered sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

It turned out that the girl lived here.

Her eyes bore an uncanny resemblance to Kadi's, though her irises weren't as dark.

... Felkardi, huh?

Just as I was about to drift off, Kadi finally emerged, fully dressed and looking refreshed—almost triumphant, exuding an unmistakable air of satisfaction.

"Thanks for keeping watch. Wait for her to wake up before arranging a place for you to stay. Don't forget tonight's task; he'll assist you. Be back quickly," Kadi said, gesturing toward the figure crouched on the rooftop—a bodyguard who had apparently been there all night as well.

"Understood," I replied.

"I trust you'll handle it well. I'll take my leave now." Kadi exited discreetly, mindful of the unseemly reputation of such places.

Watching the rooftop figure slink back down. Help? More like surveillance to ensure I do my job. After all, this plan hinged on every piece falling into place.

The untimely death of the White Tiger vice-captain before the wedding would certainly provoke deeper suspicions than if it occurred afterward.

"It might feel a bit cramped here for you, but we only start our work at night. I'll have someone bring you some food later. For now, just rest here."

The silver-haired woman had slept until noon, while I spent the entire morning outside. However, there was no sign of Gera coming out at all.

The woman had arranged for me to stay in a room that resembled a storage shed. It was filled with yellowing, shriveled straw, dried corn cobs, and firewood—likely all materials for fueling a fire.

"Alright, thank you for the trouble," I responded politely. After all, she was Kadi's old flame, and giving me a place to rest was already more than generous. On top of that, the woman was very beautiful and Gera's mother, which left a favorable impression on me.

"Good kid, so polite. I'll be in that room over there. If you need anything, just call me, Grimm~," she said, her lazy and sultry voice sending chills down my spine.

The woman stretched languidly and shut the door behind her, apparently planning to sleep some more.

I didn't expect her to remember to call someone to bring food. I just used my hood as a makeshift pillow, laid down, and prepared to rest.

After all, I needed to be in good shape for the night... to go kill someone.

"Why do I have to be the one to bring food...?"

A familiar voice grumbled, accompanied by the sound of footsteps approaching from outside.

Creak.

--- Third POV---

The door opened, and Gerald, still mumbling to himself, entered carrying a wooden tray with a piece of bread, some vegetables, and a cup of milk.

But what greeted his eyes was a face he knew—and hated!

That person was lying comfortably on the floor, hands behind his head, sound asleep in his family's storage shed. And now he had to deliver food to this guy?!

He clenched his jaw so hard it felt like his teeth might break.

Grimm, still groggy from sleep, didn't realize Gerald had come in until he opened his eyes and noticed the murderous glare fixed on him.

"Crap!"

Instantly, he sprang to his feet, ready to bolt. Unfortunately, Gerald was quicker.

Splat!

A hot cup of milk splashed over Grimm's head, followed by a plateful of food hitting him in the face. Milk dripped down as breadcrumbs and vegetable leaves stuck to his skin.

Still unsatisfied, Gerald grabbed a nearby fire poker, ready to strike. Grimm, seeing the weapon, wasted no time. He scrambled away, dodging, but the shed was too small to offer much escape.

"You jerk! Why are you in my house?!"

"Stop! Don't hit me!"

The chase spiraled around the piles of firewood, with Grimm narrowly avoiding blows while pleading for mercy. Seeing no way out, he darted toward the door.

Gerald swung the poker again, but Grimm, at the last second, slammed the door shut.

Bang!

The poker struck the door instead.

Grimm quickly jammed it shut with a small wooden stick, then climbed out onto the roof and lay flat, panting.

"Man, that was intense. What a little troublemaker," Grimm muttered, patting his chest to calm his racing heart. Even assassinations didn't feel as nerve-wracking as this.

Below, Gerald's furious shouts echoed. Grimm didn't need to look to imagine how angry he must have been.

---

"Argh…"

The force of the blow had reverberated up his arm, leaving it numb and sore. The poker slipped from his grasp, almost causing him to fall. He barely managed to catch himself, pressing his hands against the ground.

By the time he recovered, Grimm had already escaped and locked him inside the shed.

"You bastard! Just wait till I get out—you're dead! If you've got the guts, let me out, and we'll settle this!"

With a clatter, the small wooden stick blocking the door gave way after a few hard kicks. However, he used too much force and ended up falling flat on his rear.

Fuming, he grabbed the fire poker again and stormed out, scanning the area for any sign of Grimm.

"You jerk! You'd better pray I don't see you again!"

Gerald shouted angrily into the courtyard before tossing the poker back into the shed. He brushed off his freshly cleaned clothes—now slightly disheveled—and cursed under his breath. That idiot had ruined his look, and now he'd have to freshen up again before heading out.

Meanwhile, Grimm was silently laughing on the roof.

Still, the pain in his back from her blows was no joke. He rubbed his shoulder with a grimace. Best not to provoke the child too often.

The afternoon passed peacefully. When Gerald went out, Grimm snuck in to retrieve his hood.

---

As night fell, it was time for him to get to work.

"Hey! More drinks over here!"

Oka, already heavily intoxicated, yelled at the servant boys carrying drinks. His lecherous hands wandered over the voluptuous figures of two prostitutes beside him. It seemed he was trying to drown his frustrations in this debauched fantasy, mumbling a woman's name under his breath.

"I've tried so hard already..." he buried his face in one woman's chest while the other patted his head in feigned comfort.

Sensing the moment was right, Grimm—disguised as one of the well-covered servants—entered the beer hall with a tray of malt beer.

Among the cups, one was spiked with poison. He ensured it was placed closest to Oka. For the assassination to be flawless, the vice-captain had to drink it himself.

That outfit... What is he doing here? Gerald had spotted Grimm in his disguise and couldn't help but grow suspicious. Mother told me not to go to the front hall...

After some hesitation, he smeared some mud on his face to disguise himself and decided to follow Grimm anyway.

"Hey! Kid..." A drunken man stumbled toward Grimm, trying to grab him. But Grimm, quick on his feet, dodged the drunken lunge.

The man's leering gaze lingered, filled with a kind of desire that made Grimm's skin crawl. Disgusted but determined to stay focused, he paid no further attention and melted into the crowd.

"Drink... drink..." Oka slurred, reaching out for his cup.

"Here's your drink, sir," Grimm said, serving the spiked beer to Oka while handing the untainted cups to the soldiers accompanying him.

Since he was the vice-captain, no one questioned the order in which the drinks were served, and fortunately, there was no argument over the cups.

Luck was always a factor in assassination, after all.

As Oka raised his cup to drink, Grimm prepared to slip away. But a commotion from behind caught his attention.

"Hey, where did this servant boy come from? Never seen you before!"

"And why's your face all covered in mud?" said a drunken, familiar, and revolting voice.

"What are you doing?! Let go of me!" came an angry but trembling voice—childlike and powerless in such a chaotic setting.

Grimm whipped his head around, his pupils contracting sharply. What is she doing here?!