Chapter 148: The Swamp (2)

The group of Yuri, after leaving Française, arrived at a nearby small town.

Yuri quietly asked the guards to keep silent—they were just passing through—and they entered.

“Why did we come here?”

“We have a stop to make.”

The four of them, their faces covered by hoods, headed to a branch of the Elaine Trade Association located in the town.

There, a familiar face was waiting for Yuri.

“Your Highness—the Prince. Long time no see.”

It was Guillermo, Vice President of the Elaine Trade Association.

“Did you do what I asked?”

“Everything is ready.”

“Perfect. By the way, one more has joined us.”

Yuri indicated Jose as he spoke. Jose cocked his head in confusion. Guillermo touched his chin awkwardly and replied.

“With that size, it won’t be easy. I’ll do my best to get it ready soon.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry. With money, anything is possible. Would you like to meet him now?”

“That’s fine.”

Jared asked Yuri.

“Meet who?”

“You’ll know when you see him.”

Before leaving the palace, Yuri had arranged with Guillermo to hire a disguise specialist.

Guided by Guillermo, Yuri entered the branch.

“This is the man. His name is Pavar. He’s a master of disguise—famous for transforming someone completely with just his hands.”

A bald man, without a single hair, made a respectful bow to Yuri.

“I am Pavar. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

On the table were working tools, but the most striking item was a flesh-colored mass compacted into a round shape.

Yuri nodded.

“You’re in charge.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can you start right away?”

“Of course.”

“The situation is urgent, so do it quickly. I’ll pay you well.”

“Leave it in my hands.”

While Yuri spoke with Pavar, Jared asked.

“What is all this?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? We need to move incognito.

“Right, but… could we not just use masks? I mean, a bit of makeup doesn’t change a person that much. We’ll be discovered.”

Pavar’s expression changed instantly.

“You just said ‘just makeup’?”

Pavar was a civilian; Jared was an armed knight. Yet Jared felt such intense pressure that he took a step back, as if stabbed in the chest.

Self‑confidence. Professionalism that cannot tolerate errors. Pride in one’s craft.

All that burned like fire in Pavar’s eyes.

“I assure you, you’ll regret those words.”

“I—I think I misspoke…”

“No, it wasn’t a mistake. That’s simply your opinion of me. Direct and honest.”

Pavar placed his hand on the flesh-colored lump on the table and began kneading it with strength.

“I will destroy that mistaken perception. Please sit down, Sir Knight.”

“I said I’m sorry.”

“If you really mean it, then sit.”

“Ugh…”

Watching the scene, Yuri nodded in satisfaction.

“Excellent.”

Refusing to back down even before a sword-wielding knight—just for that attitude—deserved the title of master.

Encouraged, Yuri nudged Jared’s back.

“All right, Pavar. Show him what you’re capable of. Make this arrogant knight cry before the mirror.”

“Yes. Trust me.”

“No—wait a second…”

In the end, Jared found himself seated in a large chair.

“Don’t move.”

“Hey?”

They placed shackles on his hands and feet. His face turned pale.

“This is just makeup, right?”

“What I do is not makeup.”

“Th-then what is it?”

“Transformation. And I’m not a makeup artist—I’m a special effects technician.”

“Special effects technician?”

Jared didn’t even know such a thing existed.

“Yes.”

Pavar placed the tips of his fingers on Jared’s chin and, tracing his jawline, offered a smile.

“Good base material. Look over there.”

He pointed to a large mirror beside them. Jared saw his own trembling face.

Pavar lifted the corners of his lips in a sinister grin.

“You’re about to become someone else—say goodbye to that dear face of yours. Kukukuku…”

“N-no…!”

But he was restrained by the shackles. And so, Pavar worked from forehead to chin, not leaving a single centimeter of his face untouched.

A hot, sticky substance was repeatedly pressed on then peeled off his face.

Those watching gaped in astonishment. What they were seeing was hard to believe, even with their own eyes.

“Wow…”

“Is that the skill of a special effects technician…?”

“What materials do you use for that?”

Pavar smiled proudly.

“Slime.”

“Slime?”

“Processed slime makes excellent material. Of course, there are many other components, but that’s my secret.”

Finally, the process was complete.

Jared no longer existed.

In his place sat a man with highly arched eyebrows, large bulging eyes, and a harsh-looking face with a thick, bristly beard, still shackled to the chair.

“Is that Jared?”

“I can’t believe it.”

It wasn’t just a change in features—the structure of his face was different. Pavar wiped sweat from his forehead and smiled in satisfaction.

“This is still not the moment to marvel. This face is also removable!”

“What?”

“Watch.”

Pavar grabbed Jared’s chin and tugged upward. The skin began to peel off.

It was like pulling off his face. Everyone recoiled in horror.

“Ha ha ha, no need to shield your eyes. Watch.”

“Ah…”

However, to everyone’s surprise, beneath the skin was another face. Jared furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“This is the slime mask I developed. First, I mold the desired face using this material, fix its shape, and thus create a mask that can be put on or taken off at any time. Want to try?”

Yuri examined the slime mask Pavar presented.

To the touch, it felt like real skin.

“Truly astonishing.”

“The beard and hair were sourced from real people. Feel free to try it.”

“Are you sure I can?”

“It may not fit perfectly—but it’s enough to try.”

Yuri put on the slime mask.

“A bit large.”

“Each face is different, so it must be custom‑fit to be perfect.”

Yuri looked in the mirror. A completely different person stared back at him.

Though the edges of the mask peeled slightly, at first glance it was so natural that nobody would suspect a disguise.

“That such a technique exists… did you invent this?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Incredible. You created it all by yourself…”

“In any field it’s the same, don’t you think? There’s always a pioneer who breaks ground, and then others follow.”

“Are you saying that pioneer was…?”

“It’s me. Pavar.”

Yuri removed the slime mask and extended his hand.

“Give me your hand, Pavar.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I think you and I are cut from the same cloth.”

“From the same cloth?”

“People destined to leave their name in history. Haha…”

“Kukuku…”

They shook hands and shared a laugh only those of their caliber could understand.

“All right. Great special effects technician Pavar, create slime masks for us.”

“Yes, Your Highness. How would you like your new faces?”

“Leave it to your judgment.”

“Understood. Though I’m a technician, I’m also an artist. I will reveal the other face each of you carries inside.”

And so, the four of them received new faces crafted by Pavar.

“Guillermo, what about the look‑alikes?”

“All set. Shall I send them out now?”

“Do it.”

Yuri didn’t stop at just changing faces. He also arranged look‑alikes with similar builds for each of them—those look‑alikes would ride back toward the capital.

From the outside, it would seem the group merely made a brief stop in Française before returning.

But in reality, they were heading to Joachim.

“No one will know we’ve left.”

“Your foresight is admirable.”

“One must plan carefully before acting.”

“Still, arranging all this with such precision… isn’t easy.”

“Money can do anything.”

Money got Pavar, the look‑alikes—everything.

Yuri gave a sideways smile.

“From now on, we’re not us. We’re inhabitants of Joachim who rose valiantly at the news of the threat to their country.”

“Will it work?”

“Why not? And if things get complicated, we’ll pretend to be dead.”

Mounting the new horses Guillermo provided, the four departed the town in secret.

***

The 5th Cavalry Squadron, which had entered the forest, was stuck, unable to advance.

In the midst of it came the unbelievable news their captain had been captured.

The sub-captain took command and ordered a retreat to the outskirts of the forest.

“What the hell were they!?”

One of the knights, who had barely escaped, shouted in rage.

“They don’t even fight with swords, they just hide and shoot arrows or dig traps—those cowardly bastards…!”

“Yeah.”

“That’s not what knights are!”

“Seems like it.”

The sub-captain nodded nonchalantly as he sat on a rock.

He heard his subordinate’s words in one ear and let them pass out the other.

“Don’t those rats feel shame? Those guys ought to…”

“Enough.”

“Sub-captain?”

“Silence and rest.”

The sub-captain sighed. With this kind of morale, it was obvious Joachim had outmatched them.

Are there wars with rules? Few nations can face Imperial squadrons head-on. Joachim was just using the strategy best suited to their situation.

“Who would have thought Joachim would fight like this…”

He’d thought Joachim was no clever nation—just a mountainous people who knew nothing of shooting undetected arrows or digging traps.

So when ordered to attack Joachim, he hadn’t felt too much pressure.

But now—most of the squadron dead, their captain captured, and forced to retreat under threat—the situation was completely different.

The squadron’s future rested on their next decision.

“Sub-captain. Let’s go back and kill all those bastards and rescue the captain.”

“Quiet.”

Going back into the forest was not a realistic option. Joachim had prepared meticulously. It was like a snake den. One wrong step and you’re done.

After much thought, the sub-captain made a decision.

“We wait.”

“Sir?”

“We wait for the main army.”

“But…”

The reputation of the 5th Squadron would be severely damaged. But after losing their captain, there was no honor left to protect.

It was a matter of survival.

“If you’ve got a problem, go in there and fight on your own.”

“I…”

“You don’t have the guts, do you?”

The knight was left speechless. The sub-captain patted him on the shoulder, stood up from the rock, and, looking at the dense forest before him, let out a bitter smile.

“This place is a complete swamp…”

To cross that forest, they would need overwhelming force or at least double the troops of the enemy.

Someone like Yalta, the “Imperial Barbarian,” or Graham, an expert in warfare, might be able to do it.

“Anyway, when the time comes, we’ll get through. No need to take unnecessary risks.”

“We’re just going to wait?”

“It won’t take long. When the time comes, those bastards will pay dearly for daring to defy the Empire.”

The sub-captain smiled confidently.

But within the main army, something he had never imagined was happening.

***

“What did you say?”

Graham was perplexed by the soldier’s report.

“You mean, they beat you up?”

“Yes.”

“And they robbed you too?”

“Yes…”

“How did it happen?”

“Well a group of thugs who hate the Imperial Army appeared…”

The soldier’s face was covered with a massive bruise. Graham put a hand to his forehead.

“What the hell…?”

An army needs supplies to wage war. And since it was impossible to rely solely on official provisions, Graham would usually send soldiers to purchase necessities in Joachim’s cities, paying fair prices.

The lords of Joachim, fearing retaliation, always accepted the deals.

But this time, the soldiers returned injured and limping. Judging by their condition, they wouldn’t be fit for combat for a while.

“We didn’t even get to see the lord. Before we entered the city, those thugs attacked us…”

“…”

That the people of Joachim hated the Imperial Army was understandable. But that trained soldiers returned beaten was unacceptable.

Graham felt a bad premonition. A troublesome enemy had appeared.

“Who were those thugs?”

“Well, I was so frustrated I asked a local who was passing by, and he said…”

After hearing what the soldier explained next, Graham was left speechless, completely stunned.

“A mat seller, enraged by the Empire’s invasion, made a blood pact with two adopted brothers in a sweet potato field. The one who beat us up was the younger one, who looked like a bandit and had a fiery temper.”