I teleported back to my base the next day, then summoned the succubus, and magic-using shapeshifters in front of the throne.
"We may have obtained the key to cure Phisovia from poison," I muttered.
Xenora gasped and took a step forward. "Is that true, my lord? When can we go on a mission for that?"
"John and his friends in the capital have found someone who works in a government administration building. However, we suspect that building is a secret facility." I explained further. "Our plan is still in the early stages because I'm waiting for more info from John. But I'm sure we'll make it."
Even though I said that I kept my expectations in check. I don't want to be disappointed if it turns out that this is not something we need.
"I wanted to use a covert operation to kidnap the poison master from there." I leaned back against the throne. "However, it turns out that we need a lot of scientists for some of our research. So, I'll bring many shapeshifters who bring the undead using the pocket dimension. This was in case the troops would come there. We will smash that place and take all their scientists."
I looked at my subordinates one by one. The shapeshifters seemed unaffected by the news, while the succubus looked anxious. It appeared they were tensed because their real general was about to be released.
"Before I continue, any questions?"
One of the succubus raised a hand, then spoke as I pointed. "Why don't we kidnap each of them in their homes."
"Good question." I nodded. "And the answer is simple. The number of our agents is limited, so we have to carry out the kidnapping gradually. If one of our agents is caught, the researchers will be evacuated. That will be troublesome for us. So, the best way is to take them together from one place with the help of the undeads."
I watched the faces of my subordinates. Since nothing seemed doubtful, I continued. "Again, I'd like to give them a big message... Any other questions."
No one responded, and I got to my feet. "We're not just going there like idiots. Shapeshifters and succubus will enter the capital from various routes. There might be those who disguise themselves as merchants or become adventurers, and so on. If we do that, the chances of us being caught will be small. It's not that I'm afraid of humans, but we shouldn't underestimate them."
My gaze fell on them again. "Do you all understand?"
They bowed. "We understand, my lord!"
"Good! Now, make the necessary preparations. We will depart if we have the necessary information from the capital."
"Very well, my lord!"
They then dispersed, and Xenora approached me. Her eyes were full of tears, but her lips curved into a smile.
"Finally, we can heal madam Phisovia." She said in a hoarse voice. "I am very pleased, my lord."
Even though my expectations weren't high, I couldn't bear it if she gave up hope. So, I put my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. "We will definitely do it, Xenora. You've been waiting a long time for this, right?"
The succubus nodded, and I kissed her on the lips.
***
Because he is more experienced than the others, John decides to disguise himself as Marco Clarke, the man who works at the secret facility. John will survey the place first.
However, after a mare dug into this man's mind, they concluded that Marco Clarke was no longer a scientist. Maybe he used to work in the metal section of the facility, but now he's the supervisor.
This greatly benefited John. When infiltrating, John didn't need to discuss the research because Marco Clarke was just a supervisor. All that can be transferred to a shapeshifter's brain is behavior and memory, not knowledge, magical abilities, or fighting skills.
Now, John was walking in thick clothes, carrying a leather bag, through the falling snowflakes.
"Hey, Marco!" A middle-aged man with gray hair greeted him from the building door.
"Good morning, Mr. Chandler." John, posing as Marco Clarke, smiled and raised his hand.
"Can you give me a little more winter break, Marco?" The man named Chandler had white steam coming out of his mouth as he spoke. "My old bones are tormented with cold."
John laughed just as the building's doorman opened the door. As a shapeshifter, he mimics Marco's movements down to the smallest detail. "You know that's impossible, right?"
Chandler sighed. "Of course."
As soon as they entered the building, they were greeted with a smile by a female receptionist. Marco greeted the woman back, then entered a sizeable yellow-walled hallway decorated with doors on either side.
The rooms there were mostly empty. Yes, those researches were not done here.
"Come on, Marco," Chandler spoke again. "I want to take a long rest this winter."
"Once again, sorry, Mr. Chandler." John widened his smile. "You are indeed a senior in this place, but I cannot give you special treatment."
Chandler just sighed again.
After going through two turns, they arrived at a very simple door that was more suitable for the warehouse. They waited there for a moment, then the doorknob vibrated.
Some officers hid not far from that place and checked their physical appearance using magic. Since there had been no shapeshifters in this world in a long time, they had not anticipated the arrival of a creature like John.
Johna and Chandler opened the door, immediately finding a long stone staircase leading down.
"Ah, these stairs still torture me," Chandler grumbled. "Couldn't you just have the research facility in the upper building, Marco?"
John, who was going down the stairs, chuckled. "Today, you enjoyed talking, Mr. Chandler."
Chandler walked behind John with a sullen face.
The Kingdom of Durcia didn't want anything researched in this place to fall into enemy hands. So, they made this facility hidden.
"Goodbye, Marco." Chandler enters a room while John continues on his way.
The passage he was walking through now looked bleak because of the stone walls. Every room in there has a label. But instead of writing, the label contains symbols.
The symbols are interpreted as knowledge in John's brain, so he must learn them. He can't just get it from the information given by the mare.
The research results here may use those symbols. That was one of the main reasons he had carried out this infiltration.
John kept walking while keeping an eye on the surroundings, then greeted the two guards on patrol.
There was a hysterical scream from one of the rooms. The guards rushed there and opened the door.
"Is everything all right?" one of them asked.
"Don't worry, he's just in pain." One of the scientists in the room responded.
Marco looked slightly into that room, finding a humanoid figure with a scaly body and a lizard-like head.
A lizardman. The creature probably wasn't even a teenager yet. It was tied to a table, and its stomach was bleeding.
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