Padrino awoke before dawn, the familiar weight of responsibility already pressing on his chest. Sleep had eluded him, haunted by the thought of betrayal lurking within his ranks. His mind raced through the faces of those he trusted, each one a potential traitor. He needed answers—and fast.
As the first light of dawn crept through the window, Padrino dressed quickly and made his way to the training grounds. The village was already stirring, with villagers and Outcasts alike preparing for the day's drills. The tension between the two groups, though diminished slightly by Padrino's efforts, still lingered like a storm cloud on the horizon.
Padrino had asked Marko and Hinata to meet him at the council chamber that morning. Today, he intended to take action. He couldn't afford to let this threat fester any longer.
By the time Padrino arrived, Hinata and Marko were already there, waiting. Marko leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, while Hinata sat at the long table, her hands folded in front of her.
"Padrino," Hinata greeted, her voice calm, though her eyes betrayed her concern. "Any developments?"
"None," Padrino replied, taking his seat at the head of the table. "But we can't keep waiting. We need to act."
Marko shifted, standing up straight. "You're thinking of interrogating people?"
"Not yet," Padrino said. "If we start interrogating without proof, it'll only cause panic. What we need is a way to flush out the traitor without them realizing we're onto them."
Hinata nodded thoughtfully. "What do you propose?"
Padrino paused, choosing his words carefully. "I want to leak false information."
Marko raised an eyebrow. "A trap?"
"Exactly," Padrino confirmed. "We feed different bits of false intelligence to a few key individuals—information about our defenses, battle plans, supply routes. Then we watch. If any of that information gets to Galdros, we'll know exactly who's responsible."
Marko smirked, impressed. "Simple, but effective. The traitor won't even know they're exposing themselves."
"Agreed," Hinata said, though there was a note of caution in her voice. "But this has to be handled delicately. If we're wrong, or if word spreads that we're setting traps, it could create even more distrust."
"I understand," Padrino said. "We'll be careful. Only a few people will know about this plan—us and maybe one or two others."
"Who do you have in mind?" Marko asked.
Padrino leaned back in his chair, considering. "Garrik has already shown he's willing to help root out the traitor. He might not trust the villagers, but he wants to protect his men. He'll be an asset."
"Are you sure?" Hinata asked, her tone cautious. "Garrik and his Outcasts are still outsiders. There are people who won't take kindly to him being involved in something this sensitive."
"I'm sure," Padrino said firmly. "We need people who are willing to get their hands dirty. Garrik is one of those people."
Later that day, Padrino sought out Garrik, finding him at the training grounds as usual. The Outcast leader was overseeing a group of his men, their sparring sessions rougher and more brutal than the disciplined drills of the Rimuru militia. Padrino watched for a moment, noting the efficiency with which Garrik's men fought. They weren't just mercenaries—they were survivors, hardened by years of battle.
Garrik noticed Padrino's approach and dismissed his men with a wave. He wiped sweat from his brow and gave Padrino a nod.
"Penduko," he greeted, his voice gruff. "What brings you here?"
"I need your help," Padrino said without preamble. "There's a traitor in Rimuru, and I plan to root them out."
Garrik's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. "So, you're ready to deal with it."
"I am," Padrino said. "But I can't do it alone. I need someone I can trust, someone who understands the stakes."
Garrik snorted. "Trust? From a village full of people who still look at us like we're the enemy?"
"I'm not asking the village," Padrino said, his voice firm. "I'm asking you."
For a moment, Garrik said nothing. He simply stared at Padrino, as if weighing the offer. Finally, he gave a slow nod. "Alright, Penduko. I'll help. But if we're doing this, we do it my way. No half-measures. If we find this traitor, we deal with them, no questions asked."
Padrino nodded. "Agreed."
The plan was simple, yet dangerous. Over the next few days, Padrino, Marko, and Hinata carefully spread different pieces of false information to a select few individuals—some among the villagers, some among the Outcasts. Each piece of information was subtly altered, enough that if it reached Galdros, they would know exactly who had betrayed them.
Padrino made sure to personally deliver one piece of false intelligence to one of the more trusted villagers, a man named Brant who had served as a scout for Rimuru for years. The information was simple: a false location where Rimuru's supplies were being stockpiled in preparation for the upcoming battle.
The waiting was the hardest part. Days passed without any sign of betrayal, and Padrino began to wonder if the traitor had caught on to their plan. But just as his patience was wearing thin, word came from the scouts.
A small band of Galdros soldiers had been spotted near the location Padrino had given to Brant.
Padrino's heart sank. He had hoped it wouldn't come to this—that perhaps Garrik had been wrong about the traitor. But the evidence was clear. Someone had betrayed them.
That night, Padrino gathered his inner circle once again, along with Garrik. The mood was grim, the air thick with the weight of what they were about to do.
"The traitor has revealed themselves," Padrino said, his voice hard. "Brant passed false information to Galdros. We can't let this go unpunished."
Marko nodded, his expression dark. "He's been with us for years. I never would've suspected him."
"Neither would I," Padrino admitted. "But we can't afford to show mercy. If we do, we'll send the wrong message. Betrayal will not be tolerated."
"What's the plan?" Garrik asked, his tone as cold as steel.
Padrino looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each of his allies. "We'll confront him tonight. Quietly. I want no spectacle, no public trial. We deal with this swiftly and decisively."
There were no objections. Everyone knew what had to be done.
Under the cover of darkness, Padrino and his group made their way to Brant's home on the outskirts of the village. The night was eerily quiet, the only sound the crunch of gravel beneath their boots.
When they arrived, Padrino knocked on the door. It opened moments later, and Brant stood before them, his face lighting up with surprise.
"Padrino?" Brant said, his brow furrowing. "What brings you here at this hour?"
Padrino's expression remained cold. "We need to talk, Brant."
Before Brant could respond, Garrik stepped forward, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him outside. The sudden movement caught Brant off guard, and he struggled in Garrik's grip.
"What is this?" Brant cried, his voice rising in panic. "What are you doing?"
Padrino stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "You betrayed Rimuru, Brant. You fed Galdros information that could've gotten us all killed."
Brant's eyes widened in shock. "No, that's not true! I would never—"
But Padrino wasn't listening. He had already made his decision.
Without another word, Garrik pulled a dagger from his belt and, with a swift motion, silenced Brant's protests forever.
As Brant's lifeless body slumped to the ground, Padrino turned away, his chest tight with the weight of what he had just done. Betrayal had been rooted out, but at a cost.
And in that moment, Padrino knew—this was just the beginning.