Chapter 532
Chapter 532
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 532
Chapter Title: A Useful Fellow
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The place set for my meeting with the mayor was a rather upscale eatery—no, a full-on restaurant. The senior captain, who had picked me up midway, guided me there.
"Pleased to meet you. You're the junior priest from the Brass Celestial Society, correct?"
The mayor was a stout elderly man.
"Pleased to meet you, Mayor. I'm Kim Katt, junior priest of the Brass Celestial Society."
"I'm truly grateful you took down that demon. Please, have a seat. Let's eat first."
His name was Morva Solvanio.
He seemed to be nobility of sorts. The senior captain had tipped me off beforehand that he ruled as this city's mayor and was deeply anxious about the current demon incident.
Anyway, after the greetings, I sat as he suggested.
The restaurant held only me, the mayor, the senior captain, and the waitstaff. Soon, the servers began bringing out the food. It looked pretty appetizing.
Before heading back after wrapping things up, I should bring Claudy and Winia here.
"Heh heh heh, I'm honored by this warm reception. I wasn't properly trained in table manners, so forgive any lapses."
"No need to mind... Hm, this is delicious."
The meeting with the mayor proceeded over the meal.
Seeing he didn't fuss over etiquette made him seem like a decent fellow. You should never deal with picky types who nitpick the small stuff.
His appetite was impressive too, which made eating comfortable for me as well.
And so, we chatted lightly over the food.
"Mayor."
Time to get down to business.
"Extremely wicked groups have infiltrated the city's shadows, scheming to achieve their goals. Are you aware?"
"Ugh... Yes, I am. Junior priest, what on earth should we do about this? Demons and their worshippers hiding here—it's unprecedented."
"No need to worry. That's why I've come. Take a look at this."
I immediately pulled the saintess's directive from my robes.
Documents like this hit home hardest with those in high positions.
"What's this?"
"It's a directive from the saintess of the Brass Celestial Society."
"From the saintess... I've already received the official notice. But sending just one person..."
The mayor grumbled as he took the directive. Well, it was understandable—he'd be anxious. With the situation dire enough for the Holy Knights, sending a lone junior priest would unsettle anyone.
"My mission from the saintess is to exterminate the demons hiding in the city. She must have her reasons for sending me, so rest assured."
"...I suppose so."
The job was already done anyway. With the culprits fully identified, what heavy lifting was left?
Just mobilize the troops on the mayor's orders and round them up.
"Anyway, to the point. We've crushed one threat in cooperation with the city guards, but another remains. Hasn't the senior captain reported this?"
"The large group of demon worshippers?"
"Exactly."
I downed my wine in one go and continued.
"Truth be told, the demon worshipper misleading the laborers is building his forces right now. From my personal infiltration and investigation, they seem dissatisfied with the wage system and resolved to overthrow it."
"W-what?! Is that true, junior priest?!"
The mayor bellowed as if hearing it for the first time, feigning shock.
From his perspective, this was the worst possible news.
Having exploited laborers to amass wealth, demands for higher wages would ruin him.
"This is a document I compiled from ten days of direct investigation. Please read it."
I handed over the notes I'd organized during the probe. He snatched it eagerly, eyes bulging as he scanned the pages.
"Ugh...!"
The mayor's face grew grave.
"Hundreds of laborers attended the gatherings at minimum."
"Such a thing...! In my city, no less...!"
He scowled deeply, venting his rage.
In truth, a laborers' revolt would hit harder than some fantastical demon threat.
Well, I could see their side too.
But the problem was the demon worshipper at the helm. We had to nip it in the bud.
Wage negotiations would have to wait.
"Fortunately, we've identified the ringleader. The senior captain proved quite capable. His help made everything smooth."
"...!"
At that, the senior captain beamed and nodded.
After I'd pocketed 40 silvers from him, how could he not play along?
Once this was resolved, he'd pay up again anyway—lip service was easy. Hearing me, the mayor praised him.
"As expected, you handle things well. I'll see to your promotion next time."
"I-it's all thanks to the priest's competence! Heh heh heh!"
A beautiful sight.
"I'm not much interested in worldly affairs. But demon worshippers change everything. Those vile fiends must be crushed no matter what. This is just my hunch, but gathering crowds like that smacks of sacrificing them en masse."
"S-sacrifice them all at once...?"
I set a grave tone, steering the mood.
"They might summon an archdemon with mass offerings. If so, the city is doomed. It'd turn into a battlefield."
"W-what?!"
Mentioning an archdemon made the mayor and senior captain clutch their heads in horror.
"An archdemon...!!!"
"A-an archdemon?!?!"
Seasoning added.
"We must move troops before that happens. Fail to catch the ringleader, and the city falls to ruin."
"Of course we'll deploy! Senior captain! How many troops can we spare right now?!"
"I'll return to the office and report immediately!"
"Good! Mobilize as many as needed! You have full authority!"
In the end, the mayor agreed to provide troops.
The discussion wrapped there. I'd hash out details with the senior captain, but with the mayor's full support, the roundup was a sure thing.
I exchanged farewells and left the restaurant.
"Heh heh heh."
The incident had ballooned enough to mobilize the entire city guard.
Resolving this inflated affair would rack up impressive achievements for me.
I'd have plenty of material to attach for the saintess.
"Priest!"
The senior captain hurried after me.
I had a question for him.
"Senior Captain. Just to confirm—do the city guards have the training to suppress something like this?"
"Of course. Urban suppression drills are basic. No need to worry."
Good.
"I know the demon worshippers' location. I'll guide you there and capture the ringleader myself. Use the guards for the assault."
"Understood."
I met the senior captain privately to agree on the scenario for resolving the incident. Being competent, things went smoothly.
The plan was simple.
Hildegart had pinpointed their exact spot with her help. On the gathering day, I'd infiltrate first, signaling the guards to advance and raid the site.
Once I nabbed the worshipper during that, it was over.
"We'll proceed accordingly. On the day, move with me, infiltrate ahead, and that'll signal the guards' advance."
"Perfect. That'll wrap it up cleanly."
"Heh heh heh, it's because you convinced the mayor to commit the troops."
That's why dealing with the top brass is best—skip the red tape, get what you want.
"They say Brass Celestial Society followers are ruthlessly capable. Seeing you, I believe it."
"Heh heh heh, thanks. Meet at the rendezvous on the day."
* * *
The day of the operation arrived.
I headed to the rendezvous with Claudy, Winia, and Hildegart. The moonless night was pitch black.
"The black guy's got things set up nicely. This should end it?"
"Yeah. Nab these bastards, collect rewards, and we're out."
They'd follow my decisions.
"Katt, you're too capable. So cool."
"Heh heh heh, damn, I'm awesome."
Truth be told, the four of us could snag the ringleader easily.
Sneak in, take him out, done. But that lacked drama and proof for reports.
Tell the saintess I gutted them on a hunch? She'd doubt it.
Better to stage it 'realistically' with mass guards—cooperating with city authorities to wipe out demon worshippers had plausibility.
Plus, official records.
"Ah, Mr. Katt. They're coming from over there."
"Yeah?"
As we waited, the senior captain arrived with two city guard members.
"Priest!"
Apparently, city guards doubled as soldiers here. Two companies were deploying tonight.
"Fine night, Senior Captain."
"Ah, yes... But who are they?"
The approaching captain eyed my wives and Hildegart. Best to call them mages.
"My colleagues. Talented investigative mages."
"Ah, I see. Pleased to meet you, mages."
They nodded curtly.
Hm... Traveling with three beauties too eye-catching?
They hid in dark robes, but couldn't fully conceal those curves. Winia especially.
"..."
The captain gave me a strange look.
"Anyway, let's move. Follow me."
"Yes. Straight to... the demon worshippers' gathering spot?"
"Yes. One correction, though—not everyone's a worshipper. Most attendees are duped by the ringleader's sweet talk."
"Understood. Still, if a riot breaks out during arrest, we'll have to suppress it."
"Can't have everything go smoothly. Unavoidable."
We followed Hildegart to the site.
Another warehouse district gathering.
The night was dark, but workers from around gathered, heading in after shifts.
That explained the secrecy.
"Mr. Katt, that building over there."
"I see it."
An irregular line led to the structure ahead. Some held lanterns for clear visibility. A guard checked faces at entry.
"Priest. That building?"
"Yes. Got the location?"
"Yes. Locked in."
"I'll infiltrate now. Alert the troops to surround and advance. The gathering lasts over an hour... Can do?"
"No worries. Just give the order."
"Then. Beginning."
The captain left with his men.
"Hey, Hilde. Demon inside, right?"
"Yes. Definitely. Hm, seems a bit stronger than before? Though no match for you, Mr. Katt."
No issue.
"Built some power?"
"Looks like. With all those humans, it'd be demon disgrace otherwise. Let's go in."
We waited for the crowd to thin, then entered behind Hildegart.
"Hm? You—"
"—Shut it."
Her hypnosis spell granted free entry, of course.
—Murmur murmur.
Inside buzzed. Numbers had swelled. I gauged the distance to the platform, mapping a breakthrough path mentally.
"Katt, you got this?"
Claudy whispered in my ear.
"Obviously. Keep an eye on Winia here. Crowd could sweep her up."
"Worried about me, blacky?"
"Always."
Plan: Once guards stormed, charge straight, nab the ringleader.
He'd embraced demonic power.
Showing that on-site could calm the crowd... maybe? Hell if I know. Leave complications to the guards.
Key was witnesses seeing me make the arrest. Wrap that, grab rewards, report to saintess in Isvant, done.
"Silence!"
The ringleader took the platform—the same guy from recent days. But tonight, his aura felt off.
"Mr. Katt, look at that human now..."
"Yeah."
Clothes hid it, but I could tell.
—His body was rippling with peak, steel-hard muscle.
He'd fully received the demon's power.
"Today, we were exploited again!"