Chapter 179
Chapter: 179
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 179
>Chapter Title: The Ledger of Contracts (5)
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>The commotion settled down quickly. It turned out that the murdered Director Collins was a Demon Contractor.
The hastily summoned physicians and priests silently made the sign of the cross upon seeing his corpse rapidly blackening and rotting away.
This was the corrosion phenomenon that occurred when a human soul, having failed to fulfill their contract properly, was dragged off to the demon realm. There could be no surer proof of a pact with a demon.
As the corrosion progressed, a pattern stood out relatively pale on Collins's forehead.
A long sword held vertically, crossed by two hooks at an angle. It was the brand of Saint Terravakia, deeply imprinted with holy power.
In other words, this midday murder was in fact a summary execution carried out by an exorcist's hand.
"I can't believe it. Director Collins, a Demon Contractor...? He was known as a devout follower of the Lord God. Just a few days ago at the birthday banquet, he even boldly promised Cardinal Benitus that he'd increase his regular donations."
Masain let out a sigh laced with bewilderment and relief upon hearing the investigation results.
It was lamentable that a key figure in the Merchant Alliance had been colluding with demons. Yet at the same time, it served as proof that Masain and Director Collins's death were entirely unrelated.
It had happened right after their heated parting, of all times.
Schmidt's secretary had provided an alibi, but if luck had been any worse, Masain might have been saddled with the full suspicion of murdering Collins.
"Still, how on earth did such a wicked man infiltrate a position as crucial as director of the logistics relay station without anyone noticing?"
At Masain's lament, Seongjin and Branch Chief Schmidt exchanged a brief glance.
Wasn't it the opposite, really? In a den of demons swarming with Demon Contractors, how had a lone exorcist slipped past the guards to carry out the execution? That was the true mystery.
'Should we keep quiet?'
'Keep quiet.'
The man was already hypersensitive about anything demon-related.
If he learned that most of the key figures in this building were Demon Contractors, Masain's reaction was as predictable as the sun rising.
"There's another problem. Who was the exorcist that executed Director Collins?"
Schmidt, having received various whispers from his secretary, turned to Seongjin's group and spoke.
"We've just confirmed the whereabouts of all exorcists currently in Regina. Five were temporarily staying at a church on the outskirts, but two of them boarded a ship headed to the Cyprus Union today. The remaining three are confirmed to still be at the church."
He glanced at Seongjin before continuing.
"There's also one exorcist staying unofficially. But they unpacked at their lodging and haven't stepped out once."
Ah, that must be Lady Sharon, the one who stayed at the lodging.
Even disguising herself as a resident knight was no use, it seemed. Everyone already knew that Seongjin had holy knights from the monster task force with him.
"Whoever it was, it's astonishing they could sneak into the logistics relay station undetected."
Sir Masain, who had been listening, spoke up.
"The exorcist must have entered Director Collins's room right after I left. That means they were nearby for a while, yet aside from the corridor guards, I sensed no presence that could be mistaken for a knight anywhere."
To evade Masain's senses, they were either at the level of a Decaron Knight in aura manipulation or a holy knight trained in advanced assassination techniques.
"Sir Masain, are there any other Decaron Knights among the exorcists?"
"No. The only Decaron Knight in the Saint Terravakia Knight Order is the captain, Sir Leandros."
"Then, could it have been Sir Leandros himself?"
"Unlikely. He departed for the south on His Majesty's orders a few days ago."
"This feels like we've been bewitched or something...."
Seongjin scratched his cheek as he listened to their grave conversation.
Hmm, if that was the case, didn't it narrow things down?
The only exorcist nearby was Lady Sharon at the lodging, right? That would mean his father had possessed her again and slipped in and out.
'But why on earth did this guy show up in Regina out of nowhere?'
At the same time, Schmidt, lost in thought, went pale. Though he didn't know the full details, he seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Seongjin about who was involved.
"...Sir Masain. Did something happen in Director Collins's room, by any chance?"
At Schmidt's question, Masain furrowed his brow slightly.
"I'm not sure exactly. I just assumed he was up to something, barked at him, and stormed out."
From the explanation that followed, Schmidt declared firmly.
"That's it!"
"Pardon?"
Masain looked baffled, but Seongjin understood exactly what the demon branch chief meant.
The third guideline for demons: No matter what, never lay a hand on the Holy Emperor's children.
"He probably made a big scene on purpose to send a warning to those around. Sometimes, making an example like this is the way to go."
Seongjin agreed with Schmidt's words.
At the very least, the Demon Contractors inside the relay station would now have a clearer grasp of the third guideline's scope.
"But, Your Highness."
"Yeah?"
"If I may be so bold, the scope of those 'children' is a bit too...."
At the demon branch chief's quiet sigh, Seongjin nodded silently.
Only Masain, utterly clueless, alternated puzzled glances between the two.
* * *
"The guildmaster is more of a cheapskate than I thought."
"Indeed."
"Why make us do the work when there are relay station laborers available? He just doesn't want us slacking off even for a moment since we're not camping."
Dasha nodded half-heartedly at Anak's grumbling beside her.
They were people hired by the Milo Merchant Company and were now riding in a cargo wagon entering the logistics relay station.
The guildmaster had ordered the idle hands to unload instead of paying extra fees for station laborers, since there were injuries.
'But all the temporary hires are here. Could this really be coincidence?'
Dasha's instincts as a seasoned informant rang alarm bells.
She had been hired by the Milo Merchant Company due to a sudden vacancy. Some people had gotten into a street brawl in the capital and been badly injured.
The guildmaster had scrambled to find replacements, and that's how Dasha had been taken on as a kitchen assistant. She had planned to hide out all the way to Sigmund Territory like that.
However, Guildmaster Giacomo Milo was a more suspicious man than he appeared.
Even after thorough background checks, he always kept open the possibility that this sudden personnel change was someone's scheme.
Dasha realized this for certain when the wagon arrived at a certain warehouse inside the relay station.
'He's planning to weed us out after all!'
The building they had reached was no ordinary structure.
Sharp gazes from all around fixated on the wagon. Assassins were hidden throughout the warehouses.
In this situation, getting exposed was only a matter of time. She was partially concealing her aura now, but skilled assassins would soon start suspecting her.
And then, the guildmaster's dry eyes scanned the hired hands as they dismounted.
Dasha's instincts screamed.
'It's over! I need to bolt from here!'
Recalling the position of the hidden dagger in her bosom, she began mapping the optimal escape route in her mind, one that would avoid the assassins' interference.
Just then, the Milo Merchant Company's secretary came rushing up to Giacomo, panting.
"...Director Collins?"
"Yes, rumors are already spreading through the relay station that he was a Demon Contractor!"
Though it was a low whisper, Dasha—with her hearing enhanced by aura—caught their conversation crystal clear.
"What's the branch chief's response?"
"He's ordered everyone to lie low and avoid drawing attention for now. Personnel screening probably won't happen today...."
"They don't seem to be paying special attention to our company?"
"No. No particular mention."
"Hmm...."
Giacomo pondered with his chin in hand for a moment, then abruptly entered the building without a word. He seemed completely absorbed in this new issue, having forgotten all about the hires.
"The station laborers will handle it today. Everyone, return to your lodgings."
The secretary hurriedly instructed the group before vanishing after the guildmaster.
Only then did Dasha exhale in relief, straightening her skirt hem.
'We scraped by this time, at least....'
And that very night.
Dasha, having sorted through the intelligence she'd gathered, visited Seongjin's lodging and was greatly flustered. Seongjin, as if expecting her, handed over a thick stack of documents.
"...What's this?"
"Milo Merchant Company's customs clearance records and the Merchant Alliance's own investigation of actual sales figures. Compare them to the reported sales, and you'll see a huge discrepancy."
Dasha skimmed the documents, unable to hide her astonishment. With this level of material, they could raid the company right now!
Where on earth had he gotten such high-quality intel?
"Yeah. Got a reliable ally inside the Merchant Alliance."
When she learned the ally's identity, Dasha was stunned.
"Branch Chief Wilhelm Schmidt? The one dubbed the heartless demon, the Merchant Alliance's top workaholic?"
Well, yeah. He would seem demonic.
The guy was a real demon possessing a contractor's body, after all.
"Anyway, we'll submit those documents to the tribunal later."
"They're solid evidence, sure. But it might only give grounds to detain the company, not tie the guildmaster down completely. He'll cut off the tails and get out on bail."
Seongjin shook his head.
"Nah, don't worry about that. The heresy tribunal will handle the guildmaster. He won't slip away."
"Pardon?"
Dasha's jaw dropped at Seongjin's following words.
"Giacomo Milo is a Demon Contractor. Straight from the branch chief himself."
The story was unfolding out of nowhere, leaving Dasha dizzy.
"...A Demon Contractor? Is there proof?"
"Circumstantial evidence, yeah. Now we just need hard proof. If we can link it to the Dark Church's activities in Sigmund Territory while investigating, that'd be perfect."
"I see...."
The intel the prince had procured in a single day was no joke.
Would he end up handling the entire investigation alone? What was the point of her being attached as an informant?
As Dasha sank into self-doubt, Seongjin suddenly perked up as if remembering something.
"Oh, right! Hey, Dasha. I've got some things that need to get to the palace...."
* * *
>It was a day's journey from Regina to the capital.
The items sent via informants overnight arrived at the palace by lunchtime the next day.
"Little Saint Aurelion, is it? Sending a travel memento like this—what a rare gift."
Chief Steward Louis stroked his chin as he gazed at the small bald wooden statue on the office desk.
Little Saint Aurelion.
Typically a small wooden statue of the saint, given as a talisman by those waiting at home to wish for a traveler's safe return.
Saint Aurelion was said to have been an exceptional administrator and diplomat who spent his life traveling across the continent. People began gifting his statue in hopes the saint would protect their loved ones on journeys, and it had become a custom.
Regina was a hub city every merchant caravan heading north passed through. Thus, many shops sold these little statues as symbols of safe business trips and returns.
The prince must have seen them everywhere in the markets and mistaken them for a Regina specialty.
The Holy Emperor stared impassively at the small wooden statue before speaking.
"It's funny when I think about it, Louis. I wasn't this anxious even when Cissle first set out on her pilgrimage. She was only ten back then."
Well, Lower Mora's antics operate on a whole different scale.
Louis barely swallowed the words rising in his throat.
"But now I must admit it. Mores is a child who can take care of himself quite well—and sometimes delivers results beyond imagination."
A faint smile seemed to flicker across the Holy Emperor's face as he said this.
The long-serving steward, sensing that His Holiness unusually took a great liking to the gift, quickly suggested.
"How about displaying it prominently in front of the paperweight?"
"Yes. That sounds good."
And so, Little Saint Aurelion came to sit side by side with the white rabbit eyemask in the center of the office desk.
A lavish mansion near Bestran Street.
Herna and Gades scowled subtly at the two identical bald old man statues.
"Is Mores an idiot? What does he expect us to do with these on a trip?"
"Mores is Mores. He's always been an idiot—what's new?"
Hmm. The twins fiddled with the statues for a while longer before placing them at opposite ends of the chessboard in place of pieces and glaring at them briefly.
"...Shall we go see what our Mores is up to?"
"...Yeah? It'll only take a moment anyway."
"Also curious about how Redhead's doing."
"Yeah. Just checking if Redhead's okay."
With that, the twins clasped hands, felt the channel open, and quietly closed their eyes.
And in the unoccupied Pearl Palace.
At the ever-abundant lunch table, Amelia gently stroked the wooden statue and asked.
"What's this? What do you use it for?"
"It's a common street item in Regina, sister. They say it's like a talisman for a safe return from travels."
Logan, who had often passed through Regina leading subjugation forces, explained. Cissle tilted her head.
"But Brother Mores is so whimsical. He's the one who left on the trip."
The girl rolled the bald saint across the tablecloth with a clatter.
The three then forgot their meal, silently gazing at their respective statues.
"...Anyway, the little old saint is kinda cute."
"True."
"So delicate and cute."
Soon, a fluffy atmosphere bloomed among the siblings.
[Ugh. You're ruining my appetite—please, enough already....]
Cardmos finally sighed and retreated in exasperation.
"B-baap!"
Thanks to that, Seo Iseo, reclaiming her body for the third day straight during mealtime, naturally burst into tears of.