Gangs of Rome (5): Bounty on a Noble? Are You Out of Your Mind?

Larilura voiced the obvious question before I even had to prompt her. The cynical sarcasm fit her current acting persona perfectly, yet the broker kept chuckling as he organized his cocktail tools.

"Explain it properly. Unless every mercenary who walks into this tavern has lost their mind, there's no way they'd accept such a deranged request."

The punishment for killing a noble was so severe it wasn't even worth discussing. Even an unofficial request wouldn't let them escape the pursuers or the full weight of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠law. If the broker valued his own neck, he should have either clamped down on the information before getting dragged off as an 'accomplice to noble assassination' or actively stopped the mercenaries from taking the job.

"Ah, the bounty doesn't strictly mean they have to die. Of course, if you accidentally kill the target, that's that, but this is closer to a game of tag."

"Tag?"

"Yeah. You seem to want the simple version, so I'll keep it that way." He wiped his hooked nose with his sleeve. The laughter had vanished completely. "The lord of Lucregens lost his left arm and left ear in the war. They say he still can't forget the opponent who gave him that wound during the civil war."

"What does that have to do with... Wait, you don't mean—"

"Sharp, aren't you? That's right. The target is a noble from the house that turned our lord into a cripple. Naturally, they couldn't visit the territory officially, so they must have slipped over the walls in secret."

Politics? Here? I clicked my tongue. The broker spread his hands as if the whole situation—nobles fighting in the shadows and even dragging the dark society into posting bounties—was utterly amusing.

"And the target's family can't complain, so the three great families posted the bounty?"

"Bingo! Quick on the uptake. First time I've seen a request like this, but isn't it fun?"

The broker chuckled again, but this time the laugh carried a faint undercurrent of irritation.

"Hmm. You say it's fun, but you look pretty pissed off."

"...I don't usually touch outright criminal work. Feuds between the families are the closest thing to crime that I broker. Everything else is basically just work for the adventurers' guild."

The broker shrugged, not even trying to hide it. "This is outside my territory. Right now I'm just passing on the information and advising my clients to steer clear."

"So you're not even taking a commission?"

"Commission? You think I'm crazy enough to touch that? When I have no idea how big the fallout might be? I just want this insane joke to end quickly so I can go back to brokering normal requests like 'Please find me some narcotic herbs for potions~'."

I watched the fed-up broker for a moment, then gave Larilura a few quiet instructions. Our junior followed through faithfully, staying in character as she asked the next question.

"The noble with the bounty—what's their name?"

"...Normally I'd charge for this, but today I'll give it as a service. Consider it my way of looking after my own safety and your flashy debut." The broker lowered his voice. "She's the young daughter-in-law of the Armaal family—one of the Senate houses."

Yeah. Just as I thought. I inwardly clicked my tongue, remembering the archer I'd met yesterday.

With the three great families declaring a temporary truce, the underworld of Lucregens ground to a halt. The fact that the three warring families had joined hands to post a single bounty carried heavy meaning. It meant her very presence—concealing her identity and sneaking into the city—was now a threat to every mafia outfit in the area.

"That archer mentioned she brought a lot of maids with her, right? Was that a lie?"

"Probably. If we go meet her now, won't she get suspicious?"

I let out a long sigh. From her perspective, she was probably thinking, This bastard—is he fishing for information?

Still, we can't just not meet her.

And now that a bounty had been slapped on the very person we were supposed to meet, waiting the full three days would be idiotic. If that lady got caught before three days were up, the whole thing would fall apart. Even if she somehow evaded pursuit, the noose would be tightening so fast that neither she nor her people might have the composure left to talk.

That was why we decided to head to the meeting place without waiting three days.

"Larilura. I'm going to talk to Veronica real quick."

"Yes~. If anything happens, should I wake you?"

"Yeah."

With my arms still wrapped around Larilura's neck, I closed my eyes.

─Whoosh.

The rune magic pulled me into the dream world. In an instant I stepped into my inner realm and found Veronica reading a book with a distant expression.

"Hmm, has my master arrived?"

Veronica closed the book and rose to greet me. When I gave a small nod, she smiled, visibly relieved.

"It does not appear to be an emergency requiring immediate escape. I wondered if it was time to leave this hazy meditation."

"Sorry. Are you tired?"

"Worry not. Since I cannot go outside alone anyway, this place is rather less boring."

Veronica stroked the book Dana had bought from the mages' guild—the one brought into the inner world through rune magic.

"Still, it is an interesting application when one thinks about it. To use Seidr as a tool for long-distance communication."

"Hehe. Remember when I first saw my wife's true form? We managed to talk even though we were far apart. I got the idea from that."

Right now Veronica and I were conversing inside the dream, exactly like the first time we'd met in this inner world. The Veronica back at the inn would either remain in a meditative state or enter the inner realm using a short Sign created through spatial magic. Then I would explain the situation here or request a Spatial Movement. It was literally a video call in a dream.

"If this became public knowledge, would it spark a Seidr boom?"

"As a standard method? What a terrifying thought."

Veronica's teasing tone carried genuine agreement. If a nation tried to replicate our method, every radio transmission would require a man and woman to have sex. In that case, the communications officer in this other world might become the ultimate cushy post.

Depending on who your Seidr partner was, it would be an extreme lottery—heaven or hell in one assignment. Ugh. Communications director, you lucky bastard! Blurut.

"Stop making that stupid face and tell me why you came."

"Oh, right."

I explained the bounty placed on the Armaal family. Veronica narrowed her eyes.

"I see. The likelihood of combat is high. Understood. I shall remain vigilant."

"Thanks. If nothing happens I'll contact you again, so stay ready."

"Mm. ...Heh. Do your best. I shall pray you return unharmed."

─Chu.

Veronica kissed my cheek and slipped away. I let out a small laugh and withdrew from the inner world.

Just in time—Larilura was already hiding near the destination.

"Senior~? It's a shame, but it looks like it's time to separate."

"Shame? You damn reptile fetishist."

I switched into Yesugei mode using the Berkanan rune. As I replenished the spent mana from the jade seal, Larilura rested her chin on my shoulder like she was pouting.

"I'm not only into reptiles, you know? I like anything that's cute or cool."

"That's why you're always overflowing with self-love. Anyway, what are you doing right now?"

"What do you mean? Your adorable junior is acting all cute and that's your reaction? Hmph~ I'm mad. That's minus ten junior points."

"Why does the score go up when you're mad? Shouldn't that be a huge demerit?"

"It was a hundred points because I was happy you subtly complimented me, but I deducted ninety for your cold tone."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

What kind of currency is that? Zimbabwe dollars?

Larilura tapped my shoulder with her chin like a woodpecker, then her face suddenly lit up with a cheeky grin as if she'd remembered something.

"Ah, senior? Now that I think about it, I should change my outfit too, right?"

With her hands behind her back, Larilura lifted the hem of her robe and thrust her ample chest toward me.

"Here! Hurry, hurry~♥"

─Jiggle, jiggle.

The two generous mounds waved heavily in time with her wriggling. The face hidden beneath the hood had already released its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠transformation, glowing pink. That bright, smug smile was incredibly irritating.

"Stop screwing around and turn around, you wench. Or I'll leave you behind."

"Tsk~."

I grabbed her shoulder, spun her 180 degrees, and carved the Berkanan rune onto her back. The giant leather armor I'd lent her again—so she wouldn't get hurt—transformed into a different style of robe.

Larilura pouted, then shifted into an appearance resembling Tirsi.

"Keep the hood up as much as possible inside. If a fight breaks out, worry about your own body before counterattacking. Understood?"

"Yeees~. But if senior is in danger, I can't make any promises~?"

Larilura shook the miniaturized Ringling No. 4 she'd brought along. I handed her a mask and chuckled.

"Really? Then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I guess I'll just have to try extra hard not to get hurt."

The escorts of a Senate noble wouldn't be pushovers. If they'd brought elite troops, even at the lowest estimate they'd be Gold class. If that archer lady was a daughter-in-law who didn't cause mother-in-law conflicts, we might even be looking at Platinum rank or higher.

We crossed a back alley littered with trash and arrived at a small general store.

─Knock, knock.

The door was closed, but footsteps approached after I knocked.

"Who is it?"

"It's Yesugei, who visited yesterday. Something came up, so I arrived a little early."

"What gay? Did you come to the wrong place?"

"Yesugei. Isn't it past opening time in broad daylight?"

"It's a day off today. Hmm. I must have forgotten—I'm getting senile. Come in for now."

The door opened. The old woman stood with perfect posture, scrutinizing us sharply before letting us inside.

"Even seeing it again, it's a completely unfamiliar face. Is there someone I know beneath that mask?"

I didn't answer. I was in Odin's Eye.

Nothing much. Traps in this world that didn't borrow the power of mana were all mediocre at best. Like trying to use non-electric products back on Earth—terrible cost-performance. I saw nothing that could actually threaten me.

"I was told this is the membership card." I deactivated Odin's Eye and showed her the seal. The old woman checked it, then cackled with her heavily wrinkled face.

"Kekeke! Membership card! What an appropriate expression. You're even more entertaining than the stories suggested."

"I understand your suspicion, but it was she who invited me even though she doesn't know my face. If a fake or an impersonator showed up, there's no way for her to tell. This is a waste of time."

"Hmph, how brazen. I wasn't told two people would be coming. And you arrived whenever you pleased."

A sharp killing intent stabbed toward me from the old woman. She must have been quite the fighter in her youth. I played dumb without shame and bowed my head.

"I don't know what you're talking about. The words of the Great Empire are too difficult for me. If I've done something wrong, I'll apologize to the lady herself."

"...Tsk."

The old woman clicked her tongue viciously and opened a hidden door. Stairs appeared beneath the counter.

"The only exit is here. If you're scared, I'll give you the chance to leave."

"If I cared about that, I wouldn't have come. As the saying goes, misunderstandings should be cleared up before suspicion turns into certainty."

Following the flow of the conversation, I headed down into the basement. Do otherworlders have some instinct that makes them feel cozy underground? Why does everyone dig holes and hide?

I grumbled to myself and carved a rune onto my forehead beneath the mask. Raising my senses to their peak, I descended with maximum caution. I wouldn't have gone this far if I were alone, but I was doing it for Larilura, who followed behind me.

─Creak.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—there were no threats on the way down to the basement. I knocked on the wooden door set into what looked like a gray plaster chamber.

The presence inside shifted, forming what felt like a combat formation. My heightened senses caught every movement.

They wouldn't suddenly throw the first punch just because the situation changed. Are they wary of me?

I had Larilura step to the side of the door. A voice came from within.

"Lord Yesugei?"

"Correct. I apologize for arriving earlier than promised... but I assume you've heard the news. The dark society has placed a bounty on your heads."

"...Please come in and we'll talk."

The door opened silently—well maintained. Inside was a space large enough that even a fight wouldn't feel cramped, and five people were already waiting.

"Welcome. Please forgive our poor preparations; the meeting was arranged rather suddenly."

The white-haired woman seated at the head spoke calmly. She sat relaxed, body loose. But perhaps because of Larilura entering behind me, the other guards were subtly radiating hostility, the fine hairs on their skin standing on end.

...What the hell?

Yet I couldn't focus on the bare face of the beauty missing her left ring finger, nor on the four others watching me warily. Because I had seen this married woman before—someone who looked nothing like Tirsi.

And it had been less than a month after I'd arrived in this world. Before I'd even met Yernana or Dana.

"It has been only a day since we last met. I am Primor Armaal."

The slave market where I'd been arrested as an illegal immigrant and dragged away. The young noblewoman who had passed by me with a faint smirk was now waiting, her face four years more mature than when I'd last seen her.