Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Throwing Enticing Bait (1)
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Slam.
I threw open the tavern door without knocking, as was my habit.
"......!"
William, who had been sitting at the counter, widened his eyes. He set down the plate he was wiping and hurried over.
"Welcome, Master."
Come to think of it, his attitude had changed.
I hadn't noticed yesterday amid the chaos, but William's speech was exceedingly polite. Just like how he spoke to Elice.
"Where's Elice?"
"She's inside."
After answering, William subtly gauged my mood. Then, in a hesitant tone, he asked,
"Is your mood alright today......?"
Traces of lingering anxiety still haunted his face.
Hm. Now that I thought about it, I had barged in rather recklessly yesterday. But with Requiem going berserk, I hadn't had a moment to keep my wits about me.
"Does my mood seem that bad?"
When I asked with a jut of my chin, William hurriedly shook his head.
"No, sir. I spoke out of turn."
"Fine. Then let her know inside. I'll give her time to answer the knock today."
Despite my arrogant tone, William proceeded ahead without a change in expression.
That was one of the reasons I liked him. I preferred subordinates who quietly got the job done.
Knock knock.
William knocked on the inner room's door and said,
"Lady Elice, it's William. The Master is here."
As soon as William finished speaking,
Crash! Shatter!
[Kyaa!]
A clamor erupted from inside the room.
William stood blocking the door and bowed his head.
"......Please wait a moment."
How much time passed?
[Let him in.]
Elice's voice came from inside the room. It was remarkably calm, as if the earlier racket had never happened.
Creak.
William opened the door and bowed his head.
"I'll bring tea shortly."
"Sure."
I gave a casual reply and stepped inside.
A tidy atmosphere, simple furniture worn from use, and bookshelves lining both walls filled with books.
The room looked much like it had yesterday. Except yesterday, Elice had been holding a weapon and hiding a child behind her.
"Have you arrived?"
Today, she was comparatively composed, sitting at her desk.
"Welcome, Master."
Elice sat with her arms on the desk, wearing a businesslike smile.
But judging by the twitching of her lips, she had just been through quite a frenzy.
"Hmm."
I sniffed the air a few times before asking,
"Do you drink during work hours?"
"No, that's not......"
Elice reflexively answered, then bit her lip. Soon, with a slightly flushed face, she replied,
"It's just rice wine. This much is basically a beverage."
"True enough. At that proof, it wouldn't get you drunk."
"How did you......?"
Elice's eyes widened as she looked around. Of course, aside from documents on the desk—which she had just cleared—there was no trace of alcohol.
"I smelled it."
But my keen sense of smell had picked up that she had just spilled her drink and broken a wine glass.
Even though she had wiped the desk clean, a few drops had splattered onto the corner of a nearby document.
I had discerned all this mere seconds after entering the room.
"Your sense of smell is...... truly exceptional."
Elice replied with a awkward expression, as if she had swallowed words like "like a dog's."
"Come in for now."
Even as she said that, she was busy scanning the surroundings, as if there was still something undone.
"-!"
Elice spotted the red stain on the document's corner and subtly covered it with her arm.
"I've already seen it, so no need to hide."
At my pointed remark, Elice's face flushed even deeper.
"......I'm sorry. I thought you'd enjoy the banquet longer and come later."
"Nah, whatever. It's not like you'd get drunk on that little bit, Elice."
I shrugged and plopped down in the chair before her desk.
"The aroma was nice. Pour me a glass too."
Elice seemed inwardly surprised that I wasn't scolding her. After a brief hesitation, she slyly pulled out a glass and bottle from under the desk.
"It's Est wine I went to great lengths to obtain......"
"Yeah, good booze tastes better shared."
Just then, William knocked, probably with the tea ready.
"Pardon the intrusion."
"William. Sorry, but could you swap that for some snacks instead?"
At Elice's request, William bowed without a word.
"Understood."
When he returned, he carried wine-friendly snacks.
"Thanks, William."
"Not at all."
With that, a simple drinking setup was prepared.
"Truth be told, I prepared this wine to offer you, Master."
Elice hesitantly spoke up.
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes. I got two bottles and was just checking the taste."
Elice's eyes carefully studied my face.
"I was quite startled yesterday. It was the first time I'd seen you so angry......"
As she poured wine into my glass, Elice cautiously asked,
"Did I make some mistake?"
I set down my glass and stared at Elice. Misinterpreting my gaze, she bowed her head deeper.
"I've been racking my brains since you left yesterday, but nothing comes to mind...... If you tell me, I'll correct it immediately."
So that's what she thought. Well, with me barging in and causing that scene yesterday, it was understandable.
She had prepared expensive wine to soothe my anger.
"It was just......"
I glared once at Requiem, which was purring contentedly inside me, before saying,
"Just a headache-inducing matter came up."
"Was there a problem with the documents?"
"Not at all. Your documents were excellent."
I picked up the wine bottle and poured into Elice's empty glass.
"-!"
Elice's eyes widened. My action was something a master typically wouldn't do.
But I was in a great mood right now.
"Good work, Elice. Thanks to you, the meeting went well."
I lifted my full glass and held it out toward her.
"The wine's aroma is great. Let's drink together."
With a faint smile on my lips,
"Ah."
Elice couldn't tear her eyes from my face for a moment.
"Every time you smile like that......"
"What?"
"No, nothing."
Elice placed a hand on her chest briefly, then slowly lowered it.
"I'm glad I could help. Rumors are already flooding in from all sides."
"Already?"
"As expected of you, Master. The meeting results are spreading quickly everywhere."
Elice's blue eyes gleamed with fervor, unlike their color.
"By the day after tomorrow at latest, it'll cover the entire Empire. You accomplished something tremendous. As expected of the Master."
"Hm."
Hearing such flattery right in front of me didn't feel half bad.
I nodded as if to say, keep going. Quick on the uptake, Elice eagerly continued.
"That day, Carlo Ardante ground his teeth so hard, rumors say he'll need a dentist soon."
"Hmm."
"And Mikel? That northern roar rarely fixates on anyone. Plus, you displayed astonishing swordsmanship. The nobles probably couldn't utter a word after that."
......Elice, this woman. Turns out she has a talent for flattery.
As expected of someone running a guild—her tongue was on another level. Every word struck a chord, making my chest swell.
"Moreover, rumors say even the First Imperial Princess, Violet Magiore Impero, has taken an interest in you, Master. Is it true?"
"......Wait, what?"
I stopped savoring the praise and let out a groan.
"Why is that princess's name coming up here?"
"It's not? But the rumors say soon......"
"Absolutely not, so don't spread such horrific nonsense."
Elice blinked, then smiled in relief.
"I see. Understood. Also, I've handled everything you ordered, Master."
"Good. But first, this."
I took a sip of wine before moving to the next topic.
"About the bandits you told me yesterday."
"Yes."
"They're all dead now."
A flicker of shock crossed Elice's face.
"......How?"
"I killed them."
Elice fell silent for a moment, as if at a loss for words, then gave a small shake of her head.
"If you say so, Master, there must have been good reason."
Her tone held not a shred of doubt. I was immensely satisfied with her proper shift.
"But those guys were moving on orders from some unknown client."
Elice's eyes sharpened.
"Could you elaborate?"
"They were instructed to raid merchant groups handling gems, like Rubino and Zafiro. Who would benefit from attacking this place?"
"That would be......"
Elice covered her mouth, deep in thought.
"-Ah."
Soon, Elice's eyes sparkled.
"It's the Mare Guild."
"Why?"
Elice swiftly explained how she reached her conclusion.
"The merchant groups you mentioned mainly deal in gems like sapphires and rubies."
"Red and blue gems......"
As I muttered, I arrived at the same conclusion as Elice.
"......I see."
The Mare Guild—Sud Family's specialty—was blue pearls and red coral. They were in fierce competition with sapphires and rubies in the market.
"Worsening supply of competing goods."
"No matter the demand, it's useless without supply."
By crippling competitors' limbs, they could shove their blue pearls and red coral into the gap.
"No wonder......"
Elice nodded slowly.
"I thought the Sud Territory's specialties were spreading too quickly. And at such perfectly timed reductions in other gems' supply."
As I tapped my chin listening to Elice,
'The head of the Mare Guild, Rowell's doing.'
In the original story, it was only mentioned that he did all sorts of dirty work for the Sud Family. The specifics weren't detailed.
All that was overshadowed by Cain's halo. They were mere stepping stones for Cain's shine, then vanished.
'There was that part where Cain swept away bandits around the capital.'
Behind the device emphasizing Cain's righteousness lay this backstory.
Use bandits for shady schemes, then have Cain eliminate them. Elevating Cain's name while perfectly cleaning up.
A truly thrifty way to use bandits.
'To think there was this background.'
Pfft, a scoff escaped me.
It felt like learning the solid foundation propping up Cain was actually thin, fragile ice.
"Good."
I emptied my wine glass and set it down with a clink.
"Our next moves are set."
Elice set down her glass too, her face turning serious.
"Please tell me."
"All future profits go toward buying up rubies, sapphires, and such. All the gems that haven't seen light due to Sud Territory's specialties so far."
I spoke in a calm but confident tone.
"Buy them all as raw stones. Prices aren't high right now, so it's doable."
"And then?"
"Sell them. Very expensively."
Elice's brow furrowed slightly.
"That won't be easy. The gem and luxury goods market is firmly in Sud Territory's grip."
"Indeed."
"But we can't raid the Mare Guild's transport carriages, can we?"
"No need."
I added with a confident smile,
"Soon, the seeds of coral and pearls in Sud Territory will dry up."
"Pardon?"
Elice's eyes widened.