Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Priorities (3)
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Of course, there was no doubting Amy's skill. But Shirone thought differently. It had only been thirty minutes since he'd heard from Marsha just how dangerous the island was.
The touts at the port have their own factions. She'd said the street touts, in particular, were low-level grunts for powerful organizations.
“She told me to be careful of people like Jis. Even if he isn't one of them, the island is an insular and dangerous place. Things you can't even imagine on the mainland can be dealt with easily here. Plenty of nobles go missing on the island, you know. We can't just assume Amy is safe.”
Rian fastened his straight sword in its leather scabbard to his belt.
“No need for a long-winded explanation. Let's go, Shirone. Just lead the way. I'll take care of anyone who gets in our way.”
“Thanks. This is actually my fault for being late.”
“You must have had your reasons. For now, confirming Amy's safety comes first.”
Tess watched the two boys. This was the kind of conversation shared between those bound by a knight's oath. It was still just an imitation, but for her, who dreamed of becoming a knight, it was an enviable sight.
“Wait a minute. I'm going with you. You're not the only ones worried about Amy.”
The three of them left the villa and went down to the beach. But once there, they had no idea where to even begin their search.
Standing before the vast, white sand beach, Tess's confidence waned.
“Where do we find Amy? The only place that guy Jis would take her at this hour is the commercial district. Should we head over there and split up?”
“That doesn't sound like a good idea. The three of us can't possibly cover the entire commercial district anyway. Besides, we don't know the layout of this place.”
“Then what do we do? We have no way of finding her. We might as well be looking for a needle on this beach.”
Shirone rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
“Let's go to the port instead. Marsha said there's definitely an organization. If so, we might be able to find out where Amy is by asking one of its members.”
“The port? Isn't that to the south? Wouldn't it be faster to search here in the time it takes to get there? Amy won't be at the port anyway. It's not a tourist spot.”
“No, going to the port is the right move. If we simplify Amy's situation, there are two possibilities. First, Amy is safe. Second, Amy is not safe. If she's safe, we lose nothing by going to the port. But if she's not safe, we absolutely must go to the port. The only way she wouldn't be safe is if there's a conflict with Jis's organization. Therefore, no matter what we assume, we have to go to the port first and make contact with the organization's members.”
“I... I see. You're right.”
Tess nodded as if hypnotized. It was the first time she'd ever felt someone's words move faster than her own thoughts.
Rian didn't think. The moment Shirone suggested going to the port, he was already hailing a carriage.
After paying the driver, Rian gestured for them to get in, and Shirone and Tess ran over. They threw themselves into the speeding carriage, into the passenger cabin.
The driver let out a cheerful laugh and picked up the pace.
“Ah, youth is a wonderful thing. Must have some urgent business at this hour, eh?”
“Yes! Please, hurry!”
“Alright! Then let's have my babies here stretch their legs for the first time in a while! Giddy-up!”
The roads were empty since it was night. Fueled by gold coins, the driver pushed the horses so hard the carriage rattled.
The carriage reached the port in twenty minutes, and the driver boasted it was a new record, the fastest he'd been in five years.
The three of them ran toward the port.
Most of the ships were moored at the docks, and light trickled from the gaps in their windows, suggesting people were aboard. The sailors were probably playing cards.
They were suspicious of the ships anchored just offshore, but it was too late to search every nook and cranny on foot.
Shirone focused his search on the taverns at the port. Most of the patrons looked like gang members, but they usually turned out to be sailors.
“What do we do? Can we really find them this way?”
“We can. There has to be at least one.”
Shirone patiently went from tavern to tavern, making inquiries. Finally, he found a lead in a small pub.
He hadn't recognized them at first because their eyes were swollen, but they were definitely the touts who had been with Jis earlier that day, now drinking.
“There, those two! They were with Jis, right?”
“Looks like it. Leave this to me now.”
Rian walked forward, cracking his knuckles. He knew that in situations like this, intimidation worked better than skill.
“Hey, you two remember me?”
“What? You looking for a fight? I'm in a shitty mood right now, so... Hah!”
The boy, who had been slurring his words, recognized Rian and shot to his feet.
Rian's build was intimidating, but the real reason for his shock was something else. He knew what Jis had gone to do after being caught by Falcoa.
“Uh, um... well, you see.”
“I know. I know everything. So let's go talk somewhere quiet. I have a tendency to get violent where there are people and become nice in quiet places. Your choice.”
The tout glanced at his friend, who was still seated. The moment their eyes met, they both bolted for the door without a second thought.
“Damn it! Run!”
They pumped their legs like madmen. But no matter how fast they ran, the door didn't seem to get any closer.
*'What? What's happening? Is this a dream?'*
Only when the tension of their escape faded did they realize their feet were dangling in the air.
“I'll give you one last chance. Are you going to come along quietly, or do you want me to plant you upside down right here?”
Lifting one boy in each hand, Rian extended his arms as if to show off his strength.
The boys were terrified. To hold the weight of two men with his arms outstretched was beyond mere brawn; it was monstrous strength.
“We'll- we'll go. We'll go, so please don't hurt us.”
Things were easy after that. Rian took the touts to the breakwater and got the gist of the situation from them there.
“So, this guy Falcoa ordered you to bring Amy to him, is that it?”
“Yes. Jis got beaten to a pulp. We almost died, too. You shouldn't mess with Falcoa. That guy's a complete psycho.”
“Doesn't matter. There isn't a psycho I've punched who hasn't come back to their senses. Where did they take Amy? You know the place, right?”
“We really don't know the location! Please, believe us!”
“Is that so? Then I'll ask your friend. So you're choosing to give up the chance for both of you to live, opting for only one survivor?”
The two boys looked at each other in fear. Frankly, neither had the mental fortitude to endure torture. But Rian was subduing them with words alone, thanks to the interrogation techniques he'd learned at the sword academy.
“We really don't know. But we have an idea where it might be.”
Shirone and Tess moved closer. Rian dropped his clumsy investigator act and shook the tout by the collar.
“Where is it? Spit it out!”
“The... The Royal Palace.”
“The Royal Palace? What nonsense is this?”
“It's the name of a tavern. The biggest one in Galiant! Any carriage will take you there! Hey, you absolutely can't tell them we told you! We'll be killed if you do!”
Rian turned without a word in reply. Shirone and Tess were already poised to run.
As they left the port, they saw a carriage waiting. As luck would have it, it was the same one that had brought them here.
“Mister! Mister driver!”
The driver, who was sitting on the cargo bed smoking a long pipe, turned his head. The customers who had enjoyed such a magnificent ride with his beloved horses were rushing toward him.
“Well now, done with your sightseeing already? You run fast, and you sightsee fast too. Hahaha!”
“Mister, we need to leave now! It's urgent!”
“Aye, urgent it is. Youth is always in a hurry! Come on, get in!”
The driver leaped from the cargo bed with boiling passion.
Setting the horses off first, the driver turned back and yelled. The sound of the wind forced his voice to rise.
“Alright, where to this time!”
Shirone, Rian, and Tess shouted in unison.
“The Royal Palace!”
***
The Royal Palace Tavern.
The tavern, so magnificent it could bear the name 'Royal Palace' without shame, was arguably the most brilliant spot on the island.
The four-story building was a perfect showcase of what it meant to squander money. It was adorned with all manner of gold and jewels that reflected the light, and magical crystal lamps, which ordinary people could only dream of seeing, blazed brightly.
Shirone and his companions were overwhelmed by the wealth the building exuded. It felt as if they had arrived somewhere they weren't supposed to be.
As Shirone walked toward the tavern, a bouncer guarding the entrance blocked his path, just as expected.
“Hey, you can't bring weapons in...!”
Rian didn't even listen, shoving the bouncer by the throat. The man was of a similar build to Rian, but his strength was no match.
By the time the bouncer, who had been gasping for air and struggling, came to his senses, Shirone's group was already inside.
The inside of the tavern was filled with the voices of people.
Scantily clad women, dressed so revealingly it was shocking, danced and moved about, while torrents of abuse, curses, and all sorts of lewd jokes filled the air.
Tess frowned. On the surface, Galiant was a peaceful resort island, but when the sun set, it transformed into a place where murky desires swirled.
“Could Amy really be in a place like this? It's so crowded, and what's with those women? Have they no shame?”
“I know. It's definitely not the kind of place Amy would like. But since she came willingly, she might have steeled herself for it. And be careful. No matter what happens here, the guards won't be coming.”
Having heard about the island's state of affairs from Marsha, Shirone was certain. Though used for different purposes, this place was likely another one of those establishments that had a special arrangement with the government.
Unable to find Amy on the first floor, they went up to the second. A high-stakes gambling den was in full swing.
The third floor was a cross-shaped corridor lined with rooms that had iron doors, and the fourth floor was a VIP room for the highest-ranking nobles.
After searching every floor, Rian let out a frustrated sigh.
“It's going to be hard to find her like this. She's not in the main hall, and she's not in the gambling den. To search the third floor, we'd have to check every single room, and the fourth floor is crawling with bodyguards.”
It was time to make a choice. Would they ask for permission and search the place meticulously, or would they cause a proper scene?
Of course, the three of them chose the latter. Now that they knew Amy had been lured away by a malicious plot, they had no intention of leaving quietly.
“There they are! It's those bastards!”
The bouncer who had gotten a rough welcome at the entrance pointed at Shirone's group. A man standing behind him rolled up his sleeves and approached.
Rian had to tilt his head back to meet the man's eyes. He was enormous, his head nearly touching the ceiling.
“A fixer, I take it?”
Shady establishments were always selective about their customers. Usually, the bouncers filtered them out, but there were plenty who forced their way in to cause a ruckus. The fixer's job was to deal with such people through violence.
“What's this? A bunch of snot-nosed brats? No, wait a minute, this little girl isn't just any kid.”
The fixer looked down at Tess, his bulbous nose twitching. With his elevated line of sight, different from that of an ordinary person, he could appreciate Tess's ample assets more clearly than anyone.
“Hehehe, someone like you is the perfect customer for this place. Let's see, how about this old man gives you an appraisal?”
The fixer's hand reached for Tess. Just the sight of his open palm felt like a net being cast over her.
Tess snatched the fixer's middle finger. Then, with all her might, she bent it upward.
“Aaaaargh!”
The huge man's body twisted into a comical shape. His arm was completely straightened, his middle finger bent back so far it nearly touched the back of his hand.
“It hurts! It hurts!”
“Hmph! You should have been more careful. I may be a girl, but my arm is stronger than your middle finger. This is what happens when you act tough just because you're big.”
“Aaaack! This little bitch!”
Unable to bear the pain, the fixer threw a punch with his other fist. Tess let go of his finger, twisted her body like lightning, and swung her elbow.
A sharp, clean strike grazed the tip of the fixer's chin. The timing was so perfect it almost looked as if he had deliberately walked into the blow.
The fixer's brain rattled, and his consciousness faded. As Tess stepped aside, the giant's body crashed to the floor like a dead tree.