138. Information Warfare (2)
138. Information Warfare (2)
- 1 -
Scritch-scritch... Tak.
Angled sunlight streamed into the noble's office.
In the luxurious space, its walls lined with countless bookshelves, a handsome young man seated at an elegantly decorated desk set down his quill. He had been signing documents.
"They say there's been an anomaly with the 'planned collaborator.'"
As he spoke, rubbing his chin, the middle-aged man standing before him shook his head.
Both wore similar aristocratic attire, but the tension on the subordinate's face was unmistakable.
"It's nothing major. It seemed to be a case of grudge murder. It appears someone among his victims felt that execution alone wasn't satisfying enough."
The young man nodded. It was a plausible story, after all.
The deceased Alexis Samigina was a man of influence—handsome, a baron, and a holder of the same elite status he himself possessed.
But his name was far more infamous for his history of toying with women.
The prevailing assessment was that he was the sort of man who could wind up dead at any time, anywhere, at anyone's hands without raising eyebrows.
Thus, the subordinate's judgment had been accurate.
"Dig a little deeper."
However, something more than that was needed.
At the quiet resolve behind the soft voice, a question surfaced on the middle-aged man's face.
"Has something happened?"
"The old master was planning to grant a barony to one of his illegitimate children, and that was the guy I intended to use as a rubber stamp."
"Ah."
"I must be able to answer properly when he asks. For now, just look into it."
"Understood. It won't take more than a few days."
Of course, it was not that serious an issue.
There was no reason for the one called 'Thousand Faces', the 'Master of the Gray Eye', to pay much attention to a single baron, after all.
It was just a loose thread in his ongoing business, so he might as well tug on it.
That was the extent of it.
'If he gets angry, he becomes unbelievably troublesome.'
The young man soon turned his attention away from the matter.
It was likely he would soon find it difficult to even recall giving such an order to his subordinate.
Getting bitten by a viper while rummaging through dense underbrush was an occurrence that could happen anytime, anywhere.
Only, those with an immunity to venom simply found the act of catching vipers to be no big deal.
- 2 -
The Midas Dark Commerce Guild.
This organization, which I learned about while visiting Sonyataff for Serica's business and through placing Haley under my control, was not some secret society or power group.
It was simply an association of dark merchants spanning the entire continent. But since dark merchants themselves gain nothing from being known to ordinary people, it had naturally become shrouded in secrecy.
That was the essence of it, anyway.
"So?"
- Well, inevitably, when individual members hold power, a 'mere association' also comes to hold power.
"You're right."
As Haley said, it was a simple matter.
If within that association there were a few members who had seized not only wealth but also military force and political power, then the association itself naturally became an entity that could not be ignored.
Those members—that is, the four continental-level major figures who were also dark merchants—were the practical pillars of Midas. And one of them was...
- The information broker called 'Thousand Faces,' the dark merchant who dominates the central region of the Eastern Continent.
The information broker, Thousand Faces.
It was the name Haley revealed upon seeing the crest discovered at Alexis's residence.
- You can consider every dark merchant within Hysen who feels a sense of belonging to Midas to be under his command.
"From the alias alone, I can roughly guess what kind of person he is."
- Yes. As you suspect, he was once affiliated with the Information Guild before branching off to establish his own information brokerage. That was already fifty years ago... So if he is still alive, he is certainly an old monster.
"An old dark merchant..."
'Thousand Faces,' true to his alias, was a figure whose real name and appearance were hidden in the shadows.
He operated covertly, having planted subordinates skilled in disguise—just like himself—in the capitals of various nations.
It seemed that the only ones who knew his true appearance were the four major figures called the 'Four Fingers of Midas'—including himself—along with his disciples and direct family.
- In fact, he was once my superior as well, but even I have never seen his face. ...Shall I look into it in detail?
"No."
At Haley's question, I slowly shook my head.
Having her dig into this matter would be no different from discarding an important card.
"If your behavior patterns suddenly change, someone within the company will surely become suspicious. For now, it would be better to keep up your appearance of pursuing power and wealth, just as you have been. Safely."
- Yes! Understood.
If the opponent was an information broker who had endured for such a long time, it was wise to move forward on the assumption the enemy already held the information advantage.
Even if I was a Dungeon Lord and a member of the demon tribe, the same applied.
"Of course, if you hear any news, do inform me."
- That goes without saying. To have you worry about me like this... I, Haley, am so moved I hardly know what to do with myself.
"I am always grateful. I look forward to working with you in the future as well."
- Yes...!
I saw Haley off with a smile as she ended the communication with a smiling face, and I sank into thought for a moment.
'For now, it wasn't a big deal.'
That was the conclusion I reached after combining Alexis's memories brought by Evangeline with the Q&A session with Haley.
It wasn't a matter to be seriously worried about.
It was true Alexis had definitely made contact with a subordinate of Thousand Faces, but it appeared to be nothing more than a routine, ceremonial affair.
Palak.
The card currently floating above my hand, spinning round and round.
This was one of Alexis's belongings. Depicted on the card was a golden hand with a Gray Eye embedded in the back of it.
It was said this was issued by the information broker 'Gray Eye' to those he contacted as a means of communication.
The card itself possessed no special power, but it was a token that could be presented to contact an informant anywhere in the underworld of the continent.
'The one Haley had was more elaborate.'
Because, first of all, the number of eyes on it had been two.
At the time, I hadn't thought much of it, but that apparently signified an 'important external contact.'
Conversely, it meant Haley herself was also nothing more than an external contact.
And that also meant having her infiltrate the dark merchant association would be dangerous.
And then...
"Talhan."
- Yes. Master.
"I have one matter to instruct you on."
- Just give the word.
Because matters concerning an information broker had to be dug into by another information broker.
- 3 -
"You have returned safely. Maria."
"I've returned. Master...?"
The reason Maria ended her sentence in a questioning tone as she returned from her mission journey was that she had unexpectedly found herself in someone's embrace.
The identity was revealed immediately.
The person who patted her shoulders a couple of times soon released her and began examining her body here and there.
It was none other than her master, Libertas.
"Yes. You don't seem to be injured anywhere."
A low and warm voice.
Having felt that relief, a comfortable smile spread across Maria's lips.
The sincerity Libertas displayed was, at most, only half genuine. But in Maria's eyes, only that sincerity was visible.
To her master, who had been engaging in more frequent physical contact lately, Maria bowed her head once more before replying with a smile.
"You worried excessively. It was a journey where nothing of note could possibly have happened."
"Since it was the first time I sent you out on your own, I was worried. It is enough that you came back well."
Libertas patted Maria's shoulder affectionately in commendation, then finally turned her gaze sideways to look at the cart.
"It seems this woman is Elias's sister."
"Elias... She said she was renamed to Elena at the main house."
"Is that so? So that's how it turned out in the end. It was something I suspected."
Upon hearing Maria's words, Libertas raised one eyebrow, displaying subtle interest, then calmly nodded.
She had assumed that the nobility, who valued face and honor, would never allow the 'young master who temporarily became a woman' to keep using a man's name.
Even for the simplest reason, it would have been incredibly awkward to introduce her to outsiders.
"Sonia?"
"Yes. Teacher."
"Detain Elena's older sister. Assign one human guard and one Skeleton for her protection."
"I will do as you say."
As Sonia departed to carry out her assigned task, Libertas gently took Maria's hand and led her along as she spoke.
"Was the journey you went on alone enjoyable?"
"I liked the feeling of walking. But since scenery without wild monsters is rare, I soon found myself missing 'home'."
"Home..."
A warm hue tinged Libertas's eyes as she paused her steps for a moment at Maria's expression.
Libertas gave her a brief smile and resumed walking.
As Maria followed behind her, the door to Maria's private room soon came into view.
"I see. There are times I do wonder if it isn't too lonely, though."
"It's not. If you watch the monsters noisily chattering and charging at you, you will likely come to think the dungeon is better, instead."
"I see... Come in."
When the door opened, what unfolded before Maria's eyes was the interior of a room she herself had never once entered before.
She found herself looking around with curious eyes without realizing it.
For it was the first time she was seeing the room of her beloved master.
'It's tidy, but not plain.'
There were hardly any brilliantly sparkling items like in the rooms of typical nobles. However, the furniture, made from dark-colored wood, finished with marble, and adorned with metal, possessed a unique sophistication.
Also, she could immediately tell that the actual value of that furniture far exceeded that of the furnishings in an ordinary noble mansion.
For everything she had assumed to be metal was, in fact, darkened true silver.
"You are looking around as if it's a strange curiosity."
"It feels much more elegant than the guest rooms."
"Their craftsmanship ought to be quite good, at least."
At the words 'they,' Maria put on an awkward, forced smile.
In training and internal affairs, an iron-blooded one; on the battlefield and in external affairs, a cold-blooded one—the majordomo.
The wolf who usually maintained a serene demeanor, yet hid a fervent passion and often appeared swept by frenzy in combat and sparring.
The fox who only ever showed a cautious face to her master, yet was merciless and cruel to all other existences.
She realized it referred to those three.
'They are all fearsome people. As expected, to the master, they're just 'they' or 'those kids,' I see.'
During the 'perimeter cleanup' that preceded the last war, Maria had gone on external missions once each with the two beastmen who were clearing the area near the dungeon.
The White Wolf, who should clearly be the 'King' of her unit, yet would leave her troops behind and advance alone, piercing through the battlefield like a 'Queen.'
Conversely, the Black Fox, who almost never stepped forward unless a unit member was in danger, maintaining her elegance as she twirled curses and flames from a distance.
Whichever it was, they were equally difficult superiors.
"What kind of tea would you like?"
"Anything is fine with me."
"Is that so? Then something weaker than what I drink... would be better."
Tok-tok.
"Come in."
Libertas smiled and gestured once.
No particular words nor a summoning signal were visible, yet right after that gesture, there came the sound of a knock on the door.
The maid who entered the room, without having been given any specific order, naturally approached the tea set and soon presented two cups of black tea.
'This is...'
Maria, recognizing it as the kind a man who was no longer here used to drink, briefly became lost in reminiscence.
Briefly, but deeply.
"You must recognize it as well."
"Yes. Master."
Raising her head at her master's words, she quickly scattered those thoughts and brought the tea to her lips.
A bitter taste spread inside her mouth, but the unique aroma was charming.
A pleasant smile spread across Maria's lips, and seeing this, a similar smile spread across Libertas's lips as well.
"How is it?"
"I want to drink it again next time."
"If it suits your taste, I must arrange for some to be sent to your room as well. Just be careful, as drinking it in the evening might keep you from sleeping."
"Thank you."
What followed was a time of peaceful conversation.
Afterwards, Maria told her about events during her journey and rumors she had heard nearby, and Libertas occasionally smiled or nodded, lending an ear.
"And so that merchant..."
"Too much..."
Maria was passionate about recounting her experiences in an entertaining and vivid way.
For she knew that lately, Libertas's desire for external excursions had been growing as she concentrated on work inside the dungeon.
She wanted to provide vicarious satisfaction, even in this manner.
And also to lighten the mood before posing a certain question.
"Master."
After talking for quite some time, when a pause came while drinking tea.
Maria carefully opened her mouth.
"Could you... please return Lemia to me?"
In that instant, a silence descended upon the room as if a bomb had fallen.
Maria observed her master's reaction, but she could read nothing from the expression of Libertas, who took a sip of tea.
Only an impassive smile lingered there.
Finally, right after Maria gave up trying to discern anything from her expression.
Dalkak.
"... The question was wrong. Maria."
Libertas, having set down her teacup, opened her mouth.
And upon hearing her next words, Maria felt her mind go blank.
"Shouldn't you ask, 'Did she not wish to return?'"
Because she realized the implication of those words.