Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Blood New Moon (8)
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From the day Terti placed the bounty to the moment Blood New Moon crumbled, about ten days had passed.
During the day, he'd pretended ignorance while bustling about on outings, and at night, he'd stayed ready to pursue at a moment's notice, catching only quick naps. It was no wonder he was exhausted.
Even if the fatigue in his body could be covered by a miracle of vitality, the mental strain wouldn't fully lift.
"I had fun, though?"
"W-Well, it wasn't that I didn't enjoy it... but that's separate from having to stay on guard the whole time."
"Anyway, it was fun!"
Whether it was a difference in mindset or the gap between strategist and executor, Lilia seemed purely delighted.
In any case, Galen washed away his fatigue with some solid rest. He deliberately avoided stepping outside the annex much.
"Lilia, you should stay close and rest with me as much as possible too."
"Okay!"
Meanwhile, taking shifts with the pair, Elisa and Terti got some fresh air to refresh their moods.
They'd stayed holed up as much as possible, fearing Blood New Moon might spot them, so it must have felt suffocating.
Once the entire group had recovered their condition...
On the third day after wiping out Blood New Moon, Colin himself visited the inn.
"I've completed the liquidation, Sir Galen."
The amount came to around eight thousand three hundred gold coins.
Apparently, the assassination business was quite lucrative. It was a bit much for a personal safe, though Galen, who was wealthier, wasn't one to talk.
Compared to disposing of the treasures from the ruins, this had been far quicker.
After all, clients wouldn't pay via bizarre methods. It was all gold coins, promissory notes, or gems easy to sell or pawn—generously speaking, a one-day job.
Yet there was a reason Colin hadn't come until three days later.
"The investigation is nearly wrapped up as well."
"Went smoothly?"
"Yes. The testimonies from the captured assassins were key. Especially the most skilled female assassin—she knew a lot."
"Good thing we kept her alive!"
Lilia beamed, as the one who'd subdued O-May without a scratch. Colin added,
"The mansion search turned up dozens of bodies from seasoned warriors who'd undergone grueling training, numerous traps installed throughout the estate, and warehouses stocked with throwing weapons and poisons. None of it belongs in an ordinary merchant's home."
"Because it was an assassin guild's headquarters."
"We salvaged some ledgers too, and there was the Blood New Moon token you handed over, Sir Galen. Of course, detailed probes will continue, but the current consensus is that Blood New Moon has been utterly crushed."
"Close call if they'd doubted it to the end—that would've been a hassle. Glad they didn't turn a blind eye to the truth."
Galen nodded in approval.
It had gone exactly as planned.
Even if the Drauf Family, rulers of Luata, tried to inflate or downplay the incident, Lilia's involvement made church entanglement inevitable, blocking any manipulation.
Conversely, from the Luata diocese's perspective, since Lilia was a pilgrim rather than a direct affiliate, aggressive intervention felt awkward.
With both sides checking each other, they couldn't inject bias and had to stick to objective facts.
"That's why I have something to discuss with you, Sir Galen..."
"What is it?"
"Both the Luata diocese and the Drauf Family have requested a meeting with you."
"Must've gone through the branch manager."
"Yes."
Galen had 'officially' revealed his position only to Colin.
In other words, route communications through Colin if you want to talk.
That neither side had dug around and barged in unannounced earned them points for now.
"A three-way sit-down?"
"No, separate requests. Though they're likely aware of each other's."
"The church and Drauf Family aren't on good terms, I take it?"
"Not at all. Normally bad."
The larger a family's influence, the more they chafed at church meddling—a poorly kept secret among most noble houses.
Luata seemed no different.
Yet both summoning Galen simultaneously meant whichever he met first would irk the other.
"The problem is..."
Colin's voice trailed off as he hesitantly continued.
"Frankly, both sides seem wary of you, Sir Galen."
"Huh? Why?"
"Probably because you're an outsider."
As Lilia tilted her head, Galen glanced at Colin, who paused briefly before giving a subtle nod.
Being from the church-friendly Kalia Merchant Guild, and in his branch manager role, he must've found it hard to speak freely.
Still, he did so because Galen was a black-card VVIP client.
"Outsider or not, we took care of their headache..."
"Doing good doesn't guarantee praise."
If the world were full of Lilia-types, laws might be obsolete—but sadly, it wasn't.
"Anyway, it's the reaction I expected, so no worries. Branch Manager?"
"Y-Yes."
"Relay that I'll meet them tomorrow."
"Which first?"
"Both. Drauf Family in the morning. Church in the afternoon."
"Understood. I'll pass it on."
Colin replied, his face still etched with concern.
Galen appreciated the sentiment, but it was unnecessary worry.
Things would go smoothly—no doubt.
And if not, Galen had the power to force them to.
The next morning.
Most courteously, the Drauf Family sent a carriage straight to the inn.
The carriage carrying Galen and Lilia headed to a grand mansion in Luata's city center.
"The house is huge."
Lilia remarked, peering around after disembarking.
She'd met noble folk before but never visited their homes, so the reaction fit.
Galen, who'd lingered long at the Oceanis main estate, remained unfazed.
"Branch Manager said this branch is essentially the main house in practice. Bound to be big."
The Draufs' true main house in another city lingered as a symbolic origin point.
Since Luata was their power base's most prosperous city, this branch was the de facto hub.
"Please, come inside."
An elderly butler greeted them politely.
Seated in the drawing room, nibbling refreshments...
Two middle-aged men entered.
"Pleased to meet you."
His hair was streaked with gray, crow's feet suggesting at least fifty years, yet his physique was monstrously robust—not Galen's sleek fitness, but brutish bulk.
Denying he was a warrior with that build would be laughable.
Indeed, the Drauf Family were renowned warriors wielding greatswords as signature weapons.
"Family Head Conrad of the Drauf Family."
"Steward Kunts."
"Galen, gold-rank mercenary from Abaka."
"Bishop Lilia of the Abaka Diocese!"
Brief greetings led to introductions.
Having pre-checked Galen and Lilia's details, Conrad and Kunts remained impassive.
Of course, Galen knew them too: blood brothers, aged but core golden warriors of the family.
Galen spoke first.
"Didn't expect the Family Head himself."
"Too sensitive to delegate."
Conrad's lip curled slightly.
"I'm no good at beating around the bush, so straight to business?"
"The quicker, the better for me."
"Refreshing. Then I'll ask: Lord Galen, what's your game?"
"My game?"
Galen tilted his head innocently. Conrad's gaze sharpened.
"Our probes say you're a water mage."
"Yes."
"Witnesses saw flames erupt briefly at the base, and the building was soaked despite clear skies—your doing, no doubt."
"Correct."
"Yet all mention a mighty wind spell sealing the base. Doesn't that mean another gold-rank mage?"
"Does it?"
"Don't play dumb. Plus, someone expert in tracking to hunt the assassins to their lair, and another who sniffed out the secret passage."
We have them. Problem is, it's all one person.
"Leaving that aside, two gold mages and a bishop? What scheme requires sneaking around such power?"
"Anyone'd think I was plotting some conspiracy."
Galen drawled boredly.
"I have a personal grudge against Blood New Moon. Back when I was green, they nearly got me killed."
"...You're saying you hit them for that?"
"Why not?"
Conrad was momentarily speechless.
Typically, assassinations prompt hunting the mastermind, not obliterating the guild itself—impossible from the start.
But Galen had done it, leaving no retort.
"Or did I need Drauf permission to take out Blood New Moon?"
"...Not what I meant. But know we've been put in a tough spot because of you."
"Face-saving stings, huh."
A mega-guild like Blood New Moon took jobs across cities, spreading smokescreens—no way to pinpoint HQ normally.
Elisa had simply trailed client traces from Oceanis main house to Luata.
Luck had the base right here. Elsewhere, tracking would've dragged on.
Thus, no blame for missing it before.
But a passing mercenary crushing a super-assassin guild hiding in their capital? Humiliating for a noble house.
How incompetent to miss what even mercs spotted?
"If it's truly pure revenge, no other agenda..."
"That's the fact."
"Then cooperating on cleanup shouldn't be an issue? Since we suffered thanks to you."
"Not sure it's 'thanks to us'... but fine, say it is. What do you want?"
"No intent to diminish your feats. Just... add that we quietly assisted."
"Like, this purge was actually part of a commission?"
"You're a merc. Doesn't seem odd if we hired you."
In short, tweak solo op to joint one slyly.
Galen chuckled and nodded crisply.
"If you meet three conditions."
His ready reply put Conrad and Kunts on high alert. What conditions?
"Care to hear them?"
"First, publicly declare under Drauf name that you crushed Blood New Moon."
"Obviously."
"Second, I may have raided the boss's safe."
"The one the token unlocked?"
"Yes. Affirm we secured it and it's ours?"
"Your spoils, so yours."
"Thanks. Finally, announce this purge as a joint effort with the church."
"...What?"
Conrad's brow twitched. Galen shrugged.
"You're just dipping your spoon in a done deal. Adding one more."
"That's a bit much... Why drag in the church?"
"Not something to say before Her Excellency the Bishop."
Lilia had left talking to Galen, munching snacks, but she was listening.
Under her stare, Conrad coughed awkwardly and added,
"I mean, it'd complicate things. Half-half feels half-hearted; church won't like it..."
"I'll handle that. If not, make it church solo commission?"
"No, Lord Galen."
"Not turf war—just glory from purging the southeast's worst assassins. Splitting half's plenty profitable."
Who didn't know? Monopolize for double gain.
Church aversion etched in noble blood made Conrad and Kunts queasy.
Galen shook his head at their sour faces.
"In exchange, a gift."
"Gift?"
"I said I raided the safe—found some interesting books."
Galen pulled a fresh-bound booklet from his bosom, placing it on the table.
"Hm...?"
Conrad peered curiously, his face hardening swiftly.
Blood New Moon's client dossiers. This copy was untitled, but the original cover named Drauf.
His massive hand trembled, crumpling half the book.
"Since their base was here, Drauf details were especially thorough."
Galen met Conrad's blazing glare calmly.
"I get it. No noble house is spotless—I don't expect that."
"This is... outrageous slander."
"Could be. Not from the southeast, so I wouldn't know reliability. Don't care."
Of course, unspoken: 'Do others?'
Galen smiled.
"Your call?"
Elisa's guard captain, Rad, had felt unease and anxiety mounting over the past month.
Undeniably elite in skill and loyalty as an Oceanis retainer...
His 'loyalty' aimed squarely not at the family, but at the heir-apparent eldest son, Rius.
He didn't slack on Elisa's protection, but for Rius's orders, not her safety.
To monitor up close, he had to play diligent guard outwardly.
Elisa wasn't fooled; she dodged him cleverly, but nothing major came of it.
Grumbling through unwanted merc gigs, waiting for shift relief, Rad's routine shattered a month ago.
Jerbon's old squire popped up, absurdly claiming gold-rank mage status.
A young blue-haired woman clung as 'bishop,' hovering near Elisa; soon, some weathered guy joined as extra guard.
From then, Elisa openly shunned her old guards. Rad got zero intel, just trailing blindly.
He reported to main house steadily, but distance meant only 'observe' orders.
Maybe they didn't grasp it either—Rad himself doubted his own reports.
Irritated yet increasingly frantic at slipping control...
One day.
For the first time in ages, Elisa summoned all original guards.
"You've heard the rumors about Blood New Moon, right?"
"Yes."
Forced downtime let guards eavesdrop more. They nodded, eyes flicking to the rumor sources beside Elisa.
Parted in Nijerte, reunited in Luata—they'd supposedly crushed the southeast's top guild in days. Absurd.
Joint church-noble announcement dashed 'wild rumor' dismissal.
"All true. These two secured vital intel from Blood New Moon HQ."
"Vital intel meaning...?"
Elisa glanced at Galen instead. He offered a booklet from his bosom.
"Endorsed by church and Drauf."
Not the contents' truth, of course—they didn't even know them.
Just vouch it came from Blood New Moon's safe if asked.
Guards oblivious, and it wasn't key now.
Rad took it dubiously, flipping through as rep.
His face paled pages in.
"M-Miss? What is this...?"
"Tell Rius brother—no, Rius straight."
Elisa said coldly.
"If he can explain, let him try."