Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Preliminary Investigation
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1.
The Tebe Autonomous Territory, a place where opportunity was open to all, regardless of status.
The territory was currently enjoying the greatest boom in its history.
A logistics network had been established that could reach every corner of the Empire, and merchant guilds flocked to the city to make use of it.
It was only natural for people to flock to where the money was.
While it had always been the fastest-developing city in the Empire, its growth over the last four years had been truly remarkable.
Ever since the Leston Ducal Family had begun its development projects in the Empire's northwestern region, Tebe, a key transit hub, had become a major beneficiary.
Of course, this growth didn't only bring good things.
As the population swelled beyond what the city's administration could handle, public safety had deteriorated significantly.
Criminals seeking a quick fortune began to seep into Tebe's underworld, which had long been an open secret, leading to incidents occurring almost daily throughout the city.
Into this chaotic city, a maelstrom of greed and conflicting interests.
This is freedom.
A young nobleman with a single sword hanging from his waist, Karron, made his appearance.
Tebe's train station boasted the largest size in the Empire, and thanks to that, an immense crowd immediately came into view the moment he stepped off the train.
Passengers for the 1:20 PM train to the capital
The train for Azure Sea Castle is departing soon! Please board quickly!
A spectacular sight of an endless stream of people.
Watching the people hurrying about, one could get a rough idea of just how vibrant the city was.
Karron blended into the crowd without hesitation.
First, get a mercenary ID and gather information on the Kingdom of Keas.
Currently, the southern kingdoms had closed their borders to outsiders due to the war.
Therefore, a mercenary status was required for entry.
His plan was to stop by the mercenary guild to get an ID card, then receive information from Kalligo, Tebes underground organization, about the current situation in the southern kingdoms.
Kalligo, the underground organization that had secretly formed a cooperative relationship with the ducal family.
Led by the elf mage Poina and supported by the 6th Prince, Rebellio, this organization was now one of the most powerful forces in Tebe.
If they hadnt kept a tight grip on the underworld, Tebes situation might have been even more of a mess.
Just as Karron was contemplating his plans and stepping outside the train station.
First time in Tebe, young master?
Welcome to the city of freedom, Tebe! Here, you can enjoy anything you desire. Perhaps I could be your guide
Hey! I was first. Wait your turn!
A group of neatly dressed people rushed toward Karron all at once.
They identified themselves as guides.
In simple terms, they were people who made money by showing others around the city.
Of course, that was just their official job; their main income came from other sources.
Brokerage fees, such as taking money from restaurants and then leading customers there.
And that was just one small example.
Nobles visiting Tebe generally had one of two purposes.
Either to conduct business, or to enjoy the entertainment.
Young nobles, in particular, were often there for the latter. After all, Tebe offered many things that were hard to find anywhere else in the Empire.
I am confident I can perfectly satisfy your tastes, young master. If you entrust me as your guide, I will show you why Tebe is called the city of pleasure!
Dont listen to that washed-up loser! If youre thinking of visiting the darker places, Im your man. A lot of my friends are over there
When Karron remained silent, the guides took it as a sign of encouragement and eagerly continued their pitches.
They had interpreted his silence as a positive response.
But that was short-lived.
Out of the way! He is not someone you lot are worthy of serving!
A man pushed through the guides and appeared.
A man with a prominent burn scar etched on his face.
It was Julio, the informant who had helped him on his previous visit to Tebe.
The moment Julio saw Karron, he bowed his head respectfully in greeting.
I have been waiting for you, young master.
Julio. You been well?
I am honored that you remember my name, young master.
Of course I remember.
At Julios appearance, the soliciting guides scattered in an instant.
They had realized he was not someone they could handle.
Karron watched the guides move on to find another mark and smirked.
The city feels a bit more lively, doesn't it?
The population has reached an unmanageable level. The city is hastily developing the outskirts, but it seems it will take more time.
The mayor must be busy.
Yes, in fact, the council recently passed a motion to extend Mayor Graines term.
Until when?
I believe his term was extended by another ten years.
Isn't that practically a lifetime appointment?
Karron clicked his tongue and nodded.
He knew the man was capable of striking while the iron was hot, but he hadn't expected him to be doing this well.
As expected of a former Minister of Finance.
As Karron nodded his head in admiration, Julio spoke with a stoic expression.
You have grown so much since I last saw you, young master, that you are almost unrecognizable.
Your flattery has improved. But don't people usually smile when they flatter someone? Doing it with that expression is a little creepy.
Ah, I will correct that.
Im kidding.
Julio was originally a broker who operated in the underworld.
Now, however, he was handling the rather important duty of acting as the liaison between the Leston Ducal Family and Kalligo.
As Kalligo was, by name, an underworld organization, it could not officially work alongside the Leston Ducal Family.
Lets go see Poina right away. Is she in the underground city now?
No. Lady Poina is currently meeting with the mayor at City Hall.
The city mayor and an underworld boss meeting at City Hall This sounds like something out of a third-rate play.
She is visiting as the president of a construction company, not as an underworld boss.
So shes expanding her territory into the light now. Good. Lets go. I plan on getting this work done quickly and going to eat something delicious.
He couldn't just leave immediately after arriving in Tebe, could he?
Tebe was also known as a city of gastronomy.
Before starting his mission in earnest, he planned to fill his stomach with all sorts of delicacies.
The meals at Azure Sea Castle had been good, but food always tastes best when you eat out.
Then I will escort you to City Hall.
Lets go.
I have a car waiting. This way.
Like a competent worker, Julio had even arranged for a car in advance.
Karron smiled with satisfaction and followed Julio.
2.
This was the mayors office in Tebes City Hall.
Knock, knock, knock.
Having arrived at the office with Julio, Karron knocked before immediately opening the door and stepping inside.
Inside the office, an old man and an elf were sitting and talking.
Its been four years, everyone.
Karron smiled as he approached them.
At that, Tebe's mayor, Graine, stood up and beamed.
Welcome, Karron! Its been a long time. Youve grown into a fine young man! Grand Duke Halo must be very pleased.
If anything, you look younger, Mr. Mayor. Have you been eating well?
Haha, and don't you send me fine things every year? Its tiring, but developing the city with my own hands is truly a rewarding job.
And filling your coffers at the same time?
Haha! I dont accept anything besides what you provide. Its hard enough for us to share among ourselves Isnt that right?
Graine was being almost excessively friendly.
Karron smirked, then turned his gaze to the female elf.
Have you been well, Lady Poina?
I could see the potential when you were young, but you've grown into a truly handsome man. I don't think I can call you baby wolf anymore, can I?
Four years ago, he hadnt been able to properly gauge her level, but now he could feel it clearly.
Not a 7th-circle, but an 8th-circle.
She was a being who had reached a state worthy of being called an archmage.
Karron shook her hand lightly as well. Then he spoke in a suggestive tone.
By the way, what were you two discussing in broad daylight?
Well, it was a rather constructive discussion.
Can a mayor and an organizations boss have a constructive discussion?
It was a discussion related to city construction plans, so wouldnt that make it a constructive discussion? Haha!
Graine joked.
Poina soon chimed in, supporting Graines words.
Our Kalligo is getting into legitimate business now, you see. Weve gained a lot of new members recently. We have to do something to feed them all.
Isnt the money from the black market more than enough to feed them?
Haha, I cant stand freeloaders. If you join the organization, you should at least pull your own weight.
So that legitimate business is construction.
We have a surplus of manpower. We were just discussing the construction sector we would be taking over.
A significant portion of the people currently flowing into Tebe were war refugees from the south.
Since most other territories lacked the capacity to accommodate refugees, the majority of those entering the Empire were being sent to Tebe.
Graine was currently pursuing a policy of actively accepting refugees while expanding the city.
So this was a scene of collusion? Something like pushing for a contract?
Thats a misunderstanding, Karron. I was the one asking for a favor.
Why?
The area in question includes part of a mountain, so I needed a mages help.
Poina then smiled brightly and added.
One of the advantages of Kalligo Construction is that we can hire mages at a very low price. And that mage even happens to be an archmage.
Thats a very shameless way to introduce yourself. Are you not running the black market anymore?
Of course not. The black market is still booming. If we were to close up shop, the mayor here would be the one in trouble. Isnt that right, Mayor Graine?
At her words, Graine smiled wryly and nodded.
Its better to have someone reasonable controlling the underworld, thats my philosophy. The Leston Ducal Family has a foot in it as well, so dont give me too much grief.
Well, I didnt plan on giving you any.
After all, this plan had come from Karrons own mind.
Peil had merely fleshed out Karrons concept a bit more.
Karron shrugged and sat down. Then he got straight to the point.
I heard that when it comes to the southern kingdoms these days, Kalligos intelligence is the best. Is that true?
You could say that. Weve been diligently recruiting refugees from the south into our organization.
Im on my way to deal with a monster outbreak near the Kingdom of Keas and the Holy Kingdom.
Ah, so thats why you asked for a mercenary license.
Poina waved her hand lightly, and a small, copper medal-like object materialized in the air.
This is a mercenary tag, certifying you as a 3rd-class mercenary. With this, you can cross the border and enter the country. I could issue a 1st-class tag, but I assume youd rather not attract attention?
1st-class mercenaries were beings with skills comparable to a knight.
They would naturally draw a lot of attention.
Karron tucked the mercenary tag into his coat and nodded.
As long as I can cross the border, its fine.
You requested information. What kind of information, specifically?
Before answering, Karron glanced at Graine.
Graine smiled and said.
The guest is kicking out the host.
It wouldnt really matter if you heard, Mr. Mayor, but
No, no. When someone gives a hint, I know to make myself scarce. Ill go have a smoke. You two talk comfortably.
Graine grabbed his cigarettes and promptly left the office. As he did, Poina immediately waved her hand and cast a spell.
Woooong.
Its a sound-blocking spell. You can speak freely.
I need information on an 8-star knight who was active in the Kingdom of Keas. He was likely using an alias, and his exact whereabouts are unknown.
An 8-star knight A powerhouse of that caliber couldn't have gone unnoticed. Especially not in a place at war. Hmm, this is quite difficult
Im asking because its difficult. I was hoping someone among the refugees who flowed into Tebe might know something.
That guy, Kerua, is full of compassion.
He was never one to just pass by people in unfortunate circumstances.
And he was a man who loathed war.
Would a man like that really have witnessed the horrors of war and simply walked away?
The chances of that are low.
He had likely intervened in some way.
If so, there might be a clue to be found among the southern refugees.
Besides, theres one more resource Poina can mobilize.
The Kingdom of Keas bordered a massive forest to its south.
The name of that forest was the Southern Great Forest.
The Southern Great Forest was the forest of the elves.
Along with the Eastern Great Forest, it was known as one of the primary domains of the elves.
Our young master wouldn't just ask me to dig up information from refugees It's so obvious you want the elves' help, isn't it?
Because the person Im looking for might have hidden in the Southern Great Forest.
This was, in fact, the real reason he sought Poinas help.
The fact that the Sea Wolf Knights had lost him meant, in other words, that he had hidden in a place they couldn't have predicted.
The only place to hide in that vicinity was the Southern Great Forest.
Karron smiled and looked at Poina.
Can you help me?
Well see. Unlike me, my kin tend to despise humans. Getting their cooperation wont be easy
Poina looked into Karrons eyes and raised the corners of her mouth.
I can help persuade them. But in return.
In return?
She rose from her seat and approached Karron. Then, caressing his cheek, she smiled with her eyes.
First, you must prove you are worthy of being a friend to the elves.