Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Great Cleanup (3)
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Before heading to the gambling den, we paid a visit to Mordic's crew.
"Mordic, answer me honestly."
Facing the burly man with his thick eyebrows, I asked in a calm voice.
"The recent child kidnappings by Garen, Sedian, and their lot—are you involved in that?"
"We don't do that kind of thing."
Mordic crossed his arms and scowled.
"We'll stick a knife in someone if we have to... but women and kids are off-limits. That's our rule."
"Good. Hearing that puts my mind at ease."
Ever since I learned that Mordic's group had roots in the butchers' guild, I'd figured they were innocent of this.
Butchers' guilds handle blades as part of the trade, so they often evolve into armed groups with a violent bent. Still, whoring or human trafficking was taboo in most butchers' guilds.
"Mordic, things are going to change around here."
"..."
"If I prove the Dialogue Church has its fingers in this pie, the Holy Knight Order won't stand by. They might even send the Purging Knights."
Purging Knights.
The Inquisition's merciless hunters, devoid of pity or tears.
When those guys show up, even crime syndicates start watching their step.
"Hermel won't be a lawless zone anymore."
"So what are you telling me to do?"
"Clean up your act voluntarily. Lead the reform of Hermel."
"..."
Wiping out the three major powers that control Hermel's underworld would just lead to smaller fry popping up everywhere, causing even more chaos.
Better to rein in a decent organization and tame it.
That meant joining forces with Mordic, the most reasonable of the big three.
"You're thinking of taming me, huh."
"I'm asking you to cooperate for Hermel's future."
"Hmm..."
Mordic crossed his arms, lost in thought.
As he pondered, I spoke up again.
"Don't you hate the Dialogue Church?"
"What?"
"That big cleaver hanging there."
A massive cleaver, like an oversized butcher's knife, adorned Mordic's office wall.
"It should be made from Banadis steel, but that looks like plain old iron."
"!"
Butchers' guilds on this continent have a tradition of displaying cleavers of a specific design.
Not just any iron, though—it has to be Banadis steel. Legend has it that a heroic butcher from ages past wielded a Banadis blade.
Even the Holy Spirit Church turns a blind eye to butchers carrying Banadis blades. But the one on Mordic's wall wasn't Banadis steel. Just a cheap imitation.
"So, you hate the Dialogue Church's Banadis steel production?"
After hearing my observation, Mordic fell silent for a long while.
Then, with a deep sigh, he finally spoke.
"My father got hooked on the Dialogue Church's teachings."
"..."
"One day, he immolated himself. Took the whole family with him."
As he said this, Mordic stripped off his shirt.
His torso was covered in horrific burn scars.
"Mom and my little sister died. I was the only one who survived."
"Looks like your father bought into the Dialogue Church radicals' teachings hook, line, and sinker."
Just as the Holy Spirit Church reveres "water" in things like holy water, the Dialogue Church places great significance on "fire."
That's why some priests preach self-immolation by fire as the ultimate act of faith.
"That's why I can't stand anything tied to the Dialogue Church."
Mordic stared at me with a serious expression.
"If you wipe out every Dialogue Church scum crawling into this city, I'll cooperate fully."
"Don't worry, Mordic."
Keeping my identity as the Dialogue Church's archbishop under wraps, I shook his hand.
"As a Holy Knight sworn to protect the Holy Spirit Church's teachings, I'll sweep every last one of those Dialogue Church bastards away."
* * *
"Smash it all!"
"Yes, Brother Mordic!"
Mordic's crew charged in, brandishing their gleaming butcher knives.
Sedian's underlings were armed too, but they were completely overwhelmed in spirit.
"I'll leave the cleanup to you, Mordic."
"Don't worry, boss. We'll handle it top to bottom."
Entrusting the rest to Mordic, I strolled out of the gambling den.
[Does this mean Sedian's crew is done for?]
'No, this is just the beginning.'
Sedian's outfit was huge.
Beyond the ones at the gambling den, their members were scattered across the city.
Rounding them all up would take time.
[Still, Mordic's boys will handle the small fry, so don't you have nothing left to do?]
'Yeah, time to move to the next phase.'
All that remained was Galuan's crew, who seemed directly tied to the Dialogue Church.
I crossed the darkening streets of Hermel toward Galuan's stronghold.
"How's the situation?"
"Ah, Sir Sion."
Climbing to the rooftop of a nearby building, Edwin flinched in surprise from his stakeout.
"They're moving frantically. Looks like they might bolt under cover of night."
"Wouldn't surprise me."
Galuan's crew had surely sensed the shifting winds.
Fight or flight? They'd agonized over it... and chosen flight.
"But Sir Sion, there's some weird activity."
"Weird how?"
"Those big wooden barrels—what do you think's in them?"
Peering over, I saw Galuan's men rolling massive barrels.
"No way... people inside?"
"Nah, that's oil."
"Oil?"
"You know about Purification Priests, Edwin?"
"Ah...!"
One of the Dialogue Church's doctrines is "Burn the corrupt world to purify it."
This targets the societal order under Holy Spirit Church dominance... basically a call for terrorism.
"purification Priests" are the ones who carry it out, committing all sorts of terror acts in the name of cleansing the world.
They drag in not just Holy Spirit Church clergy but innocent civilians too—indiscriminate violence personified.
"Arson is their favorite pastime."
"So they're planning to torch the city?!"
"Yeah. One big blaze before they skip town."
This confirmed Purification Priests from the Dialogue Church were involved with Galuan's crew.
Not just hired hands—they were the Dialogue Church's grassroots operatives.
"And they'll fake their deaths in the fire. Neat and tidy, right?"
"Evil bastards... We can't just let them be."
"Damn right."
I looked up.
"Edwin, Lieselotte's watching the back entrance, yeah?"
"Yes, she should be."
"You head to the back too. Play it by ear once you're in."
"And you, Sir Sion...?"
"I'm going in the front."
I planned to pay Galuan's crew a proper, upfront visit.
* * *
"G-Galuan, sir! Sion Aleyas is here!"
Galuan startled at his underling's report amid their escape prep.
He'd thought Sion was still at Sedian's gambling den. How'd he get here so fast?
"That bastard's storming in? Any casualties?"
"N-No, he's at the front gate, saying he wants to see you... Wants to talk. No damage yet."
"..."
As Galuan hesitated, a voice came from beside him.
"See him, sir."
A hooded man smiled at Galuan.
"If he wants to talk, you should oblige."
"B-But, Priest..."
"Shh."
The man pressed a finger to his lips.
"Pretend I'm not here. I'll stay hidden."
"Ah...!"
And just like that, the hooded man's form began to vanish for real.
Galuan swallowed hard at the mystical sight.
'As expected... a Dialogue Church Purification Priest!'
Impressed inwardly, Galuan barked orders at his underling.
"Let him in! Right here!"
"Got it!"
Whatever Sion Aleyas was thinking, walking in defenseless like this meant game over.
* * *
"Come on in, Knight Captain."
Galuan greeted me in his office.
Like the ones who'd escorted me, he had a polite, upstanding look.
"The estate seems a bit hectic today."
"Haha, sorry about that. Just sorting the warehouse."
We exchanged outwardly amicable words.
"Hermel's a rough town, so I imagine you face your share of troubles."
"That's why I'm turning to locals with deep roots for help. Folks like you, Galuan."
"We'll assist however we can."
"Then... I have a question."
"What is it?"
"The Dialogue Church."
Galuan's affable smile froze over.
"Seems a Dialogue Church Purification Priest has snuck into Hermel."
"Heh... News to me."
"Did you know Garen and Sedian were kidnapping kids and handing them to the Dialogue Church?"
"That too... first I've heard."
"Word is Galuan's crew outsourced to Garen and Sedian. That Purification Priest isn't holed up with you?"
"I said I don't know!"
Galuan raised his voice, face twisting.
"If you're gonna accuse innocents, just leave! What kind of nonsense is this without proof?"
"Proof?"
"Yes! A Purification Priest with us? Show me the evidence!"
Galuan jabbed a finger at me, shouting.
But his eyes were smirking just a bit.
"The proof's right here."
"!"
In that instant.
The black dagger lunging for my throat was caught in my grip.
"Huh...?!"
Ignoring Galuan's shock, I turned around.
The hooded man—who'd been stalking my blind spot under an invisibility spell—materialized.
"Your magic's subpar. If it's this easy to spot, better not to use it at all."
"!"
I could tell the hooded man recoiled.
"H-How the hell did you see through it?"
"Learned the trick from my aunt."
"Out of nowhere, what the—"
Selling out Helena once more, I drew the sword at my waist.