第１４５７堀：頼れる彼女 (Part2)

第１４５７堀：頼れる彼女 (Part2)

"Yes, I’ve heard as much. The dark guilds need a place to offload their illicit goods, after all. If they own their own merchant company, they can facilitate sales and manage their capital flow internally. If I recall correctly, when the Rumel headquarters fell, the documents recovered led to the systematic dismantling of every merchant house they had ties to."

Thanks to that, the dark guild's influence had waned significantly.

It wasn't just the loss of their headquarters and their boss; the evaporation of their financial lifeline was a crushing blow.

Rumel and various other nations had used the intelligence from the headquarters to root out local branches and front companies that had been operating in the shadows, seizing their assets in the process.

Those nations were already exhausted from the invasion of Liliana’s Last Kingdom and the clandestine machinations of the Ritea Holy Kingdom, so the influx into their national treasuries was a welcome relief.

For the dark guild, it was as if they had been decapitated, their limbs severed, and their very entrails torn away.

Under normal circumstances, such an organization would have ceased to exist, but these were people who had lived in the dark corners of this continent for generations.

There were those among them who were still working toward a resurgence.

And even before the incident with Lushi—who was standing right there—their movements had begun to surface.

In other words...

"Ah, I see. Is there a major merchant company collaborating with the dark guild?"

"Likely. You caught on fast. I only really realized it myself after hearing what Agil and the others had to say."

"I’ve been tracking the dark guilds for a long time, so I’ve seen how often merchant houses are involved. That said, it’s usually small-time outfits, and they often don't even realize who they’re dealing with. After the massive crackdown in Rumel and the subsequent collapse of their network across the continent, anyone with a shred of sense avoids anything associated with the 'dark guild' label."

"That makes sense."

"So, how did Agil and the others help you realize this?"

"Well, we started wondering if the reason for our original plan to visit Suls wasn't the catalyst."

"The original plan? ...Come to think of it, was it the confirmation of rare species?"

"Yes, exactly. I told you about that, didn't I, Lowell?"

"Indeed. I’ve been digging into various things for my own investigations."

As I replied, it suddenly clicked.

"...So that’s it. Rare species fetch a high price. And since the alliance formed and regulations were put in place, the slave trade has become harder to navigate, while the value of slaves has skyrocketed due to the education standards set by Weed. Furthermore, there’s a desperate need for labor everywhere. In short, the slave trade has become an incredibly lucrative business."

"You really are sharp."

"I do study, you know. And you approached me because you need information on slave traders. But wouldn't Ratz or As be more knowledgeable about that?"

My gaze shifted to Ratz, who controlled Weed’s logistics, and As, the merchant who served Weed’s interests.

I would have thought they could gather information far more reliably than a princess of Gartz...

"It’s not quite that simple. Isn't that right, Ratz?"

"Yes. Lowell, we have looked into it, but as we mentioned, Weed is the primary driver of legitimate trade and has been instrumental in raising the value of slaves through proper education. Therefore..."

"We simply cannot establish connections with those kinds of establishments..."

"Ah, I see. I suppose if you get involved with Weed, you run the risk of being caught. And if you're looking to sell at a premium, you’d naturally want to avoid us."

Doing business with Weed was a death sentence if the dark guild was involved.

Even so, there were surely some who were trading in secret, given the potential for profit...

"If Weed or As were to move, they’d naturally be on guard. It would be too conspicuous."

"Exactly. It’s not that we couldn't do it, but given how thoroughly the dark guild has been purged, they’d likely just cut ties and run at the first sign of trouble, wouldn't they?"

"True. Which is why you came to me. Are there no other leads...?"

"There are a few, but they involve people like Fiora or the kings of the smaller nations..."

"Fiora is married to Yuki, isn't she? And her homeland is under Weed’s protection, so that’s impossible. As for the other kings, they’re all within the alliance. More importantly, rumors spread like wildfire among royalty. Any move they make would be an official royal decree."

"I suppose you're right."

Seraria’s tone suggested she knew it was a stretch herself.

"Then, I am the best choice, operating independently. My authority is moderate, and I have a reputation to maintain."

There were certainly downsides to me getting involved, but it was better than a state-sanctioned operation.

It would be far better if it were simply the princess performing her usual public safety duties.

"Understood. I’ll focus my efforts on the slave traders. Do you have any other information? It would be helpful if I could narrow the scope."

And so, I accepted the request, and we began to hash out the details.

Well, the dark guild had certainly caused me enough trouble; this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

I would do my absolute best to see this through.

Lowell is truly a capable woman.

Though she does have a bit of a sister complex and a weakness for cute things.