第１４５８堀：どこが発端？ (Part2)
"Besides, I’m equipped with gear I received from Yuki. It renders me immune to poisons, bizarre traps, and even mental manipulation. It even guards against surprise attacks. How could I not put such an advantage to good use? Honestly, Narjia is truly incredible."
"Ah, so that’s why you and Narjia are so close."
"Indeed. She understands my requirements perfectly and crafts the most optimal equipment for me. I am grateful."
I see. So that’s why our equipment is updated so frequently—it’s based on the combat data Lowell provides. Should I be thankful? Or is it more accurate to say we’re just being used as test subjects before the gear is finalized?
"Let’s return to the matter at hand. I dismantled three of those cells, and a common thread emerged: the 'handyman' in town I mentioned earlier."
"…And how exactly is a handyman involved in this?"
"They all claimed to have purchased information from that handyman."
"Information? About what?"
"Information on the surrounding area. Who has money, who holds the rights to what, that sort of thing."
"…That’s ambiguous. Answering questions is part of an informant’s job, after all."
Informants. They’re people our own organization uses, too. While it’s true that the country has its own dedicated intelligence division, it’s rarely enough on its own. That’s why we rely on locals who know the lay of the land. It’s a case of leaving the job to the experts—letting the locals handle local affairs. Of course, we never take anything at face value; we always cross-reference information from multiple angles to verify it. If we labeled everyone suspicious just for that, we’d never get anything done. People would be arrested just for gossiping.
"I admit it’s ambiguous, but all three locations were provided information by that same type of handyman."
"Is it the same organization?"
"Not the same organization, but the same profession."
"That makes it complicated."
We’re still one step away from concrete proof.
"Well, I’m not asking you to treat this as a confirmed lead. It’s just information I found suspicious."
"Understood. I appreciate the tip. We’ll look into it on our end."
"Do that. If you find anything, let me know. I’ll continue tracking the slave merchants. I’m well aware that the recent shifts in how slaves are handled have caused prices to skyrocket. My father, my brother, and even Charl have been considering it as a means to increase our population."
"A substitute for war… I suppose that’s one way to put it."
Seraria’s expression turns complex. The world doesn't simply become peaceful just because war has ended. New problems inevitably surface. It’s as if the events of war are merely being replaced by other, different troubles. I was wondering how to respond when Lowell spoke up.
"Nonsense. It is far better than the days when Seraria and I were enemies. And the toll on the people is far less, too."
"…You’re right."
Seraria smiles faintly at Lowell’s words. Then, unexpectedly:
"I am grateful to you, Lady Seraria. So, please, have confidence. You are not in the wrong."
Ryuushi suddenly declared this with great conviction. Everyone was startled by the sudden outburst and turned their eyes toward her, but Ryuushi didn't flinch in the slightest.
"My apologies for the sudden remark," she added, bowing sharply.
Lowell was the first to react to the scene.
"Hahaha! I really do like you, Ryuushi. Seraria, you heard her. The visible victims may not disappear entirely, but there are those who recognize that we are doing the right thing. That is why we must keep pushing forward."
"I suppose so. And Yuki, while Ryuushi’s sudden outburst wasn't exactly proper, please forgive her this time."
"I know."
It wasn't an official setting, and the members present are all part of our inner circle; I doubt anyone here would want to see Ryuushi punished. With that settled, there was only one thing left to do.
"Alright, the discussion is concluded. Everyone, move out."
"Understood!"
And so, the meeting with Lowell came to an end. But with this new information in hand, we found ourselves needing to deliberate once more. The intelligence brought by Lowell had allowed us to identify the informant who had been selling data on the wealthy. Still, as mentioned, people are always looking into the movements of the rich and powerful, aren't they? Regardless, the dark guild’s range of operation is surely about to shrink.