第１４８２堀：此方から仕掛ける (Part2)
Nina praises me with such sincerity.
Yes, I used to say the same thing to my brother often.
I truly believe she is right, but... I can’t help but feel that it’s wrong for me to be praised when all I’ve done is learn the knowledge and techniques that the sages of Earth spent countless hours and immense effort to create.
I finally understand why my brother would give that wry, bitter smile.
It’s uncomfortable to stand on a pedestal built from someone else’s achievements, and I feel a pang of guilt toward those who actually brought these things into existence.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"Oh, no. It seems this is where the auction will be held."
I say this, tapping my finger against the map.
Written there is:
"…A theater."
"Yes, a theater. Judging by the crowd density I saw from above, it probably holds about two hundred people."
"That’s a rather modest size, isn't it?"
"Well, it’s not exactly in the royal capital. For a place like this, two hundred seats is quite a large venue."
Nina travels to the royal capitals of various nations often, and in Weed, the largest venues for this kind of entertainment aren't just in the thousands—some hold tens of thousands.
Still, it’s not as if there’s no demand for smaller spaces. Small-scale troupes and hobbyists often find themselves in need of intimate theaters like this one.
"The location, though... it’s also a bit questionable."
"If you're asking if it’s suitable for defense, then yes, it’s lacking. But that sort of thing is Steve and his team’s job."
"I suppose so. Well, a light investigation should suffice."
Buildings stand adjacent to the theater, pressing in on all sides.
That is normal enough, but considering the VIPs who will be visiting, having unidentified strangers in such close proximity is far from ideal.
However, that is a matter that Steve—or perhaps Lowell—will handle by temporarily leasing the surrounding properties to ensure the area is cleared for the day.
"What we need to do is get a firm grasp on the market here."
"But the documents Ratz gave us don't mention any key players in this town, do they?"
"The town of Wean may not have merchants with suspiciously inflated sales, but even in a non-aligned nation, there are connections to be found. That is what we are going to uncover. Investigating the logistics is, in essence, the first step toward infiltrating their inner circles."
Nina’s eyes widen in surprise at my declaration.
"Oh? Was that unexpected?"
"Yes. If you act that brazenly, aren't you worried about being watched or even attacked?"
"Both are possibilities, but whichever way it turns, it’s a win for me—or rather, for Weed. If there are merchant guilds whose sales suddenly drop, then that means..."
"It means the guilds connected to the Dark Guilds have pulled back."
"Exactly. Of course, those who are running legitimate businesses will continue to trade with us properly."
I am, after all, a sound merchant.
If they choose to attack us for that, then we shall simply strike back.
"Besides, there will surely be those thick-skinned enough to trade with us regardless. That, in itself, is convenient for gathering information."
"I suppose that’s true... It seemed bold at first, but I suppose this approach has its merits."
"Yes, it does. My brother and the others might be in danger, so I want information worth that risk. As it stands, the executives we tracked to Irinau are still just moving about with such elegance."
"Come to think of it, you still haven't been able to trace their footsteps?"
"It seems not. They are all currently traveling. Since most of them have been taking on adventurer jobs, they move under the guise of work. As for the executives, they are posing as merchants, so they travel while conducting business. They are quite diligent about maintaining their cover, at least."
It is truly tiresome how thoroughly they conceal their true identities.
Not that it’s unexpected, but it makes the pursuit incredibly difficult for those of us following behind.
"…It’s possible they are intentionally wasting time."
"That is a distinct possibility. They may be assuming they are being followed and are stalling for time. That is precisely why we need to make a different move."
The fact that those executives are taking such circuitous routes is likely to shake off pursuers and buy time for other plans to unfold.
That is exactly why we must act first.
Now, this maneuver to drive a wedge into a non-aligned nation begins.
How will the enemy react? And so, Ratz felt that peculiar, lingering discomfort of being praised for knowledge that was not her own.