第１５４７堀：どこでも人が集まれば争いは起こる (Part2)
To the headquarters, she was an anomaly—a female Guild Master with a peculiar standing. As Milly felt a flicker of doubt regarding their willingness to cooperate, the Grand Master set down a cup of tea.
“On the contrary, your status as a representative of Weed will serve you well. If you went merely as a branch master, the central office might turn you away, but they cannot easily dismiss a high-ranking official of the Weed government.”
“I see,” Milly murmured. *So, my dual identity is my shield.*
“However, I do hope they cooperate in good faith... Milly, I hate to add to your burden, but...”
“I understand. You want me to keep an eye on the headquarters’ internal affairs as well.”
“Precisely. I apologize for the trouble, but given the recent events in Hinsua and Old Vinosia, it wouldn’t be surprising if some fool there is trying to pry into our business.”
It was a valid concern. From the perspective of the Dark Guild, the Adventurer Guild was the primary target for surveillance—far more so than any individual nation. The Guild maintained branches in every corner of the world, from great empires to the smallest principalities, sharing a vast web of information. While they held no sovereign territory and their military strength was as inconsistent as the adventurers they employed, their ranks were nonetheless filled with formidable elites.
In a sense, they were the Dark Guild’s greatest rivals. More importantly, it was the Adventurer Guild that had provided the most significant assistance in dismantling the Dark Guild’s headquarters. Though the Lumel branch had spearheaded that operation, there was no doubt that the Guild’s intelligence network and various other influences had been the deciding factors.
“Well, I doubt anyone could actually get the better of Milly, but don’t let your guard down,” Rock interjected.
“In that case, may I take Kina with me? If I bring too many Weed officials, it might put them on the defensive.”
“Ah, true. Sending you to the headquarters without an escort would be poor form,” Rock agreed.
“Yet, bringing guards from Weed would look like we’re trying to exert political pressure,” the Grand Master added. “Kina would be the ideal choice.”
“Hmph, fine. I’ll handle things down here while you’re gone,” Rock grunted.
“Ho ho, it’s not as if I can exactly step out myself,” the Grand Master chuckled.
With the matter settled, Milly headed downstairs. Kina noticed her immediately and looked up from her work.
“Oh, wasn’t the Grand Master just here?”
“He was. And he gave us the green light.” Milly showed Kina the permit as she continued. “But it seems I won’t be visiting alone.”
“Eh?”
“We’re heading to the headquarters. My position is unique to Weed, and you know as well as I do that the central office harbors some... friction toward us.”
“Ah... right. I think I’ve heard something about that. Is it really that bad?”
“I’d like to think not, but Weed has been stealing the spotlight lately. Take the Suurus investigation, for example.”
“What? But that only happened because the Litea headquarters prioritized their own dungeons and monster habitats. They said they couldn’t spare the personnel, so the task fell to us, didn’t it?”
“Human emotions are complicated things, Kina. Surely you understand that. That’s why I need you to come along as my escort.”
“Huh? Me? Is it really that dangerous?”
While being excused from her daily duties was a relief in its own way, Kina seemed more shocked by the internal politics of the headquarters than the prospect of travel. Milly shared the sentiment.
“It’s to *prevent* it from becoming dangerous. Milly’s role as a representative of Weed is her strongest suit. If she asks to dig through the Guild’s archives, they might try to refuse her on principle.”
“Even with the Grand Master’s permit?”
“Neither the Grand Master nor I could say for certain that they wouldn’t,” Rock said, stepping in.
“Ugh... and you want me and Milly to go into that? Shouldn’t you be the one going, Rock?”
“Don’t be stupid. This is a double-check. Besides, I’ve told you before—you need to build connections outside of this city. Now get going.”
“Ehhh? Again?”
“Do it as many times as it takes to build a network. Now move.”
And so, Kina was resigned to her fate.
“...This is going to be over quickly, right?” she asked.
“If nothing goes wrong,” Milly replied.
*Of course,* Milly thought as they prepared to leave Weed for Litea. The world was the same wherever one went; only the scale of the trouble changed.