第１７９７堀：どういう理由なのか？ (Part1)
Chapter 1797: For What Reason?
Side: Nina
I was the one who called for this meeting, yet here I am, left to the sidelines. The conversation has reached a point where I can’t easily interject. I had no idea the Guild was harboring such deep-seated problems.
"Kishua, Sia, did you two notice anything?"
"No. The Guild didn't seem to be under that much pressure."
"Indeed. What about you, Leia? You joined up with us later, so perhaps you saw something we missed?"
I turned my gaze toward Leia, Neferi, and Fio.
"No, I’m clueless."
"Nothing at all."
"Um, Big Sister? Doesn't that make me seem less like an undead than you?"
Lately, despite being undead, Fio has been regaining her emotions, much like Lady Comet. I suppose that means she’s truly settled in. But that’s beside the point—it seems we aren't getting any new information.
Just as I was thinking that, I glanced over at Yuki and noticed his expression had hardened.
"Yuki? What’s wrong? That’s rare for you."
"No, ah, right. You all were just talking about it, weren't you? The state of the Adventurer’s Guild."
"Oh, that’s right. Nina, how did the Adventurer’s Guild seem to you?"
"Well, you were actually there, weren't you?"
The Grand Master and Milly looked at us, clearly hoping for some insight, but I had to relay what we had all just confirmed: we hadn't sensed a thing.
"Hmm. Well, I suppose that makes sense. If they have hostages, they wouldn't be careless enough to let adventurers know."
"Besides, on the surface, it just looks like a standard influx of adventurers. I doubt they even know who we are."
That’s true. Only Weed and a select few in the upper echelons of the Adventurer’s Guild know of our existence. I don't think this "Alca" person—was that the name?—could possibly know about us. If they did, I’d be terrified of their information network.
"Kate at headquarters specializes in monsters, so she’s hardly the one to talk to about this."
Kate is more of a researcher. She isn't incapable of fighting, but she’s the type to avoid trouble. And with a nation involved, it’s far too dangerous.
We concluded that we had no leads, but Yuki’s expression remained grim.
"Lord Yuki, are you not feeling well?"
Prol seemed to notice it too and spoke up.
"No, it’s not that I’m ill. It’s just that when I organize the current situation, some unpleasant possibilities start to surface."
The "unpleasant possibilities" Yuki imagines are always top-tier.
"…Yuki, would you mind sharing that bad premonition of yours?"
"I think Yuki’s thoughts are worth hearing."
The Grand Master and Milly immediately pressed him for his theory. Since Yuki’s advice—or rather, his deductions—are usually at least in the right ballpark, we all nodded in agreement.
"Well, as always, keep in mind this is just speculation."
Yuki started with his usual disclaimer.
"Let’s organize the current situation. The problem began with the letter addressed to the Grand Master. And it was sent with the specific prediction that he would be in Weed."
"Right, that’s how it started."
"But there’s a premise to that. It stems from the fact that we requested an investigation into the Dark Guild following the disappearances in the Kingdoms of Usano and Ahe."
I remember that. We’ve been incredibly busy since then, especially with the New Continent. Well, we were busy before that, too.
"This also traces back to the Great Flood in Suurus and the Dark Guild hiding in the old Vinosia, but that’s a long story, so I’ll skip it."
True. The root of it all was the destruction of the Dark Guild headquarters in Rumel. We really should start from when we made contact with Usano and Ahe.
"The issue arose because the Kingdoms of Usano and Ahe refused our investigation into the Dark Guild’s infiltration."
Exactly. That’s when things got complicated.
"I understand that nations have secrets they want to keep, but when it comes to kidnapping cases, Weed—having experienced a summoning incident itself—cannot just look the other way. The Intercontinental Alliance agrees with us on this."
That’s true. If we aren't careful, important figures could be kidnapped via summoning.
"However, we can't force an investigation while the other side is refusing. That includes military force. It would be seen as an act of aggression. That’s why we secretly sent people to the remote villages where the disappearances were occurring, using adventurers and merchants."
Yes, that was us.
"The result was that we confirmed summoning kidnappings were indeed taking place. But as a separate matter, we found that the villages themselves were being used as dumping grounds for the nation’s 'troublemakers.' And then, we discovered that unreported, abandoned dungeon."
That was the one we found. It was a tragedy for Holly and Vilia, who were summoned there.
"And that leads us to the letter arriving from the Adventurer’s Guild."
He summarized the flow of events. No one had any objections.
"What we know now is that the Kingdom of Usano is clearly hiding something as a nation. To the extent that even the Adventurer’s Guild staff can't move freely."
"Indeed. That seems to be the case."
"And the internal investigator we sent, Alca, has skills on par with Mauve and the others. It’s impossible that she couldn't escape on her own."
Well, yes. If she has that level of skill, there are plenty of ways to escape if she were acting alone.
"In other words, we have to assume she’s being held hostage or has some weakness being exploited. But the fact that she’s even able to send a letter—and one that’s been censored—suggests a truly extreme situation."
"It’s thorough, isn't it?"
"As Milly says, it’s thorough. However, the fact that she can send a letter at all means her true identity hasn't been exposed. If it had, she wouldn't be able to send anything. Well, unless she’s being tortured, perhaps…"
"That’s unlikely. There’s no reason to send a letter with holes in it. And that wouldn't be the way to lure me out, either."
That’s true. If they wanted to stop the Adventurer’s Guild from interfering, they would involve other countries, not just the Grand Master. And if they wanted to lure him, they would use a more plausible method.
"That’s true. In that case, the only thing we can assume is that the scale of this is massive."
"Scale?"
"Yes. It’s because the scale is too large to be handled by an individual that they are resorting to these kinds of measures."
"Hmm. No, that might be it."
I see. If it were small-scale, it would make sense for someone like Alca to take action on her own.