Chapter 76 - Carmen Collection

"Hey, can't you hear me? You reddish-brown head."

Jaxon ignored him again.

Watching that, Encrid once again thought it was a relief that he brought Jaxon along.

What if it had been Rem?

"Was that just now directed at me?"

It would be a relief if an axe didn't go flying along with those words.

Jaxon only ignored him. What a relief.

However, the one being ignored was probably feeling quite displeased.

"You bastard, I am Polid Roquefried!"

So what?

Jaxon spoke with his eyes.

Fortunately, Leona came down before things escalated.

Coming down accompanied by her nanny, Leona smiled brightly.

"You're late."

"Late my ass, what the hell is that guy you brought as an escort doing..."

"You sent them, didn't you?"

'Hmm?'

Leona walked over lightly and blocked the blabbering Polide's words with a question.

Polide tilted his head, asking what she was talking about.

Leona's hand sliced through the air.

SLAP!

'Wow.'

Encrid admired her inwardly.

Leona slapped her opponent's cheek without warning.

It was a brisk swing and a refreshing strike.

To the point where the guy who got slapped couldn't speak for a while.

With his head turned, the guy named Polide only rolled his eyes to glare at Leona.

"You did it. You crazy bastard."

Leona's clear and beautiful voice rang out.

He thought he should correct the answer he had given Krais.

That woman was abrasive. Towards other people.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

Multiple people drew their swords and weapons.

The atmosphere turned deadly with a single slap.

Encrid didn't draw his weapon, but he stood behind Leona.

Jaxon was next to him, and the Fairy Company Commander silently held her ground.

"Y-Y-You crazy bitch, you really want to die."

Only then did Polide grab his bulging, sulky cheek and speak.

"You'll be the one to die. Do you know where we are, spending money and moving troops so recklessly? Did you think you wouldn't get caught?"

Wondering what this was all about, Encrid watched. He also thought things were taking a very entertaining turn.

The inns of the Border Guard also served as meeting places for the merchant associations.

Because they didn't build official residences within the base.

Thanks to that, the inn business had developed.

That was why they had gathered here.

The innkeeper, who had been watching the hall, went wide-eyed.

It was a situation where someone suddenly slapped a face and they were pointing weapons at each other.

Even he, who had experienced all sorts of things, put on an awkward expression.

The innkeeper rolled his eyes a few times, then quickly made up his mind and turned on his heel toward the kitchen.

He gave up.

He was a wise man.

Since he couldn't stop them or intervene anyway.

The fortunate thing was that they had agreed to compensate for all damages incurred here under the name of the Roquefried Merchant Association.

That was why he could act so relaxed.

As he went into the kitchen, he did send a subtle glance toward Encrid.

'Nothing major will happen, right? It'll be fine, right?'

He was somewhat acquainted with the innkeeper, Allen.

Encrid gave him a nod, unseen by the others.

A woman like Leona wasn't stupid. Therefore, she wouldn't create a situation where a bloodbath would break out here.

Thus, even if the atmosphere was hostile, this disturbance would be the extent of it.

"You're so stupid, that's why the predecessor didn't leave the merchant association to you."

Leona opened her mouth.

She didn't seem to care at all about her opponent's defiance or armed force.

The thought that they wouldn't dare touch her no matter what happened radiated from her entire body.

Encrid got a strange feeling.

It was entirely because of the attitude the woman named Leona displayed.

'She's bold.'

What should he call this?

It was a talent for cutting off any chance for the opponent to talk back or rebel.

"Tell me where we are. Right now."

As she gritted her teeth and intimidated him, the guy named Polide got scared and unconsciously opened his mouth.

"The, the Border Guard."

"Right, you idiot, this is the Border Guard. You recklessly hire a guild that preys on vagrants in the back alleys here? Even knowing that I'm being escorted by the Border Guard regular army?"

"... I didn't do that, no, I never did, I only found out late that there was a Border Guard escort..."

He was crushed by her momentum.

Not only was the guy named Polide spouting nonsense, but his hands were trembling.

SHING, CLACK!

At Polide's nonsense, the man standing behind him drew his sword about a thumb's length and then sheathed it again.

At that sound, Polide seemed to snap back to his senses and changed his words.

"I-It wasn't me. How dare you falsely accuse me!"

Looking at the situation, he could roughly picture what had happened.

'He probably prepared to deny it wasn't him before coming here.'

Even so, he was swept up in the atmosphere and almost confessed everything.

"Tch."

Leona clicked her tongue. Then she pulled out a chair with a scrape and sat down. While wearing leather pants, she crossed her legs, then pulled a cigarette from her bosom and put it in her mouth.

"Light."

Her nanny lifted a candlestick and lit it for her.

"Sit down. Aren't we going to discuss the succession rights?"

These were the words of the woman who had caused both sides to draw their weapons and stand off.

Cigarette smoke puffed up from her mouth.

Polide also pulled his chair roughly and sat down.

Who would be at a disadvantage if a bloodbath broke out here?

Where did he think the two squads of troops guarding outside were dispatched from?

Soon, the two began to converse.

It was a time to clash over what they had each prepared for the succession.

In other words, it was a string of words that Encrid couldn't understand.

"You want to inherit the merchant association when you can't even interpret the trade routes? Have you memorized all the merchant association's secret codes? Have you?"

"Th-The butler can do those things! More importantly, I am the legitimate heir. A bitch who rolled around out on the streets..."

"The predecessor acknowledged that I have the qualifications to inherit the merchant association. You want to break that? You say you'll inherit it because you're the legitimate heir, which means you're saying that because you inherited the predecessor's blood, right? But you can't acknowledge what the predecessor publicly announced, yet you want to take the merchant association because you inherited his blood despite having no ability? I'm sure the other people will easily acknowledge that."

Encrid listened roughly and let it flow over him. To begin with, whether it was speaking or leading the atmosphere, everything looked like Leona's victory.

'So did he attempt an assassination as a final coin toss?'

And it just so happened there was a group in the Border Guard that accepted such jobs.

Should he say he was resourceful?

Or should he say he was a moron?

The two chattered on for quite a while more.

To Encrid's ears, Leona seemed to be sitting here just to mock her opponent.

"Are you sure you're the predecessor's son? No matter how I look at you, you don't look like him. It makes me suspicious."

"You fucking, what? What did you say? Are, are you saying my mother took some other guy's s-seed!"

The sulky Polide stuttered, showing just how angry he was.

BANG!

Then he slammed the table and spewed his anger.

"Phew, so it turns out like that? I didn't say it with that intention."

The one blowing cigarette smoke and dominating the situation was Leona.

But, was this woman always like this?

Wasn't she on the modest and quiet side?

He didn't know. In fact, he had only seen her for two days, and they had probably exchanged fewer than fifty words at most.

Everyone has two sides and isn't so simple.

"You fucking bitch!"

"Watch your damn mouth. You ugly bastard."

"This bitch!"

The guy who had held it in even when his mother was insulted raised his hand to the shortsword at his waist at the single word 'ugly'.

Seeing that, Encrid subtly gripped his sword hilt.

This was a place guarded by an escort from the Border Guard.

He couldn't just stand by and watch them draw their swords and fight.

One of the reasons the city known as the Border Guard had increased its value was because it allowed anyone, be it merchant associations or nobles, to discuss matters with battles of the tongue, without swords.

Of course, behind the scenes, they used swords and committed assassinations.

To draw a sword with the opponent right in front of them like this?

It was asking to be killed.

Jaxon was on my right, and the Company Commander stood a step behind, watching as if enjoying a show.

I placed my hand on the hilt and put Polide's escorts within my sword's range.

'First step to the left.'

Draw the sword and slice from top to bottom with a crown-splitting cut.

Since there wouldn't be time to take a proper stance, it would have to be done simultaneously with the draw.

The swordsman on Polide's side, who was caught in my range, also reacted.

He dropped his arm lower with a subtle twitch.

What kind of sword technique would he use?

For a moment, Encrid hoped the opponent would attack. Thinking rationally, that would absolutely never happen.

Still, he hoped for it.

'What kind of sword is it?'

If it was fast, how fast would it be?

Faster than Rem's axe? Even faster than the Half Fairy's Whistle Daggers?

He wanted to experience it. He wanted to face it. He wanted to fight it.

It was a competitive spirit.

He purely wanted to gauge his skills. The heat that swelled up in an instant warmed his body.

If he attacks, I cut him.

A strange current formed between the two.

Caught in the middle, the guy named Polide was breaking out in a profuse cold sweat.

Was it okay to draw a sword here? If he didn't draw it, wouldn't he look scared?

All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.

Leona despised such an opponent.

He should either draw his sword or talk his way out of it.

If he couldn't do either, he shouldn't have started it.

As expected, he was an opponent she would have had no reason to see if not for the predecessor's dying wish.

As the strange standoff continued, the inside of the inn fell silent.

It was then.

THUMP.

The sound of the inn door opening rang out. The thick wooden door swung wide open and slammed into the wall.

Thanks to the person who forcefully pushed the door open and entered, Encrid's field of vision widened.

The opponent also released his momentum. By an unspoken agreement, the two stepped back half a pace.

'Good grief.'

He wasn't Rem, yet he had almost drawn his sword without caring about the situation, driven crazy for a fight.

Encrid sighed inwardly and turned his head.

He saw a familiar face. It was Torres of the Border Guard.

Behind him, five more in similar attire followed.

Over their tunics, they wore checkered brown leather armor, topped with chestnut-colored coats, and eagle-patterned epaulets on the coats' shoulders.

"We are the kingdom's direct military's Border Guard. We came to catch the mastermind who caused a disturbance by instigating the Aspen spy unit."

"Heeek."

Polide let out a stupid groan. Then, his escort moved to his side and gripped his shoulder.

Encrid was curious about the relationship between the two.

It didn't seem like a simple employer and employee relationship.

"You brought Aspen Dogs into a succession fight?"

At Torres's words, Polide's complexion turned pale.

Leona remained unfazed.

'Who even called the Border Guard?'

Encrid watched the situation while thinking that.

"I will arrest everyone."

The person who reacted to Torres's words was neither Polide nor Leona.

"Are you saying you're going to detain people without evidence? This person is set to inherit the Roquefried Merchant Association. You haven't taken medicine from the other side, have you?"

It was from behind Polide.

A plainly dressed man with brown hair stepped forward.

By medicine, he meant a bribe.

At his words, Torres frowned, then let out a smirk and replied.

"... There's a funny son of a bitch here."

He openly expressed his displeasure. However, it was also true.

What was the reason large merchant associations held meetings and discussed succession issues in the Border Guard?

It was because the Border Guard regular army always maintained neutrality.

It was a given fact that if you caused trouble within the Border Guard, the regular army would intervene.

However, since they had promised to remain neutral in all matters.

Taking the opponent away without evidence here would easily lead to misunderstandings in various ways, so it was the same as saying they couldn't arrest them.

'Did he aim for this?'

The opponent had also used his brain in his own way.

Because Torres knew that too, he couldn't just slice off that funny son of a bitch's neck on the spot.

A short silence, and tension lingered. The one to break the silence was Leona.

"Medicine, you say, of course not."

First, denying the funny son of a bitch's words.

"Of course, someone from the merchant association could have brought in Aspen's spies."

That was what she added next.

"Hmm?"

At Leona's words, Polide was startled again and opened his mouth wide before becoming conscious of the gazes around him and shutting it.

Seeing that, even Encrid almost let out a sigh. Good grief, it wasn't quite outright saying he did it himself, but it was close.

"Because we still don't know yet. That's why I called them. The Border Guard."

Who called them? This surprised even Encrid.

Leona continued speaking.

"I want us detained until this matter comes to light. Both successors entirely. And then we search for the evidence."

Leona looked around the room. Her talent for changing the flow with just a few words stood out.

"I heard there's a mastermind who fled. Let's capture him alive and make him confess."

It was a calculated move, a checkmate.

In chess terms, it was a checkmate; there was nowhere to run.

If they caught the guy and tortured him, would he really hold out?

I heard the guys they caught now were also dragged off to the base, but none of them knew who the mastermind was.

They all supposedly just said in unison that their boss knew everything.

And that boss must be the guy who fled.

"Very well. Lady Leona, but what if he never turns up?"

The plain man with brown hair turned his gaze to Leona and asked.

"Then, it won't be a matter for the Border Guard to get involved in."

Leona replied.

"After that, it would be an issue for the merchant association to discuss amongst themselves. It would be right to return to our home city to determine the succession and have the key figures of the merchant association judge our qualifications."

The brown-haired man finished with a smiling gaze. He hit the nail on the head.

'If we leave the city.'

Could Leona handle Polide's escort troops?

It seemed unlikely.

"I am a merchant. I don't assign tasks without a price. I will give this to the person who finds that guy and brings him back first."

Along with her words, Leona pulled out a dagger and placed it on the table.

A long, thin blade, a black leather sheath covering it, it was a stiletto-type dagger.

"The Carmen Collection?"

Someone recognized it.

Encrid saw Jaxon step forward from beside him. This friend, who was indifferent to most things, stepped forward for a single dagger?

Of course, it was a weapon worth that much.

'How unexpected.'

Carmen, a famous assassin who operated with weapons he made with his own hands.

His weapon-crafting skills were actually much better than his assassination skills, though.

The weapons that guy made were called the Carmen Collection.

The weapon she just brought out was exactly that.

It was a master craftsman's dagger that supposedly wouldn't have a single drop of blood on it even after stabbing a person and pulling it out.

"Hey, why are you bringing that out as you please?"

"Because this is my property. Given to me by the predecessor."

Polide protested in some way, but Leona ignored him and gave a firm answer.

"I will give it to you. Capture him and bring him here."

With this, a bounty had been placed.

And Encrid thought things were flowing in a strange direction.

'I already ordered them to capture him.'

Even as he thought that, Encrid once again admired Leona's resourcefulness.

'Calling the Border Guard to buy time, and placing a bounty to get what she wants.'

She created a favorable situation for everyone.

Except for the guy named Polide.

Anyway, just catching him would earn them over hundreds of thousands of crona. It was enough to make everyone's eyes go red with greed.

"I will capture him and bring him back."

And surprisingly, there was someone here who readily showed their willingness.

"I will step up myself."

It was Jaxon. He wasn't just talking; he looked confident too.

Encrid looked at Jaxon and nodded. Since this was his first time seeing Jaxon step forward so actively.

'He must really want it.'

It made him think that.

It wouldn't be difficult.

Who was responsible for the nights and back alleys of this city, the Border Guard?

It was the Gilfin Guild. And Krais, the master of that guild, was currently a squadmate of Encrid's.

Not to mention, he had already been concerned and told them to capture him beforehand.

In other words, the item was already half in his hands.