Together with the shop owner, we went to his house where his family lived, briefly explaining to them about the situation, before teleported to Sagami Co. My plan was for them to be guests in our company until the incident was resolved.
We had so far narrowed down the perpetrator of the human sli incident this ti, [Laguna]. I wasn't that optimistic to assu that they hadn't watched our movent in the past few days.
In that case, there was a high chance for the company to get attacked. There were many forr mbers of the Red Fang Brigade under the command of Akuido, who specialized in combat, in this place. They were battle experts who had lived their childhood amidst conflicts.These people had acquired a large amount of magic. Now, they had been one of the greatest forces in this continent. In addition, there were a lot of modern weapons that were still under developnt in this company. Sagami Co. would not fall easily, even if it was attacked by the likes of [Laguna].
However, the other employees working here in Starheim were different. All of them had begun to train, but neither in terms of status nor in terms of practice did they have the strength to engage in a serious fight with their elites.
Of course, if they possessed modern weapons like a pistol, etc, it was quite possible for them to fight against the elites of [Laguna]. But just last week, a law had been announced that it was prohibited for anyone to use any weapons or related materials outside except in areas controlled by the Empire. The reason for this too-quick response was probably the involvent of the power of the Aristocratic faction.
Originally, the firearms were planned to be used to protect the employees from hostile forces such as [Laguna], but the recent war in the Empire had made their power and horror known to the world at large. I had to co up with a new plan to protect the staff of my business association.
Anyway, right now it was an ergency, so it was necessary to evacuate all Straheim employees and concentrate our forces in the company. That was why I hurriedly gathered all the combatants that could be stationed here.
I had Spy protecting Pluto and the other students, while Kama was assigned to protect the Emperor. Hatch was the guardian for the two imperial princesses.
Krama had also been trying to persuade the slave traders and prostitutes in the Imperial City several days now, but they had been out of touch. The Imperial City was [Laguna]’s headquarters. Even now, they were the one ruling slave trading and prostitute business. The chance for persuasion was only 50/50. If the negotiation failed, then the first outco would be them attacking. And if that happened, the inexperienced Gill and the others would not be able to compete with them. That was why, after discussing it with Krama, we decided that Gill and his team would only work on the persuasion in Straheim and the nearby inn town of Lunette, where they had already established a certain business relationship. Lunette was a place where I had business dealings, and Straheim was a place where I had a strong influence. Above all, I had heard that the one in charge of slave trading and prostitution was quite a skilled person. I was sure they could understand profit and loss.
The [Awakened One], Jude and Karla, were currently in the middle of discussing the purchase of an oil field they had discovered in the southern region of the Archivian Empire.
Originally, the oil field was located in a reddish-brown wilderness. In the beginning, it belonged to the imperial governnt, but as they ran into a financial crisis, they didn't have any other choice but to auction that plot of land. At first, there were no obvious sellers for such a wasteland, but when a major trading company learned of our intention to purchase it, they ca forward. For all, being famous really had its cons. According to the report from Jude last night, it looked like it was possible to acquire the oil field without any trouble, as long as we gave up the mine that happened to be located on the land we purchased. That was the situation. Jude and Carla would have to concentrate on their business negotiations.
In regards to that, there was a high chance for Stella and Aria to know about the situation if I called Sylphy. I hadn't fallen that low to the point where I would drag those two children to the bloody organization war. Besides, I wanted them to continue their life and duty as students as much as possible. That was why I would not call them.
For that reason, there were only three people here, Akuido, Theo, and Calogero. These combatants were more than enough to deal with this incident. To begin with, it didn't matter how many combatants were there if I was not present at the ti that monocle man attacked.
"All shops in Straheim will be closed until things calm down. All Sagami Co. employees will be temporarily evacuated to Calot's living quarters. Theo, I am leaving you to take charge of Calot, which will be out and defenseless."
"Understood," Theo stood up and saluted.
"Theo and Calogero will work together to close all stores imdiately and transfer everyone to Calot. Akuido is in charge of guarding the company. I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to !" Akuido put his right fist on his chest and shouted. "What is my Lord planning to do?"
"I am going to report about the details of this event to the Adventurer’s Guild. Olivia and Lilinoa will stay here in the compan—"
"I will also go with you. With my help, things will proceed without any hitch."
Just as I was about to complete my words, Olivia cut in between. Lilinoa also nodded, most likely she also had the sa opinion as her.
Certainly, Willy wasn't the only top brass of the guild. It was still unknown to what extent the other guild’s top brass would trust , who was still a G-Rank Adventurer. However, it would be a different story if Olivia and Lilinoa, who had received the direct order of the emperor, ca with . Everyone would listen to them seriously.
Besides, it wasn't any exaggeration to say that the safest place for them in this city was beside . I guessed it was possible for them to accompany .
"Alright, as long as you don't act on your own. The only condition for letting you two accompany is that you stay close to ."
"I know that!" Olivia turned away with a pout.
"I understood!" Lilinoa nodded vigorously.
"Then, the mission starts!"
I stood up and issued them the command.
◇◆◇◆◇◆
As soon as I entered the Adventurer’s Guild building, the staff simultaneously turned to look at .
Is Lilinoa’s and Olivia’s true status exposed? No, in that case, the reception should have been more positive. This intense negative gaze seed to have been a preemptive move.
“Gray, this is…”
As expected of royalty, they were quick to notice the nature of gazes that were different from normal. It was a kind of gaze I'd never experienced before.
"Welco, Gray-san. An ergency executive eting has just been held here in Straheim. Please co to the conference room imdiately so that we can hear what's going on," the receptionist inford with a blank expression that I had never seen before.
I see, in this ti event, the guild has beco an enemy. Maybe I should think that way.
Not like it mattered to . No matter who or what organization it was, if they tried to take my company from unjustly, I would do my best to resist.
"You both don't need to co with . Most likely, the situation is going to beco a bit disgusting one from now on."
"Doesn't matter. I will go too."
"Sa here."
When I saw their determined expressions looking as if they weren't listening to , I refrained from saying any further.
"Do whatever you like."
Raising the corner of my mouth, I followed the receptionist.
When we entered the room, we were greeted by a dozen n and won magnificently. Of course, it was sarcasm.
"You're Gray Ines Navarro, right?"
A burly middle-aged man with long red hair and very long sideburns looked at quizzically.
"That's right."
"What's with your way of talking with your superior, when you are just a beginner, and a brat on top of that!!"
A large and rough looking man that seed to be one of the executives sitting next to the burly man slamd his fist at the table and shouted.
"What? Don't misunderstand. I only belong to the Adventurer's Guild as a matter of convenience. You're not my boss or anything."
"What did you say!?"
Instantly, the atmosphere turned threatening.
.”Gray, be more amiable,” Lilinoa chided in a whispering voice.
"You don't need to worry about that. I have no respect to pay to those idiots who can't, no, more like won't control even the bare minimum of the organization's mbers."
This was the biggest difference between and Emperor Georg and the others. The imperial governnt was desperately trying to fulfill its mission as a nation against the tyranny of the aristocracy, foreign pressure, and Iskandar's unnecessarily large presence. For this reason, I had a minimum amount of respect for Georg and the others.
And what about the Adventurer’s Guild mbers? In the undead assault, they abandoned their duties due to the absence of Caesar alone, and agreed to illegal deals like Munch's out of fear of losing their strength.
The human sli incident originally should have been sothing the guild should resolve itself. But they had shalessly thrown the whole thing to us at the request of the imperial governnt. Against such a worthless group, this kind of attitude was more than enough.
"You bastard—!!"
The large and rough looking man tried to stand up in rage, but he was stopped by a man with mohawk hair with his right hand.
"Humph! Hitting on our weak spot. But at his age, he's got that kind of dominance. No wonder that idiot is so adamant."
Pressing the cigar he had on his mouth on an iron plate, the mohawk-haired man shifted his gaze towards Willy.
"I think we both have said our greeting, so I would like to move forward to our main topic," Willy declared dispassionately, not minding the receptionist whose face had turned blue with her teeth clattering while watching our exchange.
Willy’s state didn't look like he had much room to say. I didn't have anything but an unpleasant premonition.
"Then, let's begin the hearing of Grey Inez Navarro. I, Gaius Carlos, will be the chairman. You guys are fine with that, right!?" The middle-aged man with a long sideburn, Gaius, uttered incoherent words as he looked at everyone present..
"......."
At the sight of Gaius, everyone's jaws dropped and they fell silent. This man, Gaius, seed to be quite a character. Carlos was the sa as Caesar's last na. Maybe he was a relative or sothing.
"Thank you for coming, Your Imperial Highnesses. Now, due to urgent requirents—" Gaius bowed his head lightly.
"I understand. Please begin right away," Lilinoa nodded with a resolute look. However, the hands holding the hem of her skirt were trembling.
"Gray, an accusation against you frequently selling beginner Adventurer to slave traders has been circulating. Is it true?" Gaius leaned forward and asked.
Unlike the other officers, I could not see any negative feelings toward in this man's eyes.
"Stop that charade. Just state out your real intention."
The burly man next to had a blue streak across his forehead and was about to open his mouth, but Gaius glared at him and silenced him.
"Yes, this is a charade, but there is a pride that cannot be protected without it."
"Pride, huh. That's a big deal. So, what's the reason for it?"
Gaius stared at for a while, then he closed his eyes before taking a deep breath.
"Bring him here."
The receptionist gave a big nod and left the room.
It seed like the person who would co held the key to this charade.
"Gray..."
Don't worry. I stood on tiptoes and caressed Lilinoa's head while waiting for the arrival.
A small, bald-headed man erges from behind the receptionist. When I saw his cold, dead eyes, I understood the worst-case scenario the devil had written.
◇◆◇◆◇◆
I had just watched Gill in a daze as he talked about my non-existent cri. Of course, I didn't have even a bit of doubt that I had been betrayed. Except that I was already too late to do anything. It was as if my heart had died, and I felt nothing.
"Gill."
"Yes," Gill replied to with an emotionless voice like before.
Right now, there was just one thing I wanted.
"Is your body all right?"
"Pre... sident?"
For the first ti, Gill, who had been looking down, looked up slightly.
"Gray, hurry up and help Gill-san," Lilinoa said as she clung to , looking like she was about to cry, fluttering her clothes.
Lilinoa, who could use both holy magic and healing magic, probably had a faint indication about Gill's condition.
"Gray!" Olivia, who sensed the situation from Lilinoa's appearance, shouted at .
Even I wanted to do that. But if I did that, Gill would surely disappear from our life. I could confirm that much.
"Guh!! Gaha!!"
Strength seeped out of Gill's leg, and his knees fell to the floor. And then, a greenish liquid poured out of Gill's left eye.
"Gill!!"
He stared at . The right of his face that was intact contorted in apology.
"Prezident... aiz am zorry. I, zzed up."
Every ti Gill opened his mouth, his left face distorted even more.
"Stop it..."
The words of rejection leaked out of my mouth.
"H-hey, no matter how I look at it, it's getting out of hand. Stop it!!"
A burly, dark-haired executive man next to stood up, shouting in frustration, but Gaius stopped them with his right palm.
"It's probably the last word. Let him talk."
Gill's intact half face was as serious and calm as a soldier on his way to his death. The burly, dark-haired executive gulped at the look on his face and sat back down.
"With this... everything enzed."
"I'm telling you to stop!!"
Even while shouting that, I activate [High Heal]. However, it didn't give the normal sensation it usually should of healing by rewinding.
Dammit! Dammit! Why is it not effective at all!!?
Inwardly, I was shouting the obvious.
"Gurei Prezident... to put false cri on him. I waz told."
Not only from his right eye, the green liquid even began to co out from Gill's right nose, ear, lting half of his face.
"I said to stop it right away!! This is an order!!"
As my vision blurred, I grabbed Gill by his shoulders and shouted at the top of my voice.
"President thiz..."
Gill pulled a plate out of his pocket and put it in my hands.
"Thaanz uuu bery muhz... pleaze taze care of them," he pleaded.
"Oh, I will protect them together with you!!"
With no strength left in his body, Gill leaned on . Half of his face was smiling.
No! Absolutely no! Not that face! It's just like the face of Zem, that biggest dumbass who acted as if he had accomplished sothing!!
"Thank you, President... for giving the opportunity to regain my pride."
Abruptly, Gill's whole body beca powerless.
"Hey!? You are joking, right!?"
This is ridiculous! This has to be a lie!
"Hey! Answer , Gill!!" I rocked Gill's shoulder as my vision blurred.
"Gill!!"
"Gray, he's already dead!"
Grabbing my right shoulder as I scread, Willy shut his eyes and shook his head.
At Willy's words, my entire body slumped, and I felt helpless, as if a huge wind tunnel had opened in the wall of my mind.
"Yeah, I knew that..."
That's right. How long do you think I've been watching people die? There was no way I didn't know that. I just didn't want to admit it. It's natural after all. Why did a kind man who took care of orphaned children as if they were his own have to die? Isn't that too, too much?
"Willy. Did you guys know that Gill has turned out like that?"
"Yeah, it was too illogical for him to expose your sins but still want to et you. The only ti he said he wanted to see you was when he was vomiting green liquid out of his mouth with a pained look on his face. I think it's a miracle he lasted this long," Willy muttered sadly.
"That's why you pulled this farce?"
"If we want to protect our honor, we have to do this. You know this too, don't you?" Gaius said, his face filled with intense rage.
"You also know this, right?"
The plate was the emblem of a family of Adventurers. There was a symbol of a snake entwined with a sword. It was the Breathgarm’s family crest.
"I didn't know about that, but I expected it."
That should be enough. Right now, I wanted to give Gill a break.
I picked Gill up in my arms and started to leave the guild house, but...
"Hey, wait a minute! Explain properly what's going on!!" the burly executive that was next to put his hand on my right shoulder and called out to stop .
"If you want to hear, ask those two."
"But—"
"Leave !"
I glared over my shoulder, and like a broken string, the burly executive removed his hand from my right shoulder in haste.
Gill’s death was similar to how Zem had died, both of them sacrificed themselves because of my naivety.
I should have hunted down that scum organization [Laguna] more seriously. I should have handled the case of the little boy called Munch earlier as well.
But it was already too late for to say that now.
"Gray, you..."
Olivia, next to , looked down at anxiously. Lilinoa was already in tears. That's right. For the past few days, the two of them, along with Gill and the others, had been helping take care of the children at the orphanage after the investigation.
Gill had always treated children without any discrimination. He had heard it from a co-worker that Olivia and Lilinoa were royalty; however, in the end, he’d still treated them just like how he treated other children. That was why you could tell by looking at Lilinoa that her work as a caretaker at that orphanage gave her a sense of security and comfort.
I'm sorry, but no matter what Iskandar or the Emperor says, Lilinoa and Olivia will have to leave this matter alone.
From here on out, it was the real ti for us, the demons. I must make a clear distinction here. It was not for the sake of Gill. Most of all, it was for .
Forcing down my magma-like rage, I teleported to the first floor of Sagami Co.
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