Now then, regarding the flow of events until we crush the Varfan Group.
Marquis Strateg has already begun moving, laying the groundwork where necessary.
On top of that, he's agreed to pretend to be furious about having his authority infringed upon.
While one could say Marquis Strateg is overstepping his authority by extending his reach beyond the palace walls, we need him to push in here or we'll be in trouble.
After all, this is an attempted assassination that occurred within the palace facilities, and during guard duty no less, so he has the standing to force this through even if it's heavy-handed.
Here, he'll put on a grand show of anger, declaring that criminals must not be forgiven, and make extreme demands for the immediate destruction of the criminal guild and the execution of not just the perpetrators but everyone involved.
Of course, the aim is to set the compromise at the point we discussed previously.
Also, he's agreed to incorporate the regulations I proposed to cut off their funding.
"The colluding nobles won't be able to protect them openly. And with no public excuse to make Marquis Strateg back down, plus the backing of Duke Lucaios and the bishop faction, I believe the chances of this passing are high," said Wearel, his eyes gleaming in the darkness of the imperial capital.
Probably his beastman blood.
"To think he'd wedge us into this big raid in the capital, not just the palace guards. Must be quite the actor," said Herkov, his own eyes gleaming as he periodically checked that I was holding his hem.
"It seems there were surprisingly few who could claim they hadn't taken money in how they made arrests. They had to limit the numbers to prevent information leaks, and that's how we got squeezed in," explained Ikt, revealing the circumstances. Officially, he serves under Marquis Strateg.
Apparently, those tasked with cracking down on criminals in the capital had been taking bribes.
Whether from the criminal guild or the Varfan Group, I don't know.
In this world, there's no "rounded violence" corruption, and no police organization either, so roles are divided by district and authority.
Murder, theft, fraud, smuggling—if the location is the same, the same place handles it all, but I wonder how their know-how works?
Maybe that's why the arrest rate is low and criminal guilds can exist?
"This way, please," Revan called from the dark capital without carrying a light.
There are streetlamps, but they're not as bright as in my previous life.
In that darkness, Revan peered around a corner at a single mansion.
Though built right up against the buildings on either side as is common in urban areas, it was a mansion with height and depth to the rear.
"Nice place they're living in," Herkov muttered cynically.
That was the Varfan Group's headquarters.
They should be doing shady business, yet they live in a splendid mansion without hiding.
Then again, yakuza have images of offices and traditional Japanese homes, so maybe it's that kind of thing.
It's not like criminals have to live in suspicious buildings just because they're criminals.
"We've secured the back entrance too, so we charge in on the signal. However, we'll be last. The other palace guards have gone to the back entrance."
Though no one was visible around Revan, it seemed other palace guards were participating.
"I see. So we've been assigned as mere manpower to surround them and prevent leaks, simply because we were forced into this," Wearel said while investigating. Sephira's scan revealed that many people were positioned at the front.
It's a position where even if we move last, we'll likely have almost nothing to do.
"If the plan is to crush the criminal guild's branch at the same time, we're dealing with a small family business, despite being perpetrators. This is about right," said Ikt, stroking the sword at his waist, which he was specially permitted to carry even within the capital.
Herkov also wore a sword at his waist, while Wearel carried a large staff—a rod—that I'd never seen before.
"Let me say this now: please don't do anything unnecessary. The reason you three were called here is because that Prince seems serious, so it's just for show. Sorry you're armed and raring to go, but you won't have anything to do."
Revan admonished them with his face half-illuminated by the streetlamp.
Apparently, Marquis Strateg included my close associates to restrict our movements.
Even if he was told that, it was too late to be troubled by it.
"......Hey, why are all of you looking in that direction? I thought you'd get angry about that, or push back."
"They're late," Herkov muttered, still looking in that direction, to the anxious Revan.
With a sigh, Wearel searched his pocket.
"This is a copy of the orders issued by the Varfan Group's parent organization, the Kuro Group."
"What!?"
"Don't raise your voice."
Ikt covered Revan's mouth, as if he'd known this would happen.
With his nose covered too, Revan struggled, but Ikt also held one of his arms, making resistance difficult.
And he only released him when oxygen deprivation made it impossible to resist any longer.
"Prince Asha is the type who does what he decides to do, and he doesn't ask anyone's permission," Ikt explained to Revan, who was clinging to the wall and gasping for breath.
Well, that's why we didn't come together from the palace.
I left the palace a bit earlier and went to the Kuro Group under the protection of the three of them.
The location? Sephira investigated it.
Prying eyes? Sephira took care of that without issue.
The documents? Sephira just scanned them.
"I-is this real? I mean, there's no way criminal orders come with copies."
"Look closely. This also serves as a request form from the criminal guild side. It's proof that they can borrow the guild's power if things get dangerous. For the Kuro Group, assassinating a prince is a dangerous bridge to cross. It's not strange for them to hold onto a copy for self-preservation."
To Wearel's explanation, Herkov added:
"The attempt already failed and a manhunt is underway. It's an important document for self-preservation. Rather than storing it carefully away, it seems it was somewhere they could grab it immediately—well, it was."
He corrected himself from hearsay to direct knowledge.
Yeah, because I went there.
Since I'm the smallest, Sephira's processing was easier.
Of course they opposed it, but I pushed it through.
(Though I didn't expect Sephira would provide cover under the guise of securing safety.)
(It's equivalent to having my capabilities doubted on a matter already proven.)
Ah, hide-and-seek?
Of course, thanks to Sephira, I infiltrated alone and had her select the shortest, safest route.
Honestly, it was just an errand with no excitement or suspense—just going and retrieving it.
"Why—no, were you people always that amazing?" Revan accepted the documents, confirmed they were real, and gazed blankly at the close associates.
It was a document with all the names—criminal guild, Kuro Group, Varfan Group, and House Edenbar—represented by seals and marks even if not written out.
Based on this, Revan seemed to be revising his assessment of their strength upward.
"Why are people like you smoldering in some corner of the palace?"
"There's no way we could pull off such divine work," Ikt denied with an exasperated look, as if to say we might as well let him continue misunderstanding.
Revan couldn't understand the meaning and tried to verify the document's authenticity once more.
Herkov, apparently guessing from where I was holding his hem, nudged my hand.
"From what I saw, they seem to be people Marquis Strateg definitely can't cut ties with. I think it would be better to keep at least one of them on our side."
"Indeed, there's some uncertainty about how far this matter will spread. It would be good to have a direct line to Marquis Strateg, who is at the center of it," Wearel also seemed to agree.
And already, Ikt was covering Revan's mouth again.
I had no choice but to reveal myself.
"To spare Marquis Strateg the heartache, could you pretend not to see this for now? You can decide whether to tell him 'actually' after everything is over, or keep it to yourself."
When I suddenly stuck my face out from Herkov's shadow, Revan's eyes widened.
And I could tell his eyes were shaking violently even in the dim light.
The shock was so great it took some time, but after confirming he had gone limp, Ikt released him.
"I have many things I want to say...... but why are you here?"
Revan went back to the fundamentals.
"Prince Asha is the type who moves personally when he says he'll crush them," Ikt answered before I could.
Revan probably wanted to ask how, but he wasn't planning to tell him.
"Ah, and I haven't told His Majesty either, so keep that secret."
At my request, Revan covered his ears as if to say he didn't hear anything.
Regular Update
Next Time: Criminal Guild 3