Chapter 77

◈ Chapter 77: Seridan Ironfit (1)

Thanks to Viola's use of wind magic, the remnants of the Red Society could be dealt with quickly.

There must have been quite a commotion, but the police won't come here.

This is a rarely visited alley, and even if the police hear about such a disturbance, they treat it as someone else's problem.

That's why murders happen here as often as eating a meal.

"Are you done?"

"Yes, it seems there are no more."

Viola shook her hands as she said this.

Perhaps due to the considerable mana she expended using offensive magic, her voice was slightly weary.

I stood still and secretly took out a pill and chewed it.

"Really, if you're so fine, you should have asked for help."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind. This is just a light test to check my skills, something like that?"

"......"

I don't understand what she's talking about.

Ah, is it because she was watching me quietly deal with the remnants of the Red Society?

I couldn't afford to waste mana, so I just stood there.

Interfering in the midst of allies using magic would only be a hindrance, wouldn't it?

It seems Viola interpreted my attitude differently.

'No matter.'

There's no need to correct her misunderstanding.

More importantly, I need to recover my mana.

"Rather, these guys really went all out. To gather people and attempt a surprise attack even after their organization was completely destroyed."

"They must have been desperate. Or maybe they got greedy."

"Well, they probably thought they could take everything for themselves if they killed us. But anyone with a brain would know that they would suffer losses......"

Viola seemed to be troubled by something and couldn't finish her sentence.

Come to think of it, the Red Society guys hired assassins from the Blade Sect.

Even if they were rookies, they were highly trained assassins.

Hiring such people must have been quite expensive.

'Did these guys, who had already been stripped of their business, have that much money?'

Even if they had hidden funds, it wouldn't have been easy.

The idea of paying after the deed is done doesn't work.

Assassins, even if not from the Blade Sect, don't do credit.

Moreover, these guys, knowing the assassins failed to kill us, didn't run away but charged at us.

Did they think we were weakened? Could the guys who survived by their wits in the back alleys not have known this?

'They couldn't run.'

They couldn't run and had no choice but to fight us.

Then why couldn't they run?

"You were pushed from behind."

"Excuse me?"

"I mean the remaining remnants of the Red Society."

At my remark, Viola seemed to realize something and let out an "Ah."

"......So, this means there are others involved in this incident?"

"Not just involved. They openly encouraged this situation. They probably provided the money to hire the assassins."

"Who could it be? There shouldn't be anyone in the underworld capable of such a thing......"

I shook my head.

"Not someone from this world."

"You don't mean......"

"Yes. It's likely that a human from above, who finds this situation unpleasant, was involved."

"Someone who knows the political situation here well enough and can secretly provide money."

"I thought it was Dootree, but it wasn't him."

"......There were suspicions that Dootree had connections with Belport Rikson, but......"

"It wasn't just suspicions. He actually had connections."

"Really?"

"I heard it directly from Dootree, so it's certain."

"Wait a moment. You heard it directly? When? Before you killed him?"

"I haven't killed him yet. Dootree is currently being held captive by my subordinates. I just kept him alive."

The fact that Dootree, the leader of the Red Society, was still alive must have been a shock.

Viola couldn't speak for a while.

"Almost everything is settled, but since he's the head of the Red Society, I had to make him spill any information he might have."

"......You're thorough."

"Dootree used the Red Society to collaborate with Belport Rikson. He received money from him and, in return, took on dirty jobs."

"But Belport Rikson is dead, right? I read in the newspaper that he was killed by a werewolf attack recently."

"I killed him."

"......What?"

"I killed Belport Rikson."

"......"

"The werewolf attack was the public story, but the reality was different. Belport Rikson secretly used the Red Society to conduct human experiments."

"Why? And why are you telling me this?"

As the story of the mysterious incident flowed from my mouth, Viola looked incredibly flustered.

The truth, which she didn't expect, must have been bewildering to hear.

"I killed Belport Rikson because of this. I gave a fitting end to a guy who violated human dignity. And when I searched his vault and records, I found the trail of the Red Society."

"......So, you eliminated the Red Society?"

"Anyway, I need to establish myself here. I didn't want to stand alongside such scum."

"......"

Well, I understand her shock. And she must be wondering why I'm telling her all this.

"......I'll keep this a secret."

"Good to hear."

It's right here.

This will prevent Viola from betraying me.

This is a light warning.

Even though I've already fought alongside her and shown her the vision for her organization.

People, after receiving various benefits, tend to forget and stab you in the back eventually.

That's why I can't fully trust them.

'This is a kind of threat.'

I killed Belport Rikson. I assassinated one of the richest men in Leathervik.

In other words, it means that unless you're a considerable noble, I can kill you if I want to.

Even the woman in front of me.

This fact alone will make my presence even more formidable to Viola.

And most importantly, I specifically mentioned this to her.

"You are a clever woman. You understand what I'm trying to do, right?"

"We need to find out who orchestrated the attack on us this time."

"Right."

"It's going to be busy. We also need to proceed with the business you told us about."

"Can't do it?"

"No. That would be a matter of pride. I'll handle both thoroughly."

"Good. You must. If you don't show that level of performance, it will be difficult for me. As a sign of encouragement, I'll hand Dootree over to you."

"Dootree? You're keeping him, right?"

"He's in a semi-paralyzed state, unable to walk properly. You can do whatever you want with him, extract information or kill him."

Swallow.

I could hear Viola swallow.

I smiled faintly.

"Since you've accumulated a lot, you can use any method. He deserves whatever he gets. This is also a gift from me to you."

Actually, I planned to tell her about Dootree first.

I saved Dootree not to extract information but to hand him over to the other three organizations to make a good impression.

They, who have the most grudges against the Red Society, would want to kill Dootree more than anyone.

"I'll do my best. More than you expect."

"Good answer. I'll be leaving now, so you should go in too."

"What about the bodies......?"

"In the back alleys, no one asks why someone died. The dead don't talk."

"......Yes, I understand."

Viola bowed respectfully to me.

She is still nominally my equal partner, but she has already pledged her loyalty to me.

It felt good.

* * *

"Brother, are you here?"

"Yeah."

"......Some suspicious people were heading to where you were. Did you run into them?"

Instead of answering, I calmly removed the monocle from my face and took off my coat.

Hans nodded as if he understood.

"I've taken care of everything."

"You even hired assassins. They were from the Blade Sect."

"Really? The Blade Sect guys?"

"They weren't real. Just rookies trying to gain experience."

"Still, the Blade Sect is the Blade Sect. Their fees aren't a joke, right?"

"Right. So, you need to move too."

"Excuse me?"

"There are people who ordered our deaths from behind. They seem quite unhappy about the Red Society disappearing and new players entering the scene."

"Come on, I'm already busy checking the items at the Kunst auction......"

"If you can't do it, forget it."

"No, I'll do it. It's a matter of life and death, so I can't take it lightly."

Saying he would do it, but still pushing back.

The moment I hung my coat on the hanger, the door was roughly opened with a bang.

This is our secret base, a place where almost no one comes in the back alleys.

The fact that someone opened the door means......

"Seridan?"

"Hey."

At my words, the small-framed girl who had just entered the room looked at me with bright eyes.

"Sure enough, it's you, sir!"

Her slightly tanned skin, white hair tied in two braids, and her upturned eyes and lips gave her a mischievous look.

She was wearing loose pants and a shirt that was covered in oil.

Had she been working on something just now?

Seridan Ironfit.

The dwarf girl who is the developer and inventor of the wire launcher I use.

"Still as energetic and noisy as ever."

I said this as I unstrapped the armband from my left arm and threw it to Seridan.

Huh!

She jumped up on the spot, caught the armband, and immediately checked its condition.

"Hmm. You've been using it quite roughly lately? The launcher's end is worn out, and a few screws on the gears are loose. Plus, the wire needs to be replaced."

"I've had a lot of use for it."

"More than that, the joint part is loose? It seems like you added one more person than it was designed for? Sir! I told you to be careful! This is for one person! It barely handles someone with all sorts of gadgets attached like you!"

"It's sturdy, so I used it that way."

"Machines are delicate, you know?!"

"Can't you fix it?"

"Ten minutes is enough!"

"That's fine."

She is an expert in machines, more so than anyone else.

A self-proclaimed engineering enthusiast, or rather, a mechanical enthusiast.

The sword cane and saw blade boomerang I use were all made by her.

Of course, I provided the ideas.

When I give a rough concept, she gets hooked and invents like a madwoman.

What a wonderful input and output.

"Hey, assistant! Help me out!"

"Who's your assistant?!"

"Hey, if you don't come when I call, I'll really do it! Not coming? Really?"

"Ah, alright! Just put away that mouse's teeth!"

"Kehehe. You, listen. If you don't listen to me, what will happen? You'll get poked by this. Got it?"

"Damn it. Brother, please control that wild girl."

"Looks good, doesn't it?"

Though I said that, I can't really control Seridan.

Her innate beagle-like nature is beyond my control.

At least, she doesn't cause trouble with me, which is fortunate.

Of course, for Hans, who can't handle her, it must be a living hell.

Seridan's violent acts are mostly directed at Hans.

Especially, Hans transforms into a monster when he is poked by an animal's tooth, accepting the animal's essence.

Seridan knows this weakness and often carries things like mouse teeth to threaten Hans.

"I'll go to the workshop first! Hurry up!"

Watching her leave with my armband like a storm, Hans clenched his fists.

"Ah, that little wild girl."

"She's actually older than you."

Seridan looks like a kid, but being a dwarf, she is actually older than Hans.

"I know. Damn it. Why does she only act like this with me?"

"Well......"

Because you're easy to bully.

I couldn't say that, though, knowing how much Hans is suffering.

But even without me saying it, he seemed to realize it, and his expression quickly turned gloomy.

"......More people are coming here. It's a nightmare."

"Work hard. By the way, don't let Seridan touch the gunpowder."

"I know. I don't want to die either."

Seridan Ironfit.

She is a great inventor and developer, but she is also a ticking time bomb due to her fearless spirit.

The problem is that this time bomb is not just a metaphor.

She really tries to make all sorts of bombs if she has gunpowder.

"Do you remember when we first met that wild girl?"

"It was in the underground mines of the Delica Kingdom. Where they illegally enslaved other races and forced them to mine day and night."

"That's right. She was also captured there."

"Saying she was captured is a bit of a stretch."

"Yeah, I agree."

Anyway, when I had the identity of James Moriarty, I once secretly infiltrated a mine with Hans.

That's when we met Seridan.

To be precise, we met her while she was secretly making a massive bomb to collapse the entire mine.

"If that bomb had gone off, we would all have died, right?"

"Yeah. If the mine collapses 1 km underground, even a knight-level strong person would die."

"......I have to take care of that crazy wild girl."

"Work hard."

Hans has a tough job.

Surprisingly, our new organization has only added one more member so far.

The fact that there are still more candidates is just amusing.