Chapter 99

Under the cobalt sky that envelops Crossport, the sun rises.

Bathed in the spreading light, the town's streets vividly come to life, and the birds sing in praise.

"──Damn, what a noisy morning."

Rubbing his eyes, which were complaining of lack of sleep, the man got up from the bed and let out a curse.

The man is called a procurer by his colleagues.

It's a nickname that comes from the reason he rose to become a town official, despite not having any particular talent.

With his neatly trimmed beard giving him a wild look, he had arranged for several amateur women to be taken to the earl.

The procurer himself knows that his methods are not honorable, so it is a very unsatisfactory nickname.

The procurer looks out the window of his room.

His eyes meet those of a soldier with a burn-scarred face, who is looking up at the inn.

──He said something about being from the Flame Corps. What a ominous face to see in the morning.

Without revealing his true feelings, the procurer leans out of the window and calls to the Flame Corps soldier.

"Patrolling the town early in the morning? That must be tough."

"No, it's not a patrol. I've been instructed by Lady Sora to bring all the town officials to the mansion."

The Flame Corps soldier replied with a bright face.

The procurer furrows his brow.

The response is too quick to be due to last night's secret meeting.

──Is it for gathering information on administrative matters? They must be trying to extract information through direct interviews.

The procurer, having figured this out, tells the Flame Corps soldier to wait a moment.

As he was about to go back into the room to change, he saw a fisherman heading to the port greet the Flame Corps soldier with a smile.

──Even a monster is popular.

The procurer narrowed his eyes and turned back to the dark room.

After a while, six town officials, including the procurer, had gathered in front of the inn.

There were not enough people for a gathering of officials.

"Hey, Zila, Gransuono, and Granthies aren't here. Is that okay?"

After checking the faces of the officials, the procurer asked the Flame Corps soldier.

"They're supposed to be coming, so you should ask them."

The Flame Corps soldier scratched the scar on his cheek and looked around.

He was probably looking for the person in charge.

The procurer exchanged glances with his colleagues.

Those present were the members of last night's secret meeting.

Whether by chance or necessity, they couldn't let their guard down until the reason for the summons was revealed.

"Ah, they're here."

Spotting the person in charge approaching, the Flame Corps soldier opened his eyes wide and secretly made a victory sign.

"…Today's my lucky day!"

The Flame Corps soldier, who had momentarily looked elated, quickly straightened up to greet the person in charge.

──He's awfully excited.

Curious to see who could make the monster so happy, the procurer turned his gaze and was speechless.

A young woman was walking down the road, her steps crisp and elegant, her red and gold hair and white coat fluttering in the wind. Her intelligent eyes, which seemed to see through everything, coldly surveyed the town officials.

The procurer swallowed hard.

──What a catch. No wonder the monster is smitten.

"I'm Luly, and I've been asked by Lady Sora to guide you. It's early, but you're all here. You must be tired, but please bear with it a little longer."

Luly confirmed the faces and features of the procurers and thanked the Flame Corps soldier.

The procurer, who had been entranced, snapped back to reality at Luly's words.

The procurer looked around the gathered group again.

"Three are missing, right?"

"They're all accounted for. According to Lady Sora, Yella and the two other town officials are to be excluded from this matter."

Luly didn't even glance at the procurer.

The procurer is a man who has lured many women into the earl's bed. He is confident in his looks.

However, Luly didn't seem to care.

The procurer's pride was hurt by Luly's attitude, and he felt a bit irritated.

But he reminded himself to stay calm.

It had become clear that only those who had been involved in the secret meeting had been gathered.

──Did Holger rat us out?

The procurer suspected Holger, who had mocked him so much.

However, considering Holger's character, he dismissed the suspicion, thinking that Holger would let them flounder to gain an advantage.

"So, what's the purpose of this summons?"

The sycophantic old man next to the procurer asked Luly.

Luly had somehow squatted down to observe the frost pillars.

The sycophantic old man frowned at Luly's rude attitude.

Luly continued to observe the frost pillars and spoke in an irritated tone.

"Lady Sora will explain the reconstruction plan. Since the preparations aren't ready yet, we'll take a walk to the church and offer some prayers."

Luly was crushing the frost pillars with her fingers.

"…The freezing point should be lowered by salt, so yesterday's temperature was──"

Muttering incomprehensible things, Luly stood up and started walking away from the procurers.

The Flame Corps soldier smiled wryly and looked at the procurers.

"Please follow Luly."

The town officials, exchanging puzzled glances, reluctantly started walking.

The Flame Corps soldier fell in line at the back, and the procurers headed for the church.

The sycophantic old man casually fell in step next to the procurer.

Being careful not to be overheard by the Flame Corps soldier behind them, the sycophantic old man asked the procurer in a low voice.

"…Do you think last night's matter has been discovered?"

"We haven't done anything yet. It's too early to act. Besides, if they intended to arrest us, it would be strange to bring us to the church."

The church's doctrine includes the protection of believers.

If the believers witnessed the procurers being arrested while praying, they might react negatively.

──Unless there's a very good reason, of course.

"I think so too. If they wanted to waste time, they could have come up with an inspection of the port or something. The purpose of bringing us to the church is probably to boost the officials' credibility in the eyes of the citizens."

──As expected, he has the skills to rise by reading the room.

The procurer agreed with the sycophantic old man's analysis.

"In that case, it's probably preparation for the reconstruction plan. Let's pray sincerely."

"To get a taste of the good stuff, right?"

The sycophantic old man, with his thoroughly corrupt thinking, asked, and the procurer twisted his lips in a sarcastic smile.

"Let's show our loyalty, shall we?"