Vol 2: Chapter 21
The “slave merchant” was being interrogated at the guard garrison. Since there was a detention center established together with the garrison, the criminal was temporarily held there. A sentence will be passed after a hearing. Fair hearing, lawyers, and appeals do not exist in this world. Criminal charges against high-ranking individuals such as nobles are handled differently. In which case, the Holy King and other nobles will judge.
The interrogation room was small, with only a small chair and a small window. The ground was bare.
The fat slave merchant was startled when I entered the interrogation room.
「D-Do you know what will happen if you get violent with me!?」
「Calm down. No one is going to hurt you.」the guard captain said.
The guard captain was a tanned man. He became favorable to me after a series of “slave business crushing”.
「As long as you answer our questions honestly that is.」
The “slave merchant” trembled following the guard captain’s intimidation.
The guard captain stepped back near the wall saying, “He’s all yours”. I moved to stand in front of the “slave merchant.” A clerk with a piece of paper on a wooden board was on standby.
「Then, I have some questions to ask–」
「We run a “Human Resource Center” in accordance with the law. Well, my tongue slipped and I used the word “slave,” but that was just a mistake. And my lack of manners towards the noble lady was inevitable because you gave the name of a company that didn’t exist.」
「………」
I groaned in my heart.
(It’s the same testimonial as the other “slave merchants”… It’s almost the exact same as the Earl told me… Hmm? Wait…)
Suddenly, I remembered a series of events.
The Earl gave ready consent when the young lady brought up “slave business crushing”. At that time, I chalked it up to him being an over-doting father, but thinking carefully, isn’t it quite strange?
(I’m sure the Earl knows which ones are real human resource centers and which ones use them as a front. Even if the necessary evils of human resource centers are destroyed one by one, it would have little effect on the economy and the society of the holy city.)
Rather, there is also the danger that the young lady would be resented in return and attacked by the people related to the business. The Earl himself knows it best because that was the kind of situation I saved him from.
(The list of “Human Resource Centers” that was prepared by the Earl. The “same testimonies” by the slave merchants in the interrogation… All this leads to one thing.)
A hypothesis formed in my mind. One that fit well with what was happening now.
The guard captain shouted, “Answer only what you are asked!”, but I stopped him by raising my hand.
「Well then, I’ll ask you another question. Is that okay?」
「Hmph. What am I supposed to answer to a kid?」
「When did you start this business?」
「……What?」
He seemed to be completely taken by surprise. I found out on that day that a puzzled-looking, fat ossan is not cute at all.
「When did you start doing this business?」
「Well, uh…it’s been 15 years now.」
「15 years in the Holy City?」
「That’s right.」
「Does your company have any advantages over your competitors?」
「…I’d like to say that “human resources centers” is the same job, but we have big connections with nobles. The amount we handle is huge.」he said, laughing proudly.
「Do you do the same business again even if you get punished?」
「That’s… well, my skill is like that…」
「【Slave Master ★★★】?」
「That’s right. But this job isn’t illegal, you know?」
「I know. Then, this is my last question.」I said.「How much did you get paid from Earl Sillys?」
「?!!!」
…And I also found out that an astonished ossan is not very cute either.
On the other hand, I also confirmed that my hypothesis was likely to be correct.
After finishing the interrogation, I went straight to Zerry-san’s place. She was searching for information about Lark and Lulusha on her own.
Zerry-san is one of the few people who knows about me and Lark. Getting drunk is her one flaw, though. She usually sleeps in the morning, and just as I expected, she was sleeping today as well. After waking her up, she gave me her report; even the adventurer’s guild did not seem to have information on 5-star skills and higher. Well, even Earl Sillys can’t find any information. Is there no choice but to search patiently?
「Speaking of…」
Zerry-san stays in a private room of an inn. It’s a small room, but she said before that, “I don’t need a big room because I’m only gonna sleep in it,” – and yet, why do I see alcohol bottles lying around?
「Can you send a letter by specifying an adventurer party?」
「…Ah, is it Silver Balance?」
「You guessed right.」
「That’s because you don’t know anyone else, bocchan.」
「………」
That is true, but… It feels like I’m being told that I have no friends.
Zerry-san used the water I produced to wash her face. Doesn’t the saying go,”if a cat washes its face, rain is coming”? Well, it’s certainly cloudy today.
「You can send letters, but sending letters across borders is very cumbersome and expensive.」
「I suppose it would be…」
「However, you know how guilds transport luggages between other guilds, so if you send it via that the certainty will increase.」
「I see.」
According to Zerry-san, necessary documents may be transported between guilds, and “delivery” and “escort” quests may be issued depending on the transfer of the guild staff.
「As for the rewards, it’s extremely cheap! And in the case you were designated and refused it, you’ll be downgraded in the guild. You have to take it. Even high-ranking adventurers can’t go against this. Gah, recalling it just makes me angry. It’s already noon, I need another drink.」
「If you become a useless drunkard, I’ll just forsake you, you know?」
「…Ah-Ahahah, I am just joking, bocchan. I am actually called “Hardworking Zerry” in the guild, ya know?」
Not only did I shoulder Zerry-san’s debt, but also provided her pocket money.
This 20-years-old full-fledged adult is currying favor with a 14-years-old. If left alone, this person will become much more helpless.
「By the way, I heard a nickname called “Drunkard Zerry”.」
「Hohoho, I’m gonna tear the guy who said that limb from limb! Let’s go, bocchan! Tell me who said that!」
「I am the one who said that. Are you going to tear me limb from limb?」
「Bocchan… That was just a joke. A cute Zerry joke, ya know? Ehehehe…」
Her transition from cracking her knuckles to rubbing her palms together, like a shady merchant trying to butter you up, was real smooth. This person is beyond the point of saving.
「Keep your jokes to a limit, okayyy? In any case, I can’t write a letter if I don’t know where Silver Balance is, huh?」
「Did you suddenly miss them?」
「Y-Yeah, I guess.」
It was because I spoke to the Halfling-san at the banquet yesterday. I wonder what you are doing right now, Mimino-san… I also think that I can explain the circumstances for why I left so suddenly at that time.
「Bocchan.」
「Hmm?」
「… How long are you planning to work for the Earl?」
「Where did that come from?」
「I just feel discomposed for some reason. I wonder if something happened to you?」
「………」
What a sharp intuition.
I hesitated a little, but decided to tell Zerry-san about everything that happened yesterday.
「Please be careful, bocchan. The scariest thing in this world is not a dragon nor a Mithril-rank adventurer.」Zerry-san said, after listening to my explanation.
「Eh?」
「Guys who hold authority are the scariest.」
I was taken aback.
Indeed. The “Dark Fang Mercenaries” were messed up by Crysta, a mithril-rank adventurer, but Raikira-san waited for an opportunity and took him down. However, it was the ones with authority who were pulling the strings from the shadows.
「The Earl is also one such person, but there are guys who are more powerful than him. Just be careful. They might even set you up to be the culprit, ya know?」
「No way…」
「For example, if suspicions fell on Lady Eva, the Earl wouldn’t hesitate to frame you, right?」
「……」
「It would be even more easy for the Earl, since he has the “Magic Eye of Inquiry”.」
「…Yeah.」
It’s exactly as Zerry-san says. Perhaps I have trusted the Earl too much because I could trust the young lady.
「I will keep that in mind.」
「Yeap. Now… this.」
Zerry-san held out her hand. But there was nothing there.
「Hmm?」
「Ehehehe… Bocchan.」
「………」
Zerry-san was looking at me with a sly look. She was asking me for living expenses. So I handed out a few silver coins. Zerry-san is helpless, but I am also helpless for always giving her money.
「Well, then… I’m off.」
After finishing lunch elsewhere, I walked towards the mansion. I have a lot of things I must ask the Earl. I can’t let down my guard at the moment.
