Chapter 173 - Messengers of Ill Omen
After finishing my morning training, I slowly soak in the bath.
Washing away the sweat, this early luxury is a rare treat.
"Ah~ Bliss, bliss."
Lying back, I stretch my body and even rub my shoulders. Soaking in the warm water, I feel my mind clear and become more lucid.
It’s a pretty troublesome situation, after all. Stress builds up without you even noticing. Moments like these are essential, really.
Alright, since my head is clear, let's try to sort things out.
The events began with the Legisamo Cartel’s attack.
The Snake Head Society was obliterated, and some of the underground organizations, including the McDallian Family, saw their leaders killed at the assembly. Initially, the Five Great Families, excluding the decimated Snake Head Society, banded together. However, the organizations whose leaders were killed grew frustrated with the lack of resolution and started acting recklessly.
The Gandrault Gang concluded that the Anastasia Union was the traitor who led the Legisamo Cartel. The evidence is unclear, though.
Immediately, the Gandrault Gang launched an attack, and the McDallian Family joined in.
We intervened to save the sister of the Anastasia Union’s Leader and repelled the Gandrault Gang before the McDallian Family arrived. No matter how you look at it, we’re going to be seen as allies of the Anastasia Union.
The truth is, we don’t know if the Anastasia Union is behind it all. I can’t imagine the sister doing something like that, but in a large organization, anything is possible. Still, it’s unclear why the Gandrault Gang acted so hastily. They could have gained more support before making a move. There must be a reason they didn’t.
The Anastasia Union and the Gandrault Gang are now enemies, and the McDallian Family is raging and lashing out at everyone.
The Clad Family, which didn’t move yesterday, will likely decide on a course of action today. We can’t afford to relax.
The crucial question is, what are the Legisamo Cartel’s next moves?
What should the Kikyo Society do in this situation?
I don’t like being passive, but I can’t find a clear target to act on. It might be wise to follow the Clad Family’s lead, but they will act according to their own interests. Frankly, I don’t like the idea of tagging along. Still, I need to prioritize my organization’s interests and align with them. However, going with the flow without proper information is also risky. It’s a tough call.
But, we don’t even have the luxury to choose our battles. We need to get stronger.
By the way, the Legisamo Cartel seems to be active in the Royal Capital as well. I’ll leave that to the people there, but it’s still unsettling. A simple fight won’t solve this mess.
Hmm, thinking about it is depressing. I’ll stop. Let’s leave the thinking to the members who are good at it.
Giving up on the thoughts, I submerge myself in the water, holding my breath until I can’t anymore.
The executives are already gathered early this morning.
We need to discuss what to do today. We can’t just carry on as usual.
We have more executives now, but the newly promoted ones are still adjusting. They look tense, watching the veterans discuss. They’ll get used to it in time.
"Well, it seems we haven’t learned much from yesterday to today."
"That’s right. The Gandrault Gang has been silent since the attack, and the McDallian Family is only causing chaos in Anastasia Union’s territory. The Clad Family is still undecided, probably evaluating the situation."
"What about the Anastasia Union?"
"They’ve gone into hiding, including their lower ranks. We can’t track their movements, but they’re likely waiting for a chance to retaliate."
That makes sense. The Anastasia Union is known for their combat prowess. They won’t just run away. Their stance remains unpredictable. As long as the sister is with us, they probably won’t attack us.
"What about the Newspaper Guild?"
"They’re mainly criticizing the McDallian Family’s rampage. They’re mostly observing, but some magazines are spreading rumors. It’s getting out of hand."
"Troublesome. Let them do as they please. If they overstep, let me know. I’ll deal with them."
Indeed, we can’t afford to deal with this nonsense right now. It’s easy to imagine the Gandrault Gang spreading baseless rumors, and some magazines will seize the opportunity to publish sensational stories. I’ll let it slide for now, but there’s a limit. If they go too far, I’ll remind them.
For now, there’s no movement. It’s still morning, so they might act later.
Let’s solidify today’s schedule.
"Everyone, today we’ll focus on defense and observe the situation. Got it? First, the Security Bureau will secure Epic Junebel. I’ll be at headquarters, so focus on that. Zenobia, I’m counting on you."
Normally, I’d delegate the headquarters’ security, but today is special. An attack on that high-end hotel is unacceptable.
"I understand the enemy’s ruthlessness. Leave it to me."
If Zenobia can’t handle it, there’s nothing I can do. But I believe she’ll do her best.
"Combat Support Unit, half of you will patrol the territory. The rest will stand by at headquarters and the branches. Respond immediately if anything happens. I’ll leave the details to the unit leaders. Shelby, you’re in charge of the Combat Support Unit."
"Got it, leave it to me."
The unit leaders and their deputies start their discussions. The territory is vast, so even if something happens, we can’t prevent everything. We need to minimize damage by dispersing patrol routes and determining standby personnel.
"Gradena, go to Fulaveneta. We can’t let anything happen to the apprentices."
Attacking the weak spots is a common tactic. An attack is a real possibility. By sending the Headquarters Direct Response Unit, we can buy time in the worst-case scenario.
"Alright. I’ll talk to the apprentices at Fulaveneta."
"Thank you."
Margaret and Josephine will have a tougher day today.
"By the way, Rosabel and Colette, can one of you go to the branch? It’ll be more reassuring to have a healer there."
"Haha, I’ll go. I’ll make sure to have plenty of sweets on hand."
Their usual banter is reassuring.
That’s about it.
"Alright, carry on as usual. But there will be movement today. Let me know immediately if anything happens. Got it?"
Hearing their enthusiastic responses, I feel satisfied.
As we maintain our defensive stance, the Intelligence Bureau starts reporting new information in the afternoon.
First, about the McDallian Family’s rampage. It seems there was a reason behind their erratic behavior. While it’s understandable they’re enraged by their boss’s death, that wasn’t the only factor. The reason was simple once we figured it out.
When the McDallian Family’s boss was still alive, he had no plans to retire anytime soon. There was no clear successor. In fact, several candidates were vying for the position.
According to our intelligence, there are five main contenders.
The deceased boss’s sons, the eldest and the second. The second-in-command. A rising middle-ranking member. An ambitious young upstart. If the successor had been decided while the boss was alive, it would have been better. But that didn’t happen. The boss died suddenly.
For the McDallian Family, the Legisamo Cartel and the organization that helped them are clear enemies. Defeating them would solidify one’s position within the family.
The one who avenges the boss will become the next leader. This turns it into a competition. The family fragments into factions, each acting recklessly. They not only seek revenge but also try to outdo each other in any glory-seeking activities. Aligning with other organizations would mean falling behind. Mutual non-aggression pacts are irrelevant. With the power of the Five Great Families, they believe they can fix things later. Arrogant, indeed.
It’s almost a civil war for the succession. With little power difference between the factions, the competition is intense. It will likely continue until a clear winner emerges.
Other organizations are also joining the fray, either for revenge or to take advantage of the chaos. The situation in Exembra is becoming increasingly chaotic.
The Gandrault Gang is also active, contacting major organizations. They’re reaching out to criminal organizations, guilds, and even administrative bodies. The specifics will become clearer over time, but it’s a worrying development.
We also received information from the Royal Capital.
The source is House Gerdodus, via Rosmerta. They sent us a report shortly after we left the capital. It’s good to know what’s happening there, even if it’s limited.
It turns out that the noble who introduced the Legisamo Cartel to the Royal Capital was House Gerdodus. A familiar name.
They once kidnapped me and opposed the Kikyo Society, leading to their downfall. Now they are under House Oversta. However, they were a powerful family in the capital’s underworld. Their long-standing influence and connections haven’t disappeared. It’s not surprising they have ties to a drug cartel.
However, while the current head of House Gerdodus and Rosmerta are enemies, there was a sense of camaraderie. The power struggles aside, it’s unlikely they would ally with the Legisamo Cartel to endanger the capital. The report also explained why.
The head of House Gerdodus recently changed. This kind of succession chaos is common.
The reason is simple: the previous head died of illness. Even with advanced magic, there are limits. Resurrection isn’t possible, and aging can’t be stopped. Diseases can’t always be cured. Only a legendary first-tier spell could change that, but modern magic users are limited to second-tier spells. Most issues can be handled, but there are still many that can’t.
In any case, the head of House Gerdodus, once a key figure in the underworld, has changed. It’s likely the transition happened earlier. I don’t remember the son’s name, but he had a strong animosity toward Rosmerta. He’s the one orchestrating the current activities.
But why did the information leak to House Oversta? For House Gerdodus, this is a fatal mistake. The answer is simple: a disparity in power.
Objectively, the current head is inexperienced compared to the previous one. The organization has also weakened significantly.
On the other hand, House Oversta is one of the most powerful families in the kingdom. Their organizational and intelligence capabilities, combined with Rosmerta’s charisma and skills, make them far superior to House Gerdodus.
The new head of House Gerdodus likely underestimates the current power dynamics. It’s like an older person trying to exercise as they did in their youth and getting injured. They haven’t grasped their current capabilities. Given the recent succession, it’s understandable.
The black curtain in the capital has been revealed, but nothing is resolved. However, Rosmerta’s personal letter to me had this message:
'Dear Yukarinowe,
Thank you for the other day. It was fun to catch up.
I’m sure you must be lonely being apart from me. If you miss me, you’re always welcome.
By the way, that fool afterward—
(Skip the trivial details.)
Oh, and don’t worry about things here. I’ll handle it.
From your heart’s companion.'
The letter was filled with trivialities, but the last sentence is crucial.
Rosmerta specifically wrote that we shouldn’t worry about the capital. This means we don’t need to be concerned about the capital. They will support us with resources as promised, but that’s it.
We’ve always believed that the capital’s peace ensures Exembra’s peace, which is why the Kikyo Society has supported Rosmerta. Rosmerta has also relied on us. Now, she’s explicitly saying it’s unnecessary. If she says so, we can trust that the capital is safe. This eases my concerns. It’s good news.
While on high alert, the day is mostly spent waiting for reports. I don’t waste my time.
Despite appearing idle, I push my Physical Enhancement Magic to its limits, striving to go further. I maintain a steady, unerring flow of mana, keeping it hidden from the outside world.
Simultaneously, I use mineral magic and precise mana control to carve a gem into a flower. I aim for both perfection and speed, using a master craftsman’s work as a guide.
I expand my multitasking.
This time, I try to generate healing potions simultaneously. I can manage lower-tier potions, but higher-tier ones are challenging. That’s why I train. What’s difficult now will become easy with practice. Eventually, I’ll be able to produce multiple potions or other magic elixirs at once.
There’s no end to the challenges ahead, but it’s fascinating. I’m determined to push my limits as far as I can.
Before I know it, it’s evening. The gentle light of dusk tells me so.
Feeling mentally drained, I realize I have a visitor. It’s probably a consultation or a gift from one of our people. I’m so tired.
"President, can I interrupt for a moment? Jallens-san from the Commerce Guild is here."
"Uh, sure. What? Jallens?"
The unexpected name jolts my drowsy mind. He always brings trouble when he drops by unannounced.
"Yukarinowe-sama, do you have a moment?"
Looking toward the entrance, I see him standing, not bothering to sit.
Sigh, it’s definitely trouble...
This chapter focuses on explaining the current situation. The text is longer, but the story hasn’t advanced much. I apologize for that.
The story has become more complex, spanning multiple chapters. If you can get a general understanding from this, that’s great.
The next chapter, "The Fire Cast," marks the turning point. Stay tuned.
P.S.
I’ve been trying to make the afterword more engaging, but due to various reasons, I won’t be writing them for a while. (I don’t expect anyone to miss them, though...)
If there’s anything you want to know, I might write it in my activity reports. Feel free to check them out from time to time.
(By the way, I didn’t write anything today, so no need to check.)