Chapter 208 - The Disease that Steals Reason
Albert smashed the door with a hammer, and Valeria charged in. The boss of this mysterious mansion is likely guarded by the most trusted bodyguards. One of them reacted impressively to Valeria's super-speed, showing some skill.
But that was all.
The moment he reached for his sword, Valeria grabbed his arm. With a grip and strength that defied her small frame, she threw him across the room, and Albert kicked him as he rolled. The guard hit the wall, likely with serious injuries to his arm and side.
Valeria, known for her super-speed, overpowered all the guards and attendants in the blink of an eye. The overwhelming skill difference left no room for resistance. It was a one-sided display of violence, driving home the futility of defiance. They needed to understand that any resistance was futile, that they should not waste their effort.
Only the boss, a flashy old man with a nouveau riche taste, remained. He seemed confused, standing there in a daze.
We couldn't afford to waste time with his stupor. A quick glance showed Albert smashing a nearby shelf with his hammer.
The old man snapped out of his trance.
"Wait! Who are you?"
"Shut up. We're the ones asking the questions."
First impressions matter. I needed to establish dominance and control. I didn't want to waste time on small fry.
I slipped on my sunglasses and plopped down on the sofa, leaning back. Albert fiddled with his hammer, wandering around the room, while Valeria stood behind me.
The atmosphere was set. The rigid old man remained frozen as I began.
"I have a few questions. Answer honestly, and we'll be out of your hair faster. We both want to avoid trouble, right?"
He nodded, and I decided to reward his compliance.
"Alright, then. Who are you?"
"Who, who?"
"You don't need to say anything unnecessary. Just answer the questions."
He seemed to want to ask why we were attacking without knowing who he was, but I ignored it.
"My family has served the Viscount Guai, who governs the Irinida Region, for generations—"
He continued with a rambling introduction, but it was clear he came from a noble family tasked with ruling this remote area. Just as Graylease had surmised, they were a powerful clan.
"Why are you attacking the village? Aren't they your subjects?"
"They are not my subjects! They built their village outside my territory, refusing to pay taxes. To protect my land and people, I must subdue these barbarians!"
I tossed a grape-like fruit from the table into my mouth. Hmm, not great. Compared to the fruits Lily supervises, this was rather bland.
"Basically, these barbarians—"
"Yukari-san, I think I have a handle on the situation."
Graylease, who had been investigating the suspicious basement, entered the room. Liliane must still be down there.
"Give me a moment. I'm getting this guy to talk. What about those barbarians?"
I paused Graylease's report and continued the interrogation. The barbarians were likely in the basement, and it would be quicker if she listened in too.
"To make these barbarians loyal subjects of the glorious Empire—"
I nodded to Graylease, who seemed to understand the situation from the middle of the explanation. There was no need to listen to more of this.
"Old man, that's enough. Graylease?"
"Based on what I learned in the underground prison, these 'barbarians' are actually former subjects who fled from harsh rule. They gathered in the frontier to start new villages. The raids and destruction seem to be retribution for their escape, and the captured villagers feared being sold to the Empire."
"They must be caught as criminals!"
The Medek-Legisamo Empire is known to be relatively tolerant in its governance of the mainland. It's not as lawless as Exembra, but it does allow a degree of freedom and encourages commerce. However, this is only true for the mainland. Occupied territories are often ruled with an iron fist. This situation fits that description.
"Interesting. So, I've been listening to pointless platitudes all this time. The key points could have been explained in under three minutes. Albert, we need to teach him a lesson."
"Sure. How about we start with his knees?"
Seeing the hammer, the old man began to panic. This was my final warning.
"I won't ask again. Answer clearly, honestly, and completely. If you value your life, take this to heart. What do you do with the captured barbarians?"
Intimidation isn't fun for us, but it's necessary when they refuse to cooperate. If he talked normally, it would be much easier, but most don't listen without a little pressure. It's a shame, but it's the way it is.
The old man seemed to realize we were serious and began to speak resignedly.
"Gathering people is an order from the mainland and the Legisamo Cartel. I can't refuse."
"Gathering people? For a military state, conscription is expected, but kidnapping is extreme. Forced soldiers won't follow orders loyally. What's the real story?"
Soldiers risk their lives. In a military state like the Empire, battles are frequent, and the army is a professional fighting force. Forcing people who abandoned their country to serve seems unlikely to produce loyal soldiers.
The old man hesitated, clearly fearing the answer. But Albert's presence in the background made silence impossible.
"The Legisamo Cartel can create soldiers who obey any order... They use the men for that purpose."
I see. Drugged and enhanced, these soldiers have no sense of self. They don't fear injury or death, only following orders. They might even use body-strengthening potions like the ones I make, combining various methods to create a powerful army.
"What about the women and children? I've only seen male soldiers from the Legisamo Cartel."
"The women and children are sent to the mainland. I don't know the reason."
Indeed, a minor noble's subordinate probably wouldn't know everything.
However, there was still something that didn't add up.
"Before we got here, I saw a child forced to kill their parent. What was that about?"
"That wasn't my soldiers! It must have been another group of barbarians. I've heard they have some ritual to create strong warriors, but I don't care what those barbarians do!"
"Barbarians, barbarians—enough. It seems there are different types of barbarians. Some escaped harsh rule, while others lived independently of the Empire's control. A tribe that has lived in the frontier for generations could have peculiar customs."
So, the village we encountered might have been a chance encounter between the barbarians and the noble's forces. I hadn't observed the attackers closely enough to notice the differences.
Regardless, neither group was commendable. They raided villages, stole property, kidnapped people, and killed without hesitation. Whether nobles or barbarians, their actions were worse than those of bandits.
The barbarians were simply unpleasant, and the nobles were supplying forces to the Legisamo Cartel and the Empire. Both were obstacles for us.
"Regardless of the barbarians' motives, how many of these local nobles do you work for?"
"Under the Viscount Guai, there are at least ten major forces—"
He seemed to be considering the combined strength of these forces, but he didn't voice his thoughts. The idea of traitorous nobles wasn't important; what mattered was the local nobles' role in human hunting.
"Alright, let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
"What I want is the location of the viscount and your fellow nobles. In exchange, I might spare your life."
"Traitor—"
"Then die now. Yukari, some of the guards might know. We can ask them."
"True. That's why we kept them alive."
In reality, we hadn't killed anyone yet. We had held back, unsure of our enemies' identities. But now that we knew they were mere obstacles, we wouldn't hesitate.
"Fine."
He seemed to sense our seriousness and quickly conceded. Honest answers would earn him his life, and I keep my promises. Once he told the truth, we had no further use for him.
The Legisamo Cartel using human hunting to increase their forces and the Empire's practice of collecting women and children were both issues we needed to address. Eliminating as many of these pawns as possible would be beneficial in the long run.
We still had a distance to travel before meeting the Crimson Knights and the Clad Family. If we encountered any human trafficking sites along the way, we would deal with them.
We also gathered as much information as we could about the Empire and drug cartels, and the local edible magical beasts.
After obtaining the necessary information, we began our plundering. Food was our top priority. The area beyond was less barren, and supplies would be easier to find. But after experiencing hunger, we wanted a decent stockpile.
We also took some of the stored gold and silver coins, as record cards were often useless in the frontier. We didn't take it all, just what we could carry.
Finally, we freed the captives. We wouldn't leave potential soldiers for the enemy. We equipped them with food, money, and weapons, and let them go. We discouraged those who wanted immediate revenge.
It was better not to kill the nobles. New replacements would be sent if they were eliminated, and the injured wouldn't be ready for work anytime soon. This gave us more time.
Recovering from injuries is difficult, even with magic. Skilled healers and healing potions are rare. We inflicted injuries with this in mind.
This was all we could do for the frontier people. We had no intention of getting deeply involved or wasting time. We didn't expect gratitude for our help.
If I had a wish, it would be for awe of the Kikyou crest.
Preparations were complete. We corrected our sense of time after the Forest of the Underworld and confirmed our route before setting out.
"We should be able to meet the rendezvous date if we follow the path we learned."
"True. We can also eliminate human trafficking sites and secure food along the way."
"Doing all this before the rendezvous, what a hard worker."
Indeed. It almost feels like we're on a mission to right wrongs.
"Hmm, that's strange. The way here was just following the Crimson Knights—"
My muttered thought drew everyone's attention, but it was probably just my imagination.
Our group, visiting a new land, diligently gathered information without panic. They even managed to secure food and spoils, and reduce enemy forces. They are truly hardworking.
The next chapter will delve deeper into the current state of the Empire's frontier. Stay tuned for "The Miserable Frontier and the Meeting Place."
The end of our journey is near.