Chapter 254 - There Are Always People Plotting Something!
Hey, you, aren't you from the Kikyo Society? I found you at just the right spot. I've been trying to get an interview with you, but you kept turning me away. This must be the guidance of the goddess of fortune. I'm not letting you go this time.
He plopped down next to me, spouting off. From the way he was acting, he was probably a freelance journalist or someone from a third-rate gossip magazine. It seemed like a spontaneous interview after a chance encounter.
The Princess's Shelter Inn, usually quiet, had some regulars, an older man and woman, who stood up first.
I stayed seated at the counter, only turning my head to shoot them a look. They seemed to understand and quietly sat back down. We need to handle any trouble in our territory ourselves. Besides, this is our own place, a direct branch. I'd rather they not get involved.
I also signaled to the bodyguards to wait and observe for a bit.
The Kikyo Society is now one of the Three Great Families, alongside the Clad Family and the Anastasia Union. This is partly due to the intentional leak of information to the Newspaper Guild, making it a widely known fact. The mutual non-aggression agreement was particularly well-received.
"Hey, girl, bring me the same drink as him!"
Ordinarily, I wouldn't be treated so casually by a punk journalist. People in Exembra who have lived here for a while know that the Kikyo Society is an untouchable organization. They know what happens to those who oppose us. The stories of what happened to our enemies have spread far and wide.
Yet, this guy's attitude was like a throwback to the old days. He didn't seem to know I'm the president. Clearly, he's new to town.
"So, are you listening?"
It's good when the place gets lively with more people, but it's also a hassle when there are more people who don't know better. Maybe I just have to accept that.
Still, it's strange. Normally, a journalist would know what kind of organization they're interviewing. Yet, his attitude was so casual.
Does he really not understand the situation, or does he not believe it? Depending on the case, I might need to make an example out of him to set a precedent for new arrivals. I might need to do this regularly.
Regardless, I'm curious about his reasons and what he wants to know.
I have no intention of answering, but I decided to wait for him to start talking on his own.
I gave him a brief glance and took a sip of my drink, a silent prompt for him to start. I wonder if he understood.
"Damn, you're a moody one. Oh well, so, is it true that your Kikyo Society rigs fights at the tournament?"
I nearly choked on my drink. He just threw out a bizarre accusation.
Everyone in the bar seemed to shift from surprise to anger, ready to explode.
A disrespectful outsider making such a claim in our own territory, a direct branch of the Kikyo Society. Our regulars, who remember the old, chaotic Sixth Avenue, have a deep trust in the Kikyo Society, which has brought and maintained peace.
Not to mention, the tournament is a grand event we organize, something everyone looks forward to. For someone to come and criticize it is bound to make people want to speak up. They're holding back only because I'm staying calm.
Still, I don't understand his motives.
It's a long-term loss to rig fights, and it's pointless. There's no reason for us to do it, especially when we can make a substantial profit legitimately.
Even if we were rigging fights, we wouldn't admit it, especially not when asked directly.
Is he trying to provoke me? When people get emotional, they're more likely to slip up. It's a classic journalist tactic.
"What kind of scumbag info are you basing this on? This tournament is bringing in famous fighters from all over the continent. With five thousand participants, do you really think we can rig every fight? If anyone believes such nonsense, they're just a fool. Think about it logically."
"Ha, you're not going to admit it easily. Well, someone like you probably doesn't know the truth anyway. But how about this, I have a good tip for you. If you pass it up to your boss, you might even get in his good graces."
My patience was wearing thin.
I couldn't help but point out the flaws in his logic, but his response was even more absurd. I felt like I was about to snap.
Unaware of my anger, he guzzled down a cheap drink and slammed it on the table.
"Hey, girl, another round! And listen up, this is a big scoop. Got it? Apparently, several important figures are invited to the tournament..."
He started talking louder, leaning in close to whisper in my ear. It was uncomfortable.
"... and in the middle of all the attention, there's a rumor that something big is going to happen... BOOM!"
I was genuinely shocked. This wasn't a joke. Even if it's just a rumor, it could cause significant trouble. The impact on the event would be enormous, and it could even be seen as a potential terrorist attack.
Even if this is just a crazy person's story, if similar rumors are circulating, we need to quash them quickly.
"Surprised, huh? Come on, let me have an exclusive interview. And how about spending the night with me? You're not half-bad..."
I wasn't going to put up with any more of his nonsense.
I nodded to one of the bodyguards, who immediately stood up, grabbed an empty bottle, and smashed it over the journalist's head.
The glass shattered, and the man fell off his chair, only to be kicked repeatedly.
I looked at the bloodied, groaning man and gave my orders.
"Take him to the Headquarters. Investigate his background and find the source of these ridiculous rumors."
The bodyguard might not have heard the whispered part, but the context was enough for me to give orders. Our people understand the necessity of an interrogation.
Sigh. This was a setback for the smooth organization of the tournament. If someone is picking a fight, I'll gladly accept it. It'll be a good match.
If it's just the ramblings of a madman, there's no harm done. But if it's part of a larger scheme by some powerful entity or organization, then it's a different story. It would be a clear provocation.
I might have a busy day ahead.
The regulars in the bar were cheering as the bodyguards carried the unconscious man out. They're good customers.
Though most of the new faces looked shocked, I couldn't ignore the cheers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to have spoiled your meal and drinks. As an apology, everything is on the house today until closing time. Feel free to order anything you like."
"On the house!"
"YEAH!"
This includes a little extra to keep them from spreading the rumors. Most people in this town would understand that it's a payoff, not just a gesture of kindness.
Still, you can't control what people say, so we might need to spread counter-rumors to balance things out. I'll leave that to the Intelligence Bureau.
I told the barkeep to put everything on my tab and hurried back to the Headquarters.
Arriving at the Headquarters on Lightning Street, I headed straight to the Intelligence Bureau.
The Secretariat was already empty, as it was late.
"Josephine, how's it going?"
The Intelligence Bureau has been more relaxed lately with increased staffing and a more stable situation. Still, the Chief of the Bureau is often the last to leave. She's a hard worker.
"We're still interrogating him. We haven't heard about any match-fixing or bomb rumors, but we're looking into it."
"Good. I hope it's just a wild goose chase. We can't afford to have anything go wrong at this critical time."
"It might just be a single troublemaker, or the start of an information war. We'll investigate thoroughly, including the background. You should get some rest, Yukari. I'll report back with any findings."
"Thanks. I'll take your advice."
There's no point in waiting around. I'll get some rest.
I fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed, waking up early as usual. It's one of my few good habits.
I went to the basement for my usual training session.
【Exterior!】
I activated the Combat Body Transformation Magic, entering a state of extreme physical enhancement. I suppressed the overwhelming flow of mana, trying to control the explosive mana surge as much as possible.
Perfect control over the mana flow is difficult to imagine, but I strive to get as close as I can, ensuring no wasted energy.
There's still room for improvement, even in this enhanced state. It's a challenge, but that's what makes it worthwhile.
While imagining virtual enemies, I moved my body, deploying Active Armor and makeshift Explosive Reactive Armor, and tried to cast a small-scale flame spell. However, the strain was too much, and the spell dispersed.
"Phew... still a long way to go."
Expanding my multitasking capabilities in a magical combat scenario is another challenge.
Ideally, I should be able to deploy multiple shields, attack, and support allies, all while healing. It's manageable with low-level spells, but high-level spells are much harder to use simultaneously.
The mana consumption is significant, and I can't use them continuously. I repeated the process a few times and called it a day.
By the time the early risers started their training, I had already finished and made my way to the baths.
I washed my body thoroughly and relaxed in the bathtub. Ah, this is nice.
As I was about to drift off, I heard the door open.
"Good morning. Just finished your training, I see?"
"Yeah, just finished. You stayed up all night?"
"It ended up being pretty late."
Josephine, looking exhausted, washed her body and yawned as she sank into the tub.
"You look sleepy. I know it's not good for your skin, but sometimes work can't be avoided."
"You're right. I guess I work better at night. By the way, can I share the interrogation report here?"
I was hesitant to ask her to do more work, but she's the type who takes care of what needs to be done without being told.
"Sure. If it saves time, it's probably not too serious."
"Unfortunately, we didn't get much from the guy last night. He wasn't strong enough to keep secrets, but verifying the information will take time."
"Thanks for the effort. What else?"
Josephine, looking uncomfortable, shifted to sit on the edge of the tub.
"The guy is from Boigle, a town in the former Retnark. It seems he was a freelance journalist there, gathering information from a local bar. He overheard rumors about match-fixing and bombings."
As she spoke, I felt a bit drowsy and decided to sit on the edge of the tub like her.
"I see. So he came to Exembra, thinking the story would be worth something. He's got a lot of energy, but for what?"
"Exactly. He didn't tell anyone else, so we'll have to investigate if there are any similar rumors. For now, we've sent someone to Boigle."
"We'll wait for the results, then."
The journalist's information was based on overhearing a conversation in a bar. Whether it's a real story or just a rumor remains to be seen.
If the information from Boigle is true, we'll deal with it before it becomes a problem. If it's just a rumor, the journalist will be a useful source of information. He'll be lucky to walk away alive after the public humiliation.
Still, if multiple troublemakers from other territories had infiltrated our territory, we would have caught wind of it. It's good we caught wind of this early, but that's all it is.
Josephine and I finished our bath and started our day.
I'll have to keep an ear out for rumors during my rounds today. I'll also ask the Secretariat and the Combat Support Unit to keep an eye out when they meet with guild members and merchants.
If something is about to happen, it won't be just one thing. We aim to set multiple plans in motion, ensuring at least one succeeds. If nothing happens, that's fine too. I'd prefer not to have any trouble until after the tournament.