Chapter 283 - A Wicked Trap of Schemes and Shadows
The Kingdom of Brenark was experiencing an unprecedented economic boom, drawing attention from across the continent. Money flowed freely, wildly, almost recklessly.
What began as a surge in prosperity driven by the underworld of Exembra had been accelerated by the revival of the Royal Capital, and it showed no signs of slowing down.
Even now, vast sums were being mobilized in preparation for the invasion of former Retnark, with even greater expenditures expected afterward to develop the newly acquired territories.
Wealth moved, people followed, and foreigners poured in at an ever-increasing pace. With foreign activity gaining momentum so rapidly, the prediction of continued prosperity seemed all but certain.
For the foreseeable future, the kingdom’s economic outlook remained exceptionally bright. And where there is wealth, there will always be those eager to seize a share. Beyond the Royal Capital and Exembra, numerous factions would inevitably clash in the scramble for influence.
Precisely for this reason, domestic stability demanded immediate attention. If the foundation was shaky, nothing else could stand firm.
As wealth poured in and the nation flourished, most citizens would come to enjoy its benefits. But as with all things, prosperity brought its own dangers.
Nowhere was this more evident than among the nobility, the upper echelons of society. Since the royal family and ducal houses could not possibly manage every aspect of governance themselves, many nobles shared in the administration—and inevitably, some of them were corrupt.
To those who created systems or granted permissions, bribes flowed in staggering amounts.
Most nobles ran their own businesses, and many quietly engineered policies to favor themselves. Worse, they often banded together, growing bolder and dirtier in their schemes.
If their actions at least created a positive cycle benefiting even commoners, it might be tolerable. But these people acted only for their own gain, and that made them truly dangerous.
In short, they rotted from within. The richer the nation became, the deeper the rot spread.
It might be one thing if criminals like us exploited the system or threatened others for profit. But when the nation’s elite led the corruption, the situation became untenable. Though, admittedly, it suited us just fine when those in charge were the very ones breaking the law—still, that’s beside the point.
What Rosmerta-sama’s faction aimed to do was expose these rotten elements.
The Viscount Lamreneis was merely bait, one piece in a larger scheme. By pretending to ignore him or remain unaware, they allowed his underhanded but effective operations to continue under careful surveillance. In time, the web of connections and money trails became clear.
Viscount Lamreneis and men like him believed they had wide influence among the upper nobility, unaware of how precarious their position truly was. Even if they realized it, their judgment was clouded by overconfidence.
Yet Rosmerta was no idealist. She was a woman who could swallow both clean and corrupt alike, judging not by morality but by national interest. Even the tainted nobles would be assessed by weighing their crimes against their contributions, and punished accordingly—if at all. But first, she needed accurate information. Intelligence gathering was the key to everything.
Fortunately, the Oversta Dukedom had near-total control over both the surface and underworld of the Royal Capital. And in Exembra, the Three Great Families were so dominant that no other illegal organizations could operate freely within the kingdom.
Leaving Exembra in the hands of the Three Great Families maintained stability, while in the Royal Capital, any secret wrongdoing was almost certain to be exposed under the Oversta Dukedom’s iron grip. The two cities shared a close, mutually beneficial relationship, and their surveillance network against malicious elements could confidently be called flawless.
Flawless—but even the strongest deterrent could not fully suppress human desire. Such was the depth of human greed.
Now then. The state of the noble class and Rosmerta’s intentions were clear. The question was, what would we do?
Rosmerta wished to continue using Viscount Lamreneis for the time being. As for me, I had no objection—so long as the stalker stopped pursuing Charlotte and left her workshop in peace. The real issue was whether that was even possible.
"Can you make him back off by reaching out directly?"
"No, that won’t work. Applying open pressure now would only make it seem like I oppose the war effort."
Putting pressure on Lamreneis, who played a key role in military procurement, could easily be interpreted as opposition to the war.
The pacification of the collapsed former Retnark state was essential. This war was the path to peace and aligned with the kingdom’s interests. To oppose it was, in the current climate, tantamount to treason.
There were always petty nobles eager to sabotage efforts for personal gain in power struggles. Rosmerta had no desire to waste time on such fools.
"We don’t have unlimited time before the summer campaign begins. But you expect Charlotte to just endure this? If things stay as they are, I won’t stay silent either."
"I know. This is troublesome."
She said it, yet her expression showed no sign of distress.
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Fufu, don’t be angry. To be clear, I’d rather not see the Viscount destroyed. But a warning—or perhaps a small, painful lesson—would cause no one any real trouble."
"Specifically?"
"Well, approach them openly in the name of the Kikyo Society, with no connection to me. Make it clear it’s about Charlotte-san. That way, it’s harder to suspect ulterior motives. If I, known for swift action, appear to ignore the matter, the stubborn man won’t back down easily. As retaliation for refusing your demands, why not attack one of their workshop’s transport wagons?"
"What? Stealing goods meant for the military? That’d be dangerous, even for you."
The connection between our Kikyo Society and Rosmerta was an open secret among the nobility. If we threatened the Viscount and then a robbery occurred, only a fool would ignore the connection.
We’d be the prime suspects, and Rosmerta’s involvement would inevitably come under scrutiny. Even if we claimed it was solely about Charlotte and had nothing to do with her, it would still be used as ammunition against Rosmerta.
"If possible, I’d prefer no evidence be left behind. As long as you’re careful about that, there won’t be any problems. After all, the military leadership and I are in league. Any accusation of opposing the war, any suspicion toward me—it would have no effect. The bribes the Viscount so desperately offers would be useless in such a crisis. And if he’s accused of failing to properly deliver goods, the consequences would be severe. He wouldn’t dare complain to anyone outside his immediate circle."
"So the underlings who accept bribes can be silenced with a single order from a high-ranking noble? Then I’m not worried."
"Exactly. Oh, and one more thing—return the stolen goods afterward."
"How greedy. We don’t need military equipment anyway."
Both the Viscount Lamreneis and our Kikyo Society, while undeniably corrupt, also served the kingdom.
Lamreneis delivered vast quantities of military supplies through his powerful workshops and offered not just money, but a wide array of favors to please the powerful.
The Kikyo Society provided rare healing potions, access to magical minerals, and—on request from Rosmerta—occasional use of force, depending on the terms.
Neither side was easily replaceable.
In the event of a conflict between us, it made perfect sense for the kingdom’s upper nobility to remain neutral. And since they knew Rosmerta’s allies down to the last detail, they wouldn’t fear unnecessary complications. The Viscount might resent it, given his noble status, but logically, he should understand.
Besides, this conflict had started with Lamreneis.
He had provoked a close associate of Rosmerta, the most powerful figure in the land, and needlessly pressured a top-tier workshop. Both were serious missteps.
Bribery was acceptable to a point—but he had gone too far, drawing the attention of people like Rosmerta.
A modest bribe, a modest gain. Humility like that was essential for minor nobles.
Hmph. Still, attacking a wagon and stealing its cargo? Now that was an interesting idea.
Without evidence linking us to the theft, we couldn’t be blamed. And if we returned the goods quietly, the military would get them for free—quite the bargain.
We might even go further, exploiting the situation—blaming delays, demanding compensation for losses to unknown bandits, perhaps even extorting a hefty indemnity.
For Rosmerta and the upper echelons, this would serve as a way to apply pressure and observe Lamreneis’s reaction. If, against all odds, he showed remorse and changed his ways, their future dealings with him might soften.
Ugh. What a despicable scheme.
"...Still, won’t there be some formal complaint? Can we really ignore Lamreneis’s protests completely?"
"That’s why restraint is key. The damage must be significant enough to be noticed, but not so great that it forces a major response. If Lamreneis suspects the Kikyo Society, we’ll remind him who started this. And at the same time, we’ll apply pressure from above."
A noble who climbed by currying favor would naturally obey those above him. Even a man used to giving bribes would bow to pressure coming from higher up.
Once chaos erupted, he wouldn’t have time to focus on stalking. And by then, Charlotte might have finished her training and returned safely to Exembra.
If all we had to pay was the effort of stealing the goods, it wasn’t a bad deal. Besides, I owed Rosmerta a favor from the auction.
"Fine. If threats alone don’t make him back down, we’ll take the goods and teach him a lesson. Since you’re the one proposing this, you’ll provide the information, right?"
"Yes. There’s a delivery scheduled for tomorrow at noon. They’ll stick to the schedule—no delays."
"You want us to rob them in broad daylight? Well, fine. Where?"
"Nearby. Take the entire wagon and bring it here to the fortress—but make sure they don’t realize where it’s gone."
"That’s easy enough, but time is tight. I need to inform my people immediately."
"If tomorrow doesn’t work, the next delivery is in seven days."
Coming back later would be a hassle. Better to finish it now.
"Give me the exact location, time, number of wagons, and approximate number of guards. I’ll start preparing the threat and the robbery right away. You just make sure to receive the goods tomorrow."
"Of course."
The task itself was simple, and the fact that every consequence had been calculated made it all the more satisfying. With the information in hand, I set off at once.
At night, the bustling entertainment district teemed with people, alive with noise and movement. I slipped through the crowd, blending into the chaos as I entered a certain underground bar. I wasn’t there to drink, nor was it my final destination.
Passing through the bar, I opened a back door and stepped outside. I entered a narrow underground passage, passed through several doors, and finally reached a staircase leading to the surface. I climbed up, walked along a dimly lit alley, then descended again into another bar.
I didn’t know how effective these measures were, but they were meant to throw off any tails or surveillance. Anyone trying to follow would find it extremely difficult.
This place, reached only after such a roundabout route, was a gathering spot for members of our Intelligence Bureau. In emergencies, it also served as a direct contact point.
"Chairwoman!? What a surprise to see you here!"
"Emergency. Where’s Paula?"
"Sister Paula is watching the Lamreneis estate. If there’s no movement, she should be back soon."
"Then we’ll just miss each other. We’re moving against Lamreneis now."
"Are we launching a raid?"
"No. Do you have paper and pen? I’ll send a threat under our name."
A formal declaration that the Kikyo Society was confronting the Lamreneis family over our own grievances. By leaving such evidence, we made it clear this was a direct, personal conflict—over Charlotte.
After all, Lamreneis had started it. Nobles unaware of the deeper politics would stay out of it.
To them, the Kikyo Society’s name inevitably carried the shadow of Rosmerta. I made sure the members understood this.
"Shall we use official stationery? The kind with the Kikyo crest watermark?"
"If it looks fake, it’s pointless. Use it if you have it."
We kept proper paper for formal documents—high-quality, lavender-colored sheets with the Kikyo crest subtly embedded. I even used it for personal correspondence with Rosmerta. It looked quite impressive.
With input from the team, I drafted a brief threat on the elegant paper.
To the disgusting stalker, Viscount Lamreneis
Withdraw from Charlotte immediately
As proof, raise a white flag from your window at once
If not raised by dawn, you will be considered an enemy
Kikyo Society
No need for extra words. Any sane person would hesitate to oppose the Kikyo Society—the feared faction of Exembra’s Three Great Families, tied to the Duchess Oversta. Normally, that would be enough.
But I didn’t expect the stubborn stalker to listen. His inflated sense of security came from his connections to the military and the bribes he believed protected him.
He probably assumed even the ducal family wouldn’t ignore the military’s interests—and that we’d never dare take such bold action in the Royal Capital.
I hoped he’d comply. But if not, the robbery would happen immediately. The damage wouldn’t be financial—it would be to his reputation.
Now, would he continue his obsessive pursuit and choose confrontation with us?
At least if he had a competent advisor, there might be hope. But as a lone ruler of his household, such wisdom was too much to expect.
When Rosmerta-sama is involved, explanations always end up complicated.
I sometimes wish I could just write a simple story of reckless violence. But as organizations grow stronger, such straightforward chaos becomes harder to pull off.
Still, those explosive moments are essential to this story—and I want to write them. So I’ll keep weaving them in, here and there!