Chapter 292 - The Calamity That Rode In
We gathered in a circle inside the warehouse, first sorting out the information and the situation. We needed to clearly define our objectives after thoroughly asking about the town. Our goal in Port Town Rigaheim is straightforward: to secure control over the port. In simpler terms, this means overseeing all cargo handling at the port. If the Kikyo Society can be involved in all goods moving in and out of the port, it will not only lead to significant legitimate business but also allow us to indulge in smuggling activities as we please. Even if we don’t actively engage in smuggling, just by providing advice to those who want to, we can earn a substantial income. It’s a lucrative venture, no doubt about it. The most important thing is to firmly establish control over cargo handling. Everything else is secondary. However, we must achieve the objectives set by Rosmerta, and even with the approval of the authorities, the real world isn’t that simple. In any case, a base in the town is necessary to combat pirates, and the preparations we make now are for the future, looking ahead to the success of our operations. To solidify control over the port, we need to win the support of, or bring under our control, influential locals who have connections in the town. It won’t be easy for the Kikyo Society, a group of outsiders, to assert ourselves here. While we don’t need to worry about the nobility, dealing with the town’s influential figures is unavoidable. We need to negotiate on the ground. Particularly, if we’re to oversee cargo handling, it’s crucial to ally ourselves with maritime businesses. Without our own ships or personnel, and lacking knowledge and connections in the maritime industry, we need to partner with capable entrepreneurs to achieve our goals. Resorting to violence alone will surely lead to failure in the long run. Building mutually beneficial relationships and ensuring smooth operations is essential. Otherwise, we’ll end up dealing with trivial issues that could have been avoided. As newcomers, we need to proceed cautiously. If brute force is the most efficient and effective method, we won’t hesitate to use it, as long as it’s not just mindless violence. We need to abandon the notion of a smooth strategy and take action. "Can we exclude those who are incompatible with our business or who don’t get along, and how many will be left?" "Well, if we exclude those involved in trafficking women or human trafficking, and those heavily involved in drug dealing, there are probably only two or three who are relatively acceptable. The mayor, for instance, only deals in real estate." Hmm, it seems the majority are not exactly upstanding citizens. However, I have no intention of overthrowing all the scoundrels and taking over the town’s economy and security. Managing a town like Exembra would require too many people, and we have no interest in doing so in a backwater like this. I want to leave the management of the town to the locals themselves, focusing only on the port. Starting port-related businesses will be difficult without a stable town environment. I want to resolve the conflicts and create a track record that will gain the Kikyo Society recognition from the influential figures. This is the most efficient way for us to operate. We need to find people we can work with. "We’ll have to compromise a bit to avoid getting stuck in a quagmire. Let's try to form an alliance with the better ones. Can the Intelligence Bureau select suitable candidates? I want to decide on these people and have them lead the town." "Maintaining regional stability is crucial for business. Please select people who won’t burden us too much." "How about one person from each of the maritime and land factions, along with the mayor, forming a trio? Some compromises will be necessary, but I’ll give it a try. Please allow me some time." We need to select the right people to support. We will back these people to control the town, and through this process, they will come to recognize the Kikyo Society’s capabilities. The lucky ones chosen by fate will be decided today! While the Intelligence Bureau was working on the selection, we didn’t take a break and continued with our respective tasks. Mary and the Second Combat Unit were patrolling the slums to assert our presence. The Combat Support Unit was inspecting vehicles and checking supplies. The rest of us, including the high-ranking officers, were reading through the reports gathered by the Intelligence Bureau members. Siegrune, Valeria, and Rosabel-san read through the documents with serious expressions. "Fishing seems to be going on as usual." "Pirates don’t find much profit in attacking fishing boats. They prefer to attack merchant and passenger ships more opportunistically." The pirates wreaking havoc in Retnark’s coastal waters are well-known, so merchant and passenger ships rarely pass through frequently. However, ships that take detours or pass through at night or during storms are still targeted. These highly skilled pirates don’t often miss such opportunities. They also engage in pirate activities in the coastal waters of smaller nations to the south, avoiding actions that might provoke Donditch to the north, showing a cunning aspect despite being pirates. "The land seems peaceful." "There are no areas that serve as breeding grounds for monsters nearby, and large towns are not easy targets for bandits." "It’s not strategically important either. That’s why they didn’t build costly walls." While absorbing information about nearby towns, villages, and major islands, we reviewed the list of influential figures in Rigaheim. There are several influential people in the port town besides the mayor, mostly local dignitaries with various positions. On the maritime side, there are figures like the president of the trade association, the head of a shipping company, a large fishing boat owner, and the owner of a seafood market. On the land side, there are similar industries plus the head of the Vigilantes and the mayor’s rival. These influential figures are in constant competition for dominance. The main guilds like the Adventurer Guild also exist in Rigaheim, and while the guild master is a local, the guild is a mutual aid organization with members from various backgrounds. Therefore, it’s unlikely that the guild would form an alliance with any individual. "...It’s quite a mess." "It’s troublesome." "Negotiating with all the influential figures would take too much time." "We have to narrow it down. We should eliminate those who can’t cooperate and make them step down." "That could be problematic." Rosabel-san’s concern is understandable. Even if we resort to violence, we need to be strategic. If we suddenly attack, the people of Rigaheim might unite against us. We need to ensure that the removal of obstacles is seen as beneficial to someone, making them happy about it. "Let’s proceed carefully at first. If we show respect to the officials, our workload will be minimized." I don’t want to deal with unnecessary complications. We only need our port-related businesses to succeed. Maintaining order and running the town’s economy are irrelevant to the Kikyo Society. Let those who want to dominate the town handle it themselves. We can be the behind-the-scenes operators. Our theme will be ‘beginner’s mind.’ Let’s start our work with a beginner’s approach. We’ll handle the tasks that others are reluctant to do, meticulously and thoroughly. Hehe. By the time everyone returned to the warehouse in the late afternoon, we had received a report from the Intelligence Bureau. They had selected and compiled a list of potential candidates, along with detailed information about them and their potential rivals. "You did an excellent job in such a short time. When will you move, Yukari-dono?" "The sooner, the better, but let’s observe the situation today. After such a grand entrance, someone might reach out to us." "Mary, did you notice anyone watching the slums?" "Given our conspicuous arrival, there were many. Not only were they observing, but many were also entering and leaving the slums, likely informants or information brokers reporting on us." Of course, they wouldn’t just ignore us. "It seems they are investigating us from various angles." "The Kikyo Society is a well-known organization, so it’s unlikely that no one has heard of us." "Then it’s reasonable to expect someone to reach out." We are still in the stage of probing and observing each other. If no one contacts us, there’s nothing we can do. I was willing to consider friendly overtures, but it doesn’t seem to be that simple. "...Perhaps they are afraid." At Siegrune’s remark, everyone fell into thought. It’s not entirely impossible. One of the three major families in the city of Exembra, the Kikyo Society, has risen to prominence. Even without delving into the details, our conflicts that led to the downfall of one of the Five Great Families and the destruction of an Adventurer Guild branch were widely publicized, especially in third-rate gossip magazines. A bounty has even been placed on my head by a dominant western power. The mix of truth and falsehood in these third-rate magazines makes us seem unpredictable. Our dramatic arrival with unusual vehicles, breaking through the Vigilantes, and setting up a base in the slums must be bewildering. They might even think we are invaders. They wouldn’t want to face us unprepared. It’s not a situation where they can approach us casually. Still, there are bound to be aggressive types who will either confront us or try to engage us. We should anticipate some action soon. "If they are afraid and cautious, that’s fine. We’ll wait until we make a move. So, among the three leading figures you’ve narrowed down, who should we start with? What’s your recommendation from the Intelligence Bureau?" "The head of the Vigilantes, perhaps. While they are not a significant force, they are the most influential organization in the town. Securing their support will have a significant impact." "Onee-sama, backing the head of the Vigilantes to ally with us, what does that mean?" According to the information, the head of the Vigilantes is involved in a significant underground business in the nightlife. He’s a shady character, but he’s also a big catch in Rigaheim. He has many rivals in this business, some of whom are quite complicated. Our support will be more effective in this area, as his rivals are largely incompatible with us. "If we eliminate their enemies, they might consider working with us. That’s how we’ll get a foothold." This is the best favor we can offer. It’s like a ‘We want to work with you’ card. However, we only have a broad understanding of their relationships, and the Intelligence Bureau hasn’t had time to gather detailed information. We need to confirm the specifics in person. After that, we can swiftly and meticulously handle the work typical of an underground organization. Our targets will be those deeply involved in the underworld, and we can be ruthless. "If we eliminate the troublemakers, the town might become a bit more pleasant." Recently in Exembra, we’ve been dealing with small-time players. Here, we will face several well-established local figures. While they may not be strong opponents, it will be a bit more challenging. "This is getting interesting, Onee-sama." "Yes, it’s been a while since we had so many adversaries." "It’s even better that we’ll be thanked for eliminating them." "We won’t tolerate thieving merchants." "Everyone, put in your best effort, but for tonight, take a break and rest." A new town by the sea, where we can let off some steam. A promising future of lucrative business. Many positive factors for us. Following Siegrune’s suggestion, let’s drink, eat, and rest tonight. We’ll be busy from tomorrow.