Chapter 384 - Misunderstandings are Part of the Trade
I wondered who had prepared this stage.
It was a given that the noble who'd offered to apologize was involved, but the stage felt quite well-prepared for someone who was supposedly cornered. I didn't think it was the work of a single person. It might be easy to call out our group, which has good momentum, but it wouldn't be the same for the previous trade partners or the Anastasia Union. They weren't the type of people who'd just show up obediently because they were called. I could imagine it would take a lot of effort to connect them all and set the stage, and it wouldn't be easy. When I thought back on today's events... yeah, something came to mind.
Heidi had said that someone had been injured in the Anastasia Union and they might be raiding somewhere. And the nouveau-riche fashion guy had said that we'd half-killed a member of the Anastasia Union. I could consider these two to be related. Was someone falsely accusing us and trying to make us fight the Anastasia Union? If so, the raid on this place was a bit of a mystery. If they were going to do it, it would be normal to target the hotel where Gradena was staying or target her while she was moving.
If you ask how they knew about this place, it must be information from the person pulling the strings, but why go to the trouble of doing it in a place like this? For the mastermind, the place of battle shouldn't matter. There must be a reason. Was it a cleverly devised trap after all?
Well, whatever. We'd been in a state of tension all along over the problem of the scion stalking my little sister. I figured we'd have a clash somewhere at least once. After all, there are plenty of people who'd want to see the Anastasia Union and Kikyou-kai clash. Especially the forces from outside the continent and the Empire. Causing turmoil in Berleeza and making various organizations exhaust each other would be a benefit to hostile forces. It's likely that various preparations and timing combined to make it this time and place today.
I wondered how much the enemy was expecting. Were they expecting significant damage to both us and the Anastasia Union, or did they think just clashing would be enough? Or did they have a plan to finish off everyone gathered here with further preparations?
Even if there were no grand preparations, I had to think of a way to settle things. At this point, the scion is an enemy, but since he's someone the Grandmaster cares about, I absolutely want to avoid killing him. Even considering opening a shop in Berleeza in the near future, we should avoid a decisive conflict with the Anastasia Union. It's also irritating to fight and move to the benefit of the enemy, and if we do clash, I want to settle it at a suitable point.
In other words, I thought it would be best to settle it peacefully. But I'm sure it won't go that way. After all, the opponent is a combat-oriented group. Even if we call out to talk, there's no way they'd obediently lower the fists they've raised. In that case, we have no choice but to talk after beating them down.
We should at least be able to have a conversation with the people of the Grandmaster's faction. Once they've run wild and their impulse has subsided, that is. "The scion guy must be out here, too. Let's see how strong the young master is!"
"Sis, let's do this!"
"How many people each? It's just a suitable handicap!"
Everyone was ready to go. In fact, we had to. And there was also the reason that the situation wasn't good for a talk. They had nearly fifty people, while we only had six. There was too much difference in the apparent power. Even if we offered a talk, it would only look like a plea for mercy to the attackers. Even if we showed our individual powerful mana, a difference in numbers doesn't make people lose heart.
In this scene, there was no other way than to clash, no matter what. In fact, if I thought about being able to clash with that Anastasia Union, it was something to look forward to, aside from the troublesome position and circumstances. Since you can look at things in any way you like, let's be positive at all times.
"The scion is said to be the next Grandmaster, so I'm sure he's a formidable opponent. If he's here, that is."
"Isn't he here? If someone's set this up, their intention must be to make us clash. In that case, it'll be the scion's faction that shows up."
That's true, too. Whoever's pulling the strings would know that we and the Grandmaster's faction wouldn't easily become enemies. That's why they set this up. If they were members of the Grandmaster's faction, they'd try to avoid a conflict with Kikyou-kai. That's the Grandmaster's intention, and my little sister is with us, too. And even if someone was half-killed, it's not permitted for a member of an organization to just go off on their own. The members of the Grandmaster's faction couldn't ignore the Grandmaster. If it's a group attack all of a sudden rather than a personal rampage, we can be sure they're the people of the scion's faction.
"And there's no way the scion himself, who's a fighter, would stay back. If he were that pathetic, the Grandmaster wouldn't care about him."
"I see."
For a fighter's leader, it's natural to stand at the front. We might get along on that point alone. As for the masterminds' intention, I wonder if it was indeed to pull out the scion and make him clash with us? If the scion, who was expected to be the next Grandmaster, were to die, the Anastasia Union wouldn't be in a position to be fighting the Empire or outside forces. Retaliation would become the top priority, and the organization itself might even be in danger in the process. We're one thing, but weakening the Anastasia Union also weakens the defense of Berleeza. For whoever set this up, it would be a hilarious development if they could use us as a stalking horse to weaken their power. They must find it hilarious.
"By the way, I heard there was an imperial spy lurking around the scion's inner circle."
"I don't know whose scheme it is, but it might just be the intention of someone who wants to wipe us out."
That's also possible. We're hated by the Empire, too, and there are plenty of reasons for us to be targeted. "Well, thinking about it doesn't get us past the realm of imagination. For now, we'll beat down the attackers and ask who incited them."
"In the end, that's all we can do. All right, you guys! It looks like we'll have a first-rate fight tonight, so be happy!"
About fifty against six. They're not just any punks; the opponent is the world-renowned Anastasia Union. You don't fight with a name, but when I felt their strong mana, I had no choice but to admit they were a collection of strong fighters worthy of their name. There's no guarantee we'll win. If they're the strong fighters of the Anastasia Union, they're sure to have a trump card that even I'd find a threat. But that's what a battle is. That's why it's interesting.
"Hahaha, I've been waiting for this!"
"If it's the Anastasia Union, they won't die easily, right? We can go all out!"
Unknown magic and magic tools are particularly a threat. There are plenty of elements that could shake our victory. Moreover, we can't call for reinforcements in this scene. Since Heidi and her team were busy investigating the movements of the Anastasia Union and the Berleeza Intelligence Department, they're far away and communication doesn't reach them. If we fight flashily, everyone will notice, but the fact that there was no contact from Heidi and her team who were watching the Anastasia Union tells me that something happened, if I think about it. They must be dealing with something. And I can't easily move the academy team I left as guards for my little sister, and unless I send out a signal to call them, even Valeria and her team will prioritize their own roles. We just have to get through this with the members here. Even if there's no absolute guarantee, we'll do it. It was a good thing I'd made our gear for extreme combat just in case. Everyone was using physical enhancement potions, too, and our preparations were perfect.
While I was thinking, the sound of the enemy's vehicles was getting quite close. They should be arriving soon. "Yukari, can you do it?"
Gradena stood in front of me and said, looking at my eyepatch. She seemed to be worried. "Who are you talking to?"
I can't use advanced magic, and my condition is far from perfect. But there's no problem with the act of fighting. Even if I've received a powerful curse, I'll show them that the Witch of Thorns is still alive. After all, there must be people watching us from a distance. And... you can't always give your best performance. A strong person is a strong person because they win even when they're in bad shape. Someone who can only win against a lower-tier opponent when they're in good shape isn't a strong person. "Heh, if that's how you're acting, I don't need to worry. But for now, let me handle the scion. I'll teach him about the difference in rank."
"Do as you like. But the scion probably isn't the strongest one there."
"Probably. I heard the high-ranking officials are stronger. But he's the head of the faction, right? If a gold-badge member like me doesn't take him on, he'll have an excuse when he loses. It's consideration."
"Then why don't I do it?"
"It's ten years too early for the young master to take on Yukari. It's just right for me, the third-seat."
It seemed she thought it was a waste for someone as high as the chairwoman to take on a scion who was likely getting ahead of himself. "Then if there's someone stronger than the scion, I'll do it. It's just right to see how much I can do in my current state."
"All right, you guys, get ready!"
"No lack of a challenge on their side."
"Let's show them!"
"All right, let's do this!"
A disagreeable situation prepared by someone, and the opponent is a group of fighters. Still, not a single person was scared. A battle with a numerical disadvantage is something we're used to, and Gradena is the type whose fighting spirit rises the more she thinks it's an adversity, and the members who've followed the third-seat are similar. I don't care about a malaise from a curse. In fact, if you can't enjoy this kind of adversity, you won't be able to get by in the future. Oh, it's fine. Let's do this.
The guys who were lured into the fake trade with us seemed to have realized things were bad as soon as one vehicle was crushed. They tried to run away by jumping out of the remaining vehicles. But when the guy at the front was shot through by magic from a distance, they gave up on escaping and gathered near us. Pathetically, the nouveau-riche fashion guys decided to hide behind our Kikyou-kai. They're staying quiet behind our vehicle. Well, as long as they don't get in the way, it's fine. I don't intend to protect them, though.
And then, we waited for a while. Finally, the attackers appeared. They drove up in their vehicles one after another, and the warehouse district became lively. They were a group of beastmen, unmistakably the Anastasia Union. They stopped their vehicles in a formation that seemed to block off the surrounding warehouse district, and they stood in our way as if to say they wouldn't let a single person escape. They seemed to have intended to keep a certain distance, but for strong fighters like us, it's a distance we can close in a single breath. The rising mana we felt from each other was a stinging sensation. Looking at them, I thought they seemed to be a group of young people overall. Their appearance and their aura gave a somewhat light impression. I don't know the details, but the scion's faction might have few veterans. While we were glaring at each other, a high-class car finally arrived, and the guy who was waiting opened the door. The man who got out was the face I'd seen in the photos; his appearance didn't look like a beastman at all, but he was undoubtedly that guy. The scion.
"So we finally meet? But that guy doesn't look as strong as I thought."
I'd heard from Heidi and her team that he was training stoically every day. His muscular body was apparent even over his clothes and gear, and his burning mana was indeed that of a strong fighter. He had an aura similar to the Grandmaster's, and he was quite imposing. His gear for protecting various parts of his body looked light but was likely a high-performance magic tool. His weapon was a halberd, the same as my little sister's... that stalker guy. "He's quite something... well, if that's his full power, it's nothing much."
"Surely it's not?"
I gauged the enemy's power while making light talk. It was indeed a blow that we didn't know at all what specific magic they'd use. We had to stay on our guard and fight while taking into account unknown elements. Positioning was also important if we were to fight in a chaotic mess. The road in the warehouse district was wide enough for large vehicles to pass each other, but it was narrow for a large group to fight. The six of us had to know each other's positions and move so as not to involve each other in our attacks, and follow each other if something happened. It would be better to avoid damage to the warehouse district as much as possible, too. It was an opponent we couldn't take lightly. If it were a one-on-one elimination match, I thought our win rate would jump, but it was inevitably disadvantageous to take on multiple people at once. That's how strong I thought they were. While I was thinking, the scion moved. He struck his halberd on the ground, seemingly to get our attention.
"Hah, to think that you Kikyou-kai would be the trade partner of the Labeño Family in a fishy place like this. I'll teach you newcomers. 'Crack' is forbidden here in Beltoria. The Anastasia Union won't permit it."
Crack? I wondered if he was talking about the drugs the nouveau-riche fashion guys had shown earlier. It was likely an item mainly handled by the Legisarmo Cartel. If it was a drug sourced from an organization based in the Empire, it stood to reason that the side based in Berleeza wouldn't permit it. I found it surprising that he hadn't come here because of the story that we'd half-killed a member of the Anastasia Union. Was the target the nouveau-riche fashion guys, and he'd come to crush the crack trade? I see, it seemed the three groups had gathered here for different reasons. Our Kikyou-kai, who had responded to a call-out from a noble who wanted to apologize. The Labeño Family, who had come to trade crack. And the Anastasia Union, who had come to crush the imperial drug trade. For us, it was a complete misunderstanding and collateral damage. But no matter what we claimed in this scene, it would only sound like a pathetic excuse to the Anastasia Union. In that case, I won't do anything useless. Excuses are uncool. If we're going to correct a misunderstanding, it'll be after we beat them down. Gradena glanced at me and then stepped forward.
"Hey now, young master. You've brought all these people, so I don't think you've come for a talk. Stop your babbling and come at us!"
Here, Gradena released a mana that she was showing for the first time. It was a manifestation of a tremendous physical enhancement magic that didn't care about the difference in numbers. Then, without a moment's delay, the members of the Anastasia Union also increased their mana as if competing with her. We were all set. There was no need for a tedious glaring match. Gradena, who had provoked him before the scion could, kicked the ground and began the battle. Now, then. I wonder how far I can go against them while bound by a curse. They're an excellent opponent to test myself against.