Chapter 392 - The True Motive Behind the Raid
A heavy silence hung between us as I stared down the arrogant old hag, Gozen, for what felt like a dozen seconds.
To the onlookers, the tension likely made it feel much longer. Well, I suppose I can let this slide out of respect for her actually being serious for once.
"...There won't be a next time. And you're going to owe me for this, understood?"
"I don't mind. But I hate having debts hanging over me, so I'll be paying you back immediately after this. You're fine with that, right?"
"As long as it's a repayment worth the debt, I won't complain."
Does she plan to settle this with money? Our lives don't come cheap. Still, since we didn't actually suffer a single scratch, there's a limit to how much I can squeeze out of them.
Well, they're a massive organization. I can probably be a bit greedy and go for a hundred million Jist, or fifty million at the very least. If I can wring that much out of them, it'll be a job well done.
"Now then, I feel like it's a bit late to ask, but... what exactly did you come here for?"
"It really is late. I don't even have the energy to talk about it anymore... we just came to hear about yesterday's raid."
"If that's the case, standing around here talking is a waste. Follow me."
Gozen turned her back and started walking as if to tell us to hurry up. What a selfish old hag, especially after I just told her I'm exhausted.
"Wait, Gozen! Yesterday's raid was clearly the work of these guys..."
What? Gozen stopped in her tracks and glared at the idiot who blurted out that nonsense.
"Are you a fool? This girl wouldn't resort to such a boring sneak attack. Use your head for once before you open your mouth."
"But...!"
"Hold on. We raided you? You got some kind of proof for that?"
So this mess happened because of some ridiculous false accusation? Come to think of it, I had no idea why we were being jumped so suddenly.
"Drop the innocent act. Look at this... something left behind yesterday."
Another guy who looked like an executive stepped forward, pulled a small object from his pocket, and held it out triumphantly.
"Let me see that... This is your proof? How pathetic."
"What was that?"
"I'm saying it's a fake. Even the person who planted this must be shocked that you actually fell for such a classic trick."
Ridiculous. What he showed me was a bootleg Kikyo crest badge.
Admittedly, it was well-made. We don't hide the Kikyo crest badges; we wear them on our chests to show them off, so anyone could easily research the size and shape if they wanted to.
The one in my hand was a near-perfect replica, with the intricate eight-fold bellflower design looking very familiar. Even as the person who makes the originals, I had to admit the craftsmanship wasn't bad.
"A forged crest? If that's true, the cowardice knows no bounds."
"You better not be lying!"
I see. I'm starting to get the picture.
I’d imagined this before, but some enemy faction wants to pit the Anastasia Union and the Kikyo-kai against each other. It would exhaust both organizations, and weakening the Anastasia Union directly leads to weakening Belliza, which benefits the enemy. Our Kikyo-kai is likely just a pawn to be used for that purpose. It's annoying, but we certainly are a useful piece to play.
If we actually started fighting, it would turn into a flashy war. That would draw a lot of eyes, helping distract people from someone else's shady dealings.
There must be people within Belliza, not just outside, who would profit from our two organizations being at each other's throats.
Limited interests are always fought over. If someone can expect to weaken a nuisance, they'll take a shot at them. At this point, there are so many enemies that I have no idea who started this.
Besides, the Anastasia Union is backed into a corner. I didn't just guess that; I felt it during our exchange here.
They're split into two factions, and their leader, the Grandmaster, is all the way in Exembra. If they keep getting hit by multiple enemy forces in this state, they'll get paranoid and lose the luxury of being cautious. They'll fall for even the shabbiest tricks.
They were originally a strong, free organization that was allowed to do as they pleased. They have a rough side that thinks it's fine to just crush anything suspicious with brute force.
They're probably also furious and frustrated that they let the actual raiders escape. If you put bait in front of them in that state, they'll snap at it. That bait was the fake Kikyo badge.
The enemy probably didn't even expect such a sloppy setup to work this well.
They likely just scattered a few suspicious elements to ensure neither side could fully trust the other. If a single badge creates that possibility, it's a cheap investment. Of course they'd try it if they had the chance.
"Hey, are you listening! If this is bullshit, you're not getting off easy!"
"Shut up. We had people at the port and the academy, so we didn't have the luxury of attacking a place like this. Anyway, you'll see the difference if you compare it to a real one."
"I'll be the judge of that. Hand it over."
The veteran standing next to Gozen stepped forward, pushing aside the noisy, boorish guy.
I unpinned my badge and handed it over along with the fake. Mine has a gold base, but everything else is the same.
The battle-hardened veteran stared at the badges with a sharp gaze.
"...I'm sorry, but I can't see the difference. What's the change?"
Sigh. Those sharp-looking eyes are apparently just for show.
"The material is the same amethyst. But if you look closely, the fake has a paler color and is mottled. It also has tiny bits of debris and air bubbles inside. A real one is different from such a shoddy piece. Everyone, show them yours."
I didn't want them to suspect that only mine, the president's badge, was high quality. Amethyst is a common mineral, so a good quality piece the size of a badge isn't even a high-priced gem, but the counterfeiters neglected even that much effort.
Well, they probably didn't imagine we'd use high-quality gems of the same consistency for every single member, from hundreds to a thousand. Normally, using flawless gems for everyone would almost feel more suspicious.
"Hoh, looking at them side by side, the color really is different."
If the quality of all seven badges I handed over was consistent, it should lend us some credibility. The size, color, and cut are all perfectly identical. Even if someone's eyes are useless, placing multiple real ones next to the fake makes the fraud obvious.
Still, it's unbearable to have our lives targeted over a single fake badge. That said, I can't think of a way to prevent forgeries.
I suppose for the future, I'll consider engraving ultra-fine serial numbers that are almost invisible to the naked eye. A unique gem that's impossible to create without mana control on par with mine. It would make proving authenticity easy, and if one gets lost, I'd know immediately who it belonged to. No, wait, that's just a pain.
"Are we done talking? We're leaving soon."
"Thank you for waiting, Gozen."
The executive-types hovering near Gozen seemed convinced. There were still some nameless grunts who looked suspicious, but I couldn't be bothered with them. As long as Gozen, the most important person here, didn't doubt us, that was enough.
Ignoring the doubts of the underlings, I decided to follow Gozen as she started walking.
We arrived at a small, single-story building. From the lived-in feel I sensed everywhere, it was probably Gozen's private annex.
Instead of a reception room, Gradena and I were invited into what looked like an ordinary kitchen-dining area. On the other side were Gozen and the veteran warrior who seemed to be her aide.
The others weren't excluded so much as there were only four chairs and the room was tiny. Gozen's guards and attendants waited outside or on the porch, while my members rested in a separate room. At this point, there was no need to worry about a trap.
"Sorry, there's no staff here. The tea and snacks are over there, help yourselves. Unfortunately, there's no alcohol."
Gradena and I aren't the types to hesitate when told that. We walked around like we owned the place, opening cupboards and the fridge, grabbing drinks and snacks at will.
Ignoring the two stunned hosts, we stood there eating and drinking our fill before sitting down as if nothing had happened.
"Phew, I finally feel like a person again."
"My throat was dry and I was starving, so that hit the spot. Would've been better if there were some fancier snacks, though. Everything's for old people and tastes like nothing."
"I think they're elegant and nice. You have decent taste."
"Is that so? Not my style. Hey, Hag... I mean, Gozen-sama. Next time, have some trendy snacks ready for the young people."
"I think having both would be even better. Also, I'd like you to have Etoile Felt tea prepared."
The veteran warrior-looking guy went silent with a furrowed brow, and Gozen let out a massive sigh.
We don't fear the Anastasia Union, and we aren't going to be formal. This exchange should have been enough to convey that we have absolutely no intention of doing so. It also contained a bit of payback for being surrounded and threatened earlier. Otherwise, I wouldn't pull such a ridiculous stunt in a house I was invited to for the first time.
"...What ridiculous brats."
"We're adorable compared to your young master, aren't we? Now, let's get started. I want to hear about last night. Who talks first?"
We didn't come here for small talk. Let's finish the business.
"Let's hear your side first. Yes, let's start with the young master. I hear you played with him."
It seems Gozen and the Anastasia Union people call the young master Waka.
The young master is the son of the previous Grandmaster, and while one might think Gozen was the previous Grandmaster's wife—meaning his mother—that's not the case. The young master is the child of the previous Grandmaster and a mistress. If Gozen had a biological child, they'd likely be in the position of the next Grandmaster, but I don't really care about those details. It's just another complicated family situation, nothing rare.
"I had no intention of playing with him at all. He just kept pestering us, so I had no choice. It wasn't me who dealt with him anyway; it was Gradena here."
"Yeah, I played with him for a bit. Well, I thought he was a guy with potential. At the moment, though, he wasn't even close to our level."
Gozen looked intrigued, but the aide looked displeased.
"With the young master's current skill, competing with you would be impossible. Even looking at his attitude and his circle's behavior after they returned, I don't think that's an exaggeration. Adir, what's your take?"
"The young master was more agitated than usual last night. Given the difference in strength, it's likely no lie."
Come to think of it.
"By the way, I don't see the young master around. Where is he? I figured he'd be the type to try and get revenge for yesterday without thinking of the consequences."
"Who knows. I heard he came back late yesterday and then headed off somewhere with his entourage. He's probably passed out drunk by now."
That cocky guy got held back and suffered a complete defeat. Even if he's usually stoic, it wouldn't be weird for him to drink heavily at a time like that.
"Just in case, I'll say it again: we have nothing to do with the drug trade. Yesterday, we were just in the port's warehouse district responding to a summons from a certain noble."
"That's how it is. We, you guys, and even those Family guys who brought the drugs... everyone was set up."
"Who would do such a thing, and for what purpose?"
"That's for you, the Anastasia Union, to investigate. Given the timing, the raids on this place and the academy must be part of a coordinated plan."
As a local power with plenty of people and connections, they're far better suited for investigating. If I just give them the name of the noble who might be the lead, they'll handle the rest themselves.
"Hmph, fine. While we're at it, tell me about the academy. I've heard the gist, but I want to hear it from your mouths. What happened?"
"Even if you ask... by the time I got back to the academy, the raiders had already withdrawn. The members I left to guard Sigurdnaut were stuck to her the whole time, so they didn't see the raid itself."
"I didn't go to the academy either."
"Not that. I heard you found a clue. You saw it, didn't you?"
The clue... she must mean the scrap of cloth that likely belonged to the raiders.
"I saw a scrap of cloth with a magic crest on it. The pattern was only a small fragment so I can't be certain, but it's likely a magic crest pattern."
"Looking at the magic crests on your cloaks, I understand you're familiar with them. Did you notice anything else?"
"That pattern... or rather, that magic crest... it's probably something related to the Church. I don't know the specific effect, though."
"...The Church?"
"Also, on a suspicious note, a pendant was stolen from the academy's chapel. The one that was around the neck of the goddess statue."
I showed her the materials I'd borrowed from the academy's archives. I could hope an old woman with her years of experience might know something.
Gozen narrowed her eyes and looked at the photo. I wonder if she recognizes the pattern engraved on the pendant.
"...Follow me."
Gozen looked away from the documents and stood up, leaving the room without waiting for a reply. The aide followed her in silence.
"This looks promising."
"Yeah, looks like she knows something."
A moment later, we decided to follow.
When we stepped out of the small building, Gozen was gesturing for us to hurry up. The guards waiting around the annex seemed taken aback by her sudden movement. Still, we followed Gozen along with the crowd of underlings trailing behind. The rest of my group joined us from their room.
Eventually, we arrived at a building that looked like a large storehouse. The locks looked heavy, but part of the wall had been destroyed. The fresh signs of destruction were only temporarily covered with wooden boards.
"...That's quite a lot of power. You wouldn't get this without using special tools."
"Yukari, the point of the raid was definitely here."
"Yeah. This isn't damage from combat or stray fire. This was the main target, and attacking the members was just a distraction."
The surroundings weren't that messy, but with such a pinpoint mark of massive destruction, I could only assume it was deliberate.
It was a fairly old building, but the walls were thick and reinforced with magical defenses, making it extremely sturdy. This wasn't something that would break easily. It would be impossible without the intent and preparation to destroy it.
"Do you see? The enemy's target was this treasury. Though in reality, it holds nothing but junk."
"A treasury... so they were after money?"
"No, likely not. I realized it from the photo you brought. In this treasury, there was a ring with an engraving similar to that pendant. I was just about to have someone check what went missing, but that's likely the enemy's goal. I'll confirm it now."
Accessories engraved with crests related to the Church. Even assuming their goal was to steal them, the reason was still unknown.
What would they gain?
What reason could they have for wanting them?
Even if the one at the academy had historical value, its monetary value was likely low. The ring was probably the same.
It's definitely not for the money. Then what?
I’m getting a very ominous feeling about this.
Thanks to Gozen-sama's charisma, the angry warriors, including the protagonist, have backed down. It's the kind of dignity and age-earned wisdom that the young Yukari still lacks.
In the next chapter, they will rummage through the treasury (junk warehouse).