Chapter 445 - Entanglements of the Past
The area around Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy has, over time, become something of a playground for us from the Intelligence Bureau.
Back when a certain tragic incident occurred, the area around the academy, including the bustling district, became a no-man's land, unclaimed by any organization. This means that as newcomers, we can move about freely as long as we don’t start claiming territory.
If we were part of a regular organization, we’d probably get complaints from the higher-ups and be kicked out, even if we didn’t claim territory.
The main reason we're being tolerated is that the Kikyo Society is a female-dominated organization, and we’ve contributed positively to Berliza.
We don’t openly claim this area as our territory or engage in any profitable activities, but in practice, this part of town has become our turf.
Because no organization claims this territory, the bustling district is far from a safe place. Gang-like groups dominate the backstreets, selling drugs and causing chaos. The situation is dire, even if it’s not as visible.
But since we’re powerful, we can move around freely without worrying about the local thugs and wannabe criminals.
If anyone gets in our way, we can eliminate them without hesitation. Compared to the criminals in Exembra, they’re just kids playing at being bad. We have the advantage.
"Most of it is as expected, but it’s more troublesome than I thought it would be."
"If you think about it, she’s the daughter of a marquis. The complications of her past with the gang are mixed with the social obligations of being a young lady, making things a bit more complicated."
It was night, and after the club activities ended, Layla called us to the bustling district. It seems that the curly-haired Lady Edith is at a dance hall I’m familiar with. Tracing her movements, it’s clear she wasn’t kidnapped but skipped school on her own. She was probably responding to a call, trying to confront some past entanglements.
I think the reason she’s making such reckless moves alone is because she’s become significantly stronger in magic through club activities.
Edith has always been confident in her magic and had good combat skills. She probably thought she could handle a small group and turn the tables. But things didn't go as smoothly as she expected.
According to Heidi, who surveilled the dance hall, Edith is currently in no immediate danger. She’s been roughed up but isn’t in any sexual danger, and it’s fine to leave her for a while. She’s just confined in a small room. Still, it’s pretty stupid of her to walk right into the enemy’s trap.
"The enemies are a few former members of the Jienko Nigi gang and the crushed Branch Family of House Ribbonstrat. The Branch Family seems to be the primary instigator."
Reflecting on the past, this bustling district used to be a place where various gangs flourished, committing all sorts of crimes. The Jienko Nigi gang, which Edith was once close to, was one of those I dismantled.
Being the daughter of a marquis and having connections with a gang makes Edith’s situation quite interesting.
Most of the Jienko Nigi gang's main members and many of its members were arrested by the Bluecoats. It’s unclear what happened to them afterward. Some might be out of prison soon, or the Bluecoats might have already dealt with those who knew too much.
But some must have escaped. They’re likely the ones who called Edith out. However, the main culprit behind this trouble seems to be the Branch Family.
Edith’s full name is Edith Ribbonstrat, a marquis’s daughter. This situation seems to be primarily due to family entanglements.
"The crushed Branch Family? You mean the Ribbonstrat family crushed their own branch?"
"We don’t have all the details, but it seems so. The Ribbonstrats are known for their corruption while leaving no trace of evidence. The Branch Family was eliminated about a year ago due to a killing related to a slush fund. It’s likely that members of the Branch Family are using Edith as bait for revenge."
"If it’s revenge, it doesn’t seem like something the Branch Family would do alone."
"It’s just speculation, but they might have been framed and executed by the Ribbonstrats. Given the family’s reputation, it’s not implausible."
For the remnants of a crushed Branch Family to challenge a powerful current marquis family is incredibly reckless. They must be desperate. Such people aren’t likely to be deterred by threats and could do anything.
"Since Edith is an unmarried daughter, the family should be moving to help her, right?"
"We’re keeping an eye on the Ribbonstrats, but they haven’t made any moves yet. At the very least, we’d expect some demands from the instigators."
"Or maybe they’ve already made demands, and the Ribbonstrats are ignoring them. The family let Edith run wild during her gang days; they might not care about her being held hostage."
Unlike a pampered and cherished only child, Edith is just one of many siblings. She was a troublemaker and probably not a priority for the family.
Today, Edith skipped school and went to the dance hall. They wouldn’t just keep a hostage locked up for hours without doing anything. I doubt the enemies did nothing during this time. There must have been some demands before Layla sent her lookout.
With no movement by nightfall, it seems the Ribbonstrats have abandoned Edith.
A powerful marquis family should be able to handle the situation with their own forces or by paying someone to solve it.
These remnants of a crushed family, capable only of kidnapping a child, don’t seem like a real threat.
Reporting to the Bluecoats would be a reasonable move, but their decision to abandon Edith is puzzling. I asked Layla about this.
"It’s just a possibility, but as a marquis, the president must be aware of the situation. They might be leaving everything to the president."
"You mean they expect me to handle it on my own?"
Honestly, that seems unlikely.
"It sounds absurd, but think about it. Could they have failed to detect the Branch Family’s movements in advance? The Ribbonstrats, known for their deviousness, wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. Additionally, their current inaction suggests they might be watching how the president and our Kikyo Society respond."
"Using Edith as bait to observe us...?"
There are always multiple pairs of eyes watching. The Ribbonstrats might have their own surveillance methods, possibly even unconventional long-distance monitoring or abilities I haven’t detected.
"We can assess how the president will act to save Edith, the process they would follow, and how they handle the enemy. This reveals the nature of their organization and how they operate. The Ribbonstrats might be using this opportunity to gauge the president and the Kikyo Society, though it’s just speculation."
Considering the current situation, Layla’s hypothesis isn’t far-fetched. Dealing with nobles is never simple; they often engage in complicated schemes.
As a teacher at Saint Emeralda and an advisor to the Magic Doll Club, I can’t abandon my students, especially Edith.
The only exception would be if it contradicts the Kikyo Society’s interests, but that doesn’t seem likely. The enemy would have to be overwhelmingly powerful for that to be a concern.
A bunch of remnants from a crushed Branch Family and former gang members? No way I’d let them intimidate me.
Before we consider the Ribbonstrats’ motives, I need to act for my own pride and position.
"No matter what, I can’t leave her behind. Regardless of anyone’s schemes, we crush the enemy. That’s it."
These scum, who use children as hostages, have made me their enemy, even if they didn’t intend to. I’ll make them regret it, and if the Ribbonstrats want to see how I handle things, they can watch all they want.
It’s simple: I’m going to crush these fools who’ve pissed me off. That’s all there is to it.
The Ribbonstrats’ past misdeeds and motives are irrelevant. Whether or not the Branch Family knows who I am doesn’t matter. I don’t care about their plans.
Their schemes mean nothing to me. I’ll just punch them in the face like always. That’s it.
Yeah, enough of the complicated thinking. Let’s focus on the task at hand.
"Layla, we need to rescue Edith, but the crucial part is whether we can completely destroy the enemy. What’s the situation?"
Rescuing the hostage is a given, but we can’t afford to have them cause more trouble in the future. If we’re going to do this, we’ll do it thoroughly.
"Given our current resources and the short time frame, it’s difficult to investigate the enemy’s broader connections. We’re seeking information from the Phantom Thief Guild, the Commerce Guild, and Anastasia Union. By tomorrow, we should have decisive information."
Collaborating with other organizations has its pros and cons. As a newcomer, the Kikyo Society should leverage the support of other organizations rather than act alone.
If it comes down to money, it’s a small price to pay. This level of involvement shouldn’t be costly.
Besides, these are criminals who’ve emerged from hiding. Local organizations with strong information networks can easily meet our expectations.
There’s also the possibility that the Magic Doll Federation is involved. Criminals tend to have criminal connections, whether by chance or design. While it’s less likely, having that information as a negotiating card would be useful. Thoroughly eliminating the enemy is also about uncovering these connections.
"We might also find out if there’s financial backing. In that case, we can use it to recover costs."
"The Branch Family is using considerable force, so it’s unlikely they’re funding it themselves. There must be involved individuals or organizations, and we expect to gather that information as well."
While it’s still speculative, the prospects look good.
"So, for tonight, we’ll take out anyone who gets in our way."
With an audience, we won’t hold back.
In the criminal den of Exembra, the Kikyo Society, one of the Three Great Families, will show what it means to make us an enemy. We’ll make it clear that no one wants to oppose us.
No one should underestimate the Kikyo Society. We’ll make an example of the Branch Family remnants and show everyone.
Without any room for misunderstanding, we’ll ensure that everyone understands.