Chapter 140 - Episode 2: Violence, Money, Alcohol, and Drugs!
Greetings! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have now arrived at the Settlement, having brought Keeb and Lital in the carriage!
"We've brought back the money that the nobles snatched from the citizens! Please, use this!"
When Lital boldly handed the bags to the people of the Settlement while saying something like 'we stole it!', they were naturally bewildered...
"Um, it's sudden, but please use it. We've joined the Revolutionary Army."
There, Keeb poked his head out from the side and stepped between Lital and the settlers. Yes. Keeb had worked in the Settlement, so his face is known.
"If things stay like this, the nobles will just keep hoarding wealth, and money will never trickle down to us commoners. Our earnings are just being sucked away. ...Even this Settlement is the same. I heard they might impose a huge amount of taxes on it."
While saying appropriate, clever things, Keeb quickly handed the bags of money into the settlers' hands.
"So please use this. Money should be given to where it belongs."
"B-but..."
"If the royal family's soldiers come after this, we'll come to protect you."
At Keeb's words, the settlers, who were just bewildered at first, began to be encouraged.
And finally, the settlers held the bags of money firmly and began to express their gratitude to Keeb and the other 'chivalrous thieves.' Yes.
...Keeb is more silver-tongued than Lital, isn't he...
Afterward, Lital began helping with wood-chopping and well-digging on the spot, and he too successfully managed to raise his stock with the settlers. Well, that's fine. It's easier to move when you're liked rather than hated.
In the end, the settlers didn't think ill of the two who not only provided funds but also finished various tasks with the power of magic. It seems to have gone well.
"Good work. You did well."
I praised the two who returned to the carriage and immediately drove the carriage toward the next village. By the way, I plan to spend the whole day visiting villages and towns by carriage, and when night falls, I'll put the carriage in the bag and bring out the dragon to return to the mountain.
"Was I useful?"
"Yes. Please keep it up for the next one too."
"Yes!"
...And so, the carriage carrying the duo of justice and mercy, who were a far cry from the shakedown trio of last night, proceeded peacefully and clatteringly!
Now then. When night falls, we return by dragon. It's a two-person ride for me and Keeb. I'm the pilot, and Keeb is in charge of intercepting with magic if anything happens. ...Since Lital still can't ride a dragon alone, I'll transport only him inside the Spatial Bag.
Now, shortly after taking off into the night sky, Keeb spoke to me from behind.
"Violia, are you going for shakedowns again today?"
"Yes. I intend to. If noble victims keep appearing day after day, I think even the royal family will have to move."
"Hmm. From what I've heard from Chesta, I think it doesn't really matter if you're there or not, Violia."
...Well, to be honest, I feel like Doran and Chesta alone are enough without me. Yes. But I'm going because shakedowns are simply fun!
"...Hey, Violia."
"Yes, what is it?"
"About the talk of getting a reward the other day."
"I remember. What is it you desire?"
When I asked, Keeb hesitated for a bit and then... said something quite dangerous.
"Give me some of your blood too, Violia."
"...What is this? Is my blood a trend lately?"
"No, it's not really like that..."
Then what is it? Doran also took some of my blood, didn't he? Is there something? What are you using it for? The more I think about it, the scarier it gets!
"...Is it no good?"
"No? I'll collect it in a small vial for you as soon as we return to the mansion."
To reassure Keeb, who spoke in an anxious voice, I said that, and Keeb let out a clearly relieved sigh behind me.
"Yes. Good."
...He seems genuinely happy for some reason, but I wonder what he's really using it for?
"Hey, Keeb. What are you going to use my blood for? Are you going to use it for dragon hunting or something?"
"Hmm? It's a secret."
My, a secret... is it?
I haven't heard the usage from Doran in the end either, so I'm really curious now.
Even if I'm told it's a secret, I'm still curious. Hmm, what should I do?
Setting aside the talk of my blood, today is also a day for shakedowns.
Today, we'll do shakedowns in Roanna. It's a much smaller town than the Royal Capital, but since the nobles of Elsemarin were wiped out, the number of nobles setting up villas in Poaris or Roanna instead of Elsemarin has increased rapidly. This area has grown quite quickly in the past year.
...So, well, it's a gold mine!
They're everywhere, the numerous nobles who are carelessly wandering the night streets with only one guard or so! One guard is nothing; Chesta can just punch them away. Even if there are three guards, it's over if each of us knocks one down! And after that is the fun shakedown!
...Chesta is strong in urban combat.
He's good at using artificial obstacles, or rather, he has no hesitation in destroying them or using them as shields.
Well, with the ruthlessness peculiar to a drug addict and the cleverness peculiar to someone who has lived in back alleys combined, he has quite a fun way of fighting.
Thanks to that, there was no turn for me. Just as Keeb said, it doesn't change whether I'm there or not. Ohohoho.
"We made a lot today too."
"It's truly a lucrative business."
And so, we were able to obtain plenty of gold coins and jewelry before dawn. Today was also a gold mine.
"...How much longer will we do the extortion?"
"Let's see... maybe one more day in the Royal Capital and one more day in another town. After that, as planned, I intend to break into the mansions of the nobles in the Royal Capital."
We have to keep increasing the damage until the royal family's soldiers are forced to move.
After that, if the royal family still doesn't move... well, we just have to dress as the royal family's soldiers and attack the commoners ourselves!
The next day, we scattered gold coins and jewelry in the slums of the Royal Capital, and at night, we made another profit in the Royal Capital.
The day after that, we scattered them to the poor in Poaris and did shakedowns in Carolla.
...And on the long-awaited day after that, we finally break into the noble district of the Royal Capital to steal!
"Now, excuse me."
I kicked down the sentry and quickly slipped into the mansion through the back door. I proceeded straight toward the target I had in mind. Since Lital had been invited to this mansion before, I have a map of the mansion in my head to some extent. Thanks to that, the encounters with the sentries were kept to a minimum.
Now then, since I didn't know the code for the door of the hidden room I reached so easily without any highlights, I'll have it blown up, and before the servants and nobles who were woken up by the explosion can rush over, I'll take what I can and leave this place quickly!
"My, there's some good wine here. Let's take it."
"Violia. Focus on things that can be converted to cash immediately."
"I know that, but don't we need a reward for ourselves too?"
"You get it, don't you? I agree, I agree. Ah, I'll take this one."
Chesta took some rare foreign fruit liquor. He also took a bottle of what seemed to be narcotics that was being kept. Chesta is truly unwavering. Yes, truly...
"Honestly... I'll take these bottles."
"My, Doran. You can't talk about others either, can you?"
"It would be irritating if I were the only one with nothing."
With a grin, Doran threw all the small bottles lined up on the shelf into the Spatial Bag and then began collecting money and goods again.
As I thought, stealing from a noble's house is fun! It's a pity I can't take much furniture this time... but well, it's fun enough just to get various gold, silver, jewels, and high-class liquor!
After that, we scattered the sentries and nobles who naturally came rushing in and escaped from the mansion!
We jumped out into the night noble district, and after that, we'll head straight for the outskirts of the Royal Capital... is not what we'll do!
"Now! Where is next!?"
"Turn the corner and it's three houses down."
Yes! We're going to bar-hop from now on! There's no rule that says you can only raid one house a night! We're still going!
"And so, the security of the Royal Capital has been strengthened."
"...Is that all?"
"That is all."
...It's been five days since we started stealing and stealing.
Naturally, the commotion in the noble district of the Royal Capital reached the Royal Castle, and the security of the Royal Capital was strengthened.
...Conversely, that's all.
"Don't they know that the Settlement is flourishing or that the poor are coming to sell jewelry? Even so, the royal family won't move?"
"It seems so."
As I thought, the royal family is slow to act. Even though I'm drinking high-class wine, a heavy sigh escaped me.
"In that case... is it that after all? Just as I said at first, we'll wear the royal family's soldiers' armor and attack the commoners?"
"That's right. I wanted to solve it more simply if possible, but..."
I'm also at a loss here. The dinner party between Carol and Dactor-sama is already set for the day after tomorrow, and Carol must decide there whether the royal family and the Cathedral will enter into a cooperative relationship.
If we're to do something by then, there's no more time...
"...I understand. We'll have the slaves of the Revolutionary Army dress as the royal family's soldiers and go attack an appropriate town!"
Therefore, I've made my decision. I must gather enough material for the Cathedral to refuse the royal family's request no matter what. I can't wait for the royal family to act!
"By the way, the one who will command this operation is Chris!"
"You're merciless, aren't you?"
So, it can't be helped, but I'll have Chris work immediately! I'll have him do his best at his job as a slave!