Chapter 52 - Chapter 23: "What Exactly Is a Werewolf...?"
Greetings! It is Violia Nico Fortesia!
Just now! I have resolved to thoroughly deal with those people from House Fruitier who stole the 'Guns' from Fortesia!
I no longer care about appearances! I shall crush them utterly! And on top of that! I shall surely reclaim the guns into my hands—!!
And so, I shall set about crushing House Fruitier immediately.
If they are making massive investments for the development of 'Guns,' there is no doubt they are troubled for funds.
...In other words, their weakness remains, as always, 'money.'
I shall aim for that and reel them in!
"Let us offer to provide funding."
Those troubled for money will jump at money. It is only natural.
If I want to fish for Fruitier, I should dangle bait that Fruitier would likely enjoy. There is nothing better than this.
"Providing funding... for the guns? That's suspicious, isn't it?"
"No. We shall go with the pretext of 'reconstruction funds for the winery.'"
I believe only House Fruitier and I, of House Fortesia, know about the 'Guns.'
It is not certain that there are no others who know... but for Fruitier, they must want to keep this as a family monopoly. After all, they have no other means of survival. If other nobles find out, Fruitier will surely be deemed unnecessary. That is why Fruitier must be desperately hiding it.
...Therefore, funding for the winery. We shall go with that!
Since Fruitier's winery is about to receive a devastatingly heavy blow (namely, slime crop damage) anyway, it is perfect!
"...Even so, it's suspicious."
"Is it? I think those people will jump at it if it means they can get their hands on money."
I expect they will be easily lured out and killed anyway.
"Besides, young lady. Since you're dangling such a delicious story as 'funding,' shouldn't we go to pluck a bit more from them?"
...Meaning?
"Well, they did blast two shots into our Doran. Since we're at it... why not try asking for something like 'entry into the noble world'?"
"Even if they're desperate for money, they'll naturally find it suspicious if an absolute stranger offers them funding. They'll think 'there must be some catch.' So, we'll prepare that 'catch' for them."
I see. That is where 'entry into the noble world' comes in.
Naturally, a vast amount of money is required to enter the world of nobility... and more than that, connections are necessary.
We shall demand that Fruitier become a connection in exchange for the funding.
Fruitier will likely think, 'Since we are fulfilling the other party's demand, surely there is no way we will be killed.' Or rather, the idea of 'being killed' might not even occur to them in the first place.
By making them misperceive our objective, we make it harder for them to see through our true intentions.
By showing them a false objective, the opponent will let down their guard once they have helped us achieve it.
I see, it is a logical strategy. Not bad at all.
"Then that shall be fine. We shall call out House Fruitier under the pretext of providing funding in exchange for entry into the noble world, and then we just need to make them spit out information about the guns and kill them, right?"
"If we're going to massacre House Fruitier, I think it's better to do it after getting somewhat deeper into things, though."
"It is a bother! I shall kill them!"
"Well, as long as we can recover all the guns, isn't that enough? There are probably women and children who have almost nothing to do with your downfall, so you don't have to kill them that thoroughly."
"I shall burn the Fruitier mansion."
"Ah— so even if they survive, they'll be burned out of their home, I see, I see..."
Just thinking about it makes me excited! It is highly likely that House Fruitier burned the Fortesia mansion, but this time, their mansion shall burn! How delightful!
...Now then.
Since the talk has been settled to some extent, Giovan went to the counterfeiter's place again.
Since there were still horns of male dragon hatchlings left over, he will have another counterfeit Black Gold Coin made. Counterfeit money is more than enough for funding House Fruitier. After all, it is a house that is going to be crushed anyway. Ohohohoho.
While Giovan is out procuring the 'funds,' Keeb and Chesta moved to go dispose of the overflowing slimes.
In short, Fruitier's winery is dead.
...Until a short while ago, it was the season when the grape blossoms were finishing, but time has passed since then, and now it is already the period of waiting for the young fruit to ripen. Surely the slimes will enjoy eating them.
Now, Keeb and Chesta went to crush a winery a bit far away, and Giovan, after going to the counterfeiter, might have gone to gather information about the guns. He will not be back for a while.
...Yes, Giovan seems quite angry.
He was the most shaken when Doran was defeated. I think he is in a mood where he desperately wants to move right now as a reaction to that.
While one is moving, one can forget anxiety and impatience.
And I am the same.
"It is a good thing to have someone to kill time with."
...I cannot go outside, after all. I shall look after Doran. I am glad there is something to do for now. Otherwise, I might have gone out into the town and committed arson at random. Ohohohoho.
"If possible, I would be happy if he would wake up quickly and at least become someone to talk to."
Well, I do not expect much.
It is after he lost that much blood. He might sleep for about a full day... or he might sleep even longer.
"Nn..."
After I had spent some time watching Doran, he let out a faint groan and opened his eyes.
"Oh, Doran. Are you awake?"
When I called out to him, Doran glanced around and seemed to realize his current situation.
"I... what was I doing?"
"You were sleeping. You had two bullets blasted into your stomach and were picked up and brought back by Giovan."
When I explained, Doran touched the bandage on his abdomen, then grimaced, said only "I see," and fell silent. I think he has various thoughts about having blundered.
"Well, it is a fine job just to have returned alive. You did well to escape in the face of guns."
"Guns? ...I see, so those are called guns..."
"Yes. They are the latest weapons that were supposed to be under development at Fortesia. Though for some reason, they seem to have passed into the hands of Fruitier. ...Doran. The one you were investigating was House Fruitier, was it not?"
When I confirmed just in case, Doran nodded as expected.
"Yeah. That's how it is. ...The reason I was at the port was because I heard there was a transaction involving House Fruitier. I slipped in thinking I might grab something... and it seems I hit the jackpot."
Ah—... I see. The port means a ship. Were they transporting guns? In that case, if we investigate where the Fruitier ship that was anchored this afternoon came from, we might discover the manufacturer of the guns, or perhaps Fruitier's business partner, or something of the sort. This is a promising start!
"It seems I've caused you trouble."
"Please say that to Giovan rather than me. He was quite shaken, you know."
"Shaken? Him? ...I would have liked to see that."
"If you keep saying things like that, he will knock you down."
Doran chuckled, then pressed his hand near his stomach and grimaced. It probably affected his wound.
"Please do not overdo it. I really thought you were going to die."
"Well, if he was shaken enough for you to say that, I guess it was so."
Doran said that with a wry smile, then stared intently at me... and said.
"What's the next plan?"
"You are not included."
When I answered, he made a slightly dissatisfied face, but he himself should understand his own condition well.
From now on, we are going to lure out Fruitier under the pretext of funding, make them spit out information, and kill them, but I cannot have a fellow who just had holes blown in his stomach participate in that.
"How many days?"
Even so, Doran is strangely persistent.
"Who knows. I am thinking about two days after Chesta and Keeb return from scattering the slimes."
We cannot leave too much of an interval. Immediately after crushing the winery is ideal. Otherwise, House Fruitier might find another source of funding, or they might start selling off the guns because they are so desperate for money.
"...I see. Then I'll have to get serious about healing, or I won't make it in time."
"You will not heal in two days."
Could it be that Doran has become stupid due to the influence of his injury?
If a hole opened in a human could close in a mere two days, there would be no need for doctors or medicine in this world.
"No, I will heal."
"Do not throw a tantrum, you are not a child."
"I'm not a child, but I am a werewolf."
Doran sat up while protecting his wound. Is he a fool? Even if he is a werewolf, surely a hole closing is...
"Violia. Sorry, but accompany me for a bit. I want to go somewhere where the moonlight hits."
...Eh, could it be, could it really be...?