kscans

Chapter 21 - Everyone Loves Money ★

I polished my glasses as I listened to my subordinate's report.

"...Say that again."

I couldn't quite comprehend the report I had just been given, so I asked her to repeat it.

"Approximately fifty Level 1 Healing Potions were delivered to the Ikebukuro branch."

My female subordinate reported again, just as before, with a calm, unchanging expression.

"Is that true?"

"I am not so idle as to tell lies."

She's a capable subordinate, but she always has to have the last word.

"Hah... As if! I've never heard of fifty Healing Potions in my life!"

Forgetting my age, I couldn't help but shout.

"I am only stating the facts. Also, please refrain from power harassment."

Guh... She probably thinks I'm some old fossil.

"My apologies. But, I'll ask one more time. Is it true?"

"It is true. In fact, thinking it might be a lie myself, I had another person go to Ikebukuro to confirm. According to their appraisal, they were indeed Healing Potions."

"I see..."

Then it must be true. But fifty of them...

"How were they obtained?"

"Apparently, they dropped after defeating a Slime. She said she was lucky."

"As if!! ...Ahem, my apologies."

I was about to shout again, but I managed to stop myself.

"No, I understand how you feel. I feel the same way."

Well, I suppose so. There have been confirmed cases of Healing Potions dropping from Slimes, so it's not impossible. But fifty is unheard of.

"Is there a possibility they were stolen?"

"Fifty Healing Potions, sir?"

Unlikely... A theft of that scale would cause a huge uproar, and in the first place, the number of places that would have fifty Healing Potions is limited.

"Who was the one who delivered them?"

"It was that woman."

"...Eleanor Ocean."

As I muttered the name, my subordinate slowly nodded.

"The woman who sold five Healing Potions sold fifty this time... So, will it be five hundred next?"

Ha ha ha.

"It's possible."

....................

"Who is that woman?"

"We are investigating. However, we know that all of her information, including her name and address, is fake."

"Is it alright to leave such a person be? What if we report her to the police?"

"A person who has delivered fifty five Healing Potions, sir? The government is already aware, and some assembly members are making moves."

I know. We can't let such a valuable adventurer be lost to another country.

"If I revoke her adventurer's license, I'll be fired..."

"I would be in trouble as well. I still have student loans to pay off, and my younger brother is in college. I would not like to be left homeless."

She's had it pretty rough, it seems.

"My grandson is starting private school soon. I have to help my daughter and her husband."

"Then we shall leave her be, is that correct?"

"What did the Ikebukuro branch manager say?"

"She said she conducted an interrogation, but found nothing suspicious."

As if!

"Tch! She's got her cornered!"

It's common for each guild branch to hoard capable adventurers. And once they have them, they never let them go. They're probably doing something behind the scenes.

"That is likely the case. Someone who would let an adventurer of that level go would not be able to become a branch manager."

"Tch! Even if it's an unpopular guild, a branch manager is still a branch manager..."

That vixen!

"Please stop clicking your tongue. It is power harassment."

Power harassment, huh... Things are really strict these days. I can't even invite my subordinates out for a drink.

"What was the word from above?"

"'Who is that woman? Investigate. However, under no circumstances are you to let her be lost.' That is what they said."

They should investigate themselves. No, they probably are...

"This is difficult. There's too little information."

"She has little exposure. However, some parts of the media are starting to catch on."

"That's awfully fast..."

"As I reported earlier, some assembly members are making moves. I cannot say more than that."

She's saying everything.

"They're only good at sniffing out the scent of money."

"I cannot agree with that statement."

Liar.

"Is Eleanor Ocean really Japanese?"

"We do not know, but from the photographs, her features appear to be Japanese, or at least Asian. Here you are."

My subordinate handed me a photograph. In the photo was a picture of someone holding a wallet in some store.

"What's this?"

"It seems a civilian secretly took a photo of her while she was trying to buy a wallet. It was posted online."

"Online?"

"The post said, 'Cosplayer spotted!' We had it deleted immediately."

Well, you don't often see hair that long and blonde, and those pitch-black clothes stand out. They probably thought she was a cosplayer.

"Hmm, she does look Japanese, if you had to say, but it's hard to tell... Can we summon her to headquarters?"

"The Ikebukuro branch manager would refuse. It would be the usual, 'The guild has a duty to protect its adventurers' excuse."

When there is a problem, headquarters can summon adventurers belonging to various branches for questioning. But when we try to question a capable adventurer, every guild says the same thing. And they have the authority to do so.

"This is the guild too, you know."

This is guild headquarters. And I am the Director.

"The branch managers of each branch are kings of their own castles."

"I suppose so... Can we make contact secretly?"

"Impossible. We don't even know where she lives. We have hired private investigators, but they have been completely unable to track her. Apparently, she just suddenly disappears."

....................

"Eh? Is she even human?"

"Delivered fifty five potions, identity unknown, appearance ambiguous."

"She's a ghost."

"If anything, she's more like a witch."

Indeed, judging by her appearance, she's a witch.

"Hah... Any other information?"

There can't be more, can there?

"This is information from the Shibuya branch."

There is more...

"What is it?"

"It seems an adventurer from the Shibuya branch made contact with the witch in the Kunaar Ruins."

So it's decided, Eleanor Ocean is the witch.

"Was there trouble?"

"Something like it. Apparently, he had to relieve himself while escorting some high school students and stepped away for a moment. During that time, the students were attacked by Skeletons and were in a pinch. The one who saved them was..."

"The witch."

"Yes. The witch, with incredible sword skill, instantly killed five Skeletons, and then shared a potion with an injured female student."

Sword skill? Even though she's a witch?

"That's a good story. That's how adventurers should be. Helping each other is important."

In reality, they often abandon each other with the excuse of personal responsibility. Well, it's dangerous, and there are a lot of troubles, so I can understand the sentiment, but it's a lamentable state of affairs.

"Despite being saved and having a potion used on them, the student asserted ownership of the drop items and hurled insults at her."

......I take back what I said. That was a terrible story.

"Who did you hear that from?"

"The female student who was saved reported it to her escort. The escort immediately reported it to the Shibuya branch manager, who has begun a search for the woman. He wishes to apologize."

In other words, the Shibuya branch manager also knows about the witch. No, by now, every branch manager probably knows.

Does that mean it's a scramble for her? Hmm, well, it's not like that vixen would make a mistake that would let an adventurer be snatched away.

"Revoke the license of the student who hurled the insults."

"Are you sure?"

"He's a nuisance. The reason can be that he engaged in extremely dangerous behavior within the Frontier, or something like that."

He really caused unnecessary trouble.

"And the escort?"

"A one-month suspension."

It's a bit harsh, but it can't be helped.

"Understood."

"Hah... Nothing but bad news today."

"I apologize, Director."

My subordinate apologized, which was rare for her.

What is it? She's not usually so demure. ...Hm?

"What is that document?"

I was curious about the document my subordinate was holding.

"It is an application form from the Ikebukuro branch manager."

My subordinate bowed deeply and handed me the so-called application form.

"I don't want it."

I had a very bad feeling about this, so I refused to take it.

"Then, I shall explain. This is an application to hold an auction."

This is the worst... The absolute worst.

"What's the item?"

"Item Bags."

"...And the capacity?"

"Exactly 5-kilo, 10-kilo, 50-kilo, and 100-kilo."

Exactly, huh...

"Four of them?"

"Two of each."

"....................And the seller?"

"Eleanor Ocean."

That witch! She's definitely not human. She's a monster. A monster called a witch.

"I don't even have the energy to shout anymore..."

"Shall I reject the application?"

"If I reject it, she'll go to a private auction. No."

Absolutely not. That would really get me fired.

"Then, please sign here."

"If I sign this, it'll cause a huge uproar, you know?"

The media and the internet will go crazy.

"It is only a matter of time. I do not believe it will end with this. This is the beginning."

"I think so too. Give it to me. I'll sign it. At this point, we have no choice but to think about the guild's benefit."

"Here you are."

I signed the application form I received from my subordinate.

"Here."

"Thank you very much."

My subordinate took the application form after I returned it.

"Tell the higher-ups to deal with this immediately."

"With what, sir?"

"If things continue like this, it won't just stay within this country. Foreign countries will get involved."

"...They will?"

My subordinate swallowed with a gokuri.

"America, China, Russia... And the countries that had their Gates closed for breaking the treaty with the Frontier will move to secure the witch... This woman is gold."

I pinched the photograph with my fingers and fluttered it.

"Gold... The Golden Witch, then."

"You will move to make contact as well. The Kunaar Ruins. Get back to work, A-rank."

"Understood. I shall do so."

My subordinate bowed once and left the room.

Branch managers are not the only ones with capable adventurers. I have some as well.

I have the A-rank adventurer, Saegusa Yoshino. ...She was very expensive, though.

Still, the Golden Witch, Eleanor Ocean, huh...

This witch is undoubtedly a unique skill holder. The problem is her ability...

Is it something like a guaranteed drop? Having Yoshino check her Status Card would be the best way, but she would never allow that.

...Well, it doesn't matter. There is no doubt that she is valuable.

Do your best, make a lot of money. Five percent of the auction proceeds comes here, after all!

Ha ha ha...

Guh...! I really should have pushed through my opposition and made it seven percent...!