Benedict: “I am… No, the ones cooperating with us (Fenrir) are—”

 

At the moment when Benedict was about to say something, his head exploded.

Blood splatters scattered around, and the body below the neck lay powerlessly sideways.

An attack by magic?

No, there’s no sign of people around.

There are magics that activate with a delayed effect, but it didn’t look like any kind of trap magic had been activated.

In that case, an instant death type of curse?

【Curses】 and 【hexes】, which impose bad statuses, exist, and some have effects that cause instant death after a certain time passes.

However, there were no signs that Benedict was under a curse.

 

Arata: “I’m sorry, Aya-san. Even after we managed to secure Benedict.”

Aya: “Don’t worry about it. I was planning to execute him from the beginning anyway. Besides, even if the guild or the knights captured him, he would have been silenced eventually.”

 

Indeed, even if interrogated by the adventurer’s guild or the knights, it’s unlikely that the killing of Benedict could have been prevented.

In the instant before Benedict died, it seemed like the earring he was wearing glowed.

It should be seen as someone silencing him so he wouldn’t spill any unnecessary information.

Similarly, regarding the battle axe and accessories that Benedict was wearing, it seemed like someone remotely destroyed them to make them unusable.

 

Aya: “Speaking of which, Arata-san,”

Arata: “Yes?”

Aya: “How can you use 【Iaido】?”

Arata: “…”

 

***

 

I sidestepped Aya-san with a 『I’ll tell you once all of this is settled』 in response to her pursuit.

I’ll think of an excuse by then.

With the death of the leader, Benedict, 『Fenrir』 will probably disintegrate as a dark guild.

According to the guild’s investigation, it seems a few well-known criminals were members, but it was judged difficult for them to consolidate the bloated 『Fenrir』.

Normally.

From the battles so far, it’s very likely that someone’s influence is behind the rise of 『Fenrir』.

If this is not clarified, a second and third power replacing 『Fenrir』 might emerge.

There should be some information left in Benedict’s private room.

As I proceeded to the hideout in search of information, stairs leading to the surface appeared.

 

Arata: “Where is this?”

Aya: “The Hyuuz Trading Company. I never expected one of the top trading companies in the kingdom to be involved in this incident…”

 

Checking the map, it seems to be one of the trading companies located in a commercial area close to the noble district.

Aya-san, who was looking at the view from the window, pinpointed the exact location of the trading company.

 

Aya: “Let’s split up and search. I’ll search from the second floor upwards. Arata-san, please search the first floor, especially the warehouse.”

Arata: “Understood.”

 

Aya-san and I split into two groups to search the Hyuuz Trading Company.

With the map, grasping the structure inside the building is easy.

There were a couple of warehouse keepers, but both were knocked unconscious, and I rummaged inside.

What I found was a large number of weapons.

Weapons made with precious materials in this world, such as mithril and adamantite, were found in large quantities.

 

Arata: “—Did you find what you were looking for?”

Aya: “Yes, do you want to hear about it?”

Arata: “I’ll pass. I feel like I’ll get sucked into that side.”

Aya: “It’s a shame. If it were with Arata-san, I feel like this hunter job would be 30% more exciting.”

 

Aya-san, who silently approached from behind, spoke.

It seems that evidence has been secured.

She had contacted other hunters, and an audit would be conducted on the Hyuuz Trading Company immediately.

Before that, we have to disappear from here.

We then escape through the underground passage we used to infiltrate.

 

Arata:  “…”

Aya: “What’s wrong, Arata-san?”

 

While confirming the way back on the map and running, I found a strange place.

It was a T-junction in the passage, with barrels and wooden boxes stacked at the fork, and it quickly became a dead end.

I didn’t notice it on the way because I was focused on moving forward, but once I noticed it, it looked suspicious.

Aya-san also seemed curious, stopped her feet, and lightly examined the surroundings.

Then, a staircase hidden cleverly with debris and such revealed itself.

 

Aya: “What will we do?”

Arata: “…We have a little time before the audit. Let’s investigate.”

 

Holding a lamp, we descend the stairs.

A narrow place where only one person can barely pass.

A smell that assaults the nose.

Faint moans can be heard.

It was a filthy underground prison.

On both sides of the passage, small cells were lined up, and in them, individuals dressed in tattered rags were chained.

 

Arata: “Beastmen, elves, fishmen, and it seems there are dwarves as well.”

Aya: “Yes, this bombshell was hidden here at the end.”

 

It’s no wonder Aya-san frowned.

Probably, the people imprisoned here are slaves.

And in the context of the story, slaves, especially those of different races, become very precarious existences.

If handled incorrectly, it could escalate to an event of a race war at worst.

Therefore, the best option to end this issue peacefully and easily would probably be to kill all the people here.

But that option cannot be used.

If we are trying to dismantle 『Fenrir』 and reveal the background of the Hyuuz Trading Company, we must inevitably bring the issue of slaves to light.

If by any chance it is revealed that we hid it, it would indeed be a full-scale war.

While hesitating on how to handle the people here, a voice was thrown from one of the cells.

 

Unknown: “—Who are you guys?”