Viscount Javiko and his party departed two days later.
They left in a great hurry after sending word through a servant, most likely out of consideration for Tylan.
“You are saying they did something suspicious during those two days?”
“Rather than suspicious... I would say it warrants investigation. Had you not given us those orders, Young Master, no one would have paid it any attention.”
Glen continued questioning Nedain as he looked through the report he had received.
“As expected, the Viscount did not act personally. He used his subordinate’s subordinates to make contact...”
“Every one of those intermediaries ultimately contacted an organisation known as the ‘Black Hand.’ According to the knight who followed them, they appeared to have met several times before.”
“The Black Hand?”
“Our investigation revealed that they are a gang that recently began taking control of the city’s back alleys.”
“Hmm. That already sounds suspicious. A man acting under House Sailharn’s orders made contact with people like them.”
In truth, this part had been little more than conjecture on Glen’s part.
He had suspected that House Sailharn might have been conducting clandestine operations in Repen City for some time.
Considering what he had uncovered during his years as Riklang, it was entirely plausible.
“There is another matter, although we have not yet confirmed whether it is connected... A narcotic called Pilaf has recently begun spreading throughout the city.”
“Pilaf? You mean that cheap narcotic?”
Pilaf was a relatively low-grade narcotic.
It was difficult to make a great deal of money from it, but it was one of the quickest and easiest ways to create addicts.
It was commonly distributed over a wide area to produce addicts, after which more expensive narcotics were sold to them.
Glen had witnessed the process countless times during his years as Riklang.
“Have you determined when it began circulating?”
“We cannot be certain, but we estimate that it began between one and two months ago.”
“Do you believe House Sailharn is distributing that as well?”
“It does not feel that way. The substance is too crude for a count’s house to handle.”
As Nedain said, it was not an appropriate enterprise for a count’s house.
The profits were not especially large, while the risks were far too severe.
The Church would naturally cause an uproar if it discovered the operation.
More importantly, narcotics were far too conspicuous.
Once the number of addicts increased, there would be no way to conceal them.
It was not an enterprise that could be conducted secretly while avoiding the notice of House Repent.
“If narcotics are spreading... have there been any related reports from the City Guard?”
“I also found that strange, so I investigated. However, there was not a single mention of it in any report from the past three months.”
“Something about this stinks.”
“I am reluctant to admit it... but the situation is unquestionably abnormal.”
The City Guard of Repen City was overseen by the Lion Knights.
That meant someone within the order was also connected to the matter.
“Well, we will know once we pry it open ourselves. Has Viscount Javiko completely left the city?”
“Yes. According to the report I received this morning, he has already passed beyond the city limits.”
“Good. Then we will move tonight.”
Nedain tilted his head.
It was already afternoon.
If Glen intended to move tonight, then...
“Are you proposing a night raid?”
“Rather than a night raid... Yes, let us call it a surprise inspection.”
Glen answered with a broad grin.
***
Glen divided the nine people, including himself, into three groups.
Naturally, none of them had any connection to the City Guard.
The moment midnight arrived, the three groups raided the guard posts, barracks, and other City Guard facilities.
“We are conducting a surprise inspection! Get everyone out here immediately!”
“All members of the City Guard, assemble!”
The knights accompanying Glen shouted loudly as they turned the guard barracks upside down.
“S-Sir Knight, wh-what is happening?!”
The half-asleep guards emerged one after another.
A man who appeared to be the most senior among them stepped forward and asked what was happening.
“Where is the Captain of the Guard? Answer me!”
“Th-The Captain is conducting a night patrol!”
“What? The Captain himself? Are you prepared to take responsibility for that claim?”
“It is the truth!”
“Is everyone currently in the barracks standing here?”
“W-Well, that is...”
At that moment, Glen detected a faint but familiar smell.
It was the distinctive scent of a cheap narcotic, one he had encountered countless times in his previous life.
He called over the two knights who were interrogating the guards.
“...Krok, Tristan. I believe there are narcotics here.”
“Pardon?”
“If they concealed them, they probably used the basement. Search everything.”
The two knights nodded and began looking for a cellar.
Before long, they discovered a small quantity of Pilaf in an underground storeroom.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, there were no signs that anyone there had used it.
It had most likely only been stored there.
Glen questioned the senior guardsman.
“Why the hell are narcotics being stored in the City Guard’s barracks?”
“I know nothing about this! Only the Captain and a handful of others are permitted to enter the underground storeroom!”
“Where did you say that Captain was?”
“...All I know is that he left to conduct a patrol. He occasionally goes out on patrol late at night, although I do not know where he goes. I truly know nothing! Please spare me!”
“The City Guard is in complete disarray. How pathetic.”
At the sound of Glen clicking his tongue, the two accompanying knights flushed with shame.
After all, the Lion Knights were responsible for overseeing the City Guard.
***
After obtaining decisive evidence, Glen immediately regrouped with Nedain.
“Sir Nedain. Did your group find anything?”
“...We raided two guard posts. A small quantity of Pilaf was discovered at one of them.”
Of the three groups, those led by Glen and Nedain had both discovered narcotics at the locations they raided.
The fact that the City Guard had been concealing narcotics was more than enough to throw the ducal household into chaos.
“My group found the same. I can hardly believe it. I never imagined the City Guard would be involved.”
“...I have no excuse.”
Nedain lowered his head, his face rigid.
“How could you have known? Save your self-reproach for later. We still have work to do.”
“Do you intend to inspect more City Guard facilities?”
“No. Have you identified the building controlled by the Black Hand?”
“We have, but... surely you do not intend to go there now? It is far too dangerous!”
Nedain hurriedly attempted to dissuade him.
Even with knights accompanying them, engaging the entire organisation with so few people would be dangerous.
They had not yet determined the enemy’s exact size.
Glen, however, shook his head firmly.
“I guarantee that once tonight has passed, the most important members will already have fled the city. The City Guard is involved, after all.”
“That may be true, but must you go personally, Young Master?”
“I was the one who gave the order. Is it not only natural? Stop arguing and lead the way.”
“...Understood. However, if the situation becomes dangerous, I will escort you away by force if necessary.”
Nedain nodded with a resolute expression.
Glen merely gave a faint laugh.
“I doubt it will be as dangerous as you imagine.”
***
Late that night.
Dozens of men had gathered inside a shabby tavern in Repen City.
They belonged to the Black Hand, the organisation that had recently begun seizing control of the city’s back alleys.
The men were sprawled across tables and the floor, drinking alcohol.
They had gathered to celebrate the recent success of their enterprise.
Among them was Brunel, the organisation’s underboss.
Unlike the others, he wore a deeply tense expression as he stared at the boss sitting opposite him.
Recently, Brunel had found it increasingly difficult to understand the enormous fool.
“Boss! No matter how I think about it, we should not touch the narcotics trade. The people who funded us specifically told us not to get involved in anything dangerous.”
The boss’s already fearsome expression twisted further.
He slammed his tankard of beer down so violently that the table nearly broke.
“Gah... Hic. Brunel. Didn’t I tell you to stop talking about that? You already mangle your words, and now you’re shouting so loudly that I can barely stand it!”
“This is too dangerous, Boss.”
“What the hell is the problem? Yes? It cost us quite a bit, but we bought off the City Guard, didn’t we? That captain of theirs certainly loves money.”
“That is exactly why it is so dangerous. Do you not know that the City Guard is controlled by the Lion Knights?”
No matter what anyone said, Brunel had no desire to make an enemy of the knights.
If it came to that, he would rather flee in the middle of the night with the subordinates who followed him.
“You stupid bastard! Do you still not understand? The people protecting us are nobles. Nobles!”
“...What difference does that make?”
“You idiot, who ranks higher, a noble or a knight? Naturally, it’s the noble, isn’t it? That means we have nothing to fear from the knights.”
“Oh, now that you put it that way, the Boss has a point.”
“Our backers really must be important people.”
Brunel furrowed his brow at their incomprehensible reasoning.
How did someone this stupid become the boss?
Then again, most of the men following him were equally stupid, so perhaps that explained it.
Encouraged by the reactions around him, the boss began rambling about his plan.
“Besides, you bastards, how many times have I told you? Nobles can’t be trusted! That’s why we have to enter the narcotics trade.”
What did distrusting nobles have to do with entering the narcotics trade?
Unable to endure it any longer, Brunel interjected.
“I cannot understand that at all.”
“Damn it, listen to me. The noble who gave us money thinks that means we’ll obey him, doesn’t he? He probably thinks we’re dogs he has already put on a leash. Isn’t that right?”
After speaking that far, the boss lifted his tankard again and poured a large amount of beer into his mouth.
“Gah! But what happens if we grow much faster than those bastards expect? They won’t be able to treat us like leashed dogs anymore, will they? We’ll use their money and the narcotics to make a fortune. Once we take control of this damned city, we’ll break the leash and bite our master! Grrr! Woof! Like that! Bwahahaha!”
“Wahahaha! That sounds incredible!”
“I wonder what stabbing those noble lords in the back will feel like! Hahaha!”
Several gang members who liked the boss’s explanation responded with loud laughter.
Brunel, however, remained unconvinced.
Did they genuinely believe that plan would work?
If even one knightly order mobilised against them, they would all be swept away within a matter of hours.
Brunel was certain of it.
He had encountered knights personally on the battlefield.
That was why he understood, down to his bones, just how terrifying they were.
They were monsters trained to kill people as efficiently as possible.
“Boss, please reconsider just once more—”
Brunel’s attempt to persuade him was interrupted by a sudden shout.
“Boss, we’re under atta—Guh!”
The youngest member, who had been guarding the entrance, came running inside.
Something struck him in the head, and he collapsed.
Behind him, knights clad in silver armour poured into the tavern.
“We are the Lion Knights! Everyone, drop your weapons immediately!”
“Those who do not resist will be spared! Surrender at once!”
“B-Boss!”
“Damn it!”
Brunel and the boss immediately rose and headed toward the rear exit, only for several more knights to emerge from that direction.
Realising that they were completely surrounded, the gang members began drawing their weapons one after another.
“Everyone, calm down. Why not put those weapons away? Unless you want to get hurt for no reason.”
A well-built man approached at a leisurely pace.
The moment Brunel saw him, he understood instinctively.
Red hair and green eyes.
Skin so pale and clear that the blue veins beneath it were visible.
It was not merely his appearance.
The atmosphere surrounding him made the truth unmistakable.
This man was a noble.
Moreover, he belonged to an exceptionally powerful house.
“Hmm. Who is the boss? You?”
When the man pointed at him, Brunel naturally shook his head.
He then looked toward the boss beside him.
“Ah, so you are the leader of the Black Hand. Is that correct?”
The man asked the question casually before sitting in one of the chairs at their table.
He continued speaking with a faint smile.
“There is no need to be so tense. I merely came to have a conversation.”
The boss, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke.
“...I am the boss. Who are you?”
So even this ignorant brute knows how to speak politely.
Brunel found that slightly surprising.
The man answered the boss’s question without losing his smile.
“My name is Ron Glen Repent.”
“...House Repent?”
The boss’s eyes widened, and the men around him reacted immediately.
“Th-The eldest Young Master!”
“You mean that good-for-nothing Young Master?”
Several thoughtless fools began whispering among themselves.
Worse still, they spoke loudly enough to be heard.
“Unless you wish to die, you would do well to think before opening your mouths.”
One of the knights standing directly beside Glen released a chilling wave of bloodlust.
“Sir Nedain. Did I not make myself clear? No one is to be killed without my permission. Why not withdraw that frightening bloodlust?”
“...My apologies.”
At Glen’s quiet command, the murderous pressure immediately vanished.
Young Master Glen once again turned toward the boss with an amiable expression.
“Forgive him. My knight is exceptionally loyal. Ha ha. Why do you not sit down?”
After cautiously observing the situation, the boss dropped heavily into the chair.
“Would you please tell us what business brings you here...?”
“Hm? Did I not already tell you? I merely came to talk because there is something I wish to know. Ah, before that, could I have a drink as well?”
Brunel hesitated briefly before hurrying to the counter and bringing back two fresh tankards of beer.
He handed one to the Young Master and placed the other on the table.
“Oh, thank you. Who might you be?”
“I’m Brunel, the underboss.”
“Men who are quick to read a situation tend to succeed. I believe you will go far. Ha ha.”
“Hehe. Thank you.”
Young Master Glen held his tankard toward the boss.
“Why do we not share a drink? There is no need to remain so tense.”
“Very well.”
Reassured somewhat by the Young Master’s easygoing manner, the boss raised his tankard with a slightly trembling hand, clinked it against Glen’s, and drank.
To Brunel’s surprise, the Young Master drank the beer as well.
So even someone of such noble birth can drink alcohol like this.
Brunel marvelled inwardly.
The boss appeared to have had a similar thought.
“Hic. Now that I look at you, Young Master, you seem rather different from other nobles.”
“Oh, thank you for saying so. Now that we have shared a drink, could we consider ourselves friends?”
“F-Friends, you say?”
“Young Master!”
The boss’s eyes widened, while the knight called Nedain shouted in alarm.
However, when Glen raised a hand to stop him, Nedain immediately fell silent.
“Why not? Let us be friends! Ha ha!”
“Good. Then, to commemorate our new friendship, may I ask you something?”
“Ask me anything! Ha ha! I’ll even tell you my mother’s name, and I can barely remember her face!”
“Oh, excellent. In that case... do you happen to know what this is?”
The Young Master removed a small leather pouch and opened it.
Inside was a familiar white powder.
It was the Pilaf they had distributed.
Damn it!
Brunel wanted to scream.
“I am certain that you know this powder very well. Am I wrong?”
Young Master Glen continued smiling amiably.
However, as Brunel met those green eyes from beside him, he understood instinctively.
Gulp.
This man was a wolf.
A vicious and merciless wolf unlike any Brunel had ever encountered.
Brunel swallowed dryly without realising it.