Chapter 170 - Chapter 169: The Fake "Dispeller" Incident 4
The 3rd day of the Month of Fire, Week 1.
Guild Headquarters, Conference Room.
Last week, on the Day of Wind, a command to 'Report to Guild Headquarters' was delivered to Mika's house. ...That's what I heard.
I didn't see it myself, so I don't know.
But I was told that's how things turned out, through a certain channel.
After finishing at the Academy, Mika went straight to the Guild Headquarters.
The atmosphere in the conference room was quite tense.
Three important Guild officials were seated before Mika.
The Guild Master, the Vice Guild Master, and Nastalig, Demsoric's father.
And more than ten knights who created that tense atmosphere.
The knights were tasked with subduing any violent rogue adventurers, just in case.
They were also tasked with taking the suspect directly to the lockup after this meeting.
Therefore, they were all tough-looking men accustomed to rough affairs.
"What have you gone and done, you?"
Nastalig, looking exhausted, read the summary of the fraud committed by Mika while looking at the documents in his hand.
There were twenty-eight victims of the fraud.
It seems one more was added the other day.
Although the fraud itself happened around the beginning of last month, they seemed to be waiting it out, believing the curses should have been lifted by now.
Just explaining those summaries took nearly an hour.
"It is natural for the Guild to pass down a punishment, but you understand that it won't end there, right?"
After Nastalig finished reading the summary of the incident, the Vice Guild Master told Mika in a heavy tone.
By the way, what Nastalig read was an excerpt from the disciplinary request fabricated by Demsoric and the attached documents.
The attached documents included not only the victims' complaints but also statements like "This is definitely Mika."
"I have consistently denied everything, you know."
Mika shrugged lightly and answered in a light tone.
At that attitude, Nastalig raised his voice.
"Still pretending to be ignorant!"
He slammed the documents onto the table with a bang!
The Vice Guild Master said, "Now, now, calm down, Nastalig-kun," with a face that screamed "I am neutral," trying to soothe him.
The Guild Master didn't move a muscle, keeping his eyes closed and staring still.
Or rather, isn't he sleeping?
"As I thought, it was too early for you. Even a C-rank, let alone a title. To become so arrogant like this."
"Arrogant?"
Mika asked at the Vice Guild Master's words.
"Yes. It seems that someone with an immature personality formation like a child could not bear the heavy responsibility of a title. You should have considered it more carefully."
The Vice Guild Master shook his head weakly.
This was the Vice Guild Master pretending to speak to Mika, but actually speaking to the Guild Master.
Chirensta, who had been earnestly persuading them to accept Mika's title, was currently with the Guild Master.
He probably intended to take this grandly and use it as a card to attack the Guild Master.
Mika let out a soft sigh.
(...Well, enough of this.)
It's useless to keep playing along with this farce, and I can't just leave it if Chirensta becomes the target of the attack.
Mika searched his pocket and took out his Guild Card.
He handed it to a nearby knight, asking the knight to pass it to the Guild Master.
As the Guild Master looked at the Guild Card handed to him, the Vice Guild Master and Nastalig also peeked over to check.
"...Is this a Guild Card? A virtuous gesture. Returning it yourself."
The Vice Guild Master looked at Mika and relaxed his expression slightly.
Of course, the card was engraved with 'Name: Mika Noisheim "Dispeller"'.
And the Guild Master returned the card to the knight.
The Vice Guild Master and Nastalig made suspicious faces.
"I'm not returning it. It's important evidence."
Saying that, Mika took out another Guild Card.
He handed that one to the knight as well, and the knight took it towards the Guild Master and others.
But the knight did not hand the card to the Guild Master, merely presenting it so it could be seen and confirmed.
That one is the real thing, so I absolutely can't hand it over!
The knight held a card in each hand so the two cards could be compared.
And thus, it was immediately clear upon comparison.
The same content was engraved on both cards.
"What are you saying...? And, two Guild Cards?"
The Vice Guild Master muttered with a suspicious face.
"It's a forged card. Or rather, I should say a 'real forged card.' It is a genuine article issued by the Guild. It's forged, though."
"Forged!?"
The Vice Guild Master and Nastalig looked surprised at Mika's words.
The Guild Master also looked slightly surprised.
...Your acting is bad.
"Demsoric, who works at the Second Branch of the Adventurer Guild in the Royal Capital, forged it."
"You kidnapped Demsoric!!!"
Nastalig flew into a rage and tried to stand up.
But the knights held Nastalig down.
"Huh!? What are you doing! Ah, that guy kidnapped my son, surely he's imprisoning him! Catch him!"
Nastalig struggled desperately, trying to shake off the knights' hands.
But if he could be easily shaken off by a civilian, the knights couldn't do their job.
He was easily subdued.
Mika had kidnapped Demsoric on the night of the Day of Water last week.
Since then, he hadn't come to work for days, and there was no sign of him returning to his house where he lived alone, so he was currently treated as missing. ...By the way, he's apparently divorced.
There was a reason for Nastalig's emotional state.
He probably suspected Mika was involved in Demsoric's disappearance. ...Which is the correct answer.
"Don't worry about Demsoric. He is here today."
Mika gave a signal to the knight near the conference room door, and the knight called out from outside the room.
And so, two men were brought into the conference room.
One was Demsoric, the other was Concorado.
"Demsoric! Are you safe!?"
Even while being held down, Nastalig rejoiced that Demsoric was safe.
But Demsoric himself was looking down, on the verge of collapsing, while the knights forced him to stand.
"He has confessed, and the magic power registered on the card belongs to Concorado here. Ah, here are the real testimonies from the victims."
Saying that, Mika took out a bundle of papers from his Magic Bag.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to gather testimonies from all victims, but face-to-face identifications for over twenty victims were completed, and testimonies were obtained.
That Concorado held a Guild Card titled "Dispeller" and defrauded the rewards.
"Lies! Y-you set this up! Demsoric is being threatened! Right!?"
Nastalig pleaded desperately with Demsoric.
But Demsoric remained looking down as usual.
"If you call it a setup, then yes, that's exactly it."
Saying that, Mika laughed mockingly.
As if taking that as a signal, the Guild Master stood up, walked towards Mika, and stood beside him.
Only Nastalig and the Vice Guild Master had no idea what was happening.
"I organized this scene today. Well, let's settle the accounts then. Various things."
Mika looked straight at Nastalig and the Vice Guild Master and declared so.
■■■■■■
Last week, on the Day of Wind.
The night after kidnapping Demsoric.
Mika barged into Chirensta's home.
"Forgery of Guild Cards!?"
Hearing Mika's story, Chirensta widened his eyes in surprise.
Showing the two Guild Cards to the surprised Chirensta, Mika conveyed the gathered information.
From Chirensta, Mika was told that his disciplinary action had been decided.
Mika's punishment was demotion.
He thought, "If punishing for such a crime, shouldn't it be expulsion?" but it seems the disciplinary request asked for demotion, and that passed.
"...I never thought it would turn out like that."
Chirensta bowed his head to Mika with an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry... I tried to persuade various officers that Mika-kun wouldn't do such a thing... but the punishment was decided."
"No, that's exactly the flow I wanted, so it's fine."
"Exactly as planned!?"
When Mika said brightly, Chirensta widened his eyes again.
"Yes. If the fabricated disciplinary request passes, the responsibility doesn't rest solely on Demsoric. Probably... or rather, actually, Demsoric pressured his father to make this disciplinary request pass quickly."
When Mika said that, Chirensta grunted.
"So, let's let this burn for a moment."
"...Huh? Burn?"
Chirensta made a blank-faced expression.
"Right now, I'm using the Information Broker Guild to gather dark secrets about Demsoric's father, Nastalig. I've also instructed them to gather information on the Vice Guild Master. Using any material, even unrelated to this case, we will take these two down."
"Take them down..."
Chirensta seemed speechless.
Mika then put on a serious expression and looked straight at Chirensta.
"I don't really want to create a one-strongman state. It's a breeding ground for corruption. But I will absolutely crush Demsoric and Nastalig. I don't know what kind of person the Vice Guild Master is, but depending on the gathered information, I might drag him in too."
At Mika's words, Chirensta swallowed hard.
"Can I leave the future of the Guild to you?"
When Mika asked that, Chirensta nodded solemnly.
"I've spoken to the Guild Master. Let's knock down the Vice Guild Master's faction as much as possible here. The Guild Master is fine. He's not someone who can be dismissed with a single word like 'kind,' but at least he's not corrupted by vice. I trust him."
Hearing Chirensta's words, Mika nodded.
"I have connections with the Fifth Knights Order. I will hand over Demsoric and Concorado to the Knights Order and ask them to investigate the full scope of the incident and verify the facts. I will also use the Information Broker Guild for verification to finish it all at once. So they don't get suspicious."
If left solely to the Knights Order, it would probably take time.
I need to get people from the Information Broker Guild to bring the victims to the Fifth Knights Order and finish verification like face-to-face identification as quickly as possible.
Mika sighed inwardly.
(Hahaha, I thought I'd cough up ten million Rats as a show of spirit, but it looks like a truly huge amount is going to fly away!)
It probably won't reach ten million Rats, but several million Rats will surely be spent.
The 'settlement' I wanted has taken a slightly different form, but showing them "I'll drive you into a corner thoroughly?" should be enough.
I decided not to involve Yaroibarov this time.
If I borrowed Yaroibarov's power here, it would only look like I'm being protected by "Yaroibarov's umbrella."
My connection with Yaroibarov is also a strength of mine, but this time I want to put a different strength forward.
"Oh, about calling me to the Guild, please schedule it for after the week starts. There isn't enough time before that."
"Understood. We just need to avoid the Day of Earth and the Day of Sun. That can be managed."
"And, please propose sending knights."
"Sending knights?"
Chirensta made a puzzled face.
"Since we are summoning a vicious adventurer, we should be on guard, right? Please arrange to request them from the Fifth Knights Order."
Saying that, Mika grinned.
Seeing Mika's expression, Chirensta muttered, "So that's what you mean."
After conducting several other meetings and speaking with the Fifth Knights Order, they made an appointment to meet.
There is no time until the start of the week.
Everything must be done in parallel and finished at once.
(As expected, leaving the mediation part unrelated to the Guild for later.)
I just need to have people posted by the Information Broker Guild to prevent escape.
After dealing with the guild-related issues that have become too big, I'll cook them slowly.
Thinking like that, Mika flew back to his house in District 3.
And then, this time to the Fifth Knights Order lockup.
It was late at night, so the gate of the Second Wall was closed, but there were knights.
Taking Demsoric and Concorado, he asked the Fifth Knights Order knights to come out.
Explaining the situation while showing the two Guild Cards to familiar knights, the two themselves testified while trembling before Mika.
And thus, he took the two who were arrested and accompanied them to the lockup.
"...What are you doing so late at night?"
It seems a report came that "Mika has arrived" to Ozendorwa, who was still at the lockup.
While explaining the circumstances to a few familiar knights, Ozendorwa came over on purpose.
When Mika explained the circumstances again, Ozendorwa made a complicated face.
"You really get dragged into trouble... don't you..."
Even if you say that, this time it's not my fault, right?
When Mika made a subtle face, Ozendorwa smiled bitterly.
"I'll lend you Hoguajil from Shesbarno's unit. For a case like this, it's better to have someone with a bit more sense. It seems there are many victims, so you want to gather testimonies all at once, right?"
Thanks to Ozendorwa's kindness, a portion of Shesbarno's unit from the Fifth Knights Order was assigned.
There were only two days left until the Guild summons at the start of the week: the Day of Earth and the Day of Sun.
(First, let's do our best with a human wave tactic. If we gather testimonies from even half the victims, the basis for the disciplinary request will crumble greatly.)
It will be a starting point to break those who forcibly punished based on vague requests.
Thus, using the Fifth Knights Order and the Information Broker Guild, he decided to strike those who cooperated in framing Mika.
By handing over the two, the house borrowed from the Master was no longer needed for the time being.
There was no need for interrogation.
But since it might have other uses besides as a temporary lodging, he decided to rent it until the period ended and then return the key.
■■■■■■
"Guild Master. Did these two agree to my disciplinary action?"
"Yes, that's right. The content of the request was too one-sided, and many people including myself said careful confirmation was necessary, but they forced it through without listening. As Guild Master, I bear some responsibility for not being able to stop it. I will apologize."
Saying that, the Guild Master, who had sat in the seat next to Mika, bowed his head.
Mika replied, "I accept."
"Demsoric-san, you forged the Guild Card, didn't you?"
"Lies! My son is being threatened!"
Mika did not turn towards Demsoric but threw the question while facing forward.
But, interrupting that question, the held-down Nastalig raised his voice.
Demsoric, trembling, answered softly, "Yes."
(If you're that scared, it looks like you really are being threatened.)
Well, I did stab him in the stomach more than ten times.
As the mastermind, I drove him harder than Concorado.
"Concorado-san. It was Demsoric-san who proposed the fraud, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Lies! Everything is fabricated!"
Spitting saliva, Nastalig's face turned red as he shouted.
It was very annoying to be interrupted every time.
So, I decided to ask him to leave.
"Even if he is your son, is this a time to worry about others? Nastalig-san?"
"What did you say...?"
Nastalig glared at Mika.
Mika took out a bundle of papers from his Magic Bag.
"Last month, you had a ferocious magic beast that should have been classified as C-rank handled as a D-rank, didn't you? Knowing it was an adult, you pretended it was a juvenile. And the difference in price went into your pocket, right? Doing something like this, it's at most one or two gold coins. The adventurers who took the order seem to have been seriously injured. How pitiful."
"Huh!?"
Mika looked at the bundle of papers and conveyed the contents so everyone in the conference room could hear.
He turned a page.
"Oh my, this one is faking the rank too. Also last month? ...Oops, didn't you set a high-priced request for the month before that and post it with a portion of the extra amount cut off? Doing such sloppy work and you haven't been caught yet. ...No, did no one say anything even if they noticed? The people ordered to the site are pitiful too. ...Ah, is that one from the same hole too?"
While reading the documents, comments slipped out involuntarily.
This document was compiled based on the information Chirensta had, the information the Information Broker Guild had, and newly gathered information.
The Information Broker Guild gathered people good at information analysis and compilation and created it.
There must have been many people pulling all-nighters.
Thank you for your hard work.
Nastalig twisted his body even while being held down, and the veins floating on his forehead were rising as if they were about to burst.
Scary.
"It's, it's, it's nonsense!"
"Please give your excuses at the lockup. Hoguajil-san."
When Mika handed over the documents listing various suspicions to Hoguajil, Hoguajil accepted them.
The evidence was scheduled to raid the First and Second Branches of the Guild and have the Fifth Knights Order sweep it all up once Hoguajil gave the go-ahead.
From now on, the two branches in the Royal Capital will be in chaos.
Those who cooperated with Nastalig's irregularities, those who thought bitterly about it, etc., have been identified by the Information Broker Guild.
It seems plenty of additional crimes will come out.
By the way, the names of Yunressa and Rosalinde were not on the list.
It seems the two managed to avoid getting involved in strange things.
Several tough-looking knights from Shesbarno's company held Nastalig and escorted him away.
All the knights in this room were knights from Shesbarno's company.
In other words, this was Mika's setup.
"It's a conspiracy! I'm being deceived! Everyone, you are being deceived by that brat!"
Nastalig shouted that, but unfortunately, there was not a single ally here.
Mika waved his hand goodbye, and Nastalig opened his bloodshot eyes wide, glaring at Mika with a terrible expression.
Demsoric and Concorado were also escorted away together since they were no longer needed.
And thus, he looked at the Vice Guild Master who remained.
With a cool face, as if to say he didn't want to get involved with Nastalig.
Good cutting.
"I never dreamed that the trusted Nastalig-kun would do such a thing."
He muttered as if it were a bolt from the blue.
Mika ignored the Vice Guild Master's words and took out a bundle of papers from his Magic Bag.
He placed the bundle of papers down with a rustle, and the Vice Guild Master's expression changed completely.
Eyes of someone who doesn't mind trampling people and is used to stealing.
Cold eyes looked straight at Mika.
"What is that?"
"Well, what could it be? Shall we read it out?"
No loud voice, no intimidation.
But the Vice Guild Master's eyes told the story.
Stop cutting that card.
As the Vice Guild Master read, the bundle of papers contained information related to the Vice Guild Master's irregularities.
In this country, bribery is not a crime.
Sending money and goods is even considered like etiquette.
However, malicious kickbacks are a crime.
Trading at an unreasonably high price and returning the difference to the Vice Guild Master's personal account.
This is properly prohibited as embezzlement.
Mika's and the Vice Guild Master's gazes clashed as if glaring at each other.
The one who averted his gaze first was the Vice Guild Master.
The Vice Guild Master let out a breath.
"I am on good terms with Marquis Maharavakes. I won't say anything bad. Just stop it."
He said it with a voice so gentle it was almost kind.
"Marquis Maharavakes?"
"Yes."
Who is that guy?
But this was the reason the Vice Guild Master could suppress the Guild Master and do whatever he wanted in the Adventurer Guild.
Virone, who was previously Cleiria's escort knight, was punished for falsifying the Marquis's orders.
This is a heavy crime punishable by beheading, but normally they wouldn't do something so obvious.
Like the Vice Guild Master, just hinting at it.
If they were actually on good terms, saying it to others wouldn't be a crime.
Depending on how one interprets "on good terms," it varies.
The Vice Guild Master didn't say anything specific.
But he hints at the connection to draw out that understanding.
Since he is actually committing evil deeds, it feels shady, but in this country, it's apparently gray.
At least, if the noble whose name was mentioned would tolerate it.
Well, he's probably sending plenty of peach-colored sweets.
(Having a noble as a backer really lets you do whatever you want in this country.)
But just because of that, thinking "I'll connect with a noble too" isn't that easy.
Especially a Marquis class; commoners can hardly get involved.
That's why the Guild Master couldn't oppose the Vice Guild Master except for parts he absolutely couldn't yield.
"Marquis, huh. Hmm... would he lend a hand?"
Mika leaned back against the chair's backrest and looked up at the ceiling.
(In this case, it's not really that close, is it?)
He would probably keep an eye on me.
But if I think about it when actually opposing other nobles, "Will they help that much?" raises a question mark.
Or rather, won't they not help that much?
Even with Cleiria's intercession.
"What do you think?"
"What?"
At Mika's question, the Vice Guild Master made a suspicious face.
A fox borrowing a tiger's clothes, right? Borrowing it and betting with the fur?)
Whose fur is shinier?
No, whose presence is more powerful?
Mika smiled brightly.
"I meet with Marquis Leventein once or twice a year whenever he visits the Royal Capital. One-on-one."
"M, Marquis Leventein...?"
At the unexpected name of a big shot, the Vice Guild Master made a surprised face.
In fact, everyone in the conference room trembled in shock and murmured.
"This year, I got a bit carried away. I was suddenly told to join a party."
"A party...?"
With a surprised expression plastered on his face, the Vice Guild Master muttered.
For a commoner to be invited to a noble's party, it must be a rare occasion.
"You know, right? The party celebrating the Emperor's twentieth anniversary of his reign, which happened about two months ago."
"T, the twentieth anniversary of his reign party!?"
"Really, he suddenly said such things, so I was surprised."
The murmur in the conference room grew even larger.
The Guild Master sitting next to him looked at me with a blank face.
"Thanks to that, I received the undeserved honor of conveying my congratulations directly to the Emperor. But I was surprised."
Ignoring the surrounding turmoil, Mika spoke.
"The Emperor knew about me before. He called my name before I introduced myself. Ah, that really surprised me."
Really, I was so surprised my memory went blank!
At Mika's story, the murmur disappeared, and the conference room fell silent.
"So, about that..."
Only Mika's voice echoed in the silent conference room.
Mika lowered his voice and asked the Vice Guild Master.
"Do you think Marquis Leventein would help me if I were in trouble?"
Tilting his head slightly, he asked such a thing.
(The shine of my borrowed fur is quite good, isn't it?)
At Mika's words, the Vice Guild Master made a startled expression.
And then, he thought with a somewhat pained expression.
The connection between the Vice Guild Master and Marquis Maharavakes.
The connection between Mika and Marquis Leventein.
Right now, the Vice Guild Master is probably thinking hard in his head.
It's impossible for nobles to fight seriously over a trivial dispute between commoners.
So, where is the compromise in this room?
A heavy atmosphere drifted in the conference room.
Time passed for a while with no one saying a word.
And then—
"If you hand over that document to me, I will resign as Vice Guild Master. What do you say?"
He proposed it with a serious expression, just like that.
(Hmm... he wants a mutual loss, does he?)
It was true that the Vice Guild Master had committed irregularities in the Guild.
But both sides had brought up the names of nobles.
If we go hard here, Marquis Leventein would really be troubled.
From the Marquis's perspective, it might just be a single sentence, "I don't know Mika Noisheim." But it is a fact that his name was brought up without permission.
Even though it was to counter the Vice Guild Master, Mika felt a little guilty.
He glanced at the Guild Master, who nodded with a heavy expression.
(If you disappear, I'll overlook the irregularities, is it?)
It became a bit of a bitter taste, but I can't see a path to a clean resolution from here.
Looking at Hoguajil, he also nodded with a heavy expression.
(Is this the end?)
Starting with the incident where they tried to pin a crime on Mika, two parties were arrested, and two executives were taken down.
One person remains, but for now, maybe it's time to close the chapter on the Guild side.
"Understood. Then, I'll leave the rest to you."
Mika told the Guild Master that, thanked the knights who cooperated, and was about to leave the conference room... when the knights stopped him.
Oh no, oh no, I forgot to get my Guild Card back.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, he left the conference room, and Chirensta was waiting with a worried expression.
"It's over. Almost as planned. The rest is up to you."
When Mika said that, Chirensta made a relieved expression.
And thus, the incident caused by the fake "Dispeller" came to a close.
With some parts deferred.
(...The rest is Yorkades, right? I'll go soon, so wash your neck well.)