Wolves of Hader

Chapter 109

We gathered at a certain place in Tris.

The intelligence squad joined as well.

All eight members of the intelligence squad, who were resting in Tris, had responded to my summons.

"You've all worked hard."

"We didn't do much. The knight order that defended the fortress did most of the hard work."

"Please hang in there for two more years. Once we train new recruits, you'll all handle just information management."

"Yes. We also heard about that."

When these veterans retire from the field, the organization will gradually transform into a secretive one.

After a few years, the new recruits won't even know their faces.

Afterwards, it won't matter if they start families or take on cover jobs.

Information gathering relies more on piecing together fragments of news than on spy activities.

The key is analyzing the collected information.

Risky operations only require a few exceptional agents.

In any case, you can't stay in the field for long. The longer a tail, the easier it gets stepped on.

Regardless, this intelligence squad was precious to me.

Especially those with experience.

I addressed my agents.

"There's a branch of the Mogos Intelligence Merchant Guild here in Tris. Down at the docks, there's a sailor's tavern called 'Galli'. The tavern owner is the branch manager. What's the code again?"

Donnie checked a small note and answered.

"'Rusty Key'."

"Tell the tavern owner the code and that you're from Hader. He'll cooperate. Ask him to look into any influential figures who've recently arrived in Tris, both local and foreign. Also, get intel on the Goro Merchant Guild."

"Understood."

"We also need to find dirt or evidence of crime for Goro's guildmaster. The gang I met here in Tris is in competition with the Goro Merchant Guild. There's probably something we can dig up through them, too. And—"

Everyone focused on my words.

"With merchants, use merchants' methods. With gangs, use gang methods. That's all."

The intelligence squad all stood and left the room.

I and the berserkers waited.

We would move as soon as information came in.

/ / /

That evening, on the day we arrived in Tris.

The intelligence squad's squad leader returned.

The berserkers were still with me, and the intelligence agents were scattered elsewhere.

"We've confirmed that an elder priest of the Divine Order has entered the country. His name is Horo, and he's currently staying at Goro's villa."

"Any notable traits?"

"He is said to be extremely greedy and ambitious and is a strong candidate for the next five-member Elder Council. Notably, he is openly attracted to men."

"Is it just the priest?"

"There's one more."

The squad leader checked the next note.

"It's confirmed that Barako Merchant Guild's guildmaster—one of Tris's magnates—and Merchant leader Goro have dined together three times recently."

"What sort of person is he?"

"Merchant leader Barako is the chief of Tris's Merchant Trade Association, and is called the magnate of magnates. He is very close with the Divine Order and does business with Robe's Laiza Merchant Guild as well."

"What does he mainly deal in?"

"He monopolizes exports of the Empire's grain and resources. On the import side, he deals mainly in expensive goods."

"So he must've traded with us, too."

"The Goose Merchant Guild sold gold from central to Barako's guild. The gold bars traded recently were all supplied by us."

Gold veins that were supposedly running dry had been discovered several years in a row recently.

They were mined by our house. To Barako's merchant guild, we suddenly became a major 'client'.

"What's the relationship between Merchant leader Barako and Count Mals?"

"The two houses have always been rivals. Merchant leader Barako could take Count Mals's title, although their business fields don't overlap."

"So Barako could become the new count."

"Exactly."

Count Mals and Merchant leader Barako.

These two are the two mountains of Tris.

Count Mals enjoys the support of the nobles, so he won't fall so easily.

But it would be a different story if the grand duke intervened.

"Are Merchant leader Barako and Merchant Goro close?"

"Not especially. Since Goro's merchant guild came from gang roots, Barako tends to keep a distance. Until now, Barako's merchant guild exported copper to Robe."

"So their interests aligned."

"Yes."

Us exporting copper in large volumes without going through the Divine Order probably made Merchant leader Barako angry.

Since we're also clients, there must have been pressure from the order.

"Is there any particular reason trade with Robe must go through the Divine Order as intermediary?"

"If you want to trade with Tern, too. There was probably a condition that even with Robe, it had to go through the order."

"Right, that makes sense."

There's no reason to go through the Divine Order for trade. Only a treaty between the actual countries is necessary.

The order receives royal family support from each country under the pretense of faith and mediation, which is how it obtained its current power and influence.

And after that, it accumulated immense wealth.

Countless houses have fallen because of the order.

If the priests show up and say it's Apeon's will, it becomes God's will.

"What about Viscount Kiris and Baron Urada's locations?"

"They're staying at Merchant Goro's estate. Their families and the closest aides are confirmed to be with them."

If they've left their houses and come to Tris, they probably brought all their wealth.

Therefore, if we neutralize the remnant forces of the two houses, we can occupy their territories.

"Still can't find Steward Aldo's wife and son?"

"No. We haven't been able to determine their whereabouts. Merchant Goro conducted business as usual at the guild today, and we haven't found evidence of crime in the Goro Merchant Guild. However, they've clashed more frequently with the Kudo Merchant's Guild this year."

"Kudo Merchant's Guild?"

"It's the gang you met before."

A jumble of thoughts started tangling in my head.

The previously separate relationships became linked, everyone's interests and losses collided, and all of it converged into a single outcome.

The conclusion was clear.

Three would fall, one would be on the verge.

And the last one would have to side with us.

"Check the properties owned by Goro Merchant Guild and Merchant Goro. Same for the viscount and the baron. Don't overlook even a fishing village hut."

"You think the steward's family could be in a place like that?"

"Yes. If any head of house's trusted aides go out, tail them. There's a good chance Steward Aldo's family will be where they're heading."

Merchant Goro has no reason to help the other two heads of house.

If things go wrong, he plans to pin it on them.

The viscount and baron would've shown dissatisfaction, but they had no other recourse.

They're already at the cliff's edge. They had to do something. Goro used that.

Merchant Goro must have meticulously prepared for this.

He would have looked for leverage to get us by the throat.

He was probably smirking to himself, convinced he found it.

"Donnie, send a letter to Count Mals's house."

"What should I write?"

"In accordance with imperial law, when a dispute arises between noble houses, any third party who intervenes is considered a participant in the dispute. This conflict has been officially reported to the imperial Secret Council, and thus we politely request your neutrality."

That means the patrol troops can be dispatched but mustn't intervene.

While Tris's patrol acts as the city guard, strictly speaking, it's Count Mals's force.

The conflict is between houses, and it just happens to take place in the city of Tris.

It's not a simple matter of street violence. There's no precedent for this, so it's a bit ambiguous.

The two houses that attacked our house lost the war and owed us reparations.

But after not paying and vanishing, we set out to find the heads of the two houses, only to be stopped by their 'forces'.

Thus, the fight broke out.

That's the official explanation for the incident.

The real story was something else entirely.

/ / /

The next afternoon.

With three berserkers, I headed downtown in Tris.

We were all dressed like gangsters.

We went straight to a building by the docks.

At the entrance to a four-story building, a large sign read Kudo Merchant's Guild.

I saw some low-level thugs too.

"Is the boss in?"

"What's this, you lot?"

Thunk—

The swaggering henchman who'd approached was knocked out the door. We went up the stairs.

No doubt the boss would be on the top floor.

"Who the hell are these bastards barging in?"

"Hey! Where'd you punks come from?"

Men were coming down from the second floor.

Our agents rushed up to meet them.

"What the—!"

Bam, bam—

The agents shoved aside two men and ran straight up to the top floor.

One agent kept kicking anyone coming down from below.

"Boss! Emergency!"

"Block them! Who the hell are these guys?"

More goons poured out from upstairs.

But with the agents' fists, they went down three or four at a time.

Some rolled down right in front of me.

Even at the top, someone was shouting.

"What's all this ruckus?"

"They barged in, boss!"

"Where are they from?"

"I've never seen them before!"

"What are you idiots doing? Can't you stop a few guys?"

"Boss! It's not that—"

Bam, bam—

Four guys trying to block the stairs tumbled down all at once.

Some tried to draw knives but ended up with broken arms and went flying.

"Get everyone who's outside in here!"

Shing.

The shouter drew a pair of swords.

"You bastards want to die?"

An executive charged fiercely, but that was as far as he got.

He was sent flying down the corridor by a punch from our youngest, Nabak.

I reached the top floor as well.

One knocked out in the corridor was a familiar face.

The curly-haired guy whose gold tooth I'd taken.

Looks like he'd gotten a replacement already.

As I walked down the hall, a door at the end opened.

The boss came out, holding a sword.

"Do you have business with me?"

"Put the sword away. I came to talk."

"Talk? Who are you guys?"

"I'm the third son of the Hader family."

"What?"

The boss scowled, staring at me.

It was chaos behind us. Dozens of thugs showed up, but one of our agents held them off single-handedly.

"From the east, that Hader?"

"Yeah. Tell your men to simmer down and bring me some tea."

I passed the boss and entered his office.

Then sat on the sofa inside.

Only then did the boss enter too.

Still gripping his sword.

The agents kept watch outside.

"This is crazy. Just what are you doing?"

"Put down the sword. I'm here to talk business."

"Business?"

Only then did the boss's eyes light up a bit.

He knew about our ties with the Goose Merchant Guild.

And that Goose were no longer just gangsters.

"Boss! Are you OK?"

"Argh! Do something!"

"Boss!"

The boss barked out.

"Hey! Quiet down out there!"

"Huh?"

"I said, keep it down!"

Clang.

The boss threw his sword aside and took a seat across from me, breathing heavily.

He stared at me again, then sat on the sofa.

Finally, things got quieter outside.

"What do you want from me?"

"Isn't living as a gangster getting old?"

"Hah... well, this is unexpected."

This Kudo fellow was as bold as Goose.

Merchant leader Goro probably even more so.

"Still fighting with Goro Merchant Guild these days?"

"Aren't you guys from Goro?"

"I told you—I'm Hader's third son."

Kudo frowned at me, finally seeming to understand at least a little of why we'd come.

His expression changed, just slightly brightening.

"So what do you want to do?"

"Merchant leader Goro runs a proper guild, while you're just shaking down small-time merchants. Doesn't that sting your pride?"

"You're really gifted at getting under people's skin, you know that?"

"Still, it's amazing. Merchant leader Goro has more money, but you're still in the game."

"Hey!"

Kudo grit his teeth but kept his cool.

Then sighed and replied.

"They buy swords with money. We sharpen our own blades from the gutter, growing up as orphans in these dockside alleys. Can you compare us and those types?"

"I'm not trash-talking you."

Kudo almost cursed, but bit it back.

Instead, he cursed me with his eyes.

"I'm sure some of your boys have sold out for cash."

"Well, if I die to a knife from a childhood friend, at least I'll go out smiling. You know? Betrayal isn't so easy for our guys."

Kudo grinned widely.

This is how this gang survived against Goro Merchant Guild. They had guts that couldn't be bought.

"Send a few of your boys to Goro's guild."

"And if I do?"

"Have them start trouble and get beaten up."

"I think I get what you're after, but you think that'll actually work? If you have a justification, are you just going to storm their guild?"

I grinned back at him.

"The guys who get beaten up? They're now my house's men."

"What?"

"As of today, I'm hiring all of you. That first job? Collecting debts. If they get beat up in the process, then it's my house they're picking a fight with."

Boss Kudo looked at me in disbelief.

I spoke again.

"I'll put you in charge of Goro's merchant guild."

"What does that mean?"

"Time to give up the thug life and run a business."

I grinned again at the dumbfounded Kudo.

No point in being shocked or overthinking.

The result was what mattered.

No one would ever be able to prove the process.