Wolves of Hader

Chapter 90

Late evening, on the day I arrived in the capital.

All of the members gathered in my inn room. Unexpected information came up.

"Duke Mart and his subordinates are leading Laiza Merchant Guild's escort squad."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I've confirmed they were hired. It seems His Imperial Majesty's bloodline has not been found."

Urald, who was listening, clicked his tongue.

"They never intended to look for the Emperor's bloodline in the first place. Duke Mart is also of the imperial family."

We sent them here to see if they would join us, but it turns out they intend to act independently.

"It must have been too difficult to live in the empire, and uncomfortable to join us—so it seems they've decided to settle in this country."

"I guess they thought it's too hard for us to defeat Grand Duke Syren."

"It would be the same even if we win. If Duke Mart helps us find His Imperial Majesty's bloodline, it would be to someone else's benefit."

"You sent him knowing this, didn't you, young lord?"

I assumed Duke Mart would side with us.

So it's quite unexpected for me, too.

"Honestly, we were uncomfortable with each other, so I had to send him somewhere. I also couldn't understand Duke Mart's intentions."

"So, he neither wants to rebuild his house, nor seek vengeance, nor has ambition to become Emperor. Doesn't seem like that kind of person."

I think so, too.

He doesn't strike me as someone who would submit to another, even if it means living as an outcast. After all, he holds a duke's title.

Wundbark asked.

"Didn't they say if we can't find the Emperor's bloodline, Duke Mart is the only alternative?"

"That's right."

"Then we must find the bloodline at all costs."

Duke Mart is not a shallow man. I don't believe I misjudged his character.

There must be something more.

"Donnie, get in touch with Duke Mart. Make sure Laiza Merchant Guild doesn't find out."

"Understood."

"Did you find my father's old friend?"

Donnie sighed briefly.

"It's Viscount Drian. But apparently, the Drian house liquidated their assets and left in a hurry twelve years ago."

"Do we know where they went?"

"We haven't found them yet. He had a wife and two sons."

"How old were the sons?"

"Twelve years ago, they were eight and nine."

"The ages more or less fit."

"They do."

His Imperial Majesty's bloodline would have been about two years old when I was born.

So twelve years ago, they would have been eight or nine. Now, either twenty or twenty-one years old.

It's too much of a coincidence that the viscount's whereabouts are unknown.

It's likely my father entrusted the child to him.

Eilin's house also moved to a fishing village twelve years ago because of a court case.

Maybe Viscount Drian's house also left in haste because of that incident.

"Tomorrow, try asking around among the nobles. The viscount or his family might still be in this country."

"Yes, but, young lord."

"Yes? Go ahead."

"During our inquiries, an information organization approached us. It was a merchant guild that sells information."

"Information guild?"

"Yes. They seemed to know where we came from. They also knew about Dalin merchant guild."

Laiza Merchant Guild might have used that information guild to dig up noble weaknesses.

It's suspicious that they approached first, but it also means their intelligence is impressive.

"I need to meet someone at the top of that information group."

"Understood."

/ / /

Two days passed since we arrived in the Robe Republic capital.

Despite the team's efforts, we hadn't learned what we wanted to know.

All we discovered was that the court case was a murder, most citizens knew little, and Viscount Drian was only an administrative official, not involved in the trial itself.

Regardless, I sent word that I wanted to meet with the information guild, and they contacted me.

After meeting a mid-level manager, I was able to schedule a meeting with the vice-guildmaster.

At that point, I realized there was another reason this organization approached us.

The mid-level manager said it was surprising, since he'd never seen the vice-guildmaster meet a client before.

So I waited for about three hours, then followed a young man. We twisted and turned through back alleys.

"From now, I need to blindfold you."

"Go ahead."

The young man put a sack over my head, told me to put my hand on his shoulder, and we walked again.

We passed through an alley heavy with the scent of women, then through a restaurant, and finally stopped.

It was a place fragranced with pleasant incense. Not a trace of tobacco or alcohol—definitely a place where a woman lived.

"The guest has arrived."

"Show them in."

The door opened, and I stepped inside, brushing past a fluttering curtain. I sat in a fairly comfortable chair.

The sack was removed right away. As I expected, it was a woman's quarters with incense burning softly.

Except for by the door, curtains isolated the front and sides, so I couldn't gauge the room's size, nor where the vice-guildmaster was.

"You're younger than I thought."

A voice spoke from the left.

She sounded in her mid-twenties.

"Are you the vice-guildmaster?"

"That's right."

"No one's seen your face before, have they?"

"That's correct. Only the guildmaster knows my face."

The door opened as a girl brought in a teacup. The girl never glanced at me, just placed the tea and left.

I drank the tea without suspicion.

The tea was unfamiliar but fragrant.

"I saw your request. You certainly are bold."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not afraid you could lose your life?"

"I see no reason to die."

A puff of breath, a light laugh, sounded inside the curtain.

"Do you have the information I want?"

"There is one thing even we don't know. But the other, we know well—however, I can't sell it for merely two transparent gems."

"And what is that?"

She didn't answer for a moment.

After another sip of tea, the vice-guildmaster spoke at last.

"The Laiza Merchant Guild's court case."

"And why?"

"Some of that information is known only to us, the information group. If it leaks, our guild could be in danger."

"How much more do you need?"

"The price of the guildmaster and every guild member's life. And about the net worth of the entire merchant guild."

"You're saying this information is dangerous enough to risk your whole guild?"

"That's right."

"How much is it in gold coins?"

"About one million gold coins."

By Earth's standards, that's about $2.5 billion. In other words, she's saying the information can't be sold.

"If you're not selling the information, why meet with me?"

"Can I ask one thing?"

"As much as you want."

I heard a teacup inside the curtain.

"What will you use this information for?"

"Since I can't buy it, I have no reason to say."

"I never said I wouldn't sell. I just told you how dangerous it is, converted into money, because you asked. I could sell it for much less."

"You mean you can sell it for a lower price?"

"Of course. Far less than you might expect."

There's another person in front of me behind the curtain.

Could that be the guildmaster?

"Will you guarantee strict confidentiality?"

"I promise."

They probably already know—

Where we came from, what we're trying to do in this country.

"We plan to start trading with another merchant guild. But Laiza Merchant Guild will definitely interfere. I want to use this information in negotiations."

"I see."

There was whispering in the curtain. The vice-guildmaster's counterpart sounded older.

"I have a question for you."

"Please go ahead."

"Does the Laiza Merchant Guild know you have their secret information?"

"They do not."

"How do you know?"

"Because Laiza Merchant Guild doesn't know the case's hidden truth. All they know is what was revealed at the trial, like everyone else."

That means—the information group knows something even the Laiza Merchant Guild, a party in the trial, does not.

"In that case, you don't have to worry about danger. We can claim we found the information ourselves."

"But if it's known the information came from us, our guild will be finished."

She continued, looking at me directly.

"Then instead of money, what do you want from us?"

After a long pause, she answered.

"In truth, we are also victims of that court case. My younger brother died."

"Are you seeking revenge?"

"The elders want to ban our business. Laiza Merchant Guild ordered it. I'd like revenge, but preserving our business is more important."

I think I understand.

They're just not stating their real goal.

"You want to use us—to get us to win over the elders with that information."

"I won't deny it."

"Then you believe the elders will win?"

Again, there was a pause.

Finally, a frail old woman's voice came from in front.

"Neither the elders nor Laiza Merchant Guild. I believe you will win."

An unexpected answer.

"You know us well?"

"Not a lot. But I'm sure you will bring down Laiza Merchant Guild."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because you are the only one who can defeat Grand Duke Syren."

Grand Duke Syren...

I didn't expect to hear that name here. What is the truth behind this trial?

The vice-guildmaster continued.

"I've known about you for a while. Or, rather, I was interested in you. So, when you came to our country, we decided to stake the fate of our guild."

"You know what we're trying to do?"

"Of course. You'd never join hands with Laiza Merchant Guild, so we were sure you'd work with us. And we have the information you need."

That's why this guild approached us first. They didn't arrange everything—it's just the situation and timing fit.

"Can I take it, from now on, we're working together?"

"If you've decided, yes."

I stood up.

"Then, let's go together."

The outline of a figure moved behind the curtain, and a woman came out. She wore a thin veil, only her eyes showing.

For the vice-guildmaster of an information organization to show her face to me meant she'd chosen to side with us.

"I'm Nell, the vice-guildmaster of the Mogos Information Guild."

"I am Roger Hader."

She bowed politely.

And I returned the gesture.

/ / /

The vice-guildmaster's face looked much younger than her actual age. I'd almost call her cute.

Nell, the vice-guildmaster, dressed like an ordinary city young lady, shared a meal and tea with me.

We had our most important conversation sitting in the park—she said parks are safer.

"When did you first know we'd arrived?"

"To be honest, we were surprised, too. We knew you were coming, but didn't expect you to sneak in."

Vice-guildmaster Nell gave a faint smile.

In moments like this, she's just a regular young lady.

"How much do you actually know?"

"About what Goose merchant guild executives know. Strictly speaking, that's not what I found out—it's just public information."

"Do you have agents all over the continent?"

"To gather valuable information, you only need a handful of skilled people, not a crowd."

Nell smiled again.

"Our guild was already in crisis, and I thought if this isn't fate, I don't know what is. So after talking with my grandmother, I decided. To seek the revenge we yearned for, and to bet the future of my house."

"Your grandmother is the guildmaster?"

"Yes."

Nell looked ahead, hesitating about something.

It seemed she was preparing to say something important.

"In fact... I didn't just lose my brother in the incident twelve years ago. My parents died under suspicious circumstances as well. And I am also involved in that incident."

"You're involved?"

Nell kept her gaze forward.

"The hidden truth is me. I was at the scene, too. My brother died, and I survived. Nobody knows I was there. I am the sole witness."

So Mogos Information Guild didn't discover the secret; the vice-guildmaster herself was the witness the whole time.

If she had testified at the trial, she would have been killed. Her father couldn't lose his daughter, too.

"What exactly happened?"

"It was a terrible incident."

Just as she was about to continue, she looked left. I followed her gaze.

Some burly men were walking toward us.

Of course, I recognized them—and so did Nell.

"Do you know that Duke Mart Privy has become an escort for Laiza Merchant Guild?"

"I heard."

"Do you know why Laiza Merchant Guild hired them?"

"I'm not sure."

Nell spoke quietly.

"I suspect... Laiza Merchant Guild knew you were coming."

Laiza Merchant Guild was aware of us.

That could only mean one thing.

"They were hired to take us out."

"Probably."

Duke Mart was walking over with a smile.

Waving his hand, even.

He must have his reasons.

Reasons his very life depends on.