The “scammers” in the slums referred to a type of loan shark.
Naturally, this was not a self-proclaimed expression, but a derogatory term given by the people of the slums. Their main source of income was deceiving uneducated rural folk and extorting money from them.
They were a parasitic organization commonly seen everywhere.
However, as I was unaware of their existence, it was clear that they were a new force that had recently settled in Perkus Manor.
Loan sharking was essentially a business targeting those in need of money. It was customary for merchants facing an impending repayment deadline to visit for a quick loan.
Therefore, a prerequisite for the emergence of loan sharks was the presence of a marketplace.
Without a market, loan sharking couldn’t be a viable business. And permanent markets typically existed only in territories of substantial size.
For a permanent market to exist, a demand sufficient to maintain it was necessary.
There was no reason for loan sharks to venture into the rural Perkus Manor.
However, as Liya actively engaged in commerce, several changes began to take place.
Supplies were systematically provided, and proper jobs were created. Through Liya’s efforts, a monetary economy started to gradually establish itself in Perkus Manor.
As a result, a small permanent market was formed in Perkus Manor.
Of course, this was quite recent.
The economic situation in Perkus Manor remained dire, and the market was not large. However, just the existence of a market drew the attention of some parasites.
Although it was still small, it was a place gradually developing.
It would not be bad to preemptively establish a foothold.
Especially since those called “scammers” were of particularly low quality. They had their main base elsewhere and operated loan sharking as a branch across various territories.
Naturally, their power and capital differed from those of other local thugs.
But they were still nothing but scoundrels.
Even so, Liya had her reasons for not touching the “scammers.”
First, from a short-term perspective, capital influx has a positive effect in some way. Money needs to circulate in the market.
In the long term, one would worry about capital outflows due to usury, but Perkus Manor was in urgent need of a catalyst right now.
There wasn’t enough leeway to worry about such a distant future.
Moreover, the unavoidable reality that the Percus family did not have the resources to deal with the “scammers” was one of Liya’s main reasons for leaving them be.
Technically, it was possible to take action if one made the effort.
The laws of the Empire were stern.
It was unimaginable for local thugs to stand against noble lords. Doing so would invite the stern judgement of the nearby grand lords or the Imperial Central Army.
However, it was only because the “scammers” were not causing problems that it hadn’t come to that.
They had spent years in back alleys.
They knew well that bothering nobles would lead to trouble for both sides.
Thus, the “scammers” exploited the simple-minded residents of the territory while keeping an eye on the Percus family.
I heard that there were already dozens of people who had fallen into debt and become slaves to their schemes.
This news was not bad for me.
If things went wrong, I could step in with the mentality of exterminating pests.
Yet whether it was unfortunate or fortunate, the “scammers” immediately showed subservience to my sudden visit.
“Oh, young master! If you had let us know in advance, we could have offered you a better reception…”
The middle-aged man who stole glances at me was unusually hairy.
He seemed to be the branch manager, having rushed out as soon as he heard the news to guide me to the reception room. Though the building was shabby, the reception room was surprisingly clean.
Perhaps this was to give borrowers a sense of confidence.
Otherwise, it would be to create a good impression when hosting guests like me.
Either way, I didn’t like the reason.
I asked directly.
“I’ve heard that recent missing person cases have been frequent in the slums.”
“…Pardon?”
The middle-aged man tilted his head at the sudden question.
His expression was one of complete confusion.
Regardless of his reaction, I slumped down onto the table in the reception room. The middle-aged man, staring blankly at me, finally sat down across from me, startled.
At the gesture of the middle-aged man, one of the muscular men standing nearby hurriedly dashed out.
It didn’t take long for a relatively decent cup of tea to be brought out.
“Do you happen to have any information on this?”
The series of blunt questions caused a strange look on the middle-aged man’s face.
My way of speaking was quite direct for a noble.
I was not as clever as Reto or Liya. I lacked the capacity for the high political rhetoric employed by seniors like Delphine or the Lady Virgin Saint.
That’s why my way of speaking always stuck to being straightforward.
Ironically, the more straightforward I was, the harder it became for the other party to understand my intent. My words were so clear that the only information they could infer was the questions I posed.
After a moment of contemplation, the middle-aged man eventually broke into a forced laugh.
“Th-That can’t be! Even though we’re lowly thieves, we wouldn’t forget the grace of the Percus family. But human trafficking…!”
I nodded along, agreeing with the middle-aged man.
Then, the furry middle-aged man, appearing somewhat relieved, spoke passionately.
“We wouldn’t do such extreme things! You can ask other members of the Percus family about this…”
“I see.”
At my straightforward acknowledgment, the middle-aged man looked somewhat flustered.
Regardless of the situation, the words that flowed from my mouth were always simple.
“Then, could you share information about the debtors? It seems people in the slums often don’t publicly register personal information…”
“Of course!”
The middle-aged man hurriedly got up and fetched a bundle of documents from a drawer. I read through the documents without saying a word.
Many names listed matched those I had received from Arthur, the administrative officer of the Empire.
This indicated that there were many missing persons.
Of course, this alone was insufficient evidence. The counterpart probably knew that as well.
However, there was one fact he didn’t know.
“…There are a lot of missing persons.”
“Of course! Generally, those who incur unmanageable debts tend to run away in the night.”
“Does running away excuse the debt?”
“No, we obviously collect from their families. We also need to survive… Haha.”
Not just from families, but from anyone with a connection.
I was well aware of their methods.
The academy was not a flower garden, and among the foolish who went bankrupt after falling into gambling and indulgence, there were many.
Even so, I deliberately pretended not to doubt the middle-aged man’s words.
I merely nodded and set the documents down with a thud on the table.
“…Did you obtain the information you sought?”
“Yes, roughly.”
A sigh of relief escaped the middle-aged man.
He soon began to flatter me in a servile tone.
“Indeed, the second son of the Percus family is called a pacifist, and it seems that is exactly true. Most who come to see us often threaten us…”
“Is there really a need to do that?”
To my indifferent response, the middle-aged man smiled in agreement.
And just as he hesitantly reached for the documents on the table, my sharp senses caught the fleeting change in the middle-aged man’s expression.
It was a smirk.
A face filled with delight, as though he had fooled a naive young boy. The unfortunate truth for him was that I had not come here for interrogation.
I was already certain of my beliefs.
The “me” from the future never provided useless information.
Moreover, I had repeatedly gained indications that missing persons were indeed related to criminal activities. Trying to dismiss it as mere disappearances due to escaping debts would never hold.
A connection existed.
However, I merely needed “more peaceful means” to uncover it.
The hand axe came crashing down, the hairy middle-aged man screamed, and the table shattered, sending wooden splinters flying in all directions.
The axe had already crushed the shoulder of one of the muscular men surrounding me.
As the body parts scattered, my body dashed like a beast.
The first man I caught was the one in front of me.
I channeled the momentum of my run into a punch to his face. Crunching sounds reverberated as his face caved in around the impact.
The sound of leather hitting a drum boomed.
“Puhak…!”
Simultaneously, blood and pieces of flesh splattered across my vision.
The muscular men did not remain still.
The reactions of the two muscular men attacking me were immediate.
They were not random thugs.
At the very least, they were not individuals that a rural territory loan shark would employ.
This must be why Liya warned me of danger.
But they weren’t my match at the moment.
With a crash, an axe struck the arm of one man from the side. The man’s body couldn’t withstand the force and leaned over.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
The axe embedded in his companion’s shoulder had moved on its own, which would have indeed shocked anyone.
It was the secret of stillness in motion.
Though achieving it just once, it was a technique from the Sword Circle that twisted trajectories to create new momentum. Such elevation was beyond the comprehension of mere back-alley thugs.
Before long, three of the muscular men collapsed.
The last remaining one, who had been rushing towards me, merely bent his body to dodge the swinging bat. I simply needed to deliver a blow to the solar plexus.
With a punch that pierced between the skeletal gaps, I delivered a terrifying shock inside.
Blood erupted from the mouth of the man, who had been bent over, falling just behind me. I effortlessly flipped the massively built man with sheer strength.
Now, only three remained.
I pulled the axe from the knee of one and felt a fresh gush of blood emerge. The eyes of the man holding his knee were filled with terror he could not hide.
He showed no intention of resisting me, so I didn’t bother to deal a finishing blow.
“…P-Peace!”
The hairy middle-aged man cried out, and my gaze shifted to him.
I stood by, waiting for the next words he would say.
I wanted to see what he would say next.
“‘You’re a pacifist!’”
The middle-aged man’s expression, as he shouted that, looked terribly wronged.
At that, I let out a soft “ah,” realizing something.
Now that I thought about it, that was indeed my nickname.
With a chuckle, a straightforward response fell from my lips.
“…It’s peaceful now, isn’t it?”
Though intended as a light joke to defuse the tension, the middle-aged man’s reaction was unlike I had expected.
His complexion had turned pale.
The gaze with which he looked at me was surprisingly familiar, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
It was the look of someone seeing a madman.
