Before heading to the Commercial Guild, we stopped by the factory.
It was early morning, but the factory was already bustling with activity.
When we approached the office, the manager greeted us warmly.
“It was completed early this morning.”
“That was quick.”
The manager brought out the completed swords and placed them on the table.
A total of three swords and one dagger.
“That’s more than I expected.”
“Would you like to try them?”
“No, I think I’ll need them soon.”
Aila took two for herself, while she entrusted one to Isabel.
I decided to take the remaining dagger.
After paying for the swords, we headed straight to the Commercial Guild.
“This sword is heavier than a regular sword.”
“That’s because the material is a bit special.”
Originally, it was supposed to be much lighter, but since all the materials were used, this was the result.
Upon arriving at the Commercial Guild, a staff member handed us a note.
“They told me to give you this.”
The note read: “Tonight, to warehouse at dock 7.”
Unlike the usual private room meetings, the location was very unfamiliar.
Since it was our first time going there, we decided to arrive early to scope things out.
“There’s no dock 7?”
“Pardon?”
I had planned to locate the meeting place in advance to avoid getting lost with Hilde, but when I asked the people around the harbor, everyone said there was no dock 7.
“That’s strange. Why would they tell us to come to a place that doesn’t exist?”
To find out more, we began to ask around the vicinity.
“Are you the ones looking for dock 7?”
It seemed rumors had already spread around the harbor, as a middle-aged man approached us.
“There’s no dock 7 here.”
“Then where is it?”
“There’s a large empty warehouse in the inner city. Follow the big river and you’ll find it.”
His words prompted us to start walking along the large river that cuts through Hecar.
“What did Hilde think we would do to find that place?”
“Good question.”
After walking along the river for a while, we arrived at a deserted area.
Surrounding the large warehouse were old wooden structures.
“It seems like this place isn’t developed yet.”
“It seems almost no one lives here, in fact.”
The entrance to the warehouse was open, so we decided to take a look inside.
There was an old, half-finished large ship inside.
While checking out the old ship, Hilde peeked out from above and said, “Oh, you all came early?”
“Come on up.”
Upon climbing onto the deck, we saw Hilde with several men.
“Why didn’t you write the location properly?”
“Someone informed me as I was coming here.”
When Aila nodded, the man who had informed us appeared from behind Hilde.
“He’s a friend who helps occasionally when it’s outside the guild.”
The man gave us a light nod.
“Why did you call us here?”
“Come inside. Normally, if you come at night, you’ll find out naturally, but since you’re here early, I’ll explain.”
As we entered the designated room inside the ship, Hilde sat down and immediately poured herself a drink.
“This is my secret base.”
“What do you do here?”
“I discuss important matters with various people.”
The hidden business of Hilde was taking place here.
“A very important guest is coming today.”
“That means we are needed at that meeting.”
“Exactly. So let’s stop the deception now.”
Standing up, Hilde downed a drink, emitting a faint glow from her body.
“Could it be you?”
“That’s right. I’m also a beastman.”
I understood why Hilde instantly recognized Aila as a beastman.
“You managed to live among humans quite well.”
“In Latnia, beastmen are slaves. They can’t obtain citizenship either.”
Hilde took a seat and pulled out a cigarette to smoke.
“I was sold as a slave when I was young. When I became an adult, I became the lover of a gang leader. That’s when I started my business. Whenever the organization disappeared or was newly formed, I found a new benefactor.”
The ash from her cigarette fell directly to the floor.
“Today marks the last of that. From now on, I can run my business without a benefactor.”
“Is this related to the guest coming today?”
“Yes.”
Hilde crushed the cigarette and downed another drink.
“There’s a room downstairs, so please rest until dinner.”
We didn’t go to the room and instead spent time on the deck, swinging the sword we had received from the factory.
“It’s definitely heavy.”
“If it’s heavy, it cuts well, which is great.”
“A sword should be light.”
Isabel drew her usual sword and swung it while speaking.
“You’ll be able to lift that weight naturally as you grow.”
“I hope so.”
Before we knew it, the deck had been decorated quite luxuriously.
A table was set for dining, with candle holders placed on top for decoration.
The people working had lined up, and the place was starting to get busy.
“Hey, stand in front of me for a moment.”
“Why?”
“There are too many people.”
I wouldn’t really be able to protect Isabel just by standing in front.
Regardless, the workers didn’t seem to pay us much mind.
When Hilde emerged from the room, she was wearing an elegant dress.
“Prepare wine over here, and beverages over there.”
As the dinner setting was being arranged, bodyguards were stationed around.
“Who on earth is coming that requires all this?”
“Who knows?”
Creeeak!
The warehouse entrance opened, and a person entered, escorted by guards.
Standing on the deck of the ship, we could clearly see the entire factory area.
As the mysterious guest boarded the ship, Hilde stood up to personally welcome them.
“Welcome, Cecilia.”
“It’s been a while, Hilde.”
The two seemed to know each other well.
“Allow me to introduce everyone. This is Cecilia, who runs a well-known organization in Roran.”
She had green eyes and hair, with pointed elf-like ears, but at the same time, she had horns.
“I’m Cecilia. I’ve heard many of you have provided great assistance for this endeavor.”
Her name felt vaguely familiar, as if I’d heard it somewhere before.
“Ah, yes. A little.”
“Let’s start with the meal.”
As we sat at the table, the prepared dishes began to arrive swiftly.
Though the meal was served, the conversation quickly revolved around work-related topics.
Hilde mentioned another organization, the Cecilia faction.
“My people will start their activities tomorrow.”
“Most of the organizations here are regular humans.”
Cecilia’s organization was primarily made up of magical beings, but she mentioned that only humans were brought from there.
If the Latnia underworld were to involve magical beings, the Empire would quickly move to eliminate them.
“If we conquer this area, the map of Roran will expand.”
There aren’t many places within the Latnia Empire where magical beings can coexist.
Hilde aims to turn Hecar into one of those cities.
The subsequent discussion detailed the meticulous plans for the complete conquest of Hecar.
Such as replacing the currency with Roran currency or opening the border to merge.
A plan to absorb the areas around Sevilla through methods other than war.
“That would cost an immense amount of money, wouldn’t it?”
Aila raised this concern after hearing Hilde’s plans.
Sevilla is a city too big for just one Commercial Guild to swallow.
“This plan extends over at least ten years. We will absorb it bit by bit.”
In a few decades, this area may naturally become Roran territory.
As the meal concluded, Hilde placed a bag filled with payment on the table.
“Take it with you.”
“But we haven’t dealt with all the targets yet.”
“It’s alright. Two organizations have already been wiped out in a fight today.”
One of the five targets sensed the situation wasn’t favorable and left Hecar.
Out of the remaining four, two were handled by us, while the rest ended up destroying each other.
All that remains is for Cecilia to step in and claim them.
“More importantly, you’re from Roran, right?”
“I’m not, though.”
Isabel confidently stated that she wasn’t, but Aila and I had no retort.
“How can you be so sure?”
“You’re a beastman, and the other girl gives off the essence of a magical being no matter how much you try to hide it.”
I raised my arms to smell my body here and there.
I didn’t think I had any particular scent that would come from a magical being.
“It’s the scent of the potion rather than body odor. You’ve just recently consumed it, haven’t you? I can tell because I’ve tried it too.”
For magical beings to enter Latnia, it’s essential to consume a transformation potion.
Cecilia recognized that scent on me.
“Well, I don’t care what you’re doing here. Plus, since I’ve received help, I should give you a gift in return. Bring it here.”
As Cecilia gave the command, a bodyguard brought a small box.
Upon opening the box, it contained several jewels.
“What is this…?”
“It’s a magic stone. It should be worth about 500 gold.”
Receiving the box, we stood up from our seats.
“Well then, we’ll be on our way.”
“Alright. Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
Hilde saw us off and went back inside the ship with Cecilia.
“What’s a magic stone?”
“It’s a precious gem.”
“What? It’s useless.”
Isabel didn’t seem to understand the value of a magic stone.
But I had seen the power of magic stones firsthand.
They are items that let one wield tremendous force with everyday capabilities.
“With this, if one expends their full power using magic, they could obliterate a large part of a city.”
Of course, it depends on the wielder’s discretion.
“We’ve made a lot of money, so let’s leave immediately.”
“Isn’t it late?”
“It’s better for us to leave as soon as possible.”
Hilde wasn’t aware that we had come from Roran.
Since Cecilia revealed that during dinner, we decided to hurry and leave.
There was another way to cross from Hecar to Roran besides going over the snow-capped mountains.
“Why didn’t you come that way?”
“There’s no teleportation device over there.”
“There are some installed on the mountains; why not?”
“Because it’s too close to Latnia. Sometimes traveling mistakes happen.”
Mixed teleportation magic.
For reasons unknown, if an accident occurs, parts of the body can end up being sent to different locations.
That’s why there are no favorable teleportation devices made at the borders between Roran and Latnia.
