While the Ojou-sama was enjoying shopping as usual at the main store of the largest company in the kingdom, I was shown to another room and met Serpan, the chairman.
"So, you got what you were asking for."
"Yes, this way."
When the item he had ordered was completed, Serpan, who was sitting on the sofa across the desk, gave instructions to the subordinate man behind him with a smile.
Upon receiving the instructions, the man slowly puts the goods he brought on the desk.
If you remove the cloth that hung on the product, you will find several earrings made of the same crystal as one crystal ball the size of the palm of your hand.
"Let me confirm... Eins"
"Excuse me."
I picked up one of the earrings and handed it to Eins, who was behind me, and picked up the crystal ball.
If you trace the surface of the crystal ball with your fingertip, the magic tool activates in response to the preset movement.
The crystal glowed slightly in front of me as I stared, and the blurry image gradually became clearer, until the crystal showed the back of a man sitting on the sofa.
Needless to say, I'll be the one after this.
This is a reflection of the scene captured by Eins' earrings.
"I see, I certainly confirmed."
This crystal was retrieved from the shop of undelivered things that I had tried to peek into the skin of the Ojou-sama before, and was made into a magic tool so that even I, who did not have magical powers, could handle it.
Since there were no engineers in the kingdom who could handle magic tools, he hired an imperial mage engineer through the Libra Company.
The distance that can be communicated is not so long due to the size of the crystal, but there is no problem with a means of communication.
"It seems that you are satisfied, so please take a look at the next item."
The next thing he was offered was a simple bangle-shaped magic tool.
I've bought it here before, you can't go wrong with it.
It's the same body-enhancing magic tool that is attached to my left arm.
In the first place, there was no precedent for a magic tool for body enhancement, so the last time we made it was a prototype, so to speak, and this time it seems to be an improved type.
「...?」
I try to start it, but I am even confused by the obvious difference.
I don't feel the pain of tearing apart my whole body, which used to hit me just by activating it.
Not exactly none, but it's still a huge difference compared to before.
"As expected, Mr. Crow, it seems that you have noticed that, haven't you?"
"What's this?" I don't think it's about improvement."
It can be seen that not only the load has decreased, but also the strengthening power transmitted to the whole body has increased.
At this point, it's no longer an improvement, it's something else entirely.
Serpan looks very happy as he looks at me, or rather, he can't hide his grin.
"Well, yes, as was the case with the communication crystal I mentioned earlier, it was not the engineer contracted by our company that produced this product."
"What?"
"Actually, a certain engineer who was very interested in the body-enhancing magic tool that Crow-sama ordered last time asked me to make it... Oh, please don't make such a face. It's okay, let his arms be guaranteed. After all, he is the most skilled mage in the Empire."
I can't help but look at him suspiciously, but this man is a merchant at heart.
Since this guy says that, he wouldn't sell a bad product.
If that's the case, I'm going to beat it up right here.
"Hah, it's a big deal from the best in the Empire."
"No, it's not really, because it was the Empire's Leading Mage Master who made these magic tools!"
"Hmm...!"
What came out of Serpan's mouth was a big man far beyond my expectations.
Speaking of the leading magician, he is the top of the empire's magic technology development both in name and reality.
Since he is an important person in another country, detailed information has not come in, but the current leading magician is said to be a genius who is said to have accelerated the level of imperial magic technology by a hundred years in just a few years after assuming that position at a young age.
I can feel my cheeks twitch involuntarily when I let such a big guy do such a chore.
"As expected, Crow-sama, you always surpass our expectations with ease, and I never thought you would be able to connect with the Lead Mage. We need to rethink our strategy in the future of the Empire...!"
He didn't seem to care about me, and Serpan, who was usually calm, made me excited.
I thought I was very excited today, but I wonder if this is the cause...
I couldn't help but stare at him.
「... Excuse me, I was so excited that I forgot myself. Therefore, please take a look."
After a while, he finally noticed my cold gaze, coughed and calmed down, and held out his newly taken paper bag on the table.
"I'm not going to take a bribe."
"No, this connection with the Imperial Supreme Mage Technician would have promised our firm further development. It's a kind of thank-you for that."
"Really...?"
"We are committed to fair dealings, so we don't want to make a profit unilaterally.
"I see, I'll get that kind of thing."
To be honest, I have no interest in this guy, but it's just troublesome to be weird here.
If this man is satisfied just by receiving it, it would be better to receive it for the Ojou-sama in the future.
Thinking so, he picks up the paper bag on the desk.
From the sound of something colliding in the bag, it seems that the contents are multiple hard objects.
「... What's this?"
I opened the mouth of the bag to check the contents, but I was confused by what was inside.
It's not a question of what's inside, it's a question of why they give it to you.
"I thought Crow-sama liked that kind of thing, didn't you like it?"
Serpan looks at Eins behind me with his usual sly smile.
... For the time being, I understood that the man in front of me had a big misunderstanding.
It's true that I always buy contraceptives at this firm, so he thinks that is the relationship between me and Eins.
Obviously, he didn't expect to be using it to attack his lord's sleep.
It's still happening, but when I think about it calmly, I'm doing something ridiculous.
「... Well, then I'll let you use it."
"Best of all, you seem to be satisfied."
Bad for Eins, but I decided to leave this man's misunderstanding as it was.
You can't tell the truth, you can't help it.
Noting in the back of my mind that I'll be in Eins' mood later, I put away the paper bag and stand up.
"Nothing else, excuse me."
"Yes, please use our firm again when you come in."
When I confirmed that there was no other item to receive, I left the room to join the Ojou-sama, seeing me off by Serpan bowing my head.
◇◆◇◆
Basically, it is a slum that refuses to be related to the front side, but the only exception is the red-light district that exists in one corner of the surface layer, where residents of the front side can enter and exit freely.
A carriage passes by as beautifully dressed prostitutes stand on street corners to attract customers, while sturdy men guard the surroundings with keen glances.
Eventually, the carriage stops in front of the casino, one of the largest buildings in the red-light district, and a man in a fine suit descends from it.
"No, he's also a nuisance to call me unilaterally even though I have an errand, isn't he?"
The man who got out of the carriage, Serpan, the chairman of the Libra Company, put his hat back on his eyes and was led into the building by an escort.
Inside the lavishly decorated and glittering building, many people, from the poor to the rich, dream of getting rich quick and their eyes are filled with eyes.
As he passed by the casino swirling with desire, Serpan was shown to a room at the far end of the casino where only some VIPs were allowed to enter.
There was a huge round table in the room, and a man sat there.
At first glance, he is too young to look like such a place.
But he's the one who summoned Serpan, Ralph, the leader of Wild Fang, one of the three major organizations that rule the slums.
"It's late, it's already well past schedule."
"I'm sorry about this, because there was an important business meeting that I couldn't miss. Unlike that, we have a schedule that is three months in advance, so even if we are suddenly called, we will not be in trouble."
"Oh..."
Serpan's disgust makes Ralph grit his teeth silently.
Regardless of the Wild Fang of the past, now they are only equals.
No, in fact, Ralph's side is even seen as a downward organization.
That's why Serpan is coming late on purpose, and so is the other one who hasn't come yet.
"I'm going to disturb you!"
Serpan also sits down and waits for the remaining one, when it suddenly becomes noisy outside.
As soon as Ralph lifted his hips to see what was going on, a woman suddenly appeared as if kicking down the door.
The woman, who generously shows off her outstanding proportions in a sensational dress that clearly shows the lines of her body, shows off her white legs that extend smoothly from the slit of her clothes and sits in her seat when she enters the room.
"Regina! What is your attitude of keeping people waiting!?"
"Hey, you're a little guy, and I went out of my way to do it because you told me to do it, and I just want you to thank me."
Regina, the leader of the "Beehive" that organizes the prostitutes in the slums, overhears Ralph's protests while blowing kissels in her mouth.
From the point of view of her, who has taken many men as the best prostitute in the slums in the past, the blue brat doesn't hurt.
Knowing that, Ralph had no choice but to back down quietly.
"Heh, rare, did Anta come too?"
"Well, he says it's an important discussion in this slum, so I have to participate as the leader of the Ouroboros."
Regina's interest shifts from the inexperienced leader of a depressed organization to another leader who is rarely visible.
Serpan opened his previously narrowed eyes and looked at Ralph with a cunning smile, not as the chairman of the Libra firm, the kingdom's largest firm, but as the leader of the "Ouroboros" who controlled business in the slums.
Woman's "Beehive"
Gold "Ouroboros"
"Wild Fang" of Power
Today, slums are managed and operated under these three major organizations.
Basically, they did not interfere with each other because they each had their own control within each other's territory, and it was the first time since the current system that the lords of the three major organizations had come together in this way.
"Tell me your requirements, we don't have time."
Regina, who sits back in her chair, puffs white smoke towards Ralph, who has gathered them this time, urging them to start the meeting.
Everyone present thought that I was the last to come, but no one had an opinion on the queen, the oldest stock in the slums.
"Oh, what we got together this time was none other than the kidnapping that has been happening in this slum recently."
"We're investigating that, because some of our kids have been affected."
"We are also very annoyed by the loss of human resources that we had been keeping an eye on."
Ralph frowns at the smoke directed at him, but stands up to discuss the topic.
As for the kidnappers that Ralph has been burning his hands on lately, two others have reported as well.
As expected, they seem to be operating extensively throughout the slums.
"Isn't it Anta's fault anyway? You must be good at treating slaves."
Regina gives Serpan a teasing look.
Certainly, the Ouroboros, the organization of Serpan, handles all kinds of products that cannot be expressed in the belief that as long as there is money, they will prepare anything.
Among them, of course, slaves.
In that sense, it can be said that it is the most suspicious of these.
"Excuse me, if we were to do it, we'd do it better, not in such a sloppy way."
"Well, I guess so."
But Serpan is not stupid.
At least the incompetence to make enemies in this way of mischief cannot control both front and back business.
Knowing that, neither Ralph nor Regina have particularly pursued Serpan and the talks go on.
"As you know, these kidnappers are playing our territory, and lately they seem to be extending their hands to the front side."
"Certainly, there is information that the children of nobles are missing here."
Serpan nods as if to supplement Ralph's information.
Ralph didn't know that much information, but given the purpose of the kidnappers, it was quite possible.
I was inwardly amazed at Serpan's ability to obtain the information, but I was not surprised by the information itself.
"I don't like roundabouts, so let's get down to business."
"Ah, so what I would like to propose this time is that we and your organization would like to form a temporary cooperation to solve this case."
「...」
As Regina says, Ralph sees that it's about time, and he cuts out the purpose of bringing together the heads of the three major organizations this time.
That is to form a cooperative relationship with these three major organizations and wipe out the trash that ravages this slum at once.
The two people who are offered the proposal are silent about the content, but they encourage them to continue with only their gaze.
"The problem is not just in the slums, and if there is more damage, the people on the front side will intervene here. If that happens, the entire slum will suffer even more damage. In order to avoid that, these three organizations should cooperate even temporarily, to catch both criminals!"
Yes, it is not a case of choosing means as long as the damage has already spread to the surface.
If we leave the situation as it is, there is a possibility that the Kingdom Knights will decide that you are the culprit and attack you.
Or rather, that is the aim of both criminals.
It's unclear whether they'll take advantage of the chaos to flee or take further action, but they're not going to let them dance in the palm of their hands.
"I see, I understand what you mean, and there is indeed information that the Knights of the Kingdom have recently launched a serious investigation. If they look at us as they investigate, it will be a significant loss."
"Well, that's right, I certainly can't leave the trash that I like in their garden as it is."
Perhaps they both understood Ralph's perception, and their reactions were not bad.
To be honest, they are both people with strong habits because they are organizing the organization in the slums, but Ralph seems to be able to persuade them somehow, and Ralph pats his chest.
If the three major slum organizations join forces, this problem will soon be resolved.
"Then...!"
"But I'm not going to join hands with Anta."
"What!?"
But those dim hopes were shattered by Regina's words.
Ralph can't help but be confused.
Moreover, this is a slum crisis, and I don't know why I refuse.
"Well, we will decline that proposal."
Turning to Serpan, he, too, shakes his head to show his refusal.
Even if there is some loss, it is clear that if this problem is left unaddressed, his organization will suffer great damage later on.
He shouldn't have understood that.
"Why! This is a crisis for the whole slum!?"
"It's so loud, I know it's here."
"Then!"
"But it's just that it's more risky for us to partner with you than that."
Ralph slams his fist on the desk and tries desperately to persuade him again, but both remain unwilling to refuse.
Speaking of risks, is there more risk than leaving this problem unattended?
Is it because I'm too immature to be trustworthy?"
"It's different."
At first, I thought they thought that because he was a young leader, he was not worthy of trust.
Ralph, who has risen only by his fighting ability, is still young and less experienced than the two of them, so he is still often licked.
I thought it was the cause, but Serpan denied the words.
"Then why?"
"That's because Anta is a traitor."
「... Oh!"
The traitor, Ralph, can only think of one thing that comes to mind.
"Don't tell me you forgot what kind of hand Anta used to become the leader of the Wild Fang at the time ten years ago?"
"But that's not the case..."
Indeed, ten years ago, Ralph betrayed the organization to which he belonged.
This was also to market itself to Wild Fang, the largest organization at the time.
In order to use it as a stepping stone to one day return to aristocratic society, he betrayed his former companions and the "Lord".
But such things are commonplace in this slum.
It would be strange to be told that we cannot work together on something like this.
"Yes, that's not a problem in itself, even if Anta betrays the Lord who saved him and sells the entire organization to a hostile organization, but that's bad for the betrayed guy. This is such a place."
"But in your case, the other person was too bad, and there are still followers of 'his' in this slum. And probably within our organization."
That was Ralph's biggest miscalculation.
For the children who were at the bottom of the slums at that time, the adults who oppressed themselves, and the nobles who were the strongest symbols among them, were truly the saviors.
It is still the same now that the Wild Fang, who ruled the slums at the time, noticed and was eliminated.
Rather, the feat that "he" did at the end deepened his faith.
If they join forces with Anta, the organization could collapse from the inside out by the "girls" who are against it. This is why they can't team up with Anta."
Neither Serpan nor Regina are ordinary leaders, but even if they do so, they are not against fanatics.
In the decade since then, both have expanded to the point where they have been called the three major organizations, and the number of new members has been counted.
The candidates were all children of their age, and it would be nearly impossible to identify them in this slum, where children are born like weeds growing everywhere.
", he's going to stand in my way even after he's dead!"
"Well, I can't cooperate, but I'll keep the investigation going here, so I'll let you know if I find out anything."
"That seems to be the end of the story, and I'll excuse myself for this."
Just as the conversation was over, the two of them left their seats and left the room, leaving Ralph who was still nodding.
Ralph was left feeling helpless and could only be stunned for a while.
「... And what's really going on?"
Seeing the door close behind her, Regina cuts out a topic she couldn't talk about at the moment to Serpan as she walks next to her.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not ecstatic, you know that, don't you? That 'boy' is still alive."
Ralph seems to think of "him" as a ghost of a dead past, but Regina doesn't.
Rather, they think that "he" is still alive somewhere.
"He should have died in tandem with the Wild Fang's trump card, right?"
"But no corpse has been found... Right?"
"Isn't it just that it burned out and there were no corpses left?"
Yes, if you think about it normally, Serpan is right.
The last area where "he" is believed to have fought was a hell burned by scorching flames at the time.
There is no way that "he" who is said to have no magical powers can survive.
Some doubt his survival because no corpse has been found, but it was the Gaido Sorcerer who created the flames.
It would be natural to think that it was burned out.
Up to this point, if you were a slum person who knew about that time, you would know the knowledge you would take for granted.
Everyone would have concluded that "he" was dead and forgotten about it as the past.
"So why did they all dazzle all at once five years ago?
But these two had other information.
The girls under "him" who once fled to various places due to the loss of their lord.
The truth that only the two of them who invited them into their organization and hid them know.
"So you're saying that he who survived that incident ten years ago took the girls who were his subordinates?"
They don't listen to anyone's orders. Except for that boy who was the only one I admitted to as the Lord."
As she speaks, Regina thinks of the girl who once worked under her.
Where is that gray-haired girl who had no name and used to call herself by the number she received from the Lord, now and what is she doing?
I don't know."
"Huh... That's what I thought you'd say."
Regina sighs in amazement at the blunt answer.
Serpan is a genuine merchant who treats anything as a commodity.
Naturally, information is nothing but a valuable commodity for him.
Regina didn't expect to get it for free.
"Anta, if you pay for it, you'll prepare anything, right?"
"Well, we can prepare anything for you if you pay a fee, from phantom beasts to the daughters of the kingdom nobility, and even the new magic weapons of the Empire, right?"
It's a mind-blowing lineup, but this man's talent as a merchant is real.
As long as you give money, they will prepare all kinds of products.
"If I asked you to sell me information about that boy, how much would you sell it for?"
So maybe this guy knows where he is.
And perhaps her whereabouts, who should be beside her.
"Then..., if you prepare about 5,000 platinum coins, I will provide you with the information I can know."
"It's the kingdom's national budget for years, and it doesn't mean anything if Anta doesn't know anything."
At Serpan's answer, Regina drops her shoulders.
I knew, but apparently I didn't want to sell this information.
Naturally, if they find out that they sold information to the person in question, they may come to destroy the entire organization in retaliation.
The fact that he couldn't say it was impossible was the frightening thing about "him", and it was a natural decision for a businessman who wanted to avoid risk.
"Would you like to buy it?"
"Who's going to buy it!"
Still, Regina vigorously knocks down Serpan's hand, which she hatefully offers to charge a fee as a possibility of business.
"I don't know where he is doing now..."
Before the two leave the casino and get into their respective carriages, Regina looks up at the sky while blowing kissels.
The sky that can be seen through the gap in the building is cloudy and impossible to see through, as if it reflects the women now.
Maybe you're serving some nobleman?"
"Hah! That boy who held a grudge against the nobles more than anyone else and killed them more than anyone else would do such a thing, would do that?"
Serpan replies ecstatically about what she thought of Regina, but she laughs it off with her nose.
I don't know what kind of grudge he had, but "he" relentlessly killed and killed the nobles who were the trump cards of each faction.
That's why he was feared by all the inhabitants of the slum and was eventually crushed by the Wild Fang, the largest faction of the time.
That's why it's safe to say that this is not possible.
"Yes, that's right..."
Hearing these words, Serpan had a rare and subtle expression on his face.