In a ruined house where no one approaches, two men faced each other.
These were the same two men who were discussing their “next move” concerning Kousuke and the others the other day.
However, the atmosphere today was different from the other day, and it had been hostile from the start.
The man who had requested them to “do something” about Kousuke and the others was angry at his counterpart.
“What is this?!”
Although their voices were suppressed so that their discussion in the ruined house wouldn’t be heard by the surrounding people, he was quite enraged.
The man facing him calmly brushed aside his anger.
“There’s nothing to it. It’s impossible for our men to raid that merchant caravan.”
Hearing that blunt statement, the man’s anger intensified, and a vein bulged on his forehead.
“To think you can’t defeat just one C Rank party and two other parties… you’ve fallen, haven’t you?”
“I apologize, but I believe Lord Hermann is more knowledgeable than anyone that a monster adventurer’s guild rank is merely a guideline.”
“What did you say?!”
Hermann reflexively tried to retort, but his anger subsided slightly when his name was mentioned at this place.
The organization of the man he was facing was one he had long relied on and used due to its usefulness.
Each time, he had negotiated with the man before him, but the man in front of him was not someone who would carelessly mention a name in such a situation.
By mentioning his name, he had been subtly guided to calm down.
He felt like he was being manipulated, but nonetheless, being able to calm down somewhat now was significant.
He had gained the composure to properly consider the meaning of the man’s words.
Upon careful consideration, he realized that the meaning of his words contained important information.
“…Is it really that bad?”
Hermann, who had underestimated them as mere C Rank adventurers, accurately grasped the meaning of the man’s words.
In short, he was unequivocally stating that Kousuke and the others, who were guarding the caravan, were not of C Rank caliber.
With their long association, he had a degree of trust that this man would not exaggerate the opponent’s strength to cover up their own failure.
Perhaps sensing Hermann’s thoughts, the man nodded slightly.
“Yes. In terms of strength, it wouldn’t be strange to call them A Rank.”
“…What?!”
Despite having calmed down and decided to listen seriously to the man’s words, Hermann once again wore a look of doubt.
A Rank adventurers were a group of highly skilled individuals.
If they possessed such strength, it was only natural that rumors would reach his ears through his work.
However, Hermann himself had never heard the name of an adventurer named Kou.
“I’ve never heard of an adventurer named Kou?”
“Yes. We investigated thoroughly, and it seems they recently moved from the Central Continent.”
“I see.”
Hermann, in his position, could not help but hear that adventurers active on the Central Continent were a group of skilled individuals.
Although he had never seen them with his own eyes.
While watching Hermann ponder, the man further explained the current situation.
“We deployed our maximum force available, but we were completely outmatched. Any further deployment would only result in significant losses and be meaningless.”
He declared it impossible, just as he had before, but this time Hermann did not become enraged.
He was already piecing together his next course of action in his mind.
“…I see. Understood. …Thank you for the information.”
“No. After all, failure is failure.”
Hermann realized that the man before him, with whom he had a long-standing relationship, was suppressing his anger.
This man had handled his share of illicit jobs, but he had rarely failed.
That was precisely why he had never been so thoroughly defeated as he was this time.
He could imagine how much he must be seething inside.
Thinking of that, Hermann, who could still make his next move, felt a sense of composure.
“Understood. You are no longer involved in this matter. …No, wait until you receive further instructions.”
“As you command.”
With the man bowing deeply to Hermann, the discussion at this place came to an end.
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Having completed most of the journey to the Royal Capital, Kousuke and his party were enjoying a short rest in the last major town.
The cargo they were currently transporting was being managed by the branch of the Merchants Guild where it was to be delivered.
Therefore, Kousuke and the others were temporarily freed from their duty of guarding the goods.
Incidentally, even if the cargo were to be lost during this time, neither Kousuke nor Renee would be held responsible.
Since the journey was progressing ahead of schedule, it was a short break before the final push.
Just as Kousuke and the others were inspecting items at a magic tool shop, Renee arrived with a somewhat flustered expression.
“Ah, it’s good that you’re here, Kou-san. I’m glad I found you.”
“Renee-san? What’s wrong?”
“A slight problem has occurred regarding that cargo…”
Renee hinted that she couldn’t say more here and trailed off.
Kousuke sensed this and immediately returned the magic tool he was holding to its place.
“Is that so? Should I return as well?”
“Yes. Please.”
By the time they reached this town, Renee’s trust in Kousuke had reached its peak.
Her coming to call on Kousuke during their rest was proof of that trust.
Kousuke, too, felt that being called upon was not a problem, as he was still on guard duty even during his rest.
He was receiving a significant amount as escort fees.
Kousuke, led by Renee, headed towards the Merchants Guild where the cargo was being stored.
Upon arriving at the Merchants Guild warehouse where Kousuke and the others had stored their cargo, a small disturbance had already broken out.
More precisely, a group clad in intimidating armor was engaged in a verbal dispute with the gatekeepers guarding the entrance.
That intimidating armor was the heavy equipment worn by the knights of the Thausen Kingdom.
In other words, members of the kingdom’s official knight order were causing a disturbance.
From what Renee had told him on the way here, the knights had suddenly requested an inspection of the cargo just now.
The fact that they requested an inspection itself was not unusual, so it was not a particular problem.
While the gate at the town entrance conducted inspections of incoming cargo, surprise inspections like this also occurred.
Such things were common, so the gatekeepers were dealing with it calmly, but the problem was that the knights who had arrived here did not have any documents.
At least, from the looks of it now, they had never presented any.
Inspections of this nature were conducted based on official documents.
Frankly speaking, although the armor they were wearing was official, these were extremely suspicious individuals.
Renee had called Kousuke and the others because she expected them to play a role in stopping the knights if they tried to force their way through.
For this reason, Kousuke and the others entered through a back entrance instead of the main one.
Of course, there was a gatekeeper at the back entrance as well, but Renee could get them through.
Kousuke and the others, who were with Renee, were able to pass through easily.
He briefly surveyed the surroundings from the back, but it seemed unlikely that the knights would try to force their way in from a different direction.
Just as Kousuke and the others reached the location of the crucial cargo.
Another new group appeared, further complicating the situation.
Kousuke and the others were getting increasingly entangled.
They wouldn’t be reaching the Royal Capital so smoothly, lol.
