I have had the merchants I came into contact with in Landslide raid their inns and residences, and all of them have been disappointing. To be more specific, multiple people would enter a house, threaten it with knives, and take a small amount of money. To make sure that no one is hiding his or her abilities, one of them is lightly beaten. He had done all of these things to all the merchants.

"That's weird. I thought I had a winner.
"Mr. Solide! Mr. Solide, the security of Trinh's army is in trouble because of all the robberies in one night.
"Of course it is. I'm sure that's the case. Let's just have the foreseeable future hold the stolen jewels and let Trinh's army find them.

　Even ruffians have a role to play. The ones who report to me and pass on orders. The ones who actually do the manual labor, the ones who are the tails of the lizards. Normally, no idiot would want to be the tail, but in reality, only idiots do, so they don't even know they're the tail.

I'll go make Trinh's army quiet down.

　Examine whether or not there really are people from the planet Yugra. The idea of selling the goods of the demon world to the market, which Jestaff-Heliodoras are doing, can be acted upon by Jestaff if they are consulted beforehand. After all, it's possible that they didn't do it. The lack of retaliation by the Demon Lord suggests that Yugra's people are not dead, but still in critical condition. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

...... You seem to have something to say, Ritual.
"No, not really?

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. Why would Rhial be laughing at my methods? I don't have to think about it. It's probably a mockery, an attempt to give me advice. So he knows there's a hole in my game.

"We're the target, that's what we are. That's why he wants to contact Landsle and investigate this trading post. Even Jastet doesn't have a complete grasp of the abilities of the bastard in Torin. If they just came into contact with Ark Real, they should be wary.

　After all, it's appropriate to infiltrate as a merchant negotiating with Landslide on the surface. No, wait, wait. What's the criteria for judging what's reasonable? I'm not talking from my point of view, this has to be from the point of view of those who are wary of us.

"Well. Oh, shit. If there are people from Yugra's planet, they've already been infiltrated.

　Only one of the merchants we robbed escaped from this Torin. Although they were robbed in the first place, the financial damage was negligible. Once the injuries were healed, they were able to work the next day. That's why the negotiations with Landesle went without any problems, and I've been to this trading post.

"So these merchants are bad, but not completely bad.

　This way, we can approach the building without attracting suspicion. We can keep an eye on the surroundings and even use detection magic.

"Hmm... Hmm... It's a strange sight for me to be so impressed with an enemy I can't even see or confirm. But that's what it means to be on par with Ritual. Establishing the premise that there is such a thing, and thinking in light of the fact that there is.

　But if I think that way, my opponent is the one who succeeded in deceiving me once. So, can I read and win next time? That's naive thinking. It is a habit of the defeated to hope for an uncertain chance to win against an opponent who has given you an advantage even once. So how can I win?

"Oh, I see. Well, that's true. It's simple. If you can't win by reading, then you should win by being read.

　What we need to do for now is to attack the next new merchant who comes in contact with Landslide as before.

　I'll be back.

　You've successfully infiltrated the Horstal Chamber of Commerce. The next step is to find out how many bastards are inside. The situation has moved quickly because the merchants who contacted the Landsle have been targeted one after another.
　In this short period of time, there were six merchants who came into contact with Landslide, half of whom were prepared by me. If they are dealing with Ritual, there is a possibility that they will find our route in some way. That's why I increased the number of correct answers.
　At first, I was afraid that he might have read my intentions, but when he attacked the other merchants I had checked just in case, I was sure. He was sure that they hadn't guessed the right moment.

You're not going to negotiate directly with them, are you?
That's right. There's even a chance that Ritual and Rahite are in that trading post. If you meet them by accident, your disguise will be useless.

　We've prepared the merchants ourselves. "We are Jest Staff Heliodora's men. In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the site, you can call us at our own website. Managing the inventory for three people was quite a chore.

They've been robbed, too, but they're persistent, aren't they?
"They must have gone in with the intention of going through the whole place. They robbed six houses in one night. They couldn't afford to be that scared. And I'm not going to negotiate with a merchant who's scared of a few injuries.

　As for the robbery, we were aiming for a match pump. First of all, let them deal with the Horstal Chamber of Commerce peacefully, and then let them suffer from robbery at the right time. After that, the original procedure was to have the merchants hire guards.

It's not surprising that a merchant who's been robbed would hire an adventurer as an escort. But did you actually plan to commit the robbery?
"Well, yeah. At first, one of my aims was to have them steal goods from the demon world and make them realize that such goods have value. Of course, I was going to let them make up the goods almost free of charge because I wanted to investigate the distribution.



　Each merchant has a few guards, and two of them, Cael and Marya, are working for different merchants. The other members of the group have been made to act differently because Ritual remembers their faces.

I think it would have been better to have Brother Ekduik do his best to sneak in here.
"That's only after we've determined that there's no such thing as a monster like Arkreal. I don't even know how many of those guys you fought, Jastet, are as skilled as that guy.
"Hmm. It's true that it's hard to deal with people of that level. ......

　The only thing we know so far is that Littoral is reinforcing the protection of Trinh's base. I don't know if he's certain that I'm back or not, but it's clear from the attack on the merchant that he's making moves.
　If you're as cautious as Rithial, you'll be working under the assumption that I might be back, that I might be in the middle of planting something, and that I'm not going to shrink too far unless I'm conclusively exposed.

We'll have to wait and see for a few days. If there's nothing there, I'll have them conduct a full-scale investigation.
How cautious.
I'm sure Littoral will pay attention to the guards as well. I'm sure he'll at least advise whoever's in charge of Trinh's base.
You do realize that Mr. Littoral isn't in charge, don't you?
"Robbery with a bunch of ruffians is the last thing Littoral would ever do. It's like telling them you don't have a clue. But the fact that they've put some sort of check on the merchant means that Nektokhar and Rithyal are definitely interfering to deal with the possibility that I'm recovering.
You're acting as if you've been informed that Master Shosho has recovered.
If they were so sure, they'd be working with Ritual. If he was sure, Ritual would have acted just in case. But it's someone else who's acting on Trinh. That makes that person at least as powerful as Rahite and Ritual. ......

　I heard that it was ruffians who were attacking the merchants. In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to use it for a lot of things.

It's not a good situation, is it?
Well, yeah. I'm sure you're not completely incompetent. However, compared to Ritual, there are some flaws. If you think about what that means, you can see that he's not a decent guy.

　In the case of Ritual, he should want to do it by himself or cooperate with others to protect them. The reason for not doing so is that it is difficult to persuade them. If he doesn't have the option of persuading them, he's either very good at it or he's crazy. It's probably the latter, considering the fact that he's going to have to go all out on the merchants.
　It's hard to say at this point how much help Ritual is giving him, but I'm sure he'll intervene and try to change course before things get out of hand. The key is whether or not you can understand the person by then.

　The key is whether you can understand the person by then.

　I was able to enter the headquarters of the Horstal Chamber of Commerce as an escort for the merchant, as my compatriot had hoped. But at this point, I've been told not to investigate the interior, but to bring back only what I see as information.

(Let's see, ...... when you're unloading a cart, if you're an escort, you might want to make sure that no one is peeking around you. ......)

　I was told that I shouldn't give the impression that I was here to investigate the house. You should be purely an escort for a merchant who has been robbed and is now more cautious.
　I transferred the goods to the cart and watched the merchants exchanging documents at the entrance of the trading post. The merchant took the cart and drove it to the back of the compound.

Mr. Landesle's men will take the goods to the warehouse, you wait here. I'll go talk business with Mr. Landesle.
"Yes, I understand.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this topic in the coming weeks. But I'm not that good at hiding things, so I'll just wait and see.
　It might be unnatural to look around too much. While I was thinking that and looking around as often as the other guards, someone appeared from inside the trading post. It was a man with very long ...... hair, wasn't it? It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's a great way to get the most out of your time and money.

　The man was talking very softly, and his clothes were very loose-fitting and hard to move. In his hand, he holds a cane as tall as he is, with a bell-like object attached to the end of it. And there's a very sweet smell in the air.

"Yes, yes. My client is in the middle of a business meeting with someone here, so I'm waiting here. Am I interrupting anything?
"Well? Most of the merchants who come here today are escorted, so it's fine as long as they don't cause a fight.
I see. ...... Uh, can I help you?
If I don't want to talk to you, I shouldn't talk to you?

　This is a holy knight's intuition, this person is an enemy of your people. And a very dangerous one at that.

"No, that's not what ....... I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.
"...... Hmm. How boring is that? Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Solide, and I'm a representative of the Horstal Chamber of Commerce here in Randosle. What are your names?

　I can't tell a bad lie if I don't know if he's as good a liar as he is a priest.

It's ...... Marya.

　The other guards answered, confused by Solide's peculiar atmosphere. Solide nodded his head in agreement, and then continued to ask questions.

By the way, do any of you know a man with black hair and black eyes?
(?!)

　You're going to investigate your compatriot so openly! I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site. I don't know how to respond to that. .......

I'm not sure what to say.


...... No, I don't know.

　If this person can see through the lie, he or she will react accordingly. Keep a level head on the surface, but watch him carefully. .......

So. The man seems to be the ringleader of the recent robberies, you know? It seems that this morning he robbed a merchant who had a connection with Mr. Landreth.

　This guy doesn't hesitate to call bullshit. ....... But we're here as guards for one of the victims, a merchant. It's a natural topic to bring up, but .......

"I see. Thank you for the information.
You're welcome. If you see a man like that, please let me know. I've heard he's a very bad guy, so don't go near him alone, okay?
"...... Yes.

　Solide seemed to have finished his story and went back inside the trading post. It seems that the lie has not been exposed, but ...... I feel that if we talk for too long, we will be detected in many ways. After that, the merchant came back and left the store.

The merchant returned and left. Lord Heliodora must be very well off. He offered me a discount on my goods just for reporting on the distribution, and even arranged for an escort. Are you sure you don't want my handout?
"Yes, I'm sure.

　As for the merchant who was arranged by the Brotherhood, the wages of the adventurers who escort him are paid in advance by the Brotherhood. I've heard that the other guards are hired as usual, and I'm following suit.

I've heard that Lord Heliodora and the Horstal Chamber of Commerce have good guards as well. I was watching from the window, and Landesle's men said that the man you were talking to was a very good escort.
Oh, I see. ......
"He was dressed very strangely, but he was originally a Yugoslavian priest, you know?
...... What?

　Now what ....... What do you mean, Solide was a Yugra cleric? I'm not sure what to make of this. Yugoslavian priests rarely lie. They are very careful about lying because they have the means to detect it.

I heard that you are a disciple of Archbishop Serraes, who was in charge of the Quama branch not long ago. It's amazing.
"Well, I'll leave you to it then! I'll come back later!

　If this is true, then the man with the black hair and black eyes, the one who said he didn't know about his compatriot, has been found out. What should I do? I should probably go back and report it right away, but ...... if the Solide is acting on the basis of my lie, he could be following me. .......
　It's a good idea to choose a road that you don't have to take just in case, and make sure that you're not being followed along the way. I'm sure you'll be fine,......, but if you're not,....... If you don't go back today and kill some time somewhere, ...... I'm sure Mr. Eckdyke will come looking for you. I'm sure that if you tell him what happened, he will .......

(Yes. I don't want to get you in trouble for my careless actions. (Yes. I can't bother you all with my rash actions.) I'll ask Mr. Ecdysique to take care of it.
What's the matter, Marya?
What's wrong, Marya? My people! Why are you here?

　I thought it looked familiar, this was the same street I used to go shopping on! But why, of all people, would Brotherhood be on ......?

But why, of all people, would my compatriot be on ? "Because I'm on dinner duty today. I was shopping with Mixu.
That's right. ....... Oh! Where is Mr. Mix now?
He's bargaining for fish at the store down the street. ...... Are you being followed?
What?

　Your compatriot's demeanor has changed. His expression became cold, as if his emotions were fading. I can't believe you could see that much through my dismay. ....... I'm sure you'll be fine, even if you don't have any combat skills, if you talk to your compatriots!

"Actually, that ...... is a trading post. ......
"Huh? I thought it was black hair and black eyes,......, but is it subhuman? I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you out.

　I'm not sure what to make of it. When I turned my gaze in the direction of the sound, I saw Solide, who I had met at the trading post.