“Six shipments!”
Liya slammed the report on the table, her expression somewhere between disbelief and relief.
“All six shipments of Silverfrost Ore arrived safely at Solis Fortress these past few days. Not a single person lost, not a single piece missing.”
She looked at Rex, who was leaning against the wall, still idly flipping through a book.
He only raised an eyebrow at the news.
“Looks like that guy really behaved himself.”
“Behaved?”
Liya repeated the word, a cold smile on her lips.
“I think he’s been scared into behaving. I’ve been investigating him for so long and found nothing. You’ve been here less than half a month, and he’s already tucking his tail between his legs.”
Rex closed the book, walked over to the table, and sat down.
“Because he now knows he’s been exposed. So he won’t dare to stir up any trouble for a while.”
“Then this evidence,” Liya pointed at the stack of investigation materials on the table, “is it enough to convict him?”
“Far from enough.”
Liya frowned.
“Then how long do we have to wait?”
“He’s currently in a state of ‘knowing he’s being investigated but not knowing how far we’ve gotten.’ He’ll hold back for a while. Maybe a few months, maybe a year. But if a big enough profit is placed in front of him, he definitely won’t be able to resist making a move again.”
“Why?”
“It’s like gambling. Someone who gambles once, once addicted, always thinks one last bet will win it all back. And…”
He paused.
“His handler won’t let him stop either. The fact that Marcus was warned shows that the people behind Hermann are more anxious than he is. They need him to keep providing intelligence.”
“So what do you mean?”
“Create an illusion of ‘absolute safety’ and let Hermann show his tail himself.”
Rex put down his teacup and began to outline his plan.
“Step one, remove the surveillance.”
“Remove?”
Liya was taken aback.
“Wouldn’t that alert the snake?”
“The premise of alerting the snake is that the snake knows you’re beating the grass. What if we let him think the heat is off?”
Rex looked at her.
“Hold a meeting in the next few days, and openly say that the problems with the transport routes might be accidents, not necessarily a mole. Have Uncle Victor arrange for people to spread the word that the Merchant Guild has been investigating bandit problems recently, not internal affairs.”
“Then he’ll let his guard down.”
“Right. His handler will also think we can’t investigate further. Then step two, cast the bait.”
“What bait?”
“A shipment of ‘the highest value in history.’ The route must look dangerous, making him think it’s normal for bandits to succeed. The time window must be short, so short that he doesn’t have time to repeatedly verify its safety.”
Liya stared at him for a long time.
A knowing smile appeared.
“What a clever move to draw the snake out of its hole.”
“After all, the Merchant Guild competes with brains, not blood.”
Rex took off his mask and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Am I right?”
Liya didn’t answer.
She just silently let her gaze rest on his profile.
“…Are you listening?”
“I’m listening.”
Liya looked away.
“Go on.”
The two of them discussed for another half an hour, finalizing every step.
What decoy to use for the fake goods, how to design the route, how to set up surveillance, at which stage to close the net.
Every detail was repeatedly examined until there were no loopholes.
Liya leaned back in her chair and let out a long breath.
“You, of all people,” she suddenly said, “if you became a merchant, you’d definitely be the number one enemy of our Granchester Chamber of Commerce. The kind where we wouldn’t be able to make any profit off you.”
“I’ll pass on business.”
Rex put his mask back on.
“Farming suits me better.”
Liya chuckled but didn’t respond.
“Rex.”
“Hmm?”
“…Nothing. We should head back, shouldn’t we?”
“You’re right.”
Rex glanced at the streetlights outside the window.
Two days later, in the main meeting room of the Merchant Guild Headquarters.
Both sides of the long table were packed with people.
The warehouse manager, transport captains, branch heads from various regions, and even a few advisors who rarely showed up had all appeared, filling the room to capacity.
Murmurs rose and fell; some discussed recent cargo backlogs and route safety issues, complaining about rising transportation costs, and wondering why the president had suddenly called a meeting.
The murmurs only quieted down when Liya walked in, followed by the masked “Special Advisor.”
Everyone’s eyes fell on Rex.
This mysterious masked man had been appearing by the president’s side with increasing frequency lately.
No one knew his origins, and no one dared to ask.
Liya took her seat at the head of the table and swept her gaze across the room.
“Everyone, I’ve gathered you all today to announce something important.”
The meeting room fell completely silent.
“The Merchant Guild will soon be moving a batch of special goods, the largest in history.”
Liya’s tone was much more serious than usual.
“The value… is the highest since the founding of our Granchester Chamber of Commerce.”
People on both sides of the long table exchanged glances.
“The destination for these goods is Ashward. As for the route and departure time, currently only Victor and I know. But I need everyone’s one-thousand-percent cooperation. The goods will be temporarily stored in Warehouse D for loading, unloading, and registration for outbound shipment. Every step requires someone to handle it.”
Her eyes scanned each person’s face, pausing briefly on Hermann.
“There’s one thing I want to make clear in advance.”
Liya’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“If anything happens to this shipment, the consequences are something none of you can bear. Even I, the president of the Merchant Guild, cannot bear this responsibility!”
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew heavier.
Everyone exchanged looks; most nodded solemnly.
Hermann did the same.
“The meeting is adjourned.”
Liya stood up.
“Hermann, stay behind.”
The crowd filed out one by one.
Hermann sat in his chair with a hint of confusion.
“President, do you have further instructions?”
“I want to entrust the preparation of District D entirely to you. The goods will arrive in two days. Clear out the warehouse before then. Victor will inform you of the specific arrangements.”
“Understood.”
Hermann stood up.
“Rest assured, President, I will handle everything properly.”
He bowed to Liya, nodded to Rex, and turned to leave the meeting room.
The moment the door closed, Rex straightened up from the wall.
“Did he buy it?”
Liya asked.
“About seventy to eighty percent.”
Rex watched Hermann’s figure disappear in the direction of the warehouse below.
“The remaining twenty to thirty percent, he’ll believe when he sees the goods.”
Liya walked over to stand beside him, following his gaze.
“What if he doesn’t take the bait?”
“Don’t worry, he’ll bite on his own.”
“Because he has no way back.”
At midnight, in an inconspicuous alley in the southern district of the Main City.
Hermann’s figure slipped in from the alley entrance, his steps quick and light.
His hood was pulled low, almost covering his entire face.
He stopped in the middle of the alley and looked left and right.
From his pocket he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
The note was softened by his sweat, the edges frayed.
He clutched it in his hand for a long time, as if making a final struggle.
He crouched down and stuffed the note into a gap between loose bricks in the corner of the wall.
But as soon as he stood up, he heard faint footsteps behind him.
“Where is it?”
Hermann spun around.
A hooded man stepped out from the shadows, his expression half-lit, half-dark in the moonlight.
“Here.”
Hermann’s voice was very low.
“The route map, schedule, guard configuration—all of it is on there.”
The hooded man retrieved the note from the brick gap, unfolded it, and glanced at it.
The corner of his mouth curled up slightly.
“What goods this time?”
“Still Silverfrost Ore.”
Hermann swallowed.
“But this time the quantity… is larger than any previous shipment. The president said so herself—the value is the highest since the guild’s founding.”
The hooded man’s eyes lit up.
“How much?”
“Enough to fill over a thousand carriages!”
Hermann’s voice trembled.
“The route goes through Brenn Pass. Departure in two days.”
“Two days?”
The hooded man frowned.
“Why so urgent?”
“I didn’t have time to verify at all!”
Hermann’s voice raised a few pitches, then he quickly lowered it again.
“But there’s no way it’s fake. The president personally chaired the meeting, even called in those advisors who rarely show up. And… she said if this shipment goes wrong, even she can’t bear the responsibility.”
The hooded man folded the note and stuffed it into his pocket, then patted Hermann’s shoulder.
“You’ve done well.”
“But you promised you wouldn’t touch my family!”
Hermann suddenly grabbed the hooded man’s collar, his voice filled with suppressed anger.
“Ever since my son was threatened that day, he locks himself in his room every day and won’t come out. My second son ‘coincidentally’ had his leg broken by a falling piece of wood! You did that, didn’t you?”
“Because your precious son almost let something slip. If I hadn’t had someone warn him in advance, he would have been tricked into talking by now.”
Hermann’s face turned bright red.
“My son is only in his twenties! You—!”
“Enough!”
The hooded man’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“You know exactly how much money you’ve taken from us. Trying to back out now? Too late!”
Hermann’s lips were trembling.
He took a few deep breaths, as if trying to suppress something.
“You promised. Once this shipment is secured, you’ll give me and my family permanent residence in Lothian!”
The hooded man looked at him and suddenly smiled.
The smile looked somewhat eerie in the moonlight.
“Relax… buddy.”
He patted Hermann’s shoulder, the force a bit heavier than before.
“We said we’d guarantee your safety.”
With that, the hooded man turned to leave, but stopped after two steps.
“Oh, and if this shipment goes without a hitch… the higher-ups said your reward will be multiplied ten times.”
Hermann stood there for a long time.
Then he slowly crouched down and covered his face with his hands.
But neither Hermann nor the hooded man noticed.
On the rooftop above the alley, two dark figures had witnessed everything from start to finish.
Hilda crouched at the edge of the eaves.
Her ear twitched slightly as she confirmed there was no third person’s breathing in the alley.
“It looks like the fish has taken the bait.”
Rex stood up from the eaves and moved his leg, which had gone numb from crouching.
“Let’s move.”
Hilda didn’t hesitate.
She leaped straight down from the eaves, her movements as light as a falling feather.
The moment her toes touched the ground, she had already flashed behind the hooded man.
A precise chop with the edge of her hand struck the side of his neck.
Before he could even see who it was, his vision went dark, and his body crumpled to the ground.
Rex walked out from the alley entrance, glanced at the unconscious hooded man on the ground, then at Hermann, who was crouched in the corner.
The latter was completely stunned. He stared wide-eyed at Rex, his mouth open, unable to utter a single word.
“Mr. Hermann.”
Rex crouched down to meet his gaze.
“We heard every single word you just said, loud and clear.”
Hermann’s face went white in an instant.
“You… you are…”
“Rex Leonardo.”
Rex took off his mask, revealing his young, calm face.
“Of course, you can also call me Rex von Klein. That’s my real name.”
Rex stood up.
“Don’t worry, your two sons will be fine. At least they won’t be implicated because of your affairs.”
“Let’s go.”
He directly pulled Hermann to his feet.
“President Liya has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Outside the alley, a black carriage was parked by the roadside.
A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing half of Liya’s face.
Her expression was cold, but there was something indescribable in her eyes.
Not anger.
It was disappointment.
When Hermann saw that look, it was as if all strength had been drained from him.
He staggered step by step toward the carriage.
As for the hooded man, he was being carried by the scruff of his neck by Hilda, who tossed him into the trunk of the carriage as easily as if she were disposing of a bag of trash.
“Oh, right,” Rex suddenly remembered something.
“The note in his pocket.”
“I’ve already taken it out, My Lord.”
Hilda pulled the crumpled note from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Rex unfolded it and glanced at it.
It was a hand-drawn route map, densely annotated.
Brenn Pass, side valleys, camping points, estimated arrival times.
Every detail was clear.
“Good stuff.”
He folded the note and put it into his pocket.
“This can be used as evidence.”
Inside the carriage, Liya looked at Hermann, who was curled up opposite her, and remained silent for a long time.
“Hermann, how many years have you worked at the Merchant Guild?”
“I… twenty-three years.”
Hermann’s voice was hoarse, almost inaudible.
“Twenty-three years.”
Liya repeated the number.
“When my father was still alive, you had already become the warehouse manager, hadn’t you?”
Hermann didn’t respond.
“Why did you do this?! Did my father or I ever treat you harshly?!”
“President… I…”
He choked up and covered his face.
“I… I’ve let you down.”
Liya looked at him and said nothing.
She suddenly remembered a line Rex had said.
“Once a person starts choosing shortcuts, it’s hard for them to want to return to the right path.”
She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.