Chapter 8 : Black Hand (1)

After two days had passed, Viscount Javico and his group departed.

They simply left a message with a servant and hurried off, likely out of consideration for Tylan.

“Did they do anything suspicious during those two days?”

“Rather than suspicious… I’d say it was questionable. If it hadn’t been for your instructions, Young Master, no one would have paid any attention.”

Glenn continued to question as he sifted through the materials he had received.

“So, as expected, the viscount didn’t move personally. He used intermediaries to make contact…”

“All those go-betweens ultimately made contact with a group called the ‘Black Hand’. According to the one tailing them, it seemed like they’d already met several times before.”

“Black Hand?”

“After investigating, it turns out they’re a gang that’s recently started taking over the city’s underworld.”

“Hm, this is suspicious already. Someone from House Sailharun making contact with such people on orders…”

In truth, even Glenn’s thoughts on this matter were little more than speculation.

He couldn’t help but suspect that House Sailharun might have been pulling strings in Lepent City from behind the scenes for some time now.

Looking back on the information he’d gathered during his time in Ricklan, it was more than plausible.

“And though it hasn’t been confirmed whether it’s related… lately, Pilaf has been spreading throughout the city.”

“Pilaf? That cheap drug?”

Pilaf was considered a low-grade drug.

It was hard to make big money from it, but it was the easiest and fastest way to get people addicted.

The usual method was to get people hooked on Pilaf, then sell them more expensive drugs afterward.

It was a process Glenn had witnessed countless times back in Ricklan.

“Do we know how long it’s been spreading?”

“Not exactly, but it’s roughly been between a month and two months.”

“Don’t tell me House Sailharun is behind that too?”

“I don’t think so. It’s too low-grade for the Baron’s House to bother with.”

Just as Nedian said, it wasn’t something fitting for the Baron’s House to handle.

It didn’t bring much profit, but the risk was far too high in comparison.

If the church found out, there would be chaos.

And, above all, drugs were just too obvious.

Once the number of addicts started to increase, there’d be no way to hide it.

It wasn’t the kind of business you could conduct in secret, out of the Marquis’s gaze.

“If it’s drugs… has there ever been a report from the City Guard regarding this?”

“I wondered the same and checked, but… after looking through the past three months’ reports, there wasn’t a single mention of it.”

“This is fishy.”

“Honestly, I don’t want to admit it… but something strange is definitely going on.”

The Lepent City Guard was also overseen by the Order of Knights.

If so, it meant that someone from the Lion Knights was also involved in this case.

“Well, I suppose we’ll know once we see for ourselves. Has Viscount Javico left the city for good?”

“Yes, according to the report I received this morning, he’s already left the city.”

“Good. Then let’s move tonight.”

Nedian tilted his head.

It was already afternoon. Did he really mean tonight…?

“Are you talking about a night raid?”

“Rather than a night raid… yes, think of it as a surprise inspection.”

Glenn grinned as he replied.

***

Glenn divided his group of nine, including himself, into three teams.

Of course, none of them included anyone from the City Guard.

And, as soon as midnight struck, they simultaneously raided several City Guard stations and barracks.

“This is a surprise inspection! Everyone, get out here immediately!”

“All City Guard members, assemble!”

The knights with Glenn stormed through the City Guard barracks with loud shouts.

“Kn-knight, sir! Wh-what’s the matter?!”

The sleepy City Guard members staggered out one by one, and among them, one who looked to be a senior asked.

“Where’s the Guard Captain? Hm?”

“Th-the Captain is on night patrol right now!”

“What? The Guard Captain’s patrolling himself? Can you take responsibility for that claim?”

“It’s the truth, sir!”

“Is everyone here at the barracks accounted for?”

“Th-that is…”

Just then, Glenn caught a faintly familiar smell.

It was the distinct, cheap drug scent he’d encountered countless times in his previous life.

He called over the two knights who were searching the place.

“…Krork, Tristan. I think there’s drugs here.”

“Huh?”

“If they’re hiding them, it’d be in the basement. Search it.”

The two knights he’d pointed to nodded and began looking for the basement.

Not long after, a small amount of Pilaf was discovered in the underground Warehouse of the building.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—there was no evidence that it had been used.

It seemed they were merely storing it for now.

Glenn questioned the senior City Guard member.

“Why in the world is this drug in the City Guard’s barracks?”

“I swear I have no idea! Only the Captain and a few others have access to the underground Warehouse in the first place!”

“And where is that Captain again?”

“…He only said he was going on patrol. Sometimes, he goes out at night for patrol, but I never know where. I truly know nothing about this! Please, spare me!”

“The City Guard’s a total mess, huh. Pathetic.”

At the sound of Glenn’s tongue clicking, the two knights with him blushed with shame.

After all, the City Guard was supposed to be managed by the Order of Knights.

***

With decisive evidence in hand, Glenn immediately regrouped with Nedian.

“Nedian, did you find anything on your end?”

“We raided two guard posts and, at one of them, found a small amount of Pilaf.”

Out of the three teams, both Glenn’s and Nedian’s found drugs during their raids.

The fact that the City Guard was hiding drugs was enough to topple the entire Baron’s House.

“I found the same. This is a real headache. To think the City Guard is involved…”

“My deepest apologies.”

Nedian bowed stiffly, his face set in stone.

“How could you have known? Save your self-reflection for later. We still have work to do.”

“Are you planning to visit more City Guard posts?”

“No, have you identified any of the buildings the Black Hand is managing?”

“Yes, but… you’re not thinking of going there now, are you? That’s far too dangerous!”

Nedian tried to dissuade him in alarm.

Even with knights at his side, it was risky to engage those thugs head-on with this few people.

They still had no clear idea of the enemy’s full strength.

But Glenn firmly shook his head.

“I guarantee it—by tomorrow, the most important ones will have already fled the city. Because the City Guard is involved.”

“That may be, but must you go in person, Young Master?”

“I’m the one who gave the order, isn’t it natural I see it through? Enough talk, lead the way.”

“Understood. But if it gets dangerous, I’ll remove you from the scene by force if necessary.”

Nedian nodded resolutely, his face determined.

But Glenn just gave a faint smile.

“I doubt it’ll be as dangerous as you think.”

***

In the dead of night.

Inside a shabby Pub somewhere in Lepent City, dozens of men had gathered.

The Black Hand—the gang that had recently begun taking over the city’s underworld.

Men sprawled over tables and the floor, drinking.

It was a gathering to celebrate their recent success in business.

Among them was Brunel, the gang’s underboss.

Unlike the others, Brunel wore a perpetually tense expression as he watched the boss across from him.

Lately, he found this big oaf more and more impossible to understand.

“Boss! I really don’t think we should mess with the drug business. Even those who funded us in the first place told us not to get involved in anything too dangerous.”

The boss scowled, his already menacing face twisting further as he slammed his beer mug down.

The table shook as if it might break.

“Kuh, Brunel. I told you to stop bringing that up, didn’t I? Your shrill voice is giving me a headache!”

“This is just too dangerous, boss.”

“What’s the problem? Hm? Sure, it cost us a bit, but we’ve got the City Guard in our pocket now. That Captain, he loves money.”

“That’s why it’s even more dangerous. Don’t you know the City Guard is managed by the Order of Knights?”

No matter what anyone said, Brunel never wanted to go up against the Knights. If it came to that, he’d rather grab his loyal men and run for the hills.

“You idiot! Don’t you get it yet? The ones backing us are nobles, nobles!”

“…And what does that have to do with anything?”

“Who’s higher, you moron, a noble or a knight? Obviously a noble! So there’s no need to worry about the Knights.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, boss has a point.”

“Seems like we really do have some powerful backing, huh?”

Brunel wrinkled his brow in frustration at this logic he simply couldn’t understand.

How did such a fool become the boss? Then again, most of his followers were fools, so it made sense.

Spurred on by the agreement around him, the boss began to ramble on about his plan.

“And you know what I always say? Never trust nobles! That’s why we have to get into the drug business.”

What did not trusting nobles have to do with selling drugs?

Brunel, unable to hold it in any longer, interjected.

“I just don’t get it, boss.”

“Sigh, listen up, you lot. The nobles who gave us the money think we’re going to do whatever they want, right? Like dogs with leashes. Isn’t that right?”

The boss paused, lifted his mug, and gulped it down.

“But what if we grow much faster than they expect? Then they’ll never treat us like leashed dogs! We’ll make a killing with their money and drugs. When we take over this damned city, we’ll break the leash and bite our masters! Grrr! Hahaha!”

“Wahaha! That’s brilliant!”

“I wonder what the back of those nobles’ heads tastes like? Hah!”

A few of the underlings, pleased with the boss’s explanation, burst into raucous laughter.

But Brunel still couldn’t accept it.

Did he really think this would work?

If even a single squad of knights showed up, they’d all be wiped out in a few hours—he was certain of it.

Brunel had personally faced knights on the battlefield before.

He knew all too well how terrifying knights could be.

Those men were monsters, trained solely for the efficient killing of others.

“Boss, please, just reconsider…”

But Brunel’s attempt to persuade the boss was cut off by a sudden shout.

“Boss, we’re under attack—guh!”

The youngest member guarding the entrance rushed in, only to collapse after being struck on the head.

Behind him, a flood of knights clad in silver armor poured in.

“It’s the Lion Knights! Everyone, drop your weapons! Now!”

“Surrender and you’ll be spared! Drop your weapons!”

“B-boss!”

“Damn it all!”

Brunel and the boss immediately got up and headed for the back door, but knights emerged there as well.

As the gang members, realizing they were completely surrounded, began to draw their weapons one by one—

“Hey, why don’t you all calm down and put those weapons away? Unless you want to get hurt for nothing.”

A burly man strode in at a leisurely pace.

At the sight of him, Brunel knew instinctively.

Unblemished skin, the blue veins visible on his bare feet.

Not just his appearance, but even his presence made it obvious.

This man was a noble.

A noble from an exceedingly high house at that.

“Hmm, who’s the boss? Is it you?”

When the man gestured toward him, Brunel naturally shook his head.

Then he looked at the boss beside him.

“Ah, so you’re the boss of the Black Hand. Am I right?”

He asked so naturally and sat down at the table where they’d been seated.

Wearing a relaxed smile, he continued.

“No need to be so tense. I just came here to have a chat.”

At this, the boss, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“…I am the boss, but who are you?”

So even this big oaf could use formal speech.

Brunel was a little surprised by that.

The man, still smiling, replied to the boss’s question.

“Ron Glenn Lepent.”

“…House Lepent?”

At those words, the boss’s eyes went wide, and those around him reacted as well.

“The, the Young Master!”

“That notorious Young Master?”

A few careless ones even began to whisper among themselves.

Of all things, loud enough for everyone to hear. Idiots.

“If you don’t want to die, watch your mouth.”

A knight standing next to the man who introduced himself as Glenn let out a chilling wave of murderous intent.

“Nedian, didn’t I tell you? No killing without my permission. So why not reel in that murderous aura?”

“…My apologies.”

But with that low voice, the murderous intent vanished at once.

The Young Master Glenn turned back to the boss with his usual friendly expression.

“Sorry about that. My knight’s loyalty is a bit excessive, you see. Ha ha. Why don’t you sit down?”

After glancing around for a moment, the boss plopped into a chair.

“So, if you could tell me what you want…”

“Hmm? Didn’t I say? I just came to chat. I’m curious about something. Ah, but before that, could I get a drink?”

Brunel, who had been hesitating for a moment, quickly rushed to the counter and brought back two fresh mugs of beer.

He handed one to the Young Master, placing the other on the table.

“Oh, thank you. And you are?”

“Brunel, the underboss.”

“Quick-witted fellows tend to do well. I think you’ll be successful, hah.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Young Master Glenn pushed a mug toward the boss and said,

“How about a drink together? No need to be so nervous.”

“Gladly.”

Reassured by the Young Master’s gentle attitude, the boss raised his mug, clinking it with Glenn’s, and drank.

Amazingly, the Young Master also drank the beer.

So even nobles of such stature could drink this stuff.

Brunel was inwardly impressed.

The boss seemed to think the same.

“Hm, I must say, Young Master, you’re different from other nobles.”

“Oh, thanks for saying so. Now that we’ve shared a drink, shall we say we’re friends?”

“Friends, you say?”

“Young Master!”

The boss’s eyes went wide, and the knight named Nedian shouted in shock.

But when the Young Master raised a hand, silence quickly returned.

“Why not? Ha ha!”

“Good, then as friends, may I ask you something?”

“Anything! Hell, I’ll even tell you my mother’s name if you want!”

“Ho, that’s good. Well then—do you know what this is?”

The Young Master took out a small leather pouch and opened it.

Inside was a familiar white powder.

The Pilaf we’ve been spreading, damn it!

Brunel wanted to scream.

“I’m quite sure you lot know this powder well, am I wrong?”

Young Master Glenn was still smiling pleasantly.

But as Brunel met his gaze up close, he knew it instinctively.

Gulp.

This man was a monster.

A savage and ruthless monster like he’d never seen before.

Brunel swallowed dryly without realizing it.