Chapter 29 - The Shy Wolf Thief
In the Pandemonium Hall, preparations for the conferment ceremony were in full swing.
Being a Stationmaster was one of the most coveted positions in the Citadel, as one of the council member's direct subordinates.
It was also a time for the five council members to gather, familiarize themselves with the newcomer’s face, and gauge his character.
Also, as with any group, the hazing was quite severe.
Most of the Stationmasters, along with the five council members, were present here now.
The council members had to attend due to their symbolic status, but the Stationmasters did not.
The reason so many had gathered despite this was due to sheer curiosity and pure jealousy.
“Edwin Hacid? Where in the world did that bum roll in from?”
“How should I know? I’ve never even heard the surname Hacid before.”
“If he were some branch noble, I might understand, but he’s just a commoner, isn't he?”
“A commoner? Is that true?”
“Yes. Both his mother and father died after cleaning at some tavern or shop.”
The Stationmasters of the Dusk Citadel, more powerful than most nobles in the East, were so dumbfounded they couldn't speak.
They all just let out dry coughs, full of discomfort.
Then, the E-District Stationmaster spoke up.
“It’s not just us who are uncomfortable. The council members also seem quite displeased.”
At that one remark, the other Stationmasters jumped in as if they had been waiting.
“My council member is the same. When I said there was no need to worry so much about one Stationmaster, he said what’s truly frightening is.”
“Jubel Maxman, right? He said the same to me.”
“Yes. But you saw the no-fly order issued for Jubel Maxman’s merchant ship, right? It was quite a sight.”
“Ahahaha! Yes, I saw that too. That guy, Marvin or whatever, came to me and threw a fit, so I told him to talk to the higher-ups.”
Of course, even if he talked to the higher-ups, the answer would be the same.
One Stationmaster giggled and spat out the words.
“Even if he goes, the answer will still be to go catch a Griffin, won't it?”
“Right, right. It was a day I came to truly respect Councilor Hinek for turning such nonsense into a plan.”
Councilor Hinek, the one with 6 districts, was a man considered a shoo-in for the next chairman.
As one person started licking his boots, the other Stationmasters scrambled to chime in.
“Th-that’s right! Councilor Hinek is truly the new hope of the Citadel!”
“Shall we raise the next glass for Councilor Hinek?”
“That’s a great idea! Come on! Everyone, raise your glasses!”
The Stationmasters' glasses clinked in the banquet hall.
The doctor fish swarming to the foot named Hinek did not stop their tongue-wagging, hoping that even a crumb-like scrap would fall.
But even alcohol gets boring if you keep drinking.
It was right to exercise restraint, as drinking more could interfere with future events.
So I wanted to ask.
“Where is that country bumpkin named Edwin Hacid coming from that he's so late?”
“Leave him be. How low-class must his ride be for him to be this slow.”
“Khahahaha. I wonder if he's riding a cow instead of a carriage.”
“Heheheh. Shall we make a bet? Whether that guy’s carriage is worth more than 300 gold coins, or less.”
The bet was not made.
Because everyone bet on less.
They were scared at first because of Jubel Maxman, but now that they confirmed he didn't care, there was nothing to hold them back.
That guy was just ridiculously lucky.
Soon enough, he was destined to be cast out and killed by someone envious or due to his own lack of competence.
“Stationmaster. This is information from the main gate. The D-District Stationmaster is just now entering.”
“Is that so? Good. I was just getting bored. Everyone, let’s get up. Let’s go watch.”
The 25 Stationmasters came out onto the banquet hall's spacious outdoor terrace and looked at the distant entrance of the Pandemonium Hall.
The entrance was not clearly visible.
It wasn't that there was a problem with their eyesight.
Since it was broad daylight, darkness wasn't an issue either.
The sunlight pouring down from the sky illuminated the carriage, and the horses' glossy manes fluttered.
The carriage, pulled by 6 horses, was not small.
Its size, barely fitting into the entrance of the Pandemonium Hall, seemed to emit a light of its own.
The ivory-colored carriage, reflecting the sun, and the luxuriously adorned brass decorations around it, glittered.
The 25 Stationmasters couldn't say a word.
They just couldn't judge.
Is that Edwin Hacid?
Is the person inside really Edwin Hacid?
If the Youngest Son, who was accompanying him as an attendant, had heard that, he would have answered confidently.
No. The one here is not Edwin Hacid.
It is Edwin D. Hacid.
Kkiiiiiik─
The attendant opened the door, and behind him, the D-District Stationmaster descended.
The sunlight did not shine only on the carriage.
With his neatly slicked-back pomade hair.
A man adorned with brand-name items recognizable even from the terrace where they stood.
It was as if the smell of money emanated from him as he simply walked, and wealth flowed from him.
Whenever his sleeves were briefly visible as he walked, a watch that seemed impossible to identify under the sun also caught the eye.
But what truly captivated their gazes was beside the carriage.
“Who, who are those knights…?”
“No… Were there knights of that caliber in the Citadel?”
“…They exude a more powerful aura than the knights of any noble house.”
The Stationmasters were all sorcerers.
They were skilled individuals who had lived for more than half a century and gained various enlightenments.
Even though the knights who appeared to be escorts were only ten in number, their presence was comparable to that of a large army.
“That’s Edwin Hacid…?”
The E-District Stationmaster thought of the man he had met last year.
A quick-witted and capable man.
But that was all he was.
He had the potential to become a Stationmaster, but I thought it would be at least 20 years later.
Forget 20 years, it didn't even take 2.
“Wasn't Jubel Maxman not investing in him?”
“Or maybe he was playing a trick to weed out his enemies by watching our reactions…”
“That crafty money-devil bastard.”
The Stationmasters spat and moved towards the hall where the conferment ceremony would be held.
***
“…I’m so nervous.”
“There’s no need to be nervous. Didn’t you see their eyes on the terrace a moment ago?”
“I can’t see that far.”
The attendant and the new Stationmaster walked to the central hall of the Pandemonium Hall.
There was one more person beside them.
“Hey, Cailin. You saw it too, didn’t you? Their eyes, on the verge of fainting from surprise.”
“U-uh, huh. I saw it too.”
She turned her head and replied in a small voice.
One attendant and one guard were within the allowed range, and the two followed behind D.
I couldn't wear a hood here, but fortunately, a hat was permissible.
Hiding his conspicuous hair with the brim of the hat and his red eyes with sunglasses, he looked ahead.
The great door of the central hall, guarded by the Pandemonium Hall's guards.
Beyond that, Edwin had to go alone.
“Good luck. Don’t forget to make your inaugural speech as long as possible.”
“Hoo…. I’ll try my best.”
“Cailin. Are you really going to follow?”
“I’m definitely helpful. It’s a mistake to think I’m weak just because I’ve only been in the village.”
When it came to her abilities, her shyness vanished, and her sharp eyes gleamed.
Even if young, a Werewolf is a Werewolf.
“Go. Edwin D. Hacid.”
“Yes, yes. I’m going.”
While desperately trying to calm his heart, which felt like it was pounding so hard that even someone not of the blood kin could tell.
“D-District Stationmaster. Announcing the arrival of Edwin Hacid-nim.”
As the great door opened, he stepped inside.
He might not know it himself, but he had simultaneously stepped into the political world of the Citadel.
But that was someone else's business.
From now on, I had to take care of my personal business.
‘All the council members' offices are in the Pandemonium Hall. Councilor Hinek's room must be there too.’
The objective was a certain document that existed in his room.
No matter how much the logic of power was the primary force in the Citadel, it couldn't last long on its own.
Public sentiment was also needed, and popularity, character, and politics to attract that sentiment were essential.
To fill those gaps, various solicitations were necessary, and that was a politician's weakness.
No matter how strong a council member was, if the rest of the council members joined forces, he wouldn't stand a chance.
‘Councilor Hinek, who is as good as the next chairman. I’ll make him abandon the Physicians' Council.’
Councilor Hinek was certainly a powerful sorcerer himself and a man of power leading a strong faction.
But as his bulk had grown, there were also more places to stab.
The more painful the stab, the more Hinek had a habit of trying to eliminate or discard the source of the pain.
The Physicians' Council would not be able to escape that habit either.
“…Hey, Dante. Do we even know where we’re going?”
“……”
I stopped walking and looked at her for a moment.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
It was nothing special.
It just felt like the first time I had been called by my name.
“It’s nothing. Just keep following me with muffled footsteps. I know the way by heart.”
Pretending to return to my seat after leaving the Pandemonium Hall's main hall, I slipped into a different path.
The path to the central building and its interior were vast.
As an unprecedented number of people had gathered for the conferment ceremony, there were many people.
But the excellent five senses possessed by the direct descendants of the Queen and the Hunter helped to avoid those threats in advance.
The problem was the knights guarding the front of the office.
“Can I kill them?”
A bloody question for one asked so innocently.
“No killing. Knocking them out is about right. Don’t forget what I taught you.”
“Leave it to me.”
Cailin was one person. The knights were two.
To be affiliated with the Pandemonium Hall, they were no riffraff.
One could tell just by looking at the material, finish, and engraved patterns on the armor they wore.
On the other hand, Cailin, though she had long limbs, was ordinary.
To be precise, she looked ordinary.
Jeobeok─ Jeobeok─
She walked towards the knights as if nothing was wrong.
So confident were her steps that the knights, without even thinking of stopping her, watched Cailin approach right before their eyes.
“State your affiliation and business.”
Cailin answered honestly.
“Black Wolf Brigade. The purpose is to knock you out.”
“…What?”
“This bastard…!”
The Werewolf’s fist was faster than a Cursed Sword.
Although no fist mark was left on the armor, their method of mana manipulation was peculiar.
She struck the armor, but the mana spread inside the armor, wreaking havoc within.
Normally, flesh would have burst and filled the inside of the armor, but this time it ended with just vomit.
Kuuung─
Kuung─
A feat where the time it took to knock them out was shorter than a few words of conversation.
She withdrew her fist and came trotting back.
“I’m back.”
“…Right. It would be nice if it were a little less loud, but. Good work.”
“But… is it okay to go around saying we’re the Black Wolf Brigade like this? Won’t they know we’ve disbanded?”
Once Cailin got better, they no longer needed to earn money and quit their mercenary work.
The regular members were discharged, the strongholds were closed, and the core Fangs no longer went to the Citadel.
But that was precisely why it was good.
“Look at this.”
A small container taken out from my pocket.
Even though the lid was not yet opened, a strong grassy scent was detected, enough to make Cailin’s nose twitch.
“It’s an essence made from leftover herbs in the warehouse. It’s very similar to the scent of the Physicians' Council members.”
“Aah…! By openly revealing yourself as the Black Wolf Brigade on the outside, you’re giving the impression that the Physicians' Council came secretly, hiding their identity.”
“Exactly.”
I dabbed a little of the essence on my body, and also a little of the poison herb essence around the knights' mouths.
Now, I entered the office.
There would be a ledger here that even the Physicians' Council would want to disappear.
The ledger would surely contain not only the solicitations received from the Physicians' Council and the bribes received in the process.
But also all the shadows the Physicians' Council had to create for their own development.
The period when the Physicians' Council grew rapidly overlapped with the period when Hinek took office.
Since the shady ones looked out for each other, the stench would be enormous.
The two people with good noses split up and began to search the office.
The unconscious knights were dragged inside by Cailin and roughly stuffed behind the desk.
“It's so spacious, it's not easy to find.”
Indeed, the probability of a ledger being placed alone in a place like this was not high.
Rather, the possibility of it being carried around in a place like a spatial artifact could not be ignored.
But would cowards like council members, like sorcerers, carry such things themselves?
While opening all the drawers, bookcases, and even the desk.
Cailin suddenly began to press her ear against the wall.
And then, little by little, she tapped on the outer wall, one by one.
…The sound is different.
“Dante. I think there’s some empty space behind this bookshelf.”
“Can you move that bookshelf?”
“To the side? Yeah.”
Cailin scratched the back of her head with one hand and grabbed the bookshelf with the other, pushing it lightly.
A smooth gesture, as if pushing a beer mug somewhere.
Was that light? The thought even crossed my mind.
As the bookshelf, larger than a person and full of books, moved aside.
Just as Cailin had said, something hidden was revealed.
“A safe.”
I was thinking of just breaking something of that level, but Cailin quietly approached.
“…I know how to do this too.”
“Yeah. My father taught me. He also taught me the technique to find another space behind a wall.”
Hey, leader of the Black Wolf Brigade. What kind of future were you trying to create for your daughter?
The desire to summon Remus to this spot was fleeting.
Cheolkeok─
“Done.”
The safe, which Hinek must have bought for a fortune, opened wide with a satisfying click.
But the eyes of the two were not directed at the inside of the safe.
“…Dante.”
“Yeah.”
Someone was coming this way.