Chapter 12
Queen of Roses (2)
It was true that thanks to the Rose Garden, the concept of even the minimum level of trust had taken root in Bennett City.
However, at the same time, there was the side effect that any contracts and promises without the Rose Garden’s guarantee turned into nothing but scraps of paper.
If you wanted to be absolutely sure your secrets were kept, you had to secure the Rose Garden’s guarantee.
Once you received that guarantee, the secret you had sworn never to reveal would naturally become known to the Rose Garden.
But if you disliked that and refused the Rose Garden’s guarantee, then the other party would never keep their promise of confidentiality.
“If it’s a secret entangled with this beautiful city, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.”
Cecilia Longhorn, the representative of the Rose Garden.
\[If you wish to keep a secret, speak the secret.]
She, who had created this strange paradox, certainly had the right to say such words.
Of course, there was a bit of bravado mixed in. If it was a secret maintained quietly within a large organization, even Cecilia had no way to uncover it.
But aside from that very tiny number of exceptions, what Cecilia said was undoubtedly the truth.
“Everyone knows that if a secret hasn’t been guaranteed by the Rose Garden, you can get someone to spill it with just the right amount of money.”
Sadly, Commissioner of Customs Alphonse Kimberley had purchased a male slave through Bennett City’s criminal organizations to satisfy his private desires.
Commissioner Alphonse Kimberley had requested that this matter remain confidential, but he had not secured the Rose Garden’s guarantee.
And there was no way Bennett City’s criminal groups would keep a promise without the Rose Garden’s backing.
“I hear you have a wife. If word gets out about your preference for men, it will be quite entertaining in many ways.”
Cecilia’s crimson eyes continued to gaze steadily at Commissioner Alphonse.
“So, do you think news of me pulling out your molar will reach the ears of the Empire?”
“…Enough pointless talk. Let’s get to business.”
In the end, Commissioner Alphonse could only raise the white flag. Under Imperial law, his secret was more than sufficient grounds for divorce.
To be honest, from Alphonse’s perspective, he didn’t care in the least what happened to his wife and had no interest in her.
What mattered was that he would lose his wife’s family. Without their help, it was impossible for Alphonse to maintain his current network and position.
The fierce momentum he had carried deflated all at once, like cabbage wilted in brine.
One might have expected Cecilia to enjoy watching an opponent who had been acting so arrogantly shrivel up before her eyes, but she paid no mind to such things and simply looked over at her subordinates guarding the door.
“The documents you received this morning—I think it would be good to bring them to me now.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare them right away!”
Everything that came out of Cecilia’s mouth was always phrased as a suggestion or a request. She had never spoken in the form of an order.
But as long as you belonged to the Rose Garden, any word from Cecilia’s mouth was an order you could never refuse.
After giving instructions to her subordinates, Cecilia’s gaze turned to Jensen Ludbow, the Chief of the Security Corps.
“It’s probably written in the documents, but I think it would be quicker to hear it directly.”
“Representative Longhorn, I’d like to ask for your assistance in arranging suitable personnel for this job and for the guarantee of the commission’s contents.”
Jensen, who had been quietly observing the situation, immediately replied.
“I’m curious what kind of job you wish to arrange.”
“Tax robbery.”
The one who answered was Commissioner of Customs Alphonse. As soon as he spoke, Cecilia’s expression turned curious, as if she found it amusing.
“Oh my, if it’s tax robbery, isn’t the gentleman who just spoke an expert himself?”
Having suddenly been treated as a tax bandit, Commissioner Alphonse’s face briefly twisted in displeasure.
But the throbbing pain where his molar had been pulled just earlier made him restrain any harsh reaction.
“Ahem, I don’t mean tax evasion…”
Cecilia, who was listening to Alphonse’s explanation in silence, looked dumbfounded.
“So you’re saying you want to rob an Imperial tax convoy.”
She clicked her tongue and flicked her empty glass lightly with her index fingernail. Immediately, an operative of the Rose Garden approached and refilled her glass.
After lifting the glass and taking a sip, Cecilia finally spoke.
“For a moment, I wondered where I should even start pointing out how absurd this is… but I suppose it doesn’t really matter.”
There was no need to ask “why.” After all, the Rose Garden had only been asked for an introduction.
All they needed to do was find and recommend someone capable of robbing tax revenue transported under the Empire’s protection.
Once the introduction was complete, the person introduced by the Rose Garden and the client would enter direct negotiations.
The Rose Garden’s role would end with guaranteeing the contract agreed upon by both sides.
“Do you think it’s feasible? The convoy we’re targeting will be accompanied by 5,700 elite soldiers and five knights.”
In response to the Commissioner’s question, Cecilia set down her glass and scoffed.
“Elite soldiers? Commissioner, you do love your little jokes.”
Such a description did not suit the Imperial Army. The very foundation of Imperial military tactics and strategy could be summed up in a single sentence.
\[Human lives have different worth.]
The Valorn Imperial Army could sacrifice tens of thousands of ordinary soldiers just to protect a single knight who operated a battle gear or to preserve a single piece of battle gear.
This doctrine was possible precisely because the greatest strength of the Valorn Imperial Army was its overwhelming numbers.
“The soldiers aren’t much of a concern, but if five knights are attached, I can’t entrust this to just anyone.”
The 5,700 soldiers tagging along were essentially there to act as meat shields and to serve the knights.
The true defense of the convoy lay with the five knights who used battle gear.
“They’re knights from the Moonlight Order. Three apprentices, one regular knight, and one paladin.”
While calmly listening, Cecilia gently swirled the glass in her hand before setting it down.
A paladin. A knight and also a priest who served the High God Itera.
During normal times, they led religious ceremonies within their order, offered counsel, and worked to boost morale.
“The muscle-bound vegetarians who swing swords by day and pray by night?”
Was a paladin weak? If you asked that, the answer was absolutely not. To fulfill the duties of a paladin, you had to have a record of distinguished service.
In other words—
“So he’s a knight decorated for merit.”
Between an ordinary knight and a decorated knight, there was at least the difference between a dog and a wolf.
Unlike ordinary people, any knight who hadn’t proven his skill could never be awarded a medal, no matter how great his achievements.
In other words, the mere fact of being decorated proved that among knights, you were exceptionally skilled.
“What grade of medal is it?”
On top of that, the awarded medal further divided decorated knights by tiers of ability.
“It’s the White Heron 3rd Class, as far as I know.”
The White Heron 3rd Class.
It was a medal awarded to those who had distinguished themselves in expeditionary subjugations. Among third-class medals, it was considered one with fairly demanding qualifications.
Cecilia’s mind grew complicated. The mere fact that a decorated knight was assigned to the target drastically reduced the pool of skilled individuals she could recommend.
“The presence of a paladin alone suggests this isn’t just an ordinary convoy guarding tax revenue…”
“Is it possible or not? Just answer that.”
“My, how impatient you are. Why don’t you go rest at the lodging you reserved and take care of that gap where your molar used to be? Once the outline becomes clear, I’ll call you back.”
At Alphonse’s pressing, Cecilia waved her hand dismissively, effectively issuing her guests an order to leave. The Chief of the Security Corps and the Commissioner of Customs had no choice but to entrust the remaining matters to Cecilia and withdraw for the moment.
Once the two had departed, Cecilia immediately sank into thought.
Robbing a tax convoy was, indirectly, the same as plundering the Imperial Treasury itself. If she simply hired some organization to move on this, they wouldn’t appreciate it much.
It meant picking a fight with the Empire. If anything went wrong, only an organization on the scale of the Rose Garden could endure all the repercussions.
However, Bennett City didn’t consist solely of organizations that adhered to discipline and order.
“Who’s the most successful Architect lately?”
Continuing her contemplation, Cecilia asked the subordinate guarding the door.
“I believe Cheonghong is still at the top.”
“Oh my, but Cheonghong charges too much for this sort of work. It’s not like we’re knocking over the Imperial Central Bank.”
“In that case… I hear someone called Spring Parsley has been on the rise lately.”
Cecilia stroked her chin. It was a name she hadn’t heard before.
“Really? Tell me about their recent accomplishments.”
“I’ve heard they blew up a mine owned by Sophia Jewelry Company and stole the ore.”
After listening to the report, Cecilia looked somewhat disappointed.
“Any Architect worth their salt can draft up that sort of plan, can’t they?”
“It was a three-day lead time on the job.”
Hearing that, Cecilia nodded.
“Not bad. Could you tell them to have lunch with me at my estate in two days?”
“How should I prepare the meal?”
In response to her subordinate’s question, Cecilia gave a small laugh and replied.
“I’m calling them over to work, so we ought to feed them well.”
“Understood. The restaurant owner might be a little surprised.”
At those words, Cecilia inspected her fingernails idly and answered.
“So what. It’s not as if we’re eating for free. And besides, that place has the dishes I like best.”
“You might end up kidnapping the chef to keep them in your kitchen.”
Cecilia shook her head.
“That skill would be wasted on private enjoyment alone. Besides, good food tastes best when you have to wait for it a little, once in a while.”
Cecilia slowly rose from her seat, let out a yawn, and spoke to her subordinates.
“Good work, everyone. Except for those on duty tonight, you can all go and rest.”
“Will you be retiring to your chambers?”
Cecilia nodded, then made her way unhurriedly to her bedroom.
---
Once every ten days, Jonathan would leave the shop in Kairus’s care in the evening and personally deliver food somewhere.
The dishes Jonathan, the owner of Longwave Bistro, delivered to this mysterious figure were made with exceptionally high-quality ingredients and prepared to a remarkable standard.
Even Kairus had admitted that in some respects, the meals surpassed what he’d eaten in House Featherwing.
“This is just…”
And now, Jonathan, the proprietor of Longwave Bistro renowned for his extraordinary culinary skill, was in a rather distressing predicament.
Normally, he always delivered in person, but today, an unscheduled delivery had been requested all of a sudden.
“This is driving me mad.”
Cooking wasn’t the problem. As for the ingredients, the person requesting the delivery always prepared them in advance, so Jonathan only had to do the cooking.
But today, Jonathan couldn’t leave the restaurant unattended.
“You could just explain the situation and tell them you can’t go, Boss.”
At Kairus’s suggestion, offered as he watched Jonathan wrestle with his dilemma, Jonathan flinched and shuddered all over.
“You little bastard. If you want me dead, just stab the back of my head with a kitchen knife. I’d rather choose an easy death.”
This was an order he could never reply to with “I can’t go.” If he did, something terrible would happen.
“Then why not ask those people to understand the situation?”
Jonathan was trembling with fear, while Kairus still didn’t grasp what was at stake.
If the client was that terrifying, couldn’t they just explain to the diners at the restaurant and ask for their understanding?
Kairus’s suggestion was a perfectly rational and reasonable idea. But this was Bennett City.
The clear, cold glint of reason sometimes lost its shine here.
“They’re with Lukas’s Children.”
Lukas’s Children was also an organization under the Grand Canal Operations Committee. In other words, they were a power on par with the Rose Garden.