Turning Chapter 1104

Chapter 1104

"Recently, a duke of our empire claimed to have been defrauded by southern merchants. Do you happen to know about that incident?"

At Kishiar's question, Gohum barely collected herself and nodded cautiously.

"Ah, yes. We also know about the news of Duke Tain's trial. There wouldn't be a trading company that goes out to trade with the empire that doesn't know about it."

Gohum said that the news was quite a topic among southern merchants as well. However, they didn't know who the culprits were or which tribe was behind them. Even the name Aton, which Duke Tain had constantly shouted, was not an unusual name among them, so there didn't seem to be any particular clue.

"Don't commoners in the empire also use the method of introducing themselves as someone from a certain village to distinguish themselves without a surname? We also don't distinguish each other by name alone. A complete real name is formed by attaching words that can hint at the tribe and group one belongs to. In my case, I often say 'Gohum Wanman, the first white whisker of the yellow cat'. Of course, this is a bit awkward because it's translated into the imperial language."

'It's similar to the name "Aton Jin of Wolf Rock Moonshade" that Aton guy mentioned. I thought the characters attached after the name were surnames, but that's not the case?'

Kishiar seemed to have the same thought as he nodded with a knowing look.

"I see. I knew to some extent, but it's fascinating anew. Thank you for telling me."

A smile appeared on Gohum's face at Kishiar's casual greeting.

"Not at all. But why are you asking about that incident... Ah. Do you suspect that those who have been captured now might be those people?"

"To be honest, yes. I think there's a high possibility of that."

The Shuden Trading Company impostors. But at the same time, they were related to the southern merchants wanted on charges of fraud against Duke Tain. Gohum's expression became serious as she still couldn't fully grasp the connection between the two.

"If that's the case... I'll observe those people more carefully as well."

"I'd appreciate that. If we confirm that our guess is correct, I think we'll be able to have more conversations then."

The door to the prison opened. After walking a bit further in silence, they soon saw a door from which noisy sounds were leaking. Those guarding that place were not ordinary soldiers. They were members of the Northern Branch Cavalry.

The members standing guard in very well-aligned postures immediately greeted Kishiar when they saw him. Meanwhile, from inside the prison door that was firmly closed to prevent seeing outside, loud voices of complaint leaked out.

"Isn't it too much to imprison us just for borrowing another trading company's name! How many people like us are there in the world to do this for such a thing...!"

"That's right! Aren't you doing this just listening to the Shuden Trading Company's side! Is this the level of the Orr Empire?"

"We'll pay a fine, so please release us! We won't come here again!"

The owners of those shouting voices seemed to be the Shuden Trading Company impostors.

"Haha. Did Sir Zuckerman bring them very gently? There's not a hint of fear or remorse, which greatly offends the mood of the Shuden Trading Company head who's listening."

Mick muttered while clenching his fist with a smiling face. Yuder silently agreed with part of his words.

'Nathan Zuckerman's handling of matters is indeed extremely gentlemanly.'

If those guys had met Yuder first, this prison would probably be as quiet as if there wasn't even a single mouse by now. But Nathan Zuckerman's method wasn't bad either. Thanks to those guys underestimating the danger they were in, they had no idea that this side was guessing their identity.

Kishiar stopped in front of the closed door. As he raised his hand, Nathan Zuckerman took out two pouches from his chest and handed them to his lord.

"These are pouches containing the items confiscated from them and the items recovered in Peletta, separately."

Kishiar opened the pouches and examined the contents, then raised the corner of his lips crookedly.

"Yes. As expected, these are items made in the same way. Only Nathan and I will enter the prison. Open the upper part of the door so that Yuder and the merchants can see inside the room from here."

"Understood."

Yuder didn't particularly object. It was clear that keeping Yuder outside was intended to protect the safety of others while also trying to keep him as far away as possible from items made with monster byproducts.

It was a concern that only Yuder in the world could understand, unknown to others.

Anyway, there was no chance of Kishiar being in danger from guys of that level. Even more so with Nathan Zuckerman by his side. Yuder crossed his arms and stood, indicating he would follow the order, then opened his mouth.

"Please go ahead. If you need my strength, just look this way."

Kishiar, who was about to open the prison door and enter, turned his head and met Yuder's gaze.

"...That's reassuring."

The man who smiled faintly entered through the open door with Nathan Zuckerman. The gazes of those who had been loudly complaining focused on them. Kishiar smiled a smile befitting the Duke of Peletta towards those who had fallen silent with blank expressions.

"Nice to meet you. So you're the ones who sold these shoddy goods all over the northern part of the empire. I can't tell you how long we've been looking for you."

"...D-Duke Peletta?"

"Oh. You recognize me by face even though it's your first time seeing me. I must have become quite a celebrity now."

Kishiar sat down in a naturally relaxed posture on the chair Nathan Zuckerman had brought, and looked around at the faces of the dumbfounded impostors. There were seven of them in total, and as Nathan Zuckerman had said, most of them appeared to be of southern descent. At the same time, Yuder asked the merchants beside him.

"Do you recognize anything?"

"Nope~ Not at all?"

Unlike Mick who responded brightly while playfully pushing his glasses up and down, Gohum couldn't answer immediately. She frowned slightly and bit her lower lip lightly, then finally opened her mouth with difficulty after a slight delay.

"...That one on the far right. I've seen him before in the midland of the desert."

"Oh!"

Mick's eyes lit up. Yuder calmly asked again.

"Do you remember which tribe he was from?"

"If my memory is correct... Wolf's Eye. But..."

At that moment, Kishiar inside the prison turned the two pouches upside down and poured out their contents, drawing everyone's attention back there. Because of this, Yuder couldn't hear the rest of Gohum's words.

"You know what these are, don't you? You can't not know the goods you sold yourselves."

"Is it because of these mere trinkets that are nothing, that you, the high Duke, have come here in person?"

"Mere trinkets... Hmm. Do you really think so?"

When Kishiar smiles so brightly like that, those who don't know him well become dazed without even having time to grasp what he's saying. Kishiar gently picked up one of the trinkets that had fallen to the ground in front of their eyes. The hand holding a tent peg lightly crushed it a moment later, as if it were a cookie.

The broken peg was partially hollow inside.

"What..."

The atmosphere instantly chilled. Looking down at the peg fragments, Kishiar opened his mouth without any change in expression.

"You deliberately hollowed out the inside and joined two pieces together. Delicate craftsmanship."

The next thing he picked up was a bracelet that looked very similar to the one Yuder had broken before. It too revealed its empty inside as it broke.

"You engraved shallow, fine patterns. It would take at least a few years of practice to engrave something inside such a small bead."

One after another, other items were also broken far too easily under Kishiar's hand. The expressions of the impostors watching with shocked faces began to distort more and more as each item broke.

That change was most strongly apparent in the man on the far right, with whom Kishiar was making direct eye contact. Just as Kishiar was slowly tearing a piece of paper he held in his hand, the man finally couldn't stand it anymore and stood up abruptly.

"What on earth are you doing?"

Following that, incomprehensible southern language flowed from his mouth. Even without understanding the words, the tone clearly felt like cursing. Nathan Zuckerman placed his hand on his sword hilt. Gohum beside Yuder gasped and covered her mouth. The one who prevented the explosive situation was Kishiar, who lightly stopped everyone's movements by raising his hand.

"It was you who said these were just mere trinkets. I just broke some trinkets and shared my impressions, so why are you getting angry? It's as if these were actually very important items."

"...You, you knew everything, and yet, us...!"

The man shouted with a distorted face. Kishiar, still smiling, picked up another peg that had been rolling on the floor and lightly tossed and caught it a couple of times.

"Oh? What do you think we know?"

"..."

"That strange magical power flows out every time these items are broken? That complex processes used in making magical tools are necessary to make such a thing possible? That we're now very curious about the intention behind spreading such suspicious items throughout the North for a long time, calling them mere trinkets?... Just kidding, actually we're not that curious? That my dear subjects were truly surprised and upset because of these items, and that my precious guest's hands were almost dirtied? What else could there be?"

"Ugh... Urgh...!"

The other side couldn't answer. Even if they wanted to, they probably couldn't.

Even those beyond the closed door could feel the enormous aura Kishiar was emitting now, so how much more so for those in the same space? The sound of one of the pale-faced people collapsing and fainting to the side was heard, but no one could move.

"We've already seen something similar to these items you made in the South. Those guys also tried to artificially cause disasters by disrupting the balance of the area, exploding magical power inserted into mediums."

After saying that, Kishiar was silent for a moment. Then he turned his head and stared towards the door.

"...However, we have a gambler who doesn't fall for the same trick twice."

The gaze that was looking exactly at Yuder beyond that was infinitely deep. A moment later, Kishiar turned his head back and continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

"It seems you've worked hard for a long time to make the North like the South, but unfortunately, it looks like it will be very difficult for your wishes to come true."

The man who had barely been maintaining his trembling legs in front of Kishiar finally fell to his knees. It looked as if an invisible hand was pressing him down. He seemed to be trying to stand up somehow, but it was useless. Looking at that sight with a face devoid of laughter, Kishiar stood up from his seat.

"Nathan. Since the criminals have acknowledged the abnormality of these items themselves, classify them as serious offenders from now on and investigate thoroughly. Make sure to inform the entire North of the investigation results so that we can respond immediately."

"Understood."

Kishiar came out of the room. His face was as fresh as if he had never emitted such a heavy aura.

"Did everyone get a good look at the faces of the trading company impostors?"

"I saw them so well I won't be able to forget them even in my dreams. Thanks to someone who showed an incredible sight beyond the door."

Mick grumbled lightly. Kishiar let out a low laugh.

"They seemed like the type who would only give answers if shaken up so quickly."

His gaze passed Mick and turned to Gohum. Gohum wiped the cold sweat that had seeped onto her forehead and bit her lip, then straightened her shoulders with a determined face.

"I know who the man who stood directly in front of you just now is. He belongs to the Wolf's Eye tribe, and if my memory is correct, he was definitely... one of the current chief's blood relatives."

Kishiar, who had been staring blankly at her face, slowly smiled.

"Thank you, Gohum. I thought you would be helpful indeed."

"...I thought the Wolf's Eye tribe was arguing for unification more strongly than ever before, but this is..."

"With a brain like yours, just ruminating on what I said in there just now should be enough to get a sufficient answer. Please think about it carefully. That is the first help I'm giving to our new business partner."

Gohum returned with Mick, her face deep in thought. The Cavalry members entered the prison to help Nathan Zuckerman, and now only the two of them were left. Yuder quietly approached Kishiar, who had a slightly tired look on his face, and spoke.

"You must have used a lot of strength to suppress your aura while constantly encountering unpleasant magical power during the interrogation. Let's rest a bit now."

Even if others couldn't, only Yuder could tell that the flow of aura he emitted wasn't being controlled as precisely as usual. Because stronger aura than he had intended to use flowed out and he had to use more strength to suppress it, the control was subtly shaking.

It was a sight that couldn't help but recall his scent that had been constantly growing stronger since coming to Peletta.

'The strengthening of the scent alone could be seen as a temporary phenomenon due to his physical condition, but the fact that his aura is also gradually growing stronger along with it. It can't be simply because he's recovering too well. Although it's different from the general pattern, perhaps...'

"I'm fine."

The thought he was continuing was broken by Kishiar's unconvincing words.

"This is not a request from an aide, but a suggestion from a guest."

When Yuder spoke firmly, Kishiar lowered his eyes and smiled as if he had no choice.

"...When you put it that way, I can't refuse."

When they go up, Yuder thought he should properly examine Kishiar's condition and tell him his suspicions. Thinking this, Yuder grasped Kishiar's arm as if supporting him and climbed the stairs side by side. The man did not reject Yuder's touch.

However, before they could go to rest, new urgent news greeted them.

"My lord! We just received news that similar anomalous cracks to those that appeared on our side have appeared and disappeared in some other regions of the empire as well!"