Chapter 91: Black Bandana
V95Wr“It’s short, but impactful. The audacity to threaten us like this.”k6gY99
2qy3HuIsabella showed her displeasure.Lf2
6PdCCThat way of saying only what was necessary and ending there, along with writing it in red letters.k3k
BhQPZvEverything made it feel like a threat.hu0ZwfU
bpvPerhaps that was why Perda saw it differently.uDKGRGu
X9Jt93z“Don’t you think it would be too shameless if it were only a threat?”wjoz
8kIgSsoIf they had come intending to lurk around trying to squeeze a few coins out of him, they never would have used that final phrase, “we will soon come to see you.”zTbBC
DexWMoreover, the opponent was Black Bandana.ApFdrsm
wj6C1ZIf it was the continent’s greatest secret information organization, they surely already had a rough idea of what kind of person Perda was.y3E7GVX
6anh‘That’s why I’m curious.’7Sr
5BnWhether that “we will soon come to see you” would be beneficial to the Grand Duchy or not.BmFzB
aNQW“Administrator. Is there a flagpole in Hestia?”EgfMb
B3wQO“Not yet, but one is scheduled to be installed soon.”hhEm
3uaTLb“Then put it up today and hang this in the center. That will serve as our response.”5NhjZVb
o7B4Following Perda’s instructions, Isabella had a flagpole installed in the center of Hestia village and hung the handkerchief about halfway up.xev0
gy61Around it there were only lonely mountains and dense forests.gRgN
yMbSEnaPlacing it halfway up made one wonder whether anyone would even notice it.wSO
alIHowever, only a few hours later, a group of six people riding black horses and wearing black robes arrived at Castle Valdrova.loiLKA
zI0XvwAt first glance they looked like secret envoys from some kingdom, but those who had already been informed knew perfectly well who they were.aAlCm0X
7lWPRuri went down to verify their identities and returned to report.0WbNN
wBsg“Lord Perda, they say they came in response to your summons.”t2w
VnlYz2F“Allow only the representative inside.”mYyy0i
kvkeBciSince it was a secret organization, they had to handle the matter carefully.5GxH
6tEwThe one who entered Castle Valdrova as the representative was a slender woman.sgSuoX
9tekLight blue eyes, ash gray hair, and dark skin.tb73J
T5ZShe looked like a woman raised in the southern regions and greeted them politely.iXp0UDd
Z6JN4“It is a pleasure to meet you, Regent. This young woman is called Garnet Swallow.”aXI
cK8RWhen she spoke, sharp fangs could be seen between her slightly parted lips.ySBH
hlnV‘A dark elf?’S3E
1VEK47She was beautiful, but her fierce expression made one instinctively tense up.9CZ9H
3nSooMoreover, her rounded ears clearly showed she was a beauty born in the southern regions.RJ0xrr
IKymDGVPerda asked her.8VvvqO
tLFa“Then explain why you threatened me and then came here so shamelessly.”hr4Whm
ZntuzGarnet tilted her head.b36
20kj“Threaten you? That would be absurd. How could beings who live in the sewers like us dare threaten the representative of the Grand Duchess and the fiancé of a dragon?”oZAfE
m2QvS5“Then you’ll have to explain the contents of that letter.”MgX5
stPZx3“The red letters are certainly provocative, but that is nothing more than an outdated tradition of our organization. If that caused you concern, we deserve to apologize a hundred times. However, if we had truly intended to threaten you, we would have had no reason to appear before you like this.”qQJ
R4MPIt was a reasonable argument.gI1bZ
kXBEGarnet placed a bag she had brought onto the table.TZzmA
pfO6“This is the first gift this young woman offers you as the representative of Black Bandana.”Ll3o
FoiZ7YPerda discreetly checked whether it contained any traps such as an explosive magic circle.Q397
gkqSc8There were no traces of manipulated magic.spASC
HUj7MAfter inspecting it, he opened the bag.G9e6aGy
hATEtKDInside were documents.lYBA1b
MveM4“Please read them. I’m sure you will like them.”u3A
Xc0PiUlSince she insisted, Perda quickly began reviewing the contents.bDJTxL8
A8rSFFaAnd he understood why she said he would like them.UMZeJw
8vPtIRIt truly contained information that Perda urgently needed.0yLk7E
b8RhLeA‘Everything about Tilda Pascal.’8v62js
FCc1aoxIt was a document compiling every plan she had prepared in order to become the owner of the Pascal company by stepping over Merchit, Stephan, and Herman.l7cT1
o1oFrom the organizational chart of the agitators infiltrated by Tilda Pascal to plans prepared even for a Plan C.CYPr5
GB9HyCThe contents were so detailed that they made the information Merchit and Stephan were trying to uncover look like a mere sideshow.AqfVw
3Kbyfqo‘The accuracy will have to be verified later….’hUeKTDj
kwnBut Perda did not doubt it.qP7
kai0TjhIt was information delivered by Black Bandana, the continent’s greatest secret information organization.yFng
FNL3sThey would not do something as foolish as spitting in their own faces by spreading false information.SEwsqu
EdPEven so, he had to ask.zLSnF
ioKxRf5“Why are you giving me this information?”Q7jHcD
m4RfaBlack Bandana had repeatedly rejected the Empire’s offers, and now they were the ones extending their hand first.QPp0
ZUDuBPerda needed to know the reason.GWq
I2DziFGarnet answered.eyns1PI
Mu9I4k4“It is not simply a matter of giving it to you. It is more of a mediation.”YD0mFUq
x1FvZ“Mediation?”NzBRS0o
iMKAP“Yes. Tilda Pascal was a target we had been following for a very long time. The first client began investigating and tracking her four years ago.”WZel
ebayryNow everything made sense.EbR
RHuYZThe reason they had accumulated so much information was because they had been investigating her for years.nMeaMr
HSjwAnd the fact that they suddenly appeared offering information about Tilda Pascal as a gift was the client’s will.DVhj3
F3YYoTz“She is truly an impressive woman. Do you know how many things she did during those four years while we investigated and followed her?”IwOna
poSGarnet spoke as though it still seemed unbelievable to her.DFddLk
Dd5S“She turned most of the mansion employees into her own people and poisoned her father-in-law until he became vegetative.”JmAH1WI
ygj“She didn’t kill him?”FUV
xppWO“It seems she intends to alter the will.”NBq1ue
jsVW“So she plans to seize the inheritance through trickery.”LQ0JM
U5emig“Exactly. We had never seen a woman whose greed filled the place where conscience should exist.”8xM0
lZ2For Perda, it was not that surprising.ors7D
QDOGIn fact, the Tilda Pascal he remembered was the mistress of the Dandollo company.7sDaaG
KrSPAAfter the patriarch’s death, she quickly arranged the wedding, and a few months later the next family head also died.ErN
953And the one who inherited the Dandollo company, which had no other direct relatives, was Tilda.XACa
eSFlThat was how she positioned herself on the same level as Merchit as a future owner of the Pascal company.osoL
G3ReX5After reading the documents, he could clearly feel it.pNjFisz
GyYzHow much that woman desired the Pascal company.GqkUzL
OFj5pBq“And do you know why a woman capable of such atrocities remains untouched?”1C7I
aTK9M“No.”0LQS
rEHp02The truth was that he was not particularly interested.noHgLSZ
qVFfBI“After gathering all the pieces, we concluded that Philiaz is behind her.”bn3w
8Lyji3That changed things.2zgdD
Q4VPhiliaz, known as the origin of all witches.MIUawIq
w1Z4qeMost women forcibly crossed the Red Circle driven by resentment, and that resentment was almost always related to men.AruDup
7vmiMZBut Tilda Pascal was not a witch.WJ6Z
PWvIf she were, Perda would have already known.Og80
W2TJ“Then she made a Garden Contract.”sHCSHSY
tKVkuA Garden Contract.GPP
HIzkKyCA contract that allowed a woman incapable of awakening as a witch to use the power of witches.ApVtWkh
QB6zaWomen filled with malice, comparable to witches themselves, made contracts with them and carried out their tasks.At1
Jy8iABut they were extremely rare, and since they showed no visible signs of a Red Circle awakening, they were difficult to detect.mOSZQ7c
hxXPj“Did you discover which witch she made the contract with?”xwFsdt
4D8F“We cannot be certain, but the most likely candidate is Yor Philiaz.”l1PUOi
63BuYor Philiaz.J0XCSQC
pCNLANThe witch of poison and snakes.YeFc
CxgShe was also an expert in illusion magic, and considering the charisma and organizational ability Tilda Pascal displayed, it was a very reasonable possibility.3tvx6uL
c9V“Then.”CV5
a0MWPerda tossed the documents back into the bag and asked,1EJ33
C4VO5“So this is something like I get the information and the client gets their revenge, so everyone wins?”dDWxyT2
9aI2d“How could it be that simple? This information is only a gift. If you accept this deal, you will gain two advantages.”Dg3fg7S
CDHVg8FGarnet raised one finger.gikoJdW
9GSVc“The first, as I already mentioned, is that you will be able to resolve this matter quickly.”Ui0MEwC
eFLZmcThen she raised a second finger.x7y
w2b“The second is that, thanks to this, you will be able to obtain the Dandollo company.”fv5z
S0SpLPerda thought he had misheard because of how extreme that second condition sounded.v7ne
aPoq“Obtain the Dandollo company?”tKXPa
JPSeEe“That’s right.”rgmR4RM
T8Z“Us?”LZvt
Hev“Not us.”pi3Pe
Gfly8Garnet respectfully pointed at Perda.ySWg
bFy4B“It will pass completely into the hands of Regent Perda Valdrova.”g7t
XLriThe Pascal company was the largest in the Empire.ZvvPbjh
ItHCAnd the second largest was precisely the Dandollo company.UFxjC41
M7P9j‘If both companies were united….’nq6h2Jg
1i7renYIt was a proposal so enormous that it would not be an exaggeration to say it was equivalent to possessing half the Empire.h33
pEK9And precisely because of that, it was difficult to believe.vcYiA
5M6Even the words of Black Bandana, which lived on prestige and trust, sounded like lies.DVhe6
Qlju“How could I obtain the Dandollo company?”MB0JYHI
mZ5“Without a prior promise, I cannot explain it in detail. But everything is related to Tilda Pascal. Both Henri Dandollo and Rico Dandollo.”BJO86W
SXCHenri Dandollo was already famous for being a naïve person.IJiW
ya9g9Even so, regardless of his personality, he possessed great business talent and had contributed enormously to stabilizing the aggressive expansion begun by his father.DsvmYK
ooO‘If Henri manages to stabilize the company….’eOWUL
FygggTilda would reveal the fangs she had hidden and bite his throat.Fk8Ry
b5gRvXQ‘What a pitiful man.’vrK3hC6
n3K52EHowever, Perda felt no sympathy.pcfdHF5
XiHxSIf he managed to keep his life when he had originally been destined to die, he should already feel grateful.Rg1psP2
1axEt“If she falls, the Dandollo family will also lose credibility, and the Dandollo company will no longer want to remain under that family’s control.”aTn
kezyQ“Aren’t you underestimating the client’s greed far too much?”UrOzzn
3BCT“Black Bandana guarantees it. If they fail to fulfill this condition, we ourselves will act as the executors.”ct7mZ
v4u71wBlack Bandana was an organization with a long history and, no matter what happened, protected its credibility.rhdo0b
RlqCIf the other party did not intend to honor the agreement, they themselves would seize it by force. That was their business.C1XjK
OgbKxCOAnd if he could obtain a trading company, there was no way Perda could refuse something like that.CGkwV8
saLIt was a pie far too large and far too sweet not to think about again and again.hcVla
zo9fPqRCould this matter really end so simply?IFjTj
S5DDXBlack Bandana was trustworthy, but he knew absolutely nothing about the client behind all this.u0C
RsiJIXWhat if, after finalizing the deal with Black Bandana, that client stabbed him in the back?v8clN
QOnRJ2To deduce what kind of person that individual was, Perda decided to ask a few more questions.1iupe
Ofyc9“Then, what do you need?”yDCC
4or“We would also like to propose two things this time.”hMLzlyx
5W2gmH“You seem to like the number two quite a bit.”wzR
nr6slAw“It seems the conversation naturally led us there.”eBQfGVu
olE“Speak.”0vnhQ1
jU260qf“First, we would like to borrow someone.”uRe
ySHIQ“What kind of person?”Ojnw
bRWO“Someone capable of finding the medium of the contract with Yor Philiaz.”4ruq1BB
yXipLDFor a Garden Contract to be formally established, a medium was necessary.TOS
FyF6KsOIronically, the easier that medium was to destroy and the more visible it was, the more powerful it became.8X9
tL8If they were talking about a poison capable of filling the mansion with her own people and completely immobilizing the owner of the Dandollo company, then it was undoubtedly an object that was easy to destroy and highly conspicuous.WbLD
nK5u“That woman’s medium must be inside the mansion. We do not know the exact location, but we need a specialist capable of finding it.”VA4
XBz0kPy“And it seems you already know who that specialist is.”uP6hHy1
50qWMcaGarnet nodded.XBPBA
piw“That’s right. We would like to borrow the power of Zed Swallow. Though now we should call him Sir Zed.”kCHqT
O3YqBack then he had still been known merely as a womanizer, far from someone directly associated with theft.GPKDtU
hwGIf someone had observed his actions in Hallim, at most they would have thought his movements were better than those of a mere acrobat.PqT5VDX
YyZ‘But no one is supposed to know that Zed also has talent for stealing.’dXvHr
l8bWKXIt truly was Black Bandana.JKlD
4ZqgMdfTheir information-gathering ability was so immense it was frightening, and their deductions were outstanding.KGG
8cfDefinitely an organization the Empire would want to possess.ykh
KmYAfter finishing his thoughts, Perda answered.asYbD
6zcv“I’ll lend him to you. And the second condition?”iVKiWog
tHlCAKu“We want Tilda Pascal to be reduced to an idiot.”KztwaZ
dFM“An idiot?”hEa
FaJfDt“We mean that she should remain alive, but her body should become a prison for her soul.”rt0
JS9Xok“So you want to leave her in a state where she is alive but incapable of truly living.”J2fw9b
WKBgWThat supposed client definitely desired revenge.FMr1
Z3HFsFor someone like Perda, who had carried out thousands of brutal acts of vengeance, turning someone into a mental invalid was one of the cruelest forms of punishment.68Zn
rIl‘Who would desire revenge like that?’Vxbq
dVMOZWith Tilda Pascal’s reputation, it could be anyone.PMzzY
B1DTOBut considering the entire situation, there was one much more likely candidate.5AqU
F08axj‘Rico Dandollo.’OW6ZF
9rA11pLooking at it as a whole, he was the most likely.h6r
XnV7HyMRather than allowing the company he built to end up in the hands of trash like his daughter-in-law, he would surely prefer to hand it to someone else.qaoyKRj
iYH95‘Though the fact that they requested something like this means….’rmEyu
xBFzclBlack Bandana was making this proposal because they believed Perda could accomplish it.PTtDU
03WmThen what had they seen in Perda to think that?pnh4H
fUUVx9“What method exactly are you expecting from me?”nKoPMU
8rCShe slightly shifted her gaze toward the young woman standing diagonally behind Perda.oXZK
05GROCS“Dragon Fear.”yjoBas
tTPh4It was Ruri.4bRmrvf
z16“I heard that ordinary dragon spawn are incapable of using Dragon Fear. But those who train until they approach the level of a dragon can use part of those powers.”qx6wX
ilCfLWHer eyes shifted back toward Ruri.7sPuYR
gGzHXVx“And we know that maid is outstanding enough to use Dragon Fear. We want that power.”eO6ZYD
IYeNsxNow he finally understood.kEC
qB9ZIf they truly wanted to hand over a gigantic company like Dandollo, they needed an equivalent force.yw0cnMc
kQ14Garnet did not only need the power of a great thief, she also needed the power of a dragon.zTClIS
DO70“Ha.”Z5JzQ
LBjDixPerda let out an incredulous laugh.Jp4MMB
tN0“What an arrogantly shameless request.”kKIdz
lTUdHPfPerda’s voice turned cold.21ZWU
naSOSTAnd the atmosphere chilled along with it.qQYbzx
rU9ypeGarnet’s throat moved violently.c4WDBw
TI9Right now it felt as though she were walking on a tightrope in the middle of a typhoon.I6K
xH0r8If she took one wrong step, she would fall straight into the abyss.EiqVW
2A7That was why she spoke with extreme caution.Gg3K
eRKT8“This young woman already knows we are overstepping. That is why we are offering the Dandollo company as a condition and consider that sufficient compensation for the Valdrova Grand Duchy.”UF3kox
FpZz“Ridiculous. Do you think this deal is balanced?”VRadbq
AFgwPerda asked coldly.Ky8
9II“You think human treasures are enough to buy the power of a dragon? You think something as insignificant as money can bribe them?”fGAj
3al“Yes, it can.”jqhQ2x
EQC“?”FVJCi
u7in4zE“?”LGp
rbK9KgIRuri, who until then had been standing still like decoration, suddenly interrupted.sNFEJv
oReGNPerda glanced sideways at her.RwE
tg2N6The two stared at each other for several seconds before he spoke to Garnet again.xOas
WFy“She says it can.”sOJ
KnPrvNo“Eh… really?”Xr2FBV
FvQ7“After all, she is not my servant. If she says it can be done, then it can be done.”UiqEhh
EUnLAs if it were a completely unexpected turn, Garnet could not hide her confusion.8BQ
8BzmEven so, she bowed her head toward Ruri.b7bu
bRpMH“Thank you for your assistance. For the maid of the great Valdrova family to accept such a shameless request is more than we could ask for.”POe0t
Q0c5“You’d better keep your promise.”TbIb
ZDOaquP“Of course. We are not so arrogant as to mock immortal beings.”ZEug
jRG3sAfter confirming even Ruri’s cooperation, Garnet let out a sigh of relief.2ItgK0k
wckgy“It seems there will not be any major problems with the deal, so we will proceed as agreed. Please read the contract and approve it.”CYH5Rb0
syZJTThe work of reviewing the documents was personally handled by Isabella, who stood at the side.Mlj0SfT
5RS7gAfter carefully checking that there were no traps, she handed them back to Perda and the contract was formally finalized.waw
2fCCRuri’s power could be lent later.xX5
6Aq“And what will you do with Sir Zed?”CWc
VGTbAs if they had already thought everything through beforehand, Garnet answered calmly.JRKyxXq
eNxbjq“According to our information, he should arrive soon. Since the Regent has already granted permission, I will personally speak with Sir Zed.”jLnn4SD
7yuo9yJ“I doubt it will go well.”VO8
L4Qb8“There is no need to worry. Sir Zed and I already know each other.”0JP9dT
OICiOne of Perda’s eyebrows rose.T26U
SSZ7KaM“You know each other?”u8jR
cOCW4“We worked together in a mercenary company called Swallow. It was three years, so you could say we have quite a long relationship.”777
LzDKP“Swallow….”9O5
UZolXOFZed Swallow.YgTl
1gABGarnet Swallow.6msh
eDc3rTOnly now did he notice that coincidence.wRa
9rAwkJV‘No wonder she knew so much about Zed.’g7yKX4
x7EThey had been close, so it was natural that she knew him well.E757YZP
UhHShortly afterward, an outrageous and carefree metallic noise began echoing from the hallway.Gjv
pERGThe sound grew closer and closer until it stopped in front of the audience chamber.jKns
BagqB“Regent, I’ve returned!”23Zx
6m4hhMIt was Zed, returning arrogantly after being sent to training.g39
gpK4J“After successfully completing my training and fully arming myself with knightly spirit, Zed Swallow makes his glorious entrance!”feLe
Tr1ZfSr“Welcome.”r6B
g0jCYjG“Oh, it seems there were guests. And the guest is….”t0kkgi
pC8GalThe two stared at each other for quite a while.H53G8WG
eRMNThe proud Zed, who claimed to have armed himself with knightly spirit, turned pale the instant he saw that face.txVjxxr
GWyo“Ugh! Pindteeth!”TVl
S0Ox70He flinched as though he had seen a ghost and covered his face with his helmet.Lz5D
AOj0woGarnet stood up and walked toward him.XcgoEA
n7iufCd“Zed.”StkwqcD
FMuA“……Who are you? I’m not Zed, I’m Malcolm, I come from Peach Hill.”Vdvi
KC6Zw“Don’t speak in that ridiculous voice. I already know you’re a knight from here.”CR2
6wv1“……No, miss. I’m telling you I don’t know who you are. I’m Malcolm. I’m stupid. I can’t count or tell left from right.”Ge3LuMs
nrqP“Haah….”hD3J
DeaRGarnet let out a long sigh.eSjA8tf
hzcmAnd immediately afterward, she brutally kicked him in the shin.ryQi7f0
9pwHFnA true joint.GIl
lBJqCE0Thwack!WJCQ
nncwtSThe sound echoed throughout the entire hall.Z6QZ4
axnPZed jumped as hard as the impact itself.xGNvx
TTOKBut even then, he did not forget to cover his face with the helmet.RI0
3Lf65EN“Khk! Hup! Hup! Hup!”1Hw
S29fFz“You damned coward! Come with me! You were sold to me!”YYANr8q
kyWMy“Aaaagh! W-what does that mean!? Regent!? What’s happening, Regent!?”GHN
N2DHEGarnet dragged him away by the ear while Zed demanded explanations.sD58T4P
scFwBut the last image Zed saw was Perda waving goodbye to him.Y4liPp
irHjKXIn the end, the ones who left through the castle gates were six black horses and one brown horse.O0qs
G0VMShZed was riding the brown horse.G2RkYI
hUhXe7And behind him rode Penelope.TTw
SU2moI7She had also ended up being sold along with him and screamed noisily as they disappeared toward the forest.CF09
FKzTJMJ“Hmm?”mvIy
NMO04hRuri, who was watching the scene, suddenly spoke.DIHy
S6oDv“What is it?”BtZzTe
39G“All the horses left, but one person is missing.”jq8
TVi6“Didn’t Zed and Penelope leave?”L9pE1XZ
zcc0N71“I know that already. One of the black-cloaked people is missing.”bDggWo
7XqzUcJRuri felt that something was strange and immediately began searching for the missing person.A7UUSaH
jX7EXn9The search did not last long.Ixx0M
dJEYBecause a man covered in a robe was standing motionless directly beneath the castle, where the representative had been waiting.J2Rfif4
XT572TOn his chest was a kindly written message.SrT4S
9E1Ex— Second gift.AOjK
Y10mhAs though opening a birthday present, they removed the black cloth.Wo8M4S
20QxSKAnd then they understood why that man was the second gift.VLSwQ
6u1IRfH“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!”tijKl
mYkLIt was Frank Fontaine.yz8Um
lPzThe man who had disappeared during the attack.vZjw
r1DOAnd perhaps the person who could testify about this entire matter.dVk
caJa2HWhen they removed the gag, he shouted desperately.S0HhyLS
PnlSd3“I-I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything, so please spare my life!”DEuCScw
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationFirst time seeing ruri to help someone else besides preda.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji
MortalEs q precisamente por eso ayuda,por q es por perda
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationI see
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationZed is really having hard time.