Chapter 18. A blade is sharper when it is hidden. (3).
“It’s a joke,”
I quickly comforted Jack, who was rapidly becoming depressed.
“You’re doing well. You saved the guild members with that bitch.”
“ah…….”
Jack’s cheeks turned red. The guy lowered his head as if embarrassed.
Soon, the eyes of the three people who were each assigned a role focused on Elice. Elice also licked her dry lips and stared at me.
“Elice, you….”
He tapped his finger on the table and spoke.
“From now on, I will perform the role of guild leader from the front.”
thud.
The four people looked as if a stone had been dropped on their chests.
“but……!”
Dexter, who was about to protest, was stopped by Elise. Jack also made a fearful face, and William quietly pursed his lips and asked.
The previous attack had already created anxiety in the hearts of the guild members. In particular, the risk of bringing Elice to the forefront has increased.
A tense silence divided the room.
“I know what everyone is thinking.”
My calm voice broke the silence.
“Going to the front isn’t necessarily dangerous.”
He crossed his arms and took a long breath.
“Rather, it is to protect Elice.”
The rest of the guild members, including Elice, still didn’t seem to believe me. I continued my explanation to convince them.
“First of all, the people involved in the last incident are all dead. There will be no need for the Mare Guild to come after us for the time being.”
My tone of voice was calm, but there was a subtle chill in it. Jack felt that and shrugged his shoulders.
“Besides, the harvest festival is about to start, so it’ll be hectic. What’s more, they won’t have time to worry about anything else soon.”
You will soon realize the tragedy caused by the Summer Sword Cadenza. Because the supply of specialty products was decreasing, they were going to be busy without much notice.
“And the location of this building. No guild, not even the Imperial Palace Knights, can attack this place quietly.”
“ah.”
Dexter said, tapping his knee.
“That’s right. The security here is very good. Plus, it’s always bright, day and night.”
“We will also recruit armed forces. So you can leave the security issue aside.”
The faces of the guild members brightened as if they understood,
“Also, from now on we will be running an upper level, not a guild.”
As soon as I finished speaking, I was filled with questions again.
“The top…?”
“Yes, Elice. It is a necessary procedure for you and my goal.”
Elice’s face became strange.
“What that has to do with this, I don’t know.”
“How did the Barnes family and Mare Guild accumulate their wealth?”
“That’s right, luxury goods made by processing special products… Ah!”
Elice’s blue eyes sparkled.
“Then, as you said before, you plan to destroy their business foundation.”
“Yes. Elice, you will appear in the capital in grand style as the leader of a large merchant.”
“I… Sangsanju.”
Elise clasped her hands together as if she couldn’t believe it.
“On the outside, it’s the upper level, but behind the scenes, it will run a guild. It’s similar to the Ardante family.”
He laughed and waved his hand.
“The power of a guild comes from its financial power.”
“As expected, master….”
Elice gave me a respectful look, as if she was truly amazed.
“You decide on the name at the top.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“For now, focus on procuring supplies and decorating the interior. Buy everything of the highest quality, comparable to any other top class.”
“Yes, master!”
Elise answered cheerfully. She always loved spending money.
“Oh, by the way. I have one concern.”
“What?”
“Excluding Jack, the faces of the guild members are well known. Even if we make it to the top like this, it will be difficult to completely erase the traces of the Vendetta Guild.”
There was a way I had already thought of that too.
“First, let William and Dexter disguise themselves. You can easily change your look using dye and tools.”
“yes.”
“All right.”
William and Dexter answered without saying anything.
“And you, Elice….”
Elice stared, then smiled meaningfully.
“Don’t worry, it will be resolved soon.”
“……Hmm. I understand first.”
Elice tilted her head but agreed.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“Okay then. Let’s get on with our respective tasks. We don’t have time.”
He clapped his hands and made the guild members stand up. One of them stood up hesitantly and called out Dexter.
“Dexter stays.”
Dexter rolled his eyes and quickly approached.
“If I did something wrong….”
“Not really.”
He patted Dexter’s shoulder and grinned.
“I have someone for you to bring.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Tap, tap, tap.
The two horses ran diligently.
“wow.”
Melina sat in the coach seat behind him and diligently admired the surroundings.
“There are people here and people there.”
The Obest territory does not have a high population density. So this crowded street felt very unfamiliar.
Moreover, the clothes of the people passing by are so colorful, and the buildings lined up next to them are so tall and dazzling.
The scenery of the capital Maggiore completely captured Melina’s spirit.
“I’m going to put a fly in my mouth.”
I heard a scolding from next to me.
“-!”
Melina blushed and quickly closed her mouth. And then I glared at her side.
“It wasn’t wide open like that?”
“It was drooling.”
The name of the giggling man is Dexter. He said that at Abel’s command he had come to fetch him.
“Are you really the one sent by Master Abel?”
“That’s right, that’s why I came to pick you up on time. I heard you said you would come in the carriage at the top of the Grande?”
“I did.”
Melina hummed and turned her pouty face to the side.
“You were the only teenage girl with auburn hair coming in the carriage on the top of the Grande. There’s no need to get confused.”
Dexter chuckled and changed the topic.
“Wasn’t the road here rough?”
“Ah, yes. Everyone said this trip was strangely peaceful.”
Melina quickly lowered her face and began chattering.
“Strangely enough, the bandits around the capital are quiet. They say the number of attacks has decreased significantly.”
“Hoo.”
“Besides, large merchants also hire a lot of mercenaries. Nothing much happened.”
“Still, traveling by carriage is not easy. It takes a long time to get up.”
Melina shrugged her shoulders at Dexter’s words.
“That’s true, but the joy of going to the capital was greater. I had something to do, so it was worth holding on to.”
“If it’s a pastime, what kind?”
“Oh, that’s….”
Just as I was about to answer, the speed of the carriage gradually slowed down. Melina swallowed what she was about to say.
“Have we arrived already?”
“huh.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised by Dexter’s answer.
“This place….”
It was a road lined with colorful buildings. Soaring high into the sky, and the sparkling white marble walls.
Even Melina, who was unfamiliar with the capital’s culture, could tell that this was the center of the capital’s latest trends.
Squeak.
The carriage stopped.
Melina looked in front of where the carriage was standing and became dumbfounded. Even on this street, the tallest building was waiting for her.
“Are you all here?”
“That’s right. Come on, get down.”
Dexter got down first and held out his hand. Melina hesitated for a moment, then she took his hand and jumped out of her coach seat.
“Then let’s go.”
Dexter took the lead carrying Melina’s luggage. Melina followed behind him carefully.
“You really think Master Abel is here?”
“huh.”
When Dexter opens the door,
“Wow.”
Melina forgot her doubts and exclaimed in admiration.
A chandelier decorated the ceiling, and the light coming from it colored the floor dazzlingly. The walls and floor, made generously of the highest quality ivory-colored marble, shimmered brilliantly.
However, it tended to look overly spacious as it had not yet been filled with furniture or items.
“This one, yes. It would be better to put it in the center so that it attracts attention.”
“Then let’s focus on this….”
A man and a woman were talking in the center of the hall. They were looking at a large piece of paper together and seriously discussing their opinions.
“It is said that the flooring construction will be completed soon.”
The man was middle-aged with neatly swept white hair. His white gloves and black suit went well with his physique, which was unusual for his age.
“Thank goodness. The walls are already done, so now all we have to do is hang the curtains.”
The middle-aged woman who was talking to him while standing across from him had bleached blonde hair. A neat beige dress that completely covered her collar went well.
“Where should I move this?”
Workers carrying huge glass cases approached the two. The woman looked around and pointed with her finger.
“That’s over there against the wall.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Looking at that, Melina guessed that the woman had a higher rank. And this space, she thought, seemed like a place to ‘sell’ something.
“oh.”
The woman was about to lower her head again when she spotted Dexter and Melina.
“I’m home.”
Dexter bowed his head and approached the two. The woman was greeted by Dexter and immediately spoke to Melina.
“Miss Melina, is that correct?”
It was a soft and kind voice.
The moment her eyes met, Melina instinctively knew.
‘It’s this woman.’
That she was the one who sent me the letter.
A letter containing a message from Abel telling him to come up to the capital carrying the items he had previously requested.
The content was good, but the font really got on my nerves. Because it was neat and clean, anyone could see that it was a woman’s handwriting.
‘Ah, thank goodness.’
I felt a strange sense of relief.
In fact, Melina thought about who the owner of this handwriting was the whole way. I think they must be very close to Abel to the point where she entrusts him with ghostwriting.
However, the woman I met in person was beautiful, but seemed quite old. She couldn’t hide the wrinkles on her pretty face.
‘I don’t think I have a special relationship with Master Abel.’
Melina, who was sweeping her heart, was shocked.
‘… … What am I thinking? ‘What if it’s a special relationship?’
Suddenly, my face felt like it was on fire.
“Miss Melina?”
A woman was waiting for Melina. Melina shook her head and quickly answered.
“hello!”
The woman smiled brightly as if she thought Melina was cute.
“Nice to meet you. Wasn’t the journey hard?”
“Yes, it was hard, but it was worth it.”
Melina answered and then rolled her eyes.
“Oh, but where is Master Abel?”
“Ah, the master is above.”
“Master… are you?”
Melina was confused. This is because the way the woman called Abel gave her a sense of subtle pride.
Meanwhile, the woman was talking to those around her.
“I’ll take Miss Melina up with her. Miss Melina’s luggage…”
“I will do it.”
“I’ll move it.”
The answer came simultaneously from both sides.
“Dexter.”
The middle-aged man gave Dexter a strong look, but Dexter did not flinch.
“This is my job, yes? The master himself appointed me. You have your own business, right?”
“Ha, I understand.”
The man with a stubborn face immediately agreed when he was told that he was the master. The woman, who had been watching with a smile, stepped forward.
“I can’t leave the first floor empty anyway. Please take care of the workers for me.”
“All right.”
Unlike when dealing with Dexter, his attitude was very polite. The woman smiled and turned around.
“Now, shall we go up?”
The three slowly climbed the stairs. I passed the second floor, where the rooms were lined up, and went straight up to the third floor.
“Then excuse me.”
Dexter took Melina’s bag and disappeared down the hallway. The woman stared at Dexter’s back, then she spoke to Melina.
“Now, shall we go? The master is waiting.”
She led Melina to a room at the end of the hallway.
smart.
A woman knocked on the door and told herself inside.
“I have brought you Lady Melina.”
After waiting for a while, I heard a familiar voice coming from inside.
“Ask them to come in.”
It was Abel’s voice.
fantasy,
