Chapter 89 – A Conclusion With A Poor Aftertaste

“Hm? Orn Doula? To think you have also grasped information about the evil deeds of this company as well? Well done. It might have been a mistake to have made you leave the Hero Party after all.”

　Marquis Forgas catches me in his sight and says some smooth lines as though he’d prepared them. 

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“…………It has been a long time, Lord Forgas. May I ask, with all due respect, if you could tell me about these evil deeds that have reached you?” 

“Hmmm, yes. Given that you are here, you definitely have the right to know. Actually, devious rumours regarding the Flockhart Trading Company have reached my ears for some time now. It is a company I have been familiar with for many years. I feared that there were people envious of this company and spreading malicious rumours, so I had been investigating. Then a few moments ago, information came to me from one of my subordinates that this company is truly involved in human trafficking–“

“What, what are you speaking about!? This is all on your order, is it not!”

　Pascal, interrupting Marquis Forgas, insists that it was Marquis Forgas’ command with a trembling voice.

　In all likelihood, it’s probably as Pascal says.

　But–

“You say I gave such inhumane orders? You dare to insult me! For me to command something so beneath any human, how dare you spit such lies so nonchalantly! To think I treated such a person so closely, it makes me feel ashamed of myself.”

“…………”

　Pascal looks dumbfounded, as if he’s witnessing something unbelievable.

“This individual claims to be acting under the orders of Lord Clive, is he really lying?”

　A fierce man in Central Army armour who had arrived with Marquis Forgas opens his mouth to speak.

(This should be seen as Marquis Forgas cutting off the Flockhart Trading Company. But depending on whether this is the will of the Marquis himself, or whether he’s been forced to do so, the circumstances will change quite a bit.)

　　◆

　The fierce man who appeared with Marquis Forgas is a famous military man known as “Purger”.

　His name is Lester Haston. A division commander of the Central Army’s 4th Division.

　The Central Army is a force under the Royal Family and consists of divisions from the 1st to the 4th.

　Each division has its own characteristics. Compared to other divisions, the 4th Division has fewer members, but in exchange, it has light feet and its main activity is espionage.

　Why does the division commander have such a ostentatious title such as ‘Purger’?

　That’s because he will mercilessly condemn anyone who commits evil, even if the opponent is a noble.

　The Royal Family has a lot of trust in him, and it’s hard to get their hands on him, so the aristocrats dislike him.

　And contrastingly, he is quite popular among the common people.

　Though it’s somewhat strange that a division head is so famous despite being engaged mainly in covert intelligence……

　But on the other hand, there is a section of the 4th Division working under this cover provided by the division head, so there’s a chance it could be all part of an intelligence operation.

　And Lester Haston is someone I don’t really like. 

　He’s definitely doing the right thing. 

　There are stories of him saving the people from lands ruled by corrupt governance by mercilessly convicting their lords. 

　However, this person does nothing but the convicting. 

　Handling the aftermath is left to others. 

　There are people he witnesses performing evil. So he judges them. That’s all. 

　I won’t say that this by itself is a bad thing, but I have heard more than a few times of the victims encountering more tragedy after he conducts his judgments, so I don’t hold a very good impression of this person. 

　　◆

　In light of the above, it is conceivable that Marquis Forgas is currently cutting off the Flockhart Trading Company because he was forced to do so as his tail had been about to be caught by Division Commander Lester. 

“Undoubtedly. It is unthinkable that I gave such orders. Pascal, if you are trying to accuse me, you must have proper evidence.”

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“T, that…. It’s all spoken….”

“Well, that’s not very convincing. Lester, you’re not still going to believe this fantasy that I’m involved, are you?

“……We seem to have come up empty this time. However, I will expose your crimes in broad daylight sooner or later, Marquis Forgas. –You lot, the four men stretched out on the ground, and the President of the Flockhart Trading company, are to be taken into custody for the present offence of child kidnapping.”

“””Understood!”””

“I think you military personnel have plenty of other things to do than to search for something that doesn’t even exist.”

　Pascal mumbles that “it’s a lie, there must be some mistake,” but he does not resist and allows himself to be restrained by the soldiers.

　The girl who had been put to sleep was also uncuffed and carried on her back by one of the soldiers.

　What a poor aftertaste to this conclusion. 

　In the end, the Flockhart Trading Company will be charged with child kidnapping and will no doubt collapse.

“……Lord Forgas, please answer one question of mine.”

　There’s something I really want to ask the Marquis, so I call out to him without letting the Central Army hear me.

“Proceed.”

“Was this incident an unexpected thing? Because I got involved in this?”

“Hmm, you sure have a high….. evaluation of yourself. Even though back when you were in Daybreak, your self-esteem was low, and all you could think of was making Oliver stand out. Well, that will also apply to the end of this Thanksgiving. After all…. you can’t beat Oliver.”

“……Please answer the question.”

“The answer is no.”

　”No”, in other words, he had already decided beforehand to cut off the Flockhart Trading Company.

　But in that case, why?　

　With the information I have, I can’t find any merit in Marquis Forgas disposing of the Flockhart Trading Company.

　Does that mean that things have changed considerably in the two months since I left the Hero Party?

　After answering my question, Marquis Forgas left the room with the Central Army, leaving me and Fuuka alone in the room.

“Then, shall we go outside too? Though, we were just going around the stalls, how did this happen……”

　As I climb the stairs grumbling, I hear sounds of commotion. 

　Seems that the military has begun a full-scale investigation of this company.

　Since I’m afraid that we might be dragged into troublesome things if we were discovered, I erase my presence and head outside immediately.

“I’m going back to my Clan’s headquarters, what about you, Fuuka?”

“Going back too. Saw what I wanted to…. satisfied.”

　…..What you wanted to see? I don’t think there was anything in the previous scene that Fuuka would have wanted to witness though. 

　Well, it’s no use thinking about it.

“I see. I’ll be splitting with you here then. –Ah, and like I said earlier, please don’t let anyone else here hear what you saw here today.”

　There’s no longer any reason for us to remain silent, but that didn’t mean we could just talk about it.

“Mm, okay. Then, see you, Orn.”

“Yeah, see you.”

　We exchange one last goodbye to each other, and we each head back.