Chapter 432: The Assembly 2

The boss of the Dark Guild 『Moonlight』, Forbach. Following Earl Sechnal of Samandour Kingdom, Earl Vautarc who arranged to meet with Earl Sechnal had also arrived at Wedgefort.

Earl Vautarc’s objective, much like Earl Sechnal’s, was to exact revenge on Takumi, and to create even the slightest of connections with the Governor of Wedgefort.

Then, an unelf-like, distasteful carriage from Yggurle Kingdom arrived in the city of Wedgefort as well.

There was only one person in Yggurle Kingdom’s nobility who could ever own such a carriage. Earl Hordia, who had become exasperated with the lack of results of his private army and internal organizations.

Staying in a high class hotel intended for wealthy merchants and nobles in Wedgefort, Earl Hordia instructed his troops and hired dark guild members to make contact with the organizations that claimed territories around this city, and make an appointment so Earl Hordia himself can meet with the governor of this city as an official courtesy call as a pretense for his visit.

Information relating to the dark guilds and criminal organizations in the city were relatively easy to obtain.

「Fuu, what an impertinent human city.」

Sitting on the plush couch, Earl Hordia spoke bitterly as he recalled the sturdily built, hygienic town where many people come and go.

Wedgefort which was built in the Savage Lands by Valkyra Kingdom, and the fort that Lomaria Kingdom built to its east. And to the west of Wedgefort lies Valor, the city that Valkyra Kingdom, Lomaria Kingdom, and Yggurle Kingdom built together as the Trination, and the six forts built to defend against the invasion of the armies of Triaria Kingdom and the Divine Empire of Sydnia. Thanks to this, Yggurle Kingdom is experiencing an economic boom rarely seen in recent years.

Yggurle Kingdom, which does not share borders with any country, needed to cross the Savage Lands to be able to trade with other countries, as such, until now, it had only ever traded in small sums with other friendly countries.

That suddenly changed these recent years. Of course, Earl Hordia also capitalized on this, but even so, he couldn’t help but feel vexed at the sight of the thriving Wedgefort.

Simply because this is a city of a human country.

It was then that a report came in from his men who came back from the streets.

「Master, it would seem there are no dark guilds around this city. Perhaps the security here is much stricter than we expected. However, there seem to have been several organizations that infiltrated the city. I made contact with them and heard something interesting.」

「……Fumu, continue.」

「Right now in the city, there are three organizations actively showing movement. One is the infamous Dark Guild 『Moonlight Owl』 based in Triaria Kingdom. And the other two are organizations based in Samandour Kingdom. This Moonlight Owl was one of our choices for a job.」

Earl Hordia also knew the name 『Moonlight Owl』. It was supposed to be the biggest Dark Guild in the continent. However, it was known by many countries that their hideouts in Valkyra Kingdom were destroyed.

「……continue.」

「The destruction of their base in Valkyra Kingdom was considerably influenced by Sophia’s master, and the Moonlight Owl is now making their move to take revenge.」

「How convenient. Our targets are the same. If we were to cooperate, there’s a higher chance I can obtain Sophia. Is that all?」

「No, actually, family heads Earl Sechnal and Earl Vautarc from Samandour Kingdom have personally come to this city. Ostensibly, they are doing a courtesy call with the Governor, but in actuality, they employed the two other dark guilds.」

「Why is that?」

Earl Hordia knew of those two families, they were nobles of the trading nation, and they established their own companies. It’s not strange at all for nobles of a trading nation to come to Wedgefort to meet its governor. However, if they were bringing dark guilds along, that meant something else.

「It would seem both families had meddled with our target and suffered terribly. They seem to be in the city to look for organizations to hire around this city for their revenge.」

「Ku, ha ha ha, he is gathering more resentment from all around than I imagined, that boy.」 I don’t know if he’s the keeper of the Sanctuary or the protector of the Spirit Tree, but isn’t this a great opportunity!?」

Earl Hordia fell back deeper into the sofa, patting his huge, unelf-like belly.

「Obviously, contact the Moonlight Owl, and do so with the organizations hired by Earl Vautarc and Earl Sechnal. That boy must hand over Sophia, after all.」

「……by your will.」

Watching as his subordinate bow and leave, Earl Hordia was in a good mood for the first time in years.

Earl Hordia’s subordinates and the members of the organizations he employed have yet to have direct contact with Takumi. That was because they were unable to pass through, nor break, the barrier of the Sanctuary. On the other hand, it was difficult to aim for him in his Volton mansion. No matter how varied the races were in Valkyra Kingdom, their elven members were too conspicuous.

「Finally…… finally Sophia will be mine!」

Four dark guilds, and if they included their private armies, a human commoner wouldn’t stand a chance. He didn’t think their odds were even slightly disadvantageous.

The man abandoned by the Spirits did not realize that he was tumbling downhill.

***