42 Falling Into Place (1/2)

Sebastian's party continued to hara.s.s and steal from Yokkun's s.h.i.+pments for the next few weeks. The result was always the same - the s.h.i.+pment would be stolen, while the adventurers and coachmen would be knocked unconscious during the attack. When they woke up, their equipment and the s.h.i.+pment would be gone, and their carriage destroyed.

The offending party was currently lying in the snow, waiting for the next carriage to come around. This time Yokkun decided to split the s.h.i.+pments into two carriages, each taking an entirely different route and without his markings this time. With an increased number of guards and carriages, it seemed Yokkun was desperately trying new things to circ.u.mvent the robberies.

Jin turned to Sebastian who was beside him. ”So we perform the usual attack on this carriage while the others attack the other carriage, dump the entire s.h.i.+pment into our cave nearby, and sell part of it back to Yokkun. How long are we going to continue this plan?”

Thanks to Zes and Aima, the party found a cave nearby. After clearing it out, they used it to store Yokkun's waylaid s.h.i.+pments after placing traps all around the cave. Sebastian wanted to use everything to smith new magick weapons and gear for the party, but Jin was adamantly against it. He didn't want to be likened to 'highway robbers' as he called it. As a compromise, they decided to sell a portion of it back to Yokkun to continuously gain favour from him without arousing suspicion.

Sebastian continued to stare into the distance, antic.i.p.ation building on his nerves. ”I know this might seem like a very long and tedious process. However, this is the only one I could come up with to draw Yokkun out. From my previous work in the other world, it's like when you want to remove a complicated tumour in the body. During the surgical operation or even with the use of medicines, you aim to cut off the blood supply to the tumour. Once it shrinks or dies, it makes it distinguishable from the healthy surroundings. We are limiting his supply of ores and mana stones with our continued operation. I simply hope that this would be enough to draw him out. We just need to see him once to be able to tail him and I'll interrogate him.” He omitted the part about surgically removing the unhealthy tumour. Whether it was intentional, only Sebastian knew.

”Like how you and Zes interrogated Aima's a.s.sailants?”

Sebastian couldn't help but turn and look at Jin's face. Even with only half their faces showing, Sebastian was able to tell his facial expression from his tone alone. ”So you heard from someone. Did Zes tell you?”

”I wasn't even sure it was you, I was simply guessing. I only heard that you interrogated them, but surprisingly you didn't turn anyone in with the guards.” Jin shook his head slowly.

Maintaining his calm composure, Sebastian continued. ”They threatened me and Zes, even managing to physically harm her. You should be able to see it in her adventurer tag. She merely defended herself against those hooligans. My adventurer tag should show I didn't kill anyone.”

Sebastian remembered during the Erimead Village when Becky dealt the final blow to Oswin. Even though Sebastian fought with Oswin for an extended duration before they arrived, there were no records of him killing Oswin on his adventurer tag. It was instead placed on Becky's tag. Sebastian guessed that this was because she dealt the fatal blow. This was the reason why he had Zes finish off Yokkun's goons after he tortured them mentally and physically.

Through his hood and mask, Jin's eyes showed sadness and a hint of pity. ”I know that you're trying to get revenge, but that was just too much. If I wasn't here, I'm not even sure if you would just slaughter everyone around Yokkun's s.h.i.+pments.”

”I haven't stooped that low yet. Don't worry Jin, I know that you will stop me if I do reach that point. Speaking of which, here they come.” Sebastian readjusted his hood and mask, signifying that the operation was about to start. With a sigh, Jin prepared his glaive and ran his mana through it. Even with more adventurers placed to guard the carriage, they still fell to Sebastian's overwhelming speed and Jin's enhanced weapon.

***

Klance City castle. In one of the fairly-sized rooms with bare decorations, a dwarf sat merrily in front of a table filled with food. He was even humming to himself as he looked at the food selection in front of him. Although he sat alone in front of the food, two guards were stationed near him, indicating his importance.

knock knock knock

”Yes?” The dwarf looked up from his trance and looked at the door expectedly. He was even preparing his utensils while looking at the door.

”It's me, your grace. Yokkun Orebasher.” An almost m.u.f.fled voice could be heard on the other side of the door.

”Finally.” The dwarf turned to one of the guards in the room. ”Let him in.”

With a bow, Yokkun faced the other dwarf in the room and waited for his gesture before he could sit across him.

”It's about d.a.m.n time Yokkun. I'm about to faint from hunger. How could you let the earl of Klance City wait this long? Come, let's eat now.”

”Ah yes, your grace. Please do the honours.” Yokkun held his utensils and waited for his host to eat first.

”Just cut the formalities. You know that I don't like that here. That's why I usually have my 'meetings' in this room. Away from the prying eyes and ears of the ma.s.ses.”

”I understand your grace - ”

”Say 'your grace' one more time and I'll throw you out this room Yokkun.”

”I see. Thank you for having me over, Yodmak.” Yokkun said the last part with care.

”That's good. I don't like the pretence that politics bring. Let's eat now.” Even as he was saying that Yodmak was already stuffing his face with food.

Halfway through their dinner, Yodmak broke the awkward silence first.

”I heard that your s.h.i.+pments are being stolen. You even posted a quest for this in the adventurer's guild. How is it going along?”

”As expected from your information network. I have tried various means to defend my s.h.i.+pments but they still go missing. I'm barely making ends meet now.”

”Oh? The wealthy Yokkun is barely making ends meet? Is that why you reduced the number of your shops? However, I think that happened before the robberies occurred though?” Yodmak was slowly pressing into Yokkun's personal affairs using the dinner as an excuse.

”Ah, you see, um. I invested during that time so I sold my shops. I was meant to focus on ores and mana stones, but you can see the situation now. It's not helping anyone, except those robbers I suppose.”

There was a brief glint of coldness in Yodmak's eyes. ”I do hope you're not going to extreme measures for this. The city guards are doing their part to catch the thieves as well.”