The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 67



Only Krnovel

Episode 67 20. Preliminary Investigation

One.

The Theban Autonomy, a place where opportunities are open to everyone regardless of status.

The Theban dominion was now at the height of its power in the city’s history.

A logistics network built to extend throughout the empire, and merchants who gather in the city to use that logistics network.

It was natural that people would gather where there was a lot of money.

It had previously been the fastest growing city in the empire, but its growth over the past four years has been truly remarkable.

Since the development project in the northwestern region of the empire led by the Duke of Reston began, Thebes, which could be considered a transit point, also benefited greatly.

Of course, not all good things came from this.

As the population grew beyond the capacity of the city’s administrative power to handle it, public safety deteriorated significantly.

Criminals looking to make a quick fortune have begun to infiltrate Thebes’ shadowy areas, which could be considered an open secret, and as a result, incidents are occurring almost every day throughout the city.

In this crazy city where all kinds of greed and interests are intertwined.

“This is freedom.”

A noble young man named Charon appeared, carrying a sword hanging from his waist.

The train station in Thebes was the largest in the empire, and as soon as I got off the train, I saw a huge crowd.

“Those who wish to board the train to the capital departing at 13:20… … .”

“The train to Qinghai Province will be leaving soon! Hurry up and get on board!”

A spectacle of people chasing their own tails.

Just looking at the people rushing around, I could get a general idea of ​​how vibrant this city was.

Charon blended into the crowd without hesitation.

‘First, I need to get a mercenary ID and gather information about the Kingdom of Keas.’

Currently, the southern kingdoms are closed to outsiders due to war.

That’s why you need mercenary status to enter the country.

So, after stopping by the Mercenary Guild to receive an ID card, he planned to receive information about the current situation in the Southern Kingdoms from Caligo, an underground organization in Thebes.

Caligo, an underground organization that secretly cooperates with the Duke.

Led by the elven wizard Poina and supported by the 6th Prince Revelio, this organization was currently one of the most powerful organizations in Thebes.

If they had not held on to the shadows, the situation in Thebes might have been even more dire than it is now.

It was when Caron came out of the train station, thinking about his future plans.

“Is this your first time in Thebes, Young Master?”

“Welcome to Thebes, the city of freedom! Here you can enjoy everything you want. I will be your guide… … .”

“Oh! I was first. It’s my turn!”

A group of neatly dressed people all rushed towards Caron.

People who identify themselves as guides.

To put it simply, you could say that they were people who received money while guiding people around the city.

Of course, that’s just superficial work, and their main source of income comes from elsewhere.

A commission paid to a restaurant, etc. for taking customers there.

And that’s just a small example.

Originally, the purposes of the nobles visiting Thebes were divided into two.

Whether for business or pleasure.

Especially for the young nobles, entertainment was often the goal, since many things were hard to find in Thebes anywhere else in the empire.

“I am confident that I can perfectly satisfy your taste. If you will entrust me with your guide, I will show you why Thebes is a city of pleasure!”

“Don’t listen to that guy with the loose ends! If you’re thinking of going to a dark place, I’m the right person for the job. I have a lot of friends there… … .”

As Caron remained silent and unresponsive, the guides, as if they had been waiting, began to solicit customers.

Charon’s silence was taken as a sign of affirmation.

But that was only for a moment.

“Get out of the way! You are not worthy of being served!”

A man appeared between the guides.

A man with noticeable burn marks on his face.

It was Julio, the informant who had helped me when I had come to Thebes before.

As soon as Julio saw Caron, he bowed politely and greeted her.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Your Majesty.”

“Julio. How have you been?”

“I am honored that your Majesty remembers my name.”

“Of course I must remember.”

The guides who had been soliciting customers quickly dispersed at Julio’s appearance.

They realized that he wasn’t the type of person they could handle.

Caron smiled wryly as he watched the guides moving to catch another hog.

“The city atmosphere seems a little more lively?”

“Because the population has reached an unmanageable level. The city is developing the outskirts as quickly as possible, but it seems like it will take more time.”

“The mayor must be busy.”

“Yes, Mayor Grein’s reappointment was recently passed in the Assembly.”

“until when?”

“I understand that the term has been extended by 10 years.”

Isn’t that almost a lifetime position?

Charon nodded, sticking out his tongue.

I knew he was a man capable of rowing when the tide came in, but I didn’t know he was this good at it.

As expected, it was a skill worthy of a former Minister of Finance.

As Caron nodded his head in admiration, Julio spoke with a blunt expression.

“Your Majesty, you have grown so much since we last met that I don’t recognize you.”

“Fluffy has increased. But doesn’t flattery usually come with a smile? It’s a little creepy when you flatter someone with that kind of expression.”

“Oh, I will make sure to correct it.”

“……I’m kidding.”

Julio originally came from a broker background operating in the shadows.

But now, he was carrying out the important task of being in charge of contact between the Duke of Reston and Caligo.

Because Caligo was a nominally underworld organization, it could not officially work with the Duke of Reston.

“Let’s go straight to Poina-nim. Is she in the underground city right now?”

“No. Mr. Poina is currently meeting with the mayor at the city hall.”

“The city’s mayor and the underworld boss meet at city hall… … It’s like a third-rate play.”

“… … You came to see me not as the boss of an underworld, but as the president of a construction company.”

“Now you’re trying to expand your territory to the sunny side. Alright. Let’s go. I’m thinking of finishing up my work quickly and going out to eat something delicious.”

But since I’m already in Thebes, I can’t just leave right away, right?

Thebes is also called the city of gastronomy.

Before starting the mission in earnest, I planned to put all kinds of delicacies on the boat.

Although the food at Cheonghae Castle was good, food is best eaten outside.

“Then I will take you to the city hall.”

“let’s go.”

“I’ve already got the car waiting for you. Come this way.”

As expected of a capable worker, Julio had even prepared a car to be ready in advance.

Caron followed Julio, smiling contentedly.

2.

This is the mayor’s office located in the city hall of Thebes.

Knock knock.

Arriving in front of the office with Julio, Caron knocked on the door, then opened it and went inside.

Inside the office, an old man and an elf were sitting and talking.

“It’s been four years, everyone.”

Charon approached them with a smile.

Then the mayor of Thebes, Grein, stood up from his seat and smiled brightly.

“Welcome, Lord Caron! It’s been a long time. You’ve grown so much in the meantime! Grand Duke Halo will be so pleased.”

“It seems like you’ve really become younger, sir. Have you eaten something good?”

“Haha, don’t you bring me something good every year? It’s tiring, but developing a city with my own hands is truly rewarding.”

“And you’re also filling the mayor’s coffers at the same time?”

“Haha! I don’t receive anything else besides what you give me. It’s hard to even share it among ourselves… … . Isn’t that right?”

It was a line that showed intimacy to the point of being excessive.

Charon chuckled, then turned his gaze to the female elf.

“How have you been, Poina?”

“He showed signs of maturity even when he was young, but he grew up to be a real handsome man. Now, I guess I can’t call him a baby wolf.”

Four years ago I couldn’t really appreciate her level, but now I definitely feel it.

8 circles, not 7 circles.

She was a being of a level high enough to be called a great sorceress.

Caron shook her hand briefly and spoke in a quiet voice.

“By the way, what were you two talking about in broad daylight?”

“Well, it was a pretty constructive discussion.”

“Is it possible for the market and the organizational boss to have a constructive discussion?”

“Since this was a discussion about urban development plans, shouldn’t it be a constructive discussion? Haha!”

A nagging line.

And soon Poina interrupted Grein’s words.

“Our Caligo is now conducting a legitimate business. The number of members has increased a lot recently. We have to do something to feed them.”

“Isn’t there enough money from the black market to feed you?”

“Haha, the thing I hate the most is people who are like rice bugs. If you join an organization, you should at least pay for your meals.”

“So that legitimate business was construction.”

“Because we have extra manpower. We were already discussing the construction area we would be in charge of.”

A significant number of the people currently flowing into Thebes are war refugees from the south.

Since most of the other territories did not have the capacity to accommodate refugees, most of the refugees who entered the empire were sent to Thebes.

Grein was currently expanding the city while pursuing a policy of actively accepting refugees.

“So this was the scene of the request? Something like a request to push for an order?”

“That’s a misunderstanding, Caron-kun. Rather, I was the one asking for a favor.”

“why?”

“The area in question is partially mountainous, so we needed the wizard’s help.”

Then Poina added with a big smile.

“The advantage of our Caligo construction is that we can hire wizards at a very cheap price. And what’s more, these wizards are archmages?”

“You’re introducing yourself so shamelessly. Are you no longer running a black market?”

“That’s not true. The black market is still thriving. If we close down, it’ll be a problem for you, Mayor Grayne. Don’t you think so, Mayor Grayne?”

At those words, Grein nodded with a bitter smile.

“At least it’s better for someone who can communicate to control the shadows, that’s my opinion. I’ve got my foot in the door at the Duke of Reston, so don’t ask me too much.”

“Well, I didn’t really intend to argue about it.”

Anyway, it was a plan that came out of Caron’s head.

Pale just made Caron’s concept a little more concrete.

Caron shrugged and sat down, then got straight to the point.

“I heard that Caligo has the best information in the Southern Kingdoms these days. Is that true?”

“I see. They are trying hard to absorb refugees from the South into their organization.”

“Demons have appeared near the Kingdom of Keas and the Holy Kingdom, so I am on my way to subdue them.”

“Oh, so that’s why you asked me to get a mercenary certificate.”

Poina waved her hand lightly, and soon a small copper medal-like object appeared in the air.

“This is a mercenary badge that proves you are a third-class mercenary. With this, you can cross the border and enter the country. I could also issue you a first-class mercenary badge, but I guess you don’t want to draw attention to yourself?”

First-class mercenaries are those with skills comparable to those of knights.

Naturally, it was bound to attract attention.

Caron nodded, taking the mercenary badge into his bosom.

“You just have to be able to cross the border.”

“You asked for information, but what information specifically?”

Before answering that, Caron glanced at Grein.

Then Grein said with a smile.

“The guest is kicking out the host.”

“I don’t really care if you hear that, sir… … .”

“No, I won’t. If you give me a hint, I’ll just go out and do my best. I’ll go have a smoke or something. You guys can talk comfortably.”

Grein gathered up his cigarettes and went out of the office. Then Poina immediately waved her hand and cast a spell.

Woohoo.

“It’s a voice-blocking spell. You can speak with confidence.”

“I need information on the 8-star knight who was active in the Kingdom of Keas. He was likely active under an alias, and his exact whereabouts are unknown.”

“An 8-star knight… … There’s no way that someone that strong wouldn’t be rumored. After all, this place is already at war. Hmm, it’s pretty difficult… … .”

“I’m asking you because it’s difficult. I wonder if there’s anyone among the refugees who have come to Thebes who might know someone.”

Kerua, that guy is a very sympathetic guy.

Even in normal times, I never just passed by poor people.

And when it came to war, he was a man who would grind his teeth.

Would a guy like that really just pass by and see the horrors of war?

‘That’s not very likely.’

It was highly likely that there was some kind of intervention.

If so, we might have found clues from the refugees in the south.

‘Besides, there is one more means that Poina can mobilize.’

The Kingdom of Keas bordered a great forest to the south.

The name of that forest is Southern Great Forest.

The Southern Great Forest is the forest of the elves.

A place that is considered a representative territory of elves along with the Eastern Great Forest.

“There’s no way our master would ask only the refugees for information… …. I can tell he really wants the elves’ help.”

“Because the person I’m looking for might have gone into hiding in the Southern Great Forest.”

This is actually a practical reason to seek help from Poina.

The fact that the knights of the Knights of the Order of the Sea were missed means, in other words, that they hid in an unpredictable place.

There is only one place to hide around here: the Southern Great Forest.

Caron looked at Poina with a smile.

“Can you help me?”

“Well, unlike me, my people tend to hate humans. It won’t be easy to ask for their cooperation… … .”

Poina raised the corners of her lips as she looked into Charon’s eyes.

“I can help you convince them, instead.”

“instead?”

She got up from her seat and approached Charon. She stroked Charon’s cheek and smiled.

“First, you have to prove that you are worthy of being a friend to the elves.”

There’s a mad dog living in the duke’s house