Chapter 88 – Royal Capital Search-and-Destroy Operation Part 4

Editor: Thor’s Stone

“Oi! By what right did you do this kind of thing to us!? You’re not gonna get off lightly for this y’know!”

One of the captured bandits loudly protested and judging from his voice, it seems he was the one who had an exchange with me behind the door earlier. Maybe he’s the bandit’s leader.

Come to think of it, I don’t doubt that these guys are criminals because Iris had investigated them thoroughly, but just what kind of crimes did they commit anyway?

(Iris, what crimes did these guys do?)

A video was played on a virtual window. The footage was taken inside a pub, and most of the people shown were dead drunk. Then the image zoomed to this man’s face.

『Oi, you guys managed to properly deal with the Malein Company, right?』

『Course, Boss. We made sure ta kill the entire family. There won’t be any future trouble.』

『I see. Good work. Go ahead and drink up. It’s on me tonight.』

The video was cut. Was it burglary and murder? Anyway, those crimes were enough to warrant heavy punishment.

“According to my men’s investigation, these fellows should be the culprits in the case involving the Malein Company.”

“Hou, that case, is it……?”

“……You have proof of that? If you do, then show it to us.”

“You fool. His Excellency has already judged you all to be guilty. There is no need for proof or any further investigation. Bring them away!”

“That can’t be!”

The captured criminals made a fuss, but the soldiers forcibly dragged them away.

“Hermann, I’d like you to still conduct an investigation and interview the local residents though. There is a chance our investigation might not be accurate.”

“……Is that so? I am sorry for getting ahead of myself.”

“If you end up lacking in manpower, you can hire additional help. I will pay for all expenses incurred.”

“No, there is no need to be concerned about that, Your Excellency.”

“……By the way, what about the money and valuables stored in this building?”

“Of course, everything will be considered as your spoils, Your Excellency. We are here merely to help Your Excellency out after all.”

Because my position now was entirely different compared to when I was just an adventurer, I was worried that the authorities would officially seize the loot for the crown or something, but it seems that’s not the case.

I see. Come to think of it, I am considered to be a part of the authorities now, wasn’t I? It kinda feels a bit strange, honestly.

According to the multi-scanner’s readings, there seems to be a money depository hidden by a removable floorboard in one corner of the room.

I pulled out my sword, activated Final Blade, and cut the floorboard in two. I removed the two halves of the board and found some leather bags and something that looked like an account ledger.

The leather bags all contained money, and they seem to be divided according to the type of coin stored in them. They contained both gold and silver coins and were each pretty fat and heavy. It seemed like a fairly large amount of money.

Oh, hey. This bag is filled with large jewels and precious metals huh. This was a big harvest.

“Oh, this is amazing……”

“Hermann, let us split the spoils between Shining Star and the capital garrison. Let us bring all the goods to the Commerce Guild and sell them. We will set aside a certain amount from the earnings as funding for conducting investigations, and the rest would be divided between our two groups. How about it? Do you find this arrangement agreeable?”

The garrison soldiers around us all pricked their ears up the moment they heard the contents of my and Hermann’s discussion.

“……It is something unheard of, but we could ask for nothing better. Is it really alright, Your Excellency?”

“I believe doing so will greatly motivate the soldiers. But in exchange, I want them to do their utmost and take full responsibility in managing the money we confiscate and investigating the criminal charges.”

“……Understood. If there is a special bonus involved, I think all the garrison soldiers in the capital will certainly do their best in conducting investigations, even if they have to lose sleep to do so. That, I can guarantee.

……Regarding the funding, it would be better for my peace of mind if one of your subordinates can serve as an auditor as well……”

“Fine. I shall see to it. I can send a few people your way.”

Katolle and his assistants would be perfect for the job.

Yosh. With this, I was able to share some of the responsibility with the city garrison.

“Let’s stop by the Commerce Guild and discuss the details of how we’ll divide the spoils there. Come with me.”

“Understood.”

I feel that Guild Branch Chief Yan, who I met with previously, would certainly agree to cooperate with us. I’m sure a person like him won’t do anything unsavory.

Hermann ordered about fifteen soldiers to remain on guard at the former bandit hideout, had the rest pack up the spoils, and headed to the Commerce Guild together with me.

(Sharon, Selena, what’s your status?)

(My team has just finished suppression of our target. There is no one injured.)

(It’s the same for my team.)

(I see. I’ve decided to split all the loot equally with the city garrison. Instruct the soldiers who followed after your teams to bring all the confiscated items, including the money, to the Commerce Guild.)

((Roger that!))

Fortunately, the Commerce Guild was within walking distance from the bandit hideout. As expected of the Commerce Guild branch located in the royal capital. Their building was more than double the size of the branch located in Gantz.

We had most of the men wait outside the building and only instructed a few to follow us inside. The interior of the guild building was crowded with merchants. I went to a receptionist counter and showed my guild I.D.

“Excuse me. I would like to see the Branch Chief. Is he in?”

“Have you made an appointment, sir? You cannot meet our chief without scheduling an appointment first.”

“Take heed. You are in the presence of His Excellency, Lord Alan Corinth.”

Sasha, who waiting on me by the side, declared so and showed the guild staff my coat of arms.

Oh, right. I completely forgot to take my coat of arms from Sasha and wear it. As expected of a royal guard knight. She sure knows how to flash a coat of arms.

“I-I’m terribly sorry! I will get the chief at once.”

The guild staff hurriedly went inside the guild’s back office in a fluster. It feels like I did something bad, man. I should have named myself a noble from the start.

Before long, Branch Chief Yan came out to meet us along with five other guild staff.

“Well, if it isn’t Lord Corinth. And you’re together with Sir Bahr as well. Thank you very much for gracing us with your esteemed presence. If it’s alright with you, shall we continue our talks inside?”

We were promptly led to the guild’s conference room. There were three representatives from Shining Star including me, three from the city garrison, and six from the Commerce Guild present inside the room.

“I’m sorry for taking up your time. Actually, I have decided to crack down on all the bandits and criminals lurking around the royal capital together with the city garrison you see.”

“Not at all, Your Excellency. On the contrary, we are truly thankful for your efforts for the good of the citizens.”

“I have received a royal order. I’m sorry, but I’ll have the guild withdraw the bandit subjugation request in favor of it.”

“Understood.”

“What I came for today is regarding the handling of the spoils. I want the Commerce Guild to purchase the spoils we will confiscate from the bandits during the operation. ……In this case, would conducting an auction for them be amenable?”

“I think holding an auction would be fine as well. Among the spoils should be quite a number of valuables and precious metals. There might also be people who would seek the items they lost. In any case, it would certainly generate a reasonable amount of profit.”

“I see. Go ahead and conduct an auction then. Before long, the garrison soldiers will be bringing the spoils we have managed to secure so far to the guild. Please accept them, manage them, put them up for auction, and report the results to Hermann here. Can I leave these tasks to you?”

“But of course. You are working for the benefit of the capital’s citizens after all. The Commerce Guild will cooperate fully in this endeavor. The Commerce Guild usually takes a fifteen percent cut of the earnings, but for you, we shall only take five percent.”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you for your cooperation.”

It was all decided rather easily after all.

Afterward, we continued the meeting to iron out the details between the cooperation between the city garrison and the guild, and it was decided that several guild staff would be assigned to us during the operation to manage the confiscated money.

After the meeting, we finally left the guild.

“Now then, Hermann, I would like to do away with at least two more places today. Let us keep going.”

“……Understood. Let us do our best.”