How many minutes had it been walking along the winding path?
Seeing a faint light through the crack of the door, I turned off Light’s Guidance.
I paused briefly in front of the door and listened closely to the sounds coming from inside.
‘Bustling.’
Even from here, I could hear the loud noises.
It wasn't strange.
To the south, the Wasteland was ruined by a demon attack, and to the north, Cesare had suddenly deployed his men nearby, so it was natural for them to feel a sense of crisis.
As I calmly entered, I saw people moving cargo.
Boxes, furniture, barrels of alcohol, and even people bound by chains.
It was so chaotic that they wouldn't notice even if one person slipped in.
The interior space was wider than expected.
The long, narrow tunnels commonly associated with mines were nowhere to be seen.
Was it because it had been mined for so long that it widened?
Since it was gradually becoming unprofitable, Cesare sold it, and it was originally planned to be used as a liquor warehouse for the Borgia Liquor Guild.
Though it became a warehouse full of people instead of liquor.
“We need to move all the goods to hide to the backup base by this evening, so move quickly! Hey, you there! Stop slacking off and carry something!”
“No, these guys aren’t moving…”
“Is this your first or second day in the business? If there are any faking it, beat them until they move! Bury all the useless ones who still can’t move!”
At the roar of the bald man who appeared to be the supervisor, the smugglers’ movements quickened.
Proportionally, the screams of pain also increased.
‘…Trash bastards.’
I clicked my tongue without realizing it.
The number of slaves being moved was larger than expected.
More than half looked so thin that even walking seemed difficult, but a few, exaggerating slightly, looked robust.
There was a clear difference between the two.
The emaciated ones were all human, and the healthy ones were mostly demons.
It wasn't that the human traffickers had sympathy or anything.
Demons were rare and therefore expensive, while humans were common and therefore cheap.
In the first place, they didn't even bother capturing common demons like Goblins.
‘But in the eyes of humans, it must look like demons are receiving special treatment.’
Although captured together, they hated the demons who were treated better than the humans who captured them.
Because of their numbers, far more humans were released or escaped, which was one of the reasons ill feelings towards demons spread.
In the original work, I empathized with the protagonist and felt the humans were being too harsh, but seeing it directly, the difference in treatment was too blatant.
‘…Not my problem to worry about.’
The conflict between humans and demons, saving the slaves, that was the protagonist Noah’s job.
If I interfered, the story would get twisted.
My job was something murkier and dirtier than that.
Like snatching the ledger so the protagonist could never see it.
Since it was a ledger they couldn't obtain originally anyway, there would be no problem if I took it.
Besides, the ledger was more useful to the Eight Council.
The protagonist lacked the power to deal with those involved in this dirty business, but the Eight Council did.
“Excuse me, I was told to come move the documents.”
“What? Then just go move them.”
“It’s my first time here…”
“Is it because the Wasteland got raided? Full of idiots, damn it. Go that way, that way.”
Heading in the direction pointed out annoyedly, I saw a room full of shelves.
Peeking inside, one person was wrestling with all sorts of papers.
“Excuse me.”
“Who are you?”
“Sent from above to move things quickly.”
“Ha, these boneheaded bastards… I have to finish sorting before moving. Wait.”
“Yes sir.”
I scanned the contents with sidelong glances.
For now, I couldn't see anything that could be called a ledger.
Well, it was unlikely they'd manage such an important item so carelessly.
The ledger was definitely here.
At the end of the first episode, the general manager appeared, sighing in relief after having smuggled the ledger out by a hair's breadth.
‘In this case, finding the general manager would be faster.’
“Hey! Take this to the incinerator… Uwaaaahk!”
“Be quiet if you don’t want your head smashed.”
“Okay, okay!”
Applying slight pressure with the Mana Grasp holding his head, the clerk became obedient.
“Where is the ledger.”
“Wh-what ledger?”
“Don’t even think about denying it.”
“It’s not here! Would we keep something that important here?!”
“That’s why I’m asking. I don’t particularly like people who don’t understand words well.”
Understanding my meaning, the clerk began spilling information fluently.
Where the general manager’s office was, what he was doing now, when he planned to leave, etc.
‘They’re preparing faster than I thought?’
Contrary to my expectations, the preparations for relocation were already quite advanced.
If he wasn't lying, nearly half of the supplies and personnel had already been moved out of the mine.
I expected a quick response since I had caused a major incident, but I thought it would take longer for the decision from above to reach the bottom.
‘Did they have some kind of manual?’
Perhaps they created an emergency manual after confirming Cesare’s suspicions.
‘Looks like I need to move a bit faster too.’
I dropped the clerk and turned around.
I focused my senses.
Amidst the chaotic noise, I felt two demons moving cautiously.
It was time for them to play their part, as I had lured them here, even letting them tail me.
Technically, they got into the mine easily because of me, so they should earn their keep.
I picked up a pebble and threw it forcefully towards where the two were hiding.
Karl quickly hid his presence, but Noah, still unfamiliar with this world, reacted with a jump.
“Demons! Demon bastards have invaded!”
“What? Where did they come from?”
“Over there, behind the shelves! Gather the guys!!”
Everyone’s gaze turned towards the direction I pointed.
Noah hastily hid himself again, but it was already too late.
Karl was there, and I even had Til secretly follow as backup, so there shouldn't be a major problem.
Whistling, I ran towards the general manager’s office.
* * *
“Damn it. How did things end up like this.”
General Manager Tulle ground his teeth as he shoved belongings into a box.
Just yesterday, the business was sailing smoothly.
Even got a Dark Elf and a Diaboli… rare demons you don't see easily, thought he could live lavishly for a year…
He knew a problem like this would eventually erupt since most of the guys working here didn't have the word 'caution' in their heads.
This is why they were rootless bastards.
Of course, the loss was significant, but it wasn't enough to ruin the business….
…Such positive thoughts were shattered when news arrived at dawn that Cesare had dispatched his subordinates near Novosibir.
The demons were insignificant forces incapable of attacking the mine, so they didn't need attention, but Cesare was a different story.
The moment his tail was stepped on, he'd end his life in the cold sea.
As if things weren't chaotic enough, someone knocked loudly on the door.
“Didn’t you hear the order not to disturb? Just move the goods!”
“Sorry, Mr. Tulle. There’s something urgent I need to tell you.”
“Clueless bastard! Later, do it later!”
“But it’s a message from the Robber Barons…”
‘Damn it all. Did it reach those bastards’ ears already? They’ll probably raise hell demanding a quick resolution. Just a bunch of cowards pretending to be nobles after hitting it big and fleeing to the Northern Federation.’
But without their support, there was no way to escape Cesare.
Muttering a curse under his breath, Tulle flung the door open.
“Quickly gi…”
Before he could finish his sentence, something struck his head hard.
Staggering, he identified his attacker.
It was a strange guy with closed eyes.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Tulle. It’s a nice lunch.”
Tulle quickly gripped the dagger at his waist.
Feeling faint mana, he knew it was a mage.
Calming his ringing head, he deliberately made his voice tremble.
“What? Who are you?”
“You don’t need to know that, just answer the questions.”
Thinking he had the upper hand, the mage took a step closer.
Just a little closer, and he could aim for the neck.
“Alright, just don’t hit me!”
He raised his right hand to hide his left hand holding the dagger.
Even better if the mage fell for it, thinking he was right-handed.
The opponent approached nonchalantly without opening his closed eyes.
Mages were an absurdly arrogant bunch.
They took it for granted that they could react even if the opponent counterattacked.
He had dealt with one or two such trash mages before.
When the final step was taken, Tulle’s dagger flew instantly towards the closed-eyed man’s neck.
Ting!
With a clear sound, the dagger fell away powerlessly.
‘He reacted to that?’
Tulle, confident in his hand speed if nothing else, was bewildered.
Quickly regaining his senses, Tulle thrust out his left hand holding another dagger.
The dagger heading for the neck stopped as if hitting a solid wall.
Less than a second later, an immense shock flooded his wrist.
“Aargh!”
Fear crept into Tulle’s eyes as he retreated, clutching his dangling wrist.
This wasn’t some guy showing off after learning a bit of magic.
This was a properly trained expert.
“My, Mr. Tulle, is your wrist alright? It looks unsightly.”
“What do you want.”
Whatever it was, he had to give it and run.
His intuition, honed over decades in the back alleys, sent warnings.
Regardless, the opponent was leisurely.
“Ah, I should introduce myself first. My name is Valheit. You can just call me Count.”
It wasn't the crude Imperial Common Tongue of the Robber Barons, but properly formal Imperial Common Tongue.
A real Imperial noble.
“What… What do you want, Count.”
“The ledger.”
Cold sweat trickled down.
He couldn't give up the ledger.
If his clients found out their information had leaked, he would die a death incomparably more miserable than being killed by the Robber Barons or Cesare.
“It’s already been moved out of the mine… It’s not here.”
“Is that so?”
With a dull thud, bright red blood splattered on the floor.
Only after a few seconds did Tulle realize it was blood falling from his own head.
“Let’s not waste each other’s time. You wouldn’t entrust a ledger more precious than your life to someone else’s hands, would you?”
“It’s true. I swear it’s not here!”
Grit your teeth and hold on.
Someone would notice something strange soon and come.
While that unlucky fellow dealt with the mage, he could escape through the secret passage.
“Ah, are you perhaps planning to hold out until someone comes? That’s quite regrettable.”
Valheit smiled as if he had read Tulle’s mind completely.
“Your other friends will be busy dealing with the demons. Even if they come, it will be much later.”
Whether it was true or not, Tulle naturally assumed the worst.
As he remained silent, Valheit clicked his tongue.
“Well, if you really don’t want to talk, I can just find it myself. I have plenty of time, after all. Unlike you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Cesare is on his way here. Isn’t that rather bad news?”
‘He’s coming himself?’
His clothes clung to him due to sweat.
His head knew betraying the clients was more dangerous.
But as a Federation man, avoiding Cesare was almost instinctual.
Ultimately, Tulle succumbed to instinct.
“If I give you the ledger, will you let me go?”
“Of course. I promise you as a Count of the Eslick Empire.”
To say such things so shamelessly with such an untrustworthy face…
But he no longer had a choice.