Chapter 165. extortion rather than negotiation (4) and.
After a pleasant wait, my uncle came to me personally with an investigation report.
My uncle must have gone to great lengths to investigate this.
I spend a lot of money too.
And he must have used a lot of unspeakable means.
It would not be an investigative tool that would be frankly revealed.
But that’s because everyone does it.
“Whoa, then where should I look?”
It is quite thick.
Well, it seems they’ve been doing quite a bit of good.
“It looks like they are smuggling.”
“Is that too?”
As expected, it was clear that they were making a profit through smuggling.
If so, now I need to find out in detail what it is.
“Can you find out in detail what they are smuggling?”
“It may not be impossible, but it will take time.”
Uncle Richen was also a little perplexed.
They managed to catch the movement until the situation where they were smuggling, but it seemed difficult to catch the details.
“I’m sure they’re on guard too, right?”
“Because Geotal Corporation is also paying attention.”
Unless you’re an idiot, you’re not going to be easily fooled.
“But if you try to be too careful, you’ll notice that too.”
If they notice even the slightest oddity, they will run away immediately.
Come to think of it, what kind of cockroach is it? ? ??? ?
“First of all, carefully investigate…
” No.”
I reached out and stopped my uncle.
“There is no need to spend time investigating.”
“yes?”
“It’s true that they’re smuggling anyway.”
I smiled like a mischievous prankster as usual.
“Then you just have to check.”
The method is simple.
All you have to do is listen to what they are moving.
“Let’s go take a peek.”
It’s about figuring out what they’re moving.
It’s simpler than spying on the inside.
All you have to do is wait for the carriage presumed to belong to Geotal Trading Company to pass.
“Let’s see? The time has come to pass by.”
“Arel-nim, it’s dangerous, so it’s better to step back.”
I was about to step forward because I couldn’t wait for my throat to drop. Seina grabbed me and pulled me back.
“We are already closely monitoring the area. They are not being properly monitored.”
“First of all, it’s an expected route, so there’s a chance you won’t pass it, so don’t get too excited.”
“yes.”
After ordering me to wait calmly like that, while Seina was away for a while to deliver the order, Uncle Lichen, who had been silent, whispered to me in a small voice while breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Arell-sama… really, this way… are you okay?”
“It’s okay, no problem.”
It’s not like he doesn’t know why his uncle is so embarrassed.
“…I never thought I would imitate a thief.”
Now we are wearing old clothes and armor, not the clothes we normally wear.
Even the face is properly covered with a hood to avoid being identified.
Today is the Daily Bandit.
I thought I would try to work as a thief for just one day.
The target is a transportation wagon belonging to the Geotal Company, which is about to pass by.
After a recent investigation, it was confirmed that only a few of the wagons belonging to the same company moved at a different time than the existing procession.
Although the name is the transportation of a small amount of goods.
I was sure it was contraband they were trying to hide.
So, after pretending to be a thief and stealing it, I’m about to check it out.
After all, sometimes it’s easier to shake things up than to move under the water.
“Sometimes you just need to go out and see the world. There are times when that side is easier to solve.”
“I really had no idea.”
My uncle smiled self-deprecatingly.
“When you live in the world, there are all kinds of special things. If you pay attention to every detail, you won’t be able to endure the stress?”
On the other hand, my side is relaxed.
I miss it a bit too.
For some reason, it reminds me of the times when I used to play tricks on a fire in a bad house.
“The concealment is perfect, so there’s no need to worry.”
Because it was a sneaky move, the official army couldn’t move.
For that reason, I secretly hired people from Seina’s hometown, not the territory army, and tipped them off to imitate the thieves.
Originally, I wouldn’t accept this request, but since it was my request and no one else’s, I easily accepted it.
“I’ve been thinking about the future, so there’s no problem.”
After that, I thought of any number of excuses for an alibi.
The real thieves were also found to cover up today’s events later.
There are some good guys lurking nearby.
Afterwards, you just have to cut it moderately and put it on them.
“By the way, you don’t have to follow Uncle…
” “…I will return those words to Arel.”
It seems that my uncle is quite disturbed by my direct involvement in this prank and directing them.
“If something happens to Arell, then I will be scolded by my sister.”
“Since Seina has followed me, nothing will happen to me…?”
“Isn’t there such a thing as an if?”
Yeah but that doesn’t apply to me.
And again, I don’t think anything will change if my uncle comes along.
“…Well, if you know what happened today, you’ll be scolded.”
….I agree.
Today’s work is a secret to everyone.
“You know Uncle Lichen, right?”
“Yes, I will definitely keep it a secret.”
While we were making a firm promise, Seina cautiously returned.
Unlike a moment ago, she was properly disguised.
“There are about five wagons on the way.”
“As planned.”
“Will I commit it?”
Seina asks with a mischievous smile.
Despite this appearance, she wasn’t very eager at first when I told her about the plan.
But I somehow persuaded him that it was an important issue.
“The preparations are already complete.”
“Okay do it. But don’t kill me.”
“yes. I have asked them several times.”
In the end, we were just taking unavoidable measures to dig up evidence that Geotal Co. was smuggling.
The guys driving the wagon were just employees there anyway, so I didn’t allow them to kill them.
I’m not that crazy.
“Attack if you know better!”
When I give my order, a large number of signs move quickly nearby.
Seina’s hometown people.
Active mercenaries pretended to be thieves and began attacking the wagon.
As if they had expected an attack by bandits, they tried to respond by having bodyguards get off the wagons in the front and back rows.
Speaking of results.
In vain, they were stripped of their clothes and tied to a nearby tree naked.
“Ha ha ha ha! I won’t kill you if you just give me what you have.”
“What if you rebel? know?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll leave you with at least one word. Kyakyakyakyakya! Yes, I will leave you with just one.”
It is not unusual to see them scare the incapacitated merchants.
The way he threatens by licking a knife with his tongue is more like a bully in the neighborhood than a thief, but that one?
….are they really mercenaries?
“Sena? Did we hire active thieves? Or did your villagers do thievery as a side job?”
“It seems that those idiots are excited.”
Seina also shook her head as if she was dumbfounded.
The guys who used to fight only against bandits every time pretended to attack the wagon on the contrary, so they seemed a little excited.
done. It’s important to act properly.
Let’s say that thanks to that, the fear of being found out has been reduced.
“…Did I properly ask you not to get hurt?”
“That’s the only sword I won’t break…
maybe.”
Seina sighed.
Thanks to that, I was able to take over the secret transport wagon of Geotal Firm without much difficulty.
“How are you? Shall we move separately?”
“No, let’s check here. You might move things needlessly and get caught later.”
It’s a waste to check the contents of this wagon here, but I’ll move it to another place immediately and burn it all quickly.
This is to avoid creating evidence that would be caught in the event of a pod.
“ruler? So what hot stuff did they secretly make money from? How valuable are you hiding? What are you looking forward to?”
With Seina helping me, I climbed into the carriage and checked the luggage they were carrying.
A common fruit or barley….and a bit of fur?
“It is normal.”
“It looks like it. Normally, I wouldn’t move it openly.”
I took a quick look inside and tapped the floor with my toe.
Plump.
thump.
indeed? Huhuhuhu Is this the way it is?
“Tear it off under Seina.”
As instructed, Seina put her hand on the bottom of the wagon, concentrated her aura, and lightly tore off the bottom.
“bingo?!”
The floor is also double layered.
For some reason, it seemed to be a little taller than it looked.
Inside, there are bags made of leather densely packed.
I tried to touch my hand, but Seina grabbed my hand and shook her head.
“I will take it out.”
Oh yes. Are you concerned that it might be dangerous?
Actually, if it were me, it wouldn’t be a problem if I dipped my hand in the lava, but she wouldn’t know that.
Seina carefully took out one of the leather bags spread on the floor.
Then he carefully cut the end of the hilt with a knife and poured it out.
“???? salt?????? Is it?”
What poured out were white grains that could only be seen as salt.
A few more sacks were cut open and the same contents spilled out.
“Was it salt smuggling?”
Muttered my uncle, who had climbed into the carriage after him.
“Salt smuggling…
There are many cases where salt is smuggled in and big profits are made.
Of course, if you get caught with this, you can’t avoid a heavy sentence.
Surely, just smuggling salt is enough to justify catching them by the collar?
“…I don’t think it’s just salt.”
As I expected, smuggled goods came out one after another from other wagons.
“For medicines with hallucinogenic effects… Most of them are items with high tariffs or items that are prohibited from being imported.”
My uncle groaned as he looked at the smuggled goods found in embarrassment.
“…if all of these are discovered…
at least the person in charge won’t be able to die safely.”
My whole body would be torn apart and burnt to death.
You will receive such a terrible punishment.
While my uncle glared at them seriously, I had to deliberately struggle to contain my laughter.
‘As expected, it was properly caught.’
And it wasn’t just one, but several of them intertwined.
Apparently, the head of the Geotal Corporation… That woman seems to be more money-crazy than I expected.
“…Then the rest must be as he reported.”
“yes? Are you Arel? Now what…
“No. Just talking to myself.”
At my puzzled uncle, I only smiled meaningfully.
