Chapter 159: Laying the Groundwork Is Important

Using Flames while interrogating the three bound men—Klein, Edvan, and Yungel—would be unwise in such a luxurious office.

“Gloucester and the other five who guarded Klein told me about you. You don’t appear to be direct perpetrators, so honest answers may earn you lighter punishment. Lie or conceal anything, however, and prepare for lifelong criminal servitude.”

If I interrogate from Klein, who’s the most frightened, the two guards will probably talk more easily.

“Klein, the manager of the Garden of Flowers and Honey and Heinz must have asked you about the Arkwright family. What did they ask?”

“I-I-I didn’t tell them anything about Father or Brother…”

He’s trembling like a puppy fallen into water, looking like he might wet himself any moment—useless.

“You two were also apparently close to the manager Moritz.”

“I certainly visited the brothel. The manager came to curry favor because I’m the Count’s guard, but the household’s internal affairs…”

Yungel began to answer, but his manner was suspicious. Edvan kept his lips pressed firmly together and glared at me.

“Didn’t I tell you? I captured about fifteen of Heinz’s subordinates and made them talk all sorts of things. They told me you were close to Moritz and went in and out of the manager’s room.”

At my words, Edvan hangs his head.

I would question them in detail later, but first I needed to identify everyone in the mansion connected to the organization. I took Klein and the two bound guards to Eugen’s office for interrogation. The knight at the door looked startled, so I asked the Count to impose a gag order on the guards and forbid them from leaving the mansion.

Once they realized escape was impossible, the interrogation in Eugen’s office proceeded surprisingly smoothly. As expected, they had leaked the Arkwright household’s internal affairs, monitored whether reports concerning the brothel or Heinz had reached the family, and passed along security deployments. If Heinz’s subordinates were caught, he used that information to arrange lenient treatment or an escape.

Klein, his six guards, Yungel, and Edvan had been leaking information about reports delivered to the Count and Romand. Other knights and servants frequently visited the brothel, but they appeared to be ordinary customers and were left alone. Their positions were too low for them to reveal anything important even if they tried.

We decided to summon the compromised West Gate unit, including its captain, for supposed training on their day off and arrest them all at once. At the same time, Romand would command the raid on the Garden of Flowers and Honey and the capture of Heinz, Moritz, and their subordinates. Once the date was settled, the Count’s next words exposed my own carelessness.

“Lord Leon, when we capture them, your presence will inevitably become public. If even one escapes, your family may be targeted. I would like to send guard knights from my household as well—please permit this.”

He was right. Ted’s four-man group couldn’t defend the house against a coordinated assault. I might somehow placate Father and Mother, but how was I supposed to explain everything to the sister who had practically raised me? A strategic retreat seemed wisest; I could apologize after the matter was settled.

“Thank you for your concern, Count. I started this, and once the fifteen captured men fail to make contact, the organization may target my home. Ted’s four-man group is guarding my family, but please send Eugen there tonight with trustworthy knights to explain the situation. Before the raid, I’ll contact Chancellor Brighton and urge him to coordinate with lords in other regions.”

Count Arkwright immediately selected trustworthy knights and sent them to my house with Eugen.

When Eugen returned, he looked somewhat tired but told me, “Your family understands.” With that reassurance, I flew toward the royal capital carrying Count Arkwright’s authenticated letter.

“Hey, why hasn’t anyone returned?”

“It seems those who went to the Adventurer’s Guild had a slight altercation with that brat, then followed him outside the city.”

“Left the city? And the brat hasn’t returned either?”

“We’re watching the city entrances, but he hasn’t passed through either the east or west gates.”

“His nest?”

“We don’t know where he’s staying, so we’re having our people search.”

“Find out from Klein and the security team if there’s anything unusual.”

“Lord Heinz, if he went outside the city chasing adventurers, if he hasn’t returned by sunset, he may be being tortured.”

“Moritz, there’s nothing unusual at the shop, right?”

“Yes, no problems at all. Unit captain Rainz came yesterday and said there were no issues.”

Fifteen subordinates had never before failed to return from the simple task of taking expensive meat from a single adventurer. Heinz couldn’t dismiss the rumors circulating through the city about that brat.

Count Arkwright summoned the Adventurers’ Guild Master to his mansion and requested the guild’s cooperation. The raid would occur on the same night that Rainz and the compromised West Gate unit were isolated and arrested. The knights and selected Adventurers’ Guild members would storm the brothel together.

Early the next morning, I landed at the service gate of the royal castle, showed my identification to the guards who rushed over, and asked to see Chancellor Brighton.

I had barely waited before an attendant arrived and said, “I’ll guide you to the Chancellor.” This was faster than waiting for Chief Aide Marginus to receive me, and I laughed when I realized they had changed their procedure.

Chief Aide Marginus was waiting in the reception room and immediately opened the office door. Chancellor Brighton turned a tense face toward me from behind his desk.

“Lord Leon, this seems urgent.”

“Yes. I thought secrecy might be lost if we delayed. Please read this letter from Count Arkwright first.”

“A letter from Count Arkwright?”

Chancellor Brighton broke the seal and read. His face twisted.

“This is…”

“This is happening in Lynas. I came to request cooperation, as I thought Count Arkwright alone couldn’t handle it.”

“Of course, but what’s the current situation?”

“The day after tomorrow, the security team will have a day off, so we plan to call them in for special training and capture them all at once. Simultaneously, with cooperation from the Adventurer’s Guild, we’ll raid the problematic brothel and capture those involved.”

“That plan is sound, but the problem won’t remain confined to Olivetan Territory and Lynas.”

“It’s a human-trafficking organization, so we don’t know its true scale. Once the suspects are captured, the Count will seal the city, interrogate them thoroughly about their wider network, and report the results.”

“Can I ask you to be the liaison?”

“Since I’ve become involved, I’ll cooperate, but the Count’s place will be overwhelmed, so please handle matters in other territories yourself.”

“I understand. If nobles are involved, our nation’s prestige could be lost. It must be done quietly but thoroughly. I’ll report to His Majesty, so could you wait a while?”

When Chief Aide Marginus entered and asked, “Lord Leon, what has happened?” Chancellor Brighton immediately ordered, “Marginus, tell His Majesty that this is urgent.” Marginus rushed away.

When Chancellor Brighton reached the King’s office, His Majesty had already hurried there.

“Brighton, what’s this urgent matter?”

“A report from Count Arkwright, lord of Olivetan Territory, concerning a human-trafficking organization, Your Majesty.”

His Majesty’s face trembled with anger as he read the letter Chancellor Brighton presented.

“Count Arkwright didn’t discover this until Leon informed him?”

“Your Majesty, that land, though on an important highway, is far from the royal capital.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the letter is accurate—no, given that this is human trafficking—the matter can’t end within Olivetan Territory. Nobles may be involved, but Leon’s Appraisal indicates that Count Arkwright isn’t.”

“But those captured are only subordinates and informants, correct?”

“The day after tomorrow they’ll raid the problematic brothel and capture those involved. They say they’ll immediately interrogate those captured and send their statements, but they request temporary permission to seal the city for secrecy.”

“This was delivered by that man, Leon, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. Leon has agreed to act as liaison with Count Arkwright, which should help delay any leak of information.”

“Then, ask that man to also deliver notifications to lords in various regions based on that information.”

“Will he cooperate to that extent?”

“We won’t tolerate kidnapping, illegal enslavement, or human trafficking. If information leaks, however, the evidence will be destroyed. A flying liaison can reach the affected lords faster than express horses and help coordinate simultaneous arrests. Ask him. The perpetrators can be made to cover his fee.”

“Then please authorize him to use the royal banner when necessary.”

“Granted. He’ll need to deliver the notices directly to each lord’s mansion. Let us await Count Arkwright’s success and prepare our response.”

I had grown tired of tea and was considering asking for liquor when Chancellor Brighton returned. Depending on what the Lynas investigation uncovered, this would become a kingdom-wide roundup, and he asked me to carry notices to lords in other regions. I had expected as much, but rather than agree immediately and make myself too convenient, I complained until he promised generous compensation.

Reliable, rapid communication was essential to arrest the entire organization at once, so I accepted while maintaining an appropriately reluctant air. Calling the Chancellor out to the royal castle’s service gate every time would be troublesome, however, so I asked permission to land beneath his office window.

“This is the second floor, though?”

“Please attach a small bell outside the window and hang a string. If I land and pull the string, the bell sound will let you know I’ve arrived.”

“Understood. I’ll order the guards not to challenge you when you descend from the sky and pull the cord.”

Marginus guided me beneath the office window. After confirming the landing point, I flew back toward Lynas.