Kays Translations

Chapter 340: A Three-Penny Performance

　The morning after Tauro infiltrated the mayor’s residence, Black-Gold Wings visited the Adventurers’ Guild as usual to accept another Flaming Crab subjugation request.

　While Armine was processing the request, Caxart’s strongest team entered the hall.

　Gray Vultures was a veteran C-plus team.

“They’re here, Leader,” Ankh whispered.

　Tauro recognized the men immediately from the previous day’s infiltration.

“I heard a D-plus team from outside Caxart has been strutting around here,” the shaved-headed leader announced while scanning the room. “Which one is it?”

“Hagen, we don’t want any trouble inside the guild,” Armine warned.

“Do your job, receptionist. You outsiders know I’m talking to you. Come forward.”

“Are you addressing us?” Tauro asked calmly. “I don’t believe we’ve met. What can we do for you?”

“The leader really is a child. Hmph. You three, come outside. We need to talk somewhere that won’t disturb the guild.”

　Hagen gestured toward the door.

“Hagen! I said we don’t want trouble!” Armine repeated.

“It’ll be all right, Armine,” Tauro assured her before following Gray Vultures outside with Ragune and Ankh.

　Hagen led them through several streets and stopped in a narrow alley with few pedestrians. The other members of Gray Vultures spread out around Black-Gold Wings.

“What kind of newcomers enter our city without greeting us first?” Hagen demanded.

“The Adventurers’ Guild has no rule requiring that,” Tauro replied.

“It’s the custom in Caxart.”

　Hagen closed the distance in an instant and seized Tauro by the front of his clothing.

　Tauro placed one hand on Hagen’s wrist and steadily pulled it away.

　Hagen tried to maintain his grip, but Tauro’s physical strength overwhelmed him. His hand was peeled from the cloth as though the resistance meant nothing.

　The C-plus adventurer stared in disbelief.

“Threatening other adventurers is prohibited as well,” Tauro said. “You should stop now, for your own sake.”

　He signaled Ragune and Ankh not to draw the weapons they were already prepared to use, then led them from the alley.

“Hagen, are we simply letting them leave?” the swordsman asked.

“If they look down on us, our reputation will be ruined,” the female mage added.

“I’ll drag them back and crush them,” the warrior said, starting after the group.

“Wait. That boy is abnormal,” Hagen ordered. “His strength is greater than mine. We won’t touch them directly yet. Send the thugs tonight and have them injured in the street.”

“The usual method? You’re using it quickly this time.”

　The warrior smiled unpleasantly.

“Even a D-plus adventurer can be caught off guard by a sudden attack inside a city. It should frighten them into leaving. The only disadvantage is the expense.”

　Hagen ordered the small baggage carrier to contact the thugs.

　Later, while Black-Gold Wings fought Flaming Crabs beside the salt lake, Ankh spoke from behind Tauro.

“From their expressions, they’ll come after us again.”

“I agree,” Ragune said enthusiastically while driving her spear through a crab. “If Tauro’s prediction is correct, they’ll act this evening.”

“Most likely. I deliberately showed Hagen enough strength to discourage a direct attack, so he should move to the next stage. Pella also understood what I was doing.”

　Although Hagen had grabbed Tauro, Pella had recognized that the contact was part of his plan and hadn’t reacted. When Tauro praised it, the slime familiar trembled happily while mimicking the surface of his armor.

“More importantly, we still need evidence of the embezzlement,” Tauro continued. “Since I couldn’t find the ledger, bribing one of the mayor’s accounting officials may be faster.”

　It wasn’t a method Tauro liked, but he possessed both the money and a reason serious enough to use it.

　Once they completed the day’s subjugation quota, Tauro gave Ankh funds and asked him to locate an accounting official willing to cooperate.

“Isn’t remaining in the city with only the two of us dangerous?” Ragune asked.

“That’s exactly the point. Ankh looks like our strongest member, so his absence should make us appear easier to attack.”

“Then perhaps we should move toward the outskirts, where they can approach without hesitation.”

“No. We need witnesses. If a woman and a child are attacked in a busy street, bystanders are more likely to intervene. We’ll avoid hurting the thugs and make certain everyone sees that they attacked us first.”

　Tauro intended to exploit the enemy’s plan while preventing them from using the outcome against Black-Gold Wings.

“I understand,” Ragune said. “If we defeat them, the administration may accuse us of assaulting townspeople. But if we merely let them strike us, they achieve their goal. We’ll dodge and keep calling for help.”

　Sure enough, several thugs confronted Tauro and Ragune shortly after dinner, before the streets had emptied for the night.

　Seeing only a child and a woman, the men apparently decided they could act without waiting for a more careful arrangement.

“What do you want with us? Oh no! Somebody help!” Ragune cried in a performance so exaggerated that nobody could mistake it for natural fear.

“What are you people doing to us?” Tauro added with equally poor acting.

　The thugs ignored the three-penny performance and attacked.

　Tauro and Ragune easily avoided every blow while continuing to shout for assistance.

“A child and a woman are being attacked!” one passerby called.

　His courage stirred the people who had stopped to watch. More townspeople gathered around the confrontation.

“Have you no shame, attacking a woman and a child?”

“That’s right! Leave them alone!”

“Someone call the territorial soldiers!”

“My husband has already gone to fetch them!”

　The crowd began closing in from a safe distance.

　Realizing that the situation had turned against them, the thugs exchanged anxious looks. They had failed to land a single blow on Tauro or Ragune and could no longer continue without being identified by dozens of witnesses.

　They fled through the crowd.

“The people of Caxart possess a stronger sense of justice than I expected,” Tauro said with a smile as he watched them escape.

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