I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

Chapter 110:

Sarme, the largest commercial town in the area, was bustling with a crowd that had gathered since morning.

It wasn't the kind of clamor from merchants haggling over goods.

“Damn Demons! I'm ruined! Ruined!”

A merchant with bloodshot eyes screamed as if vomiting blood, looking at the burnt-black warehouse.

The faces of the others next to him, who were examining the state of the warehouse, were just as dark.

The onlookers who had gathered around the warehouse all wore serious expressions, but a few stepped back and smiled as if gloating.

“He got punished because his heart is in the gutter.”

“Hey now, people who did business honestly also suffered losses, isn't it too much to say that.”

“Honest? Good grief. Was he honest when he joined hands with criminals and bribed the officials?”

“Anyway, the guys who used that warehouse were all ones with their bellies full of grease. They charged low storage fees only to their friends and ripped off people like us if we wanted to use it for a few days.”

However, even the people who were badmouthing the merchants agreed on one thing.

“What if those Demon bastards go to other places and commit robbery.”

“I heard the Duke is busy too, I wonder what will happen….”

The crowd murmured with anxiety.

A little away from them, two people were quietly watching the scene.

They were two people with nothing remarkable about them, who, even if someone's gaze had fallen on them, would have soon turned their heads, thinking they were ordinary onlookers.

“The other places?”

“No problems yet. But it doesn't seem like those Demons will stop here.”

“To think they'd even do something like this, saying they have Demons as their subordinates.”

The man who seemed to have a higher rank clicked his tongue and shook his head.

He had expected some sabotage.

But he didn't expect them to commit open raids and arson.

The usual Valheit would not have used such a drastic method.

No.

Perhaps they were mistaken in thinking so.

“For now, I've ordered to strengthen the defenses at the relay stations.”

“What good will that do? If a battle breaks out, they'll be annihilated in an instant.”

The subordinate could not deny it and lowered his eyes.

Sufficient combat training was essential to become an agent of the Raven, but that didn't mean all Ravens were outstanding warriors.

Valheit's subordinates were not easy opponents.

Especially if the Weapon Demon of Chartra was involved, there was no chance of winning in a battle.

“They won't have the capacity to attack all places at once either. Strengthen the surveillance and tell them to abandon the small relay stations if need be.”

“Yes. Other than that, I have something else to tell you.”

“We can't stop all the merchants from moving their goods. We have no choice but to create a smokescreen by moderately matching them.”

If they stay still while the terrified wholesalers are moving about busily, it would be more suspicious.

They can only buy time by putting up a simple deception.

“But….”

“Our manpower is also limited, so there will be a hole somewhere. Do you think I would have said that without considering something so basic.”

A slight hint of anger was mixed in the usually cold commander's voice.

The subordinate realized his mistake and quickly swallowed the words he was about to spit out.

“I will inform all relay stations immediately.”

The subordinate blended into the crowd naturally and disappeared.

The corner of the mouth of the man left alone twisted slightly.

It wasn't the best measure, but there was no other way to buy time.

The core relay station must never be discovered.

Especially since the opponent was Valheit.

***

“As expected, they've started to create a smokescreen.”

I said cheerfully, skimming through the short report sent by the count shadow corps.

Kaseph, as if he had little interest, didn't even give a simple reaction like nodding his head.

“It says they are moving goods out of the warehouses we were monitoring all at once. Most will be merchants, but there will be Ravens too.”

“Can you distinguish them?”

“Unless you're a complete idiot, how could you not distinguish them? It will just take time, but we'll be able to know for sure eventually.”

“So we just have to wait?”

“Unfortunately, the situation is not that good.”

If the opponent was short on time and we had plenty, we could have leisurely waited until the rabbit tripped and fell.

But we didn't have much time either.

The already panicked residents and merchants were sending rescue requests to the nearby army and Stetten's knights.

The army wouldn't move for the time being due to Blaiher's order, but I wasn't sure how long they would stand by and watch.

A more urgent problem was Stetten's knights.

It was unreasonable to expect them to stand by and do nothing.

Although the Duke's authority had been reduced and they couldn't put forth the grand title of a knightly order like in the past, they were still undoubtedly the top organization within the Duke's domain.

“The knights might be busy due to the shocking feud between the brothers, but we can't expect them to dawdle forever.”

“As I said before, if we move hastily, I don't know what kind of problem will arise with the curse they are preparing.”

“I know. I have no intention of rounding them up in one fell swoop either. No matter how urgent, we must follow the steps.”

The plan prepared to achieve the difficult order of ‘quickly yet cautiously’ was simple.

Secure one small relay station that the Ravens would likely give up.

Entrust the investigation to Kaseph.

The end.

According to Kaseph, there would be a core pivot connecting all these relay stations, and the Raven would try to protect only that place.

If necessary, they would try to buy time even by sacrificing their own flesh, so I was planning to use that.

“Since the overall surveillance will have loosened, we just have to pretend to barely secure one vulnerable place. Then the opponent will also be a little relieved and won't proceed with the plan hastily.”

“Do you have a place in mind?”

“That's what we have to decide now. Do you have any recommendations.”

“None.”

Kaseph spat out an immediate reply without a hint of hesitation.

At least pretend to think, you beanpole.

As I gave a signal with a twitch of my eyebrow to say something, anything, Kaseph finally raised the white flag.

“It doesn't matter much where, but a remote place would be good to draw less of their attention.”

“Then should we choose one of these two?”

I pointed out places on the map with my staff.

It was narrowed down to two places: a warehouse far to the east of Ruhindorf and a yard to the west.

“Let's go with the western yard. It's a little closer to Ruhindorf.”

“It's not because you're lazy to walk, is it, haha.”

“Of course, that's part of it. The shorter the travel distance, the less likely it is that our location will be discovered.”

The utterly serious reply made me lose any desire to exchange more words.

I marked a large X on the yard on the map.

“Now that the target is set, I'll make a move.”

“Are you planning to go yourself. Isn't it better to send Til or your subordinates.”

“No, Til and our Demon friends have to go on another raid, and the count shadow corps is already stretched thin with personnel for surveillance. And you… you have no talent in this area at all.”

“Is there a need to consider talent? You can just go and burn everything down.”

“You might be able to investigate in a completely burnt-out place, but all other important clues will disappear, won't they.”

Kaseph nodded his head slightly as if he understood.

No, it doesn't matter even if he didn't understand.

If he walks around with that skinny appearance, he stands out too much.

I'm also a freak who walks around with my eyes closed, but compared to Kaseph, I'm a very ordinary civilian.

“Have you thought of a method?”

“I'm thinking of catching a wholesaler and using them as bait.”

“A method to catch the bait?”

“I have a collaborator. Stop asking questions since you're not going to help anyway.”

“…Alright.”

I shut him up in advance, in case he would pry into who the collaborator was.

It was closer to an instinct rather than a calculated action.

I was reluctant to say the name Falsh in front of Kaseph.

It wasn't just a matter of it being unsettling, but an instinct that they should not meet.

I tried to find a reason why I thought so, then shook my head.

Let's think about it later.

The matter at hand is more important.

***

“Of course I have to help!”

“I haven't even finished telling you what the favor is yet.”

“Ahem, since I've already received a promise to be helped later, wouldn't it be reasonable for me to help diligently?”

Falsh nodded with his characteristic slick expression.

He was so willing to help that it was rather suspicious.

“…Of course, there will be a little extra cost. I have to make a living too, don't I.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed like he suddenly added that after noticing my suspicious gaze, but….

There was no reason to refuse his offer to help.

“I'd like to receive the help of a wholesaler who operates in this region.”

“Help. I don't think that includes only voluntary help….”

“If necessary, a little bit of force will be needed.”

I was planning to catch a wholesaler and use him as a frontman to enter the western yard.

So that they wouldn't notice my approach and burn the data.

“Hmm, because of the raid yesterday, there are quite a few merchants trying to flee. We can just catch one of them and use him.”

“I'd like to handle it as quietly as possible.”

“If that's the case, there's good prey. There was a merchant heading towards Ruhindorf this morning.”

Ruhindorf why did he suddenly go there.

As if he had read something on my face, Falsh added a word.

“He said he was going to collect a debt. It seems he's planning to be quite serious about it, as he bought some, hmm, weapons from me too.”

“You handle those too?”

“There's no law that says I can only handle groceries, is there?”

I was suspicious about what kind of grocer sells weapons, but I decided to let it go for now.

If he came all the way to this remote place alone, no one would know for a while even if he disappeared, so he's a good target.

“How long did he say he would stay in Ruhindorf?”

“I don't know that far! He won't be staying long.”

Then there's no more time to delay.

As I got up from my seat, Falsh also shot up.

“You don't have to see me off.”

“See you off? I was planning to follow. Ah, don't frown so much. It'll cause wrinkles on your handsome face.”

I had no intention of taking him with me.

“I won't be a bother! Wouldn't it be a bit more helpful to have a merchant by your side when persuading someone.”

“Is that so?”

“Ah, of course!”

“If you insist on following, I will deduct it from the fee I'll give you.”

“Excellent.”

I was momentarily flustered because he accepted so readily when I thought he would naturally refuse.

Well, it won't be a problem if I take him with me right?

I nodded my head with a slightly reluctant feeling.

“Let's go.”

***

“Where do you get the idea of running off with the money! Give me the money!”

“No, there's still a month left until the repayment date, even if you suddenly come and ask for the money….”

“It's up to the person who lent the money, what are you questioning?!”

An outsider was shouting at the top of his lungs and causing a scene in front of the furniture workshop.

The workshop owner tried to calm him down with a flustered face, but no words worked.

“If you come out like this, I have no choice but to use force. I'm saying I'll go quietly if you just give me the money?”

“Even if you say that, I don't have that much money because the payment hasn't come in yet! I'll give you some today, so if you come next week.”

“I'm leaving this place, so what's the meaning of next week! I tried to let it go nicely, but you take me for a pushover!”

The people who had followed the merchant drew their swords.

The workshop owner's legs gave out as he saw them on the verge of becoming robbers.

“Stop.”

People flinched at the firm female voice.

A woman with orange hair blocked the way between the workshop owner and the merchant.

“Is this your wife, bastard?”

“No.”

“Then get lost. Or are you going to pay the money for him?”

The merchant sneered and held out his sword.

The woman looked at him with a calm expression.

“If you're a merchant, you should handle things according to the contract. It's a problem that can be solved by looking at the contract, do you really need to draw a sword.”

“Don't meddle in other people's business, young lady. You don't seem to know the ways of the world, you could get seriously hurt.”

The merchant held a sword to her neck.

If someone hadn't grabbed the merchant's wrist, the blade might have touched her neck.

“Wh-what is this?”

A blunt voice was heard by the merchant who was terrified looking at the black arm that had grabbed his wrist.

“You're a damn loud person.”

A man with closed eyes, dressed neatly, approached.

A black arm extending from his shoulder held the merchant firmly.

Anyone could see that he was in a considerably foul mood.

“What….”

Before he could finish his words, the merchant flew into a fence and rolled over with a loud noise.

“Ah, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Bal… no, I'm Brauder.”

The man with narrow eyes smiled faintly.