NOVEL NEXT Chapter 236 - Divine Cat Mii-chan, Setting Things Straight
Chapter 236: Divine Cat Mii-chan, Setting Things Straight
After arriving in the town of Forte, I headed to the town hall. It was an impressive three-story brick building. Once inside, I approached the reception desk and showed my seal, requesting to see the person in charge.
“Please wait just a moment!” the receptionist said before hurrying away.
While I waited, I took a look around the dimly lit office. The furniture seemed worn and outdated, and the layout was far from efficient. Hmm, it seemed like this place needed some improvements.
“Mii,” Mii-chan meowed.
Soon, the receptionist returned, accompanied by a man who looked to be in his late fifties, wiping copious amounts of sweat from his brow.
“Baron Brocken, we’ve been expecting you. I am Olaf, the head of this office. I have prepared a room for you. Please, follow me.”
I walked behind Olaf as he led the way. The building itself didn’t appear to be that old. However, when I entered the room, I was taken aback. It was a gaudy, gold-plated room, the epitome of nouveau riche taste.
Sigh “Shall we take a tour of the office? Could you please gather a few people for me?”
“Mii…” Mii-chan purred.
“Uh, may I ask why…?” Olaf’s eyes darted nervously. Perhaps he thought I’d be impressed by the lavish room, but I had to cut to the chase. I asked the female staff member to fetch some people for us.
She returned with two male staff members, and we began our inspection.
“Let’s start with Olaf’s room,” I suggested. When we arrived, Olaf stood in front of the door, blocking my way.
“This is my room! What right do you have to enter?” he demanded.
Sigh “Well, I am the lord of this place. Somebody, restrain him, please.”
“Mii,” Mii-chan meowed once more.
“You fools! Do you know what will happen if you defy me?” Olaf shouted as two male staff members restrained him.
Well, time to see what’s inside.
As expected, the room was opulently furnished with expensive items, no doubt costing a small fortune. Where does he even work in here? It looked like there was another adjoining room. Naturally, I opened it.
“Mii,” Mii-chan observed with me.
“Stop! Don’t open that!” Olaf screamed.
Inside, I found two half-naked women sipping what appeared to be alcohol. What on earth?
“Olaf, what’s taking so long? We’re waiting!” one of the women said.
“Uh, could you fetch someone for me? This time, make sure it’s a woman,” I asked the female staff member.
“Y-yes,” she stammered before running off again.
“Olaf, you’re an idiot. Tie him up with this rope,” I instructed.
“Mii,” Mii-chan agreed with a meow.
“You scum! If you harm me, the Dark Guild won’t stay silent!” Olaf spat.
“Oh, so you’re connected to the Dark Guild, are you?” I asked calmly.
“It’s too late to apologize now!”
“No, I wasn’t planning on apologizing. Actually, I’ve been looking for someone with ties to the Dark Guild. How convenient.”
“Hmph, let me go, and maybe I’ll introduce you to them,” Olaf sneered.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. The Dark Guild is my target. I’m planning to wipe them out,” I said coolly.
“Mii,” Mii-chan backed me up.
“You…!” Olaf sputtered.
“Lock this man up somewhere. Make sure he doesn’t escape. If he does, I’ll consider every staff member here as part of the Dark Guild. Understood?”
“Y-yes!” the staff members responded in unison.
The female staff member returned with reinforcements, and they secured the two women from Olaf’s room in another location. I questioned the female staffer who had fetched them, asking if she was connected to Olaf. She shook her head frantically, her face pale. It seemed she had known about Olaf’s misdeeds but had turned a blind eye. I asked her to bring trustworthy staff and reliable members of the guard.
I wasn’t entirely sure how trustworthy they would be, but I hoped she would bring at least a few decent people.
After a while, a male staff member in his thirties showed up, looking equally pale.
“There’s no one trustworthy among the higher-ups here,” he said.
“And who are you?”
“My name is Theo.”
“How many senior officials are there?”
“There’s a deputy and three department heads.”
“And why do you say they aren’t trustworthy?”
“Embezzlement, bribery, abuse of power—many reasons.”
“Can you prove this?”
“I can, but… will you protect me?”
It seemed that Olaf’s connection to the Dark Guild wasn’t just a bluff. I should have brought more people with me.
“What about the guards?” I asked.
“They’re much the same…”
This was worse than I thought.
“Mii…” Mii-chan let out a worried sound.
The female staffer returned with two guards, apparently acquaintances of Theo’s. It was clear that there was no turning back now. I had the remaining corrupt officials arrested while I made my way to the Hunter Guild.
The guild wasn’t far from the town hall. Riding Smire at a brisk pace, I arrived quickly. Once inside, I presented my Hunter Guild card and Baron Brocken’s seal, requesting a meeting with the guild master. I was immediately shown to the guild master’s office.
“Well, well. It’s not every day the new lord comes to pay a visit,” said the elderly woman who turned out to be the guild master. She had a tough and formidable air about her—a real force to be reckoned with. I wondered what kind of person I was dealing with now.
“Mii,” Mii-chan meowed beside me, her eyes sharp and vigilant.