"Sorry, the White King Tiger Wolf got stolen."
What?
Sorry doesn't even begin to cover it.
When I got back from the Raising Duke's estate, there was a summons from the Merchant's Guild, and this is what I was told after being called into Guildmas's room.
"Of course, the Merchant's Guild is putting everything we've got into the search. If word of this gets out, our credibility will tank. But not reporting to you, the client, would be even worse."
The Merchant's Guild, being what it is, would have
connections
all over the place.
And yet they still can't find it — that means it's either in a pretty tight location or somewhere untouchable.
At least they were upfront about it, so I guess that's something.
In this world, the go-to move is to prepare a fake and sweep it under the rug, and if they look down on you, a simple "Did that even happen?" is enough to make the whole thing go away.
"Well, I suppose so. Can't be helped — [Perfect Research]. Is this... under the Grim Trading Company?"
"Huh? Under the Grim Trading Company? That's bad. Also, your skill is pretty ridiculous, you know. Not that I'm asking about it."
"Is something wrong with under the Grim Trading Company?"
"Uh, well, the thing is, I've heard it's supposedly one of the bases of the dark guild 'Diamond.'"
Way to beat around the bush.
"You mean it's the kind of place where anyone who sticks their nose in doesn't come back alive?"
"You don't know? 'Diamond' is the biggest dark guild out there. Even royalty and nobles don't dare mess with them. There's a rumor they've been frantically hunting for whoever did it ever since their Momentum branch got wiped out recently."
The dark guild whose Momentum branch was wiped out...?
Feels like I've heard of it before, but maybe not...?
But more importantly, I won't forgive anyone who laid a hand on what belongs to me.
"That's one favor you owe me."
"Hey, don't tell me you're actually—"
"I also need to find out who hired the dark guild."
"Are you serious? Word is the dark guild is crawling with guys who have Orichalcum-class power."
"If I can't pull it off, then that's just the kind of man I am. Either way, I'm going in."
***
Click.
In the dead of night, I infiltrated Grim Trading Company—a mid-sized trading house right in the heart of the royal capital—and opened a door secured with magical locks.
Ordinary people probably couldn't tell, but having nothing where something should be actually stands out more.
Sure enough, when I cast an unlocking spell on what looked like nothing but a wall, it responded and a door appeared without any fuss.
I descended the stairs.
"Who goes there! ...New recruit?"
The guy nearest to the room's entrance called out to me.
He looked weak, but he seemed to have the prowess of someone in the upper tiers of Gold Rank.
"Could be."
"Then take my Baptism Strike!"
A throwing knife came flying at me from the man.
Its—
The handle.
I gripped it between my index and middle finger, flipped it, and threw it back.
The knife embedded itself in his forehead — the one who couldn't react to its speed — and he drew his last breath.
The people around, who had been watching idly, were now brimming with killing intent, but I paid them no mind and locked my gaze only on the man at the very back.
"The business is, I want the White King Tiger Wolf returned. While you're at it, tell me who the client is too — I've got to go punish that person as well."
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse], [Divine Eye], [Sword God], [Phantom Thief Gentleman], [Dark Magic], [Rock-Iron Magic], [Holy Magic], [Space-Time Magic], [Scorching Magic], [Freezing Magic]
Rank: Bronze
Thank you as always for reading! 😊