And so, I arrived at a dive bar on the outskirts of town.
Since there was no sign, I had no idea what to call the place, but it was still daytime and a "CLOSED" sign hung on the door.
The door was locked, so I forced it open, breaking it as I stepped inside.
About six or seven people with faint presences were milling around inside.
"Enemy attack? Oh, just a brat. You've got some serious strength, though. You came to the wrong place, kid. Pay up for the door repair and I might let you go. If you can't pay, you'll be working it off as a debt slave. Or hey, maybe you'll even get scouted!"
Ignoring the gang member's speech, I used the Phantom Thief Gentleman skill [Presence Detection] to search for my target.
Oh, there's a faintly strong presence in the basement.
The Dark Guild boss, maybe.
There's no way they'd guide me there willingly, so I guess I'll have to put on a little show.
As I maintained my silence, the gang members charged at me.
I dodged the thrown knives and dodged the magical fireballs too.
I caught the short sword of the one sneaking up behind me after killing their presence, using my own short sword to parry, and pretended to be pushed back.
"Tch!"
I spit out a curt curse and fled through the broken door.
Wait, this makes me look like the bad guy, doesn't it.
Anyway, I got outside and immediately suppressed my presence.
About four of them chased me out.
Seizing the opening, I slipped back into the building just as one person sank behind the counter and vanished from sight.
They were probably going to report to the boss.
Proper reporting and communication — that's what matters.
So I followed after him, descending the hidden staircase.
◇◇◇
"A weird kid showed up?"
"Yeah, a kid with a golden left eye, Boss."
"That entrance has perception-blocking and lock spells on it? How did he get in?"
"It was destroyed by brute force."
"That's the target! Did you kill him? What about the magic bag?"
"No, he got away, so we're chasing him now. He'll be netted and dragged here in no time."
"Gh—he's the one who made our Number 3 self-destruct! You need to gather more people and ambush him, or we won't just fail to catch him—we'll get wiped out. We'll have to move this base too. How did he find us..."
"There's no need to move the base."
I dropped my presence-concealment and revealed myself.
At the same time, I unleashed my intimidation on everyone present.
"Ggh... guh..."
"So — you're the boss?"
I addressed the middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper gray hair.
Everyone else had already passed out from the pressure.
"And you'd be Alan."
"That's right. So — who commissioned you to come after me?"
"Hmph. As if I'd tell you."
"I see. I was thinking I'd let you go if you told me everything and stopped coming after me, but oh well."
"Don't you dare underestimate—"
"—this—"
"—organization, you little shit. You probably got cocky just because you have a somewhat strong skill. I've seen plenty of guys like you before. They all met miserable ends. You'll end up the same."
"Is that so? Perfect Research — show me where this guy's client is. ……Viscount Momentum's estate, huh."
"Wh-what kind of skill is that!? I've never even heard of it. But that doesn't count as evidence!"
There's no need for that, as long as I know.
After all, this other world doesn't have a proper justice system like my previous life.
Rather than "innocent until proven guilty," it's more like "guilty even when proven innocent."
Even if you present evidence, if it's inconvenient for a noble, it simply never happened.
In a noble-versus-commoner case, there isn't even a sham trial — the punishment is carried out immediately.
Between nobles, the higher-ranking noble takes priority.
"Viscount Momentum's estate, huh… That means the target is the White King Tiger Wolf. If you'd just paid a fair price willingly, I would've sold it to you."
"Do you really have the White King Tiger Wolf's pelt…?"
"You accepted the commission even though you doubted the details? What an idiot. Well then, goodbye."
"The organization will hunt you to the ends of hell…!"
"Whatever."
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Phantom Thief Gentleman]
Rank: Iron
Thank you as always for reading!