Chapter 185

Chapter 185 \n185. Counterattack 1\n

“…what does this mean?” (Mitsuha)

Perhaps, right now, my vein has surfaced on my temple.

“No, I’m not really angry at you, Rephilia. I want you to explain what happened from the beginning” (Mitsuha)

Rephilia shuddered as she saw my enraged expression. So I said that my anger is against the others and managed to calm her down. And what I heard from Rephilia is…

In the middle of the night two days ago, a group thieves invaded and stolen the stock in the warehouse…

“Was anyone hurt?” (Mitsuha)

“Ah, there were about 20 thieves, and around half of them were armed with swords and spears. So the security guards had no chance, and all the thieves hid their faces under their masks, so we surrendered without resistance as per your instruction. So, although some were beaten, there’s only one with fractures, and three with bruises, but there is no one with serious injuries that would cause death or after-effect” (Rephilia)

Alright, at least there’s a silver lining among these dark clouds.

Although they’re just a security guard who aren’t the regular employee of the firm, I can’t overlook the fact that someone had make a mess of the people who worked for the company that I’m involved in.

If the thieves weren’t hiding their faces under the masks, then the judgement would be difficult, but if they were hiding their face means [they’re not going to kill anyone unnecessarily], so in such cases, I instructed Rephilia to surrender without resistance.

…because if they were going to kill everyone, they wouldn’t bother to hide their faces. Mask makes you hard to breath and narrows your vision, it only gets in the way when you’re fighting.

It would be better if there’s no witnesses, but the punishment for getting caught between stealing without hurting anyone, and murder robbery by killing all guards, are very different. And it would be even worse if they committed arson to destroy the evidence as they flee.

…This is where Heizō the demon from Arson Theft Control division comes in. …if this were in Japan. (Note: Onihei Reference)\n

Perhaps even this country has something equivalent to that. And that would mean death for the thieves. I don’t know if they would be hanged or beheaded though…

Well, it’s better for both the thieves and the guards to survive than having all of them died. It’s the so-called win-win situation. …I think it’s a bit different.

The Rephilia Trade itself doesn’t suffer a fatal damage.

Nothing would happen to a bookstore from having one of their book stolen… no, it’s no good to trivialize criminal acts with such a light word. If the profit margin of a book sales is 20%, so four books must be sold to recover the purchase cost of the stolen book. And that will only recover the purchase cost, the profit from selling 5 books would become zero. Considering rent, utilities, labor costs, etc., it’s a big deficit. The store would be crushed in the long run.

But the goods of Rephilia Trade have higher profit margins. And, more than that, we didn’t suffer any loss this time. …except for warehouse repair costs.

Of course, we’re not stupid enough to let the security guards to hold the key.

The doors can be easily opened in case they were threatened or robbed by the thieves, in the first place, this is the world where the security guards themselves would calmly raid the warehouse.

…well, it’s actually to prevent the honest guards from being killed because they resisted to give the key. Unless they have a key from the beginning, we can prevent unnecessary loss.

The trade-off is just the repair cost of a big hole on the wall, but it’s cheaper compared to a human life.

“Alright, it is decided that it was assumption C-3. Then, our response will be K” (Mitsuha)

I’m using Earth’s alphabet on the hypothesis table. Although Rephilia is unfamiliar with the character, she recognized it as something like a sign.

If you’re wondering why I’m using the alphabet… because it’s more code-like from the viewpoint of the people of this world, it’s cool!!

“Eh…” (Rephilia)\nAnd Rephilia leaked a surprised voice.

Yeah, C is assuming that it was an armed attack, or should I say, use of force.

And 3 is assuming that the enemy was not a legitimate army of a country or nobility, but some kind of mercenary or criminal hired by someone. …in other words, the mastermind hired someone to prevent themselves from being exposed.

…and we will deal with them using [K].

It’s not the K of [KILL].

In the assumption table, the letter [J] is for self-defense (Jiei). And the letter next to it, K.

J for self-defense.

…self-defense…

Yeah, it’s [Genocide (Jeinosaido)].

(Note: If you’re confused, don’t worry, me too)

Well then, I wonder where’s the one who will become scorched soil where even a weed won’t grow…

“Since our response will be [K], the Yamano Family will launch full scale attack from the front. And Rephilia is to leak convenient information to other merchants to stir public opinion and isolate the enemy!” (Mitsuha)

“Yes ma’am!” (Rephilia)\n\n…

…And in the office of a certain company.

“Wh-what does this mean!! The one who has been attacked is Rephilia Trade’s warehouse, isn’t it! Rephilia Trade’s goods were purchased from Viscount Yamano, so it was Rephilia Trade that suffered, it should have nothing to do with Viscount Yamano!! An inexperienced novice merchant suddenly loses all of their expensive goods due to robbery and unfortunately goes bankrupt. Then, our Delaître Company offers a quick deal to Viscount Yamano who lost her trading partner and take over the sales route. It won’t be suspicious if we sell the robbed products by mixing them with the products that we purchased from Viscount Yamano. That is how the plan should have been, so why the rumors said that it was Viscount Yamano that has been robbed instead of Rephilia Trade!!” (Villain A)

“Yes, Apparently Viscount Yamano and Rephilia Trade have adopted selling on credit policy. When the goods enter the warehouse of Rephilia Trade, there is a high possibility that the payment has not yet been made, so the goods would remain under the ownership of Viscount Yamano. Thus, the victim was not the Rephilia Trade, but Viscount Yamano, because she was robbed before the goods were paid or sold…” (Villain B)

“Th-that’s ridiculous! As if there’s such a thing as [selling on credit]!!” (Villain A)

“…even if you say that, it is certain that Viscount Yamano and the Rephilia Trade have a contract with such terms… As such, reports of damages were issued by both Rephilia Trade and Viscount Yamano, and since the security guards were injured, the investigation is suggested as [Armed robbery and attempted murder] rather than [Stealing]. Also, due to the petition from the Viscount, not only the Police Officers but the Royal Capital Security Force and somehow a part of Palace Guard seems to be moving as well… In addition, escorts and hired employees of each nobles, even merchants, are also sniffing around…” (Villain B)

“……” (Villain A)

It is a concentrated attack from all direction.

“Now it has become like this, we have no other choice but to lower the quality by mixing them, and say that [we purchased them from another route]…” (Villain A)

“We would be out in one shout, that way!!” (Villain B)

“Then how about we carry them out secretly and sell them to other country…” (Villain A)

“Merchant’s transports will be strictly watched, and markets in neighboring countries will be monitored either. No, even before that, outbound shipments from the Royal Capital will be thoroughly investigated…” (Villain B)

“Damn, why it turned out like this… Well whatever, in any case, they can’t go into a merchant’s warehouse to investigate without any evidence. Commercial unions wouldn’t be able to make such a precedent. We have to wait quietly until everything calms down…” (Villain A)

The merchants settled on that conclusion, but of course, The world, or rather, Viscount Yamano is not that sweet…