Chapter 95

The next morning, after breakfast, I flew to the Merchant Guild.

I had asked the three of them to clean up and do the laundry.

I haven’t let Seri forge yet.

There will be a fusion once I get the Monster Card.

"This is the Monster Card of the caterpillar."

"Indeed."

I confirmed it was genuine through appraisal and accepted it.

I was a bit nervous thinking what would happen if Luke had brought a fake.

What would happen if he did bring one?

Since Luke has connections with the Duke of Halts’ knights, it wouldn’t be possible to punish him on the spot.

Would it be a matter of filing a complaint somewhere and getting a hefty compensation?

Thinking about the procedures, it would be troublesome if he did bring a fake.

To prevent Luke from having any funny ideas, it might be a good idea to occasionally check with the Guild Temple.

I’d also like to see the Guild Temple once.

"Then, this is the wanted poster for the thief. I received it from the Duke of Halts’ knights. They said to be especially careful."

Luke handed me a papyrus.

It’s called a wanted poster, but there are no sketches.

It’s written in detail in some language like Brahmi.

The Duke of Halts’ knights even made a wanted poster.

Even though they’ve already been defeated.

It’s a waste of money.

I got the Monster Card and the wanted poster and went home.

I gave the Monster Card and the bracelet to Seri.

"What is that?"

"It’s the wanted poster for the thief."

The wanted poster was also taken.

Seri read it sideways.

"Heinz the Fierce and Mad Dog Simon."

"Mad Dog Simon?"

Roxane spoke up.

"Do you know them?"

"Yes. He’s a famous pirate among the werewolves. It’s said he’s quite strong. No one in the werewolf race can match him with a one-handed sword. However, I heard he was defeated by someone when I was a child. He’s not invincible. I’d like to fight him once."

Fight him once?

As usual, she says terrifying things calmly.

"Well, it seems unlikely you’ll get to fight. The thieves we defeated in Halber’s labyrinth the other day were probably them."

"Those thieves from the other day?"

"Probably."

"Come to think of it, one of the thieves was a werewolf. So, that was Mad Dog Simon. Then, this rapier..."

Roxane held up the rapier she had.

Considering how notorious he is, the weapon Simon had was rather shabby.

Maybe he had hidden it somewhere else.

Perhaps he’s just a pirate after all.

The brush doesn’t choose its ink, as they say.

"That’s how it is."

"Defeating Mad Dog Simon, as expected of you, Master."

Even if the pirate I defeated was Simon, I used magic.

It’s like cheating.

Besides, it’s a good thing I didn’t fight with a sword.

Seri fused the Monster Card.

The substitute bracelet was made.

"It’s done. As expected of Seri."

"Thank you."

Seri handed me the substitute bracelet.

I took it for a moment.

"Put this on, Seri. Where will you put it?"

"On my leg."

"Got it. Show me your leg."

I wrapped the substitute bracelet around Seri’s ankle.

Her legs were small and delicate.

Cute.

They were as small as if she had bound them.

She’s short, so that’s probably how it is.

"The Duke of Halts’ knights seem to be quite troubled. When paying the reward, they say they will stop checking the Intelligence Cards."

While wrapping the bracelet multiple times, Seri spoke up.

"Is that so?"

"It’s written in the wanted poster."

They’re stopping the Intelligence Card checks.

If my job isn’t checked, I can bring in the thief’s Intelligence Card immediately.

But why?

"Maybe they’ll check randomly."

"That’s unlikely. If they do, thieves won’t bring Intelligence Cards anymore."

"Ah, to make thieves bring Intelligence Cards?"

"The thieves who know the most about other thieves are their fellow thieves. If they’re paid rewards, they’ll take the lead in defeating other thieves. This method has been used in the past when vicious thieves appeared."

It’s like the snake’s path is the snake.

Indeed, the ones who know the most about thieves are other thieves.

It’s efficient to let thieves defeat other thieves.

Conversely, the current system of not paying rewards to thieves protects them from betrayal by their comrades.

If bringing a comrade’s Intelligence Card earns money, it will be difficult for thieves to form groups.

Paying rewards to thieves who have killed other thieves will encourage betrayal within the group and reduce the number of thieves.

"Hmm. Then why don’t they do it all the time?"

"I also think it’s good to pay rewards to anyone who brings an Intelligence Card, whether they’re a thief or not. However, the empire basically doesn’t pay rewards to thieves. It’s considered to benefit the thieves."

Seri seems to agree with paying rewards to thieves.

Indeed, it’s probably more reasonable.

Especially considering the current law enforcement standards in this world.

However, while it might be effective in the short term, it’s unclear in the long term.

In Japan, during the Edo period, they gave police batons to gamblers and made them wear two pairs of straw sandals, but it’s questionable whether it worked.

Such preferential treatment might have led to the formation of organized crime.

The origin of the Mafia was also an autonomous mutual aid organization in Sicily, which was under foreign rule.

Even if the knights don’t have the power to catch thieves now, what will happen when they do in the future?

There’s a risk that making thieves catch other thieves will become a bad precedent.

Not paying rewards to thieves is a form of insight.

The next morning, I went to Bode with the thief’s Intelligence Card.

If there’s no Intelligence Card check, I can cash it in immediately.

The thieves are already defeated.

The longer it takes, the more the difference between the witness information and the story will widen.

The sooner, the less likely there will be inconsistencies.

However, going immediately after receiving the wanted poster might make it seem like I was waiting for it, so I waited a day.

The explorer is still only level 41.

Probably, the higher the level, the more experience points needed to level up.

It’s good that Roxane, a Beast Warrior level 31, and Seri, a Blacksmith level 31, have caught up, but Miria, a Mermaid level 30, is also catching up.

Considering the experience points needed to go from level 1 to level 30 and from level 30 to level 31, the difference isn’t that many times.

Or, there might be an appropriate level range.

For example, if you defeat a level 16 monster on the 16th floor while you’re level 40, you might only get half the experience points.

I don’t fully understand the level-up system.

Hero is still level 37 even though I’ve been using it continuously.

There’s no doubt that different jobs have different rates of level-up.

In any case, it will take time to reach the necessary Explorer level 50 for an adventurer.

Waiting until I get the adventurer job would be more dangerous.

It’s better to cash in early.

I can’t bring the Intelligence Card of Heinz the Fierce to anyone other than the Duke of Halts’ knights.

I heard the story of Heinz the Fierce directly from the duke and received the wanted poster.

If they find out I brought it elsewhere, they’ll wonder why I didn’t bring it to them.

Just in case, I put it on the wall of the Bode Adventurer’s Guild.

I enter the castle where the duke lives from Bode.

If I’m checked with the Intelligence Card, I can say I returned to being an explorer, maybe.

I handed the Intelligence Card to a familiar knight.

"I’ll call the captain. Please wait a moment."

The knight went inside.

I wish he hadn’t called.

Maybe it’s too greedy to just receive money.

I considered cashing in during a time when the duke and Gosler weren’t there.

However, it might be too conspicuous.

If I appear at a time when I’ve never been to Bode, it might be seen as if I caused an incident.

If I appear at the usual time and act as usual, it might convey that nothing special has happened.

After a while, Gosler appeared.

"Lord Michio, you’ve brought an Intelligence Card?"

"Someone attacked me the other day."

"Actually, yesterday, we found a place in the 12th floor of Halber’s labyrinth where the wall was covered with shielding cement."

"Oh, probably that place."

The place where the thieves were lying in wait was found.

Phew, just in time.

It was good to bring it early.

It was also correct to bring it at the usual time.

If I had brought it at an unusual time, they might have thought I brought it right after defeating them.

"I see. I thought it was strange that there was only a trap and no thieves, but they were already defeated, I see."

Gosler is interpreting it on his own.

It’s true, though.

I’ve shown that I entered the labyrinth in the Duke of Halts’ territory as agreed, so it’s all good.

"Captain."

"How is it?"

"It’s Heinz’s gang."

The first knight returned and spoke to Gosler.

So, it was Heinz’s gang after all.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then, Lord Michio, could you come with me?"

Gosler, who confirmed with the knight, turned and invited me.

"Alright."

I went into the castle.

I was led in a direction I’ve never been before.

"You fought Heinz’s gang, were you safe?"

"More or less."

"Defeating Heinz’s gang is quite impressive."

"Well, maybe I just defeated the gang."

While walking through the castle’s corridors, I talked with Gosler.

At least, I don’t have the Intelligence Card of the pirate I killed with an explosion.

The strongest in Heinz’s gang was probably that pirate.

It might have been good that the pirate’s Intelligence Card was scattered and didn’t remain.

"Lord Michio, it’s said that you defeated Heinz."

When I was led into a room, the Duke of Halts was already there.

"Indeed, it seems so."

"Ah, as expected. You’ve done well. Are you safe?"

"Yes."

If I’m known for defeating a strong enemy, I might be targeted even more by this carefree duke.

"The last one is Elmar. There’s no Simon’s card."

There was a white box-like thing in the room.

The Intelligence Card was placed on top of the box.

A knight stood nearby, reading the Intelligence Card.

The Intelligence Card expelled from a person’s body is blank.

Can it be read with that device?

"There’s no Simon’s Intelligence Card. But, there’s Heinz’s. Well done, Lord Michio. Heinz was indeed a notorious villain."

"Heinz’s Intelligence Card is here?"

Gosler repeated the duke’s words.

I brought the Intelligence Card of the notorious villain.

It seems that was Heinz.

So, the pirate I defeated was Simon.

"Yes, captain. Heinz’s Intelligence Card is here."

"There’s no Simon’s Intelligence Card?"

"That’s right."

Gosler and the knight talked.

"Lord Michio, do you have any idea about Simon?"

"I couldn’t recover the card from some of the thieves, but I’m not sure if they were that strong."

I shouldn’t say I defeated him.

It would lead to a conversation about how I defeated the skilled pirate.

There’s no evidence even if I reveal it.

"Lord Michio, you didn’t defeat Simon. Was Simon acting separately? Did they have a falling out? Is he hiding somewhere in the territory..."

"Even if Simon escapes alone, he won’t be a threat like in the Selmer territory. I won’t let him do as he pleases in my territory."

"That’s true, but..."

Gosler was troubled.

As the captain responsible for law and order, he’s probably concerned about Simon’s whereabouts.

Well, I hope Gosler worries needlessly.

"Here’s the reward."

The knight standing next to the box fiddled with some device.

Money came out of the box.

Is that box also a vault?

"Lord Michio, is this the first time you’ve seen money coming out of the Guild Temple?"

The duke caught me off guard.

Did I look surprised?

"Y-Yes."

"That’s the Guild Temple of my knights. Knight appointments are also conducted here. If Lord Michio wants to become a knight, I can perform the job change right here and now, if you join my knights. What do you think?"

I appraised the box.

It indeed showed up as a Guild Temple.

So, that’s the Guild Temple.

I have a job setting, so it’s fine for me, but generally, job changes are done at the Guild Temple of each guild.

To become a knight, you probably need the Guild Temple for knights.

"No."

"Well, few people change from adventurers to knights. Besides, to become a knight, you need to train as a warrior for years, even decades. It wouldn’t be fair if Lord Michio could easily become a knight."

The duke laughed.

It was a joke.

I don’t quite get his sense of humor.

To become a knight, you need to train as a warrior, so the job requirement is probably Warrior level 30.

I set my job to Warrior when using Rush, and I’m currently level 29.

I’m almost there.

"Here."

The knight handed the duke a pouch with the reward.

"If you put the reward in, you can exchange it for the Intelligence Card at any knight’s temple. It’s a well-designed device."

"I see."

"But it’s less than I expected."

The duke, who took the pouch, looked puzzled.

"Heinz the Fierce wreaked havoc in the Selmer territory. It might be less. However, there’s no Simon’s part."

"Still, it’s less. I heard several of the knights were defeated by Simon. They might have put more rewards on Simon. Well, Lord Michio."

Gosler explained, and the duke seemed convinced, handing over the reward.

As declared, there was no Intelligence Card check.

It’s a bit disappointing that I couldn’t recover Simon’s Intelligence Card for the reward.