Gordon tried to keep his composure, but he couldn’t stop the small beads of sweat that began to trickle down his forehead.
To be honest, he could fight these people without much trouble.
However, with his master as the target of these men’s deadly intentions, he wasn’t confident he could protect his master while fending them all off.
If, by any chance, his master got hurt because of him, he would atone with his life.
As he strengthened his grip on the dagger he’d instinctively drawn, he heard a voice:
“Then, I’ll go up by myself.”
“My lady!!”
“It’s thanks to Gordon, my loyal butler, that I’ve made it this far. Without him, I wouldn’t be seen as a threat at all, don’t you think?”
Her words, as she wedged herself between the man blocking her path and Gordon, made him raise his voice to her in a way he’d never done before.
“No! I don’t know what they might try to do if I’m not here, and I won’t be able to stop them!”
“Or perhaps, they could just search me. What do you think?”
‘This noblewoman, even with so many murderous eyes bearing down on her, hasn’t even lost her breath.’
Though he couldn’t see her face, he could tell from her tone and demeanor that she was no ordinary noble.
Lost in thought, he couldn’t help but fall silent.
Then…
“Let her through.”
“…What?”
The man withdrew his hand that had been blocking her way and spoke in a low voice.
“Forgive the discourtesy.”
“I’ll forgive it. Now, if you’ll excuse me. Gordon, come along.”
After accepting his apology, she nodded naturally and began to ascend the stairs.
“A…yes…understood,” Gordon stammered, taken aback as he watched the man, who had been so threatening just moments before, suddenly back down and apologize at her words.
Snapping out of it, he quickly followed his mistress.
“The boss’s room is ahead.”
“Is knocking necessary?”
“…There’s no need for such formalities. Go on in.”
“Oh, pardon me, then.”
As they made their way up to the second floor, she sensed a brief commotion below, but it quickly quieted down.
She was soon shown to her destination and entered the room.
The room was surprisingly simple, hardly what one would expect from the lair of a crime syndicate boss.
At most, there was a table and chair in the center, softly lit by a few glowing stones.
Across the table, she could see a desk for paperwork, and despite the contrasting images of a noble’s office and a crime boss’s den, she felt a bit of familiarity seeing the stacks of documents and ledgers.
“Ah… sorry for the unfriendly welcome,” came a husky voice through a cloud of smoke.
Was the rude tone due to their being criminals, or just because they were used to it? The voice carried a confident attitude, unbothered by the fact that she was a noble.
Her first impression was of fiery red hair.
The woman had tied it back messily, with wild strands standing up here and there.
Her face, while feminine, bore fierce scars along her cheek and near her eye, lending her a menacing air.
Atop her head were animal-like ears that pricked up, and she was glad to have her hood up.
A beastkin.
‘I can’t believe those ears are real.’
Her son—well, daughter at the time—had once explained that in this world, various races coexisted, not only humans.
She’d thought, “Oh, interesting,” but seeing it herself, the woman looked more like an amusement park worker in costume.
With a cigarette in one hand and a quill in the other, the woman was writing on a document, her dark, alluringly tanned skin showing through her bold outfit.
“My subordinate’s rudeness was just a precaution against possible traps, like soldiers hidden to ambush us. Please understand.”
“Quite thorough.”
“When you’re in charge of an organization, survival is a matter of finding every possible escape.”
Thud—
The quill stopped abruptly and rolled off the table.
“Well, I am the boss of the Red Fang—Penril.”
The thick cigarette between her lips hinted at a wild side, a ferocity no different from that of a beast.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Freya Evergarden. I don’t think further introductions are needed, do you?”
As Penril introduced herself, Freya pulled back her hood for the first time since arriving and shared her name.
“And I trust you know the reason I’ve come.”
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard—the lady of a noble estate seeking out help from criminals.”
“Everyone has things they want resolved, whether for themselves or for their territory. Isn’t that true for both of us?”
“Hah. I like your style. Different from the arrogant nobles scattered everywhere.”
“While getting to know each other is enjoyable, I am on a tight schedule. Shall we get to the main topic?”
“Yes, the main topic. So, you want to buy the valuables overflowing in your count’s estate?”
“Yes, according to Gordon, though this place, Evergarden’s main territory, is where your organization’s headquarters…well, let’s call it that for now…is located, you also have branches in other territories.”
“Correct, which is why I can sit here and still be aware of the happenings in each territory.”
Indeed.
This was the reason Gordon chose Red Fang from among the various criminal organizations that had settled in Evergarden’s territory.
Red Fang had its own unique routes spanning multiple territories.
Through these, they could sell the valuables acquired in Evergarden in territories where transaction costs were lower, allowing for greater profit.
“Of course, we can’t just force the goods on you. I heard your organization has been troubled by some hostile groups recently… That must be difficult, right? Let us take care of that issue for you.”
“Well, well. Even though many criminals have the backing of nobles, it’s an honor to be openly supported by the lord of the territory.”
Freya’s proposal was indeed a groundbreaking one for Red Fang.
A territory with weak law enforcement and an ideal operating environment naturally attracted criminals.
Red Fang, which had established its headquarters here, had shed much blood to become powerful enough to control an area of their own.
Yet, despite all the bloodshed, they were still targeted, with other groups even forming alliances to attack them.
The resulting damage was no small matter.
Given this, Freya’s proposal was very appealing to Red Fang.
Not only would they gain significant profit by merely agreeing to do business, but their troublesome problem would also be resolved.
There was hardly any reason for them to refuse.
“Well… if that’s the case, we wouldn’t mind getting some support from a noble, letting our influence grow as well. Though, in the process, it’s like putting a leash around our neck… But if the leash-holder is as prestigious as the countess, well, we’d be living in comfort and luxury, wouldn’t we?”
“Loyalty is rewarded—such is my creed.”
Of course, there was one drawback: if Red Fang accepted this proposal, they would be strongly bound to the countess, making them vulnerable to her influence.
It was, in essence, putting on a leash, with the other end held by the countess.
But Penril recognized that pledging oneself to a noble knight wasn’t much different from this; it was a commitment that would return considerable rewards.
As the conversation continued, Freya became increasingly certain that a positive outcome would emerge. However…
“But I’ll have to decline.”
“…May I ask why?”
Despite Penril’s positive responses so far, she rejected the offer outright.
‘Is she a prideful type? Maybe she’d rather be an equal partner than under protection. But then, can we be sure she won’t try to overstep? In that case…’
Despite Penril’s cold tone, Freya kept her smile as she asked for an explanation.
This response was well within Freya’s expectations.
After all, these were people who had rejected the rules of the world to live as criminals.
She hadn’t expected their boss to easily accept a leash and had prepared several counteroffers and strategies in advance.
In fact, one of her strategies included using Red Fang as bait to entice other organizations if needed.
“It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s that I can’t.”
“Can’t? That’s a bit vague.”
“It’s just…well, I’m not sure if I should even say it…sigh…”
As Freya waited for an answer, preparing her next move, Penril, who had always spoken confidently, hesitated, her face scrunched up as if embarrassed to speak.
“It’s…a dragon, ha… I mean… apparently, a dragon has appeared. Ha! I can hardly believe it myself…”
“…Pardon?”
After a moment of internal struggle, Penril finally revealed the reason for her refusal.
Then, as if exasperated, she took a deep drag of her cigarette.
Hearing her explanation—one far beyond any of the strategies or contingencies Freya had prepared for—Freya couldn’t help but ask again, incredulous.