Theresa’s thoughts drifted away.
In this Orange-flavored Worldview, she wouldn’t deny that Miss Aililan truly possessed a great allure, but that was not something she should allow herself to fantasize about.
Clouds and mud.
Definitely a fantasy from the mud.
Outside.
Aililan sat upright in her seat, reading through the documents brought by the knight Arkernard.
In Atester City, the clothing industry was mainly dominated by three parties: Inner City Guard Commander Akoma’na, the noble Hippolytos David of the David Family, and the merchant Beryon.
Akoma’na: Controls the Inner City Guards.
Hippolytos: An old noble family of Atester City.
Beryon: A major merchant, a big taxpayer; clothing was just one of his many enterprises.
“Hiss—”
Aililan knocked herself on the head. None of these people were easy to deal with.
One held power, one had money, one possessed connections—if they joined forces even a little, Aililan would be the one to suffer.
Unless Aililan threw away all shame.
And used her status as Saintess to pressure them.
But ironically, the one thing Aililan absolutely could not use was her identity as Saintess. Not only to avoid trouble, but because every action she took as Saintess represented the Church itself.
Seeing his lord troubled, Arkernard straightened up and respectfully said, “My Lady Saintess, I’ve already asked around. The reason those villagers won’t sell to us is mainly because someone hired thugs, or local gangs, to threaten them.”
Arkernard took a breath and continued confidently, “All it takes is for our Chastity Knights to step in.”
“Stop.” Aililan cut him off.
“Ah, Saintess?”
“Sir Arkernard, let me ask you, if the Chastity Knights get involved, aren’t you announcing to everyone that I, the Saintess, am interfering in Atester City’s upper circles? Are you trying to make me stand in opposition to everyone? To put it bluntly, this could be considered undermining Atester City’s unity.”
Arkernard protested, a little aggrieved, “My Lady Saintess, that’s not what I meant at all.”
Aililan soothed and encouraged him, “Of course, I know what you’re trying to say, and I recognize your loyalty. But Sir Arkernard, in my eyes, you’re someone who will one day become a figure like Squad Leader Renata. I’ll surely entrust you with great responsibilities, but before you take any action in the future, you must think things through. Do not betray my trust, understand?”
Arkernard was deeply moved.
This was a promise he gladly accepted.
This lecture, he willingly endured.
“Yes, my Lady Saintess!”
But that being said, if they couldn’t mobilize their own people, how would the problem be solved? Arkernard asked, “You already have a solution, then?”
Aililan pondered for a moment, “It’s not that we lack the ability to act. It’s that it’s not suitable for us to act.”
Arkernard: “Then?”
Aililan: “Don’t forget, there’s still a force in the city that’s free, available to anyone with money, legitimate, and acts as a third party.”
“You mean…?”
“Exactly. The Adventurers Guild.”
“Them? Can they handle it? What if Akoma’na, who commands the Inner City Guards, steps in?”
At this, Aililan finally smiled mysteriously. “If they really dare to intervene—”
“Then I’d like to ask her,”
“Who allowed her to abuse her authority for personal gain?”
“Do they really think I, the Saintess, am blind and deaf? Do they really think the swords of our Chastity Knights aren’t sharp?”
What Aililan needed
Was simply a name for righteousness.
She wasn’t some petty thief—if she, as the Saintess, acted without a just cause, she’d surely be criticized by others. But once she had righteousness on her side, she could invoke the power of the Knights and trample them underfoot.
After pondering for a moment more.
“Arkernard, I need you to help me with something.”
“Saintess, just say the word. Even if you sent me to hell itself, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.”
“It’s not that serious. Go to the Adventurers Guild and get me a ‘Middleman’ identity.”
Arkernard: “Ah?”
Aililan: “Hmm? Is there a problem?”
Arkernard: “I, I’ll do it right away. It just so happens I can use the name of a gang from the Slums to apply for a Middleman identity at the Adventurers Guild, to handle all sorts of matters.”
To put it bluntly, a Middleman is a black glove, someone who handles shady business for others.
And the essence of the Adventurers Guild was that of the largest Middleman on the entire Starlane Continent. Of course, those under-the-table jobs couldn’t be posted openly on their quest board, which led to the creation of the Middleman profession.
In less than two days.
Arkernard had gotten it done.
Aililan was anxious—the clothing workshop was ready, but had no raw materials to start work. With so many mouths to feed every day, she couldn’t keep waiting!
She quickly browsed through the lists of mercenaries and adventurers from Atester that Arkernard brought back.
Aililan mused, “Maybe I can use this Middleman identity to cultivate a third-party force, making them my own black gloves for handling dirty work.”
There were famous mercenaries on the list.
There were also powerful adventurers.
But Aililan deliberately ignored them—not because they were useless, but because they were too expensive.
A day later.
In a tavern near the Slums.
Aililan disguised herself, putting on a Snake Mark Mask. It was the insignia of the gang she’d taken over first—the Snake Gang. No one had bothered to rename it, so the title stuck.
Knock knock knock!
“Come in.” Aililan called out toward the door.
Before long, a man of about thirty entered. He looked rather down-and-out, the only thing of value on him was his well-worn blade with its nicked edge—the mark of a mercenary.
Aililan pointed to a seat, then had someone serve the mercenary a drink.
Then,
She launched into her prepared lines: “You must be the famous mercenary, Evens?”
Evens looked a bit sheepish, but he did enjoy being called ‘famous.’
Though he was middle-aged and had achieved nothing, his sword’s edge was so blunted he couldn’t even afford repairs, and lately he couldn’t even land a three-silver-coin Goblin extermination job.
But who knows—maybe luck was about to turn?
After all, here was a big shot coming to him now.
“You must be the Middleman working for the recently famous Nade Black Snake, right?”
Nade Black Snake?
That seemed to be what people were calling Arkernard.
Aililan adjusted her Snake Mark Mask and said, “Before we talk business, let me ask you something else—are you content to live as an unknown nobody, quietly all your life…”
The rest slipped her mind.
And what came after, she’d forgotten too.
In short: An unknown nobody, or a name known to all?
Evens suddenly burst out, “I have no choice, I must make a name for myself!”
Aililan smiled, “Good. I have a job for you worth thirty copper coins. There’s a gang of thugs in Morion Village blocking someone’s way. I want you to teach them a lesson.”
Evens shot to his feet in anger.
Thirty copper coins?
That wasn’t even enough to buy a drink in this tavern. Even slaves weren’t used so cheaply.
Evens: “You’re freaking—”
Aililan: “Sir, before I trust you with real business, don’t I need to see what you’re worth?”
Evens paused.
So that’s what it was?
Well then, that’s fine. Misunderstanding cleared.