Chapter 30:Gresham’s Law (3)

In the heart of Arkenia’s capital, Villeburg.

The sound of horses galloping echoed chaotically.

“Aren’t those the knights?”

“Wearing full armor, where are they going? Even Commander Seras is there!”

“That’s towards the Merchant Guild. Could something have happened?”

Even the watching citizens sensed it.

The Royal Knights moving en masse must be for a serious reason.

What awaits at the end of that path…

Perhaps, a bloody purge.

[Upon entry, restrain everyone and force them to kneel. If anyone attempts to resist, subdue them immediately.]

[Yes, Commander!]

In reality, their intentions were ruthless.

Leopoldus had heard the story of the counterfeit gold coins.

If it was true, the Merchant Guild was the most likely suspect.

It was so serious that Seras had even received the authority to execute summarily.

‘I really don’t want to do this to the citizens if I can help it… but the severity of the crime is just too great.’

The excessive order was not excessive at all.

With over twenty guild members involved, the Merchant Guild was guilty.

They were responsible for aiding and abetting the production and distribution of counterfeit gold coins.

In other countries, this would be grounds for throwing them into the torture chamber.

‘It’s fortunate we have the Sword of Truth. At least we won’t have to spill unnecessary blood.’

There was only one reason for not doing so.

The ‘Sword of Truth,’ which had been used on Shar before.

It was more effective than any interrogation.

Any lie would be immediately revealed before that sword.

With this sword bestowed upon him, he could quickly identify the traitors.

Seras believed so.

[We’ve arrived. Enter all at once.]

-KWA-AA-AAANG!!!!

“This is the Arkenia Royal Knights!! Everyone, do not move from your positions!!”

“…!!!!?”

Thus began the Knights’ investigation of the Merchant Guild.

The purpose: to find the traitors involved in the counterfeit gold coins.

It didn’t take even an hour for the merchants to be kneeling before Seras.

“Commander. We’ve brought in everyone, including those who were out elsewhere.”

“Guild Master. Is anyone missing?”

“W-well, those who participated in the trade yesterday are mostly here.”

“Mostly? What do you mean?”

“About twenty or so are missing, but everyone had a drink yesterday. They’re probably sick at home…”

Of those who participated in the trade with Millenia, about twenty hadn’t even come to the trading house.

Coincidentally, the number of those who used counterfeit gold coins was about the same.

“……Tch.”

‘Did they already run?’

Seras’s expression twisted horribly.

Overseas escape. That was the phrase that flashed through her mind.

“We don’t have time, so let’s do this quickly. Do you know anything about the counterfeit gold coins used in yesterday’s trade with Millenia? When I point at you, answer ‘I know nothing at all’ one by one.”

“C-Counterfeit gold coins!?”

“Guild Master, you first.”

“I know nothing at all!! If I had found something like that, I would have reported it immediately!!”

“You are innocent. Next is you.”

“I also know nothing at all!”

“Next is…”

Her sword tip moved busily.

One by one. Carefully checking if anyone was uttering a lie.

“Next is you.”

“I have n―”

-KWA-AA-AAANG!!!!!

”…..!!!”

Seras lunged at one of them.

With speed befitting the name of the kingdom’s best sword.

Swish—

She thrust the Sword of Truth into his mouth.

“There was a reaction. You know something.”

“I-I d-!! (I, I!!)”

“Answer only the questions I ask. First, did you counterfeit the gold coins, or do you know who did?”

“I don’t know!!”

“Second. Did you use the counterfeit gold coins, or do you know who did?”

“I didn’t, but I know someone I suspect!! (I didn’t, but I know someone I suspect!)”

“Hoo.”

Her sword was withdrawn.

The merchant, his mouth slightly torn, gasped for air.

Everyone was overwhelmed by the sight.

Seras glared.

“Explain.”

“Yes!! There’s a man named Groza, who I’m close to…”

The terrified merchant explained.

During yesterday’s trade, a merchant named Groza had brought an unusually large amount of gold coins.

The last thing he traded was fabric. A material whose stock doesn’t run out quickly due to a shortage of sewing manpower.

It was hard to believe he had already converted it into cash.

The suspicious merchant asked tentatively.

‘Hey, how did you get so much gold so quickly?’

“I asked him, wondering if he had found a craftsman with quick hands— but his answer was a bit ambiguous.”

“What did he say?”

“——He said it was thanks to the ‘Invisible Hand’!!”

“Invisible Hand?”

Seras’s expression became even more serious.

Invisible Hand. Currently, the only clue.

It sounded so… ominous.

“That’s a suspicious name, even to a fool? Why didn’t you report it?”

“Merchants don’t tell their wives about profitable information. I naturally assumed he was spouting some plausible

nonsense.”

“Tch. That’s why merchants are like this.”

Her eyes swept over the crowd.

The blade gleamed.

“Answer only ‘No.’ Do you know any information about the counterfeit gold coins, or did you directly use or distribute

them?”

“”””No!!””””

“Do you know the term ‘Invisible Hand”?”

“”””No!!!””””

“Thank you for your cooperation. Release them.”

The Sword of Truth returned to its scabbard only after confirming innocence.

She gestured to the knights, who began to untie the merchants.

A sigh of relief spread quietly.

“Hoo… Crazy bastard. Counterfeiting gold coins of all things?”

“Money comes in on its own if you just keep trading with monsters. That’s too much greed.”

“Groza, that guy, I thought he was a solid young man!”

The merchants then began to curse Groza, the merchant suspected of using counterfeit gold coins.

Even Seras didn’t just let it pass.

She knew very well that catching him was the top priority.

“From now on, the members will search for those who are not here in pairs. Ask the Guild Master for their personal information and move out.”

“What will the Commander do?”

“Vice-Commander, you and I will head to Groza’s mansion.”

“Understood.”

Leaving the guild building, once again, clatter-clatter.

They sped through the streets of Villeburg like arrows.

A rapid telepathic conversation passed between them.

[Wouldn’t he have already run away? Shouldn’t we seal the city walls first?]

[He wouldn’t have been able to erase all traces. If we find even a piece of clothing, we can have a werewolf slave track him.]

[If he moved using Teleportation magic… Ah. At least that would be impossible within Villeburg. Because of the barrier.]

[Yes. For now, we’ll track as much as we can, and from outside the city walls, we’ll cooperate with Chief Mage Bella.]

[We need to move quickly. Understood.]

Their intentions matched perfectly.

As one of the few women in the Knights and as a vice-commander who had worked together for a long time, they showed their true colors.

Thanks to their united efforts, they quickly arrived at the mansion.

“Knight? I’m sorry, but Groza-nim told me not to let anyone in for a few days…”

“He is suspected of colluding with foreign powers to disrupt the kingdom.”

“I will guide you immediately.”

The butler, upon hearing the charges, also moved quickly.

Naturally, he had no intention of taking the blame for treason for his master.

Thus, the two arrived in front of the tightly locked study…

“I’ll get the key right aw-”

“No time.”

-KWA-AA-AAANG!!!!

She kicked the door open immediately.

He must have already fled.

She intended to quickly get her hands on any traces needed for the pursuit.

However…

——The scene inside the study was different from what they had expected.

“Search immediately, huh?”

“Uuuugh!!! Uugh, ugh!!!!”

Someone collapsed on the red carpet.

His whole body was tightly bound with Millenian fabric, and his ankles were fixed to a heavy sofa…the trading house owner, Groza.

His tearful eyes turned to them.

A flash of joy, as if thinking, ‘They’ve finally come to save me-!’

“…”

‘The stench of urine. Those parched lips. He looks like he’s been imprisoned for days?’

Seras tilted her chin slightly.

The vice-commander moved and removed the gag from his mouth.

A parched voice echoed softly.

“T-Thank you for saving me!! I ran out of water, I thought I was going to die like this…”

“Groza, you are currently suspected of colluding with foreign powers to distribute counterfeit gold coins.”

“…Excuse me!? What is that?”

“Yesterday, you paid for the trade with Millenia with counterfeit gold coins. Is that not so?”

“I’m innocent! I haven’t been able to drink water and have been like this for days, counterfeit gold coins!? I have never done

such a thing!”

His voice was soon filled with injustice.

It was so persuasive that anyone who heard it would think, ‘Ah, this person is truly innocent-‘

“…What?”

‘The Sword of Truth isn’t reacting?!’

Seras’s holy relic was also unresponsive.

The Sword of Truth, which detects all lies, proved Groza’s innocence.

‘Could it be that the holy relic has run out of power?’

-Mutter.

“I hate Leo… Ahem. Groza, say ‘I am a woman.”

“Yes? I, I am a woman…?”

“…”

‘It’s not just not reacting to him?’

She had confirmed the effect with unbelievable testimony, but nothing changed.

The Sword of Truth still pierced through any lie.

And he was only telling the truth.

‘But… the testimonies contradict each other.’

Two conflicting pieces of evidence.

Multiple testimonies that he attended yesterday’s trade with Millenia, and his own testimony that he had been imprisoned for days.

All true.

The sword tip drooped downwards.

‘Leo, it seems the situation is more complicated than I thought…’

*    *    *

Afterwards, Seras escorted him to the Knights Headquarters.

“…Don’t tell me you guys too?”

“Yes. We found them imprisoned at their homes, so we arrested them and brought them here for now.”

“All twenty-three of them? What in the world is going on?”

What greeted her upon arriving at the headquarters were the members and suspects who had experienced similar incidents.

Not as much as Groza, but they were all complaining of mild dehydration.

They didn’t look like the people who had participated in the trade yesterday.

That was why Seras went straight to Leopoldus.

“…This is what happened, Your Majesty.”

“The situation has become much more difficult than I thought.”

Her brow was furrowed just like his.

It clearly showed how seriously he was taking this situation.

And, he…

“Millenia’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Mel. Answer the questions I am about to ask honestly.”

“Are you suspecting me? I’m disappointed-.”

“….”

‘Damn it, this is like hitting a rock with an egg.’

She pointed the Sword of Truth at the demon.