152 – The Mouse King – (2)

“Hey, did you come in knowing where this place is?”

“I don’t look like the person from here, but if you show a little sincerity, I can let you in.”

“Haa… ….”

I have visited the underground canal many times, but I can’t get used to it at all.

As soon as I entered the entrance, two beggars, each holding a club, giggled and threatened me.

Are these guys incapable of learning, or are they just stupid?

I put a few fists into the thrushes of the thrushes who were trying to collect the toll, and went on my way again.

Buck and go.

Following the damp, damp aisle, this time I came across a wooden fence guarded by two well-armed rice cakes.

This is probably the base of the thieves guild capital branch. I knew it because it was a place I had been brought to by Hilda at the time of the work meeting.

I was wondering how I should explain my business to them, but when I approached, the gatekeeper removed the spear from his hand and pointed inward.

Apparently Hilda had done a good job educating her.

That’s how we arrived at the base of the Thieves Guild.

As soon as I entered the fence, what I felt was the thick scent of blood tickling my nostrils.

“…… What is this?”

I frowned at the horrifying scene unfolding before my eyes.

Four or five dead men were rolling around like rags. A few men, who seemed to be at the bottom of the thieves’ guild, were sweeping the blood-stained floor with long watering cans and brooms.

My mouth stiffens with a strange feeling of displeasure.

I’ve seen people die countless times since I was kidnapped by this goddamn world, but there are few places where people are killed as routinely and business-likely as the underground canal here.

“Ah, here you are.”

And in the middle of it, Hilda the Thistle, wearing white gloves covered in blood, greeted me.

Blood splattered even on the black veil, making her look very sad.

“Was it a little noisy? Sorry, I have something to take care of.”

“…… Hilda, what the hell is this?”

“No big deal. Those who broke the rules were punished accordingly.”

Hilda answered as she washed the blood from her shoes with the water running in the nearby ditch.

“Discipline?”

“Yes. Robbery should be done in moderation. Even if these guys picked the wrong opponent, they picked the wrong one for a long time.”

“…… Robbery?”

“It’s a thieves’ guild. I don’t know, but these guys’ main job is to make a living by selling stolen goods.”

Hilda said that, then hardened her face.

“But the liver must have come out of the ship, and he robbed these bastard knights and archmages. It would be difficult for the whole family to live if something happened to someone of power. It needs to be dealt with severely.”

“I don’t think the Archmage is… ….”

The terrible answer that follows.

“Seira, Liantour. It looks like he went on a picnic with a knight on a holiday a while ago, but he rushed after seeing only his appearance. I survived in the end, but there are laws underground anyway.”

“… ….”

I hurriedly checked their faces.

And then he let out a deep sigh.

“Why? Who knows what?”

“…… No. Someone I don’t know.”

I said that, but my brain remembered it clearly.

The faces of those beggars who were scolded by Milia.

I can’t believe he tried to steal after that. All in all, it was Lautrec and Sayra again. No luck, but these guys too.

“…… Anyway.”

Hilda looked curiously at my subtle reaction and clapped her hands.

Then, several of her subordinates came up to her and took off her gloves.

“As for the request I made the other day, should we talk about it inside?”

With those words, Hilda pointed to the side door at the back of the base with her chin.

I looked at her with her puzzled eyes.

“That… ….”

Hilda winked at my words, then raised her face to me.

And whispered.

“You are right. Our King has taken an interest in this matter.”

The godfather of the underworld of the Empire, the Mouse King.

It was time to face him.

*

The cellar was still covered with a translucent cloth. Inside the cloth, a dwarf figure shimmered in the candle light.

As I came in with Hilda and sat down, the old man’s voice rang out.

“Hilda, aside.”

“Yes.”

Hilda lowered her head as if sheared, and then she walked to a corner where there was no light and stood there.

Suddenly, he was alone with the mouse king.

Lyncia was by her side when she fell in debt due to Aranion’s attack. That’s why it was actually the first time I had to face the mouse king.

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“It’s been a while, the Empress Knight.”

“Oh, sure. It’s been a while for me too, old mouse.”

A small silence returned from inside as he answered indifferently.

Anyway, this time it’s not even about asking for a favor. The position of the client who paid the due price. That’s why I had no reason to go low.

“You still have an attitude that doesn’t budge. Did the sage Yuriad teach you that?”

“Because I’m not sincere enough to show respect to a criminal I don’t even know.”

“…… That’s funny.”

After a brief conversation, the mouse king turned over his body.

“Cult of the Moon and Bloodlines. They say the Church is involved. Am I right?”

“Yes. The Church of the Moon is probably related to Arwen, the Apostle of Corruption. And to the blood…….”

I stopped talking.

I was thinking about the story in the seventh act of the original work.

What was the name of that apostle? While I was thinking about that, the mouse king cut me off and intervened.

“Kasimir, the apostle of fresh blood. Even our guild knows a little about blood relatives.”

Ah, yes. That was the name

When I nodded in agreement, the mouse king let out a small saliva. Eventually, parts cracked and a hoarse voice leaked out through the thin fabric.

“So, he seemed curious about the trend of blood relatives.”

“Yes.”

“…… Based on the information I’ve gathered so far, they say that blood relatives are moving south on a large scale.”

“Damn it.”

I bit my lip.

Is it because Kazimir’s blood relatives, who should appear in Act 7, are moving south to invade Sigrun?

Again, the situation goes in the exact opposite direction from the original development. His head was pounding.

“Then where do they stay? No, they say they came from the south, but then they go through Lumen El? Or is it the imperial decree?”

“Not yet. Regarding blood relatives, the branch of Glacial Cliff is investigating, so the details will come out soon. And the information about going south is also uncertain. The information obtained by ordering people is bound to be distorted somewhere.”

“… ….”

“As soon as I find out for sure, I will send a letter from this side.”

“Yes.”

The Mouse King dismissed it like that, and I couldn’t help but sigh.

“And blood relatives.”

Suddenly, the mouse king spoke up.

“A very cunning group that has already reached deep into the Empire. There may be enemies inside too.”

“Yes. I guess so.”

In fact, I am well aware of that insider. It was because he was a person who played a significant role in the latter half of Raising the Empress.

It’s just that he hadn’t had anything to face before.

No, it’s because he’s just a completely harmless, harmless NPC in the first place.

Anyway, it was something I could put my mind at ease for now.

“About the next request.”

The mouse king continued.

“Cult of the Moon.”

“Yes. It is a new church that has appeared not too long ago. They are growing fast, so we are keeping an eye on their movements.”

The core group of Act 4.

She uses the cult’s cultists to slowly encroach on the capital, literally turning the empire into chaos.

“The confirmation that these are related to a foreign church…… Haven’t figured it out yet That’s why I want to ask. Mad dog Fried Iscobal, why are you so sure?”

The mouse king stared at me as soon as she finished her words. I couldn’t see her face, but I could definitely feel her gaze that day.

Indeed, the mouse king came forward and wanted something, so she said that this was the purpose.

“Before that, I think information about the church should come first.”

In that case, there was no reason to tell you first.

“The client is me. They accepted my request, so they should show reasonable results.”

“… ….”

“Doesn’t this neighborhood make a living on trust?”

In the end, it was the mouse king who gave up. He let out a small sigh and raised his hands from behind the veil.

“You are strict. Okay. What do you want to know about the Order?”

“Everything.”

I don’t know what the Church of the Moon does because it’s described in a vague way in the game. What doctrine they serve, and even what purpose they are active.

The Mouse King was silent for a moment, then he pushed his paper under the cloth.

“It has not yet been completely collected, but it is safe to believe that it is an intelligence collected by a trustworthy branch investigator.”

“This is… ….”

As I unfolded the paper, I saw a familiar pattern.

The mouse king continued to explain to me, who was perplexed.

“They apparently follow the doctrines of the Imperial Church. There is no sense of being a little extreme, but nonetheless, he is active in various dukedoms and the borders of the empire, repeatedly providing help and guidance. It seems that these three have recently grown to the extent that the population of the county is tolerable.”

“…… Where the hell did you get that money from?”

“That is a mystery. In order to carry out relief activities for thousands of people, a huge source of funds is indispensable, but…… There is no clue about him yet.”

Are you using the church’s money?

I don’t even know why Arwen bothered to run the church externally in the first place. Wasn’t it just a matter of pushing into the imperial palace together with blood relatives, lay members of the church, and priests like last time?

Just as I was thinking about that, the mouse king spoke up.

“The one who has been entrusted with the role of the leader is a person called the Saint of the Half Moon.”

“…… What?”

It was the first time I had heard of it. As I narrowed my eyes, the mouse king continued.

“Her hair resembling the moon and divine powers to match. Gentle personality. Those who follow the Cult of the Moon say this…… No one knows the details.”

The keyword is half moon.

And even this piece of paper that the mouse king took out and showed me.

I could tell just by looking here.

And why Arwen insists on a suspicious group called the Church of the Moon.

“She is that saint, don’t you know what she looks like?”

“Unfortunately, the situation is wrapped in a veil. Even our informant can’t get that far.”

“…… Nope. Because I think I know a little bit about it.”

I got up from my seat.

The mouse king looked at me with a suspicious look.

“Now it is my turn to inform you.”

“Yes.”

When the mouse king noticed, I shrugged his shoulders and pushed the paper he had given me back under the cloth.

“The coat of arms used by the Church belongs to my family.”

“… ….”

A half-moon rising pattern.

Unfortunately, the Church of the Moon was using the coat of arms of Count Iscobal as a symbol.

“And the same goes for that woman called the Saint of the Half Moon.”

“… ….”

“It seems that the saintess is my sister.”

At those words, Hilda, who had been leaning against the wall and listening to our conversation in silence, swallowed her breath.

The Mouse King paused for a moment, then he asked calmly.

“…… Is that solid information?”

“The Arwen I know probably would. She loves her sister dearly.”

Cleta Iscobal.

I’m not sure, but Arwen, the apostle of corruption, seemed to want to make her his new godhead.