Chapter 73

Finally, a report came from Marquis Strategos, who had been investigating the Criminal Guild.

I had met Diora, repaired the small thunder lamp, and had various encounters with Nomariola, but I was still concerned.

"Upon observing the building mentioned by His Highness the First Prince, we were able to confirm that it is indeed a branch of the Criminal Guild."

I don’t know how he confirmed it, but it must have taken a lot of time. After all, I used the invisible and wall-penetrating Sefira to achieve this.

"Furthermore, upon investigating other buildings where perpetrators were seen entering and exiting, we found that they belonged to a family involved in organized crime."

"Family involved in organized crime? You mean the whole family is involved?"

When I asked Marquis Strategos to clarify, Helcof, with his hand covered in red fur, waved it sideways.

"It’s not a real blood relation. It’s a formal arrangement like a parent-child bond, where absolute obedience and severe penalties for betrayal are emphasized. This is common in organized crime groups."

He calls it a family. In other words, it’s a family, or a clan. Oh, I remember, the yakuza also call themselves a family.

"If they exist, why aren’t they being cracked down on?"

"They are being cracked down on, but the victims of crime are hard to come by. Extortion and violence are commonplace, and retaliation is persistent and malicious. They use the money they earn to silence others."

This time, Ikt explained, and it seems to be common knowledge in the city.

"Then what about the Criminal Guild?"

"It’s said to be even more complicated. It started when four powerful families came together and signed a non-aggression treaty. It grew larger with the addition of subordinate families, and now it’s involved in the buying and selling of information obtained through crime, and collusion to avoid competition for targets. Rumor has it that even nobles are involved."

"That’s not something to be said lightly."

Marquis Strategos warned Wearrel, but from the expressions of his aides and Levain, it didn’t seem to be just a rumor.

"Is it an open secret?"

"Please don’t say such things lightly. Or do you have the experience to say such things?"

Marquis Strategos shot back with a grim face.

"Even though I know there are so many bad people, they aren’t being cracked down on because there’s a demand. And the fact that they make so much money and use it further suggests that it’s effective. I think they can even silence the mouths of those who are supposed to crack down on them with money."

When I answered, Marquis Strategos looked up at the ceiling. Yeah, he didn’t deny Ikt’s point about silencing people with money.

Levain, who no longer cared about being rude, said with a sigh.

"If you understand that much, you don’t need an explanation, right?"

"If you don’t explain, I’ll do what I think is right. It’s troublesome to report and clean up afterward, so I was waiting for you to prepare and gather people to catch them, based on the information I got from Sefira."

Marquis Strategos sighed, seemingly giving up.

"Let’s continue. The family suspected of producing the perpetrators is called the Vaphan Group, led by Filio, who commands two hundred members."

"Is that a large scale?"

"It’s on the smaller side, but you can imagine, right?"

"Yeah, another family must have given the orders to the Vaphan Group, right?"

In other words, besides the Vaphan Group, which carried out the assassination of the prince, there’s another organization that ordered it. Even if the Edenval family made the request, dangerous criminals are still at large.

(Sefira Sefiroth)

(I will immediately head to the site to identify the higher organization)

(That’s probably something Marquis Strategos already knows. It’s fine to wait until after the conversation, but we might have to take care of it ourselves depending on the situation. Think of effective ways to deal with the organization)

As I talked to myself, I was called out.

"What are you thinking? I’m getting a bad vibe."

Levain is sharp. He’s probably gotten used to my way of doing things, just like I did over a few years.

"If we only deal with the Vaphan Group, I thought I would investigate the higher-ups and take care of it myself."

Levain’s face twisted, and Marquis Strategos covered his face.

"Your Highness, that’s dangerous, isn’t it?"

When Helcof said this, Marquis Strategos and Levain nodded in agreement.

"But if we go for a large-scale crackdown, it will take years. The imperial family was targeted, so we need to make an example. If we’re going to crush them, it might be limited to the Vaphan Group. In that case, if we steal a bit of irrefutable evidence of crime and hand it over to His Majesty—"

"You’ll be questioned about the source of the evidence, won’t you?"

Wearrel, seemingly more worried, pointed out the problem and urged reconsideration.

"We need to come up with an excuse for that. We can’t leave it as it is for Terry’s safety. If it can be used to bolster His Majesty’s authority, it would be a waste not to use it."

"That’s true. Even if it’s just a rumor, it’s clear that nobles suspected of involvement will interfere. In that case, a quick and decisive action is more effective and safer in the end."

Ikt nodded, seeing that I had thought it through.

"Wait!"

But Marquis Strategos intervened.

"What do you mean? Is it possible?"

He seems to doubt that I can obtain the evidence. The aides accepted it because they know about Sefira and invisibility, but that’s the point.

Of course, I’m not going to mention Sefira.

"……If you’re willing, I can give you the information, but I want you to set a clear goal."

"You’re not saying no……"

Levain said it with a frown, but Marquis Strategos rubbed his forehead and regained his composure.

"The evidence of the connection to the higher-ups will be considered after the Vaphan Group is apprehended."

"That’s too late. It was the same with the Edenval family. We caught Retriomas and extracted information, but it was too late to question them."

In fact, even now, they are getting away with it, and we can’t clearly identify the involvement of anyone other than Retriomas. If things continue this way, the Edenval family might remain in the palace, and only Retriomas and his close relatives will be punished.

If the criminal organization is similar to the mafia or yakuza from my previous life, there’s a possibility of information leaks through connections with nobles. That’s why it’s too late to act after the fact.

"First, we need to crush the Vaphan Group as an example. From there, we need to strengthen penalties, enforcement, and regulations to prevent recurrence and deterrence. Rushing isn’t necessarily the best approach."

"Have you gathered enough opinions to do that, Marquis Strategos?"

"The attack on the imperial family and the fact that it happened in the cathedral are significant. Duke Lukaios and the bishop’s side are taking it seriously and are in agreement."

It seems that the political groundwork was done properly. Despite being small, he has maintained his own faction.

"By the time of the reign of the Second Prince, whom you support, we can eliminate them. Of course, it will be faster if we have information."

You want information, but you don’t want me to act.

The rest is that if a weak emperor like my father emerges, it will only delay the resolution of the situation, and you want me to stay back. As the person responsible for the security, I have to take the lead.

What’s the point of the emperor coming forward now after all this?

"……Yeah, I’ll let His Majesty handle the elimination of the Edenval family. It might be better for Marquis Strategos to deal with the criminal organization."

"Your wise judgment is commendable, but why is a ten-year-old so understanding?"

Levain questioned my physical age. Well, I’m not going to answer that.

"Marquis Strategos, as a request from me, I want you to include regulations to cut off the funding sources of organized crime groups as part of the example. Also, considering the violent retaliation, is there anyone who can protect themselves if they come forward? Can we use the time when they are attacked to promote stricter penalties?"

When I made a proposal based on my previous life, everyone was taken aback. The aides also looked troubled.

(Huh? Is it not good?)

(It seems they have recognized that your perspective is not that of a child)

I was unexpectedly scolded by Sefira.

Regular update

Next: Criminal Guild 2