The Only One (1)

“That Herman? What a fool…”

The news that Branch Leader Herman had caused a commotion and was caught by the defense force had already spread throughout the organization. He too chuckled upon hearing the news.

The process itself was so ugly that he couldn’t help but laugh.

“But Commander, Herman was a loyal subordinate to us. Won’t this be a significant blow?”

“If he was that stupid, it’s better to get rid of him now before he causes an even bigger accident. Is he our only talent?”

When the person who delivered the news worried about one of the organization’s branches being destroyed, he laughed heartily, saying it wasn’t a big deal.

Ernst, who was essentially one of the core executives who had been building the organization since its early days as a commander, was an administrator appointed by the lord to rule the city in the light. For him, who ruled the underworld, such incidents were trivial and common.

“So they ended up losing that elf in the end?”

“That’s right. From what I hear, even the defense force couldn’t find her. She probably ran away without looking back.”

“Foolish… There’s a separate way to tame elves. If you just try to suppress them with force, it only increases their resistance and they’re likely to break.”

Of course, even he had one thing he was interested in. His eyes sparkled at the mention of the elf that Herman had failed to secure, and he clicked his tongue in disappointment when told there was no news of her.

He was someone who knew the theory about mysterious other races well, but in reality, he hadn’t had a single conversation with one in over 50 years of living.

‘They’re so few in number and cautious that it’s hard to even get hold of one straggler.’

In fact, he wasn’t particularly interested in slaves themselves. What the greed-corrupted man wanted was only one thing: to possess a treasure that no one else could have.

It wasn’t an ambition or thought befitting a mere merchant guild leader, but he rather believed in his status and money.

Because with the power to move freely even in the underworld where laws don’t exist, he could possess things that even a king of a country couldn’t due to having to be mindful of those around them.

“Then, how should we handle the vote for the next commander that needs to be decided at the next meeting? Since Herman, whom we were going to support from our side, made such a mistake in a moment and ended up like that, it’s clear that our competitor Ethan will gain power.”

“That arrogant bastard, if he had come to me submissively from the start, we wouldn’t have had to worry about this.”

Hearing his subordinate’s words about Ethan at the end, he smiled bitterly and sighed.

Ethan was from a competing faction. Although he acknowledged his abilities, politics was cruel; unless he was loyal to him, he couldn’t support him.

“Oh my, it’s already this late.”

In the midst of this, he checked the time and stood up abruptly, putting down what he was doing. It was time for his only daughter to return home from the academy.

* * *

“I thought she was just a child, but she’s all grown up?”

“She’s in the high school division of the academy. In just a few years, she’ll be out in the world starting her own work.”

Once again, we arrived in this city in an instant using spatial jump points. This was the place that Ernst, the commander of the organization Ethan had to conquer, claimed as his territory.

Hiding our identities and arriving here secretly, Ethan and I watched a person in the distance. It was a black-haired female student getting out of a luxurious carriage. With people closely guarding her, she was the typical rich young lady or princess of an organization.

I had thought of a toddling baby when told about a young daughter, but her appearance, which already seemed fully grown, wasn’t quite like that.

“It seems she’s learning swordsmanship to become a knight, and I hear her grades aren’t bad.”

“Her name was Laila, wasn’t it? Good. I’ve memorized her face for now.”

We came here in advance to investigate thoroughly before executing the plan. After memorizing the face and name of the person who would have to help me later, we started to formulate a concrete plan.

“As planned, I’ll sell you out to Ernst. And in return, I’ll receive the vote for commander. If we can change the mind of Ernst, who is the most troublesome, the vote is actually just a formality.”

“Just in case, we need to make sure he doesn’t suspect that you and I are working together. Do you have something in mind?”

“Originally, lies become perfect when mixed with a bit of truth… I’ll tell him exactly as it happened, that I picked you up unconscious from the forbidden area.”

Ethan had already prepared the detailed background. Because it was mixed with actual facts, it minimized flaws and increased credibility.

“Ernst will try to take you and handle you as he likes. And given his personality, he’ll surely try to show you off here and there. Probably in that process, an opening will appear.”

“That seems sufficient.”

After hearing the detailed plan, I was somewhat satisfied. If things go according to plan, we would get everything we want, and Ernst would end up losing everything he had gained after all his efforts.

“Good. Then let’s make preparations.”

If the review of the plan was finished, the next step was simply to prepare according to it.

In this case, that preparation began with Ethan visiting Ernst first.

“W-who did you say came!?”

“It’s Ethan from the Suan branch. He says he wants to see the Commander and has come now.”

When I slipped into the alley where the mansion was located, the chaos created by Ethan, who had parted ways with me and gone to see Ernst with only his subordinates, reached my ears through the wind spirit that had flown away in an instant, saying it would be interesting.

Flustered by the sudden visit, he stuttered badly.

Well, it’s understandable to be surprised when a key person from the rival faction you’ve been keeping in check suddenly shows up.

“It’s been a while. I heard some unfavorable news recently, are you well?”

“I wondered why you came, are you here to test the waters? I don’t care what happens to that Herman.”

Soon I heard the voices of Ethan and Ernst talking. Ethan’s voice was calm, as someone who had already planned everything, while Ernst quickly erased his flustered appearance and lowered his voice.

I thought perhaps this was the mark of a seasoned person, but he couldn’t help but take a defensive stance.

After all, Ernst knows nothing right now. Not even why Herman, whom he had been supporting, had fallen.

“I did come because of that incident, but I didn’t come all this way to the Commander to speak nonsense.”

“Strange words. If you came because of that incident, wouldn’t you have to speak nonsense?”

“It’s the truth. I intend to gain the Commander’s trust with this opportunity.”

Laughter spread in Ethan’s voice. In fact, one of the wind spirits, finding it exciting, even relayed to me what was happening.

Ethan was confident even while surrounded alone by Ernst and his subordinates. It would be thanks to me, but Ernst, not knowing this fact, must be quite flustered right now.

“I want to give the Commander a gift. If you receive that gift and like it, you can give me your vote right there. The token that the big brother gave to the commanders… you still have it, right?”

“The you I know isn’t someone who would do this. There must be something. Fine, it seems you’re quite eager for the commander position, so I’ll take a look. The reason why ‘I’ should support you.”

As Ethan was so confident, Ernst seemed interested and snorted pretending not to be. Ernst, who emphasized the word ‘I’, then made specific arrangements with Ethan.

It was then that the talk of a villa a bit away from the city came up.

“I was planning to spend a vacation there. Of course, it’s not just a simple vacation. It’s a precious gathering where all the key figures in the area, from the administrator to the chief butler of the lord’s castle, will be present.”

“Then I will bring my gift there. I guarantee it. It’s something that’s the only one of its kind in this world.”

“Ha…”

Ethan declared that he would bring me to that villa. Ernst, sighing as if it was ridiculous, even let out a hollow laugh, and Ethan, who had entered so confidently, maintained that confidence without a moment’s hesitation as he came out of the mansion again and rejoined his subordinates.

“Now it’s your turn.”

After leaving the place like that, he came to me and started the full-scale preparations.

“I know I suggested this, but isn’t this too serious?”

“Sometimes, appearances alone can have an even greater effect. Now is exactly that time.”

I chuckled as I saw the things that Lina, following Ethan’s instructions, was bringing with a tense expression. But it’s actually me who has to work from now on, yet Ethan looked more rigid, as if he was more nervous.

“Are you really confident? Being greedy also means being more thorough with what they get their hands on.”

“I’ve heard the basics too. All sorts of strange and perverse methods to subdue rebellious slaves and such. So at first, I should be a bit docile so that person lets his guard down, right? You’re right, but being greedy also means knowing the value of precious things.”

Based on the information I heard from Ethan, and the results of today’s detailed observation and eavesdropping, I was certain that Ernst would never treat me carelessly.

What he wants is a valuable treasure. A damaged or broken treasure inevitably loses its value.

So if I comply just a little, he will be greatly satisfied, and an opportunity will surely come to me.

“I’d rather not involve that daughter if possible.”

Thinking about her, whom I might have to take hostage if necessary, I smiled bitterly.

I had no intention of hurting her, but I had to use her if necessary.