We Listened to the Results of the Interrogation
“Their main purpose was to spread the disease and recover the sphere. As it is a rare artifact, they did not want to lose it after using it once. However, they did not expect to find Range village in such a state.”
“When they arrived, no one was sick. As it was the village where the disease first started to spread from, it is only natural to assume that the people there would be sick and weak.”
In fact, it had been the case at first. It was just their timing that was off.
But had the villagers still been sick when they came with the orcs, then they would not have been able to fight back… Everything would have gone according to their plan, and we would have all been killed.
“Thanks to Mr. Takumi, the disease had stopped spreading… But the merchants still wanted to retrieve the sphere, and so they released the orcs.”
“Judging by what Isabelle told you, it must be very expensive. And I’m sure there are many ways one could use it for ill.”
I didn’t know how much it was worth exactly, but it was definitely a rare treasure.
They would have wanted to retrieve it at any cost.
“Now, as for why they placed it in Range village in the first place…”
This was the most important part.
I believed that they were connected to the store, and by spreading the illness, they wanted to sell medicine and raise their profits.
“The merchants’ purpose was to spread the illness through Range village and recover the valuable magic tool.”
“And what was the reason?”
“The reason…they say that it was on Count Barsler’s order.”
Count Barsler… The nobleman who ruled the neighboring lands.
So it was by his order after all.
“But we don’t know what the Count was thinking when making the order…”
“Even the merchants don’t know?”
“They were just following orders. I even used Leo to threaten them, but they would not change their story. …I believe that they’re telling the truth.”
It seemed like a typical thing for a villain to do. They were just disposable pawns who knew nothing…
However, it also seemed rather lazy to send such clueless people to retrieve something as valuable as the glass sphere.
“Why would the count do such a thing…”
“I cannot say… However, we already know that he does not feel kindly towards His Grace. …He has made that quite plain now.”
As Ms. Claire narrowed her eyes and muttered, Sebastian answered her.
Sebastian was right. It was quite evident now that he saw the duke as a great enemy.
It wasn’t just the spreading of a disease, but an attempt to crush an entire village… This was no mere game.
“…Mr. Takumi. Please calm yourself. I can see it on your face, you know?”
“Drink this, Mr. Takumi.”
“…Sorry. …Haa… Thank you. It’s good… Yes, I am better now.”
“I understand how you feel, Mr. Takumi. It’s not just the hostility towards this house, but he is also attacking innocent civilians in the process.”
The good people of Range village, the residents of Ractos, and the children from the orphanage.
Many people had been involved and hurt by them. And then they had sent monsters to Range village.
When I thought about such things, a rage towards Count Barsler rose up in me and began to show on my face.
But after Sebastian’s remark, I calmed myself with some tea that Ms. Lyra handed to me.
After that, I felt much more calm.
As Ms. Claire was also furrowing her brows and agreeing with me, she clearly felt something similar.
We were all angry with this count.
Sebastian was always calm on the surface, I’m sure he also felt angry.
…After all, he had used Leo to threaten them.
“While we don’t know what the count is plotting, this is a clear act of hostility towards His Grace. And so I’m sure that he will react severely.”
“Yes, father will not ignore it when people are suffering.”
Mr. Ekenhart was a rather wild man, but he also seemed to be compassionate.
And so he would surely use his authority as a duke to do something.
“Also, regarding that store. I think that things will be wrapping us soon.”
“Are those merchants related to the store?”
“Not directly, no. They did not know anything regarding the herbs being sold in Ractos. The count must have given the order to someone else.”
When I found the glass sphere, I had assumed that the merchants were connected to the store, but apparently, they were not.
But I was a complete amateur, so it was no surprise.
“As for the store, they must have been receiving the information from the count.”
“Yes. About the disease and the coming need for certain herbs, I suppose.”
“Indeed. And after receiving such information and orders, they were able to act ahead in Ractos. Also…”
“He must be sending them gold as well. After all, they were able to buy most of the stock in the whole town.”
It was only because they were backed by a nobleman that they were able to do it… After all, most herbs were not cheap.
Also, they would have needed money in order to hire workers.
Considering all of this, it was at such a scale that it couldn’t be a personal project… Unless that person was very rich.