5 days after Forbach arrived in Wedgefort, he was able to gather a variety of small and large information.
First, Valor, the city closest to the Sanctuary that was established by the Trination, conducts a strict check on everything that enters and exits the city, and guards are always patrolling the city.
「Valor would be impossible to infiltrate, huh……」
「It wasn’t just the knights of the Trination, even the mage division of Yggurle Kingdom borrow the strength of the Spirits to block the entry of suspicious individuals.」
「Tch, those meddling Elves……」
He lamented over the fact that his link with the spirits as an elf had been cut off. If Forbach could hear the voice of the Spirits, he would have been able to gather more accurate information in a much speedier manner.
「Can we infiltrate Valor by pretending to be adventurers?」
「There’s a limit to the adventurers coming and going, and fake cards are impossible, I think.」
As Valor is close to the Sanctuary, the merchants and adventurers arriving and departing the town were checked rigorously.
「So setting up a hideout in Valor is a no go……」
「We might be able to watch him enter and leave the Sanctuary from there.」
Forbach was able to grasp that Takumi was traveling back and forth between the Sanctuary, Wedgefort and Volton. However, he doesn’t seem to have realized that it was by way of the Teleport Gate.
「Also, as expected, the Elves made contact.」
「Fuuuh, Earl Hordia[1] ?」
「Yes, it would seem he came himself.」
His subordinate said that the members of the Dark Guild, which was turfed in Yggurle Kingdom that Earl Hordia had employed, had made contact.
「It appears Earl Hordia really did want power. Moreover, our target was the same……」
「That means we can get our revenge, and we can get the fighting power of Elves and a reward.」
「Kukuku, this is too hilarious.」
Sure enough, Earl Hordia was looking for the strength of a Dark Guild. Though Forbach wasn’t expecting him to come to Wedgefort himself.
Earl Hordia also received a report from his subordinate in his room in a luxury hotel.
「Sophia comes to this city as well, you say?」
「Yes, she doesn’t come alone though, occasionally she would walk around town with that man and two others. Both he and Miss Sophia seem to be famous in this city, as it was simple to gather eye witnesses.」
Earl Hordia had his men carry expensive image copier magic devices.
The Image Copier MD was records a still image similar to a camera.
Earl Hordia had gotten hold of an image of Sophia from her days in the Chivalric Order.
「Furthermore, we have made contact with that Dark Guild.」
「Hou, how strong are they?」
「Yes, it is one of the best Dark Guilds in the Continent, the 『Moonlight Owl』. At present, many of their members have come to this town and are gathering information.」
「Hou, did they sniff out my visit? Then, if they are the continent’s best dark guild, they must have some top notch assassins and fighters.」
「Yes, unmistakably so. Moreover, the boss of the 『Moonlight Owl』 himself is here in this city.」
「Interesting. It would be amusing to talk to that person directly.」
Knowing that the Dark Guild’s strength could be relied on, Earl Hordia drank the wine he held in satisfaction when his subordinate told him even more interesting information.
「Hou, two Earls from Samandour Kingdom?」
「Yes, they had brought not only their troops, but also members of dark guilds. Those dark guild members assembled in the city, gathering information on the dark guilds who have made this city their territory, as well as information about that man.」
According to his subordinate, two Earls from Samandour Kingdom were gathering information regarding Takumi. They were also looking to hire three strength of dark guilds. It would seem they have already made contact with the 『Moonlight Owl』.
Earl Hordia laughed so much his shoulders were bouncing with joy.
「That youngster seems to have gathered much resentment from all around.」
「Samandour Kingdom was barred from trading with Wedgefort City, Valor City, and particularly the Sanctuary. It was inevitable that they would find that man to be involved with everything.」
「Ku ku ku, this is the end for that boy who committed such an outrageous act as to marry Sophia despite being a commoner.」
「Should we also make use of the nobles of Samandour Kingdom.」
「It would be better for our forces to be stronger. Our subordinates would suffice, but we must be prudent.」 Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽
The subordinate bowed, leaving to issue instructions to make contact with Earl Sechnal and Earl Vautarc.
Earl Hordia was in a good mood as things were progressing well, but, much like the Moonlight Owl and the Samandourian Earls, he did not realize that he had misjudged Takumi’s strength because he had not come into contact with Takumi directly.
Though, by the time he would realize it, it would be too late……
1. Typo: it said Earl Forbach