Something Stinks at Mitsugoshi

GETTAN

"So... you’re telling me the 'Four Leaves' haven't come back yet?"

I heard the report, crossed my arms, and did my best 'brooding boss' impression. I’d sent them to lead the Mitsugoshi Company Attack, and their failure to return was a pretty big hint that the whole operation had gone south.

First Leaf, Second Leaf, and Third Leaf were all supposedly decent Spellswords. Personally, I found their skills a bit lacking, but the general public usually lumped them into the Expert category. And yet, they were MIA.

According to Garter, it wasn't just them; not a single person from the Private Corps we sent with them had crawled back either. Not one soul.

I mean, I always make sure to station Contact Personnel in the rear just in case a mission fails. For even the guys whose entire job is to stay safe and report back to go missing? That’s practically a statistical impossibility.

I’d expected them to have some high-end security, sure. You don't get a result like this unless you're packing multiple Experts on the payroll. But the weird part? We hadn't heard a single specific name. Not one famous mercenary or legendary blade.

It’s that "unease" again.

There was something unidentified—something just plain wrong—about the Mitsugoshi Company. Once you start pulling on a thread of doubt, the whole sweater of your reality starts unravelling.

Their products, their tech, their sheer creativity—it was all too "innovative." They were playing in so many different fields at once that, frankly, there was no way a mere company was dreaming all this up on their own.

That creativity, that technology, the way they just pivot and dominate... where is the source?

I refused to believe a startup that’s only been around for a few years could pull this off. There had to be something else. Something massive was lurking in the shadows behind the Mitsugoshi Company.

I felt a chill of genuine dread prickling beneath my rising anger.

"Lord Gettan, uh... some of the members within the Great Commerce Alliance are starting to grumble," Garter stammered. "They aren't happy that the Mitsugoshi Company hasn't collapsed yet."

"Silence them," I snapped.

"Y-yes, sir..."

"No, wait," I corrected. "Find out exactly where that dissatisfaction is coming from."

"The source of the dissatisfaction, sir?"

There might be a hidden agenda here. "And another thing... investigate the Mitsugoshi Company. Thoroughly."

"The Mitsugoshi Company? But sir, we already ran a background check on—"

"Do it again. I guarantee you there’s something going on behind the scenes."

"Y-yes, sir! Right away!"

Garter bowed and scurried out. I watched him go with my sightless eyes, the picture of a menacing antagonist. I reached up, tracing the scar over my eye with a finger.

"I will... crush them," I muttered to the empty room.

I didn't know what kind of monster was hiding behind that company, but I didn't care. I’m the 'Great Wolf' for a reason. Whatever they’re hiding, I’m going to smash it and take everything they own.

After all, that’s how I’ve always played the game.