Guided by Mult, Rei, Vihera, and Byune entered the mansion.
They had left Set outside, but given the current situation, there was no way it could lie around as usual.
It was keeping watch near the gate, positioned so it could immediately detect anyone trying to slip out—not just through the gate, but from anywhere else on the estate grounds as well.
Rei had obtained Mult's permission: if anyone tried to leave the estate, Set was authorized to physically stop them, so long as it didn't cause injury.
That was why Rei felt comfortable enough to meet with Galahat for the time being.
"This way. ...Galahat-sama, I've brought Rei and the others."
The room they were shown into was not a guest room, but Galahat's office where he normally conducted his work.
The very same room Mult had burst into just moments ago.
Under normal circumstances, Galahat would have listened to them at leisure in a reception room, but given the current situation—with Rei clearly furious—such a relaxed approach was out of the question.
In truth, Galahat would have liked to sit down and chat with Rei over tea.
"Ah, come in."
In response to the voice from within, Mult opened the office door.
As Rei was led inside, what he saw was Galahat appearing calm, though showing some signs of tension.
He understood that if Rei went on a rampage, he wouldn't escape unscathed either.
But even so, as the Chairman of the Azoth Firm, he couldn't afford to show a disgraceful side of himself right now.
"Thanks for coming, Rei. It's been a while since we've met face-to-face like this, but... it doesn't seem like you're here just to talk."
"No, it's true that I came to talk. ...More precisely, I came to ask what your intention was in doing something that would make an enemy of me."
The tension radiating from Rei was intense enough that a rookie adventurer who had just started out would lose consciousness in an instant upon touching it.
But Galahat was formerly a high-rank adventurer, and as the Chairman of the Azoth Firm, he had experience dealing with wily, veteran merchants.
Even as Mult's cheek twitched slightly, Galahat kept any obvious tension from showing on his face and spoke.
"I see. I have no recollection of doing such a thing, but I'll have you explain. ...Anyway, have a seat on the sofa there. I'll have tea brought right away."
"No, I'm fine. Unfortunately, I can't trust you right now."
"...I see. Then at least sit down. I'd like to hear the details."
Deciding that declining tea was one thing but sitting on the sofa wasn't a problem, Rei took a seat. Vihera and Byune sat down as well.
Confirming that, Galahat settled onto the sofa opposite Rei and spoke.
"Now then, about us... no, the Azoth Firm making an enemy of you—what exactly is that about? As you know, we previously clashed with you and suffered heavy losses. Under those circumstances, do you think we would do something to antagonize you again?"
"Normally, no. But unfortunately, something far from normal has happened this time."
With that, he relayed the same explanation he had given Mult at the gate.
Asimov had been attacked by someone, the Magic Item left in his care had vanished, and when Set tracked the scent, the trail led into this very mansion.
At that explanation, Galahat's expression grew stern.
He had imagined from Rei's attitude that something had happened that couldn't be laughed off—but this was beyond what he had expected.
"...And the scent truly led to this mansion?"
"Yeah. Well, if you can't trust Set's sense of smell..."
"No, I believe it."
Galahat, of course, knew from their previous encounter just how exceptional Set's abilities were.
He also had information that Set was no ordinary gryphon, but a Rare Species gryphon capable of using various skills.
Trusting Set was not an option Galahat could refuse. ...Though he certainly wished he didn't have to.
"That being the case, I'd like you to bring out the one who arrived a little before us... Coris, was it?"
"Mult, how is Coris right now?"
"I've already sent for him. He was supposed to bring samples of newly acquired goods and a sales report, so he should be arriving soon..."
As if in response to Mult's muttered words, a knock came at the office door.
"Excuse me, Chairman Galahat. I heard you summoned me..."
"Come in."
Galahat's expression stiffened at the words that followed the knock.
Samples of newly acquired goods.
Could those be the Magic Item stolen from Rei? That was what he feared.
At Galahat's words, the door opened.
The man who entered was in his forties, of medium build.
As a merchant of a major firm like the Azoth Firm, he had a face that gave off an untrustworthy air.
But that was natural for a merchant, and there was nothing particularly ominous about him.
In fact, he showed no particular reaction to seeing Rei and the others in the office.
No, he did show some surprise, but it was hard to believe he was someone who had ordered the attack on Asimov and stolen Rei's Magic Item.
Of course, as a merchant, he probably trained daily to keep his emotions off his face.
Even so, hiding all trace of guilt from his expression was something even Rei found hard to believe.
"So, Chairman Galahat, does Rei-san being in your office have something to do with why I was called?"
When he asked that, a brief flash of expectation crossed his face—perhaps he was about to receive an order? Seeing that was enough to confirm he clearly knew nothing about Rei's matter.
(If this is acting, it's impressive... but I wonder.)
Rei had been suppressing his anger up until now, but seeing Coris's exchange made some of the tension drain from him.
It crossed his mind that this might be exactly what Coris intended, but from what he could see, that didn't seem to be the case.
Galahat must have felt the same.
He looked at Rei and Mult with a gaze that asked whether Coris had truly assaulted the alchemist and stolen Rei's Magic Item.
But the only one who had entered the mansion before Rei was Coris's carriage, and before that, it had been several hours since anyone had come.
Given the circumstances, Coris being the culprit was beyond doubt.
Yet Coris showed no sign of agitation when looking at Rei.
"Cutting the pleasantries, I'll ask directly. Coris, did you order your men to assault an alchemist and steal the Magic Item that alchemist was holding for Rei?"
"...Huh?"
At Galahat's words, Coris wore a blank expression.
He truly didn't understand what was being said.
But as a merchant of the Azoth Firm, he quickly came back to himself and spoke.
"Um, why would such a thing have happened? I don't mean to be rude, but I simply cannot imagine that someone from the Azoth Firm would do something to make an enemy of Rei-san. Couldn't this be some kind of mistake?"
Perhaps because the words from Coris's mouth were exactly what he expected, Galahat breathed a sigh of relief.
The man before him had cooperated with him on many things since he became Chairman of the Azoth Firm.
That was why he never thought Coris would do something as reckless as provoking Rei.
But... he couldn't be reassured by Coris's words alone.
Making sure neither Rei nor Coris noticed his relief, Galahat continued with a stern expression.
"Why do you think Rei is here?"
"That's... no, I don't know."
Coris must have finally understood that he was genuinely being suspected.
The earlier hope that he might be able to do business with Rei had vanished, and realizing he was caught up in something terrible, he frantically shook his head.
At this point, Galahat was certain that Coris had nothing to do with this incident... or at the very least, that he hadn't orchestrated it himself.
After all, Coris, who normally carried himself as a calm merchant, was visibly panicking.
"You know Rei's tamed monster, Set, don't you?"
"Huh? Ah, yes. Well, as someone living in Gilm, of course."
"And that Set possesses high physical abilities and keen five senses?"
"...Yes, naturally."
Being told this much, Coris could understand why he was being suspected.
He could understand it, but...
(But I never ordered any such thing! Why!?)
With genuinely no recollection of such actions, Coris kept his agitation from his face while screaming in his heart.
But events proceeded as if completely unconcerned with his turmoil.
"Set detected the scent of someone other than Rei's group and the alchemist inside the assaulted alchemist's room. Following that scent led us... to this mansion."
"I have no recollection of this!"
At this rate, he really would be made out to be the attacker.
Thinking that, Coris cast aside his usual calm and shouted.
It was only natural. If he were branded the attacker, he would likely be seized by the guards for a crime he didn't commit.
And once he became a criminal, there would be no saving him.
Moreover, before all that, if it was established that he had ordered the assault on an alchemist and stolen Rei's Magic Item, he would completely make an enemy of Rei.
What would happen if a merchant like him made an enemy of Rei?
It went without saying.
Not only in terms of pure strength, but Set had established a mascot-like position in Gilm.
Considering all of that, it was certain that he personally... and the Azoth Firm as a whole would suffer tremendous damage.
At this rate, he was heading toward ruin, and the Azoth Firm would take significant losses as well.
Coris thought he had to do something about it, and then opened his mouth.
"Um, you may not believe me, but I truly have no recollection of this. I don't mind if you investigate me thoroughly."
"...That's what he says. What will you do?"
Asked by Galahat, Rei considered what to do while pulling back the hood of his Dragon Robe.
From his conversation with Coris, it no longer seemed like he was the one who had attacked Asimov... or rather, the one who had ordered it.
But the fact remained that Asimov had been attacked, the Magic Item had been stolen, and the scent of that person led to this mansion. Those were undeniable facts.
As Rei pondered how to resolve this contradiction, Vihera, who had been listening in silence, suddenly murmured.
"Isn't it possible that Coris really isn't the culprit?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"In other words, there was definitely someone who attacked Asimov and stole the Sleipnir boots. We witnessed that ourselves, so it's an undeniable fact."
At Vihera's words, Rei and Byune nodded in response.
Indeed, if they had entered the research room any later, Asimov might have died from blood loss.
If he had trained his body, he might have managed somewhat, but while Asimov was a skilled alchemist, he was not someone who trained physically.
(Well, he might have managed somehow if he'd used a Magic Item... but the absence of any such traces means the attacker didn't even give Asimov time to use one.)
In any case, it was clear that this incident hadn't occurred from some kind of mistake.
"But... would someone skilled enough to pull that off go straight back to their own base?"
The base in this case was, without a doubt, this mansion—the estate of the Chairman of the Azoth Firm.
Technically, the Azoth Firm's main store could also be called a base, but at least in this incident, the scent had led into this mansion.
"In other words, the Azoth Firm was used as a decoy?"
At Rei's confirming question, Vihera nodded.
Despite being in a warm room with spring-like weather, Coris was sweating across his entire face.
It was certain that this was not the attitude of someone who had committed the act in question.
"...That settles it. Then let's first search Coris's room in this mansion, and his carriage. Is that acceptable to you, Rei?"
At Galahat's words, Rei silently nodded in agreement.