The arrival of the B-Rank party Crimson Lotus Wings, led by Rei, in the Slum District spread quickly as intelligence among those who lived there.
By default, they only funneled information to their own people, yet the news still managed to trickle out... leaving the entire Slum District in a state of shock.
Amidst all that... it naturally reached the ears of Precious and his business partner, Sleyn.
"...Troubling, Precious. You've brought a troublesome figure down on us."
The room was furnished far too neatly to be believed part of the Slum District. The sofas and tables within were all high-end goods; asked whether they belonged in the Slum District, anyone would shake their head.
"What ever do you mean?"
Whether Precious actually understood what Sleyn was talking about was impossible to tell. Stroking his catfish mustache, Precious posed the question.
At Precious's brazen demeanor, Sleyn snorted in displeasure.
"You came here knowing you're being targeted, didn't you? The job this time is already finished. On top of that, to involve us... you understand what that means, don't you?"
Sleyn's voice was quiet as he asked. But precisely because it was quiet, the pressure behind it was intense. At the very least, Givnan, present as Precious's bodyguard, was barely able to stay on his feet.
Also in the room were not only Sleyn, Precious, and Givnan. The man who had brought the report of Rei's party arriving in the Slum District was there... along with those standing by as Sleyn's guards.
Precious and Givnan. And there were guards other than Givnan, yet there was no mistaking that this was Sleyn's domain. Asked whether they could protect Precious against Sleyn, who was clearly stronger than themselves... that would be somewhat—no, quite a difficult prospect.
"Calm down, please. To begin with, I wish to maintain a long relationship with you, Sleyn-san. Do you really think I would do something like frame you?"
If it came to combat, they would unquestionably have no chance of winning, and death was certain. Despite those circumstances, Precious showed not the slightest sign of being shaken as he continued speaking.
"How about it? Even if I did such a thing, there is no gain for me. If I had to give a reason... it would be selling you out to Rei-san and his party, I suppose."
Instantly, the concentration of killing intent in the room rose another notch. Having just been told he would sell off their leader, that was only natural. Yet Precious, the target of that killing intent, remained completely unperturbed. Precious was unaccustomed to rough business, yet even so, faced with such killing intent, there was no way he wouldn't feel it.
Givnan and the other guards readied themselves to move at once should anything happen to Precious... and seeing that, Sleyn's companions likewise prepared to act at any moment. However, Sleyn and Precious, facing each other, showed no reaction to their guards and subordinates making these preparations.
Seeing Precious's demeanor, the killing intent radiating from Sleyn gradually faded.
"Then let me hear it. Why go out of your way... and come here, now, of all times? Given your current situation, didn't you think that showing yourself openly in the slums would draw Rei here?"
"But as I recall, it was you who called for me in the first place, Sleyn-san."
"Yeah, that's right. But I made sure to tell you this much: come without standing out. So why are you trailing five guards? And without even a disguise, you walked right through the Slum District. The word that you're here has spread completely, you know?"
Yes, that was Sleyn's greatest miscalculation. Considering Precious's position, he would never tell him not to bring guards. Even so, he never thought he would do something so blatantly conspicuous.
"You say that, but as you know, I am currently being targeted. I must take precautions no matter what."
"Then what about a disguise? If you walk around openly showing your face, anyone who knows will recognize you as Precious. Don't you think you should have at least worn a hood to hide your face?"
"Due to my position, I cannot do such a thing. I'm sorry."
So said Precious, apologizing with a downward bow and a seemingly regretful tone, but his eyes held not the slightest trace of remorse. Sleyn understood that this was clearly not carelessness but something done deliberately.
Honestly, Sleyn was not amused... it was an exceedingly disagreeable situation, yet he also understood that doing something to Precious here and now would be unwise.
"Hmph, fine. This matter is a debt. I'll definitely have you repay it later."
"Yes, of course."
At how readily Precious acknowledged it as a debt, Sleyn felt a slight twinge of doubt. He had conducted business with many merchants before. From that experience, he understood that merchants extremely disliked debts in this form. If it were some clear-cut exchange—paying money as proof of apology, or transferring goods like food supplies—they would often comply readily. Naturally, there were limits to that as well. But a debt with no concrete form was something a merchant should be very wary of. Precisely because it had no form, one never knew what would be demanded.
...Of course, that was because he was someone from the underworld like Sleyn that it warranted such vigilance; in ordinary business, it likely wouldn't be regarded with such caution. Even if he pressed the issue further here, Precious would not waver.
Judging so, Sleyn gave a small sigh before returning to the topic... to the matter for which he had originally summoned Precious.
"Well, fine. So what about the promise? Having crossed a dangerous bridge to answer your request, I'll have you keep that promise, you hear?"
"It's all right. I've made the proper arrangements, so if you go to the other party, they'll hire you without issue. As for the contract..."
Cutting his words momentarily, he pulled a single sheet of paper from a leather bag retrieved from his breast. The paper was clearly larger than the bag; normally, one would never think it could have been inside.
"You've got quite the fine Magic Item there. Is the interior expanded with Space Magic? Come to think of it, there's supposedly a degraded version of the Item Box that Rei has... is that it?"
"Yes. It costs quite a sum, but at times like these, it's very convenient in all sorts of ways. Though, this leather bag has rather poor performance even among that type of Magic Item."
"Hoh. Mind if I ask roughly how much it can store?"
Facing Sleyn, who looked at him with interest, Precious shook his head.
"I apologize, but this is one of my trump cards. I cannot so easily reveal that to another person. Even if that person is you, Sleyn-san."
At Precious's words, Sleyn gave a small snort. He didn't particularly feel compelled to know, either. He asked only because he was slightly curious. That was why he didn't press further and moved to the main topic.
"So then, Sleyn-san. How many capable hands do you have available right now?"
"If we're talking about 'capable,' I've got about thirty of them... but what's needed this time isn't those types, right?"
"Yes. The other side seems to have looked quite deeply into us. If possible..."
"Wait."
Sleyn spoke, cutting off Precious's words.
"Yes? What is it?"
"...It seems there's a difference in our understanding. I was under the impression I was asked to prepare fighting power to strike at Rei and his party."
Indeed, Rei was currently in the Slum District. If one were to gather people purely by numbers without regard for ability, assembling thirty or so was not a difficult prospect at all. By relying on connections, they could probably gather even more. Yet, Precious's words seemed to suggest that he was not targeting Rei.
Of course, he had heard various things about the situation from Precious. He had heard that Precious was using his people to investigate him while Tris and Rei investigated Precious. But... from Precious's words just now, it sounded like he was saying he wanted them to target Tris, not Rei.
And Precious nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes. The one we're targeting this time is not Rei-san, but Tris-san. We've taken various measures to interfere, but he's quite formidable."
"...Rei is fine, then?"
"Yes. The other side is searching for me, but due to his arrangement with Tris-san, Rei cannot take direct action until evidence is found. In that sense too, Tris-san is a more troublesome opponent than Rei-san."
Those words almost seemed to say that Rei was not worth being an opponent.
"Are you not underestimating Rei? You know what he's done up to now, right?"
"Yes, of course. But fortunately... or perhaps I should say, the other side is in a situation where they cannot resort to the ultimate measure of using force. In that case, is there really a need to fear him that much?"
"...I'll say it again. Don't underestimate him. Rei is the type to attack without mercy if someone becomes his enemy, even if they're a noble."
Sleyn's serious gaze—a look that seemed to say that if Precious still didn't understand even after this, cutting ties would be unavoidable—was directed at him, but Precious nodded reassuringly and opened his mouth.
"Trust me on that. At the very least, the chances of encountering them in this Slum District are low, and even if we do, they will not resort to force."
At Precious's words, Sleyn fixed his gaze on him in silence.
That he was underestimating Rei was disagreeable. Disagreeable, but... to leave Gilm and secure a worthy position, he needed Precious's backing. That was an undeniable fact. Simply leaving Gilm was something he could do without any issue. But while many would find value in a current adventurer from Gilm, he had not taken a request in several years. He had already discarded his Guild Card and had nothing to prove he was an adventurer.
No, if he had his card reissued at the Guild, he could return to being an adventurer for a small fee. He could return, but... a brief investigation at the Guild would quickly reveal that Sleyn had not taken any requests for several years. If that happened, even among Gilm's adventurers, it would soon be known that he was not a current adventurer. Given that he had been active in the slums of Gilm, he could hardly expect to be hired. There might be places that would hire him if he searched, but in such cases, the best he could expect would be being used and discarded. Rather, there was a very real possibility that his circumstances would become worse than they were now.
To prevent that, he needed suitable backing... and in that sense, Precious, who had approached them, was the ideal counterpart. The Spiel Firm was not a particularly famous firm in Gilm. At the very least, it couldn't compare to the Azoth Firm, which they had tried to set against Rei this time. But... no matter how far one looked up, there was no end to it. Thinking normally, a merchant of the Spiel Firm was someone with ample money and power.
In any case, to put an end to a life of hiding in the Slum District, Precious's existence was absolutely necessary, and he couldn't afford to let him slip away.
"Understood. For now, I'll trust you. However, if Rei shows up, at that point I will retreat or surrender. At the very least, fighting is not an option."
"I suppose that can't be helped. I have no intention of fighting Rei-san, so that's fine. In exchange, for the measures against Tris-san..."
"I know. Reges can move, so leave it to him."
"Reges-san, was it? If I recall, he's the one who tried to strike at Rei-san before, isn't he?"
"That's right. Among the faces I can mobilize right now, he's the most suited for this job."
"But..."
What made his words trail off was that, when gathering information on Rei, he had heard that Set's sense of smell was extremely sharp. If so, since Rei was involved in this matter, deploying that person would be unwise, wouldn't it? That was what Precious thought.
Precious had gathered information on Rei, but had not yet fully understood him. ...That was surely why he could not comprehend what happened in the next moment.
"Pre-ci-ous-kuuun, let's plaaay!"
From outside the window of the room where Precious and his companions were, such a voice came drifting in.