When Rei explained what had been happening at the Dolan Workshop—specifically, that they were killing people and using their souls in golem cores—Orban's expression filled with surprise.
He had probably gathered from Rei's demeanor that it was something terrible, but this went beyond even that imagining.
That said, it was also true that he found Rei's explanation convincing.
For Orban, understanding why the Dolan Workshop's golems were so high-performance had been an enduring mystery.
He had received several requests to investigate the matter, but after dispatching a few people to the Dolan Workshop who never returned, he had ultimately given up.
Learning the reason for that under these circumstances was something even Orban hadn't expected.
"Human souls, huh. So the people at the Dolan Workshop were doing something like that."
Orban drank from the bottle of wine he had earlier been proudly calling a vintage, but there was no sign of someone savoring a fine wine on his face.
For Orban, that was proof enough that the information he had just heard from Rei was anything but entertaining.
"Yeah. Though if they had only captured bandits and used them, it wouldn't have been that big of a problem."
In this case, "not a problem" strictly meant there would have been no legal issue.
Even setting the law aside, if asked whether one would want a golem with a core made from a human soul... certainly, there would be those who still wanted one, but there would also be those who absolutely would not.
On that front, it would be fair to say it varied from person to person.
However, even so, there was no doubt the golems would never have become the wildly popular commodities that everyone and anyone was desperate to obtain, as they were now.
"Kidnapping people, enslaving them through illegal means, and using their souls. If they had just stuck to bandits, it would have been fine. Why did they start doing something like that?"
"You're asking me? I wouldn't know. But if I had to guess, I'd think it's an issue of the soul's quality."
"The soul's quality? That affects the golem's core?"
"It's strictly just my guess, though. Otherwise, there's no making sense of why they'd go out of their way to use illegal means to gather people."
Orban seemed somewhat convinced by Rei's explanation as well, nodding while drinking his wine.
"So, what will you do from here, Rei? You've left them in our care, and then what?"
"Even if you ask me that... I'm sure they already know for certain that I infiltrated the Dolan Workshop."
Multiple people had seen his face inside the Workshop, they had seen him wielding his large scythe, and they had even seen Seto.
Thinking about it normally, in this situation, there was almost no chance they would conclude that tonight's intruder was anyone other than himself—or so Rei thought.
What's more, the story that Rei had come to Egginis had been spreading quite widely lately, making it all the more certain.
That was precisely why the people at the Dolan Workshop had to be aware that tonight's intruder was Rei, without a doubt.
Given those circumstances, moving about openly would be difficult... or so Rei had thought, until something occurred to him.
(It's certain that I infiltrated, but whether they'd quietly report it to the guards is another question entirely.)
If they were to report to the guards, the Dolan Workshop's shady side would also need to be exposed.
They might be able to cover up certain things to some extent, but when it came to everything about the Dolan Workshop, that would naturally be far more difficult.
"Do you think if I walked around openly, the guards would arrest me?"
"Hah? That's... no, wait. You're right."
At Rei's words, Orban took a drink of wine while seemingly pondering something.
Rather than savoring the taste, it looked more as though he was using the act of raising the cup to his lips to organize his thoughts.
Rei understood that as well, so without saying anything in particular about it, he waited in silence for Orban to gather his thoughts.
He had no intention of stopping himself from eating the food on the table—or more accurately, the snacks accompanying the alcohol, however.
Several minutes passed, and eventually Orban spoke.
"It depends on how much the Dolan Workshop wants to hide their own actions, but even so, I think the possibility of Rei moving completely freely is low. However, it likely wouldn't go as far as the guards actually detaining you."
"Is that all?"
"Crimson Rei. Do you really think the guards could do anything against a powerhouse who single-handedly ended the war against the Bestia Empire?"
"I feel like that rumor gets more exaggerated every time I hear it."
In reality, it wasn't as if Rei alone had ended the war against the Bestia Empire, and the ones Rei had defeated using Fire Whirlwind were not the entire Bestia Imperial Army, but only those who had advanced to the front lines.
However, it was only natural that rumors grew larger as they spread.
In that sense, given that Rei's actions during the war against the Bestia Empire had been spectacular to begin with, it was only natural that the rumors would grow even further as they spread.
"There's nothing to be done about that. That's just how rumors are."
"...That war itself was years ago, you know."
Despite that, the fact that the rumors were still circulating as widely as ever was, if anything, what surprised Rei.
In Japan, it was neither rare nor unusual for rumors to fade quickly and be replaced by the next new one.
"That's just how it is. Bards and the like use it as material for their songs, which makes it spread even more."
"Bards? No, I think I heard something about that before, but they're still singing about that war?"
"For bards, it's a spectacular feat... and not an exaggerated one at that, since it was something Rei accomplished single-handedly. Given that, they don't need to bother with embellishments, and above all, unilaterally defeating the Bestia Empire is probably a story that sounds quite appealing to the people of the Mireana Kingdom."
Being told that, Rei wondered if that was indeed the case, but couldn't say anything more on the matter.
After all, having his name become well-known wasn't exactly a bad thing.
Of course, his fame meant more people took interest in Rei, and being caught up in trouble as a result... was not exactly uncommon, either.
"Anyway."
As if steering the conversation back from the digression about bards and Rei's rumors, Orban spoke up.
"They might try to press you for details in various ways, but depending on the Dolan Workshop, you probably won't be arrested. Rather than trying to capture Rei, the Dolan Workshop's aim is more likely to use the guards to restrict your movements."
"That's troublesome in its own way."
Being unable to move freely was not something Rei found particularly agreeable either.
"It can't be helped. Though I can't say for certain how the Dolan Workshop will actually act."
"Regardless, it's certain that it'd be better to make what the Dolan Workshop is doing public, right? The problem is how exactly to go about it."
"As for that, I'm afraid we probably can't lend a hand."
If it were just sheltering Anne, Ilunara, and the others who had fled the Dolan Workshop, they could still manage something.
However, the Dolan Workshop was killing people and using their souls as golem material. And if those being used as material included not only bandits but also a large number of illegal slaves, then the story changed entirely.
If that matter became public, it would deal a massive blow to Egginis, a city that prospered through the golem industry.
If it came to something that major, even Fusetsu, the largest assassin guild in Egginis, could not possibly afford to do anything reckless.
While Fusetsu had a roster of powerful individuals, that did not mean they had the strength to fight and win against Egginis's powerholders—in a political sense, that is.
"If you were to fight such opponents head-on, Rei... no, I suppose that would still be impossible."
"It'd be impossible."
Rei, as an individual, possessed overwhelming strength.
Additionally, his Tamed Monster Seto was a Gryphon, an extremely powerful being equivalent to S-Rank.
Even so, fighting against an entire faction... and with many people to protect, winning in that situation would be difficult.
Rei and Seto were powerful combat assets, but if that was the case, the enemy simply needed to avoid fighting them.
That was precisely why, if they chose not to engage Rei... or if some of them steeled themselves for a suicide stand to hold him back while others attacked the Fusetsu hideout and took Anne, Ilunara, and the rest hostage, Rei would be in a dire position.
"For that reason, the cooperation we can offer is by no means extensive. I believe you understand that. With that as a premise, let me ask you again: what do you plan to do from here?"
Asked that, Rei deliberated.
If this were some random opponent, he could handle it to a certain extent one way or another, but the fact that an entire city called Egginis was his opponent complicated things.
On top of that, the absence of a clear lord here, and the fact that it was an autonomous city, was another reason things were troublesome.
If there were a lord or a deputy here, Rei could leverage his reputation as an adventurer, or at worst, obtain the cooperation of Daskar, Elena, and the like to suppress the situation from above.
However, as long as this was an autonomous city, there was no clear leader.
A gathering of alchemists' workshops and merchants operated Egginis in a manner close to a council system.
"Wipe out everyone who runs Egginis."
"...Are you serious?"
Meeting Orban's serious gaze, Rei shook his head.
"No way. If I did something like that, I'd end up a wanted man. Obviously, it's a joke."
"From how you looked just now, it didn't seem like you were joking at all."
Saying that, Orban quietly released his grip from the handle of a dagger he had been holding in the hand not carrying his cup of wine.
The dagger had been hidden in a corner of the sofa, in a spot out of Rei's sight, but the fact that he wouldn't need to use it came as a relief to Orban.
"Yeah. If things truly become hopeless, that option might come up... but at least in the current situation, I have no intention of doing such a thing."
"I'd prefer it didn't come to that. If it did, I would end up opposing you, Rei."
"...I figured."
Fusetsu was an assassin guild based in Egginis.
For a guild like that, having everyone who currently ran Egginis killed would be absolutely unacceptable.
It would be a situation where they would have to prevent it even if it meant fighting Rei.
Because Rei understood that as well, he kept his reply to Orban short.
"That said, killing or not killing aside, it'd be better to meet with the people running Egginis and inform them about the Dolan Workshop incident, wouldn't it? Do you have any connections?"
"I just said moments ago that any further help would be difficult."
"Can you do something about that? You don't need to be present for the talks. Just make the arrangements so I can meet them."
Not attending the meeting himself, but simply making arrangements for Rei to meet one of the city's rulers.
Hearing that, Orban apparently judged there was room for consideration. He thought for a moment... and then spoke.
"If I don't cooperate, what kind of action will you take, Rei?"
"Let's see. Given that I need to meet someone like that, what I can do is investigate their house, sneak in, and go meet them. If I'm not discovered, it won't lead to a fight."
"I'll cooperate."
Judging that leaving Rei to his own devices would spark another major uproar, Orban decided immediately.
If he carelessly let Rei act as he pleased, it could very well turn into an uproar that would go far beyond the Dolan Workshop matter.
"That would help me out. So, who exactly will you introduce me to?"
Given that Egginis was operated in a manner close to a council system, naturally a large number of people were involved.
And since three people were enough to form factions, who he was introduced to mattered greatly.
"I'll introduce you to someone with a moderate disposition, from among those I know."
With his cup of wine in hand, Orban said as much.