"You lot! You think you’ll get away with this? We’re the Bandelt Group—a name that makes even crying children fall silent! If anything happens to us, the whole gang will come out in full force for blood!"
The man who appeared to be the leader of the bandits continued to hurl threats at us. He was buried up to his chin, looking for all the world like a head sprout growing out of the dirt, yet he still had the nerve to talk big. His underlings were in the same predicament, though most of them were still unconscious. No help was coming for him.
...Wait, he was buried while he was still out cold, so maybe he hasn't fully grasped the situation yet.
"All of your companions are buried behind you, too," I pointed out.
"L-Like hell I'll believe that! You're just trying to rattle me with nonsense! It's useless!"
Even though he claimed it was useless, the leader’s voice was trembling. Deep down, he seemed to realize exactly what was going on. He was likely just putting up a front.
Still, I felt a small sense of relief. Judging from his claims, these people were definitely bandits from Albiroda. At least I hadn't accidentally turned a group of innocent bystanders into human garden ornaments.
"Is this Bandelt Group particularly famous?" I asked.
"What? You don't even know that? Heh heh... you'll regret your ignorance soon enough."
I had intended to ask Beere-san, but the bandit leader was the one who piped up. Despite his current state, he was getting cocky again.
Did he think we would be terrified once we heard the specifics of his organization? Unfortunately for him, there wasn't a single person here faint-hearted enough for that. If anything—
"Hmm. Master, should I give him another wham?"
Perhaps displeased with the leader’s attitude, Pino asked me while taking practice swings with her blunt weapon. Incidentally, she was still wearing the bunny suit. While I made her change when we were gathering information in town, she generally spent her time in her bunny form.
"Hieee!?"
The sight of a bunny girl casually brandishing a massive weapon was a bit surreal. It carried a strange, menacing weight—the bandit leader certainly looked terrified. Maybe the first hit she’d landed on him had left some lingering trauma.
"That's not... necessary, for now. Thanks anyway, Pino."
"Okaay!"
"For now?! You mean forever! Stop her! Do your job and stop her!"
"...Actually, maybe a wham really is the best option?" I mused.
"I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please!"
"Ahaha..."
Thanks to Pino’s intimidation, the bandit leader became quite well-behaved. This made him much easier to talk to, though I’m sure the experience was miserable from his perspective.
"The Bandelt Group is one of the gangs that controls Albiroda," Beere-san explained. "They’re definitely one of the more influential factions."
While Albiroda appeared to be nothing more than a massive hive of ruffians to outsiders, it was actually divided into several distinct groups. According to Beere-san, the Bandelt Group sat near the top of the food chain. For anyone who knew the reality of the region, they were a legitimate object of terror.
"The thing is... the power map has actually changed quite a bit lately..." the bandit leader stammered, glancing nervously at Pino. A clear hierarchy had been established.
According to his supplementary info, the Bandelt Group was rapidly expanding its influence with the help of an external organization. Currently, they had achieved near-total dominance over Albiroda. That explained why he had been so overconfident initially.
"So that's how it is. This is a troubling development," Beere-san muttered, his expression souring. When I asked for clarification, he explained while maintaining a deep frown.
"Until now, the various factions were constantly at each other's throats, dragging one another down. There are some decent people in Albiroda, believe it or not."
Apparently, not every resident of Albiroda lived as a bandit. There were groups who looked bitterly upon the looters and tried to keep them in check. Until now, those groups had served as a deterrent against large-scale invasions and pillaging. However, that balance had been shattered now that the Bandelt Group had seized total control. If the particularly atrocious Bandelt Group was leading the charge, an increase in raids on surrounding countries was inevitable.
"Besides, my connections are all among the moderates. It'll be much harder to move around once we've infiltrated."
It made sense; one couldn't exactly build a rapport with people who were purely outlaws. Beere-san had intended to introduce us to the 'decent' residents, but with the situation changed, he couldn't even be sure if they were still safe. His gloomy expression was a direct reflection of those worries.
That said, our objective remained the same. Since Beere-san was also concerned about his acquaintances, we decided to proceed with the infiltration of Albiroda as planned.
"So, what do we do with these guys?" Lowell asked, referring to our prisoners. It was a difficult question.
If we released them now and let them flee back to Albiroda, our presence would be leaked. Even if we swore them to secrecy, there was no guarantee they would keep their word. And even if they didn't talk, it would be a headache if they just went right back to raiding.
On the other hand, leaving them here felt wrong. If they couldn't dig themselves out, they would eventually become monster bait.
"If you're unsure how to handle them, leave it to me," Beere-san offered. He stepped forward and looked the bandit leader straight in the eye.
"I hear the leader of the Bandelt Group is particularly heartless. If you return to the gang like this, is there really a place for you? Won't you just be cast aside as incompetent and executed?"
"That's..."
The leader’s voice held a note of genuine fear, suggesting the merchant had hit the mark. Since even I could sense his hesitation, there was no way a seasoned merchant like Beere-san would miss it. They say the secret to a successful negotiation is the ability to read the subtle shifts in an opponent's heart.
Sensing his opening, Beere-san pressed the advantage.
"Even if they take you back, there's no future in a life of crime. Eventually, you’ll be captured, and the only thing waiting for you is the gallows. Why not wash your hands of it now? As it happens, I have a job for you. I'm going to open a shop serving a rare new dish soon, and I'm short on staff. What do you say? Interested in an honest day’s work?"
It seemed Beere-san intended to draft the bandits into his curry shop staff. It was certainly a peaceful resolution, but I wondered if these men would actually agree to it.
However, my concern was misplaced. At a wink from Beere-san—they must have coordinated this at some point—Pino began taking practice swings with her club again. The effect was immediate.
"I-I understand! I'll convince my subordinates too! Please, we'd be honored!"
I wonder if this is really going to be okay?
Well, if we make Pino the education officer, they’ll probably be the most well-behaved employees in the world.