"Hmm? Orun Doura, is it? Have you also caught wind of this company’s misdeeds? Impressive. Perhaps removing you from the Hero Party was a mistake after all."
As Marquis Forgas caught sight of me, he spoke with a practiced smoothness, as if reciting lines he had prepared well in advance.
"……It has been a long time, Marquis Forgas. If I may be so bold, what exactly are these 'misdeeds' you’ve uncovered?"
"Hmph, very well. Since you are here, I suppose you have the right to know. In truth, I have been hearing dark rumors regarding the Flockhart Trading Company for some time now. This is a company I have been close with for many years. Initially, I investigated under the assumption that someone was spreading false rumors out of jealousy. However, just moments ago, my subordinates brought me information that this company truly was dabbling in human trafficking—"
"W-What are you saying?! This was all done under your instructions!"
Pascal-san cut the Marquis off, his voice trembling as he insisted that the orders had come from the nobleman himself.
Nine times out of ten, Pascal-san was likely telling the truth.
However—
"You claim I gave such inhumane instructions? How dare you insult me! To think I would order acts that treat people as less than human—how can you tell such a lie so brazenly? It is pathetic that I ever associated with a man like you."
"……"
Pascal-san stared at him with a look of utter bewilderment, as if he were witnessing something impossible.
"This man claims it was Lord Clive's instructions. Is that truly a lie?"
The stern-looking man who had arrived with the Marquis finally spoke. He was clad in the heavy armor of the Central Army.
I should assume Marquis Forgas has officially cut ties with the Flockhart Trading Company, I thought. But whether this was the Marquis's own choice or if his hand was forced... that changes things significantly.
The stern man standing beside the Marquis was a famous soldier known as "The Purger."
His name was Lester Haston, and he served as the Division Commander of the Central Army Fourth Division.
The Central Army was a force maintained directly by the Royal Family, consisting of four divisions. Each had its own specialty; the Fourth Division had fewer members than the others, but they made up for it with their mobility and focus on intelligence and espionage.
As for why their commander had earned such a grandiose title as "The Purger"—it was because he ruthlessly condemned anyone who committed a crime, regardless of whether they were a commoner or a high-ranking noble. Because he held the absolute trust of the Royal Family, the nobility loathed him as a man they couldn't touch. Conversely, he was incredibly popular among the common people.
It was a bit strange for the head of an intelligence-focused division to be a household name, but there was a sense that the Fourth Division used their commander’s reputation as a smokescreen for their actual activities. It was likely all part of their information manipulation strategy.
Personally, I didn't like Lester Haston.
It was true that the man did what was "right." I’d heard stories of him ruthlessly condemning even Counts to save citizens suffering under oppressive rule. However, all this man ever did was the condemnation itself.
He left the aftermath and the recovery entirely to others. He saw evil before him, and he struck it down. That was it.
I wouldn't say that was inherently wrong, but I had heard more than a few stories of victims ending up in even more miserable circumstances after the "justice" was delivered. Because of that, I didn't have a particularly high opinion of him.
Given the circumstances, it was highly probable that Marquis Forgas only discarded the Flockhart Trading Company because Division Commander Lester was about to catch him.
"Of course it’s a lie. It is impossible that I gave such orders. Pascal, since you are attempting to frame me, I assume you have concrete evidence?"
"T-That’s... everything was handled through oral instructions, so..."
"Hmph. Hopeless. Lester-kun, surely you don’t believe the delusions of a man like this?"
"……It seems we’ve come up empty this time. However, I will expose your crimes to the light of day eventually, Marquis Forgas. —Men! Restrain the four on the ground and the head of the Flockhart Trading Company. They are to be held for child kidnapping, caught in the act."
"Yes, sir!"
"I would think you soldiers have plenty of real work to do rather than chasing ghosts," the Marquis remarked dryly.
While muttering, "It’s a lie, there’s been a mistake," Pascal-san was led away by the soldiers without resisting. The sleeping girl was freed from her handcuffs and carried out on the back of one of the guards.
It was a resolution with a very bitter aftertaste.
Ultimately, the Flockhart Trading Company would be charged with kidnapping, and the business would undoubtedly collapse.
"……Marquis Forgas, please answer just one thing."
I called out to the Marquis in a low voice, making sure the Central Army soldiers couldn't overhear. I had to know.
"Very well."
"Was this incident sudden? Was it triggered because I stuck my nose into this matter?"
"Hmph. You certainly have a higher opinion of yourself than you used to. Back when you were in Golden Dawn, you were humble to a fault, thinking of nothing but supporting Oliver. Well, that pride will likely only last until this Thanksgiving Festival ends. After all, you cannot win against Oliver."
"……Please, just answer the question."
"The answer is no."
No. In other words, the decision to destroy the Flockhart Trading Company had been made from the start.
But why? Based on the information I had, I couldn't see any benefit for the Marquis in cutting them off. Had the political landscape shifted that much in the two months since I left the Hero Party?
After answering my question, Marquis Forgas departed with the Central Army, leaving only Fuuka and me in the basement.
"Well, I guess we should head out too. Honestly, we were just trying to enjoy the festival stalls. How did it end up like this?"
As I grumbled and climbed the stairs, the sounds of a commotion reached my ears. It seemed the army had begun a full-scale raid of the building. Since it would be a headache to get caught up in the official investigation, we suppressed our presence and slipped out the back.
"I’m going to head back to my clan headquarters. What are you going to do, Fuuka?"
"I'm going home too. I saw what I wanted to see, so I'm satisfied."
...What she wanted to see? I couldn't imagine there was anything in that ugly scene that Fuuka would have found desirable. Well, there was no point in overthinking it.
"I see. Then let's part ways here. —Ah, like I said before, please don't tell anyone about what happened here."
The reason for us to remain silent had technically vanished, but it wasn't the kind of story I wanted circulating.
"Mm, I know. Well then, see you later, Orun."
"Yeah, see you."
With a final exchange of greetings, we headed our separate ways.