"Vile Thief Heinz, was it? And Mad Dog Simon."
"Mad Dog Simon?" Roxanne chimed in, her voice rising slightly.
"Do you know him?"
"Yes. He was a famous pirate among the Wolf-kin. It was said he was incredibly powerful. People used to say that when it came to the one-handed sword, no one among the Wolf-kin could stand as his equal. However, I heard that he was defeated by someone when I was a child, so he wasn't invincible. I would have liked to try fighting him once myself."
She wanted to fight him? As usual, she calmly said the most terrifying things with a completely straight face.
"Well, it seems fighting him is out of the question now. The thieves we took down in the Halber Labyrinth the other day appear to be them."
"The thieves from the other day?"
"Most likely."
"Now that you mention it, there was one Wolf-kin among that group. I see. So that was Mad Dog Simon. In that case, this rapier..."
Roxanne held up the rapier she was carrying and looked up at it thoughtfully.
For someone considered such a legendary figure, the weapon Simon had possessed was rather underwhelming. The rapier that now served as Roxanne's primary weapon was the very one Simon had used.
Had he been hiding his real gear somewhere? Was he just a common pirate after all? Or perhaps a master doesn't choose his brush—a bad workman shouldn't blame his tools.
"That seems to be the case," I said.
"To defeat Mad Dog Simon... as expected, you are incredible, Master."
Well, I defeated him with magic. It felt like cheating, honestly. Or rather, I was truly glad I didn't have to face him in a sword fight.
Sherry performed the skill fusion. A Substitution Misanga was created.
"Oh, it's done. Excellent work as always, Sherry."
"Thank you very much."
Sherry handed over the Substitution Misanga. I took it for a moment.
"You should wear this one, Sherry. Where will you put it?"
"I'll wear it on my ankle."
"Understood. Give me your foot."
I had Sherry offer her ankle and began wrapping the Substitution Misanga around it. Her foot was small and delicate—remarkably cute. It was so tiny I almost wondered if she’d undergone foot-binding. Then again, she was short, so it was probably just proportionate.
I almost wanted to nuzzle it. As I wrapped the Misanga, I couldn't help but stroke the skin with both hands.
"The Duke Harz Knight Order seems to be in quite a bit of trouble," Sherry noted from above me while I was busy admiring her ankle. "It says on the poster that they will stop checking Intelligence Cards when paying out bounties."
"Is that so?"
"It’s written right here."
Sherry pointed to the relevant section of the wanted poster. Even if she showed me, I couldn't read a word of it.
So, they were waiving the Intelligence Card checks? If my jobs weren't going to be scrutinized, then I could bring in the thieves' cards immediately. But why the change? Was it a trap?
"Maybe they're doing spot checks?" I suggested.
"I doubt it. If they did that, thieves would never bring in Intelligence Cards again."
"Ah. So it's to encourage thieves to turn on each other?"
"The ones who know best where thieves are and what they're doing are their fellow criminals. By offering bounties to thieves as well, the Order encourages them to take the lead in eliminating other groups. It’s a method that has been used in the past whenever particularly heinous criminals appeared."
Set a thief to catch a thief, then. Certainly, thieves would know their own kind best. Letting them kill each other would be efficient. If it worked, it was a triumph for the law; even if they failed, the number of thieves would still decrease through the infighting.
Conversely, the current system of withholding bounties from criminals essentially protected them from being betrayed by their comrades. If turning in a partner's Intelligence Card resulted in a massive payout, it would be nearly impossible for thieves to form stable gangs. Encouraging betrayal within their ranks was undoubtedly a fast track to reducing their numbers.
"Hmm. Then I wonder why they don't always do that?"
"I personally agree that it would be best to pay whoever brings in the card, regardless of who they are. However, the Empire generally forbids paying bounties to thieves on the principle that it provides profit to criminals."
Sherry seemed to favor the pragmatic approach. It made sense, especially considering the general lack of public safety in this world. The reason they didn't do it normally was likely due to the pride of the rulers. It would be galling to hand over state funds to a criminal.
Besides, while effective in the short term, who knew about the long-term consequences? In Earth's history, giving criminals authority often led to the rise of organized crime syndicates. If you give a gambler a badge, you might just end up with the yakuza.
While the Knight Order might currently lack the power to crack down on thieves, there was no telling if that would always be the case. There was a risk that letting thieves police themselves would become a dangerous precedent. Still, not paying bounties to thieves was a legitimate stance for a government to take.
In any case, if there was no Intelligence Card check, I could cash them in right away.
Two mornings later, I headed to Bode with the thieves' cards in hand. They had already been dead for some time. As more time passed, the risk of my story contradicting eyewitness reports would grow. The sooner I went, the more consistent my account would seem. I had waited just long enough to avoid looking like I had been sitting on them.
I had only just reached Explorer Level 41. It would take a long time to hit Level 50, which was required for the Adventurer job. Waiting until then was simply too risky. It was better to get the money now.
Presumably, the higher the level, the more experience was required to reach the next one. While it was fine that Sherry, as a Level 31 Blacksmith, had caught up to Roxanne's Level 31 Beast Fighter, even Milia was closing in at Level 30 Diver. It seemed the experience gap between Level 1 and 30 wasn't nearly as vast as the gaps at higher levels.
Or perhaps there was an optimal level range for training. Maybe if you defeated a Level 16 monster while you were Level 40, you only received half the experience. I didn't fully understand the mechanics yet. Even though I kept the Hero job equipped constantly, it was still only Level 37. Growth rates definitely varied by job.
I also couldn't take Heinz's card anywhere other than the Duke Harz Knight Order. I had heard about the thief directly from the Duke and had even been given the poster. If they found out I’d taken the bounty elsewhere, they’d wonder why I’d bypassed them.
As a precaution, I warped to the wall of the Adventurer Guild when I arrived in Bode. I entered the Duke's castle on foot from the town center. This way, even if my card was checked, I could claim I had simply reverted to being an Explorer.
I handed the cards to a knight I recognized.
"I will go fetch the Captain. Please wait a moment."
The knight retreated into the back of the building. I really wished he hadn't. I had hoped for a simple transaction where I could just take the money and leave.
I had considered coming at a time when Gosler or the Duke wouldn't be around, but that felt too suspicious. Showing up at an unusual hour might look like I was hiding something. Appearing at the usual time and acting as if I were making a regular report seemed like the best way to project an aura of "nothing to see here."
Nothing special had happened. Nothing at all.
After a short wait, Gosler appeared.
"Sir Michio, I heard you brought in some Intelligence Cards."
"I was attacked by a group of men the other day."
"Actually, just yesterday, a section of the Labyrinth wall coated in Sealing Cement was discovered on the twelfth floor of Halber."
"Ah, that was likely the place."
So, they’d found the ambush site. Just in time. I was glad I hadn't waited any longer. Once a suspicious location was found, they would patrol it heavily. If I’d brought the cards in later, they would have grilled me on the specifics of the timeline. Bringing them now, at my usual time, was the right move. If I’d come in at some odd hour, they’d have assumed I had just finished the fight.
"I see. I thought it was strange that the trap was set but the thieves were gone. It seems they had already been dealt with."
Gosler was filling in the blanks himself. It was essentially the truth. I had successfully demonstrated that I was working within the Harz Duchy’s labyrinths as promised. This was a total win.
"Captain."
"What is it?"
"It's Heinz's crew."
The first knight returned and spoke with Gosler. It seemed the identification was solid.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, sir."
"In that case, Sir Michio, would you mind coming this way?"
Gosler turned to me with an invitation.
"Understood."
I followed him deeper into the castle. I would have preferred to decline, but I didn't have much of a choice. I was led toward a wing of the castle I had never visited before.
"You fought Heinz's crew; were you unharmed?"
"Somehow managed to scrape through."
"I am amazed you were able to defeat them. Truly impressive."
"Well, I might have only caught the gang members."
I chatted with Gosler as we walked. At the very least, I didn't have the Intelligence Card for the Pirate I’d blown to pieces. He had likely been the strongest of the group. The fact that his card had been destroyed in the explosion was actually a blessing. If I’d presented it, they would have asked exactly how I’d managed to kill someone of that level.
"I hear it was Sir Michio who took down Heinz?"
Duke Harz was already waiting in the room we entered.
"It certainly seems to be the case, Your Grace."
"Oh! As expected of the man I chose. Are you unhurt?"
"Yes, sir."
Now that I was officially the one who had taken down a major criminal, I was worried this overly friendly Duke would keep an even closer eye on me.
"The last one is Elmer. There is no card for Simon."
There was a white, box-like device in the room. Intelligence Cards were being placed on top of it. A knight stood nearby, reading the results. An Intelligence Card expelled from a corpse is usually blank. I guessed that device was how they decoded them.
"So Simon's card was not among them. However, Heinz's was. Excellent work, Sir Michio. Heinz's job was indeed Vile Thief."
"Was Heinz's card truly there?" Gosler asked the knight, seeking confirmation.
I had brought in a Vile Thief card. It seemed that really was Heinz. In that case, the Pirate who had been vaporized was almost certainly Simon.
"Yes, Captain. Heinz's Intelligence Card was present."
"But Simon's is missing."
"That is correct."
Gosler and the knight continued their exchange.
"Sir Michio, do you have any idea what happened to Simon?"
"There were a few thieves whose cards I couldn't recover, but I'm not sure if any of them were particularly strong."
I didn't need to say I’d killed him. It would lead to an interrogation about how I’d managed to defeat a master swordsman. Even if I told the truth, I had no proof.
"Sir Michio did not defeat Simon? Was Simon acting on his own? Did they have a falling out? Or is he still hiding somewhere in the Duchy...?"
Gosler looked troubled. As the man responsible for the region's safety, the mystery of Simon's whereabouts weighed on him. I felt a bit bad letting him worry needlessly, but I had to keep my secrets. Sorry, Gosler. In this instance, the Duke’s carefree attitude was the better approach.
"Even if Simon escaped alone, he won't be the same threat he was in the Selmer Territory. I will not let him run wild in my lands."
"That may be so, but..."
Gosler's worry was deep, but there was nothing I could do. The Duke was right; one man wasn't a gang.
"Here is the bounty."
The knight at the machine manipulated the device, and money was dispensed from a slot. Was that thing a safe as well?
"Is this your first time seeing currency issued from a Guild Temple, Sir Michio?" the Duke asked.
I must have had a stunned expression on my face.
"Y-Yes, sir."
"That is the Guild Temple of my Knight Order. Our knighting ceremonies are performed here. If you ever wish to join us, I could perform your job change to Knight right now. What do you say?"
I tried using Appraisal on the box. It indeed showed up as a Guild Temple. So that was what they looked like.
Since I had my Job Settings, I didn't really need one, but normally people had to visit these temples to change jobs. Each Knight Order likely maintained their own to manage their ranks. I had never heard of a "Knight Guild," so this made sense.
"No, thank you."
"Well, few Adventurers would choose to become Knights. Besides, to truly earn the title, one must spend decades training as a Warrior. It would be quite embarrassing for my men if you could just become one on a whim!"
The Duke laughed. It was a joke. I didn't quite get his humor, but it confirmed my theory: the Knight job likely required a high Warrior level. Possibly Level 30. My Warrior level was currently 29, so I was close.
"Here."
The knight presented a drawstring pouch to the Duke first.
"When you deposit bounty funds, they can be withdrawn from any Knight Order temple in exchange for the correct Intelligence Cards. It’s a marvel of engineering."
"I see."
"Still, it's a bit less than I expected," the Duke noted, looking at the pouch with a frown.
"Heinz had been rampaging through the Selmer Territory for years. It may seem small, but Simon's portion is missing," Gosler explained.
"Even so... well, I suppose most of the bounty was placed on Simon. He was the one who killed so many of their knights. Here you go, Sir Michio."
Satisfied with the explanation, the Duke handed the pouch to me. It was a shame about Simon's portion of the bounty, but I’d survived, which was what mattered. It appeared they really weren't going to check my Intelligence Card. I accepted the money respectfully.
"I had to pull quite a few strings with the Imperial Government to get them to waive the card check, but I suppose it was for nothing since you’re an honest man," the Duke remarked.
It wasn't for nothing. I just hoped he wouldn't change his mind and ask to see it anyway.
"By Imperial Government, do you mean you negotiated with the Empire itself?"
"They’re a stubborn lot, but they eventually saw reason. Using thieves to catch thieves is the most efficient path. Don't you agree?"
The Duke shared Sherry's pragmatic view. It fit his impatient nature.
"In the short term, yes," I replied.
"Oh? And in the long term?"
"Well... if you use thieves for policing, the tension between the law and the lawless vanishes. In the long run, that could lead to systemic issues."
Oops. I’d just contradicted the Duke.
"So you believe the Order needs its pride? That there must be a clear line between us and them? I suppose there is truth in that," Gosler mused.
"Mmm. Even Gosler agrees? Perhaps those bureaucrats in the capital weren't just being stubborn after all."
"I-It’s certainly effective as a temporary measure!" I added quickly. I didn't want to be purged for having an opinion.
"Did you call for me?" a voice asked from the doorway.
Thank goodness for the interruption. Whoever that was, they were a lifesaver.
"Cassia? Come in."
Ah, she was a goddess.
The door opened, and Cassia entered the room. She was breathtaking. She wore a light-blue gothic dress that covered her almost entirely, yet she radiated an incredible, quiet grace. She looked like a noblewoman from a masterpiece painting—which, technically, she was.
An Elven woman followed her in, likely her lady-in-waiting. She was also a beauty, but Cassia’s elegance was on another level entirely.
"Sir Michio seems to share your concerns, Cassia. He believes that using thieves as a tool of the law is dangerous because the tension between the two sides disappears."
"My. Is that so?" Cassia looked at me and offered a gentle smile. It was divine.
"I simply worried about the potential for collusion," I said.
"I agree. Nobles should behave in a way that befits their station."
"Of course, as an emergency measure, I think it’s a valid tactic," I added, not wanting to alienate the Duke. I kept glancing at him, hoping I hadn't overstepped.
"Well, the point is moot now. Cassia, be glad! Sir Michio has brought Heinz's gang to justice."
"Oh!" Cassia’s eyes widened with genuine joy. They were a clear, deep blue that felt like they could swallow you whole. I wouldn't have minded if they did.
"It seems only Simon escaped, but he can't do much on his own. He’s probably dead in a ditch somewhere by now."
He’s definitely dead, I thought.
"Thank you so much. Heinz was terrorizing my father's lands in the Selmer Territory. People I knew personally were among his victims. Sir Michio, you have taken revenge for me as well."
Cassia bowed her head, her glossy blonde hair shimmering as it shifted.
"No, please. I am just glad I could help."
"I was so worried when I heard they might have crossed into our borders. Now the people can finally breathe easy."
"It was an honor to be of service."
Knowing Cassia had been worried was enough of a reward for any man.
"Tell me, was anyone in Heinz's crew wearing a ring?" the Duke asked.
He was likely referring to the Ring of Determination. I took it out of my Item Box and presented it to him. Showing it shouldn't be an issue; if anything, it was further proof of my victory.
"If you mean a ring, I found this one."
"Oh! ...Wait. I don't recall it being this pristine. Perhaps my memory is failing me."
The ring had been "reborn" through my Character Reset skill. There was no going back now.
"That was the only one I recovered," I stated.
"Forgive me. I didn't mean to imply I doubted you. Gosler, what do you think?"
"It does look very new. I remember there being some scratches, but perhaps the thieves polished it."
"Heinz stole that Ring of Determination from Earl Selmer's estate," the Duke explained. "It originally belonged to my house. I gave it to him as a betrothal gift when I married Cassia."
So it was a family heirloom. I wondered if giving a Ring of Determination was the standard price for a wife as beautiful as Cassia.
"A betrothal gift..."
"Does Sir Michio not know? Our customs are the opposite of the commoners'. Among the common folk, men are the ones who usually fight monsters, so their numbers are lower. Because there’s a surplus of women, a bride must provide a dowry to secure a marriage. But for nobles, both men and women fight. Our numbers remain balanced, so the man provides the betrothal gift to the bride’s family."
The Duke went off on a tangent about marriage customs. I hadn't known about either version, to be honest. It seemed this world’s commoners had a system similar to historical Earth cultures where a shortage of men shifted the financial burden of marriage onto women.
"I see."
"If this is the ring Heinz had, I would very much like to buy it back from you. What do you say?"
"Since it’s a family heirloom, I have no reason to refuse."
"Excellent. I'll take it for now to have the armor appraised properly."
"Of course."
And just like that, the ring was gone. I knew exactly what it was, but in this world, things had to be officially appraised. I wondered what the price would be. I doubted someone like the Duke would stiff me, but it felt a bit like handing over a blank check.
"I'd like to take Sir Michio to visit Earl Selmer. What do you think, Cassia?" the Duke proposed.
That sounded like a nightmare. I just wanted my money and to get back to the Labyrinth.
"Yes. My father would certainly want to express his gratitude in person."
If Cassia was on board, I didn't have much of a choice.
"Exactly! Is that all right, Sir Michio? It’s just a matter of bowing your head for a few minutes. Don't worry, I’ll make sure you’re treated well. You can even go by yourself."
"I suppose so..."
"Sir Michio, you defeated a great evil. Please, give my father the chance to thank you," Cassia added.
Well, if she asked like that, I couldn't say no.
"I understand."
"The Earl couldn't catch them, but they were taken down in my lands. I’ll have quite a bit to brag about!" the Duke added with a grin.
So that was it. He wanted to rub his father-in-law's nose in it. I really wished they wouldn't involve me in their family drama.
"I will handle the arrangements with my father," Cassia said. "It will take a little time to coordinate. Sir Michio, could you return to Bode in three days? I should have a date set by then."
"Yes, three days from now. I will be here."
I bowed and finally managed to escape the room. I would have liked to spend more time near Cassia, but the risk of being saddled with more chores was too high. Better to leave before anyone thought to check my Intelligence Card.
"Sir Michio, this way," Gosler said, escorting me to the lobby.
"Sir Gosler, is there a fishing village or port in this region where one can find a wide variety of fish?"
"In our territory, that would be Hafen. It’s famous for its high-quality catch. If you like, I can have an Adventurer from our order guide you there."
I knew the Harz Duchy had a coastline since Kohaku was harvested from the sea nearby. Since it was a northern sea, my expectations were high.
"This is Hafen."
The Adventurer brought me to a bustling fish market. The air was a thick mix of salt and fresh fish. Vendors and buyers were haggling over the morning's catch.
"Are you from the Knight Order? How can I help you?" an Elven man asked, approaching us.
I looked at him. Village Chief Level 3.
"Please listen to this man's request. I must be going," the Adventurer said, leaving me there.
"What do you need, sir?" the Village Chief asked politely.
"Is it possible for someone like me to buy fish here directly?"
"Yes, there are no restrictions on who can purchase from the market."
Being escorted by a Knight likely helped with his politeness. If the market was open to the public, that was all I needed to know.
"Is it always this busy?"
"We cast the nets in different spots every morning. Luck determines the size of the catch. Today was a very good day."
"I'll be back to buy some fish soon, then."
"We look forward to it."
I had established a contact. It was time to head home.
Back at the house, I checked the bounty. Thirty-nine gold coins and fifty-two silver coins. 395,200 Nahl. It was a decent sum, though maybe a bit low considering the targets. Most of the thieves were low-level, probably worth about a hundred thousand total. If the high-level leader was another hundred thousand, that meant Heinz himself was only worth about two hundred thousand. It felt a bit underwhelming, but there was no use complaining.
"I’ve collected the bounty. From now on, we’ll be focusing on the Halber Labyrinth again," I told the girls over breakfast.
Now that the thieves were dealt with, it was time to get back to the grind in the Harz Duchy. I could have pushed to jump ahead to the sixteenth floor, but the monster variety changed too much. It was safer to clear them floor by floor. I wanted to reach Explorer Level 50 for the Adventurer job, but that wasn't going to happen overnight.
"Also, now that we have the extra funds, I want to look into expanding our party's strength soon."
"Understood. That makes sense," Roxanne replied.
"Not immediately, though. I want to wait until Milia is fully settled in."
Milia said something in her own language, which Roxanne translated as, "Yes, I understand."
I’d made my declaration of harem expansion. As long as Milia still needed a translator, adding more members would be a headache. She needed to learn Brahim, or at least enough to communicate basic needs.
"Also, I’ll likely be selling the Ring of Determination back to Duke Harz. Apparently, it’s an heirloom that belonged to his ancestors. Sorry, Milia."
"I thought that might be the case," Sherry said.
"Yes, Master," Milia added.
They both nodded. Milia had been wearing the ring for exactly one day. She didn't seem too upset, but I felt a bit guilty taking it back.
"To make up for it, the Knight Order introduced me to a fishing village in the territory. Let's go there the day after tomorrow."
"Really? That's amazing!" Milia's eyes lit up as soon as Roxanne translated. Clearly, fish were more important to her than magical jewelry.
"The Harz Duchy is in the north, so the seafood should be excellent."
"Is that true?" Sherry asked, looking skeptical.
Oops. I’d let my Earth knowledge slip again. I wasn't actually sure if the northern seas in this world were more productive.
"Well... I just have a feeling that northern waters are richer."
"I would think the warm south would have more life, just like on land," Sherry countered.
"That's true for land, but the sea is different. In the ocean, nutrients are the bottleneck. When fish die, they sink. Decomposers at the bottom break them down, and then they’re eaten by bottom-feeders, starting the cycle. Most of the nutrients are trapped on the seabed. That's why most of the ocean is like a desert."
I tried to adapt my high school biology knowledge into terms they could understand.
"In the south, the sun warms the surface water. This creates a layer of warm water that doesn't mix with the cold, nutrient-rich water at the bottom. The nutrients stay trapped down there. But in the north, both the surface and the deep water are cold. They mix easily, bringing all those nutrients to the surface where small life can grow and feed the fish. That's why northern seas are often more productive."
I waited for Roxanne to finish translating my mini-lecture.
"Master, you truly are wise. Milia says she's never heard anything like that before," Roxanne said.
"Hmm. It sounds a bit suspicious to me," Sherry said, squinting.
"It's amazing!" Milia cheered.
Their reactions were split. Milia was impressed, likely thanks to Roxanne’s influence, while Sherry clearly didn't trust my "scientific" explanation.
"It might sound strange, but that's how it works."
"I'm still not sure."
"I'm not lying to you."
"Are you trying to trick me again?"
Why was she so suspicious? I hadn't lied once.
"You said it was 'just a feeling' a minute ago."
"Well..."
"If the surface is cold in the north but warm in the south, and the bottom is cold in both, shouldn't the temperature difference in the south actually be greater, causing more movement?"
"T-That’s a good question. But water has a maximum density at a certain temperature. In the north, the surface gets cold enough to match the bottom. Plus, ice floats."
"Ice floats?" Sherry asked. Right, they didn't have freezers.
"Yes. In winter, the surface of a lake freezes, but the water underneath stays liquid. The surface ice acts as a cap. The temperature at the bottom stays relatively stable across the world, but in the north, the surface matches it closely enough for the water to turn over and mix. That’s what brings the nutrients up."
"Hmm. I see. When you put it like that, it does sound quite logical."
Finally. I had successfully argued my case. It was a victory for science. It might have been a small step for me, but it was a giant leap for mankind in this world.