I share a look with Ailish, and the two of us casually approach the premises of our new headquarters. The carriage sits in front of the gate, parked outside by the stylish fence to the mini mansion. It doesn't appear to be any special besides the big emblem plastered over the sides. Naturally, it belongs to the general Mercenary Guild from the region, so the question of who the passengers are is not hard to answer.
One Dwarf stands at the back of the wooden vehicle while eyeing us from a distance. He's the coachman, most likely, or someone left behind to watch over their method of transport. Thankfully, he doesn't stop us as we pass by him. I would be lying if I haven't been expecting a confrontation this soon, like in all the good stories involving officials coming for an inspection.
But he doesn't care, and we stroll into the tiny front yard. Arriving before the front door, we find a pair of pretty girls standing guard there. Oniri, the half-blood Foxkin ninja and her good friend Yuru, the pure-blood Leopardkin warrior. They salute us to their chests respectfully.
"Any trouble?" I ask them, raising my brow curiously.
"No, sir!" the former answers with a small smile. "At least we haven't heard anything from our captain! The outside is calm too! No one has tried to interrupt the guests so far!"
"So far? Are you expecting more trouble?" My Succubus companion frowns at her.
"Not really, but we have to be ready for every contingency!" The short vulpine straightens up even more. "We will not let you down, Leader!"
Chuckling lightly, I reach out to fluff her golden ears softly. "I don't doubt that. You ladies always make me proud. Keep up the good work. And start thinking about how I can repay you for taking care of my father."
A cute blush adorns her cheeks as she enjoys the brief affection. Not wanting to neglect her partner, I switch to scratch the fluffy head of the brave feline on my other side. Yuru ducks her head as she purrs openly, pushing against my palm for more tender love.
"We already know…" she whispers sweetly, making Oniri colour a little more.
Shaking my head, I withdraw my palm, and they immediately free the passage for us, returning to their admirable stances. Giving them a nod, I push the door open and enter the residence with Ailish tailing me.
Right away, I can tell how much effort everyone has put into finishing this place, making it more than just presentable. What was previously a vastly empty building is now completely transformed. Sure, the majority of furniture and decorations are made of stone just like the structure, but the shading and style are different enough to easily discern what is what. Plus, we can spot things like rugs, cushions, drapes, and so on.
To the Dwarves, this must look like a peak of craftsmanship.
Shortly after the initial impression fades, I notice my father and my genius mate sipping tea on the side, taking one of the coffee tables for themselves, which are clearly meant to ease up waiting time for the commissioners in case there is a queue. They notice our approach, glancing up and pausing their conversation.
"How is it going so far?" I peer around us in search of any traces of the inspection squad.
"Everything is in order, Master." Sirgia directs a tiny smile my way. "Ressia and two others are escorting the group. Mevana and Niel are in the kitchens, taking care of refreshments, while Daisy and Cecil lead the inspectors."
"The girls tried to convince them to wait for you, but the Dwarves weren't having it." Connor sighs deeply. "They insisted on getting on with their job without delay. Even if it would have been just a minute or five."
"We both know that was just an excuse." She looks at me with her usual composed expression. "The absence of the Company Master would give them more opportunities to find faults within our organisation. And they aren't exactly in a rush. One of them let it slip that they've begun their day early before the chief inspector shut him down."
"Bastards." Ailish sneers to the side. "Just let me at them. I wonder how efficient with their tasks they will be with raging hard-ons to the point of pain throughout the entire examination."
My dad swallows nervously as his posture turns a bit more defensive. He's definitely not yet used to the peculiarities of Succubi.
"Let's not be too hard on them just yet." I slap her butt to calm her down a tad. "They might just be doing their job, pressed to act with much more scrutiny and force by their superiors. The first line of soldiers isn't always to blame."
He smirks sneakily to himself at my analogy while the rowdy sex fiend huffs indignantly.
Then, we hear voices and turn towards the echoing corridor. Slowly, the inspection group wanders into the main hall. It looks like a party of three, two males and one female. They all wear something akin to a suit with their hair and beards neatly trimmed to keep them short. The guys are fairly round, while the girl is a common, pudgy example of a woman of their kind. Ressia and the rest of my squad surround them.
Cecil is the first one to spot us, and she interrupts the chatter while pointing our way. I catch the expressions on the investigators' faces flicker a bit as they listen to her introductions. My presence doesn't make them too happy, even if they try their best to hide that fact. And they seem generally displeased, so I assume they haven't found much to complain about.
With my identity revealed, they are forced to come here and offer a stiff nod. The woman steps forward, holding onto a clipboard with some forms held by it.
"Are you the owner of this company?" she inquires.
"Yes, I am." I direct an honest smile her way. "I hope you enjoyed the tour of our new headquarters. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to dispel any remaining doubts. Everything should be up to code, though."
"That's for us to decide." Guy One snorts derisively. "Those six females are already part of the organisation?"
"They are my subordinates who have arrived here from the main branch to watch over the development of this base," I answer. "I'm fairly sure their captain would have provided that information if asked. Or our friends from the Forgegraver clan."
"Other households have not been authorised to speak on the owner's behalf." Guy Two smirks at me. "Do you mean to say that you have intentionally placed them here to mislead the inspection with illegitimate information?"
I was intent on giving them the benefit of the doubt, but it's starting to become apparent that they are trying the hardest to fuck us over rather than just be done with it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, I can't allow you guys to step all over us like this. Though I'll do my best to be considerate if some of you have their own circumstances.
"Did the two of you tell the inspectors anything?" I turn to Cecil and Daisy.
The clever heiresses jump into my fairly obvious plan without a second lost.
"Not a word besides answering questions they had for us," the former replies first. "Which, as bystanders, we are obliged to answer truthfully to the best of our knowledge."
"The company's matters have been handled by your representatives," the latter adds. "Captain Ressia guided us around while responding to related inquiries. When confronted with a difficult one, she properly pointed to you as the right source of information."
The female inspector grimaces as their attempt at abusing written regulations is Uno reversed in a flash, ruining their future use of such tactics. I'm glad the girls are well-versed in the guild's politics and rules. At least Cecil for sure is. They must have discussed the matter beforehand.
"I don't see a problem here, do you?" I address the auditors. "Were there any concerns with the answers my captain provided? Or any parts of the tour?"
Judging by their faces, Ressia has been respectful and truthful, so they shouldn't be able to use that aspect against us. But Guy A doesn't give up just yet.
"In the first place, this whole building is vastly different from what we've been told." He swings his short arm around. "It appears as a dishonest plot to cover something up, perhaps, by moving things around."
"Oh?" I cross my arms over my chest. "That's interesting. Especially because there should be no official information as of yet. The building was purchased late last night, and no one has come here between then and now to make any reports on its state to submit them to the guild. I have all the documents with me if you would like to confirm my words. So, I kind of wonder, where did that information come from?"
If looks could kill, the man would have ended up in a coffin by now due to how much the woman is glaring at him. And it's fully deserved. His idiotic remarks might have just exposed outside interference in the inspection.
She clears her throat quickly. "We've stumbled on a group of colleagues on our way here who stopped nearby to check the building after hearing that it has been bought recently. Out of sheer curiosity, of course. They seem to have rudely peeked through the windows. Naturally, we can't take their unofficial statements as a viable record, so there is no issue on that part."
Well, at least one of them is somewhat competent. She knows how to salvage the situation. I could push this matter and turn it into an actual issue, but I have a feeling that she is smart enough not to fight in a disadvantageous position, and we would have ended up in court or something similar. For slander or false corruption claims, I bet.
"I see." I stroke my chin thoughtfully as the two of us lock gazes. "Seems that the people I set up on morning guard duty must have dozed off not to notice such an occurrence."
From this much, she understands that I'm well aware of her lies, but I'm willing to look past them. For a price. It's all up to her, who seems to hold the highest authority amongst her current peers, to decide if she is willing to take my offer to resolve things peacefully or drag them out through the mud.
"You seem to have had a busy last few days while registering your organisation, so it's understandable that everyone might be tired. Fortunately, we aren't meant to evaluate your capability to keep people away from the premises of your company." The inspector lady risks a sneaky smirk, making her choice. "However, I have to ask, who is this person? He's been present on the premises even before our arrival and the official start of the activities of your business. The files did not mention another Human in the crew list."
The other two grin to themselves as she directs our attention to another possible issue. But, I can now tell with ease that she's simply following protocol to the letter so that they don't realise she is compromised. Otherwise, she could have worded her inquiry much more aggressively, leaving me less room to manoeuvre around it.
Dad stands up after being called out, and I throw an arm over his shoulders. "This is Connor, someone I met earlier today. He's thinking about starting his own team as a way to earn funds for his growing family. He just got another son to look after. So, as a fellow Human, after verifying his skills and character, I offered to try and help him register his own company soon. My subordinates brought him here ahead of time so that we can discuss the matter of our cooperation in the near future. I forgot to tell him about the inspection, otherwise he would have waited outside. Hopefully, this honest mistake isn't too serious."
The main auditor makes a show of considering it before she marks something down in her notes. "It's a minor neglect and the first time, so I can overlook it just once. The premises need to be cleared of bystanders for the time of the inspection, or else you might be suspected of obstruction of the process."
Disappointed that this didn't work, Guy B sets his fists on his hips. "What about the females, then? Especially this one."
His fat finger points at Sirgia accusingly, which doesn't make our mercenary ladies happy. Their hands move to their weapons, but I quickly meet their eyes while mentally whispering to them to stay put. They fully oblige but remain on standby.
"She's my mate." I squint at the bold individual. "As far as I'm aware, there's nothing prohibiting my family from being here."
"Do you have any proof of that? Marriage certificate? Family contract?" Guy A joins his colleague.
That will be slightly harder to produce for us. Sirgia's parents did give us their blessing, but I haven't yet heard anything about any contracts. Though I assume it's something involving noble households tying their descendants together with a pinch of rules and regulations for both sides to keep their respective lineages safe. That would fit the local political climate.
Before I can come up with a response, my lover chooses to defend herself on her own. "I'm also Master Alastair's indentured servant. I owe him Life Debt after he rescued me from certain demise. Being his chosen mate is a privilege, but it doesn't nullify my pledge. If you wish to check the mark, I'll display it proudly. However, I have to disrobe slightly for that to happen. Is that okay with you?"
The male pair pales a tiny bit, and one coughs into his fist as they both look away. Whatever she's told them feels quite important and even more binding than normal slavery. They fight internally not to ogle her anymore, so I assume they can't allow themselves to watch her disrobe either, for some reason.
"We would not dare." The woman lowers her head politely, confirming my suspicions, then glares at her companions again. "Besides, she and the other two are Forgegravers. As one of the households vouching for this company, they have the right to be present during the inspection and submit their concerns directly to us in case they feel deceived by him. While the backers rarely show up, you should not forget this clause."
Great. We have given her legitimate reasons to be angry with them. They won't be able to doubt her much anymore.
"I apologise for the discourtesy my fellow inspectors showed by their behaviour." She offers us a little bow. "I'll make sure they remember the rules well this time, so I hope you can look past this slight and refrain from submitting a complaint."
"There is no need to bow." I help her up. "You were willing to look past my own slight, so it's only right that I return the favour. Let's forget about it already and focus on what's important. Any further questions?"
"I don't think so, sir. Right?" She takes a peek at the guys, who shake their heads, already having lost their drive to mess with us. "Therefore, I just need your signature under this form, and we can conclude the audit. Make sure to read through the report thoroughly. After signing, you won't be able to dispute it anymore."
Taking the clipboard from her, I scan through the pages of neatly arranged questions and clauses that she has either commented on or marked. I find a few traces of eraser here and there, making it obvious that she has made a few last-minute corrections. No doubt for the better of us. She might be worth considering as a future ally. Having someone inside the guild would prove useful.
"All seems correct, though I'm not too experienced in guild forms, so it's not like I can spot many issues with just a glance. I'll trust you on this matter." I hand the documents back with a smile.
"Very well. I appreciate that trust. We'll send a letter after the report gets processed. It will arrive with the one informing you about your assigned agent. Every company has a person they can contact for inquiries." The lady auditor hides the clipboard in her bag and reaches out for a handshake. "It was a pleasure."
"Mine as well." I obviously take it. "Let's hope we get assigned someone at least equally as capable as you, Miss Head Inspector."
"We shall see." She shrugs nonchalantly. "The selection is purely random in the end. The chances are not zero. Have a good day, sirs and madams."
The male pair is quick to head for the door as she follows them, sneaking in one more peek over her shoulder in the doorway. I nod at her to convey my lack of enmity. Answering with the same, she disappears too. A collective sigh of relief escapes us all, and the ladies slide their hands off their weapons.
"That went better than I thought it would," Daisy comments.
"Yeah. They were such complete asses to your girls throughout the tour that I expected them to cause some more ruckus," Cecil joins in.
"It looked like you guys forced them into a corner, so it's not surprising they backed off," Dad comments too. "The woman seemed to change the quickest, and I'm not sure yet if she isn't planning anything else with how kind she became."
"She appears to be a smart individual capable of weighing her gains and losses." I grin at him. "Might not be an immediate ally, but we laid the groundwork to win her over. If we lure her in with decent enough benefits, she might even help us bring our enemies down. Or, at the very least, inconvenience them just like they did with us."
"Do you think it was the Stockhawkers' doing?" Sirgia tilts her head cutely.
"Maybe. The guild clerk managing us might be a bastard who kept things from us, but we don't know if he would risk his position by more direct intervention that involves paying off the inspectors to do their job incorrectly. That could be harder for him to defend against than just being a little rude or racist," I explain my thought process.
"Anyway, I'm impressed." My father pats me on the back. "I'm out of depth here, yet I can tell that you know how to handle yourself in sophisticated situations. You would be a fine commander."
"Of course! Boss is the best commander! That's why he is the leader!" Ressia thrusts her chest out proudly.
The rest of her team shares the sentiment, making me swipe down my face to hide embarrassment.
It's different when they proclaim such things and praise me to the heavens in front of random people than when the person they are boasting to is my own father. Who was an elite soldier at that. Might not have led a big unit of his own, but has to know a thing or two about decision-making and conflict resolution.
Thankfully, I'm saved from further glorification by an unplanned interruption.
The front doors open again, and Oniri jogs up to us. "Captain! Leader!"
"At ease." Ressia turns serious and faces her subordinate. "Report."
"Another carriage arrived." The foxgirl salutes to her chest. "Six official-looking individuals escorted by twelve armed guards. Their leader demanded a meeting and introduced herself as the Stockhawker representative."
The mood shifts immediately as I meet the eyes of my Forgegraver companions.
It looks like my guess might have been right on point.
"Escort them to the main negotiation chamber," I reply, and all my mercenaries move to carry out my order. "Dad—"
"Go handle your business." He squeezes my shoulder. "Since our inspectors didn't stay for breakfast, I'll help your other two friends deal with the aftermath and let them know you are still busy."
Without waiting for my reply, he scurries in the direction of the kitchen while Ailish sinks into my chest as a pink mist. The rest of us head to the meeting room and hastily set it up. A desk wide enough for four and some comfortable chairs. The number on our side is obvious. The others get six, even if two won't get any surface. Only the representative deserves full hospitality anyway, according to my Dwarf helpers.
Soon after, I receive a mental ping and the entrance opens inside. My girls stroll inside, forming a line of six battle-hardened mercenaries behind our backs. The delegation comes in next. Six people dressed in fine robes resembling a market merchant's style for men and women make their way to the chairs, bearing Stockhawker insignias and colour palette. One of them wears a fancier outfit than the others, a female with long golden hair and bright yellow eyes, most likely the main representative. All twelve guards follow them, mirroring the position of our sentries.
Things get a little crowded, but still manageable.
And I don't have any doubts about who will come out on top if any fighting breaks out here, regardless of numbers.
The merchant committee sits down without making a fuss about the arrangement. There are some light glares, but they keep themselves mostly in control of their emotions. Especially the representative, who sports a focused frown which slightly mars her gorgeous face. Although it's not the only thing that does so, as sporadic scars and old bruises litter her visage. She might appear young, but must be fairly experienced in the world. As for her general figure, she's somewhere between Sirgia and Mevana. Not exactly extremely lithe, but not ultra thick either.
She rests her elbows atop the table, joins her hands together, and leans in. "You must be Alastair Carter."
I have to admit, she has a nice voice, even if it's currently strained from hostility.
"My fame precedes me." I recline into the backrest. "Which, unfortunately, doesn't seem the same for you as even my local friends aren't familiar with your person."
Yeah, I could act all nice, but we are in front of an enemy. There is no way they came all the way here with such a grand entourage to have some tea and cake with the leader of a newly registered mercenary company. Provoking them could work in our favour. Just gotta get them angry enough to make mistakes and perhaps reveal something they shouldn't.
"Watch your words Huma—"
"Silence!" One of her female colleagues snarls at me, but gets shut down by the representative. "I'm the only one to speak without being directly addressed! Another word, and you are out of this room!"
My brows raise involuntarily. This girl might actually hold the others on a quite tight leash compared to the previous group. It might require much more work to aggravate them. She's not an easy opponent.
"I'm Representative Mia, and I currently serve as the proxy of the head of the Stockhawker Household." The girl named Mia turns back to stare straight at me. "It would be more surprising for you to recognise me than not, as I'm no one important. At least on a daily basis. Right now, I hold the most decisive power after the matriarch, thus it would be wise to treat me as such."
She might have said that, but Daisy's furrowed forehead makes it clear that our high-born descendant is still trying to rack her brain for any information on the woman. Even if she says that she is no one important, that has to be a lie. The matriarch wouldn't pick any random member to represent her.
"Well met, Representative Mia." I incline my head her way. "And the rest of your… merry band?"
Two or three people bristle at the discourtesy, but she is quick to raise her hand and kill any response before it's born. As much as the others want to speak up, they really don't want to go against her. This is a woman in power, not some sidelined servant.
"No one you need to concern yourselves with. They are simply spectators. Our family requires exactly this many observers to be present whenever any official deal is made. They sign it and give personal statements that need to align, otherwise the contract is void." Mia spreads her arms to express that it is what it is.
"I see." I hum to myself. "As much as I would love to say the same, it's not on our side. I don't think I need to introduce them all, but here we have Ladies Daisy and Cecil Forgegraver, representatives of the main and auxiliary branches of their clan, and Lady Sirgia Forgegraver, the recently appointed Lineage Counsellor. It's a pleasure."
Our conversation partner snorts quietly. "No, it's not. And we all know it. So, let's not beat around the bush and get straight to the point. We can go our separate ways as soon as it's possible."
"Wise words." I smirk at her. "I doubt you are here to request our services."
"I'm not. Quite the opposite. I would like to ask, what do you require to cease your operations?" Mia charges head-on.
"What?" Cecil blinks at her in disbelief.
"This conflict is getting unnecessarily deep. If you are willing to stop obstructing our business, we are amenable to certain compensations," the blonde clarifies.
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," I respond with a surprised expression.
She sighs openly. "You know exactly what I mean. Don't act stupid. It's unbecoming of the one who caused us more trouble in two weeks than all our other competitors combined over the last year."
"I think you've got the wrong person, My Lady." I chuckle while shaking my head. "I'm just a hireling. I follow orders, not give them. They are the ones you should be addressing."
"As if." Mia levels me with a glare. "I might not know everything, but I know enough. We agreed not to mince words. This strategy won't work for you."
"Really, but I'm just a Human?" I point at myself, glancing both sides at my Dwarf friends. "I barely managed to get my company approved with unimaginable struggle, so how am I supposed to influence anyone in this region?"
"That's where you are wrong." The corner of her pouty lips curls up a bit. "It's exactly because you are Human. Do you think I don't know them and their family's temper? No Dwarf in this nation dares to go against us. They know better than that. Sure, they will still try to steal as much of the pie as they can while hiding in our shadow, but they won't ever come into the light. However, the same cannot be said about an outsider."
Damn. She's actually good. It almost feels like the first time someone views me as an actual variable rather than just a side character. And she's fully convinced about it.
Others, maybe not so much.
"That's an incredible theory." I whistle softly. "Imagine the reaction of the public if it were true that a mere Human throws one of the most famous and infamous households into chaos. It would make an amazing plot for a political novel. You all truly believe in such an amazing story?"
About half of her entourage and most of her guards grumble to themselves silently, their answer obvious if they were allowed to voice it out.
Mia takes a deep breath, joining her palms in front of her mouth once more. "Must you really act this way?"
Allowing myself a short laugh, I shrug candidly. "My apologies. My acting falters a bit in front of an audience."
She searches my eyes for a few seconds, then places her hands atop the desk. "Leave us."
"Wha—"
"I said, leave us!" Mia whips around at the female next to her. "It's clear there will be no deals made today. Your part is done. My goals are still far from achieved. Now go. I won't repeat myself for the third time."
Hoho.
What a bold girl. She doesn't waste her breath chasing an unattainable objective. Yet, she is still determined to make the most out of the situation by any means necessary. It's a low-probability gamble that we will actually say anything to her alone, but she intends to take that chance nevertheless. Using my off-handed joke as leverage is impressive.
One of the guards steps forward. "But, My Lady, we can't leave you without protection when faced with this many—"
"I'll dismiss our guards too." I throw in, capturing their attention. "You can all stay just outside the room."
My girls immediately march around the table in a single line and stop beside the door, waiting for explicit orders to leave.
"Good." Mia nods at me with professional appreciation.
But the man isn't done. "Still, it would be one against—"
"Who do you think I am?!" She rises from her seat and gets right into his face. "You reckon they are dumb enough to try anything against the matriarch's direct representative when surrounded by a small army?! And even if, you expect the matriarch not to have anticipated such a thing and sent me into enemy territory defenceless?! I don't need any of you to take care of a few spoiled heirs!"
He mulls it over, sweating like mad, before obediently lowering his eyes. I send the signal to the girls, and they stroll out of the room. The guards hesitantly follow while the spectators need one more glare from the representative to run away from her ire. When the door closes again, she lets out an explosive sigh before unhurriedly retaking her seat in front of us.
As I'm opening my mouth to compliment her since she deserves it, Mia brings out an artefact from a pouch. My companions tense up, but we all recognise its purpose at first glance. Placing the compass-like gadget on the table, she activates a silencing spell that prevents any sounds from leaving the room.
"We don't have a lot of time until they grow anxious." Mia meets our gazes respectively, her tone suddenly much less hostile. "Let me ask just one thing. Is your end goal to completely bring down the Stockhawker Empire?"
Cecil snorts loudly. "What could have given you that idea?"
It's obvious sarcasm, but our conversation partner seems to take it at face value.
"The sudden appearance of Pleasure Queen. The destruction of our Puppet Corps on their mission to capture the VIP. The sabotage of one of our main warehouses. The establishment of a new mercenary force backed by your family." Mia lists calmly. "I could go on with some other minor events, but what connects them all is the variety. This is an operation on a large scale, not some guerrilla attack by a small entrepreneur who got offended or slighted."
"You realise you just admitted to sending assassins after me, right?" Daisy laughs out loud. "You dumb bitch."
It doesn't evoke any reaction from the culprit as I watch her intently while stroking my chin.
"Answer me. Please." The representative still has eyes only for me when it comes to her questions.
It's my turn to raise my hand and silence my aides, though with much less rudeness. There have been words on Cecil's and Daisy's lips, but they halt anyway, both heiresses deferring to my silent request. Our guest isn't surprised, but a shadow of validation glints through her golden eyes.
"If I said yes, what would that mean to you?" I inquire calmly.
She straightens up somewhat. "As you must have guessed, I hold a fairly high position in the family. That gives me access to plenty of confidential files and records, including many of our shady dealings and straight-up illegal activities. With my assistance, it would be possible to completely erase the Stockhawker name from the realm. I can help you. Under one condition."
"And what would happen if we decided to refuse your offer?" Sirgia chimes in gently but with intent.
"Then, some bits of sensitive information that happened to have been lost amongst the massive stream of reports and investigation results might finally find their way to the hands of the matriarch," Mia answers firmly.
"That sounds like blackmail rather than someone offering help." Cecil growls.
"Assuming we decide to trust that this isn't a double-agent play, what's the condition?" I ask.
Mia swallows thickly, squeezing her hands tightly together. "My mother dies first."
Silence falls upon the room as all four of us freeze.
A sharp slam makes everyone but Daisy jump in their seat as we look at the bookish girl with her palm atop the desk.
"Miazira Stockhawker!" she yells out in realisation. "Firstborn daughter and the only successor in the Stockhawker line! I knew I'd seen that mug somewhere!"
Oh, great.
Another princess joins in.
This time on the enemy side.
"Wait. Does that mean you want us to murder the head of the household?" Cecil gapes at her with wide eyes.
"The woman who gave you life..." Sirgia brings attention to a much more troubling aspect. "Why?"
"The only life that monster has given anyone ever." Miazira scoffs to the side. "Do you really have to ask that? Did our clan not cause enough pain and suffering? Did we not ruin enough families?"
I wince a bit. "Still, that's—"
"She is the reason Stockhawkers are who they are today." She cuts me off. "I might not have been alive back then, but before her succession, we used to have principles. Sure, we were scheming and tempestuous like most merchant associations, but not to this extent. Not to send assassins to uproot someone's entire lineage because they dared to refuse our one-sided deal. There might be no proof, but she literally butchered her way into power, poisoning her husband, my father, to achieve her position quicker, as soon as he did his job of providing an heir."
That is quite a heavy accusation. It's no wonder we are all rather taken aback. And we still would be even if she weren't seething with negative emotions as she shares her motivations.
"And do you think that treatment is reserved only for our enemies?" Mia continues, banging her fist against the tabletop. "It's not like she can trust anyone with how much of a snake she is. Everyone around suffers twice, if not thrice worse than our biggest opponents just so that she remains in control. Hostages, debts, threats, blackmail, slavery for life or even generations. This entire family, save for the few at the very top, is nothing more than her personal dollhouse, each person dancing atop her palm until she gets bored with them or they crack the tiniest bit under the pressure. Unless she disappears, nothing will change. That's why she needs to die. With her gone, the entire thing will crumble. With a little push, everyone will be free. But that can only happen with complete eradication of the Stockhawker Household."
Finishing her piece, she gradually works on calming herself down, keeping an eye on our response.
"You spin a very compelling story, but you don't think we will believe you just like that, do you?" Daisy squints at her with obvious suspicion and disdain.
"That's only natural. I'm your enemy. I wouldn't expect anything less from any of you." The rival princess reaches into a briefcase hanging on her shoulder strap. "I would be an idiot to come empty-handed. It was risky, but I snuck out a few top secret files that are connected to your—ah!"
My body moves on instinct the split-second my mind registers the tiniest shadow of a hint I've been meticulously disciplined to recognise during my mentor training back on Earth. Mia lets out a whimper of pain as my hand grabs her wrist mid-motion and pulls it up as she brings it back, scattering the papers all over the desk.
But, the moment her sleeve slides back slightly, everyone realises that it wasn't caused by my rough handling.
To my eyes, the traces of yellow and even some splatterings of blue are like glowing neon lights in a cloudless night sky. My other hand shoots to her face and cups her chin, the surprised lady shrinking back from my touch. As my thumb slides over her cheek, it comes off with a thick layer of makeup. A purple blemish peeks out from underneath its camouflage.
Her entire body is painted over with dense dust.
My heart tightens so much it feels like it's going to explode. The air in the room grows so heavy with intensity that you could stand up and go for a swim in it. I don't even have to turn my head to look at my companions to know they are partially to blame for this phenomenon. Sirgia's vehement emotions that flood me are undoubtedly echoed by her kin-sisters.
Subconsciously, I reach into myself and invoke the power of the recently gained Heavenly Passion Physician to rejuvenate the poor girl from inside. As it's at the peak of healing, the mana starts working without delay, taking care of those injuries all over her skin one after another. It causes my patient to flinch away from my palm, but that's natural. Her eyes then open wide, and she tries yanking her wrist out of my grasp.
"Stop! Let me go! I said stop!" Mia desperately struggles to free herself, her voice gradually rising into a piercing shriek. "I TOLD YOU TO LET ME GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Wincing, I withdraw, and she falls backwards along the chair, getting up in a flash and staring back at me with a frightened expression.
I smile at her warmly and reach out. "It's okay. I know it might feel weird, but I'm—"
"I know exactly what you are doing!" Miazira shouts at me on the verge of tears, examining her arm alarmingly. "Did I ask you to?! Do you think she's a moron?! She will immediately notice my bruises are gone and fly into rage!"
My mouth hangs open as my mind clocks in that she is not allowed to receive treatment.
"She dies by the end of the week." Cecil's voice drips with venom as my black-haired mercenary friend speaks up.
"Three days, no more." Daisy's tone sounds like someone grinding two of the most precious stones together.
"I can slip a custom Null Charge into the compound by tomorrow evening." Sirgia's words have never appeared so deceitfully tranquil. "It will erase the entire thing in the blink of an eye. No sound, no light, no evidence."
"No." I myself go lower than I ever had, my grave reply causing Mia to shudder. "Even if most of the family is rotten to the core, there are still innocent and abused people present, like Miazira pointed out."
"Then Master can just snap his fingers and annihilate her existence instead," she counters.
"As tempted as I am to resolve it this instant, acting without any thought and consideration can bring more harm than good." I lean back and start rocking my chair slowly. "What would happen if the matriarch suddenly disappears without a trace or is found deceased in her quarters?"
"Ummm… An investigation…" Mia answers with some trouble. "T-The crown might get involved too…"
"Too many variables. We need a way to turn it into a done deal. No simple accident will make it work." I look into the ceiling thoughtfully.
"Cecil." Daisy turns to the other heiress. "How many Shadow Hand members does the Patriarch have on standby?"
"None. You outlawed them quite some time ago, worried that we might turn them to our side and gain a weapon that can be aimed at the main branch," Cecil answers without a shred of blame. "Daisy, are you able to get yours moving? How long will it take them to get here?"
"I can't. I'm not even first-in-line for succession, preceded by my parents, regardless of whether they wish to partake or not. They only listen to the Grand Patriarch. He would most likely heed to my request of borrowing them, but they will report everything they see and do as it is. That could complicate things for Alastair." Daisy grunts in dissatisfaction. "You know your way around the mercenary circles. Did you come across any shady groups we could use as a scapegoat?"
"A few might come to mind, but they are too careful to accept such a suspicious commission." The other woman chews on her fingernail. "I assume you can't think of any corrupt nobles to throw under the wagon from your experiences during galas and balls."
"In any way, if we can't kill her in the city, then we need to figure out how to lure her outside," Sirgia adds another fair point. "Things will become much easier then."
"That's almost impossible." Daisy's lips thin out. "Something insane would need to happen for her to move."
"They have some influence in Dwarguhlim, right?" Cecil chances a peek at the bookish female. "Could the main branch force her hand somehow?"
The glasses girl perks up. "They own quite a few real estates there. I could covet one and ask Grandfather to get it for me. It's common knowledge that he spoils me rotten. If we find one under her direct name and raise a big fuss around it, offering over double the value, she will be obliged by law to show up in person and resolve the dispute."
"Then we nab her on the road and squash her like a bug." The black-haired adventurer smacks her fist into her palm.
"Remember, it can't lead to a dead end. The plan needs an undisputed conclusion that dispels any need for further investigation," I remind the over-eager mercenary.
"Beasts like the last time?" She raises a brow at me.
"Too obvious. And twice in a row would be way too suspicious." I wave her off, then pause. "But wait. How widely did you spread the rumour that your people have been ambushed on the road by a rival clan?"
Mia flinches slightly as all four of us lock on her. "Uhhh… Everyone should have heard about that… Including the sovereign…"
"Perfect." I stop rocking back and forth. "We told the guards about them wearing bandit clothes over their uniforms. They should have investigated and reported their findings by now. Thanks to that, we can use bandits for our ploy, regardless of what the guards assume happened, either if those were the crooks who killed the party, stole their gear, then got themselves done by a pack of Rollos, or if the clan offended some brigands by posing as them and invoked their ire, which was attempted to be covered by aforementioned monsters afterwards."
"And if we set another band of outlaws to capture the matriarch, they will believe it's the latter and they acted in retaliation." Sirgia nods to herself in understanding.
"I can find out about the closest sightings," Cecil offers.
"And Diana can fetch us a few for our operation," my cunning mate adds. "But that's still not enough for a steel-solid scheme, even if we force them to comply and kill everyone off to get rid of witnesses. We actually need some legitimate ones."
"Where to find better testimony than from the family itself." I snap my fingers. "Who takes the reins of the clan with the current head either captured or presumed dead?"
"That would be me…" Miazira reluctantly points at herself. "But the Board of Elders can invalidate my commands while I'm still the acting-head if all of them agree unanimously…"
"Then you hire us to get your mother back and send a trustworthy representative along with our team to report their findings," I explain. "We track the bandits to their hiding spot, a fight breaks out, amidst the chaos, one of them kills off their hostage, then we clean them up."
"You can't do that. It would taint your corps with a smear of a serious failure," Cecil hastily interjects. "The commission needs to be worded in a way that allows for success no matter the state of the person we are sent after, like search and locate."
"I think it would be more natural for it to be a failure, but I understand your point. The girls would feel like they let me down by breaking their perfect record." I rub my temples in slight frustration. "Regardless, that happens, we bring back the woman's remains, everyone testifies whenever necessary, Mia gets chosen as the next head, and we help her clean the house out, beginning the Stockhawker Redemption Arc under the new management that wants to avoid a similar fate by turning over a new leaf. Any objections?"
My Dwarf accomplices think everything over for a moment and all shake their heads in unison. As we turn our attention to Mia, she gapes at us while blinking in a daze.
"Who… are you?" she stammers out.
"Possibly the worst people in this world to make an enemy of." I chuckle warmly. "Now, fix your makeup. We have a bitch to murder."