Chapter 270: Wealthy Friend (1)
“…They were villains who could never be forgiven.”
Dolores spoke while sitting on the water tank on the rooftop.
The scene of heretics and cultists dying in droves was clearly horrifying.
However, they were individuals who had committed atrocities on the outskirts of the empire, beyond the gaze of the religion. They manipulated the hearts of sick patients and their families, instilled fear, and accumulated wealth by lobbying the central power in exchange for gradually increasing their influence.
To expose them, only a simple, aggressive, yet certain method could be used.
That was why Dolores collaborated with Night Hound.
And the result.
Vikir, wearing the mask of Night Hound, could uncover the identity of the mysterious figure in black.
A presence that not only raised and nurtured heretics and cultists in the region but also infiltrated and consumed nearly half of the Quovadis Clan using the accumulated wealth, gained by exploiting the emotions of sick patients and their families and instilling fear.
The end of that long chain. At its core was the name of the conglomerate, the “Bourgeois Clan.”
Vikir handed Dolores the ledger he found at the scene of the massacre caused by Miss Ouroboros.
“If you think you can handle it, take a look.”
A voice without highs and lows. And within it, a chilling warning.
It was an attitude as if drawing a line at a distance.
However, Dolores had already made up her mind.
She would jump into any thorny path as long as it was where Night Hound went.
Before long.
Flap-
Dolores unfolded the ledger without hesitation.
“This, this is!?”
There was no need to scrutinize the ledger carefully.
The word “Bourgeois” was written on almost every page of the ledger, and its frequency of appearance was overwhelming.
“… Unbelievable.”
Dolores spoke with a trembling voice, seemingly in disbelief.
The intentions of the Bourgeois were clear.
Through donations, they raised heretics and cultists, weakened the influence of Quovadis, split it into Old and New Testament factions, and ultimately aimed to control the entire Quovadis Clan by simultaneously engulfing both factions. In other words, this was a silent war unfolding between the Industrial clan, the religious clan, and the seven great clans of the empire.
“It seems more severe than the fight between Morg and Baskerville.”
Although not a drop of blood was shed, the severity and cruelty surpassed imagination.
Vikir recalled Decarabia’s testimony from the last time and thought, ‘This ledger is probably the collaboration between the Ninth Corpse and the Sixth Corpse.’
He mentioned that the ninth and sixth corpses’ were close friends.
The sixth corpse probably planned to finish the plan he made with his close friend.
“Donate to heretics and cultists, sponsor the Old Testament with that money, and buy a huge amount of indulgences. It was convenient for heretics and cultists, who inherently had a secretive organizational structure, and had many secrets in terms of accounting and taxation, to be treated as minions.”
“That illicitly earned black money was laundered through purchasing indulgences and entered the Old Testament, right?”
“That’s right. Since the sale of indulgences is a tax-free business officially endorsed by the ‘Emperor,’ Quovadis would have had no reason to doubt or be wary from the beginning.”
“Indulging in the sweet, free feed without any suspicion has turned Quovadis into a fat and lazy pig. That’s what Quovadis Clan is now.”
Dolores blames herself.
Vikir uttered a brief remark.
“The Bourgeois Clan’s motto comes to mind.”
“…Huh?”
As Dolores looked up with a puzzled expression, Vikir spoke a short sentence.
“There’s no free lunch.”
The phrase that best summarizes the conglomerate.
Dolores swallowed her saliva.
The reason why the Bourgeois Clan is meddling with Quovadis is a question with an answer that doesn’t require deep contemplation.
Faith. Belief. Fidelity. Things that money cannot buy.
Isn’t a society that can even afford such things truly a golden omnipotent world?
“I thought that the sword of the Iron Blooded Clan Baskerville, the spear of the Blade Clan (Donquixote Clan), the bow of the Usher house, the poison of the Ruthless Reviadon clan, and the magic of the Morg Clan could all be bought with money, but the faith of the Quovadis Clan cannot be bought with money…”
To comfort the disheartened Dolores, Vikir said something else.
“Now that we’ve figured out the Bourgeois’s intentions, we need to find the real villain hidden among them.”
The work is not yet finished.
Individuals within the group. The real enemies within the Bourgeois Clan need to be identified and eliminated.
“The sixth corpse is probably there.”
At that moment, Dolores, her voice somewhat lacking confidence, asked.
“When I posted 95 counter-arguments against the Old Testament last time, they didn’t even react. But now, we have to deal with the Bourgeois Clan behind them. Can we do it…?”
“We can.”
Dolores widened her eyes as she looked at Vikir, who answered immediately before her somewhat self-deprecating question was even finished.
With a tone filled with conviction, Vikir strongly stated, “If we have the power.”
To attack an adversary armed with money, law, and various systems protected by society, what should one do?
“The answer is force. Only violence, a powerful and brutal force that lurks quietly and discreetly, can punish them. Even when you, the Saintess, exposed the bribery of the Indulgentia Clan directly. Back then, not even the tail of the Bourgeois Clan was caught. There’s simply no chance of success using conventional methods.”
Vikir is silently contemplating various thoughts. Dolores, observing Vikir from behind, has a tense expression.
“…This time, are you planning to assassinate key members of the Bourgeois Clan?”
“That’s right.”
For the first time, Vikir shared his assassination plan with others. The memory of forcefully advancing to a higher realm through the power of buffs during his fight with Dantalain came to mind.
“In moments of crisis, it’s always helpful.”
Although Dolores is still unable to control her awakening, there’s a possibility. At that moment, Dolores, with a worried expression, spoke.
“Bourgeois Clan members reportedly put a lot of effort into avoiding assassinations. It seems quite challenging.”
Vikir nodded. Those with much to lose tend to be fearful. Even before Vikir’s regression to the current world, Bourgeois Clan members invested enormous sums in security to prevent assassinations. They employed soldiers and mercenaries to guard their mansions, trading posts, and shops. They changed their commuting and returning routes, discreetly moving with multiple carriages during each trip.
Moreover, high-ranking Bourgeois Clan members, having received extensive training in various martial arts and magic since childhood, were skilled individuals with top-notch combat abilities.
“Most of the Bourgeois Clan members reside in luxurious mansions. Is it possible to infiltrate with such strict security and guard systems, surrounded by soldiers and mercenaries?”
Dolores’ question was valid. However, Vikir shook his head, providing a different answer.
“If it’s difficult to approach them, then we’ll make them come to us.”
“Huh? How?”
In response to Dolores’ questioning expression, Vikir cleared his throat once and asked a counter-question.
“Assassins need to be versatile. So, what virtues do you think are required for an assassin?”
For Dolores, who has never attempted assassination before, it was a difficult question. Nevertheless, she did her best to answer.
“Well, naturally, proficiency in killing techniques?”
“Again.”
“Again… stamina, agility, caution, patience, courage, determination, and the ability to make immediate judgments in critical situations. Also, discretion not to divulge information when caught?”
“One more thing.”
Dolores nodded thoughtfully at Vikir’s words. Eventually, Vikir added one more thing.
“You need to earn money well.”
…?
For a moment, Dolores had a blank expression. But Vikir continued nonchalantly.
“Sometimes, to approach the assassination target, you need both money and influence. If you’re not funded or there are issues with your funding sources, you might have to locally procure security. That’s often the case.”
As a result, the ability to make money is an unexpected requirement for an assassin. In reality, unlike in novels or comics, a large war chest is rarely provided for assassination missions. Especially when dealing with a large number of people of high social standing.
Vikir explained, “The reason you need to make good money is straightforward. This is because a lunch or dinner with a high-ranking member of the Bourgeois family is frequently auctioned off.”
“Really? Do you have to pay money for a lunch meeting?”
“And it has to be a considerable amount. It’s money that an average worker couldn’t earn in a lifetime.”
By sharing a meal, the buyer gains access to information, connections, and future insights related to their investment.
“For example, the price for a lunch meeting with the Bourgeois Clan’s second son, ‘Damian,’ was said to be one hundred kilograms of gold bars.”
“Yikes!”
Dolores swallowed the empty air. With that amount, one could build several temples in the slums! For a Saint of the New Testament, who always struggled with finances, it was a staggering amount.
Vikir inexplicably comforted the somewhat deflated Dolores. “Don’t worry. I have plenty of money. Enough to contact the Bourgeois Clan on my own.”
“Really?”
Dolores looked surprised and turned her gaze away. Almost involuntarily, she glanced over and down at Night Hound.
Eventually, Dolores cautiously expressed her opinion. “But you seem so poor…?”
The reason Dolores said this was that she had witnessed Night Hound distributing all the money in his pockets to the poor when the plague called the ‘Red Death’ spread.
.
Upon hearing Dolores’s words, Vikir paused for a moment and then changed his statement.
“Let me correct that. I have…”
After a brief silence, Vikir said something quite impressive.
“I have a friend with a lot of money.”
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