"And so you slink back here with nothing to show for it? Empty-handed?"
Count Douglas had been summoned by Marquis Letitia, one of the Three Grand Electors.
Also present was Grandeur, president of the Grandeur Gem Trading Company.
He had no choice but to report that despite mobilizing the Adventurer's Guild, he had failed to obtain the gem.
"The Crimson Empress, Lady Letitia. I... am... terribly... sorry..."
Despite the magic stone mine matter supposedly being resolved, Douglas had yet to report. Suspicious, Letitia had him summoned immediately, leaving Douglas no time to search for the Jewel Beast or the whereabouts of its gem.
"Lady Letitia, please—if only you would grant this humble one one more opportunity to make use of your precious time..."
Douglas's face had gone deathly pale as he trembled and begged for mercy.
Letitia was an empress known for her ruthlessness.
Clad in a deep crimson gown, she appeared far younger and more beautiful than her true age, but countless were those who had been disposed of for defying her.
It was Grandeur who had proposed the mine to Letitia.
In other words, the Elector backing Grandeur was none other than Letitia.
"To obtain the highest quality turquoise, we went through the trouble of capturing a Jewel Beast and placing it deep within the mine to let it grow. We moved the Adventurer's Guild to forcibly recruit one."
Grandeur directed an accusatory gaze at Douglas.
"Do you have any idea how much money was poured into this endeavor? Lord Douglas, I expect you to take responsibility."
Failure was simply unthinkable.
Grandeur, the guild president, pressed Douglas further.
"Sir Grandeur, how unreasonable!"
Douglas had accumulated debts through his frivolous spending that he could never repay in a lifetime, and could only wretchedly cling to Grandeur.
"I have no use for incompetence. Douglas, you boasted to me, 'Leave it to my knight order—such a task is trivial!' That is why I entrusted it to you. And this is the result?"
"F-forgive me! Next time, I swear—I will retrieve it!"
"The sin of disappointing me is grave. You should do the honorable thing and end your life here. I am being merciful, am I not?"
"No! Noooo!"
"You really are a troublesome one. Do it!"
The knight standing behind Letitia cut down Douglas as he tried to scramble away in retreat.
"Gyaaaaaah!"
Count Douglas was hacked apart over and over, blood spraying in every direction.
Another knight used wind magic to scatter the blood so it wouldn't splatter on Letitia.
"What an unsightly way to go."
"Lady Letitia."
"What is it, Grandeur?"
"Regarding the mine—let us say that Douglas and his knight order sacrificed their lives to slay the ferocious demon dwelling in its deepest reaches."
"You would grant honor to this incompetent?"
Letitia looked down at Douglas's blood-soaked corpse with undisguised disgust.
"We need an official narrative—that the nobles took action and resolved the situation."
"Oh?"
"If we publicize this through the guild, we can also snare the fools who claim otherwise. Among them may well be the culprit."
"As you see fit."
"Furthermore, based on the circumstances, it appears the culprit is among the adventurers. I would like to commission the Dark Guild to investigate the adventurers and recover the gem."
"Don't you dare fail me."
"Yes, my lord."
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Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Fist God][Spear God][Scorching Magic][Frozen Ice Magic][Clear Storm Magic][Rock Iron Magic][Sacred Magic][Dark Magic][Space-Time Magic][Thunder God Sword][Phantom Thief Gentleman][Ninja Master][Seeker of Truth][Monstrous Strength][Skanda][Pain Relief][Complete Status Abnormality Resistance][Dark Spirit's Protection][Super Intuition][Heaven's Gate][Contracted of the Abyss][Magic Hand][Treasure Search][Seduction][Incitement][Eloquence][Strong Fortune][10× Growth Speed][Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcum