Cave King – 271

Chapter 271 – Facing The Enemy!

---

After we finished searching the mountain, we returned to the Mappa Go and descended.

We then looked down at the mountain from the sky again, and confirmed that there was nothing else. I had wondered if there was some device that connected to the tower. After all, there had been a lot of supplies inside, so surely they would have had to use wagons to carry them.

However, I could find nothing.

Indeed, we could not search very thoroughly, but it was also possible that it was not on the mountain.

Still…I couldn’t help but feel that it was in a place not too far away from the fortress. The reason for this, was because I knew about teleportation gates.

The device in the tower had been smaller than the teleportation gate in the Sheorl undergrounds. The magic energy was also weaker. I did not know if the amount of energy dictated the distance you could travel, but I doubted you could travel farther with it than the teleportation gates. And so they must be close together.

Because of such reasons, I suspected that the other device was in one of the guard houses that surrounded the mountain and Lushika. I told this to Rienna and Fule, and they said that I was likely correct.

Fule looked at the mountain and said,

“Hmm. I really don’t think it’s on the mountain after all.”
“Yes. Lord Heal, should we start looking elsewhere?”

“Aye. We can ask Rish to check the guard houses and watchtowers later. We can search Lushika. Though, if we don’t find it there, we may not be able to find it at all…”

It would mean searching not just Leodorf and the nearby towns, but numerous other villages as well. And after that, we might have to expand our field of search even more.

We could also ask for help from Sheorl, but that still might not help us find it.

And so it was with hopes that it was in Lushika, that we decided to begin our search.

Rienna, Fule and I searched for barrels and boxes with the same mark. Mappa continued to search the surrounding area from the sky.

As for who would use so many wooden boxes and barrels… Merchants seemed the most likely.

And so we walked around Lushika and checked the stores.

However, there were only seven stores in Lushik. And most were small stores owned by locals.

And though we checked the barrels and boxes in front of the stores, none of them had that mark. Instead, they all had the merchant’s name or store name branded on them. Additionally, most sold food or household items. Only one store sold weapons and armor of low quality.

And so these merchants were definitely not involved.

Lastly, we headed to a grand three-story building, which was the most eye-catching store in Lushik. The first floor had glass windows like you would see in the royal capital, and many luxurious items were on display.

I stood in front of the store and looked up. There was a sign that read ‘Arubal Company.’

“It’s here…”

I couldn’t help but mutter.

It wasn’t as if there were any barrels or boxes outside. However, I could sense the strong magic energy. It was coming from deep under the story. It was circular, and about the same size as the one in the tower.

“…Let’s find a back alley to hide in and become invisible. Then we will go inside.”

And like that, we decided to investigate the Arubal Company.

Inside, the store was quite large, and there were numerous products for sale. Accessories with precious stones, pottery, and carpets from foreign countries.

It was strange to have such a luxurious store in a town with a population of just one thousand. In fact, there were no other customers. How were they able to stay in business?

We walked past the luxury items area, and reached an entrance without a door. Here, employees were moving boxes in and out.

It must be the storage area. We entered carefully so as not to bump into anyone. Inside, there were rows of products. I then approached a pile of barrels and boxes in one corner, and searched for the mark.

“There…”

The dark burned spots were visible. The same brand that I had seen in the tower.

If it was the Arubal Company, it would explain why they were able to prepare so much supplies. And this storage area was filled with them. And unlike the rest of the store, it was mostly practical items, including food, weapons and armor.

After that, we went to check the underground. We descended the long flight of stairs until we reached an open iron door.

On the other side, there was a room made of stone. And in the center, there was the same metal ring that I had seen in the tower. Not only that, but there was also a hole in the wall here as well.

Currently, the employees were moving the boxes, so the door was left open.

Fule then whispered.

“That settles it then.”
“Yes.”

We continued to search after that. Starting with Alva’s room, we looked through the documents. Furthermore, we listened to employees as they talked in the garden during their break.

However, there was not a single document that connected them to the fortress and bandits. There was a list of all the products, but none contained anything about weapons. All the employees knew was the secret passage was being used to trade with a secret customer.

It was likely that only Alva knew the truth…

In any case, we had acquired the information that we wanted. And so we decided to return to the inn.

Rish had not returned yet. However, we knew the guards were innocent now. And it was unlikely that they were cooperating in any way. With such a device, Alva would not need their help.

—

We sat down in the chairs in our room. Rienna looked quite happy as she opened her mouth.

“You were right, Lord Heal.”
“Really, to find the truth in just one day! I underestimated you… I mean, tha-that really was impressive!”

She said the last part a little frantically. I suppose she thought I was bad at this kind of mystery solving.

Well, she wasn’t wrong…

“It’s too early to celebrate. Besides…this is quite troublesome…”
“Why? If we tell Ms. Rish and Count Leodor, then everything will be fine. Besides, we can easily take down the fortress.”

Fule was right. We could overthrow them. And the Arubal Company too. Take the rings and expose their connection to the bandits.

But it wasn’t really that simple.

“If we do that, the person who is behind it all will run away.”

Rienna thought about it for a moment.

“Yes… There was no documented evidence. And so even the Arubal Company can claim that their Lushika store was acting on its own.”

I nodded.

“Aye. And the device changed things too. If we confiscated it, the person behind it would want to get it back no matter what. Even other nobles might try to steal it. That is such a rare and valuable device.”

It allowed people to trade from a far distance. 

I looked outside the window at the town of Lushika.

“Whatever happens next, it could end up involving the people of Leodor. Perhaps even Rish and the count will be in danger if they have it.”

I could tell Count Leodor first, and then have the device sent to my father. However, would the Count want to part with something so valuable? After all, he would care about the prosperity of his house and lands above everything.

In that case, it would be best to not give it to him. 

“I don’t think its existence should be revealed to the rest of the world.”

It would cause confusion in the country. Father would act. As would the person behind it all.

Aside from helping Rish, we needed to find out who the owner was…

They must be very powerful. However, if they were willing to let someone borrow the device, they might have others too.

Of course, the Arubal Company might be more powerful than I thought as well.

In any case, it was best to keep it secret for now, and use it for future negotiations.

“But the crimes of the Arubal Company…”
“Cannot be proven. But I think that is fine for now. Until we lure out the person behind it all.”
“And you think it might be the Bessel family?”

I nodded at Rienna’s question.

“Aye. And so I want to make it seem, on the surface, that we defeated the bandits of Nostor mountain.”
“I see. But won’t the Arubal Company, and the person behind them, make their next move towards the Leodor lands?”
“Probably. They will want to retrieve the device that was in the fortress. And so we should act first.”

I said, and took in a deep breath.

“…Rienna, Fule. Will you listen to my plan? And tell me if you do not think it is a good idea.”

They nodded with serious expressions.

“We are going to tell the Arubal Company that I defeated the bandits. I will take the device and tell them that I know everything. And that if they want my silence, they will have to listen to my demands.”
“In other words, you are going to negotiate with them directly?”
“Yes. That will get the attention of the person backing them. I, Prince Heal.”

To be precise, I was the lord of Sheorl. No longer a prince of Sanfaris. However, not many people knew about that.

If anything, they would know me as the useless prince.

“And that will take the enemy’s eyes away from Count Leodor and Rish?”

I nodded.

“That’s right. And while I pretend to negotiate with the Arubal Company, I’m going to smoke out the mastermind.”
“But what if you don’t find anyone? What if all you do is make enemies…”

Fule paused as if remembering something.

“Aye. Once we return to Sheorl, I will be afraid of nothing. They cannot chase me there.”
“Hehe. Everything will be fine. If they come to Sheorl, we can give them a ‘warm’ welcome. …Besides, to face the enemy for an old friend…it is quite heroic!”

“Like a prince in shining armor!”

Fule and Rienna laughed.

That’s not what I was trying to do…

Before coming to Sheorl, even when I saw something wrong, there was little that I could do. Even if I tried to help someone, they would still die in front of me. I was powerless.

But now, I could stop those who opposed me.

Perhaps, deep down, I wanted to do the things that I wasn’t able to do before. Arancia, Sypheum, Lang… That might be why I wanted to help them.

As I thought of such things, Rish and Number 15 returned to the room.

Just as I had expected, they did not find anything suspicious with the soldiers. They were completely unrelated to the bandits.

On the other hand, I did not tell Rish everything. Instead…

“…We found a hole that leads to the fortress.”

I said.

“As for the attack, I want you to leave it to me. As Prince Heal.”

Next Chapter