Cave King – 280

Chapter 280 – Two Steps Ahead!?

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After separating from Balpas, we returned to the main road. It was filled with carriages and people moving in both directions.

Rienna looked over her shoulder and muttered.

“I thought that someone would follow us.”
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone. After all, he seems like the kind of person who doesn’t like to bother with such troublesome things.”

Fule agreed. Balpas could be rather lazy. And he likely didn’t want to risk offending us by sending out his spies. Also, he seemed to not see us as a threat.

“Well, a lot happened, and so I forgot… But we were supposed to look for a place to stay.”
“That’s right. How about going down the main street? Also, I am curious about the Arubal Company.”

I nodded at Rienna.

“We’ll do that. It would be good to at least see their headquarters.”

And so we made our way through the crowds on the main street.

“I can see it now. Though, it’s still quite far away.”

I turned my eyes towards the spiral tower in the distance. The company flag was blowing in the wind above. And below the tower, there was a large stone building.

“So it is that… While not as high as the World Tree, it is very tall.”

“It’s the tallest tower in the royal capital. Normally, you are not allowed to build anything that is as high as the palace. But they received special permission, as they made great donations to the palace.”

“Huh. So that’s how rich they are…”

Fule looked impressed as she raised her head towards the tower.

Rienna also looked while she walked.

“Still, it seems so far away…as if my sense of distance is all messed up.”
“Because we’re in a crowd. In any case, let’s keep walking.”

We went on for a few more minutes, and then we arrived at the area near the Arubal Company headquarters.

The sturdy building had rows of stone pillars. The first floor was a store, and the front windows had various luxury items on display.

“Oh…this place is so big… Bigger than the others.”
“And there are so many customers.

“Indeed. I can tell how crowded it is inside, by detecting their magic energy.”

Fule squinted her eyes.

“If there were any dangerous devices, we should be able to detect them too…but there doesn’t seem to be anything.”

As Fule said, I did not detect anything powerful from the building.

Rienna said,

“As for lodging, it should also be a place where we can detect magic energy.”
“Indeed. Hmm…?”

There was a well-dressed man standing in front of the company building. He suddenly started to walk towards us.

“Do you have business here? If you are searching for something, maybe I can help you.”

The man was wearing a green coat and a decorated hat. He also wore round glasses with a golden frame.

A merchant. From the Arubal Company.

They must have an employee stationed in the front at all times, ready to speak to passersby.

I answered calmly.

“Well, in a way. I am actually looking for land or a building within the city. And I wondered if there was someone who could help me.”
“I see. Indeed. It so happens that I am in charge of the property handled by the company. If you wish, I could show them to you… Your Highness.”

This was a surprise. Even if they knew about what happened in the Nostor mountains, surely they would not recognize me by sight.

…Had information come from the Lushika store?

“You recognize me?”

“Of course. We also create portraits of the royal family. And as someone in charge of the works of art, I know your face. Besides, we have heard all about your exploits in the Nostor fortress. It is a great honor to meet you.”
“I see…”

“Ah, please forgive me. I have not introduced myself yet. I am Bisto, the president of the Arubal Company.”

So he came to me himself.

Balpas had known about the fortress as well. There had even been a festival in celebration, so it was not strange that the Arubal Company knew about it.

Balpas had said something about how information about Sheorl had leaked to the royals. And the Arubal Company was close with the royal family. And so they likely knew that I was the lord of Sheorl as well.

But I was more interested in the device.

Bisto continued.

“I have visited the Lushika store a few times myself, and so I was worried about Leodor! And it was you who helped us…! Please allow me to act as your guide as a show of gratitude!”

He went out of his way to tell me that he had been to Lushika.

If he knew about the Nostor incident, then he would be interested in the device as well.

According to Alva, it had been Bisto who prepared the teleportation devices.

Nostor mountain. Sheorl. Heal. The combination of things was enough to make me someone they would watch for. 

Bisto seemed to be acting while thinking of the worst case scenario. Perhaps he had decided to act as soon as something strange happened around the Nostor mountains.

And so he made the bold decision to contact me directly.

If so…then perhaps the real culprit had already escaped.

What should I do then…

“Indeed.”

If I left now, they would get suspicious. Also, he probably hadn’t completely lost hope that I hadn’t discovered the device.

“Very well. Please show us some of your properties. Preferably ones with a good view of this street.”
“If that is the case, what about that one over there?”

Bisto pointed at a building on the other side of the street. It was a white, five-story structure. The roof had blue tiles and there were large glass windows. It almost looked like it could be part of the palace.

Not only that, but this was the busiest part of the street. It seemed quite unlikely that such a building would be empty. Though, it appeared that the first floor was being used for storage space and shops.

“It seems to be occupied?”
“Yes. Currently, the lower floor is being used as a warehouse. However, if you wish, you could have the upper floors today, and the lower floors tomorrow.”
“And how much would it cost? In fact, would I be buying it, or paying rent?”

“Whichever you prefer. In fact, we would give it to you for free, Your Highness.”

This was a strange approach. Had he predicted that I had overwhelming power, and decided to try and soften me up?

It was too strange, regardless.

“For free? What do you mean?”

“As I said previously, you saved Lushika, Lord Heal. And you are the king’s son. We would be glad to help you.”
“It is hard to believe. I think you have some other motive.”

Should I bring up the device…?

However, Bisto then replied.

“I have no other motive at all. It is just that those of the royal family have been talking about you a lot recently. And so it is our great wish to become closer to you.”

He did not bring up the device after all.

However, he must want to know.

“I see. Well, I have no intention of getting involved in the power struggles of the palace. I will not be taking any sides.”
“Oh, you misunderstand me. I am but a simple merchant. We wish to be close to you in order to improve our business.”

“Indeed. Well, I was also thinking about trade.”
“Oh! That is wonderful. You should find our company very useful then.”
“I will consider it. Now, about those properties?”
“Certainly. Right away!”

Bisto then called some boys who were close by.

“Contact the store. All work must be halted. I am going to guide some customers.”
“Yes, Sir Bisto!”

The boys ran off towards the store.

“Now, please follow me.”

Bisto started to walk, and so we followed after him.

On the way, Bisto continued to talk.

“Still, I was very surprised to hear about that business in the Nostor mountains. How did you manage to take that fortress?”

Here it comes. He really did want to know about that device.

“Sorry, but it’s a military secret.”

“I apologize for asking.”

Bisto withdrew immediately. And so I tried being more aggressive.

“However…we did acquire a lot of loot.”
“Oh…? How wonderful. What kind of loot?”

His voice changed very subtly. He probably thought the device was among the loot.

“They had a lot of weapons and armor that were too valuable for bandits to own. And their foot supplies and other luxury items were also impressive. I made quite a profit on them.”
“That is good to hear. Still, I heard that the mountains are a severe place. How did they manage to store so much in that fortress?”

Of course, he knew the answer already. But anyone who did not would definitely wonder about it.

“I was curious about that as well. But the bandits all told me that only their captain knew the answer to that. And this captain…he ended up taking his own life. What was his name? Oh, that’s right. It was Berido.”

In fact, he attempted to. But we stopped him. However, this news would surely put Bisto’s mind at ease.

“Is that so? While I cannot say it too loudly, there must be a lot of secret things going on between the different lords.”

He was suggesting it was one of the other lords of neighboring territories who did it. Well, it was the most obvious explanation. 

“I don’t care about that right now. I only acted because such bandits should not be allowed to continue committing such crimes.”
“It was an honorable deed.”

Just then, a voice rang from behind.

“Huh, mister. You defeated some bandits.”
“Amazing!”

When I turned around, I saw some girls and boys holding documents. They were well-dressed, but had a roughness about them too. They must be working for Bisto.

Bisto turned around and raised his voice.

“All of you! Hold your tongues!”

“I’m sorry, Sir Bisto! I just came to deliver the report from the northern branch. But you were busy….”
“That can wait… No, I did tell you to bring it at once. I’ll look into it later. Go home for today.”

Bisto gave them a copper coin and sent them away.

“Thank you, Sir Bisto!”

“Please hire us again!”
“Hmm.”

Bisto smiled and waved his hand. Then he turned around and bowed to me.

“I beg your pardon, Lord Heal.”
“No, it’s fine. I had heard that you give work to orphaned or poor children. So it was true.”

“One does not like to hoard wealth… Besides, I am an orphan myself.”

“Indeed? That is very commendable.”

“I am honored that you think so.”

He really did not seem like a villain…

After that, Bisto started to show us the property.

The property was introduced in a very straightforward manner, covering things like layout, the age of the building, and how comfortable it would be during each season. He did not bring up the device. Perhaps he really was relieved after hearing of Berido’s death.

While I wasn’t sure at first, I ended up just buying the property. There was nothing suspicious about it, and it was close enough to keep an eye on the Arubal Company.

At first, he insisted that it should be given to us for free, but I sternly asked if he was mocking me, and so he finally agreed to sell it.

And like that, we succeeded in securing lodging and making contact with Bisto.