Chapter 472: The Empire’s Dogs

In the end, Bill came to pick us up just before noon....

"How much I searched... (After things were over) when I asked the sisters’ mother, she said the two of you had gone back first, and even when I returned to the inn I didn’t see either of you, so from there I went out into the town again to search for you. I have no sense of the land and there aren’t many people, but I searched blindly. Even so, I couldn’t grasp your whereabouts at all, and when I returned to the inn exhausted, a message had come from the town’s security force that they had secured the two of you. By that time, the fact that the two of you were missing had also been conveyed to the higher-ups, I received a lecture about what was going on, and from the Hero-sama and the others I was told that they couldn’t wait for us to return so they would go ahead! They decided to depart leaving us behind, I was made to write a consent form for that, and even wrote an apology letter for causing trouble to the Hero-sama and the others, and finally I came here! What on earth is going on!"

Bill rattles on, spitting foam from his mouth.

Dee and I had been put in a private room for nobles. It was something like a private room in a business hotel; there was no bath, but there was a toilet in the private room, the bed didn’t smell, and there were no bugs (of course I used "Purification"), so it wasn’t that uncomfortable. Breakfast wasn’t tasty as expected, but I’m sure it’s far better compared to the commoners who are being detained.

However, even Dee hadn’t expected Bill to be this late,

"Bill, sorry for causing trouble. But all of this happened because you didn’t finish quickly and come back, right? At that time, if there had been three of us, one could have gone to report to the security force and we could have made arrangements, but because you didn’t come back we ended up like this! What the hell were you doing! Marie-sama and I were waiting!"

Dee’s tone has completely collapsed. He’s been waiting the whole time and I think his brain is boiling.

Bill, who was angry when he came here, also seems to think it was bad that he alone was late last night as expected,

"No, I do think that was inexcusable. I didn’t intend to make you wait, but as a result it turned out that way..."

He averts his gaze and makes excuses. I thought things like that happen, but Dee couldn’t stand it, so,

"We’re doing the same thing, so why does only you take so long! In the first place, switching partners wasn’t that different, right! You always, always! Even when we went to the Eisleben lands, because you were dawdling we didn’t make it in time for Her Majesty the Queen’s important matter..."

And so on, he grumbles. Bill, scratching the side of his nose with his finger,

"No, that woman said ’How about one more time? I’ll make it cheap,’ so I ended up getting in the mood. The woman’s reaction was too good. I thought, with this, one more time is fine, right?"

He says, looking lovestruck.

"You! Every single time it’s always something like that!"

Dee gets worked up, but now isn’t the time to be saying things like this.

"Bill, Dee, this isn’t the time to be arguing about that. In the first place, let’s talk about the cause of why we’re here and discuss what to do from now on."

When I say that, Bill makes a relieved face,

"That’s right, why are you in a place like this?"

He asks. After that, we borrow a room inside the security force and explain what happened last night. Even if we alone went to catch the Empire’s dogs, it’s clear that the same result as last night would happen again, so we decided to have the security force cooperate as well. According to Dee, this kind of thing is the security force’s job and outsiders like us shouldn’t take the lead! He’s indignant.

The only one I can think of inside the security force is Captain Alun, who wasn’t tied to either the Empire or the punks. Because he secured us, he waited until a guarantor came, and the moment Bill appeared he started bowing and scraping to Dee more than necessary. Since I haven’t revealed my identity, he seems to think I’m something like Dee’s attendant or lover.

Then we call him into the room and reveal my identity, and Captain Alun falls on his backside. I’m just a minor prince of the Marie Kingdom, which is thought of as a vassal state by the people of the Mainz Kingdom, but the brand of prince seems to be something impressive. I’m a little happy.

We bring back Captain Alun’s soul that was about to leave him and get to the main point. First I explain that I can use "Appraisal." Then I explain that that punk was an Empire dog. Captain Alun,

"Such a thing..."

Says and is speechless. On his face is written that even if he’s told that, there’s no way he can believe it! Indeed, something like "Appraisal" is, if you say it, like the subjectivity of the person who looked, and unless others back it up or there’s some evidence, it’s something that can’t be helped if it’s thought of as nonsense.

However, Dee,

"I also have ’Appraisal,’ and when I looked at that person there was no doubt he was an Empire dog. There were also several dogs among those punks, and I believe that house is surely a hotbed of Empire dogs. If we don’t assault that place quickly and expose it, something terrible will happen!"

Said, so Captain Alun finally took it seriously. As expected, my statements are treated lightly.

"Then I will convey this matter to my superior. If we don’t prepare the formation and tackle it, it seems we’ll let them escape."

Captain Alun’s complexion is dull. On top of restraining us, when it becomes about an Empire spy organization the story is too big.

"About that story, shall we also go along and explain? With only your story, the higher-ups might not believe it."

When I said that, Captain Alun’s face suddenly brightened,

"Please, by all means. The department head is a very understanding person, so I think he will understand. Anyway, he is a person with deep trust and ability!"

He ends up asking us. Dee and Bill also nod.

Led by Captain Alun, we go to the department head’s room.

"Department head, the customers say they have something they want to talk to the department head about. Um, the baron who caused a commotion with the punks last night, aaah, that, I’m sorry, please, I ask for your favor."

Captain Alun explains while somehow becoming tongue-tied. When we enter the room, there is a man of medium build and medium height, but with sharp eyes and a face that looks sharp-minded. I thought that if a man like this were a subordinate, work would progress, but I looked.

"Hugo Garcia, 36 years old, Seged Security Department Head, Hagen Empire Intelligence Department Section Chief"

What do I do about this. Please hide it. Since I’ve looked, I’ll have to do something about it... Oh well.