Krais found the most efficient way to profit from the unfolding situation.
‘They call it a Thieves' Guild.’
But if you look closely, it was no different from a business. A business where you could collect protection fees, get rid of things like pickpocketing, and still do well just by using the good parts. More importantly, Krais had a business idea based on the Thieves' Guild.
This was the Border Guard, a place originally famous for its strict security. Normally, it wouldn't be easy for a criminal gang to survive. But not here.
The Gilfin Guild was doing quite well. He didn't know exactly what they did, but it would have been difficult with ordinary means. Take the heated leather, for example.
How much was that worth, and they had over a dozen sheets? Over a hundred thousand krona in coins and a few blank notes also turned up. There were also loan documents, but it seemed difficult to make use of those.
If he were to organize his ideas with the business this place possessed.
‘There's no way I'd lose out.’
Krona was at stake. Krais displayed a wisdom worthy of a sage, grasping and accepting the situation.
“Become a thief?”
Enkrid asked back. Krais looked at the Squad Leader for a moment. He had said his dream was to be a knight.
That he wanted to climb higher. For proper training and quality equipment, he would need krona. Knights were originally people who earned money through war.
It wasn't for nothing that they were nicknamed 'specialists in slaughter'.
“There's no need to think badly of it. Gilfin's crew is finished now, and if we just leave, how long do you think it would take for another Thieves' Guild to establish itself?”
Krais's mind was spinning. Blood flowed to his brain, turning its gears. Seeing Gilfin's character, this was a golden opportunity.
“A month at most.”
He was right. Enkrid nodded reflexively.
“It's warm!”
On one side, Rem, who had put on a coat made of heated leather, exclaimed in delight.
“Of course, you think it'd be cold?”
Ragna chided him. He glanced away for a moment, but Krais's voice soon pulled Enkrid back. It was a calm voice, yet it hid a strange fervor.
“Instead of that, Gilfin, that person seems alright. We should just leave that fellow in place and create a Thieves' Guild that doesn't kill people or steal things.”
It sounded plausible. It was truly tempting. Upholding one's honor as a knight?
That was something you could only talk about if you had krona. Enkrid knew reality well. Of course, if he possessed the martial prowess of a Knight, krona would come rolling in on its own.
Among those with the martial skill of an actual knight, there were some who would move for money alone. Above all, Enkrid believed a knight's honor was about following one's own heart. There was nothing troubling about Krais's current proposal.
If he looked at it positively, it was actually a good thing.
‘If it makes people's lives more comfortable.’
Then, there would be fewer crying children. The worries of parents raising children would also lessen. As with any city, there are always those who lead difficult lives.
It might offer them some small comfort. At first, he only intended to get some firewood to get through the winter, but if he could help people with this opportunity. There was no reason not to do it.
“It's a good idea, right?”
“It is.”
“I'll divide the profits appropriately and give them to you, Squad Leader. In return, please keep the other squad members in check.”
He had wondered why Krais was holding onto him like this. It was because of Rem and the others. The moment Krais stepped up and said he would take over the guild, they wouldn't just let it be.
“What's in it for you?”
He was suddenly curious. Was there a need to take over a Thieves' Guild even while paying tribute? How did he even know what the actual profits would be?
“Information.”
Enkrid was once again impressed by Krais's shrewdness. Information is money. Trivial information within the city could become quality krona within the unit.
For example, if he just found out the name and hobbies of the girl at the flower shop, guys would line up to buy that information. It could be used in other ways as well.
“You understand right away. This is why I like you, Squad Leader.”
Krais held out his fist. Enkrid also held out his fist and bumped it. With this, a promise was made and a deal was struck.
Enkrid would get krona and hold back the squad members. And Krais would get the guild. It was a transaction.
As Enkrid stood before the fireplace again.
“I'm fine with it. Krais can have it.”
Jacksen spoke first. …What a terrifying fellow. He had truly sensitive ears. They had been talking at least ten paces away.
“Gilfin, take care of the bodies here, and among the remaining people, single out those who would kill easily, those who have caused great harm to the weak, or those who will be a problem in the future. I'll take them to prison.”
Just because he was letting him stay didn't mean he was leaving things as they were.
“Hmm, sounds like I have to hand over a few guys.”
“And from now on, this fellow is the guild master. That means you can continue to stay here. Oh, and if you happen to quit and form another guild, we'll be meeting again.”
“I don't have the guts for that.”
As if by habit, Gilfin said as he stroked his sandy-white hair.
“But, uh, soldier.”
He then continued.
“What?”
“Uh, it's just that, I think it would be better to disband. If we stay, I think we'll all die.”
All die? Why?
Enkrid asked with his eyes. Gilfin hesitated before roughly explaining the situation so far. Most probably didn't know, but the dead guild master was a contractor who took money from Azpen and handled jobs for them.
Not a spy, but a contractor.
“There's someone who comes periodically to check on the guild's situation. If not for that, I would have taken his position long ago.”
Even if he seemed gentle and cherished his people, Gilfin was still part of a Thieves' Guild. He wouldn't have reached his current position by being ordinary. The person who comes to visit, that guy was the problem.
“If the dead guy doesn't show up, all hell will probably break loose. I was already planning to sell off even the mansion for a cheap price and have everyone go into hiding.”
“How many of them come?”
“One guy. But he's…”
“He's what?”
“A Frokk.”
The very seeds of heart-stopping fear. A warrior race whose physical strength far surpasses that of humans. Enkrid had been kicked by a Frokk's foot before.
Thanks to that, he had ended up in the medical tent.
“A Frokk is coming?”
“Yes.”
What should he do about this? But why would a Frokk come all the way to a Thieves' Guild in a frontier city to keep watch? There's a saying that a Frokk who has come to the continent is an acknowledged Frokk.
It means they're already a proven master of their craft to some extent. In terms of Naurilia's soldier ranking system, they would be at least special-grade or higher.
“What in the world is this place?”
“Only that dead bastard knows the details. One thing's for sure, every time that Frokk came, he left krona, calling it an activity fund.”
He doesn't collect money, he gives it? No, seriously, what is this? Enkrid couldn't guess the reason at all.
“That's strange.”
It was the same for Krais. The others, needless to say, were the same. So what now?
“We're taking the guild.”
Nothing changes.
There's still time. What comes after is a problem to worry about later. Or, when the time comes, they could just disband and give up.
And so, they decided to take over the entire guild. Gilfin didn't have any particular complaints. He thought he was lucky just to be alive.
Enkrid thought that these thieves might all agree now, but they could become a problem later. Would a crew like this really continue to listen obediently? Of course, from now on, it would be a matter of Krais's skill.
Since he decided to do it, Enkrid would just leave it to him.
“I'm taking this.”
Jacksen took a few rings and accessories, perhaps to give to a woman. Rem took a heated coat and a hide to use as a mat, then went to see what was in the safe. Ragna glanced over the swords the guild had collected and commented that they were all trash.
After that, he didn't pay much attention to the treasures. Audin was the same.
“It is said that if you fix your eyes on wealth, they will grow dim.”
He only prayed. But he did grant Enkrid's request.
“The safe.”
“Yes, brother.”
It was the dead guild master's safe. A sturdy lock, with a chain wrapped tightly around it. Audin stood in front and grabbed the lock in his hand.
Crrrunch.
From then on, he was no different from a strongman. He crushes the lock with his bare hands. It seemed unbelievable.
“Hey, you're pretty strong, you big lug.”
Rem exclaimed in admiration. With the lock broken like that, what use was the chain? Something that would have normally required a long time with a hacksaw was finished in an instant.
This was the power of a squad member who opens locked doors by knocking. Enkrid was also curious about what was inside the safe. So he strode over.
“You gonna open it yourself?”
Rem said, looking at Enkrid.
“I might as well.”
It was pure curiosity. As he approached the safe, Enkrid asked.
“So when does that Frokk come?”
Gilfin, who had come to his side, answered.
“He'll come when the first season begins. He said he comes once at the start of the four seasons, and once during the third season.”
Once in spring, once in fall. Then there was still some time. Enkrid nodded and stood before the safe.
What was inside? He was curious.
Click.
He grabbed the safe's latch with his fingertips and lifted it.
Screeeech.
The hinges must not have been oiled, as it made the sound of rusting metal grinding together.
Thud.
And the safe opened. The heavy lid fell back, making a noise as it hit the body of the safe, and that sound faintly repeated in Enkrid's ears.
Thuuud. Thuuuud. Thuuuuuud.
It couldn't be seen. It couldn't be touched. But he definitely felt something wrapping around his body.
He felt isolated from the world. Suddenly, everyone around him disappeared from his sight. He tried to blink, but his body wouldn't obey.
‘Hm?’
He tried to open his mouth, but even that was impossible.
“What is it? Something good in there?”
Suddenly, he heard Rem's voice. Only then did Enkrid return to his normal state. He blinked his eyes and opened his mouth.
There was no problem.
“Just now, wasn't that a little strange?”
“The Squad Leader is an odd person to begin with. I know that well.”
It seemed no one else had felt anything. Dismissing Rem's nonsense, Enkrid also thought he must have imagined it.
“Now, let's see.”
He shook his head for no reason and looked inside the box. There was a leather armor that wrapped around the torso.
“This is?”
Enkrid's mouth opened. It was a question directed at Gilfin.
“I don't know much. Other than the fact that the dead bastard cherished it.”
Lifting it out, it didn't seem like an ordinary item. When he pressed it with his finger, he could feel its elasticity.
“Looks like some valuable leather. You take it, Squad Leader. So you don't get a hole in your gut.”
“It seems like a decent item.”
At Rem's suggestion, Krais examined the item. He had a good eye for things. He took it for now.
For those who lived by the sword, excellent armor was many times more precious than a good weapon.
“I'm taking this.”
There were no objections. After he took it, it was decided that Krais would handle the rest.
“I wonder if they've finished clearing the snow by now?”
Rem continued to speak up. Enkrid mentally calculated the time and looked out the window. The piled-up snow hadn't melted yet.
If they went back now, they might have to shovel snow all night. It wasn't something to ponder, so Enkrid muttered and gathered the squad members' opinions.
“Our mission ends tomorrow morning.”
By tomorrow morning, there would surely be no snow to clear.
“Sounds good. Seems like there's still a lot to do here.”
Rem agreed, settling himself in front of the fireplace. For now, Rem was perfectly docile. It was understandable.
Rem was savoring the word 'happiness' along with the heated leather and the warmth of the fireplace.
“That's right, still much to do.”
On the opposite side of the fireplace, Ragna took a seat.
“Indeed. It must be a sign that I am to spread the word of the Lord.”
Audin also added a word.
“Then I'll come back tomorrow morning.”
Jacksen requested to act separately altogether. At times like this, there was no room for disagreement. They were perfectly in sync.
He wished they were always like this. It was a thought that kept recurring during this job.
“Squad Leader.”
Krais called to Enkrid and subtly gave him a thumbs-up. It was high praise.
“Reporting the return of all squad members under my command. We located the Thieves' Guild and annihilated it.”
At Enkrid's words, the company commander, wrapped in a thick overcoat, glanced up. It was the commanders' private training yard. Despite the two torches being lit, it was still a cold day.
The company commander asked again, standing on the earth that had frozen like a stone floor due to the cold weather.
“Annihilated?”
Is this fellow asking because he knows something? Enkrid answered nonchalantly.
“Yes, annihilated. We sorted out the ones to be sent to prison, and killed the rest who resisted.”
“I see.”
The company commander said, rolling his shoulders. It looked like he was warming up. Does he really know something?
But he couldn't just meekly say, 'Krais swallowed the guild whole.'
“The treasures from their base, you brought them to the unit.”
“Yes.”
Except for a few pieces of heated leather and some accessories, everything was returned to the unit. It was the natural thing to do. It was a secondary gain from the operation.
It was right for it to belong to the unit. It was also customary to turn a blind eye to someone discreetly pocketing a little something on the side.
“Good work.”
Fortunately, the company commander didn't press further. Instead, he just looked into Enkrid's blue eyes with his own jewel-like green ones and made a proposal.
“A round?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Don't you want to face an elf's sword?”
“Sparring, you mean?”
“I heard you never refuse.”
An elf's sword is light, yet sharp. That's the common opinion. Enkrid had faced an elf's sword a few times.
It wasn't uncommon to encounter elves during his mercenary days. But that was back when his skills were terrible. Their sensitivity was such that the Vallen-style mercenary swordsmanship was useless against them, so it was embarrassing to even say he had properly fought them.
“Yes.”
It was a spar. It seemed like it would be a valuable experience. It was a thought he'd been having lately.
‘The more I fight, the more I gain.’
Enkrid knew his own talent was terrible. The more experience, the better. All of it saw the light when he faced this repeating day.
Of course, even without such a reason, he wouldn't have refused. That was just the kind of man Enkrid was.
“Alright.”
“I like your spirit. Come.”
The Elf Company Commander drew her sword.
Shing.
A Naeidel, the sword of the elves. This was a duel with live blades. Enkrid also drew his own sword.
Chang.
The two crossed their longsword and Naeidel once.
Ting.
Simultaneously, they both stepped back two paces. Enkrid was cautious. He remembered being taken down by a single gesture from the Elf Company Commander.
It was at the medical tent. How different was he now compared to then? He didn't know.
He was about to find out.