Legend

Three people, Ray, Vihera and Bühne, guided by Mult, enter the mansion.

Seto has left it outside, but there is no way he can fall asleep as usual in the present situation.

I'm watching what's going on around me at the side of the gate, so that I can immediately detect it, even if someone is about to get out of a place other than the gate, not just through the gate.

With permission from Mult, if anyone tried to leave the premises of the mansion, it was supposed to be possible to stop them by force, to the extent that they would not cause injury to the other person.

That's why Ray decided to meet with Galahat in peace for now.

"Right here. … Mr. Galahat, I've brought the Rays"

It was not the rooms… that Galahat usually used in his work that were put through.

It is also the place where Mult went into earlier.

Originally I was going to listen to Galahat slowly in the reception room, but the current situation...... given the current situation that Ray was angry, I couldn't do such a long imitation.

To tell you the truth about Galahat, I wanted to have a slow conversation with Ray over a cup of tea.

"Oh, come on in"

To the voice heard from inside, Mult opens the office door.

That's how Ray, who was guided inside, saw Galahat calm, albeit showing some nervousness.

I understand that if Ray raves, I'm just sorry myself.

But still, I couldn't have shown myself any more than I was in the position of meeting the Azot Chamber of Commerce.

"You've come a long way, Ray. It's been a while since I've seen him in person... but apparently, he's not here to talk."

"No, it's a fact that we're here to talk.... I'm right to ask you exactly what you're trying to imitate against me."

The tension Ray unleashed was something that could be unconscious in an instant if someone like him who had just become an adventurer touched it.

But Galahat is also a former high-ranking adventurer, and he has had experience crossing with the merchants of the thousand seamounts bent over as a meeting of the Azot Chamber of Commerce.

Even as Mult slightly pulled his cheeks, Galahat did not put any obvious tension on the table and opened his mouth.

"Right. I don't remember doing that, but let me explain around here.... Anyway, sit on that couch over there. I'll have tea ready in a minute."

"No, fine. Unfortunately, I can't trust you now."

"... well. Then you can sit down anyway. I want you to tell me more."

Regardless of turning down the tea, I guess you decided it wasn't a problem to sit on the couch. Ray sits on the couch and Vihera and Buune also sit on the couch.

Confirming that, Galahat also opens his mouth again with his hips down to the couch across from Ray.

"Well, so we... no, I'm talking about the Azotto Chamber of Commerce hostile to Ray, what exactly does that mean? As you know, we've been through a lot with Ray before. In that, you think I'd imitate Ray hostilely again?

"You wouldn't normally. But unfortunately, something unusual is happening this time."

Tell him so, and mouth the same content you described to Mult in front of the Mansion.

Azimov was attacked by someone, and the magic item he was keeping was disappearing, and he entered this mansion where he had traced its smell with Seto's sense of smell.

To that explanation, Galahat's expression tightens harshly.

I imagined there was something I couldn't do to laugh from Ray's attitude, but it was more of a substitute than I imagined.

"... so the smell was really connected to this mansion,?

"Oh. Well, if you can't trust Seto's sense of smell..."

"No, I believe"

Galahat also naturally knows how good Ceto is capable of in a previous case.

It also naturally contained information that various skills could be used with rare species of griffons, rather than just griffons.

The option of not believing in such a ceto is not available in Galahat.... but I didn't want to believe it.

"That's why I came a little before we came to this mansion... was it Corliss? I want you to meet him."

"Mult, how's Corliss doing now?

"I'm already letting you go get it. I should have brought a sample of the newly purchased product and a sales report, so it should be time to come..."

The office door is knocked, as if it had reacted to Mult's words whining.

"Excuse me, Galahat meeting. I heard you called..."

"Come on in."

Galahat's expression of words after being knocked is strong.

Specimens of newly purchased products.

I was wondering if that might be the magic item you took from Ray. That's why I thought so.

Following Galahat's words, the door opens.

What came inside was a middle-bodied man in his forties.

Only a major chamber of commerce merchant named Azot Chamber of Commerce looks somewhat unafraid.

But that is natural as a merchant, and there are no particularly disturbing signs.

On the contrary, there was no particular response when I saw the Rays inside the office.

No, I looked somewhat surprised in the sense of reaction, but at least I didn't think I ordered anyone to attack Azimov and take Ray's magic items and run away.

Of course, only merchants train from day to day to avoid putting upset on their faces.

Still, it was a little hard to believe from Ray's eyes that he didn't put any backward feelings on his expression.

"So, Galahat meets. What does that have to do with Mr. Ray being in the office and me being summoned?

When you asked me that, maybe you'd order something from yourself? And when I saw that there were moments but expectations in my expression, I was pretty sure I obviously didn't know about Ray.

(awesome if this is an act... well, what do you think)

Until earlier, Ray put up with his anger, but seeing Corliss' current interactions only helps him lose a little power.

Maybe that's what you're after? I didn't think so, but as far as I could see it seemed different.

I guess that was the same with Galahat.

Are you sure Corliss attacked the alchemist and took Ray's magic item? and visit Ray and Mult with a gaze.

But only Corliss' carriage entered this mansion before Ray, and before that, it would be about hours ago.

Given the circumstances, there is no doubt that Corliss is the killer.

But that Corliss doesn't look particularly upset when he looks at Ray.

"I will skip the dust and go straight to work. Corliss, did you force your own hands to raid the alchemist, and even rob him of the magic items that the alchemist kept from Ray?

"... what?

In the words of Galahat, Corliss gives a frightened look.

I really don't know what they're talking about.

That's how it looked, but still only the merchant at the Azot Chamber of Commerce, who immediately returns to me and opens his mouth.

"Well, how did that happen? What is it to say this, but I very much don't think that a person at the Azot Chamber of Commerce would imitate anything hostile to Mr. Ray? Isn't that some kind of mistake?

Probably because the words that came out of Corliss' mouth were what I expected. Galahat lowers his chest.

The man in front of me is the one who has worked with me a lot even since Galahat became the meeting of the Azot Chamber of Commerce.

So I didn't expect you to imitate Ray a little bit.

But... I can't be relieved just by what Corliss said.

Galahat continues his words with a harsh look, lest Ray or Corliss understand his appeasement.

"Why do you think Ray's here?

"It's... No, I don't know"

You must have understood that Corliss is seriously suspicious of himself, too.

Could you possibly make a deal with Ray earlier? The joy disappeared already, realizing that I was caught up in something absurd, and I panicked and shook my neck to the side.

At this point, Galahat could be sure that Corliss was not involved in this case… at least not that he planned this one.

Corliss, who usually looks like a sober merchant, is in such a hurry to find out.

"You know Ray's obedient Seto, right?

"Huh? Oh, yes. Well, naturally, as someone who lives in the Guild"

"Even if that ceto has a high physical ability or a sharp five senses?

"... yes, of course"

If you say so far, I can understand why Corliss is suspicious, too.

I can understand...

(But I've never ordered anything like that! Why!?)

Corliss, wholly unrecognizable from his heart, screams in his heart while keeping his upset from appearing on his face.

But things go as if they don't give a shit about Collis' upset like that.

"The ceto smelled rays and non-alchemists in the attacked alchemist's room. It was this mansion that followed the smell."

"I don't remember myself!

It really makes me a raider as it is.

Having thought of it that way, Corliss screams, as if he had abandoned his usual calm.

Naturally. If this turns out to be a raider, you are likely to be captured by guards for so-called unwarranted crimes.

And if you become a sinner, there's nothing you can do about it.

Also, if it means I raided the alchemist before that and stole Ray's magic items, I would turn Ray completely against the enemy.

What happens if the merchant himself turns Ray to the enemy?

That was something I didn't even have to think about.

This is true in the sense of pure strength, but Ray's submissive Seto builds a mascot character standing in the guild.

Given the area, it was certain that it would do great harm to me...... and to the Azot Chamber of Commerce itself.

Anyway, I'm ruined as it is, and the Azot Chamber of Commerce suffers less.

Corliss thought we had to do something about it, but eventually he opens his mouth.

"Well, you may not believe me, but I really don't remember myself. I don't care how much you check."

"... right, though. What do we do?"

Asked by Galahat, Ray takes off his dragon robe hood thinking about what to do.

As long as I had this conversation with Corliss, the person who really attacked Azimov...... I don't think that's exactly who ordered it anymore.

But it is true that Azimov was actually attacked, and it is also an unmistakable fact that the magic item was stolen and the person's smell followed this mansion.

Ray was wondering what to do with that contradiction, but Vihera, who had listened to such a story in silence, shrugs.

"Maybe it's possible that Corliss isn't really the killer?

"Yeah? What do you mean?

"I mean, there was definitely someone who attacked Azimov and stole Slapenil's shoes. It's an unmistakable fact because we're looking at it."

To the words of Vihera, Ray and Büne nod back.

In fact, if Ray and the others were a little behind in entering the lab, Azimov would most likely have died of heavy bleeding.

I might have managed somewhat if I had worked out my body, but Azimov is not working out his body, even if he's an alchemist with arms.

(Well, using the kind of magic item might have worked it out... but I guess the lack of trace of it didn't give Azimov time to use the magic item)

Anyway, it's clear that this case didn't happen by some mistake.

"But... could someone who seems to be that smart imitate going straight back to their home base?

The home in this case would be the residence of the meeting of the Azot Chamber of Commerce, needless to say.

In fact, the headquarters of the Azot Chamber of Commerce may also be called home, but at least the smell was heading inside this mansion in this case.

"I mean, the Azot Chamber of Commerce was used instead," he said?

Vihera nods at Ray's words asking him to confirm.

Despite being in a spring cheerful and warm room, Corliss is scratching sweat all over her face.

Not very much, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't an attitude that someone like the one who caused this one.

"... that's settled. Then let's start by checking Corliss' room in this mansion, and the carriage. Is that okay with Ray, too?

To Galahat's words, Ray snorted back in silence.