Chapter 187 – Inside the Thieves Guild

“…It didn’t work out.”

Sheila had shown her usual quick footwork when she immediately went out to meet a trusted informant after we agreed to gather information… but when she returned late at night, she looked somewhat apologetic. Her ears were drooping.

“What do you mean it didn’t work out?”

“The informant just said they couldn’t do it and to read between the lines.”

“Read between the lines, huh… So Dexter is involved, then.”

One of the Thieves Guild’s rules is not to leak information about its members. If an informant can’t provide information… the conclusion to be drawn is that Dexter must be a member.

…Well, if members’ identities were completely unknown to each other, they wouldn’t be able to interact either.

In that case, if Dexter holds a fairly high position in the Thieves Guild—say, higher than Sheila—then it makes sense why he wouldn’t give Sheila information.

The implications would differ depending on whether it was to protect Sheila’s position and safety or because he’s an executive, but since he seems to have some interaction with informants, he probably was concerned about Sheila’s well-being.

Now then. That would mean Dexter is wearing two hats—both thief and merchant. And considering what being a trade merchant implies—

“…There’s a slave trader in the Thieves Guild, right?”

“There is. They’re apparently executive-level, but no information reaches the lower ranks.”

Sheila seems to understand what I’m getting at.

That was the reason Sheila didn’t rely on the Thieves Guild when Irmhild was captured by Cardiff and the demon Linette. Sheila was quite wary of that executive.

In other words, the Thieves Guild isn’t completely unified either.

As for me… I suspect Dexter might be that slave trader. Though honestly, someone like him being an executive seems a bit cheap. He’s probably just an errand boy for the executives at best.

However… just because someone is a slave trader doesn’t automatically mean it’s illegal.

Slavery is handled differently in each country. In Verdgar’s case, only criminal slaves are subjected to forced labor.

For debt slaves—those who become slaves to pay off debts—the employer must pay them wages. Naturally, they can save money to buy back their freedom, and it’s also forbidden to sell Verdgar-born debt slaves abroad.

Debt slavery is essentially the same as apprenticeship, so if the master unjustly harms them, they’ll be punished accordingly.

The role of slave traders in Verdgar… well, personnel placement is the closest comparison. That is, if they’re conducting legitimate business.

Regarding monsters, capturing friendly monster species for slavery is prohibited within Verdgar. Many friendly species are powerful as monsters, making them poor enemies to make, and more importantly, adventurers tend to avoid such practices.

Claudia has long sent messages through oracles to shrine maidens, guiding policy toward friendship with monsters, which has been significant. With that background, Verdgar was originally a country tolerant of monsters, but King Melvin has clearly taken a protective stance, pushing things even further.

“Can you tell me much about the Thieves Guild’s internal affairs, Sheila?”

“…For Theodore, I can share some things.”

This is risky for Sheila too. Considering her position, it’s probably better not to take this information to King Melvin to discuss countermeasures or anything like that as an internal matter.

“Originally, the Thieves Guild was a mutual aid organization for sharing techniques. But it also serves as a coordinator for people in the shadows.”

The Thieves Guild is, well, similar to chivalrous outlaws.

After how my previous life ended, I have a strong aversion to thieves, burglars, robbers, and such, but the Thieves Guild isn’t as villainous as the name suggests. They provide skills to those without, establish rules, and maintain some order and balance in the underworld.

They give skills to young people without abilities or orphans with nowhere to go—some go on to succeed as adventurers. Having trained and experienced scouts or thieves directly affects a party’s survival rate. It’s not something that can simply be eliminated.

“But since the previous Guild Master died, there’s been some internal conflict. A faction wanting to maintain traditional ways, and a faction believing they should expand into various areas without strictly adhering to the rules. Currently, the latter is dominant. That slave trader executive is probably with them.”

“I see.”

Operating without rules to make money would indeed be more profitable. It’s common for those with ample funds to gain more influence.

My assessment is… Dexter is probably with the latter faction too. Even if he is a slave trader, who knows how much he follows the rules?

It seems we can’t just find Dexter’s house, stake it out with Caduceus, gather information, and call it a day.

“There were apparently conflicts over this, but I was still young then… and, well, I was placed in an orphanage during that turbulent period, so I don’t know much.”

…That makes sense. I was in a similar situation.

“Sheila-chan…”

“Hm. I’m fine.”

Irmhild spoke up, but Sheila smiled back slightly.

Well then… This isn’t something that can be solved by just crushing the Thieves Guild. Even so, Dexter’s faction is unnecessary.

Among their rules, there should be ones prohibiting killing during theft and stealing from the poor. I think those are proper rules. A faction that disregards them gaining power probably won’t lead to anything good.

What about the BFO Termwills quests related to the Thieves Guild?

If I recall correctly—after a major conflict in the Thieves Guild caused numerous casualties, there were calls to strictly enforce the rules.

I don’t know when that was, but it’s probably different from the conflict Sheila mentioned. If we act now… I feel we might achieve a softer landing.

So regarding the rule-disregarding faction, it seems best to gather information, smash them, and steer the Thieves Guild back to its original form.

In the process, we can also get information on Dexter, and if he’s using the methods I imagine, we’ll crush him too.

“Anyway, sorry I couldn’t be more helpful, Theodore.”

Sheila turned to me and said this.

“No, it’s fine. Do you know anyone who might tell us about the conflict?”

“…There’s one person. They might belong to the Thieves Guild too, but I haven’t confirmed it… If we’re acting on speculation, it shouldn’t violate the rules.”

“Good.”

Sheila grinned, and I smiled back. Well, Sheila has already revealed to me that she’s a Thieves Guild member, but given the relationship between adventurers and the Thieves Guild, I had my suspicions, though I never asked. Sometimes it’s better left unsaid.

“Who are they?”

“Um… the madam of a brothel. She was apparently my mother’s friend, but she kept me away from that world and placed me in an orphanage.”

…From what I hear, she sounds quite decent.

It’s highly likely she’s a Thieves Guild member. Still, she seems clearly on Sheila’s side and probably knows the situation well. If she’s on the rule-following side, we can operate on the assumption she could be an ally.

Even though it’s a brothel… it’s not like we’re going there as customers. Let’s go meet her. And at this point, we should also inform Miriam and gather information on Dexter.

The legal compliance of slave traders will probably relate to my future work as Otherworld Ambassador too.