Chapter 189 – Fate

“It’s been a while, Isabella. The reason I came today—”

“Now, now, no need to rush. I’ll at least serve your companion some tea.”

Sheila’s words were cut off with a hand gesture as Isabella indicated the inner room with her pipe.

We moved together and settled into the room, and tea was brought almost immediately.

“So? It’s a nice establishment, isn’t it?”

Isabella said to me.

…How should I put it—the fact she specifically addressed me gives the impression she’s probing.

If she knows my background, then she’s probably observing my reactions.

“…I didn’t expect such a high-class establishment. Though I’m not quite sure about the clientele,” I replied. Being seen as overwhelmed by the atmosphere would put me on the defensive.

That said, this is the unsafe West District. It’s true that the location seems poor for a high-end shop.

“Hehe. I’ll take that as a compliment. Well, for the wealthy patrons who need it, we provide carriage service for pickup and drop-off.”

I see. Even if they come discreetly, they’re still wealthy individuals who need escorts. And since the Thieves Guild backs this place, no fool would dare lay a hand on the carriages.

According to Sheila, Isabella does her best to protect the prostitutes from other establishments as well. That’s probably why she’s in the West District, and if that’s true, she’s undoubtedly on the side that follows the Thieves Guild’s code.

Considering Sheila doesn’t know Isabella’s position, the scale of this establishment, and the extent of Isabella’s influence, I infer she holds a fairly high position within the Thieves Guild.

“Well, let’s keep the small talk to a minimum and get to the main topic. The reason you came today—you don’t seem to be a customer, nor do you want to work here…”

Isabella looked over our faces. I briefly exchanged a glance with Sheila and took the initiative to speak.

“My name is Theodore Gartner. I came here today in my capacity as the Otherworld Ambassador—I have some questions I’d like to ask.”

“Hohh.”

Isabella let out a slightly impressed sound.

There’s nothing to hide. I should assume Isabella is aware of Sheila’s current situation.

Even if not, this is a brothel—a place where information easily gathers through rumors and casual conversation. It’s better to operate under the premise that Isabella knows my identity to some extent.

“Oh my. I’ve been remiss in introductions. I am Isabella. I run this Dream’s End Pavilion. What could an esteemed personage like the Ambassador possibly want to ask of someone like me?”

“…Both of you. Could you step out for a moment?”

Sheila and Miriam nodded and left the room. Then I began.

“About the conflict within the Thieves Guild. And if possible, information about a merchant named Dexter as well.”

I threw a straight pitch, but Isabella didn’t flinch. At the very least, she showed no trace of it in her expression or demeanor.

“Hmm. Why do you think I would know such things? What did you hear from Sheila?”

“I asked Sheila if she knew any well-informed individuals who might be sympathetic to her. But this is a brothel. It’s a place where various stories gather from all sorts of customers. I thought you might have heard something through rumors, so I asked Sheila for an introduction.”

At my words, Isabella’s smile deepened.

“If I provide information, what might I receive in return? Information doesn’t come for free, you know.”

“I can’t make any promises from me personally. However, there may be those who take advantage of the situations created by my actions. It’s similar to the relationship between the kingdom, the Adventurer Guild, and the Thieves Guild, I suppose.”

Creating favorable conditions for rebuilding the Guild is the “return I can offer.” But I don’t voice that explicitly.

It wouldn’t be good for either side if someone close to the king and the Thieves Guild were seen as mutually dependent. The acceptable range is limited to mutual utilization within unspoken understandings.

For example, just as the Adventurer Guild benefits when the Thieves Guild produces individuals with special techniques. The kingdom also gains from maintaining public order at low cost, which is why they don’t eliminate them. Conversely… it also means that if their actions become too egregious, that tolerance has its limits.

“I see, I see. Then, Ambassador, why are you seeking information about the Thieves Guild and such?”

“I heard through rumors… that those who disregard codes and laws are involved with slave traders, which is problematic for an Otherworld Ambassador who advocates coexistence with friendly monster species. Although… I do think the Thieves Guild itself is necessary, given my connections with the Adventurer Guild as well.”

Isabella stared intently at my face, but eventually let out a small sigh.

“—Really. That girl is quite the handful too. I’d heard the rumors, but she’s quite the little fox.”

Her phrasing avoids giving anything away… but the “that girl” Isabella mentioned is probably Sheila. In which case, the “little fox” would be me. Well, not that I mind.

Still, she hasn’t explicitly stated Sheila’s code-breaking. If asked, both Sheila and I would simply deny it. I merely came here relying on Sheila’s connections and my own deductions. That’s all there is to it.

“Well, I understand the situation. In that case, I might be willing to share some rumors myself. After all, the Ambassador has consistently been helping Sheila and that girl’s friends, it seems.”

…So she did have information about us.

“These are just rumors, mind you?”

After that preface, Isabella continued.

“I’ve also heard the rumors that after the previous Thieves Guild Master passed away, a new faction began to gain influence. They’re rapidly building power with ample funds, gathering ruffians and arming them… expelling or harming those who oppose them, and their arbitrary behavior has been increasing year by year.”

“But there must be resistance to that, right?”

“Oh, I’m sure there is. In fact, there have been several small-scale clashes. The current situation is that it hasn’t escalated into a full-blown, open conflict yet. But in my estimation, it’s only a matter of time. Even patience has its limits, you know.”

I see. So they’re currently at the stage of focusing their efforts on the internal power struggle within the Guild.

Still… if things continue like this, it’s only a matter of time before they become brazen in the open. Once that happens, a full-scale conflict would be unavoidable.

“Who is believed to be the central figure of this faction?”

“The slave trader Randolph. He’s the man backing Dexter, whom you mentioned earlier, Ambassador. Dexter himself was originally an insignificant underling, but somehow he managed to ingratiate himself and became favored by Randolph.”

“—What about the relationship between the timing when Dexter started being favored and when Randolph’s funds became abundant?”

“…Whether there is one—I can’t say for sure, but they were close in time, I think?”

Isabella, who had been answering smoothly, showed a slight hesitation there, as if thinking before answering. Apparently, she had viewed Dexter as just one of the many hangers-on following Randolph. Indeed, from Isabella’s perspective, someone like him would seem limited in capability.

Now then… I need to proceed more carefully from here. Using Wind Magic to block sound, I continue the conversation so that Sheila outside the room can’t hear.

“I have a few more questions—”

“Ah. At this point, feel free to ask anything you like. Go ahead, don’t hold back, ask away.”

I smiled wryly at Isabella, who seemed to have grown tired of maintaining appearances, and proceeded to ask further questions, paying particular attention to the timeline.

Combining Miriam’s account with Isabella’s… the conclusion emerged that Randolph rapidly gained power after Dexter brought back the seedlings.

The problem is… the timing when Dexter brought back the seedlings was before the Guild Master died. And around the same time, Sheila’s parents also passed away.

“By the way, were Sheila’s parents connected to the Thieves Guild?”

At my words, Isabella glanced toward the door. She’s still concerned about Sheila, it seems.

“I’m using Magic to prevent sound from leaking out.”

Hearing that, Isabella gave a small shrug of her shoulders and answered.

“They were the Guild Master’s escorts. They were in the carriage with the Guild Master when it slid off a cliff, and that was the end of it.”

…I see.

“You can tell just by looking at that girl. Both of them were highly skilled. She was seen as having inherited their talent, and that assessment probably wasn’t wrong, was it?”

“No.”

“You can’t guarantee some fool won’t try to use her if she remains in the tumultuous Guild interior. Even if not, I’m taking care of the previous Master’s daughter, you see. Having a group of tragic children all together is a bit too picturesque and troublesome.”

“So, rather than from the brothel… you distanced her from the Thieves Guild.”

“Yes. And yet she comes back here on her own… foolish girl. I haven’t even told her about her parents’ background… Is this what they call fate, I wonder?”

Isabella spoke regretfully and let her pipe smolder.

…I’ve learned most of what I wanted to know. Now it’s just a matter of gathering evidence according to the outline that’s become clear.