10
“Hah… ‘Son’? Don’t make me laugh, you little brat. You should have just dropped dead in a ditch.”
The very first words spoken were a full-force insult aimed at Fadi.
She had bright gray hair and a black cloth covering both eyes. Her voice, raspy and unforgettable, carried a unique kind of authority.
“Hmph. But fine. ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ is mine now. Even if you came back begging, I have no intention of giving it up.”
“Still as harsh as ever, Dorothea.”
The current leader of ‘The White Smoke Lizards’—Dorothea. She was taking a drag from a cigarette, her legs crossed as she sat on a large sofa.
…So this is an underworld boss.
She was clearly different from a topside dweller. The people around her were radiating irritation and killing intent. The tension was so thick, it felt like if she gave the word, they’d attack in an instant.
We were in a large room, deep inside the tavern. This was the true headquarters of ‘The White Smoke Lizards.’
“…Fuu. So. Why are you back?”
“Oh, so we’re just jumping right in.”
“I hate wasting time.”
She maintained her insolent attitude, her sharp gaze piercing through the blindfold.
“Marquis Rigel is dead. Killed by Princess Valtrune herself.”
“Yep. That’s right.”
“And I also know that you’ve become the Princess’s dog.”
“…Eh? Dog?”
“That’s right. The rumor is that you, the great assassin, have really fallen.”
The moment the word ‘dog’ registered, Fadi’s expression darkened.
Dorothea, not budging from her arrogant posture, paused, then continued.
“…I can guess what you want. You want ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ to side with the Princess, right?”
“Almost. To be precise, I want your people to become intelligence agents for the Provisional Elite Corps.”
At that, Dorothea looked confused. “Provisional Elite Corps?” But she quickly let out a long sigh.
“And you really think… I’d agree to that?”
“C’mon, you’re nice.”
“Heh. Are you blind? …Of course I refuse.”
Her words left no room for negotiation. As if to say any further talk was pointless, she laughed in exasperation and snatched a cigarette from a nearby subordinate.
“Fuu… Are you done?”
Fadi, who clearly hadn’t expected to be shut down so completely, just stared blankly, lost for words.
“…I would think an alliance with the royalty and nobility would be to your advantage. Is there truly no room for consideration?”
Flegel stepped forward, taking Fadi’s place.
Dorothea’s condescending attitude didn’t change.
“I hate nobles. They’re arrogant and selfish.”
“And you’d refuse… for such a personal reason?”
“Fufu. What’s wrong with personal reasons? ‘The White Smoke Lizards’ is mine. Who we ally with, who we make enemies of… it’s all decided by my judgment. I don’t need outsiders lecturing me on profit and loss.”
She stated it as fact, pressing her fingers to her forehead.
Even Flegel, with his logical mind, was struggling to get a foothold in this conversation.
“Is our business finished? Then…”
“Wait!”
“…And now the woman speaks.”
As if she’d been expecting it, Dorothea turned her gaze to Princess Valtrune.
“I never thought someone this important would come in person…”
“Spare me the flattery. I want to ask you something. Are you afraid the same thing will happen as when you worked with Marquis Rigel? Is that why you won’t work with me?”
Fadi had been treated horribly by the Marquis. Considering the awful conditions he’d worked under, it was natural to assume the entire organization had suffered.
“…I see. So, the Princess herself rescued Fadi.”
“Yes. And I am not Marquis Rigel. I promise, I can be of use to you!”
The prim and proper Princess Valtrune.
Dorothea, her expression unreadable, suddenly looked down, her glossy gray hair swaying.
“…And the kind-hearted Princess… is going to save trash like us?”
“I don’t like that way of putting it. I want to borrow your strength.”
“And in return, I’m supposed to ‘join you.’ ‘Follow your orders.’ …Is that what you’re saying?”
“N-No, that’s…!”
“That is what you’re saying. Listen, little lady.”
Dorothea raised an index finger, her expression deadly serious.
“I am the King of ‘The White Smoke Lizards.’ As a Princess, a fellow ruler, you should understand. A King… does not simply bow to another.”
“—!”
“Not unless… we were to lose a war so badly that we had no other choice. A King does not sell their people. That is our most basic duty. A curse we cannot abandon.”
And that is why, she was saying, she wouldn’t just agree to our demands.
“…So you won’t join the Corps.”
Fadi asked, his voice strained. Dorothea nodded.
“No. Unfortunately.”
“Kuh!”
Fadi grit his teeth and looked down, clenching his fists. Then, all the strength went out of him. He turned to Princess Valtrune.
“…I’m sorry. Negotiations have failed. We can’t get them on our side.”
It was a deeply disappointing outcome. But it didn’t seem like her attitude would change, no matter how much we pushed. Dorothea, stubbornly keeping her distance, looked at us with a coldness that offered no openings.
“…What?”
I had been staring at Dorothea, and she’d noticed.
“No… it’s nothing.”
Negotiations failed. We have to leave. …And yet. Something bothered me. I felt a profound sense of… wrongness, about her response. She knew what we were going to ask, and she had already decided to refuse. But if there was truly zero room for negotiation, she could have just… not met with us. There was no need to see us at all. It was a waste of time for both sides. But she did agree to this meeting. Which means… they had an intention to talk.
Dorothea stared at Fadi, who was slumped, ready to leave. She took a deep breath.
“…Wait. You brat.”
“—!”
“Stop sulking. It’s annoying. We’re not done.”
A conversation that should have been over… Dorothea herself had just pulled it back from the brink.
11
“…Hmph. Well, depending on the terms… I might be willing to consider a… mutual cooperation agreement.”
Dorothea spat the words out, looking bored and staring off into the distance.
“Dorothea…”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not because it’s you. I just… had a change of heart. That’s all.”
“Dorothea!”
Fadi’s eyes were sparkling. He’s so easy.
She waved her hands to dismiss his excitement, then beckoned a subordinate over and whispered something.
The subordinate replied, “Yes… yes…” then pulled a map from his tunic and handed it to Princess Valtrune.
“It’s the location of the final battle with ‘Red Broad.'”
Before we could even ask, Dorothea started explaining.
“They’re mobilizing an estimated two hundred men. We… even scraping the bottom of the barrel, will have less than fifty.”
“Tch.” She clicked her tongue, loud enough for the room to hear.
A war between shadow organizations. And one where the ‘Lizards’ were at a severe disadvantage. The fact that she was sharing this information with us, total outsiders, meant…
“You want us to join this fight?”
“Ah. As expected of the wise Princess. Glad you’re a quick study. That’s right. I’m desperate for manpower. I don’t care if it’s only four.”
“But… even with four more, the numbers are…”
“True. But do you really think you have a choice?”
“—!”
“I want to win. You understand what that means? I’m well aware we’re outgunned. And knowing that… I’m giving you a chance.”
If the four of us fight for the ‘Lizards,’ and win against ‘Red Broad’… then she’ll consider an alliance. She was asking us to fight an enemy that outnumbered us more than four to one. It was an insane request.
“…”
I looked at Princess Valtrune. She met my gaze. And then she asked me one, simple thing.
“Al. We can do this, can’t we?”
The fight against ‘Red Broad’ would be incredibly difficult. But in her clear blue eyes, there was no trace of doubt. No matter how harsh the terms, if it meant securing an alliance with the ‘Lizards,’ she would not hesitate.
Her tone was so calm, as if she were just confirming something she already knew. And that everyday, simple question… filled me with absolute confidence.
“Of course.”
I nodded. She smiled, her white hair swaying, and turned back to Dorothea.
“—Very well. We accept.”
“Heh. It’s a deal.”
Princess Valtrune and Dorothea shook hands. From proposal to decision… in less than two minutes.
“I thought you were just kind, but you’re decisive, too.”
“You can’t protect anything by just being kind.”
“You’re absolutely right. Heh. The Princess has the makings of a fine King.”
Dorothea then looked over her subordinates.
“Listen up, all of you! The Princess has just promised us victory against ‘Red Broad’! So I don’t care how bad the odds are, defeat is not an option! Do not bring me shame! Fight with pride! You got that!?”
In an instant, the room erupted in cheers. Confetti flew.
Dorothea just watched them, looking exasperated. “So loud…”
As the cheering died down, she spoke again, her voice back to its gruff self.
“…The battle is in two days. I’ll give you the plan then. All you need to prepare… is your resolve to win. Any questions?”
“We’re fine. We’ll see you in two days.”
“Good. I’ll be expecting you.”
The bare minimum said, we turned and left the ‘Lizards’ headquarters.
“Oh, and…”
I was the last one out the door when, surprisingly, Dorothea called out to me. I hadn’t said much, so I couldn’t imagine what she wanted.
I looked back over my shoulder. She was smiling, a look of satisfaction on her face.
“…Take care of Fadi.”
It wasn’t a strange request, but coming from her, it was so… gentle. It was a shock.
“That idiot is impulsive, and frankly, he’s a pain in the ass. …But he’s not a bad kid.”
It was something only an old friend could say.
Every word carried the weight of someone who knew both his good and bad sides.
…So.
“It’ll be tough, putting up with him… but… I’m counting on you.”
…She’s just… not good at being honest. She cares about Fadi more than anyone, doesn’t she?
She looked away, not waiting for my reply. Her mouth was twitching, and her cheeks were red. She was probably embarrassed.
She should just say that stuff to Fadi himself, I thought.
But instead of replying, I just gave her a deep, respectful bow.
“‘Take care of him,’ huh?”
I stepped out of the tavern, into the cool night air. I muttered to myself, then hurried to catch up with the others.
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