The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 274: Money War (2)

In the late night, the excitement over the immense amount of money earned gradually faded. The dewy night air, heavy on the tips of the grass, greeted Dolores as she stepped out to welcome the dawn.

Creak…

Dolores cautiously surveyed her surroundings and, after careful inspection, opened the door to the rooftop. The rooftop of the female dormitory was a restricted area, so her actions were discreet. As she passed through the door and set foot on the rooftop, a voice greeted her as if scraping at shards of metal.

“…You’ve come.”

Night Hound, standing at the railing’s end, welcomed her. His relaxed posture at the dizzying height made it seem as though he had been here all along.

“I apologize for being a bit late. I had to avoid the dorm supervisor. Did you wait long?”

“Not really.”

Dolores silently gazed at Night Hound’s cloak. Judging by the absence of dew, it seemed like he had arrived not long ago.

“Did you have trouble finding your way here? The female dormitories all look similar, and without separate building markings, it can be challenging for someone coming here for the first time.”

“It wasn’t that difficult.”

Night Hound casually replied to Dolores’ question. At that moment, Dolores’s eyebrows twitched.

‘The dorm buildings all look similar, and there’s no indication of which building is which. It’s hard for a newcomer to distinguish. Could it be that Night Hound is someone from within the academy?’

If he managed to find this hard-to-locate place in a short time without confusion, there was a high possibility that he was familiar with the internal geography. Suddenly, Dolores recalled an incident from not long ago.

During the festival, the mysterious female black mage who led the undead into the academy.

She had definitely said something strange.

“Where did you hide Night Hound? Traces of Night Hound were found in your room.”

Back then, Dolores had dismissed those words without much thought. Valuing her privacy, Dolores ensured that no one could enter her space. Even in the event of facility malfunctions, she could repair them herself.

‘Come to think of it, why did that woman say such things back then?’

The connection between them intrigued Dolores, but what bothered her more was the evidence that Night Hound had been in her room. At that moment…

Thud…

A sound emanated from within Dolores’s embrace as she took a step forward.

It was the ‘Mirror of Truth.’

An artifact she had won as a prize for achieving first place in the university league. It reflected the true face hidden behind the mask of its target.

‘…Should I use this mirror to reveal the true face of Night Hound?’

Dolores pondered inwardly.

However, she soon tightly closed her eyes and tilted her head upward. Just in case, she brought out the mirror, but as expected, it revealed nothing. She didn’t want to find out his identity in this manner.

‘Let’s wait until Night Hound himself speaks. It’s not proper to do this without his consent.’

While Dolores closed her eyes and struggled with her thoughts, Night Hound, Vikir, looked at her with curiosity.

Eventually, Dolores opened her eyes and, after taking a deep breath, spoke.

“Everything you asked for has been completed.”

Dolores explained everything that had happened during this time to Vikir. Sinclaire regularly wrote and sent future prediction letters. The targets varied from the price of gold, grains like beans or wheat, and options of gifts like bronze or orichalcum, to real estate or bonds. The results were either right or wrong, but about thirty investors consecutively won in the 50% probability game set by Night Hound.

Even in the last investment, Night Hound went as far as investing in a dangerous merchant guild led by someone named CindiWendy and earned a tremendous amount of money.

“Your investment skills are exceptional. I had no idea.”

Dolores seemed genuinely impressed.

Of course, Vikir didn’t pay much attention.

‘These were CindiWendy’s methods.’

He had just applied those methods a bit earlier.

“Now, all that’s left is to get an invitation from the Bourgeois Clan.”

With the clean money earned, there should be no problem. Although the method had a hint of counterfeit spirit, there were no legal issues currently.

“Please convey my gratitude to the friends who helped with the work.”

“Yes, I will. However, I’m worried if those kids will get involved in the fight against the demons…”

Dolores seemed concerned about Figgy and Sinclaire.

Of course, Vikir had already considered that.

“Place them in a safe place when the decisive moment comes.”

After finishing his words, Vikir handed a small vial to Dolores. It was a sleeping potion.

When Dolores looked tense, Vikir spoke again.

“Now, the last step before the decisive moment is to capture an insider.”

Vikir’s words were to be expected. The Bourgeois Clan thrived on secrecy, and without information from an insider, it would be impossible to strategize.

“If there’s someone within the Bourgeois Clan holding a significant position but in a hostile relationship with the current head, we need to find them.”

“Do you think such a person exists?”

“Of course. I’ve already investigated.”

Finding a high-ranking figure in opposition to the current head of the Bourgeois Clan wasn’t that difficult.

“You can figure it out by compiling newspaper articles. If you go through old economic newspapers, the answer will come to light.”

For a moment, Dolores paused.

“…Old economic newspapers?”

‘…And he even reads extremely old economic newspapers with such enthusiasm…’

She vaguely remembered hearing something like that recently.

‘When was that?’

It seemed like something she had heard not too long ago, but she couldn’t recall when or from whom.

While Dolores felt a sense of unease, Vikir handed her a few newspaper articles.

They were scraps of very old economic news.

[Economy] Bourgeois Clan’s Head, Who Will It Be!?

– Sharp conflicts intensify over the position of the head of the Bourgeois Clan…

The most likely candidates currently are the eldest son ‘Bartolomeo Bourgeois’ and the second son ‘Damian Bourgeois’…

[Economy] Deputy Director Bartolomeo, Target of Intense Tax Investigation!

– On [date], the eldest son of Bourgeois, also the deputy director of the Mineral Gift Exchange, Bartolomeo, unexpectedly complies with a sudden tax investigation…

Meanwhile, the Imperial Tax Investigation Team plans to expand these unforeseen tax investigations more frequently and, at the same time, accuses Deputy Director Bartolomeo of embezzlement, misappropriation, and tax evasion…

[Economy] Deputy Director Damian, Mocked at Daughter’s Celebration

– On [date], Bourgeois’s second son and Deputy Director of the Currency Mint, Damian, is seen smiling at his daughter’s celebration…

[Economy] Deputy Director Bartolomeo, Volunteering in the Harsh Cold, ‘Sending Warmth!’

– On [date], Bourgeois’ eldest son and deputy director of the Mineral Gift Exchange, Bartolomeo, welcomes the year-end by volunteering to help the less fortunate…

Despite the freezing temperatures, he sweats profusely while delivering coal to elderly people living alone, revealing his modest citizen-like side…

[Economy] Deputy Director Damian, Involved in Controversy over Abuse of Power

– On [date], Bourgeois’s second son and Deputy Director of the Currency Mint, Damian, gets embroiled in controversy over ‘abuse of power’…

While performing security duties for his daughter’s picnic, he insults security personnel by saying ‘Do your job properly,’ causing psychological harm…

Reading through old newspaper articles just before the head of the Bourgeois Clan was decided… revealed who the rival to the current head, ‘Bartolomeo,’ was.

.

There was someone who, whenever negative newspaper articles exposing Bartolomeo’s unfavorable image were published, countered them by promoting positive articles. Conversely, when positive articles highlighting Bartolomeo’s favorable image were published, this person’s reputation plummeted due to negative publicity. Through this, the identity of the Bourgeois Clan’s rival became clear.

[Economy] Blood-Stained Shareholders’ Meeting, Who’s the Winner!?

– On [date], the head of the Bourgeois Clan was decided. The eldest son, ‘Bartolomeo,’ was elected as the next head…

As the newly appointed head, Bartolomeo promised to revive the Clan and announced personnel innovations…

The personnel changes are as follows:

Head of Department 00 moves internally to the Bourgeois Clan…

Team leader of Department XX, XXX, is dispatched externally from the Bourgeois Clan…

Director of Department DD, DDD, goes on a long-term business trip to a remote region…

Deputy Director of the Currency Mint, the second son ‘Damian,’ was promoted to director.

The sibling who lost in the Game of Thrones.

As a result, this individual was completely cut off from the Clan and exiled to serve as a caretaker for the Imperial Clan.

Damian Bourgeois.

Once an ambitious player who eyed the throne. Former chess piece. Secret adversary.

Vikir had been paying attention to this ‘silver medalist.’

“Damian. Count of Bourgeois and the current head of the Imperial Currency Mint. He also serves as an upper-level advisory council member and external director for Bourgeois. However, as he’s split between the Imperial Clan and Bourgeois, he might not be able to intervene in the internal affairs of the Clan.”

His promotion from deputy director to director was likely the result of losing in political battles. Normally, members of the Bourgeois Clan who ascend to the second-in-command position in royal institutions resign after learning the know-how and return to the main Clan to take on significant responsibilities. However, those discarded by the Clan end up being pressed down in the royal court, becoming caretakers for the Imperial Clan.

“…Damian. I think I know a bit about this person,” Dolores said as she examined the newspaper articles.

During the university league, she had undertaken a quest related to the Bourgeois Clan in the second round.

Bourgeois Clan / Difficulty [★★★★]

The Currency Mint is suffering from an increase in counterfeit bills due to the recent issue of high-value banknotes. Choose a Bourgeois Clan perspective on the benefits of currency reform, and propose improvement measures for new business items, or existing business items.

Four-star difficulty. It was a quite challenging task. Damian, the head of the Imperial Currency Mint, had personally set the problem, so Dolores was somewhat familiar with him.

Vikir nodded.

“He made some strides in the industry. Now it’s time to meet Damian.”

“How? He doesn’t seem particularly interested in selling dining rights.”

Dolores asked with a puzzled expression, and Vikir replied simply.

“Host a party.”

Dolores’ eyes widened as she looked at the estimate for the party that Vikir handed her.

“Yikes! Is this the budget for throwing a party!? Did I miscount the number of zeros?”

An astronomical cost, so huge that even the saintess of the Quovadis, one of the seven great clans, would be shocked. Vikir planned to spend the astronomical amount of money earned from this investment in a single party.

“I’ll host a dazzling and extravagant party. One that will make all the celebrities of the Empire turn their heads.”

After all, money was just a means, not the end.