Chapter 32 – Ethan Conrad (2)
“That’s impossible. No matter how much you operate a business in Su’an, you can’t possibly make that much money.”
“But money doesn’t lie. It’s true that he’s been handling a massive amount of cash recently. Where is he getting that money?”
In a nearby city, several leaders of the organization had gathered. Instead of engaging in their usual trivial conversations, they immediately voiced their complaints as soon as they saw each other.
This was due to recent internal developments within the organization. Given their nature of operating in both the shadows and light, strange events occurred daily. However, the higher-ups usually remained quiet amidst these changes.
“That guy seems to be doing whatever it takes to climb the ranks.”
Recently, change began to sweep through the upper echelons of the organization. The health of the founder and elder brother, the head of the organization, was deteriorating, causing the leaders beneath him to move and create new opportunities.
The leaders unable to ascend any higher set their sights on climbing the ranks to attain a distinguished status within the organization.
This included Ethan, of course, as well as those gathered in that room.
“…If that arrogant Ethan becomes our superior, what’s going to happen? It might become even harder to gather wealth.”
One of them, who had been watching the female attendant bringing in drinks, spoke with a serious expression. For those who often competed with Ethan and could be considered from another faction, his promotion was something that must be stopped at all costs.
“You’re right, Herman. But how?”
“First, we need to find out what’s going on. How he could have suddenly made that much money. I’ve already planted someone to monitor him. If he relaxes even a little, it’ll become obvious.”
The man called Herman smiled slyly. After all, they were all people rooted in the underworld, regularly engaging in illegal activities.
Although they couldn’t criticize each other for their actions, they could certainly hinder them. They were all too aware that what occurred among them was beyond the reach of public authority.
“Those watching me… Well, honestly, there are too many possibilities.”
“That seemed likely.”
The problem was that their established plan had already been exposed by someone with the ability to manipulate the winds at will.
Ethan scratched his head as he remembered Iriliana’s words warning him that there was someone watching his home. He had too many suspicions.
*
“Right now, the organization’s scale has grown significantly, and it has numerous branches collecting money from everywhere, but it wasn’t like this ten years ago. Back then, the organization was merely a growing faction, and we fought and competed using any means necessary.”
“So it’s a rival organization? The city guards?”
“Not only that, but the factions within the organization are also complicated. Strictly speaking, I belong to the faction of Captain Ruhan. Leaders from other factions might try to keep me in check.”
Ethan shrugged, uncertain.
The fact that assassins had attempted to invade was obvious, yet they borne wealth that was hard to achieve without risks, which made life all the more troublesome.
“Is that organization worth risking your life for?”
For someone who had lived an ordinary life, this was hard to understand. Even if it meant earning a little less and not being as successful, wouldn’t it be better to live a safe and comfortable life?
“That may not have been the case in the past, but honestly, with the organization having grown this large, it holds considerable value now. Now that we’ve partnered, even if I would leave the organization alone, I wouldn’t struggle too much to make a living. However, the vast web of information and the business the organization has established… frankly, if I could devour them one by one from the inside, it would be foolish to refuse.”
“Oh, that might be a bit of a loss.”
When Ethan mentioned the organization’s value, it struck a chord with me.
His ability to quickly process a vast amount of information and handle annoying tasks all came from the power of the organization he’d built over many years across various cities and factions.
That power had allowed him to do my bidding, and so I found myself in need of his strength even more.
“I need to think this over. It’ll be too inconvenient without you.”
With my arms crossed, I also pondered deeply. Ethan, looking at me, appeared perplexed.
“I won’t be caught off guard to the extent that you need to step in. I’m keeping the most crucial tasks of collecting and selling relics with the most trustworthy people.”
Ethan showed confidence, indicating that he wouldn’t fall for any sloppy tricks given his experience.
Since there seemed no need to push the conversation further, I chose to remain silent afterward.
“What…? The carriage delivering ordered goods was attacked!?”
However, the very next morning, while I was having breakfast with half-open eyes, I heard Ethan’s urgent voice carried by the wind, leading me to let out a hollow laugh.
“What’s going on?”
“Ethan’s hotel and business… and that’s where we stayed, right? Anyway, they were ordering items to be delivered from other places, but the caravan transporting those goods was ambushed.”
I explained the situation to Rina, who was curious.
While thugs who robbed pedestrians could be found anywhere, the emergence of organized bandits attacking caravans was a different matter related to the city’s security.
‘Is this another conspiracy?’
Just yesterday, I had spotted some suspicious individuals monitoring this place, yet of all the people, it was the caravan delivering Ethan’s goods that was attacked, which didn’t seem like mere coincidence.
“Are you going to see Ethan?”
“He said he would handle it himself, but just in case. It’s not an urgent matter. He might really be able to solve it on his own.”
After finishing my meal and during the washing-up process when I fully woke up, I decided to sneak a peek.
After all, Ethan had many tasks still ahead of him, and if he was obstructed, it would ultimately be my loss. Moreover, with the newly acquired powers of the wind spirit, providing discreet assistance without being noticed seemed achievable.
“Isn’t it amazing that you can always be soft even without washing?”
In the midst of it all, Rina, playing with my hair, expressed her envy of its flowing softness.
Thanks to the High Elf’s trait of minimal waste disposal, maintaining cleanliness at all times was indeed a remarkably convenient ability.
“Yikes!?”
“It’s all dry.”
Additionally, with the quick drying facilitated by the wind spirits, I had minimized my washing time drastically and headed back to the courtyard.
Even if I intended to help Ethan, he was already out handling something urgently. Until he returned in the evening to tell me what had happened, I planned to train the wind spirits as usual.
“Just as I thought, there are no watchers today. They are clearly keeping an eye on Ethan.”
Of course, I checked through the spirits to see if any enemies were monitoring this place. It seemed there was no surveillance now that Ethan was away, as a house without an owner held no value for them to observe.
This also indicated that they were completely unaware of me.
“Instead, it seems someone else is looking for me.”
However, before the morning passed, a new signal calling me was launched into the sky.
Before parting ways with Renia, who had discovered the erosion with me, I had told her that if she wanted to call me, she could shoot a flare into the sky—a request that was now coming true.
It was a grand and somewhat childish method, but as someone who had never expected to actually do it, I stifled a laugh while donning my outerwear.
“Is that calling Iriliana?”
“Since something significant happened just a few days ago, I figured I had to meet her once. This time, I’ll go alone.”
Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Renia was likely still investigating the erosion. She must have discovered something worthwhile to be calling for me.
What was at stake was more than just corrupting a single person; this disaster aimed to erode the land itself to the point where even the spirits cried out—a situation that could not be ignored.
“Are you really going alone?”
“I’ll be fine now.”
Seeing me don my hood, Renia looked at me with concern, but I felt much more confident than before.
After all, others couldn’t deal with my ability to manipulate nature directly, and with the newly joined spirits, my power had more than doubled.
Plus, the meeting point was close to the city. Even if I encountered some local thugs, I was confident I could handle them.
‘It’s an advantage that this world is full of all sorts of people.’
Through a secret passage I often used, I stepped barefoot into the streets, but the people on the street didn’t pay much attention to me.
In a world where people with animal tails and ears roamed and magic and sorcery permeated daily life, I, who was still in awe of such scenery, considered myself rather ordinary.
