The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 32

The sneer, belittling like when I was expelled, had not changed. Nadale, Deputy Captain, accompanied by several senior knights, came to the guild headquarters. After giving me a thorough look, he fixed his gaze on Kano.

“Ho, truly fitting for the Don of a Dark Guild to have such a remarkably beautiful elf in your care. Her translucent skin is akin to that of silk fabric.”

Before I could respond, Kano spoke up.

“Firstly, we are not a Dark Guild but a legitimate trading company. Moreover, the term ‘in your care’ is quite objectionable. The Don does not subject me to such crude treatment.”

“A mere business acting as the bouncer for the famous high-class brothel La Bohème, is it?”

“What are you talking about? I have no clue.”

Nadale burst into laughter. “We want you to understand that we hold the cards. The elf woman, Kano. And from here on, I’d appreciate it if you keep that talkative mouth shut. I came to talk to Don Michino, not you.”

With that, Nadale looked at me with a curiously polite gesture.

“I am here today under orders from Cecil-sama to investigate you. And I was surprised. The Michino Family is just a small organization ruling over such slums.”

Indeed, that was true. Who would believe that an organization in the slums would guard La Bohème?

Nadale said something strange.

“Don Michino, making a profit is indeed fine, but you know that running an underground business like a Dark Guild in the royal capital requires a lot of groundwork.”

“Groundwork?”

Nadale smiled again, not with his usual sarcastic smile but with a chilling, unfamiliar expression.

“Of course, it’s different if you have the support of nobles. What you need without any backing is a relationship with us, the Holy Knights. It might be said that dealing well with us could save your lives.”

Confused by Nadale’s intentions, as traditionally, the Dark Guild and Holy Knights are like fire and oil. I wondered what he meant by “dealing.”

As I was bewildered, Nadale raised five fingers. “How about 50%?”

“What do you mean?”

“A donation from Michino Company to the Holy Knights. 50% of the rewards from La Bohème. Let’s settle on that.”

“Wait a minute!”

Before I could speak, Kano raised her voice.

“A 50% donation? What authority do you have to demand that!”

“That’s because your lives are in my hands. There must be heretics in such an organization. You know what happens if we impose a heretic inquisition, right?”

At those words, Kano closed her mouth and bit her lip.

I was merely shocked by Nadale’s words. It was unheard of for the Holy Knights, guardians of justice, to use heretic inquisition as a threat to demand money.

“Does Cecil-sama, the Captain of the Holy Knights, know about this matter?”

“I have no obligation to inform you about that. Let’s just say Saintess Cecil has her duties, and I have mine. Besides, Cecil-sama might not be in her position as captain for much longer.”

What does that mean? As I pondered, Nadale continued.

“Before long, the marriage between Cecil-sama and Prince Raymond will be announced. Therefore, if you wish to thrive in the royal capital, it would be wise to prioritize a relationship with me, the next Captain of the Holy Knights.”

Ultimately, Nadale did not mention Kirke’s name until he left the mansion. It seems that Nadale’s visit was not about capturing Kirke but rather about extorting money from us under the guise of an investigation.

Of course, Nadale’s actions and words leave many questions unanswered, as do Cecil’s stories. It is said that breaking the vow of chastity significantly weakens the power of holy arts. Yet, Cecil Wave’s exploits in the royal capital’s newspaper remain unchanged, and she still serves as the Holy Knight Order’s greatest force. With the intensification of conflicts among the dark guilds, it’s puzzling why the royal family would decide to withdraw her from her position.

Would Cecil, who had devoted herself to protecting the citizens of the royal capital, easily accept marriage? The moving pictures also give the impression that someone is manipulating Cecil.

Indeed, I’ve felt discomfort since she began to scold me. Despite her usually kind nature, she would return from dinners with Prince Raymond and suddenly lash out at me harshly. Conversely, after a few days, she would embrace me for a long time, suggesting we break the vow of chastity together, among other inexplicable behaviors. What was all that about?

When the sunset dyed the Loser’s District, there was a knock on the door, and Kano entered the room.

“The witch known as the Heartless Kirke is severely injured, but after our treatment, her life is not in danger,” Kano reported.

“That’s good to hear. If she had died, we would have only angered the Gambino Family further. How is Nina?”

“She seems exhausted and has been sleeping continuously. But Don! Why did you give them money just because they said so?”

“We had no choice. If Nadale’s words were to be taken seriously, and we were subjected to a heretical inquisition, it would be the end of us. At this stage, it’s wise not to antagonize the Holy Knight Order.”

“Well, I suppose so… but I never thought the Holy Knight Order would do something like this.”

“Yeah, me neither.”

At that moment, a lively voice echoed.

“Aniki! Congratulations on your victory over Kirke!”

Seneca entered the room with these words.

“Let me join in the next conflict with the Gambino Family!”

“Seneca, we’re not escalating the conflict any further.”

“Why not, Aniki? They attacked us first. It’s only polite to return the favor.”

Kano said, “Seneca, I think Don believes it would be best if we could make peace at this point.”

Seneca looked puzzled and repeated, “Make peace?”

“No, no, no. Now is the perfect time to strike. They initiated force, so we have a moral high ground. Besides, with Aniki and Nina defeating Kirke and my guard unit growing stronger, they won’t be able to mess with us so easily if we all work together.”

“Seneca, the Gambino Family, and we are on completely different scales. And above all,” Kano paused, adding, “the deputy captain is right. We lack connections with the royal family and nobility. If the conflict continues, we’re likely to be judged unilaterally.”

The lack of connections with the royal family and nobility is a shared understanding between me and Kano. The reason other dark guilds can thrive in the royal capital is that the three major dark guilds have strong ties with the royals and nobles, controlling the red-light district, monopolizing gambling dens, and profiting from drugs, all while fattening the nobles with money and pleasures and earning their trust by accepting their commissions.

Then came the request from the notorious Duke LeBlanc.

“Don, if we succeed in this request, Duke LeBlanc promised not only a reward but also to become a patron for the Michino Family. If the second in line to the succession, Duke LeBlanc, becomes our guardian, the Michino Family’s status will be secure. If Don refuses, I, skilled in theft, will take on the quest alone. Please assign the request to me.”

I shook my head.

“I can’t let Kano take it. If you were caught, Sani would miss you.”

“But as things stand, we’ll be extorted by the Holy Knight Order and attacked by the Gambino Family.”

I took a deep breath before responding, a decision I had made when the Gambino Family first attacked us.

“I’ll take on the quest alone. Then, with the backing of the LeBlanc family, I’ll expand the Michino Family into a powerful organization in one fell swoop. We’ll no longer allow any foolishness in our territory, the Loser’s District, nor will we give a single coin to the Holy Knight Order.”

As Sofia Gracier once said, power is necessary to protect someone. Once the path is chosen, there’s no turning back.

And to Nadale, I intend to repay those hundred silver coins many times when the time comes.