The Upper Echelons of the Pokkeroce Kingdom are in Turmoil

* * *

An Adventurers Guild branch in the Zamago Forest?

This is a dimly lit room somewhere in the royal capital of Sairesike in the Pokkeroce Kingdom.

The streaks of light faintly shining through the gaps in the curtains illuminate the wavering of the smoldering cigarette smoke.

Nonsense That place is the territory of the green dragons. A branch office in such a forest?

Its a fact. I received a report from Viscount Eunocanan and sent my own people as well. Apparently, theyve built quite a splendid road and base.

The Adventurers Guild, doing as they please

Now, wait a minute, fool. Dont get so worked up. Theyre developing it for us, arent they? We can just take over that foundation later, right?

Hahaha Youre quite the jokester. Do you intend to make an enemy of the Adventurers Guild? What will you do if they suspend the Adventurers Guild functions within the country? Can you even imagine how much loss that would cause?

In this room of an unknown location are several men.

Its dimly lit, and their faces are hidden in darkness and smoke, but in fact, they are all major nobles of the Pokkeroce Kingdom.

The politics of Pokkeroce move within this darkness and smoke.

Realistically speaking, just trading with that new branch office will bring us sufficient profits. Therefore, it would be wise not to think of anything unnecessary.

But why build it in the forest They could have built it in the territory of some viscount in our country.

We didnt negotiate enough with the Adventurers Guild.

What they are talking about is the base in the Zamago Forest built by Emi and the others and the new branch office to be established there.

According to reports, the branch office is protected by quite a splendid defensive wall, and the road through the forest is also well-maintained.

The Pokkeroce Kingdom wasnt even aware that such things were being built.

If it had taken a long time and involved many people, information would have naturally leaked out.

Since thats not the case, the branch office must have been developed in a fairly short period of time and with a small number of people.

How in the world did they manage to do that?

Rather than the frustration of being outdone, such questions began to occupy most of the discussion. At that time

But actually, this story doesnt end there.

What did you say?

It seems that great sinner is somehow involved in the establishment of that branch office.

What!?

Nonsense!?

That cant be!?

A bombshell had been dropped.

Youre saying that Giovanno, that unprecedented great villain, is alive!?

Even they, who rarely get agitated, were surprised by this news.

The unprecedented great villain, Giovanno Ack Toh.

They had thought that disposable trash had already died in the wilderness, but somehow he had stubbornly survived.

How did he survive in the demon realm? He shouldnt have the power to fight monsters, right?

Could it be that the Adventurers Guild helped him?

Huh? They would have no merit in doing that.

Wait, calm down! Its not a problem how he survived. The problem is that a great sinner who has wronged the country is still alive and well!

Indeed! The god of justice, Lyasta-sama, would not allow such a thing!

The voices of several of the men grew louder.

And they began cursing the great sinner quite rapidly.

However, the other men were cold in their attitude.

But that great sinner has already been punished. With the punishment of exile. We cant lay a hand on him any further.

What are you saying! Leaving a great sinner unchecked is not right in the head!

He was exiled to the forest by His Majestys grace. You want to capture and behead him because hes alive? Do you want to disgrace His Majesty?

Ugh But!

You all seem to want to dispose of him at all costs. Is there some inconvenience if hes alive?

The people will not be satisfied!

Indeed! The administration of the country must be carried out in accordance with justice!

Then you should return the gifts you gave him.

With those words, the men who had been excitedly shouting about justice were rendered speechless.

You all dumped quite a lot of things on him, didnt you? If youre going to tout justice, have them returned. And immediately face Lyasta-samas judgment.

Lyasta-samas judgment refers to the judgment after death.

Anyway, we can no longer lay a hand on him regarding that matter. Theres no merit in doing so either.

But its a fact that the people wont be satisfied. If it becomes known that hes alive, there may be those who act out of righteous indignation without our knowledge.

Thats also a headache. We dont know his standing in that branch office. We dont know in what capacity hes been welcomed by the Adventurers Guild.

If, hypothetically, some unfortunate accident were to occur depending on the nature of the accident, we dont know what the Adventurers Guild might say to us.

Youre right. We mustnt underestimate them.

In the end, it means we should refrain from interfering with both the branch office and the great sinner, right?

What a vexing matter

Thats what it came down to.

For now, even though his existence has been recognized by the upper echelons of the Pokkeroce Kingdom, the possibility of Giovannos life being threatened has been greatly reduced.

But, however.

There was someone who was not satisfied with that.

Who was it?

It was not a metaphor or anything, but an existence residing in the heavens.

In other words, a god.

The men hidden in darkness and smoke

Who in the world are they?

Even the author has no idea (Hey!)