The Merchant and Tavern Master

Finding Clues in the Capital

Several days had passed since I left Goldkorb. I arrived in Vermina, concluding my trade there, and spent time chatting with the staff and tavern master at Pixie Blessing. At the capital guild, I sought information about the merchant family that took Isabelle, especially the city where they operated, but so far, I have found nothing of significance.

Of course, I made sure to visit the old man tavern master at Rusty Dagger. With Cordelia no longer with us, it falls upon those of us who are still living to keep her memory alive.

"I'm glad to see you're not as sorrowful as before, Takahiko. I'm sure Cordelia would be happy if she could see you moving forward with your life," Mr. Rusty, the tavern master, commented.

"Yes, thanks to the support of my family and friends. I will never forget her, though," I replied sincerely.

While we talk about Cordelia, we also talk about other things. I confided to him my current side duty of finding a girl who is a friend of my sister who was taken to be a bride of the son of a bankrupted merchant family.

"Hmm... a bankrupt merchant family that suddenly appeared, and it's not registered with the merchant guild? There's something peculiar about this," He mused.

"What do you mean, master?" I inquired, curious about his thoughts.

"I hope I'm mistaken, but during my days working at the brothel, I encountered a similar tactic used to procure young courtesans. They would lure them in with promises of marriage," Mr. Rusty explained, his expression grim.

"What?" I was taken aback by the revelation.

"Let me be frank with you. I fear that the girl you seek might have been captured by an underworld clan specializing in such activities. When was she taken?" Mr. Rusty asked, his concern evident.

"It's been more than 8 months, without any news" I replied, feeling a growing sense of urgency to find Isabelle and bring her back safely.

"Then it's been quite a long time since she was taken. I fear it may be too late to trace her whereabouts, but this is only speculation on my part," Mr. Rusty commented.

I pondered for a moment. If the commerce guild's network couldn't find any information about a certain merchant clan, then it seemed unlikely that I would make any progress through conventional means. However, there was another avenue to explore – the underground guild.

"Master, do you happen to know anyone connected to the underground guild? I believe I won't find any leads through the commercial guild," I asked, hoping for a possible solution.

"Takahiko, let me warn you in advance. Dealing with the underworld brings great risk. If they discover that you're meddling in their affairs, not only you but your family could become targets as well. Are you certain you want to pursue this approach?" Master cautioned me, his tone serious and concerned.

"Let me show you how fearsome those people from that side of the world are. Oy, Rocksteed! Come here for a bit." Mr Rusty called one of his tavern workers. A skinny and tall figure appeared from the kitchen. He wore a headcover, and his clothing looked ragged, but not dirty.

"Yes, Boss?" he replied with a casual tone, unaware of the chilling question that awaited him.

"You were once involved in transferring new girls to the old brothel, weren't you?" The question hit him like a sudden gale, and a sense of dread washed over him. His face contorted with horror, as if he were watching or reliving some unspeakable nightmare.

"This guy," Mr. Rusty continued, "he once reported the practice of procuring young girls for the brothel I once worked at. You know, the place where Cordelia was before."

Rocksteed turned pale, his body trembling with fear. "He even brought evidence of the transaction records to the officials, prompting the knight guards to swiftly raid and shut down the establishment, putting an end to its business."

"So, that was a good outcome, right? The brothel was shut down," I remarked, trying to find some silver lining.

"It... it's not that simple!" Rocksteed's voice quivered as he struggled to find the words. "I was given money compensation from the kingdom, but..." He hesitated, unable to articulate the true horrors that followed. Then, he extended his trembling right hand, revealing the missing ring finger and middle finger. The sight sent shivers down my spine.

"What was shut down was just a part of a bigger network. They knew almost immediately that I was the one who betrayed them."

Silence enveloped the room as we absorbed the weight of his confession. The chilling truth became clear as he continued, his voice breaking with sorrow. "My... my... Mother... My sister... They... It was... It was my fault!" he sobbed uncontrollably, his grief pouring out.

Rocksteed's sobs continued as he struggled to find the words through his grief. "I... I was too reckless... I couldn't bear what they were doing to those girls, because i.. I have a younger sister of a similar age! That's why I reported them... but..." His words were drowned in sorrow as he relived the haunting memories. "..my sister.. was.. hics*.. In front.. of me.. She was.. "

"That's enough, you don't have to force yourself. Take a break, and have a drink." Master stopped him from continuing.

Without needing to ask, it was evident what had befallen his loved ones. Master rose from his seat and placed a comforting hand on Rocksteed's shoulder. "I'm sorry for making you relive your tragedy, but I wanted to show Takahiko the fearsome consequences of dealing with the underground world."

As I heard about the potential risks that could befall my loved ones, and witnessing the heart-wrenching confession from the tragic victim firsthand, fear gripped my body like an icy vice. The mere thought of what could happen to Sofia, Madam, my mother, and my brothers filled me with dread.

"If.. If you wish to discover what typically befalls those girls, venture to the Harbor City. I was once responsible for transferring new girls there. You'll find numerous brothels, both registered and unregistered establishments," Rocksteed reluctantly divulged. I expressed my gratitude for the information he shared, despite the haunting memories it brought back. I thanked Mr. Rusty for his time and bid him farewell before making my way back to the lodging. Mr. Rusty reminded me not to speak about my intention loudly as we never know which ears can hear what I'm seeking.

As I lay myself in the bed of my lodging, my mind wondered of many things. I had no illusions of being a hot-blooded hero capable of single-handedly eradicating these malevolent practices. Despite the king's apparent disdain for such activities, the stricter rules imposed on brothels only scratched the surface of the dark underbelly that lurked within the kingdom. There were sinister forces at play, hidden from plain sight, where even more insidious deeds might unfold. The weight of helplessness settled upon my shoulders, leaving me to grapple with the unsettling reality that I couldn't change the world and shield my loved ones from these sinister threats.

Despite my initial impulse to give up and protect Sofia and the others, I couldn't bear the thought of Isabelle, someone I know, being trapped in such a horrific situation. The feeling of helplessness consumed me as I realized that I couldn't face this alone. My lack of significant connections leaves me feeling lost and unsure of what to do next. The weight of the situation keeps me up all night, my mind racing with thoughts of how to overcome this seemingly insurmountable challenge.