3-4 Part 2
The Strange Book Says to Become a
Noble Thief
— The Debt Collector Carrying a Shovel
—
Translator : PolterGlast
— Purge —
- 【Steal 100,000 Crowns of Dirty
Wealth】
- Completion
Reward: AGI +50
- “Ashley,
child of the Emperor and Chivalrous Thief, make the wicked foam at the
mouth.”
It seems the Tome of the Evil Dragon was pleased with
my decision. It instigated me to steal money from evil. Of course I’ll do it, Zirant.
Not for you, but for Carral’s fresh start.
Besides, Carral must have also had a desire to
retaliate; when I told her my plan, she laughed brightly and agreed. Taking
back what was stolen. Carral had that right.
“A... Ashley-sama... What did you say, just now...?”
“We will steal trade goods from the Hyamar Trading
Company’s warehouse. Sorry, but there is no one else I can rely on; lend me
your strength.”
While Carral proceeded with closing the shop and
purchasing a used ship, I returned to palace life once. Because there were
various things to do. This was one of them.
“Jii,
didn't you hear me? We will steal money from villains. When the time comes, go
with me to Naglfar Port and help transport it to the ship. Also,
outside, I go by the name Shinza; do not call me Ashley.”
“A... Ashley-samaaaa?!! Th-Th-Th-Th-That, the Emperor’s younger brotherwill not stay silent
about thaaaaat?!!”
I needed to gather tight-lipped people. That leads to Jii. Jii
has spoiled me in one way or another. He almost never refuses my requests.
“That is why we will do it without getting caught. I am a
child of the Emperor; as the Seventh Son, I can no longer tolerate
watching the weak get devoured by villains. Help me, Jii; you are my page.”
“Ashley-sama! Please have a little more consideration
for the elderly...! Certainly, your aspirations are noble, but that is a crime,
you know...”
“I am only returning things to where they belong, to whom
they belong. So Jii, I’m counting on you when the time
comes.”
“No way! I never said yes... Ashley-sama! Please
reconsider...!”
“You’re persistent. I have decided to do it; even if Jii does not cooperate, my decision will not change. So help
me, Jii.”
He grumbled and complained, but the discussion was settled.
After that, I also barged into Uncle Morak’s room.
“Uncle.”
“Ashley, huh... You’ve shown your ominous face again.
What is it? If you have business, state it quickly.”
“I have persuaded Carral
Hez. It seems she will close her shop and leave the Empire.”
“What, that story, huh? So she
was still alive...”
The life of an assassin is cheap. Judging by his reaction,
he doesn't even seem to know that they had the tables turned on them.
“Tell that merchant you have ties with to pull his hands off
her.”
“You have strange tastes. Well, if that’s the case, there’s
no reason to interfere. Understood, I’ll tell him myself.”
With this, the mediation is complete. Killing also costs
money. Unless they come into conflict again, Carral likely won't be
targeted.
“That helps. Uncle seems more like an understanding adult
than Father.”
“Hmph... Naturally. Who do you think I am?”
But remember this, Uncle. I’ll overlook it for now, but
someday I’ll make you pay the bill too. You are a disgrace to the Imperial
Family.
“Ah, come to think of it, I heard Hyamar is offering
gifts to Her Majesty the Empress as well. What should I gift to be liked by her
too?”
“Stop trying to curry favor with that woman; she is a scary
woman, Ashley. But if you were to send her something, it’s gold. Send a
pure gold ring so heavy it looks like her finger might snap.”
With this, I got confirmation on the sly. I waited silently,
walking around the Imperial Capital with my tough body until the time
for execution came.
Thus, five days later, Jii and I entered the maritime
city of Naglfar. It takes a day by shared carriage. Then we checked into
the inn I stayed at last time and visited Carral’s room.
“I resent you, I resent you, Ashley-sama...”
“More importantly Jii, are you really not going to
eat?”
“Such things will not pass my throat due to stress!!”
When I finished the grilled squid in front of the door, Carral
appeared from beyond it. She has already met Jii many times. We were
immediately guided by her and hid inside the room.
“It’s late to ask now, but Shinza, are you seriously
doing this...?”
“No, even now we can turn back... This is a crime...”
“The risk isn't as high as you two think. When the sun goes
down, I will dig a hole, and you two will keep watch. Once the warehouse
break-in is successful, Carral will appraise the goods, and we will
carry them to the wagon. That is all there is to it.”
Watch this Zirant, tonight I’ll show you the surprise
show of the century. Together with the departure of the future great merchant Carral
Hez.
“Aaah... Is it my fault for spoiling you, Ash... Shinza-sama...”
“Cheer up, Grandpa. Or rather, Shinza really was a
rich young master, huh.”
Glancing sideways at Carral comforting Jii, I
peeked outside from the room window. It is evening. Soon the sun will set, and
it will be time for execution. Strangely, there was no tension. There was only
a groundless conviction that I could get through whatever happened.
We had marked an abandoned warehouse. Hyamar’s
warehouse, which we are about to infiltrate, is three warehouses away from
here. With the two lookouts behind me, I thrust the Shovel into the
earthen ground.
From there, it was like magic. Like a mole, I turned the
heavy soil, trampled hard by dock workers and cargo, into an underground
tunnel.
I dug out the soil, discarded it outside, and compacted the
walls with the back of the Shovel.
“No way...! What is that? A path in the ground... No way?!”
“Ash... Shinza-sama? Wh-What is that power...
Am I seeing a dream...?”
Actually, I had tested this power beforehand at the ruins
where I found Zirant. If I use this amazing power, the Shovel LV 3
power obtained from the Tome of the Evil Dragon can create an
underground tunnel with extreme ease.
It didn't take much time. Leaving the dumbfounded Jii
and Carral behind, I extended the pitch-black underground passage.
Then Carral came inside holding a lantern. This area
is near the sea; breaking down walls of sand rather than soil, I turned the
underground passage into an upward slope, and eventually reached the surface
where the air tasted good.
“We’ve arrived. I’ll go call Jii; you handle the
appraisal.”
“Yup, leave it to me Shinza! Lots of treasures that
looks like it'll fetch a good price... Now that it’s come to this, I’m gonna stop
worrying and give it my all!”
“You should do that.”
I went to where Jii, who was acting as lookout, was,
and sneaked back into the corrupt merchant's warehouse with him. Looking at it
again, it is tremendous. Imperial-made weapons and armor, jewels, precious
spices, and then art pieces like paintings and sculptures; there were even gold
ingots.
“Okay, carry this!”
“Ah, the time has finally come when I become a thief... sob
sob...”
“Wrong, Jii, we are Chivalrous Thieves. Even
if this violates the law, we are the righteous ones.”
My words, free of hesitation, seemed to distress Jii
even further. In the end, he helped reluctantly, though...
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