Chapter 39, Trump Card

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

With Schmidt’s arrival in Seichun, the matter of Wolf Fang had moved beyond Kousuke’s direct involvement. Now that Crown would be handling the situation, Kousuke planned to step back from any further interference.

 

However, unfinished business remained. There were Kouhi’s arena matches and the ongoing Tower investigation, which demanded his attention. He had no intention of leaving these matters half-completed.

 

Since her victory over Hartvin, Kouhi had been flooded with challengers eager to test themselves against her. While the Arena Guild held final authority over opponent selection, she retained some influence over the frequency of her matches. Using this leverage, Kouhi declared her intention to fight as many opponents as possible in the shortest time frame.

 

Her strategy was simple: demonstrate so decisively that no one would dare challenge her again. With Kousuke’s Tower conquest approaching its climax, she wanted to rejoin him as quickly as possible.

 

The Arena Guild resisted until the end, but Kouhi’s ultimatum proved effective. ‘If you don’t allow this, I’ll just retire.’ This threat led to the unusual arrangement of scheduling multiple ranker battles within just a few days.

 

Hearing about this manipulation, Kousuke felt a flicker of annoyance toward the Arena Guild’s handling of the situation.

 

…

 

While Kouhi battled through her matches, Kousuke and his party conducted thorough investigations of Floors fifty-five through sixty. Their searches yielded the same results as previous Floors: occasional discoveries of Aeris Water and Laspica Water, but nothing else of significance.

 

These rare waters were not found on every Floor, and when they did appear, they were hidden in extremely difficult-to-reach locations. The areas surrounding these springs remained untouched. They were desolate places even monsters avoided for some reason. Given that adventurers could earn substantial profits simply by hunting monsters in more accessible areas, few would venture into such remote corners.

 

Only an organization as methodical as Kousuke’s group would conduct such comprehensive Floor-by-Floor investigations. Based on his gathered intelligence, no such organization existed among the regular adventuring parties.

 

This led Kousuke to a troubling conclusion: some Guild or organization with prior knowledge was likely monopolizing these water sources.

 

…

 

Around the time Kousuke reached this realization, Eku was receiving visitors at the Guild headquarters. The timing coincided with preparations involving both Kouhi and Schmidt, who happened to be present for the encounter.

 

The visitors had not come as an individual but as a unified delegation representing various factions within Seichun. Their coordinated approach signaled the gravity of their concerns.

 

“So, why have you all come together?” Eku addressed the group directly.

 

They represented Seichun’s established powers, their unity driven by Wolf Fang’s growing influence in the city. Their purpose was clear: to voice their collective position regarding Wolf Fang’s recent actions, free from individual political constraints.

 

The delegation included representatives from Tower-raiding Guilds and official Guilds alike. It was a composition that underscored the seriousness of their discussion. Such normally fractious groups rarely collaborated, yet Wolf Fang’s persistent neutrality had finally pushed them to unified action.

 

This neutrality, or what they perceived as indecisiveness, had become a source of frustration. Wolf Fang was not being recognized as a legitimate new power despite possessing members capable of defeating the arena’s top-ranked fighter and clearing the Tower’s sixtieth Floor.

 

But raw capability meant nothing without political engagement. In their world, no single force could wield significant power in isolation. Sustainable influence required alliances, compromises, and clear positioning within the existing power structure.

 

Some among the delegation suspected Wolf Fang served as a front for a more established organization operating from the shadows. Despite their unified appearance, the visiting group harbored its own internal disagreements and suspicions.

 

After listening to their lengthy presentations, Eku cut through the rhetoric with characteristic directness.

 

“In short, you want us to clarify Wolf Fang’s political position?”

 

Their discomfort with Wolf Fang’s ambiguous status was understandable. Clear positioning would allow them to respond appropriately through established diplomatic channels. However, Wolf Fang had no intention of accommodating their conventional expectations.

 

Moreover, their fundamental premise was flawed. Wolf Fang operated under different constraints and advantages than they assumed, making their traditional political calculations irrelevant.

 

Eku glanced toward Schmidt, seeking confirmation of her assessment. Schmidt’s subtle nod indicated agreement with her reading of the situation.

 

Having received this confirmation, Eku decided to deploy her trump card and end this tedious negotiation once and for all.

 

She turned toward Kouhi while retrieving an item from her storage box. The container appeared ordinary. It was a standard portable water vessel available anywhere. However, its contents would prove far more significant.

 

Several faces in the delegation immediately changed expression upon seeing the container. They had correctly guessed its origin. It was something obtained from Gazenran Tower’s Upper Floors.

 

“Some of you have already realized what this is,” Eku said, holding the container aloft. “This came from Gazenran Tower. Do you understand what this implies?”

 

The delegation’s reaction split perfectly down predictable lines: those who recognized Aeris Water and those who remained ignorant of its significance.

 

“Perhaps you were trying to accelerate your plans before this discovery became public knowledge.” Eku continued, “but you’re too late.”

 

Several members grimaced at her words. It was a clear indication she had struck the truth. Those unfamiliar with Aeris Water read their companions’ expressions and began to grasp the gravity of the revelation.

 

The power dynamic had shifted decisively in Wolf Fang’s favor.

 

Eku pressed her advantage further. “We don’t simply possess this substance. We have the capability to analyze it. You understand what that means, don’t you?”

 

Those knowledgeable about Aeris Water fell silent, while the uninformed members studied their colleagues’ stricken expressions with growing comprehension.

 

…

 

The delegation ultimately departed without achieving any satisfactory resolution, overwhelmed by the implications of Eku’s revelation. Aeris Water had proven to be the perfect trump card for maintaining Seichun’s independence.

 

This was a striking example of how the pursuit of beauty could influence the fate of nations.

 

Eku maintained her pleasant smile while seeing off the visitors, but once they had gone, her expression shifted to match her role as Crown’s deputy director.

 

“Schmidt, can you accelerate that matter we discussed?”

 

Schmidt immediately understood the reference and nodded. “Yes.”

 

“Please proceed with maximum urgency.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Schmidt bowed formally before heading directly to the room housing the teleportation gate.

 

Eku’s concern centered on the possibility that today’s visitors would use their positions to manipulate public opinion against Wolf Fang. Malicious rumors could interfere with Crown’s upcoming operations in the city.

 

However, even coordinated propaganda would require time for the fractured delegation to reorganize and present a unified message. This delay created an opportunity that Crown needed to exploit.

 

The situation had become a race: how quickly could Seichun’s established organizations coordinate their response versus how rapidly Crown could implement its own plans? The outcome would determine the city’s political future.