853 Bear, Questioning Corvo Part 1 - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

"Hey, so how long are we supposed to stay here?" one of the men asked. "For a little while longer," Mane replied. The men who had been ordered by Corvo to attack us were now staying in a room at the adventurers' guild on Mane's instructions. "It's tough sleeping and staying here," one of the men grumbled. "We made some money; can't we just go out for a drink?" "Be patient. Or would you prefer it was a prison instead? I'm fine with either," Mane said sharply, causing the men to fall silent. "Soon enough, they'll realize I'm in town. When that happens, you'll be in the spotlight. Even if you're not directly suspected, they might order you to attack me again. Can you refuse them then? I don't mind if you decide to switch sides." Mane glanced toward the door. It wasn't locked. If they wanted to leave, they could. "They'll end up blaming us for everything anyway." "In that case, it's better to stay by Miss's side." "Then stay put until things are resolved." As the conversation continued, the door opened, and the receptionist entered. "Good. You're here," she said. "Is something the matter?" Mane asked. "There are people at the adventurers' guild asking about you." "They're investigating my activities, as expected." "Yes, and they've been asking around at the merchant guild too." Mane had already informed the guild master of the merchant guild to expect inquiries. "Are you sure it's okay not to silence them completely?" the receptionist asked. "It's fine. If we clamp down too tightly, we lose track of what the other side knows. As long as it's not hidden, we can take appropriate action." Information is crucial in any field. No matter how tightly you try to keep things under wraps, something always slips through the cracks. It's better to release information you don't mind being known and monitor what's happening with it. "If you learn anything new, let me know." "Understood. I'll report back with any new information." With that, the receptionist left the room. "We're heading out for a bit," one of the men announced. "Running away?" Mane asked, somewhat sarcastically. "No, just something I need to check out. I'll have to go." "Just a warning, make sure you don't get spotted." "Yeah, I know." The men exited the room. "Think they'll betray us?" "Well, I hold their guild cards, so betrayals won't be easy. If they do, I can fabricate claims against them," Mane noted with a wry smile. It's hard to tell who's the villain here. Betrayal deserves punishment, but concocting false charges feels too extreme—like something a corrupt noble might do. "So, what's next then?" This situation can't continue indefinitely. Mane took a moment to ponder. "Let's make our move in three days." "Three days?" "Now that I'm involved with the patient, I must see it through," Mane explained. "And if they're making haste, they should arrive in about three days." Mane had used the adventurers’ guild to send a letter to Ellelaura, with the added expense of a fast horse delivery. Normally, letters and packages travel by carriage to the capital or a town and are then distributed by the local merchant guilds. However, this time, an adventurer was sent on horseback directly to Ellelaura. "Why Ellelaura?" "Handling the matter might be manageable on my own if it were just about apothecaries, but nobility is involved. Failing to prepare could mean letting them slip away." Nobles have a reputation for covering up their families' flaws to save face. To ensure nothing gets brushed under the rug, Ellelaura, being a noble too, might help counteract such tactics. While in the room provided by the adventurers' guild, we received a stream of information: Corvo trying to acquire herbs from apothecaries, going to Lydia for them, ordering from the merchant guild, and commissioning herb collection through the adventurers' guild. All this came from the receptionist, Lyla. Now that names had been exchanged, Mane and Lyla were trading information more openly. "The herbs still haven't been procured, and Corvo remains in the shadows," Lyla reported. "Lydia wouldn't give him the herbs, so he couldn't make his concoctions. That's why he turned to other apothecaries." "But he must have reached out to other apothecaries too." "Kabo intervened, requesting they not help Corvo. So, he has no allies left. Ignoring patients and obstructing apothecaries, all for personal gain—this is his comeuppance." Kabo, who lent Lydia work space, indeed betrayed Corvo. I haven’t met Corvo, the apothecary, yet, and I wonder what he’s like. Lyla also informed us that someone was searching for me. "Me?" "They know I'm back in town and are likely searching for you, Yuna." "...?" "Yuna, look at your outfit." "...Bear." "Do you think there’s anyone else dressed like you? Others may not know what I look like, just as a little girl, which describes many in town. But a girl dressed like a bear? That's distinctive." Trying to find Mane, whom they've likely never seen, is nearly impossible. Asking about a child would yield many responses. However, asking about someone dressed like a bear would produce a clear lead. "I'm sorry, it's my fault." "No need to apologize. I knew this would happen when I had you accompany me." It seems Mane anticipated her investigations being detected, but even after that, she planned to go to the patient alone. When I mentioned "What about protection?" she said, "If you're with me, we might encounter people Corvo sent, so it’s safer for you not to come." She had a point. My presence would compromise her location. Nonetheless, Lyla arranged for a trusted adventurer to accompany her to ensure safety. Although a bit worried, Mane walked through town unnoticed. A few days later, as planned, we approached Corvo's corrupt apothecary shop. "It's closed," Mane noted. "Did my approach scare them into locking up?" Mane crossed her arms and mused aloud. Over the past few days, it's possible that Corvo has been worried about her. Mane once said, "Let them dread my shadow." "So, what now? Should we break the door down?" I suggested. "If we do that, we won't know who's the real criminal here," Mane replied with a wry grin. She was right. Just as we were deliberating our next move, the door slowly opened. A man in his late twenties stepped out. "You're Corvo, aren't you? You still bear a resemblance to the past," Mane noted. This was Corvo. He looked thin, his complexion pale. "Long time no see, Professor Mane. What brings you here today?" he inquired. "My, you're not very surprised," Mane commented. "I received a message. I assumed we had things to discuss. Please, come inside," Corvo offered with no resistance. The store's interior was dim, shrouded by drawn curtains. "Please, upstairs," he gestured. We climbed the stairs at the back and were shown into a room furnished like an office, with a desk and chairs. "Please, have a seat." We sat down. "Do you know why I'm here?" Mane asked. "Is it about the medicine I made?" Corvo guessed. "Indeed, the medicine you gave to that brother and sister." "It seems there was a mistake," he commented casually. "There's no way it was unintentional; you handed it over with ill intent," Mane accused. "Even if that were the case, it wasn't life-threatening. I planned on curing them eventually." "What do you see patients as?" "A means to earn a living. Isn't everyone working to earn money to live? I'm doing the same." "Money earned by bringing misfortune to others." "Misfortune? No one sees it that way. I eventually cure them, so they thank me in the end." "That's only because they don't know what you're truly doing." "Exactly, they don't know. So there's no misfortune in their eyes. The siblings happened to find out this time." "So if they don't find out, it's okay to commit wrongdoing?" "If they don't discover it, then it doesn't become a wrongdoing for them." It was an infuriating cycle of logic. As long as people don’t realize they are being wronged, he felt it was acceptable. If it truly took the expected time for an illness to be cured and patients followed the prescribed treatment diligently until they recover, they would indeed express gratitude. Most people wouldn’t know how long recovery should take, especially with all the other apothecaries corroborating his deceit. If told the same by multiple sources, they'd have no choice but to believe it. “What a disgrace that someone like you calls themselves an apothecary,” Mane sighed. “I haven’t killed anyone; hence, I’m not a criminal. Besides, if it comes down to this, my father would protect me.” He emphasized the part about not having killed anyone, and unfortunately, that held some weight. Being the son of a noble, the matter likely wouldn’t escalate. “Did you forget about having me attacked?” Corvo's face stiffened. "I don’t know what you’re referring to." Without a word, Mane produced a magical recording device and activated the magic stone. Corvo and his henchmen's conversation played aloud. “I have a recording of you giving the orders.” Corvo reached out in alarm, but I swiftly deflected his hand. “If you know who I am, then you must realize the gravity of attacking me.” “So, they betrayed me after all?” His tone shifted. Perhaps this was his true self. “They didn’t betray you, they negotiated. Anyone would prefer a lighter penalty.” While the executors were in the wrong, the one issuing the orders bore the greatest blame. Giving orders from a safe place to have others carry out dirty deeds—it was a tale as old as time. Failing that, they'd just be scapegoats, just like many incidents in the other world.