"The Talented Dragon Hides Its Claws" ~ The Eldest Son of the Baron Family, Called Useless, is Actually One of the World's Strongest ~ - Episode 6

A little earlier in time, around noon on this day.

In a small rural village on the other side of the valley, an investigation into the incident was underway.

A knight shouts loudly.

“Hey!!! Captain Silver has arrived!!!”

The knights clear the way, and a giant strides forward leisurely.

The man who carries the great sword with grandeur is named Silva.

I am the commander of the illustrious Order of the Baron Arden.

At the end of the knight’s guidance, there stood the figure of a dull middle-aged man.

“Sir Silver, this is the person.”

“Are you the village representative?”

I feel a bit unreliable, but…

“Ah, yes. I am officially registered as the village chief in the family register.”

“I see. Then, I would like to hear all about yesterday’s incident.”

“Understood. I will tell you everything I know.”

“Please.”

After a few dozen minutes.

“Well, in that sense, it seems highly likely that it was an accident. The place was already showing signs of wear, and with a large carriage and several knights riding on it at the same time, it’s not surprising that it collapsed.”

“Hmm… then why didn’t you submit a repair request?”

“Seriously, I’ve sent it over a hundred times already. No matter how many years pass, I don’t even get a reply.”

“W-what? Is that true?”

“Honestly, everyone in the baronial family must already know. I’m surprised that it hasn’t even reached the captain.”

“Sigh… In the end, it was our baronial family’s responsibility after all…”

The leader let out a sigh.

“Just to confirm one last time, this isn’t something that anyone here in the village, including the villagers, has plotted, right?”

“Yes. At that time, all the villagers were waiting here because the baron was coming for an inspection.”

“Is there a possibility that someone else committed the crime?”

“Well, this forest around here is so dangerous that even seasoned hunters go missing, so it’s not very realistic for outsiders to pass through. If they used public roads to carry out their plan, there should at least be some traces of footprints or one or two eyewitness accounts. Right, everyone?”

When the village chief said that, the hunters behind him nodded vigorously.

“Hmm. To be honest, I was suspicious of someone from the baron family… especially Lord Ryu, who has been frequenting the forest since he was little, but that line of thought seems to be weak.”

In reality, only nobles of the rank of viscount or higher can judge the current head, Ryu. In other words, it doesn’t particularly matter if Silver, the captain of the knights, suspects him. Moreover, Ryu himself fully understands this, so he has no intention of saying it out loud. It’s merely a search for the real culprit out of curiosity.

“Um, how old is Ryu-sama now?”

“I believe you must have turned fourteen this year.”

“Well, I absolutely think it’s impossible. I know it sounds harsh, but this is a difficult task even for a large group, so it’s even more so for a single child. Or rather, isn’t that just plain disrespectful?”

“……”

The village chief, seeing Captain Silva mumble, ends the conversation out of consideration.

“Well then, please continue to work hard on the investigation. Also, if possible, it would be helpful to expedite the bridge repairs. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a lifeline for us.”

Understood. Thank you for your cooperation in the investigation.

Several knights remained here, while the investigation team, including the captain, rode downstream along the river by the canyon.

The village chief lets out a deep sigh.

“Haah…”

(Is this okay? “Ryu-kun”)

Actually, this man is the only acquaintance that Ryu trusts, aside from his family and Sebas. He has an unimpressive appearance and at first glance seems unreliable, but as you can tell from the current exchange, he is a highly capable person, to the extent that “that Ryu” has incorporated him into his plans.

In the end, the incident of Baron Arden’s death was dismissed as an unfortunate accident, and a letter detailing the succession by Ryu was sent by express horse to the imperial capital.

A few nights later.

“Master, a glass of fine sake, please.”

“Sure thing.”

At the counter seat of the town’s only tavern, Ryu was gathering information. He was wearing a deep hooded cloak and was tall enough to be on par with or taller than an adult, so he wouldn’t be recognized as the head of the family. In fact, there were several adventurers with similar appearances in the tavern, so there was no particular worry of being suspected.

By the way, according to the laws of this country, the legal drinking age is fifteen, so fourteen-year-old Ryu is normally out of the question.

So, why did he come here…?

A tavern is a place where various pieces of information circulate. Adventurers, merchants, and knights frequently come and go, and they tend to talk about anything when they’re drunk. It’s perfect for me right now.

As I was enjoying a decent glass of wine bit by bit, I overheard an interesting conversation from the table behind me.

“Recently, the prices of food and drinks haven’t changed, but hasn’t the quantity somehow decreased?”

“Ah, I knew it. Well, the food and drinks here are delicious, so it’s fine by me. But the neighboring diner is also running low. That’s really a problem…”

Ryu asks the tough-looking man who is wiping the glass in front of him.

“Master”

“What’s this?”

“According to the people in the back, it seems like the amount of food and alcohol has been decreasing lately. Is something going on?”

“……”

However, the master remained silent.

“Master, I’ll have the most expensive drink in this place.”

“Sure. Just wait a moment.”

The master took out the finest liquor from the back of the shelf and poured it into a glass. This is what you call an information fee.

“The merchant suddenly jacked up the prices.”

“Is it true?”

“Ah. Even though it’s been a recession all this time, they go and raise the prices again now…”

Ryu furrows his brow under the hood.

What do you mean? We haven’t received any such information at all.

“Didn’t you tell anyone? For example, someone from the Baronial family?”

“I’ve told you many times. But instead of negotiating with the merchants, they seized part of the sales under the pretext of making an example. Because of that, several restaurants that served food have gone under. I don’t know how much longer this place and the next diner can hold on. Do you have some kind of grudge against us, Arden?”

The master revealed his anger.

That Baron Mantester. It seems he’s plotting to gradually weaken not just the Arden family, but the entire territory. But too bad. I’ve already eliminated the incompetent head. From now on, I’ll have him dancing in the palm of my hand.

“That was unfortunate. But apparently, the head of the family changed a few days ago. I don’t know the details, though.”

“Hmph, serves you right. I hope this makes you change a bit…”

“I wish for that too.”

“Master, one more drink.”

“Every time”

“Tell me the name of the idiot who embezzled the sales money last.”

The master, pouring the sake once again, said.

“Surely… was it Belter?”

“I see. Thank you.”

After drinking, Ryu placed a gold coin on the counter.

“I’ll come again to drink some more delicious sake.”

“If you have a store by then, I’ll let you out.”

I turned on my heel, raising the corners of my mouth at the sarcastic joke.

“That being the case…”

“I see, so it’s information manipulation. Considering the scale of the information, it was probably multiple perpetrators.”

“I think so too. We need to quickly capture and interrogate that traitor, Belter, and flush out his accomplices. Since he’s probably connected to Baron Mantester, we might as well extract information from that side too.”

“Understood. Right away.”