Guided by Multo, Ray, Vihela and Bune enter the mansion.
　Seto has left her outside, but she can't lie down as usual in the current situation.
　They keep a close eye on the surroundings by the gate, so that they can immediately detect when someone tries to escape not only from the gate but also from somewhere other than the gate.
　With the permission of Multo, if anyone tried to leave the premises of the house, they could stop it by force as long as they did not injure the other person.
　That's why Ray decided to meet Gala pigeon with peace of mind.

"Here. ... Mr. Gala pigeon, I've brought you the Reys."

　It was not the guest room... but the office Gala pigeon usually uses for work.
　It's also a place where Mult just got in.
　Originally, Gara pigeon was going to talk slowly in the reception room, but given the current situation... Ray was angry, I couldn't do such a leisurely thing.
　To tell you the truth, I wanted to have a slow conversation with Ray over a cup of tea.

"Oh, come in,"

　Mult opens the door of his office at the sound of voices coming from inside.
　And what Ray saw when he was led inside was a calming Gala pigeon, showing some tension.
　I understand that if Ray goes wild, he won't get away with it.
　However, as long as I was the president of the Azot Chamber of Commerce, I could not show myself what I was doing now.

"You've come, Ray," It's been a while since we met in person like this, but I don't think I've come to talk."
"No, it's true that I'm here to talk. -- to hear exactly what he meant to be hostile to me."

　Ray's tension was such that he could instantly faint if touched by someone who seemed to have just become an adventurer.
　But Gala pigeon was originally a high-ranking adventurer, and as the president of Azot's business, he has had the experience of competing with many merchants in the sea.
　While Murt slightly twitching his cheek, Gala pigeon doesn't reveal any obvious tension, but opens his mouth.

"Well, I don't remember doing such a thing, but let me explain it to you. ... anyway, sit on the sofa over there sofa. I'll have tea ready in a minute."
"No, thank you. Unfortunately, I can't trust you now."
"...I see. Then sit down anyway." I want you to tell me the details."

　He probably decided that it would be all right to sit on the sofa, let alone refuse tea. Ray sits on the sofa, while Vihela and Bune sit on the sofa.
　After confirming it, Gala pigeon also sits down on the sofa across from Ray and opens her mouth.

"Well, so we... no, the Azot trade was hostile to Ray, but what exactly does that mean? As you know, we've had a lot of trouble with Ray before. Do you think he'll try to be hostile to Ray again?"
"It wouldn't be normal," But unfortunately, this unusual event has happened this time."

　Tell him so, and say the same things that he explained to Multo in front of the house.
　Azimov was attacked by someone, and his magic item had disappeared, and he entered the estate after tracing it with Seto's sense of smell.
　At the explanation, Gala pigeon's expression becomes stern and firm.
　I had imagined that Ray's demeanor had made me laugh, but it was more than I had imagined.

"...and the smell was really connected to this house?"
"Oh, well, if you can't trust Seto's sense of smell..."
"No, I believe,"

　Gala pigeons naturally know how good Seto is in a previous case.
　It also naturally contained information that a variety of skills could be used with a rare kind of glyphon rather than just a glyphon.
　Gala pigeons don't have the option of not believing in such a set. ...though I didn't want to believe it.

"So I came a little while before we came to this house... Was it Corris? Let me see him."
"What are you doing, Multo?"
"I've already sent for him." I was supposed to have brought a sample of the newly purchased products and a sales report, so I think it's time to come..."

　The door of the office knocks, as if responding to Murt's muttering words.

"Excuse me, Mr. Galla pigeon," I've heard you're calling me..."
"Come in,"

　Gala pigeon's expression on his words after being knocked is stiff.
　a sample of a newly purchased product
　Maybe that's the magic item that Ray stole. That's because I thought so.
　The door opens in obedience to Gala pigeon's words.
　The man who came in was a man of medium build, about forty years old.
　He's a merchant of a major trading house called Azot Corporation, and he looks on his guard somehow.
　But it's only natural for a merchant to do so, and there's no sign of any particular disturbance.
　On the contrary, there was no particular reaction to the Ray's in the office.
　No, he looked somewhat surprised in terms of reaction, but at least he didn't seem to have ordered someone to attack Azimov and run away with Ray's magic items.
　Of course, they train merchants on a daily basis not to show their agitation.
　Still, it was a little unbelievable in Ray's eyes that he would not express any guilt.

"And then, Mr. Galla pigeon said. What does it have to do with Ray's presence in his office?"

　When I asked him that, he saw a momentary expectation in his expression that he might order something from him, and there was no doubt that he didn't know about Ray.

(It would be great if this were acting... well, what do you think?)

　Ray had been holding back his anger until recently, but now he's a little discouraged by Corris's conversation.
　I didn't wonder if that was the aim, but from what I saw, it seemed different.
　Gala pigeons were probably the same.
　A glance at Ray and Mult asks if Corris really attacked the alchemist and stole Ray's magic items.
　But Corris's carriage was the only one who entered the estate before Ray, some hours before that.
　Given the circumstances, there is no doubt that Corris is the culprit.
　But the Collis doesn't look particularly upset when she sees Ray.

"I'll call on you point-blank, without saying anything stupid. Corris, did you have your hand attack the alchemist, and rob him of the magic items which he kept?"
"...what?"

　Gala pigeon's words make Corris look dumb.
　I really don't know what you're saying.
　That was the way it looked, but he was still a Azot merchant, and he immediately returned to himself.

"Well, why did that happen? I don't think people in the Azot trade would act as if they were against Ray." Wasn't it something wrong?"

　It may have been because the words that came out of Corris's mouth were as expected. Gala pigeons feel relieved.
　The man in front of me was the one who helped me a lot even after Gala pigeon became the president of the Azot Trading Company.
　That's why I didn't expect him to interfere with Ray.
　But... Corris's words alone do not make me feel safe.Gala pigeon continues with a stern expression, lest Ray and Corris realize their relief.

"Why do you think Ray is here?"
"That's... I don't know.

　Corris probably understood that he was seriously suspected.
　The joy of doing business with Ray has already disappeared, and he realizes that he is involved in something outrageous, so he shakes his head in a hurry.
　At this point, Gala pigeon was convinced that Corris was not involved in the case... or at least he was not involved in the case.
　Corris, who usually seems to be a cool-headed merchant, is in such a hurry that you can see.

"Do you know Ray's slave set?"
"What? Oh, yes. Well, as someone who lives in Gilm, it's only natural."
"Is it possible that the set has high physical abilities and sharp senses?"
"...yes, of course,"

　Now that you've said this, Corris can understand why he's suspicious.
　I understand...

(But I have never ordered such a thing! Why!)

　Corris, who is completely innocent, screams in his heart, keeping his agitation from expression.
　But things go on as if they don't care at all about Corris's agitation.

"The set smelled the Reyes and others in the room of the attacked alchemist. It was this mansion that followed the smell."
"I don't remember!"

　If things go on like this, I'll really be made an attacker.
　Thinking so, Corris exclaims, as if tossing away his usual coolness.
　No wonder. If this leads to an attacker, there is a high possibility that he will be captured by security guards for an unjustifiable crime.
　And if you become a criminal, you'll be helpless.
　Also, if he had attacked an alchemist and stole Ray's magic items before that, he would completely antagonize him.
　What would happen if a merchant himself were to antagonize Ray?
　It was a matter of no need to think about it.
　In the sense of pure ability, Ray's demons set up a guillem and mascot-like standing position.
　When I thought about it, I was sure that... and the Azot trade itself would suffer a great deal of course.
　At any rate, I'm doomed, and Azot's business will suffer considerable damage.
　Corris thought he had to do something about it, but then he spoke.

"Well, you may not believe me, but I really don't remember it. I don't care how much you look into it."
"...but, yes." What shall we do?"

　When asked by Gala pigeons, Ray takes off the hood of his dragon robe, wondering what to do.
　Having had a conversation with Corris, I could no longer believe that he really attacked Azimov... exactly who ordered it.
　But it's true that Azimov was actually attacked, and it's also true that magic items were stolen and the person's smell continued to the estate.
　Ray, who was wondering what to do about the contradiction, muttered suddenly as he listened silently.

"Isn't there any possibility that Corris isn't really the culprit?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, there was no doubt that the man who attacked Azimov and stole Slapnil's shoes. This is a certain fact, as we see it."

　Rey and Bune nod back to Vihela's words.
　In fact, Azimov is likely to have died of excessive bleeding if the Rays had been a little later to enter the lab.
　While physical training might have done him some good, Azimov is a skilled alchemist, but he is not.

(Well, it might have been better to use magic items, but the absence of any trace would have meant that Azimov didn't have time to use magic items.)

　Anyway, it's clear that this incident wasn't caused by any mistake.

"But... do you think that a man of that ability will act as if he were straight back to his base?"

　Needless to say, the stronghold of the president of the Azot Chamber of Commerce is here.
　The Azot's headquarters may actually be called home, but at least this incident stinks into the estate.

"In other words, the Azot Chamber was used in place of 囮?"

　Vihela nods to Ray's words to confirm.
　Corris is sweating all over his face, despite being in a warm spring room.
　Not very much, but it is certain that the person who caused this incident did not behave.

"...that's the rule." Well, let's look first at the Corris's room in this mansion, and at the carriage. Is that all right with Ray?"

　Ray nodded silently to Gala pigeon's words.