While the Reys were fighting a mock battle in the courtyard of Azimov's house... Tris had heard reports from his men in the office of Spiel Trading Company.

"Is that so? Doesn't Precious show his tail yet?"
"Yes. Those around the Precious are more troublesome than I expected."

　Tris breathes over a cold glass of fruit water at the words from his men.
　For the general public, cooling magic items are very expensive, but for Tris, who is in charge of the Gilm branch of the Speel Trading Company, they can be purchased with a little effort.
　Furthermore, if the people who belong to the business association can work comfortably, I believe that this level of expenditure is not a problem.
　But Tris can't afford to taste the cold fruit water.
　the latest plot to knock Ray and Azot's business into Tris' blunder
　There has been little progress in the investigation into it.
　The biggest cause of this is the people around the prestige mentioned in the report.
　The bodyguards and those brought by Pless as his own aides obstruct the investigation of Tris.
　Of course, I don't mean to interfere openly.
　The casual interference was nothing but very troubling.

"Is it impossible to turn him over here?"
"Yes,"

　Tris's words were muttered in confirmation, but the subordinate who brought the report nodded easily.
　The people around him are those from an orphanage that... exactly has been run by his family for generations.
　Orphans die more than they live.
　Some orphanages also see orphans as nothing more than tools of their trade.
　They made them work like slaves and made their money...some of them made orphans objects of desire.
　Compared to such orphanages, the orphanages that run in the homes of Precious are well fed and not unreasonable.
　For that reason, those from orphanages had a strong faith in Precious.
　...however, it is true that education in orphanages has a strong influence.
　That made it impossible for orphans to betray Precious and pretend to be on Tris.

"It's troublesome, as I knew,"
"We are proceeding with the investigation, for the time being, without notice of the Precious and the surrounding area."

　I'm not sure what to say, but it was a sign that the investigation was not going as far as I wanted.
　However, the Precious found it troublesome to investigate Tris's men, and took the measure of asking Slain for help.

"It can't be helped," Then, please do your best. I can't afford to let Mr. Ray beat me under the current circumstances. Before that happens, we need to do something about it."
"Yes, as much as possible. -- but the slums --"

　Tris nods that he understands what his subordinates say, which seems difficult to say.
　Tris is right in the news that Prescius ostensibly headed for the slum a few days ago.
　It's also the same with Ray heading there.
　When I got that information, I wondered if Ray was going to touch the prestige in the slum, but at that time there were no subordinates to send to the slum, so I was one step behind.
　I had sent some of the men I had hired at Gillum who knew very well about the slums... and it was already over.
　Still, from the information I collected, I was able to see that what was done in the slums was just a check-and-balance by Ray, and that no concrete harm was actually done to the presumption.

"I'm just trying to get people there, too." I will collect them as soon as possible and send them to you, so please do your best as you are now."
"Yes, I see. Well, then...

　When he was about to say so, he suddenly stopped talking.
　Then look around as if to be wary of something.
　Seeing his men like that, it's not difficult for Tris to realize what's going on right now.
　Tris is a merchant, not a man of war.
　Still, he was entrusted with Gilm's branch office, and the scene of the disaster is getting through to somehow.
　The reaction of my subordinates alone made me understand that the current situation was definitely not good.

"Pretentious?"
"What do you said. I'm not quite sure about that. But, given the circumstances, I don't think it's a mistake."

　Taking a dagger out of his pocket, the man watches out for his surroundings, approaching Tris's side so that he is ready for anything at any time.
　Tris probably decided that he couldn't afford to drink fruit water here. I couldn't compete directly with my subordinates, but I stood up to keep them out of the way.

"There's no one, come!"

　As soon as the screaming subordinates' voices echo around, two men come in through the door.
　They were two men standing in front of the door as bodyguards.
　Holding a long sword in his hand, he looked at Tris with a stern and firm expression on his face and looked a little relieved.
　But... at the very moment the branch shook with a powerful shock and at the same time,
　Tris's room must have been lucky to have nothing to do with it, but the screams he just made were certain to be out of the ordinary.

"Oh, not Mr. Tris, but here?" ... Ruskul, you go and see what's going on in the shop. South is here with me the bodyguard of Mr. Tris. There is a good chance that the screams are positive."
"Yes!"
"All right!"

　A man called Ruskul quickly leaves the room and a man called South stands by Tris.

"What do you think, Edistol? Is this the work of Precious?"

　The man who gave instructions to the two bodyguards in Tris' words... Edistol nodded.

"Probably not," unless Mr. Tris had a grudge against anyone else and was attacked by him."
"...you can't deny it, can you?"

　Spiel's... well, in this case, Tris is probably right, but he's aware of some aggressive dealings.
　That is why I cannot nod honestly if anyone says that I am not hated.
　At the same time, however, I couldn't nod honestly when I was told that they were so bitter that they attacked the shop directly.

(Is there a possibility that it was not an attack, but an accident or something?)

　Tris's intuition, however, as a merchant for many years, had concluded that the screams that echoed at this time were unlikely to be an attack.

"I think it's too early for you to take action for a fancy... what do you think?"
"I don't know," I might have thought of getting ahead of him by judging that he had made a complete enemy of him in a slum case."
"... it really hurts that I'm late to send people to the slums."
"It can't be helped," I didn't originally think that Precious was connected to the slums. It was not until spring that Precious came to Gilm. well after Mr. Tris."
"But besides the ability of Prescius and his men to come into contact with the people of the slums... it must have benefited the inhabitants of the slums." I probably got paid."

　Edistol nods to Tris, who mutters the flesh of his cheek.
　Then the next moment the door of his office opens and Ruskul appears.

"It seems that a carriage has run in." It seems that the horse was in a state of panic because of something...

　In the middle of the explanation, Ruskul's words suddenly stopped... suddenly a horn sprang up from his forehead.
　No, I only thought of it as a horn for a moment.Eventually, it's not a horn, it's a slender... a point of arms specialized in stabbings, called rapiers and estocks, Edistol comes forward to defend Tris.
　A moment later, South probably understood that his partner had been killed in a rear attack.
　Follow Edistol, looking at the rusques crumbling to the floor with their whites peeled off.

"Hmmm, I'm afraid that's the end of my job. I hope we won't see each other again?"

　a woman with black hair cut by her shoulders
　She has a well‐made face, but she is not the most beautiful woman in the world.
　The woman, who looks so ubiquitous, smiles and waves a rapier.
　The brain marrow, blood, and body fluids attached to the point form droplets on Edistol's face.
　But Edistol doesn't seem to care about it at all and keeps her at arm's length.
　But... the next moment she hits something on the floor and fills it with smoke.

"Slip!"

　Edistol paused for a moment by the smoke, but that moment was fatal in this case.
　For some reason the smoke had already completely disappeared, and at the same time the woman had disappeared.

"d*mn, did you let him go.
"Mr. Edistall!"

　Southend nodded and turned his gaze to Tris.

"I didn't think they would start it at this point, but what would you do?"
"Yes, sir," There is something suspicious about this matter. I'm sure they understand that using force will make it easier for Ray to come out. But why did you do this? -- Edistol, just in case, do you remember the woman?"

　Edistol shakes his head at Tris's question.

"I know most of the faces of the hands of the Precious, but not all of them. Is it highly likely that he is a person who has not been revealed to others? Or..."

　Edistol, looking at Ruskul lying on the floor, reopens.

"I heard it a little while ago, but I think it's possible that he's a non-pure hand, but what do you think?"
"I don't know of anyone who blatantly impersonates me like this, but... that's not necessarily the case. and treat him with courtesy."

　I haven't known Ruskul for a long time.
　I've been employed since I came to Gilm, so it's only been a few months.
　Still, as a member of the same Speel Company, having lived with them for a short time, it was Tris' style to bury the body politely.
　Edistol understands it and nods a little.

"d*mn, who's going to do this?"

　South hits the floor with his fist.
　I wasn't partying with Ruskul, but I've been friends for several years.
　For that reason, I can't afford to be quiet at the sight of him being killed like this.
　A glance at South Korea once again brings a troubled look to her face.

(Really, why did you do this? Once you've done this, you won't be able to back down.) Was it necessary to take action with that in mind?)

　Tris was semi-confident, though the matter has not yet been decided for sure that it was the work of the Precious.
　But at the same time, I have doubts.
　Why did you behave so violently?
　When I thought about attacking the store openly in the first place, I remember the scream I just made.
　Ruskul, who went to the store to see what was going on, was killed by an assassin before he could explain everything.

"Go and see what's going on in the store, Edistol. I'm also concerned about the screams I made earlier."
"But..."

　Edistol usually readily complied with Tris's orders, but now hesitates.
　It's only natural that ... The recently dead Ruskul and the South are of equal strength.
　One of them was killed at one blow, unaware of a surprise attack from behind.
　If, then, she reappears when she is not here, who can protect Tris?
　We've already escaped from the scene, but we can't give up the possibility that the other party will come back to attack under the guise of doing so.
　It's only natural that the tension will disappear soon after the attack.
　You must have understood what Edistol meant. Tris thinks about something and then opens his mouth.

"All right, then I'll go with you."
"Wait a minute!"

　Tris shakes his head to Edistol, who tells him never to leave places where he is vulnerable to assassins.

"I believe in Edistol. Here we go. If something is going on in the store, I, the person in charge, have to go..."
"Mr. Tris!? Yes, South, we're going, too!"
"What? Oh, yes! ...See you again."

　Briefly telling Ruskul, South follows Edistol.
　What I saw was a horse-drawn carriage ramming into the store.
　Fortunately, there seemed to be no deaths or serious injuries, let alone minor ones who hit or rubbed them slightly.

"Calm down, boys. First of all, we treat the injured people. Please make sure that the customer is safe. and if you are free, take the cab out of the shop."

　Tris gave instructions and the confusion around him gradually subsided.