"Oh, that's troublesome,"

　At one point in the slum, Ajas muttered uncomfortably.
　At Ajas's words, two of his companions… Lebedev and Haston nod silently.
　All three of them are already equipped to leave the guillem at any time.
　A slight difference is that Haston carries a backpack made of a large leather bag.
　I'd like to put the rucksack on the ground, if possible.
　But the rucksack contains food for dozens of people for several days.
　If you put it on the ground, you'll be attracted to the smell of rats and insects floating out of your rucksack.
　It's summer, though.
　In other words, there are many insects that fly at night, including carnivorous insects.
　For such insects and animals... and, above all, for slum dwellers who are always hungry, a rucksackful of food will be mouth-watering.
　Even if most rucksacks are for preservation and portability, such as dried meats or baked breads.
　Originally, they should have been able to secure a certain amount of food at the restaurant where the adjusters were staying.
　But it could only be fulfilled halfway, and most of the food ended up in dried meats and baked bread.
　However, considering the transportation of food, it may not be a loss at all.
　With such a backpack on his back, Haston looks into the darkness around him.
　With only moonlight and starlight sources, you can't see the surroundings completely.
　Of course, all of the adjas are dark, and since they have often acted at night, there is a night to see through to a certain extent.
　But it's not a night when you can see through all the darkness, it's only a little better than the average person.
　The adjas knew there were many around them under the cover of this darkness. I knew it, but I don't know who it is because it's so dark.

"Calm down, Ajas," It's probably Jestal's men."

　Lebedev says so, abandoning Jestal's name.
　If you're in front of them, they'll be polite, too, because they can't be offended.
　But if not... there was no need to treat Jestal with respect in this situation.

"I hope so,"
"But they're really coming, aren't they? It's hard to carry this on your back forever?"

　Haston muttered discontentedly to the two of them talking like that.

"That may be said," Lebedev serves as a window to proceed with our business, and I can't bear it, can I?"
"That's true,"

　Lebedev, who has direct contact with them, carries food on his back, as if he were giving them the space to leave in a conversation with Jestal.
　And Ajas is the most talented of the three, although he is regarded as the leader of the three.
　Of course, it's not enough to deal with high-ranking adventurers and notorious people, but I still have plenty of time to deal with Jestal's men.
　Circumstances in that area eventually led to Haston being burdened with him.

"You don't have to prepare water. It's comfortable, right?"
"... of course. It's not cool to carry water."

　When Levejev interrupts the conversation, Haston responds with a grumpy air.
　As you say, food alone is in this situation. If we had to prepare water for dozens of people on our own, there was no doubt that we could not move.

"You should have asked not only for water, but also for food."
"If you do it like that, you'll owe more than you already owe them. and you'll take more money."
"...what a irritating fellow!" Wouldn't it have been better to do business with someone else?"

　Haston gasps and tells Ajas.
　But the Ajas shook his head at Haston's words.

"I don't think so. In the first place, Jestal's organization was the most compatible organization with us in Gillum's background. Other organizations can be more troublesome than they are now."
"That's..."

　Haston tried to say something, but he wouldn't say nothing more.
　In fact, there's no doubt that the deal with Jestal's organization has been successful until this one happened.
　With this in mind, Haston could not help but stifling, knowing that it was them who hastened him.

"Here we are,"

　Just at that moment, Lebedev says.
　I listened with the voice and heard a carriage approaching me.
　It's not a single carriage, but a lot more.

(Well, it's packed with dozens of women, and that'll be the number of cabs.)

　As Ajas turned his eyes to the sound of darkness... until the carriage appeared, breaking open the darkness.
　The horse towing the carriage is not a fine, if not a fine, horse.
　Ajas' honest impression was that he wanted a better horse if possible, given the amount of money he paid for the organization.

(But it's here that I've asked you to get ready right away tonight.) It's no wonder, if you think so.

　While I'm thinking like that, the carriage stops.
　There was a figure of Jestal in the coach of the first carriage.
　This is a very expensive and laborious transaction, although the top of the organization does not usually appear in this kind of transaction.
　Also, what was originally a need for more time was that the appointment date was suddenly advanced, and then again tonight.
　There have been a number of transactions of this size and even trouble.
　That being the case, it was only natural that the responsible person, Jestal, would come out in case something happened.

"Oh, have you kept me waiting?"
"No, not really. But I think I'm a little late, sir, but what's the matter? I don't think it'll take a long time to get the women out of prison, as long as there's a collar."
"Tonight is the deadline," I got the people in the organization to do my last job. I came here late because of that, but there were five more people than when I talked to you."
"Well... that's very helpful." But I can't give you more than I promised you."
"I know," Think of this as a direct help from us. I got a reasonable sum of money from you. It's only natural to do the right job."

　Lebedev doesn't know to what extent the words that come out of Jestal's are true.
　But I could never believe that all of them were true, and on the contrary, I thought I was up to something.
　In fact, they don't have to work even harder now, as long as the contract has already been firmly signed and the promised money has been paid.
　Still, all Lebedev can do now is thank him.
　It's absolutely something to avoid if you're not good at here and your deal is broken as a result.

"Then I'd like you to hand it over." and the matter of escaping from Gillum..."
"Oh, I know," But you must pay the rest, too."
"I know," Here's the rest."

　Lebedev holds out a leather bag from his pocket.
　Seeing it from above, Jestal looks at one of the guards around him.
　The bodyguard pointed at it, nodding softly, approaches Lebedev and receives his leather bag.
　The man who received it loosens the strapped leather bag a little, checks it contained a white gold coin, and returns underneath Jestal."…I see. It's definitely as good as I promised."
"Yes, I'm not going to betray you here. And you're as good as my word?"
"Oh, as I said before, I was able to replenish some people just before. I have fitted the collar of the slave which you have entrusted me with, and I am still full of energy, but... you don't mind?"
"Well, if possible, I'd like to jail him for a few more days and make him mentally weak. It's no use asking too much."
"If you say so, it's worth my efforts. and the water is divided into carriages."
"Thank you,"

　Lebedev humbly bowed to the unexpected words Jestal uttered.
　However, Ajas and Haston, who are checking their surroundings close to Lebedev, don't show their faces, but wonder why they are so kind.
　If this is a normal business transaction, it could be that they offer some service to continue doing business.
　But the adjas probably won't come to Gilm again after the deal is over.
　In the first place, I don't want to come to Gillum, which has many adventurers with high fighting power, because she could even be the head of the prize money.
　Nevertheless, there was no doubt that there was some reason for the service to come this far.

　However, I hesitate to ask why they are doing this.
　If you hear it, it's nothing but a bush snake, given the possibility of being asked for something.
　In order to prevent this from happening, there is no doubt that it is better to accept their kindness calmly.

(Oh, maybe you want to do business with us, not with us, maybe there's a possibility.)

　Suddenly, Lebedev thinks so.
　I don't think... I don't speak of it as a matter of course.
　Our top priority now is to close the deal as soon as possible and get out of the guillem.
　When Lebedev, including Jestal, was seen coming down from the cabins of the three cabins, he tried to turn his gaze to Ajas and Haston... momentarily stopped moving.
　Until now, he has been doing business with Jestal, at least on the surface, but both Ajas and Haston, including Lebedev, look around sharply.
　No, Lebedevs are not the only ones who have suddenly tightened their guard. Some of Jestal's men who followed him were as sharp-eyed as Lebedevs, and were wary of the darkness of the night.

"What's the matter? What happened?

　As he asks his bodyguard, Jestal picks up a dagger with a leather bag of white gold in his pocket.
　Although Jestal is now the boss of the organization, he has experienced a number of hardships when he is young.
　As a boss, he was naturally less skilled than he was when he was young, but he still felt more used to the situation than other adventurers.

"I heard what seemed to be a moaning voice. It's probably our bodyguard around here. Or maybe some other organization has touched us."

　One of the bodyguards, a man with a dagger in his hand, tells Jestal so.

"A moan? I don't think there are many people who would touch us in this situation." Is there any one who attacked me for my own life or for my own sake?"
"I don't know about that. But anyway, I think we need to be vigilant about the people around us.
"Well, fortunately, the deal is over. We'll let you go, but will that be all right?"

　Despite being told so, Lebedevs cannot immediately nod to Jestal's words.
　Because I half understood who attacked me.
　It is rather difficult to carry out such an accurate attack in the darkness of the night.
　Moreover, this is not outside Gilm, the main battlefield for adventurers, but inside Gilm... that is also a slum with many ruins.
　To act in such a place requires a skill different from that of an ordinary adventurer.
　There are not many people who have a grudge against Lebedevs and others who can imitate them like that way.

"d*mn it, are you here yet?"

　Behind Lebedev, Ajas belittles abhorrently.
　Jestal squinted at his appearance.
　It was because he said that he understood who the attacker was.

"Hey, on earth..."

　The moment I try to inquire about it, a man suddenly blows out of the darkness.
　Knowing that the man was under his guard, Jestal turned his gaze to the man who had blown away... and saw him with a scythe and a spear.

"Ray, then..."