23 - bid-rigging by a choiya

The night must be getting late, but the flow of people on South Boulevard has not decreased much.

Many people are walking around here and there, bathed in the dim light of the magic stone lanterns.

Thor has never known such a long night since he came to this city.

After walking for a while in the crowd, a building with a large light leaking out of it catches his eye.

The name of this large bar with a sake cup sign is Green Oak Grove Pavilion.

It is a historic establishment that has been in business since before the city walls were built.

The set menus, which fill you up for a single medium copper coin, are highly recommended.

As you approach, you can hear the bustle of the restaurant outside.

The sound of a flute mingled with cheerful laughter. It seems that a musician is here today.

But Thor is not interested in joining the noisy circle.

Avoiding the crowded liquor store, Thor slips into the narrow alley next to the store.

The alley is covered with wooden shingles to keep out the rain, and the lights are blocking his steps.

However, Thor moves deeper and deeper, relying on the light leaking from the small windows of the houses on either side of him.

The smell of delicious boiled food, mixed with the scent of alcohol, is spoiled by the smell of urine.

The narrow alley was crowded with various vendors.

Thor's main attraction is a drinking establishment tucked away among them.

It is called "Choi-ya" because it is suitable only for a quick drink.

The name of the bar is aptly named to reflect the proprietor's sense of appropriateness.

"Hey, come in."

Opening the rattling, creaking sliding door, I found the narrow interior filled with a sweltering heat.

A small air vent attached to the ceiling made the delicious smells mixed with the steam tickle Thor's nostrils.

A counter crosses the middle of the restaurant from front to back, with five old wooden chairs in front of it.

The restaurant has a capacity for five people.

Four of them were already occupied by customers.

The man at the far end is a dark-skinned man in his fifties.

His red hair was trimmed short and his large mouth was deeply wrinkled.

The most eye-catching feature, however, is his large, slightly reddish eyes.

The eyes, reminiscent of a bird of prey, will leave an unforgettable impression once they are fixed on you.

The man sitting next to him is also an old man, but a little older.

A white beard covered his chin, but no other hair remained, and old scars were visible on his forehead and cheeks.

His nose seems to be slightly crooked.

His purple eyes, however, have a mischievous look to them, in contrast to those of the man in the back.

Both of them must have been old, but there was not a flaw in the way they sat with their backs straight.

A young man was sitting next to the old man, leaving one seat empty.

He had silky, thin red hair that reached almost to his shoulder blades.

His high bridge of the nose and amber eyes stood out against his brown skin.

One of his eyes was covered by a black eye patch.

The last one was a beautiful woman.

She had short red hair that looked as if it were melted red, and skin that reminded me of black agate.

Even though she was just sitting there, I couldn't help but be attracted by her rich bosom and waist, which overflowed with a hint of s*x appeal.

The only inferiority was an old gash that stood out from her ear to the base of her neck.

This pair is also a beautiful and gorgeous couple, not unlike those in a seedy bar.

The man with long hair was the first to notice Thor.

He raised one of his well-shaped eyebrows and extended his left hand for a handshake.　

"Well, it's been a while since I've had a visitor. Did the boring night breeze lure you here?"

"It's been a long time, Mr. Toll."

"Yes, how are you?　She's as beautiful as ever, and it's hard to look her in the eye."

"Hey, hey, you are still the same love hunter, ignoring me and trying to seduce me.

The long-haired redhead's name is Straccia, and the beauty next to her is Ninessa.

Both are members of the "Platinum Flame," the city's most prestigious party (A rank).

And for some reason, they are also old acquaintances of Thor.

Thor held Ninessa back as she tried to get up, bumping into her as he passed through the gap behind them.

They ducked into a seat so small that if they moved an elbow or a knee would brush the seat next to them, and a mug of black barleywine was placed with a thud.

"Round potatoes and sausage," he says.

"Yes."

The owner, a small, burly man, replies with an affability that is not befitting a dirty little store.

This choy-ya is a restaurant where various ingredients are stewed in a broth made from bones in a rectangular pot with a separated interior.

A plate of round potatoes soaked in the flavor and sausages that have soaked up more than enough of the broth is placed next to a mug of soup.

When I dipped the potatoes in the accompanying yellow pepper paste, which was just the right amount of heat, they crumbled in my mouth and the deliciousness spread out.

As I chewed on it, a spicy taste hit the back of my nose, so I tilted the mug and poured it down.

Taking a breath, Thor listened to the conversation of the old men in the back.

"I told you, we won't last long that way!　

The one who is raising his voice somewhat vigorously is an old man with a white beard.

The dark-skinned man replies calmly.

"If you don't spend the money to raise them from the middle class, you'll end up like those morons in the next town!

"Very well said, but where are you going to get the money to raise them?　Already, the cost of defeating one army alone has taken 30% of our finances.

"You say you don't have money right away. I already know that. How many years do you think we've put off repairing the outer wall?

"Then we should not be spending too much time on training. Fortunately, I have a contact with a high-ranked person in my home country, so I will contact him immediately.

"Wait, wait, wait, what are you going to do with the contract money?　I hope you're not going to ask me to bow down to the vultures of the Commerce and Industry Association again. Why don't you go yourself for a change?"

"I'm afraid I don't have a head to bow for money. If this mission is successful, I think we'll have a reasonable prospect.

After taking a bite of the sausage, Thor calls out to the army representative, who is sipping an elegant drink of ridiculously expensive, vintage fire wine.

"What's the plan?"

Now is the time to shine a single light on the ruins of the fallen flower.

Translate for me, Ninessa.

Actually, the operation to retake Bossaria is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Bossalia is a border town north of this city that was destroyed by a monster attack last year.

It had a higher ranker population than this city, but because of that, they did not put much effort into training lower rankers, and they ended up being overrun by monsters that sprang up from nearby dungeons.

No wonder there were so many unfamiliar faces."

Thor thought to himself as he recalled the large number of people at the Adventurer's Bureau this morning.

It must have been crowded because the A- and B-ranked adventurers who usually went deep into the miasma had been recalled.

They spend more than half of the week in the area close to the "coma pit", working hard to kill powerful monsters.

If they don't, the growing number of monsters will eventually push their way to the border town.

Although it has a florid image of earning large sums of money and being admired by the residents of the city, it is in fact a causal profession in which the men continue to fight monsters while encamped in the field.

In reality, however, it's a causal profession that involves camping out and fighting monsters. Iron cannot become steel unless we train ourselves more diligently.

"I'm not averse to bringing in talented newcomers myself. But talent must be accompanied by a good user.

"So that's why you were messing around with Thor. You're a man of means, aren't you? Come on, say something back to him. That's why you're here.

The old man who suddenly turned around and spoke to me was a purple-eyed man named Dadan.

He is the chief of this town, the head of the Adventurers Bureau, and has known Thor since he approached him at the outer gate about twenty-five years ago.

"I heard you took in another rare child this morning. I'm sure it's more than you can handle. Now let him go."

The dark-skinned man with the penetrating gaze is Deputy Director Sacco.

He is the leader of the red-haired red-tailed tribe and an ambitious man who has openly pledged to take control of the city.

Many adventurers belong to his faction, not only within the Adventurers Bureau but also among adventurers.

The recent accusation against Thor was made by one of his minions.

This restaurant was a place for informal discussions between the two men in charge of the city.

The two Kongo-kyu are the stepping stones that allow them to occupy the seats without being disturbed.

After receiving permission to join the conversation, Thor swallows the sausage he is about to eat and states in no uncertain terms what he has come here to do.

I'd like to talk to you about it. Can you please keep your hands to yourself from now on?"

"Out of the question. A competent person should be competent. If incompetence follows, it will only dull the blade.

"Uncle, you're too kind."

Ninessa is the daughter of the deputy director's sister.

Sacco, who had been admonished, turned red eyes on his niece.

Her eyes wavered slightly.

"......Hey, what happened to your neck wound?"

"What?"

Suddenly, Ninessa, who had been pointed out that there was no connection to the flow of events, touched her chin, sounding confused.

She then notices that there is no dent that she is used to touching, and she is very upset.

"--What!　Why?　That's not how ......,huh?"

"Hmm. Let's take a look."

Stratchia, who had been silently watching what was going on, lifted the eye patch from one eye.

The pupil that appeared from under it was perfectly normal, no different from the pupil of the other eye.

"My cursed eye of magic! Show me a glimpse of the skill that was done to him!

Sorry, I did it.

Unable to endure the antics of a man over thirty, Thor readily confessed.

"Ha-ha-ha, I see you fell for my plan. You've been right on target so far, but you're not responding too well.

"Well, um, ......, what do you mean, Mr. Thor? And the prince, please shut up for a minute. I'm serious.

Stratchia, the prince, snapped back his eye patch and lifted his chin in a show of strength.

He is an exceptionally good-looking man if he didn't talk, but inside he is as good as Moe.

"I'm just finally getting up to this level. If you don't like it, I can revert it?"

"No,...... no, thank you so much. Oh, my God, I thanked him and he said, "......."

"I hope you'll be pleased."

Thor turned and looked straight at Sacco.

But there was only a hint of interest in his eagle-eyed gaze.

"I see, you can heal old injuries. What else can you do?"

"Lots of things."

"Then let me retire as director of the Bureau. I'm too old. I don't want to push you too hard.

"What are you talking about?　As long as my eyes are purple, I'll never let you take the director's chair.

One turnip and one sinew. And more sake.

"Yes."

The turnips are tender and tender, and when placed hot on the tongue, the flavor melts into the mouth.

After swallowing, a gulp of black barley wine is added to cool the palate.

Thor lets out a satisfied breath as the cool sensation slides down his throat.

"This is no time to be carefree!　What's the rest of it?"

Dadaan, who had loudly scolded them, felt a sense of discomfort in the quiet surroundings and turned his head.

The first thing that caught his eyes was Ninessa's gaze as if she were looking at him intently.

Beside her, Straccia's mouth was half-open and one of her eyes was closed repeatedly as if she was enjoying herself.

When I looked up in front of her, I saw the owner with his mouth wide open.

Even the deputy director, whose expression had not changed, had a reddish look in his eyes.

DADAN finally realized that something had happened to him.

"............ Well, that sounds like a great skill to have, depending on how you use it. No wonder you are so conceited."

"What have you done to me?　What the hell is going on?

"Sir, your head is ......"

Dadaan reached out his hand above his head, and his eyes widened at the soft touch that he had long since forgotten.

He rushes to grab it and feels a nostalgic pain in his scalp.

The old man ran his fingers over his head again and again, as if to check his hair, which was now back to its fullness.

"I've made you look a little younger, although it's the opposite of what you asked for," he said.

"What the hell?　How did you--really, really--grow all those useless skills!"

With the flustered director at his side, Sacco easily regains his composure and begins to consider how to deal with Thor.

"I will admit that he is competent enough to talk big. All right, let's lock him up in the interrogation room of the bureau for now. If his skills are exposed, the priests will come out and take care of him. If they know they can get their hair back, there will be a lot of trouble.

"Then I'll lock you up in my house, or rather, I'll take you into my custody. He's my little protégé.

"It looks like you've decided to retire. Then let's enjoy our separation for now. Cheers, my friend!"

Thor scratched the bottom of his chin at the three who had taken the liberty of speaking up.

Then he suddenly stated the proposal he had been thinking about.

"I have two conditions. The first is non-interference with me and my people. The second is to get rid of anyone who tries to interfere. That's all.

What do we get in return?

"Yes. In about six months, I'll get you to the same place as this guy.

The adventurer who reigned supreme in this city laughed soundlessly at Thor's nomination.

Not in mockery, but in genuine amusement.

"The green card has come up big. But if you hand me your friends, things might move a bit faster.

"You can't do it. You may be good at motivating people, but you have no talent for nurturing them. You are too good at what you do, and you ask too much of others.

Thor is outspoken in his criticism of the deputy director's approach, which has been the basis for a number of strict policies.

It was a fact known to everyone that there had been no high rankers other than the "Platinum Flame" from this town in the past ten years.

"Ha-ha-ha, I've been told that. Yeah, yeah, tell them more."

But I can't say that the director's way of taking care of things is the right way.

What the hell?

"Kuhkuh, you can say it more clearly. There is nothing more useless than an overfed watchdog.

The Director General's policy of welcoming retired adventurers with open arms has certainly increased the number of applicants and motivated them as a whole.

However, it is also true that it created a trend where adventurers who had reached a certain rank decided to retire easily.

This has also caused the labor cost of the Adventurer's Bureau to increase year by year.

Despite his criticisms, Thor had no intention of making a complete enemy of both of the city's top leaders.

Even though both adventurers are retired, their abilities are still far beyond those of a young man who relies on a tree of skills.

Their status, connections, and financial influence are also exceptional.

Even though they had acquired a terribly useful skill, they were not gentle enough to compete with them.

But that did not mean that I was willing to give way.

What Thor was aiming for was a position where he would not be forced to join either side.

They are too good to be discarded, but a bit of a nuisance to be taken in.

"I'm not here to make any unnecessary waves. I just want to continue doing things my way.

"You really have no greed, do you? Are you sure you don't want to come to me?"

"I have no intention of doing so, Master. I'm still working and I don't want to put myself in a troublesome position. I would be happy to do you a personal favor.

Thor had been asked several times by Dadan, who was also the director of the Adventurers' Bureau, to join the staff of the Bureau.

He was told that he was too old and that it was time to give up on his unsuccessful career as an adventurer.

However, Thor did not accept the invitation and continued to work as an adventurer in silence, and he and Dadan had grown apart.

When the lowly adventurer again turns down the bureau chief's invitation, Sacco asks him sharply, "Why don't you go back to your old ways?

"Well, it looks like you really want to continue as an adventurer. How far do you plan to go?

As far as I can go. All I want is to go on. And one day, I hope to reach the same heights as you."

Heroic - the highest title for the adventurer who has sealed the miasma in the underground labyrinth and reclaimed the earth.

The old men in front of me had already accomplished this.

Stratchia was the first to speak up for the man who had chosen the highest proof of his power.

He puts his hand on Thor's shoulder as he raises his cup in a happy gesture.

"I like your declaration in spite of me, my friend!　Let's have a toast."

"I'm looking forward to it too, Thor."

Their faces were smiling with joy, and they were filled with the confidence of those who are strong enough to take on the front lines of battle.

They were smiling from the bottom of their hearts, as if the argument they had just had had had had nothing to do with them.

Thor responded by lifting his mug without saying a word.

As he watched, Dadaan, a follower of the God of Thunder, the God of Honor, was moved.

What he tried to do in this city, what he had to do.

Now it is coming to fruition, young people are determined to rise up and seek their names.

What a wonderful sight!　

The former hero was once again convinced that he had been right in his policy and was genuinely and sincerely happy for the growth of his apprentice, whom he had trained in the use of the sword.

He also wondered if it would be possible to repair the outer walls with , and thought briefly that he would check on it later.

"Okay, that's fine. You go ahead with your adventure as much as you want. Leave the trouble to me!"

Sacco, the servant of the god of fire who presides over liberation, was trying to weigh the maximum benefit in his mind's eye as he looked sideways at the bureau chief's willingness to agree.

It is certain that Thor is still hiding something from him as a result of the recent private fight.

I cursed at him deliberately, but he seemed to be a very serious person, judging from the fact that he did not seem to be provoked.

From their long relationship, Sacco knew that Thor was not a man who would easily break the bottom of the barrel.　

If so, it would be a bad move for him to get on the Director's side through further interference.

However, there was no doubt that Thor was a man to keep an eye on.

Suckow decided to prepare a strong and unbreakable chain as soon as possible.

"I will agree to your terms. I will tell my men to stand down. I will, however, keep you informed of our progress. ...... But you've grown a lot more impudent than when we first met, haven't you?"

"Ah, it's hard to believe that you are the little boy who ran back half-crying from the horned mole. How have you grown so much?

"I am glad you have accepted my proposal. Now, if you'll excuse me.

Thor drinks out of his mug, puts down a large copper coin, and stands up.

This was the very reason why Thor had been reluctant to come here.

These old men had no problem teasing him with old stories, even if he was old enough to know better.

"What the hell, the night is just getting started!　We're going to have some of your old stories to go with--"

"Excuse me, there's a guy waiting for me in bed."

Of course, I'm not talking about Moe, but about the cats who might be sleeping with the child.

Sacco asked Dadaan casually as he saw Thor off.

"Was it right to let him go home like that?　Sir."

"He's always been so stubborn and he won't listen to anyone. He won't turn tail so easily.

No, it's not that.

"Yeah. What are you worried about?

"Are you going to leave with your head like that?　First of all, they definitely won't let you in."