Chapter 1231: True Identity

Chapter 1231: True Identity

「Huh? Her card is... gold?」

「What? You really didn’t notice? Guess third-rates will be third-rates. There shouldn’t be many black cat girls carrying magic swords in this country, right?」

Eiworth taunted the adventurers, deliberately provoking them with the knowledge that Fran was Rank A.

「T-This is just a bluff!」

「Yeah, it’s gotta be!」

「E-Either way! There’s no way the Black Lightning Princess would be in a backwater village like this!」

Yeah, I guess they won’t believe us at this point.

Even the guys other than the leader started denying Fran’s identity. nove-Lb/In

Perhaps they suspected us of lying because of how often they lied their way through exchanges with others.

「Y-You just grabbed some brat off the street and gave them similar-looking equipment.」

「Of course! That’s it, that’s gotta be it!」

「Gyahaha! Not a bad trick, old man!」

Doesn’t look like we can convince them. There’s no helping it.

『Fran, show them a bit of your strength.』

(Nn. Got it.)

I only intended for her to intimidate them a little bit to make things clear, but...

「Get your dirty hands away from me.」

「Gyaboo!」

The man who tried to reach out towards Fran got punched in the stomach and writhed in pain. His screams, like a livestock before slaughter, incited fear in his friends.

And Fran didn’t stop there.

「Who are you guys really? Are you even adventurers? If so, you’re certainly not from Kranzel. I suppose it wouldn’t be surprising if those from a country without Rank A adventurers don’t understand how terrifying we can be.」

「Y-You’re speaking nonsense!」

「Hmph. You truly think intimidation will work on a Rank A adventurer? Ridiculous. None of you have any clue what you’re up against. If the girl wanted to, she could kill all of you in 5 seconds flat.」

That’s certainly one way of putting it, but Rank A adventurers do possess unparalleled strength. They are simply strong enough to overturn most things with sheer power. Negotiating has no meaning against someone at that level.

Of course, very few Rank A adventurers would actually resort to violence. After all, they’ve made their way through several rank-up assessments. But there’s no doubt they could if they wanted to.

Would intimidation work on a Rank A adventurer? Of course not.

「W-We have a separate team! They’ll report about this incident even if you silence us!」

「Kuhahaha! Even assuming they succeed, your plan is still foolish. You think reporting to the guild will result in her demotion? You know nothing! Rank A adventurers don’t even get a slap on the wrist for a tiny bit of murder. Right, Black Lightning Princess?」

What!? Don’t ask Fran for her agreement there! That’s just you, Eiworth!

「Especially when we’re up against someone as sketchy as you lot! Fran merely needs to claim your guilt, and suddenly you’re a criminal! That’s how things work in the Adventurer’s Guild!」

Hold on! Isn’t that going a bit too far? In the first place, you’re literally a wanted criminal! Stop teaching Fran such radical things, she’s making her “oh really?” face right now!

「More importantly... how did foreigners find out about this village?」

That’s certainly true. We need to hear the full story.

「Let’s capture them for now.」

「Make sure not to kill them.」

「I know. We need them alive for the interrogation.」

「Kukukuku! The more guinea pigs, the better.」

Eiworth grinned, with a wicked gaze fixed on his prey.

I think these guys might end up wishing they were dead. Eiworth has been playing nice recently, so he might be holding in some frustration.

He’s probably been planning some inhumane experiments that can only be performed on criminals. The old man’s eyes gleamed darkly with a fierce determination.

「B-Boys! Take ‘em down!」

「Fuhahaha! Truly foolish! The likes of you can’t possibly defeat us, no matter how many miracles occur! Now let yourselves be captured so I can put you to good use!」