Chapter 165

Chapter 165
## Chapter 165: Roger the Dwarf

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Plundering craftsmen and stealing trade secrets?

Berge produced a dry, hollow laugh. The entire situation was a farce of the highest order.

“Recount the events slowly. I want every detail.”

Make me understand how this happened.

『This morning, a high-ranking official from the Black Toad Merchant Guild conducted a formal visit to our headquarters.』

This executive, flanked by a security detail, arrived with an air of superiority and insisted on an immediate audience with Aman. Since Aman was occupied with other obligations, Jetson was dispatched to handle the meeting.

『Initially, his purpose was a total mystery to us.』

The staff speculated they might be interested in procuring mana cannons, though even that seemed far-fetched.

The Black Toad Merchant Guild was a titan, controlling dozens of industrial sites and serving as a primary contractor for the Imperial Army. They were suppliers, not customers.

They had already manufactured more than a thousand mana cannons through their own channels.

However, the discussion did indeed center on mana cannons—just not the purchase of them.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Your guild master refuses to show his face? Is this how the Golden Moon Guild treats its peers?”

“Since your side didn’t send a guild master either, it would be quite lopsided for ours to appear, wouldn’t it?”

“Do you honestly believe the Golden Moon and the Black Toad occupy the same status?”

“We are both ‘merchant guilds’ under the law, are we not?”

“…Regardless. I will deliver the message to you.”

The Black Toad official began a long-winded explanation regarding his presence at the Golden Moon Guild.

Jetson’s expression soured.

“I’m struggling to follow your logic. Could you repeat that last part?”

“We are asserting our legal rights over those mana cannons.”

The man toyed with his thin, rodent-like mustache.

Jetson let out a sharp scoff.

“That is a fascinating perspective. By that same logic, I am now claiming ownership of your entire guild.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“If you can claim what belongs to others for no reason, why shouldn’t I do the same?”

“We are reclaiming our rightful property—artisans who were poached from us!”

“And that is exactly why your claim is a delusion.”

“A… a delusion?”

“Every mana cannon we produce comes from our own facilities, fully validated by the Iasin royal family.”

“Hmph, a royal seal? Everyone knows enough gold can buy those papers.”

“At least that costs more than your strategy. You’re just using hot air and spit—no real effort required, right?”

“Is this meant to be the Golden Moon Guild’s official stance?”

“We tailor our hospitality to the guest. We offer respect to the respectful, and nonsense to the liars.”

“You have a remarkably sharp tongue for a guild executive.”

“Naturally—I am matching the energy of the person across from me.”

“You arrogant brat…!”

The official, trembling with rage at Jetson’s dismissive tone, sucked in a breath and pressed on.

“You insist these cannons were built in your shops? Doesn’t that seem remarkably convenient to you?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Those ‘talented’ workers in your shops are actually ours! They were employees of our guild’s workshops until they vanished roughly six months ago!”

“Haa.”

Jetson exhaled a long, weary sigh.

“Every worker in our facility was recruited from the local Iasin population. Their backgrounds were verified multiple times. They are all here of their own free will—where do you get these fantasies?”

Jetson was certain of this; he had supervised the process himself.

“You can claim that all day.”

“Are we really going to trade stubbornness for more stubbornness?”

“This isn’t stubbornness. The Golden Moon must be a front for swindlers if they’ve put you in charge. You clearly stole our workforce.”

“Fine, let’s hear your fairy tale.”

Jetson crossed his legs, leaning back into his chair with a shrug, inviting the man to continue.

“Half a year ago, several master craftsmen from the royal manufacturing zones disappeared without a trace. We conducted an exhaustive search to no avail.”

“Oh, how tragic for you.”

“And then, out of nowhere, the Golden Moon opens workshops and begins selling mana cannons—a guild that previously had zero experience in the field.”

“So, your theory is that we must have abducted them. Is that the gist?”

“Precisely.”

“Is a guild of your size really resorting to the tactics of a street gang? This is so transparently desperate.”

“…Are you finished?”

“Not even close.”

Jetson took a slow, deliberate sip of his coffee, enjoying the steam.

“Mana cannons aren’t items you just decide to build one morning. A guild with no history in the craft couldn’t possibly master the technology in a few months.”

“Unless, of course, they kidnapped experts who already understood the blueprints?”

“Now the logic is finally showing itself.”

“By that standard, does every mana cannon on the planet belong to the Berft Kingdom? After all, you must have stolen the idea from them at some point.”

“I’m done with these games.”

“Who can say? Maybe you worked your people so hard they simply ran away from you.”

“You intend to lie until the end?”

“It isn’t a lie—it’s the truth.”

The Black Toad executive ground his teeth together.

“Very well. We are issuing a formal demand to inspect the Golden Moon’s workshops and interview your staff.”

“Ha! This isn’t your property—who gave you the authority?”

“A formal diplomatic missive has already been dispatched from the Empire to the Iasin Kingdom.”

Shortly thereafter, a contingent of Iasin knights arrived at the guild gates, demanding the workshops be opened to prove their innocence.

Left with no other choice, and with Jetson unable to block the legal pressure, Aman was forced to yield.

“…Fine. But if these accusations are proven false, there will be a heavy price for this insult.”

“Naturally.”

Aman felt secure.

They had only started their recruitment and construction a few months prior, and every identity had been rigorously vetted.

Most importantly, the true mana cannons weren’t even manufactured in those buildings—they were supplied by Berge.

The workshops were essentially a facade; no worker there possessed the fundamental secrets of the technology.

But then.

“Ga… Galio!”

“It’s Master Galio…!”

The workers who identified the Black Toad executive were, by all records, Iasin craftsmen—or so they had claimed.

“One morning, I just woke up here… Sob…”

The man weeping about being kidnapped was the same artisan who had supposedly signed a lifetime contract with the Golden Moon of his own volition.

“There is the proof—our missing craftsmen.”

Galio, the executive, leveled a freezing gaze at the room.

“No… how are these men even here?”

Jetson looked away, stunned. Aman spoke through a mask of growing dread.

“These are Iasin citizens who applied for work. This has to be some kind of elaborate mistake…”

“They took us by force!”

“They said they’d kill us if we didn’t give them the secrets of the mana cannons!”

“Disgusting thieves!”

“You hear them.”

Will you continue to play the victim?

“Something is deeply wrong here!”

“I checked their papers myself—this is impossible…”

“I don’t need your explanations. I have two documents from your guild master. One guarantees a public apology and financial restitution if our claims are baseless.”

However, that paper is now useless.

*Riiip—*

The first letter was torn to pieces.

“The second document dictates the terms if our accusations are proven true.”

The paper was shoved toward Aman. As he read it, Galio recited the demands aloud.

“First, you will release the abducted workers immediately.”

“Second, to contain the spread of stolen tech, you will surrender all workers trained in mana cannon assembly to the Black Toad Guild.”

“Third, you will pay massive damages to both the guild and the individuals involved.”

“Fourth, you must forfeit all revenue from mana cannon sales and surrender all existing units made with our technology.”

That covers it.

“If you refuse, our guild will utilize every resource at its disposal—including force. Choose your path.”

And never forget: the Empire stands behind us.

The color drained completely from Aman’s face.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

『…And that is the current state of affairs.』

“…Incredible.”

“It sounds like a perfectly orchestrated snare.”

Berge nodded in agreement with Ernyan’s observation as they processed the news.

The Golden Moon had been infiltrated by moles during the hiring phase, positioned specifically to trigger this trap when the time was right.

“When the Golden Moon was hiring and building, mana cannons weren’t even part of the public plan.”

Aman only had a verbal agreement for the supply at that stage.

“This was a calculated hit designed to dismantle the Golden Moon Guild from the inside.”

“What could the Black Toad possibly gain from this that they don’t already have?”

“That’s the mystery we need to solve. It will require an investigation.”

Berge gave a firm nod.

“For now, start scrutinizing those ‘artisans.’ Reach out to our contacts among the nobility and the royal court for assistance.”

『Understood. I’ll begin at once.』

He spoke with resolve, but everyone in the room understood the reality.

Securing aid from the Iasins would be an uphill battle.

Even the strongest dam can be brought down by a single, well-placed leak.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The collapse began with the Iasin royal family.

“Had we known the Golden Moon employed such predatory tactics, we would never have partnered with you.”

“This is a setup! We haven’t done anything wrong!”

“The proof is undeniable, yet you persist in your denial. We are done talking—His Highness expects a full return of his capital immediately.”

The Iasin royals were the first to pull their support.

With the crown leading the exit, other investors panicked, lining up one after another to demand their money back.

“Please, just give us a few days! We can clear our reputation!”

“The Empire is involved—what reputation? Give us our money.”

“Count, please!”

“Get your hands off me!”

Capital was hemorrhaging from the guild like a severed artery, forcing them to sell off active projects just to stay solvent.

Fear turned into a contagion, moving from the leadership down to the rank-and-file employees.

The guild’s daily operations ground to a halt as debt collectors became a permanent fixture at their doors.

The only glimmer of hope was that Hildran had not yet called in their investment.

But the general consensus was clear.

It was only a matter of time—and that moment would signal the end of the Golden Moon.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

『You truly had no part in any kidnapping?』

“Absolutely not, Your Highness. If this were that sort of organization, I would have been the first to cut ties.”

『Then explain the mana cannons. You didn’t have the infrastructure to build them so quickly.』

“…Your Highness. Can I trust you to keep a secret of immense gravity?”

『…I suspected there was more to this.』

“As you’ve noted, a guild starting from scratch couldn’t produce mana cannons in a few months. But what if they had help?”

『Are you going to be honest with me?』

“If Your Highness agrees to assist me, I will.”

『……』

A heavy silence followed.

『This is my brother’s work.』

“…Your brother?”

『The Black Toad Guild is a subsidiary of the Osrian Ducal House.』

『Since the Osrians are his primary benefactors, it is safe to conclude this is his directive.』

“……!”

“…But why?”

『My brother has developed a particular fixation on you. Do you not recall?』

“…Just because of that?”

『He likely resents our association. By doing this, he destroys the guild and seizes their massive earning potential in one move.』

Martin whispered.

『To protect the Golden Moon is to declare war on my brother. Is your secret worth that level of risk?』

“It is.”

『You didn’t even blink.』

“There is no need. I will pledge the honor of the name Hillun Kagil.”

『Your name is a heavy currency…』

Martin fell back into silence. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

『I know you wouldn’t deceive me.』

『Fine. If your secret is as significant as you claim, I will stand by you.』

“Thank you!”

『I haven’t decided yet. Now, tell me.』

Hillun lowered his voice to a cautious whisper. The air in the room grew thick with tension; Martin found himself holding his breath.

And then.

“Your Highness, are you familiar with the name Roger? The dwarf who has been causing a stir across the lands recently?”

『……!』

**End of Chapter 165: Roger the Dwarf**