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「Th-That’s nonsense! There’s no such passage in my mansion!」

When the soldier leader asked more about the underground pipeways Mira mentioned, the proprietor of the mansion replied with a loud shout. But it was easy to see that it was a reactionary response out of desperation. But then he continued, claiming that Cait Sith was a fabrication of Mira, not to mention that receiving information from someone who was supposedly somewhere else was impossible.

「It’s one of the abilities of summoners. We’re able to communicate our thoughts without needing our voices.」

She added that it was one of the fundamentals of summoners, and that a bit of research would prove her right. After a moment of silence, she grinned teasingly and looked at the proprietor.

「I just received new information from my Cait Sith. It seems he’s found a certain door after following the thief through the pipeways.」

The First Lieutenant’s report continued. The suspect’s trail had led him to a closed gate, with many footprints around showing that it had been frequented, and there was a man put to sleep next to it.

Mira instantly knew that was the place the thief wanted them to find, housing whatever the proprietor was trying to hide. That also explained why the thief had made such a show of going inside the mansion and the hidden passage.

So far, all of that had gone exactly as Fuzzy Dice had planned.

「Also, apparently the thief’s footprints stop there. Maybe that’s his hideout down there? I really wish we could investigate properly.」

The footprints stopping there was true. But Fuzzy Dice had not gone inside, as the First Lieutenant was still in pursuit. Mira had come up with the idea of calling it a possible hideout as a way to rile up the mercenaries and soldiers, who became even more eager to uncover the secret.

「Th-That’s just a storeroom! It’s not a hideout or anything!」

The proprietor shouted again, claiming there were just some valuables kept there for safekeeping, and nothing else. But that was a fatal mistake for him. If he feigned ignorance about that place, his defense would still have a leg to stand on. But now, he had contradicted his earlier statement about the passage not existing, erasing all of his credibility. The butler instantly realized that mistake, and clutched his head in despair.

「As far as we know, there’s no other identified entrance or exit to those underground pipeways. If this is the only way in, then it could certainly be his hideout, and we have an obligation to search it.」

The soldier leader assumed a more authoritative stance and voice, stating the reasoning for his search while showing a badge.

「I’m putting into action the second special exception clause, the right to enter private property for the purposes of pursuit and investigation. That won’t be a problem, I assume?」
「What did you say..?! You can’t do that!」

The proprietor glared at the soldier leader in defiance, but when he looked at the badge, he froze in place and did not know what more to say, other than to stammer incredulously before collapsing on his knees. That was the authority the badge displayed, and he had no more means to oppose them.

And so, all the soldiers and mercenaries rushed inside the mansion, and Mira followed after them.

「Is this…wine?」

The soldier leader muttered in confusion shortly after entering the mansion.

Before Mira could get there, she noticed the strong smell of alcohol in the air. When she got there, she saw the floor was covered in broken wine bottles, their contents spilled everywhere. There were some servants cleaning up, but Mira noticed something strange about them.

(Hmm, I see. So they’re putting all the effort into getting rid of the footprints.)

The servants were ignoring the large puddles of wine and broken glass, and instead were focusing on washing off all the footprints. Those were likely the orders from their master, the proprietor, as those footprints led straight into the underground passage, as well as the hidden evidence.

(Well, I don’t think that’s working out too well for them though.)

Even if they got rid of the footprints, there was still a trail of cobwebs on the ceiling, which would be harder to clean up. Mira was baffled by Fuzzy Dice’s dedication to leaving a trail, but appreciated how easy it was to follow.

As soon as the soldier leader announced that he was conducting a search allowed by the second special exception clause, the servants trying to conceal the hidden passage moved aside.

The servants had started their cleanup of the trails near the entrance of the hidden passage, as the floor around it was completely clean with no wine stains. But dealing with the spiderwebs on the ceiling was more difficult, and Mira could see multiple servants tangled up in them and unable to break free.

The soldier leader showed his badge as he passed by, and the servants that could move let him pass, before running away.

「That badge of yours and the second special exception clause you mentioned seem quite effective at moving through. Exactly what are they?」

As they followed the trail of sticky spider webs on the ceiling, Mira posed that question. The proprietor had made a complete turn from his earlier opposition to the search, so she could not help but be curious about it.

Considering the size and design of the mansion, the proprietor had to be someone influential and powerful, but he faltered in dismay the instant he laid eyes on the badge, almost like a criminal would.

「Wait, this isn’t a case when leading soldiers is just a facade and you’re actually some sort of prince, right?!」

For a moment, Mira was excited at the prospect of meeting someone from the royal family who was acting undercover as a well natured soldier. But the moment Mira mentioned that, all she heard was the loud laughter from the other soldiers.

「There’s no way.」
「Did you hear that? A prince going to yard sales and buying so much stuff he can’t carry it back home…pfft.」
「So a prince gets all sweaty and nervous when dealing with the Justice Minister’s aide? Hah.」

It seemed like the soldier leader actually led a menial lifestyle that was almost painfully so, which the other soldiers recounted amidst their laughter, before starting to say, 「Lord Desmond, please watch your step here,」 「There’s a step here, please mind your footing, Lord Desmond,」 「I believe the suspect went down these stairs, Lord Desmond,」 and so on. Clearly teasing their leader, Desmond, addressing him in an awfully polite way.

「Listen here, we’re in the middle of work…」
「My deepest apologies, Lord Desmond.」
「Duly noted, I won’t let it happen again, Lord Desmond.」

Desmond had enough when they reached the stairs, so he glared at the soldiers, and all of them instantly straightened their backs and saluted him in unison.

They were right behind Fuzzy Dice, who had entered the underground pipeways ahead of them. It was normal for them to be tense in such a situation, so poking fun at each other was a good way to alleviate it. But even as they joked, they never let their guard down, and moved as a cohesive unit of soldiers.

(They’re more of a merry bunch than I thought.)