On the outskirts of the imperial capital was the decaying district, Zebrudia’s most crime-ridden sector. On the border between there and the central district, there was a shady shop, and inside, Hugh Regland of the Zero Order was arguing with the shopkeeper. The interior was filled with a varied assortment of items, including armor, firearms, and even dubious medicines.
Zebrudia was the most prosperous of its neighbors, and wares of all sorts gathered in its capital. Taking a look through any of the shops near the decaying district was bound to reveal an item or two of contraband. Though there were crackdowns, it was hard to prevent the circulation entirely.
“This shop doesn’t deal in things like cursed items! As you’re aware, sir knight, it’s illegal to knowingly sell such malign baubles.”
“Indeed, but you must have a few items hidden under the counter, no? If you show me immediately, I’ll show lenience. I’m allowed to turn this shop upside down, you know? Hm. I’m sure there are plenty of violations just waiting to be found.”
Seeing the knight brazenly lean over the counter caused the gruff shopkeeper and some of the shady customers to grow pale. In Zebrudia, the knights had plenty of authority to crack down on criminals, treasure hunters, and dangerous Relics. Though they rarely did, they were permitted to investigate shops, even without solid evidence. On top of this, there was the justification of the Divinarium’s prophecy.
But the shopkeeper just rapidly shook his head in response to Hugh’s intimidation.
“I-I’m not lying, sir. If we handled cursed items, I might end up getting hexed myself. I’d have to be insane to deal with something like that, or even let it into my shop. The other shops are the same.” The shopkeeper chuckled to himself. “Well, it’s possible one might end up here without me knowing—”
Detecting a hint of truth in the man’s coaxing gaze, Hugh clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
This was the problem. Cursed items were generally indiscriminate. The Devil Sword found by the Thousand Tricks had been able to eat into even the disciples of the Sword Saint. While none of them had died, that was because they were excellent Swordsmen. Most people couldn’t endure being used by a cursed item. Once a cursed item lost a bearer, the next would likely be someone who didn’t know any better.
Hugh had already been to five shops, and they had all given him the same response. He didn’t know how that Devil Sword had reached the hands of the Thousand Tricks, but this request was quite a burden.
Exiting the shop, Hugh saw another with a gloomy atmosphere. He furrowed his brow. The proper shops had already been checked by other knights. The ones that skirted the law had also been looked into. This meant that any further searching would require contact with the sorts of scoundrels that were avoided even in the decaying district.
The decaying district was effectively becoming a land of its own laws, a wellspring of evil. The Third Order had repeatedly tried and failed to overwhelm the chaos-ridden pit. Former high-level ghost hunters, criminal organizations, and magic syndicates all had bases of operations in the district, and the labyrinthine streets remained unmapped. Not only did the criminals have the surface, but it was said they also controlled the sewers.
Hugh didn’t think of himself as incompetent, but neither did he think he would get anywhere by directly barging in. This investigation was going to require him to shed that armor he was so proud of.
Captain Franz probably hadn’t anticipated this when he ordered Hugh to cooperate with the Thousand Tricks in the name of obtaining information. However, this was most likely what it would take to grab the hunter’s attention.
Hugh found it hard to believe the Thousand Tricks would make him his apprentice either way, but he figured he might be able to see something interesting. He might glimpse the depths of the power that a Level 8 commanded, that which Hugh coveted.
He smiled. Even with adversity further down the road, Hugh Regland pressed onward.