After Amy mounted her horse, I had some things I wanted to ask Guell about.

"Um, Guell?"

"Hm? What's up?"

"Why are we going to the General Guild?"

"Huh? Didn't we talk about our objective?"

"Well... I don't think you mentioned it."

Luckily, Lizlina remembered.

"Oh, I guess we didn't mention it. Our objective is to inspect the branch of the General Guild."

Inspection? Wait a minute! Something feels fishy!

"If it's just an inspection, couldn't your subordinates handle it?"

The moment Guell heard my words, he furrowed his brows.

"This time, it became a situation where the Duke himself had to come."

Huh? What does he mean?

"Some nobles here seem to be meddling with the General Guild. And there's a possibility of misconduct within the guild, so the Chairman of the General Guild came all the way to investigate."

"E-Excuse me, Amy, what do you mean? The Chairman of the General Guild... Could it be..."

"Duke Valdeck serves as the Chairman of the General Guild on this continent, meaning he's the Chairman of the General Guild for the entire Lavelant continent. Elaina, did you perhaps not know that?"

How could I possibly know that on my first day of reincarnation?! And being the Chairman of the General Guild... That's a pretty high position!

"W-What the...!?"

I was dumbfounded by Lizlina's explanation.

"Alright, we've arrived... Hm?"

...Huh?! Oh, it's the General Guild.

"Oh, it seems quite noisy inside. I wonder what's happening?"

Are they in the middle of a fight? No, that wouldn't make sense. When I listen closely to the voices leaking out, it feels tense. This can't be...!

Feeling a chill down my spine, I instinctively turned around, only to see that the atmosphere of Guell and the others had completely changed.

"Duke Valdeck."

Guell signaled something to the Duke with his eyes.

"Hmm, sorry to ask, Elaina-kun, but can I ask for your help?"

Huh, seriously?! Another troublesome matter? Gender change due to reincarnation accindent, and being nearly put into the Duke's smelly carriage... How many times does that make it today?!

"If you're okay with me, I'll assist you."

I said that, but seriously, I want to refuse!

"Thank you. Now, let's go!"

For now, I holstered my main weapon, the ACE32, to avoid hitting innocent bystanders with bullets, and I swiftly prepared by drawing my JERICHO941PSL from its holster.

As I followed Duke Valdeck, I quickly made my preparations. And when I entered the General Guild, I could hear shouts and screams even clearer than before. And what I witnessed in front of me was a flashy man in expensive-looking clothes kicking a fallen man and berating him at the counter.

"Do you understand what will happen if you don't listen to me? You'll end up like this guy here!"

"Do you even realize what you're doing?! Even if you're the lord of this town, this is an unforgivable crime! I'll issue an arrest warrant!"

The counter staff protested against the man, but with a despicable smile that made you want to shoot him with lead bullets, the flashy man waved a blood-stained knife in front of the staff while spewing nonsense.

"Huh? What's this? What's this, huh? How dare the commoners speak to me, the esteemed lord, with such disrespect? Are you really going to say that to me? Aaaahhhhhhh~..."

This guy is seriously insane! And the person lying on the floor is probably one of the guild's staff members. Looking closely, he's bleeding profusely on the floor. I need to help him quickly!

"You're no longer a lord. It would be in your best interest to surrender quietly," Duke Valdeck said.

"Huh? What? Are there idiots here who don't know their place? Well then, the guildmaster and that piece of shit over there will also face the death penalty!" the flashy man retorted, still not turning towards us but addressing the guild staff while holding a knife to the throat of another employee.

"Why do you think you have the authority to decide that? Isn't it the duty of the nobles to judge criminals?" Duke Valdeck said with an angry expression, clearly infuriated.

"Gihhihhihhhihhihhihhihhihhihhih?! Huh? What are you talking about, old man? Are you an idiot? This town belongs to me, the esteemed lord! In other words! I am the law! Therefore, all of you have been sentenced to death for defying me! Guildmaster, you and that piece of shit over there!"

Finally turning towards us, the flashy man's face turned pale as if he had been doused with ice water. Duke Valdeck completely ignored his reaction and continued speaking.

"So, I heard that you wanted to sentence me to death. When are you planning to carry it out? Today or tomorrow?" Duke Valdeck asked.

"V-v-v-v-v... V-valdeck?!" the flashy man stammered, clearly taken aback. This is getting interesting.

"Oh? Have you become so important that you no longer address me with respect?" Duke Valdeck replied.

"N-n-n-no way! Why is Valdeck here?! He shouldn't be here... Damn it! I should have brought him along!" the flashy man muttered.

That's right. Why didn't this guy bring his guards? Is he just stupid? I should ask him after we capture him.

"Unfortunately, I had to come here for work. And to come to the General Guild without bringing any guards. Well, thanks to that, things became much easier. Guell!" Duke Valdeck called.

"Hah!"

Guell took out a piece of paper from his pocket and began reading it aloud.

"Baron Gulbert Langud! You are under suspicion of assault, murder, abuse of authority, illegal interference with the General Guild, embezzlement, and treason against the kingdom. Baron Gulbert Langud, you are hereby arrested and will be interrogated by the permission of King Zeon Dia Liedgarm! Here is the King's signature and seal," Guell read aloud.

After finishing, he showed the paper to Gulbert. His demeanor completely changed from earlier, and he trembled uncontrollably.

"I-it's a lie! I haven't done anything wrong! It's their fault! They refused my requests, that's why it's their fault!" Gulbert exclaimed, desperately trying to come up with excuses.

Upon hearing Gulbert's pathetic excuses, Duke Valdeck's expression changed from anger to sheer exasperation.

"You know perfectly well why your requests were denied, don't you? Enough of this. Capture him!" Duke Valdeck exclaimed. "If he resists, you have permission to eliminate him! Permission has been granted!"

Guell and the others, after hearing this, readied their weapons and attempted to apprehend Gulbert. However, the foolish man put up a struggle.

"Don't move! Are you saying it doesn't matter what happens to this guy?"

Gulbert, with a panicked expression, pointed his knife at the fallen guild staff member near his feet.

Seeing this, Guell stopped in his tracks, still holding his weapon, and addressed Gulbert.

"Don't make a fool of yourself now! Surrender peacefully!" Guell said.

Gulbert, with an angry expression on his face, thrust his knife towards Guell and shouted.

"You damn bastards! Can't you, low-class scum, understand? Idiots!! Listen up, get out of my way right now!! If I can't get through, I'll use this knife on this commoner [Pang! ?]... Huh?"

With a sudden sound, the knife Gulbert had thrust forward to confront Guell and the others flew off somewhere.

Gulbert, initially confused about what had happened, looked at his own right hand and immediately contorted his face in pain, tears welling up as he began to scream.

This guy is truly an idiot. If he wanted to escape, he shouldn't have used a knife held against a hostage as leverage. To be honest, it made him an easy target.

"Gaahhh!! What the hell?! It hurts... Damn it, you... arggvfdja!" 

It seems like he can't speak properly due to intense pain, but I paid no mind and aimed my JERICHO941PSL at him.

"Place both hands behind your head and get down on the ground slowly! If you don't do as I say, I'll shoot again!"

"W-Who do you th... think you... are... threatening... my life...?"

Without any hesitation, I aimed for his knee this time and fired. In an instant, Gulbert collapsed, clutching his right knee in pain.

"Gyaaaaaahhh!?"

"Let me say it again. Place both hands behind your head and get down on the ground slowly! If you don't do it within five seconds, I'll aim for your head next! Five! Four!"

The foolish man contorted his face in fear and, with tears streaming down his face along with sweat and snot, started speaking.

"I-I get it! I get it now! I won't do anything anymore! Plea-please, don't hurt me!"

As Gulbert followed my instructions and assumed a prone position, I kept my gaze fixed on him and spoke.

"Guell!"

"Aid, secure him! Lizlina and Amy, tend to the injured staff members!"

Guell quickly issued instructions to his subordinates.

""Understood!""

"....."

"Aid, what are you doing?! Hurry up and apprehend him!"

Aid seemed to snap back to reality and, acknowledging the command, approached the foolish man to restrain him.

"Bring him in front of me!"

After successfully restraining Gulbert, Aid brought him in front of Duke Valdeck.

"After the interrogation, you will face trial. Depending on the circumstances, you might receive the death penalty, or if you're lucky, you might avoid it. But don't think you'll escape severe punishment for your heinous crimes. Do you have anything to say?"

"I-I... It's not my fault! It's Aydz and Livais! They're the ones at fault!"

"You dare speak even now! Take this criminal away!"

Upon hearing Duke Valdeck's instructions, Aid acknowledged with a "Hah!" and took Gulbert away.

"Phew... Now, all that's left is to investigate the damages caused to this guild. Well, well, Elaina, thanks to you, we were able to apprehend him. Thank you."

"N-No, please don't mention it... Haa~..."

Duke Valdeck expressed his gratitude to me, but I felt embarrassed and lowered my head.