We stepped outside to have a discussion with the Uble Trading Company. Well, to be precise, we were standing outside the shop fully prepared to send them packing.

"...Looks like the scoundrels have arrived."

Kioli said, pointing in a direction where a chubby middle-aged man clad in luxurious attire, accompanied by armed men, along with others wearing armor similar to Guell's group but in different colors. They were probably members of the First Knight Order, heading our way.

Most likely, the chubby old man is the chairman of the Uble Trading Company, surrounded by four individuals who appear to be escorts hired from the Adventurers' Guild. And there are three knights whose faces are flushed, probably from drinking until just moments ago.

As I was pondering this, the chairman of the trading company approached us with a smug grin.

"Well, well, if it isn't the manager of the Fang Oni Groouup. What a coincidence to run into you heeere. Don't you all think sooo too?"

Upon hearing the chairman's words, the adventurers and knights laughed with ugly expressions, and then one of the knights spoke to the Uble Trading Company.

"That's right. Saves us the trouble of going inside. Chairman, tell that bastard for us, will ya!"

"Now, now, no need to ruuush. Here, take a look at thiiis!"

The chairman took out a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and thrust it towards us with a smug look.

"Can you see this, manager of the Fang Oni Groouup? It's an eviction ordeeer. Since we're both in the business of selling goods, you understand, riiight?"

This chairman is a pain... I want to shove a lead ball into his face and be done with it.

"Sure, we see what you've got! But you need to give us a good reason to leave!! If we're not convinced, we're not budging!!"

Kioli retorted boldly.

"Well, you see, the First Knight Order is responsible for security in this eastern district and also oversees land management. They've determined that my company is better suited to manage this land than yoouurs.

So, I'll be taking over here. Therefore, I kindly ask you to leeaave."

That makes no sense, and the logic is flawed. Besides, even if it were a financial matter, shouldn't it be handled by financial personnel? And shouldn't security be separate from land management or handing over land? That's how it worked in Japan, right?

"You expect us to buy such nonsense?! Security and land management are two different things!"

After Kioli said that, he produced a contract document from seemingly nowhere and thrust it at the chairman of the Uble Trading Company. Probably pulled it out of his item box.

"This is a contract we signed when purchasing this land from the previous owner! It was a legitimate transaction! If you have any objections, bring the previous owner here and ask them!"

Kioli said, presenting the evidence to the chairman. But for some reason, the chairman remained unfazed.

"Such things are no problem at aaaaaaaaaaall!"

"What?! What basis do you have for saying that?!"

After Kioli said that, one of the drunk knights from the First Knight Order stepped forward.

"We've already transferred the land title to the Uble Trading Company."

"That can't be?!"

They transferred the land title? In Japan, where I lived in my previous life, that would be a criminal act, but is it different here?

"Manager of the Fang Oni Group, what the vice-captain is saying is truee."

"You guys, that's illegal! If this information reaches King Liedgarm, you'll be in serious trouble!"

"Huh? Serious troubleee? We're nobles above the kniiights! We can easily cover this uuup. Sooo, unless you want to end up dead, you better leave now!"

Was he trying to intimidate Kioli-san? The drunk vice-captain drew his sword and prepared to strike.

"...Huh? What are you...?!"

The vice-captain, whose name I didn't even know, said, glaring, as I aimed my JERICHO941PSL at him.

"I don't know if you're bluffing or serious, but it's in your best interest to stop."

"Gahahaha!?"

The despicable vice-captain and his cronies laughed before all turning to look at me.

"What can you do with that piece of junk?"

"I can create a hole in your body faster than you can cut with your sword."

At this point, if I acted, things could get messy. I'd rather not do anything for now. It would be much appreciated if he just put away that sword.

"If you think you can, then go ahead and try it!!!"

With his thought process as absurd as it was, the vice-captain wore a sinister grin as he turned towards Kioli, raising his sword. Almost simultaneously, the thunderous sound of JERICHO941PSL firing twice echoed out, as two bullets pierced through the deputy commander's armor, tearing into his body.

"Ugh!? ...Uuuuggghghgh~!!?"

Everyone except me stared in disbelief at the vice-captain, who dropped his sword, fell to his knees, and groaned while clutching his wounds.

"That was an act of self-defense. If you still have the will to fight, you'd better be prepared to die. So, what will it be, Vice Captain?"

With my aim now directed from his body to his head, the vice-captain, with a pale face, stared at me.

"Hie!? Y-You! Cough! Cough!? ...Do you understand what cough! you are doing!?"

"All I did was shoot the scumbag who tried to kill Mr. Kioli... Any problem with that?"

"You... you... Do you think you can get away with this?!"

Now he's speaking clearer than before. Maybe he's rotten inside, but because he's a knight, he's used to pain and recovers quickly. Perhaps if I put another bullet in his abdomen, he might quiet down, but let's hold off for now. There are things I want to say.

"Sigh... It's actually you guys who won't get away with this, you know."

"What did you say?! I'm Odd Banzars, the second son of Count Banzars. Do you know what it means to oppose me, hmm?"

After using force, the next step is to leverage one's lineage, huh? Truly, he's the epitome of scum. Moreover, I don't even know the name of that noble.

"That's riight~ ...As she said, it's better for you to stop and leave, Vice Captain of the First Knight Order, Mr. Odd~?"

Peach appeared from behind me and spoke while looking down at Vice Captain Odd, which surprised me.

"Wha- Who are you?"

"I've known about you for a long time~!"

Well, if you're involved in military-related work in this country, you probably would have heard of a noble name like Banzars.

"Hmph, then it's simple! Give me all your money, apologize, and hand over that shop behind you!"

...Is it okay if I just shoot this guy now? My finger, already on the trigger, is beginning to exert pressure regardless of my will.

"Hmm, I've known you were a count's son for a long time~. But~, you don't seem to understand what that means for you if this gets back to your family~."

"Huh? What're you saying?"

"Ufufu, because the Fang Oni Group is a member of the General Guild~. You understand what that means, don't you~?"

"T-they joined the General Guild!?"

At Peach's words, members of the Uble Trading Company and their associates showed surprised faces before beginning to show signs of agitation.

"Wha-what?! Hey, Uble! Wasn't this place independent from the General Guild?!"

"I-it should be... There must be some mistake. No, perhaps she's lying?"

"N-No, she's right! Our shop registered with the General Guild three days ago!"

After hearing Kioli's words, Vice Captain Odd's demeanor changed from before. He began to tremble and clenched his fists with force.

"Tch... Damn youuuu!!"

'Alert! Danger detected at twelve o'clock, potential enemies identified.'

This guy, he's intending to kill us!

"You guys! Finish them off before we're found out!"

"""""""Yes, Vice Captain!"""""""

The adventurers and Vice Captain Odd's subordinates responded, wielding their weapons and rushing to attack us.

"Uwaaaaaaah!"

I aimed my JERICHO941PSL at each of them, firing two rounds into their chests one by one, but only managed to bring down two of them, leaving the rest to come dangerously close.

"Dieeee!!"

As one of the knights approached me with his sword, I dodged and drew my combat knife from my waist, and then!

"Shing!"

With that, I used the karambit to slash the man's throat, causing him to drop his sword and collapse to the ground, clutching his slashed throat.

"You, you bastard! Gah!?"

As another adventurer approached, I aimed my gun at him and fired a bullet into his head, taking him out.

"You biiitch!!"

"Raaaaah!!"

As the adventurer lunged forward, Peach's voice echoed, and with a horizontal swing of her greatsword, she struck him, sending the adventurer flying through the air.

"Laina-chan~, that was the last one~!"

"Huh? ...The last one?"

I couldn't believe what Peach said, so I checked the radar to confirm. There were no enemy marks, so I understood that the one just now was indeed the last enemy.

"Huh? Huuh!?"

"Those kids I beat are sleeping over there~!"

I looked in the direction Peach pointed, seeing two adventurers lying motionless.

Uh, yeah... Definitely shouldn't anger or make an enemy of this person. So, gotta be careful!! But more importantly...

"Mr. Kioli, are you all right?"

"I'm safe, thanks to you ladies!"

I'm glad Kioli wasn't hurt.

"Okay, then~. Are you two still planning to continue~?"

Peach looked alternately at the trembling and bewildered Uble Trading Company chairman and the kneeling Vice Captain Odd, scaring them off.

"Hieeeeeeee!?"

"I-I can't with these guys anymore!!"

There's not a chance I'm letting these guys get away scot-free!!

With that thought in mind, I aimed my JERICHO941PSL at Vice Captain Odd's knee, shot, and knocked him down. Then, as I aimed at the chairman of the Uble Trading Company's knee, he embarrassingly stumbled on his own.

"How lameee..."

Probably because he doesn't usually exercise, but seriously, hitting his face on the ground is a sign that his motor skills are seriously lacking. And on top of that, he passed out from the impact.

"Vice Captain!!!"

When I turned toward the sound, ten individuals who appeared to be subordinates of Vice Captain Odd came running!

Crap! Reinforcements? They've probably come after hearing the gunfire.

"Hey, Vice Captain! What's with that wound?"

"I got it from those three over there! Kill 'em!!"

"Huh? But..."

"Don't 'but' me!! They're the ones who killed our comrades! So they're dangerous! They're murderers!! Rip them to pieces!!"

"Y-Yes! Understood!!"

Despite their confusion, they drew their swords and faced us.

"Gehahahaha!! Can you two handle this many people alone? It's impossible to protect a merchant while facing them, isn't it?"

"I'll still give you a warning. If you've seen what just happened, you'd better stop your subordinates."

While saying that, I holstered my JERICHO941PSL and took out my ACE31, setting it to full-auto and aiming it at the First Knight Order.

I might be able to handle about ten people, but... huh? Oh no! The civilians who heard the commotion are surrounding us. If I shoot now, there's a possibility of hitting them... What should I do?

"Hah! You- 'Stop right there!' -huh?"

Huh? Wasn't that Beiger's voice?

Thinking that, I turned my gaze only to find Beiger, his subordinates, and the sweating Chinor back from the General Guild standing there.

"Mr. Beiger, why are you here?"

"Well, it's because of work. I can pretty much guess how things turned out. You guys, capture them and take them away!"

"""""Understood!"""""

Beiger turned to his subordinates and issued instructions. The members of the Second Knight Order headed towards the First Knight Order. They subdued those who resisted and efficiently restrained those who stood still without doing anything. However, there was one person among them who was making a lot of noise.

"Y-you lot! Do you think you can get away with doing this to me?! I'm the second son of Count Banzars! Do you understand, you scoundrels?!"

"Yeah, I know all about that."

After saying that, Beiger took out a piece of paper from his pocket and thrust it at Vice Captain Odd.

"Do you understand what this is?"

"T-This is...! A warrant for our arrest?! W-With... with King Liedgarm's signature and seal?!"

"That's right. This is an arrest warrant issued after a thorough investigation into your activities. He said that resistance won't be tolerated, and we are authorized to use force if necessary."

"You've got to be kidding me. The king himself is ordering our arrest... Y-You all, do something about this!!"

Despite Vice Captain Odd's call to his subordinates, they avoided eye contact and did nothing. Perhaps they didn't want to worsen their situation any further or maybe they just didn't want to die.

"We'll hear the rest of it at the detention center. Take all of them with you!"

"""""Yes!"""""

"S-Stop it! Let gooooo!!"

As the noisy voices faded away, I turned to Beiger.

"Um, Mr. Beiger... why are you here?"

"I came to arrest those guys."

"To arrest them... huh?"

Even if you say that, I still don't understand. Am I missing something?

"To put it simply, their arrest was officially accepted, so I came to report to the guild master at the General Guild. When I was there, an employee from the Fang Oni Group showed up."

I see, so you happened to run into each other.

"He seemed flustered, so I decided to talk to him along with the guild staff. It turns out, the names of the First Knight Order and the members of Uble Trading Company came up, so I saw it as an opportunity to capture them at the scene of the crime and came here."

"I see."

"Oh my, you were lucky, weren't you~, Beiger-chan!"

"Wha-?!"

Beiger looked surprised when he saw Peach's face.

Well, it's not surprising. Anyone approached by someone looking like her would be surprised.

"Y-you are...!"

"Long time no see~! Have you been well~?"

"Uh... yes."

Beiger replied to Peach, albeit bewildered.

"Huh? ...Whaaat?!"

Could it be that Beiger and Peach know each other?

"Is she doing well too?"

"If you mean her, she's over there. Look, right there..."

As Beiger pointed in a certain direction, there was Amy, who looked pale and frozen for some reason.

"W-why... why are you here?"

"Amy-chaaaaaan!! I've missed youuuu!!"

Peach, with a joyful expression on her face, ran towards Amy, clearly happy to see her!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo!!!!!!!"

Amy, looking extremely uncomfortable, fled from Peach with a horrified expression.

"Huh... wha-!?"

Unable to grasp the situation, I glanced back and forth between the direction Amy and the others ran and the expression on Beiger's face.

"Vice Captain... what's going on?"

As I was clearly confused, Kioli asked Beiger on my behalf.

"Sigh~... that person used to be our captain. But joined the Adventurer Department after retiring from the Second Knight Order."

Huh! So Peach used to be a captain before Guell?

"And then, Edrick and Amy..."

"Edrick?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, the person in the pink clothes is called Edrick."

"Huh!?"

This is the first time I heard Peach's real name!!

"And the thing is. Those two are actually..."

""...Actually?""

"They're parent and child."

""Whaaaaat?!""

The shocked voices echoed throughout the town.