I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 96

 #I returned, and my family was ruined (97)

Carmen was one of the cities located in the west. Perhaps because of the fast carriages, we were able to arrive in Carmen in just three days.

Ilia tilted her head when she saw the large outer walls.

“Didn’t you say it was a ‘lawless city’? But… it looks more presentable than I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

“Um… I imagined a place where law and order were non-existent and corpses were scattered all over the streets. Isn’t that what you usually think of when you hear ‘lawless city’?”

Ethan chuckled.

“Lawlessness is only true for the ruling class of this city.”

Carmen.

A hundred years ago, this area was a barren land, but it became one of the cities that emerged as wanderers from the west began to gather here one by one.

In the early days, it was truly a place that could be described as “lawless.”

As time passed, a ruling class began to emerge in the city, and rules and order gradually began to take shape.

Of course, these rules and order were not conventional.

They were largely modified to suit the tastes of the ruling class that governed the city.

In exchange for paying high taxes to the kingdom, Carmen was granted autonomy, with its self-governing rights secured by several ruling groups instead of being ruled by nobles.

“The ruling class, you say…”

“There’s the Black Society, a group of assassins, for example. I’ve also heard there are groups of black magicians and even groups of different races, such as vampires.”

“Hmm. I see. Anyway, it’s not a city that has gone too far.”

“If there aren’t even the minimum rules and order necessary for people to live, then isn’t it more accurate to call it hell rather than lawlessness?”

“Come to think of it… That makes sense.”

Ilia nodded.

A carriage bearing the coat of arms of the Duke’s family approached among the long line of carriages in front of the outer gate.

It was at that moment.

Several carriages that had been approaching from behind began to part like a tidal wave.

The Ardan family.

Only this family was worthy of using the golden flame crest.

The carriages quickly parted, and Ardan’s carriage began to pass through.

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Soon, the city’s soldiers approached the carriages. The soldiers looked at the coachman and asked.

“Who is riding in the carriage?”

“His Highness the Duke himself.”

“The Duke himself?”

“Yes.”

The soldiers’ faces turned pale when the coachman nodded.

Carmen.

It was one of the cities known to be home to the most notorious crime families in the west.

From gambling and entertainment to even contract killings.

It was a city known for being able to do anything for money, and even today, it was one of the tourist cities visited by many nobles.

Even so, it was very rare for a figure as important as a duke to visit.

Let alone the duke who was the head of the Ardan family, known as the rulers of the west!

“Wait… Please wait a moment!”

Soon, a man who appeared to be the captain of the guard came out. He bowed his head as he looked at the carriage and said,

“I’m very sorry, but could you please show me your identity card?”

Soon, an identity card was handed out from the carriage.

“Here you are.”

The captain of the guard nodded after seeing the identity card and Ethan’s face.

“…It is indeed you, Your Highness. I have confirmed it. This is a temporary identity card that you can use within the city.”

The guard captain handed him a rectangular badge.

What was unusual was that it was decorated with diamonds and various other jewels.

“Are there different types of badges?”

“Yes. Usually, they are issued in gold, silver, and bronze. However, when ‘special guests’ like His Highness the Duke visit, we sometimes issue non-standard badges. Just like this one.”

He went on to explain that the temporary identity badge decorated with diamonds was the highest grade among the non-standard badges and that with it, one could visit anywhere in the city without restriction.

Ethan nodded and stepped out of the carriage with Ilia, both wearing black robes.

After leaving the carriage at the outer city,

the two soon began to enter the city.

* *

The 7th district that Silvia had mentioned was the most elaborately decorated district in the city.

Among them, a huge six-story building was where the blind auction hall was located.

Ethan’s eyes lit up when he saw the guards standing at the entrance.

He had tried to hide his intentions, but

“They are assassins.”

They didn’t have their characteristic sinister aura yet.

As he approached the entrance, the guards bowed politely and said,

“To enter the Blind Auction House, you need a temporary ID card with a gold badge or higher. Can we check the ID card you received when you entered the city?”

The moment Ethan handed over his ID card,

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the guards’ eyes widened.

The badge handed over by the man in the robe was not the usual gold, silver, and bronze badge indicating his status.

It was a badge decorated with diamonds.

The guards had only heard of such a badge before, but this was the first time they had ever seen one in person.

They stared at the badge with trembling eyes for a moment.

Then, the guards composed themselves and said,

“…You may pass. You may enter…”

“Who is in charge here?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I want to see the person in charge. That is my purpose.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

“I will not wait. You must bring the highest authority here immediately.”

“I…will do so.”

It was a request that someone with a gold badge would normally ignore.

The Black Society was one of the forces that ruled Carmen.

Even those with gold badges had the power to easily crush them.

However.

“…That badge is different.”

He was someone with such a noble status and reputation that they couldn’t even dare to look him in the eye.

The badge given to someone who could be called a “hero” was a badge with a diamond engraved on it.

At this point, even the Black Society couldn’t easily refuse the request.

The person standing before them now possessed power and influence that could shake the entire kingdom.

The guards who received the message hurriedly entered the auction hall.

About ten minutes later.

The masked man emerged from the entrance with the guards. Upon seeing Ethan, he bowed his head respectfully.

This was because news of Ardan’s visit had already been relayed from the outer city.

“Greetings, honored guest.”

“What is your position?”

“I am the general manager of the Blind Auction House.”

“Then you must be acquainted with the head of the Black Society. I wish to meet him.”

“…Are you referring to the Black Society leader?”

“Yes.”

“…I understand.”

Normally, even if he had a diamond-encrusted badge of rank, he would have refused such a request.

However, the Ardan family was one of the families that had ties to the Black Society in the past.

To be more precise, it was a family that had ties to the Black Society leader two generations ago.

Therefore, he had to at least report it.

“This way, please.”

He led them into the building.

The top floor of the blind auction house.

The general manager bowed his head as he led them into an antique room.

“I have contacted the leader. Please wait here for a moment. The leader will be here shortly.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll leave you now…”

The general manager left the room.

Soon, there was a knock on the door, and it opened.

A man wearing a black mask looked at Ethan and Ilia, who was wearing a robe.

That was only for a moment.

His gaze fixed on Ethan.

“Greetings, Duke. I am the head of the Black Society. I heard you requested my presence.”

Even as the leader of one of the most powerful organizations in the city, he could not dare to stand shoulder to shoulder with the duke.

Ethan nodded in acknowledgment of the Black Society leader’s gesture.

“He’ll do.”

A sharp sword.

That was his first impression of the Black Society leader. The most important skill for assassins was the art of killing with a single strike. Focusing all their energy on a single strike to kill their enemy.

The Black Society leader’s mana was at about the level of a 7th-rank knight.

“If he uses that skill well…”

Ethan believed that he could kill a knight who had just reached the eighth rank. That meant he had mastered the basics of assassination.

Well,

anyone who had made a name for themselves in the west had to be at least that good.

Ethan looked at the Black Society Leader.

“I found an interesting phrase in your family’s records. It says that your ancestors were connected to us.”

“Yes. The first investigator was greatly indebted to the duke’s family. If you are here because of that, the Black Society will do everything in its power to help the duke’s family…”

“No. That is in the past. I am not here to ask for anything because of that.”

The Black Society had already made the most of their past connection by meeting the Black Society leader so easily.

The Black Society was an armed group, and the most useful thing in attracting such people was not past favors.

“It’s showing them your vision for the present.”

The Black Society leader asked cautiously in response to Ethan’s words.

“Then…”

“I came here because I have a question.”

“What is it? If it’s something I can answer, I’ll do my best…”

“Are you satisfied with your current life?”

“…What?”

“You make enough money. You’re probably known as an assassin. But that’s as far as you’ll go. Isn’t that right?”

Black Society leader Dekal.

He couldn’t wrap his mind around the duke’s question.

At first, he thought the duke had come to see him because of their past connection.

But the duke didn’t seem to care about that at all. Instead, he was just asking questions with a blunt expression.

“…I’m not sure exactly what you’re trying to say…”

“Let me make you an offer.”

“An offer?”

“If you come work for me, I’ll give you honor.”

“Huh… Are you planning to use us as your secret weapon?”

“Something like that.”

“The shadows are a place where there is no honor.”

“Even the Shadow Knights, who are the king’s right-hand men, are a group of knights who operate in the shadows.”

“…”

The Shadow Knights.

At those words, the Black Society’s mouth shut tight like a bee that had been fed honey.

Even though they were a knight order whose activities were kept secret, only their name was known.

Their reputation shook the entire kingdom.

Even children would jokingly say that the Shadow Knights would come if they did something wrong.

“The Black Society and the Shadow Knights are both essentially the same, cutting people down.”

“……”

“Then why are they treated differently?”

“……Why?”

“Because their leaders are different, their abilities are different, and the way they operate is different.”

It was a harsh statement.

However, there was no way to refute it.

Even if the Black Society was considered one of the most powerful organizations in the city of Carmen, when compared to the entire kingdom, it was obvious that it was just a group of assassins. “That’s why I’m asking you. Are you going to spend your entire life as a frog in a well, or…?”

Ethan smiled and continued.

“Or will you seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the name of the Black Society known throughout the continent?”

Decal flinched at those words.

The Black Society.

It was an organization that boasted a certain degree of success, but its limitations were clear.

At best, the Black Society was an organization that was lucky to be known in the western region near Carmen.

And that name was built on infamy and harsh criticism. Assassins were not a profession that was generally praised.

That was why the Black Society’s executives always wore masks. There was no advantage in being recognized.

“They’re like frogs in a well.”

They had lived their entire lives in their own small world.

When you think about it, the duke’s words weren’t wrong.

However.

“The Duke’s family is a renowned swordsmanship clan.”

“That’s right.”

“And the swordsmanship of assassins and knights is completely different.”

“That’s also true.”

“Are you going to use us like knights?”

“No.”

Knights and assassins are different.

And what Silvia wanted was the latter.

“You will continue to live as assassins.”

“Then there won’t be much to learn.”

“There will be a lot.”

“…Although our Black Society is part of a large city, we have our own training methods. No matter how excellent the sword skills of the Duke’s family are, assassins have their own…”

“Is there a training ground nearby?”

“…Yes, there are several.”

“Then let’s go. Show me the way.”

“…Yes?”

“Isn’t it better to see it once than hear it a hundred times?”

“Well… yes. Then… please follow me.”

Decal headed toward the training ground with the duke.

What could he possibly teach them that made him so confident?

As the duke had said, it would be much better to face each other once than to talk here.