Chapter 139 – Investigation (3)
“You can come this way.”
It took about 15 minutes from Rokubancho Station.
Shimizu stopped walking and gestured to us towards the building.
Although it is a little shabby, it is a neat building with everything you need.
It’s not the 〈 Judgment of Fire 〉 level in Yeouido, but it’s a fairly large building.
The condition of the 〈 man he belonged to was the Clan Tower of the 〉 Clan.
“Welcome! Welcome to the Clan of Men’s Conditions.”
At the desk at the entrance, brightly dressed female staff greeted me.
It wasn’t just one or two.
It was the same after passing the desk, at the pass check point, and in the elevator after passing him.
Even most of the employees who seemed to be ordinary people, not holders, were the majority.
‘… Are you on the man’s terms?’
I was perplexed for a moment.
Because the image has a completely different feeling from the clan name.
Seeing me like that, Shimizu burst into laughter.
Haha. You’re pretty upset.”
“Ah yes. Much more than I thought… “
After he blurted out, Shimizu asked back.
“Isn’t it bright and lively?”
“Yes. Yes.”
Haha. Our clan is a commercial clan that focuses on trade and large-scale business, unlike the clan name that seems to have a bunch of warriors. Of course, there are female employees, and there are many regular clan members.”
Shimizu shrugged her shoulders and continued her words.
“The clan name is just the name the master gave in the beginning. Recently, we feel that this clan name is not right from a business point of view, so we are considering an official change.”
“Okay.”
A clan focused on trade and trading.
Shimizu’s explanation became more credible the more she looked at her clan tower.
Unlike 〈 Judgment of Fire 〉, which mostly consisted of departments, conference rooms, and document storage rooms for each team, there were overwhelmingly many ‘warehouses’ inside the 〈 Men’s Conditions 〉 Clan Tower.
Warehouses related to trade with the United States, warehouses related to trade with Korea…
Or warehouses related to transactions in Japan.
There were various warehouses and departments that managed them.
Shimizu moved step by step, introducing his internal departments floor by floor.
And the place we were looking for…
I was able to reach it only when I reached the 7th floor.
“This is the floor where the departments and warehouses that oversee trade with Korea are located. Our clan’s trade in Korea is exclusively contracted with the Injustice Clan, so it is also the department that oversees transactions with Injustice.”
Shimizu, who continued his explanation, looked at Kwon Oh-jun for a while.
“How would you like to conduct regular inspections this quarter?”
“I think we should talk to our teammates. Seongcheol Kim.”
“Yes.”
Seongcheol Kim, a wizard, came forward.
When the hunting team was doing the paperwork, Seongcheol Kim or Soomi Lee was always in charge, but this time it seemed that Seongcheol Kim was stepping in.
Kim Seong-cheol took the prepared documents and moved to a specific department with the 〈 man’s conditions 〉 clan staff.
“Then I will explain further. As the official, Kwon Oh-jun, knows well, the form of contract between our clan and the Injustice Clan is brokerage trade. To be precise, it plays a role in connecting trade between South America and Korea.”
“South America… “
This was the most important area related to this investigation.
At my murmur, Shimizu nodded his head and continued.
“That’s right. We export Korean-made equipment such as weapons and armor to South America, and export potions and special items made in South America to Korea.”
The reason seemed obvious.
Korea is one of the holder powerhouses recognized in the world.
Of course, the holder’s overall talent pool is wide, and that area also affects the blacksmith, a special type.
Cheaper and better quality manufacturing equipment than in the US.
When it comes to importing it, no country is better than Korea.
‘… On the other hand, potions are made better in South America.’
South America is not simply good at making illegal items such as [Berser Potion].
Just basically, the quality of crafting special items is good.
There were so many holders in South America who were serious about making special items that it could be said that there are more alchemists than combat holders, and of course, this is a strong point in trade.
Korea’s production equipment goes to South America.
Special items made in South America go to Korea.
〈 Man’s Conditions〉 Clan was carrying out the business by contracting exclusively with Judge 〉 for 〈 dollars to broker this trade.
“In the case of the reason for the inflow of the requested illegal items, these special items are secretly mixed in during the import process or come over through smuggling.”
“Smuggling?”
Smuggling.
With that one word, the eyes of the 〈 anti-villain 〉 members, including me, changed.
What we tried to investigate after coming all the way to Japan.
Because the clue came from Shimizu’s mouth.
“Yes. Illegal items secretly mixed into our clan are picked out after inspection in the process of re-exporting to Korea… It is difficult to find the items they smuggled in directly.”
Shimizu pointed to the map pasted on the wall inside the warehouse.
An arrow drawn between South America and Japan.
Its color was black.
“Because they come over to Japan through unauthorized warp gates for smuggling.”
Unauthorized [Warp gate].
In other words, it means crossing the border with an illegal magic phenomenon.
I muttered quietly at the declaration.
“It’s an unlicensed warp gate….”
“That’s right. Although we are a clan that legally handles brokerage trade here, in fact, Nagoya is also the region with the most illegal item smuggling in Japan.”
In other words.
It is correct that 〈 Villain 〉 trades illegal items, including [Berser Potion], Through Nagoya.
Therefore, if you trace it, you will be able to find the route and the people involved.
Shimizu made it clear that the first activities of the 〈 Anti-Villain 〉 Circle were in the right direction.
While I was pondering my thoughts, I suddenly asked Shimizu.
“Then, do the male condition clans know the location of the unlicensed warp gate?”
Listening to the circumstances, it seemed that there was no point in looking inside the 〈 man’s condition 〉 clan.
They are conducting intermediary trade with clean contracts, and 〈 Judgment of Dollars 〉 also confirmed this through regular inspections, so there was nothing more to complain about.
Then the key is the smuggling he said.
And the unlicensed [Warp gate] Where the crime is going on.
I needed to know the place.
However, at this question, Shimizu put on a puzzled expression.
“That’s it….”
He pointed to the map on the wall once again.
This time, right next to the previous map, is a domestic map with the Japanese territory and Nagoya City in detail.
Some circles were engraved in various places in the city.
This looked like a sign that certain places had been inspected.
“Of course, we are trying to find them because it is directly related to the clan’s revenue. However, as I said earlier, we are not a clan focused on brute strength, so there are some limits to what we can find. Unauthorized warp gates are usually built secretly inside dungeons or in fields outside the barriers.”
A [Warp Gate] Created in a field or dungeon outside the barrier.
In order to find and apprehend it, you have to kill all the monsters inside it, so of course there was a shortage of manpower.
At that, I frowned slightly.
“It’s vicious.”
“Yes. It’s a tactic to avoid prosecution somehow. Besides, the Japan Holder Association doesn’t have the will to actively seek out this… Even if the investigation has been carried out steadily, it has been difficult to accurately determine the situation.”
Shimizu thought for a moment and then continued.
“So, if Do Jae-hyeon wants it, we will connect him to the head of our smuggling team so he can help with the investigation. Eradication of smuggling in Nagoya was a long-cherished dream for our clan as well.”
At those words, I turned my head for a moment and looked at Kwon Oh-jun.
“Chief, are you okay? Our circle is actively trying to investigate.”
Anyway, this investigation is a project in collaboration with 〈 Judgment of Fire 〉.
It wasn’t something I could decide on my own.
Fortunately, Kwon Oh-joon readily agreed.
“Our clan is responsible for regular inspections of trading clans and escorting the anti-villain circle’s outside activities. Everything else is up to you, Jaehyun Do. Don’t worry, decide. We will help him no matter what.”
After that, I bowed my head in gratitude.
I looked at Shimizu again.
“Yes. Then proceed, Shimizu-san.”
“All right. Come this way.”
He led us back to the ninth floor.
Unlike the other floors, which were full of warehouses, the ninth floor consisted of large department interiors and conference rooms.
The inside of the department overflowing with all sorts of papers with a plain appearance.
There were only a handful of employees working tirelessly.
Passing by them, we headed to the team leader’s seat in the center.
“Mr. Akiba?”
At Shimizu’s call, a woman sitting in the seat raised her head.
Long straight black hair and red eyes.
An orderly atmosphere that seemed to subside that strange feeling.
Even at a glance, I could feel that he was a holder, not an ordinary person.
“Greetings. These are holders from Korea who came to collaborate with us. It will help you search for an unlicensed warp gate.”
And a brief introduction of Shimizu that follows.
After that, the woman got up from her seat.
They greeted us with the utmost respect.
“My name is Miyu Akiba.”
She is wearing a loose white hakama (* traditional Japanese clothing style) with a plain white top.
The striking white and red color contrast.
And a large longbow on the desk.
It’s like…
It was a unique appearance, as if looking at a single shaman.