5. Chasing a Conspiracy

「It is getting dangerous to collect copper coins in this city.」

「Yeah. Supply is thin. Any more and we get found out.」

「Pull what we have. Make the arrangements.」

「Got it.」

Two men. Outside.

「Sir?」

「Whoa!」

A hand waved in front of my face. Came out of nowhere.

「What is it. You are staring at the door.」

「A-ah. Nothing.」

I muddled it.

The voices were behind the door. Outside the shop.

「Sorry. I just remembered something.」

「What? The food is still—」

「I will be back.」

I ran out.

Then I listened.

I picked the same voices out of the noise.

Like pulling a drum out of a song.

「Nice to make money. Pain to move it.」

That one.

I went after it.

The two of them, still talking.

Alleys. Then a quiet stretch.

The voices dropped.

「How did they get in.」

Buildings along the back of the alley.

I stood at doors that looked like they opened and listened.

Fifth door. Same men.

「That is all of it. We pull it tonight. Meet the others in the next town and send it to the furnace.」

「Hey. How much off this.」

「At the current copper price, melt it and sell it, about double.」

「Higher than before. So this lot doubles too.」

「That is the idea.」

「Whoa.」

Thug talk dressed up as business. As ugly as it had sounded from the first line.

Melt the coins. Sell the metal.

Melting money the government struck is a felony in any country.

I almost went in. Then I kept listening. Partners. Another city. Collaborators.

Bust this room and they cut the tail.

I marked the place and left.

「So this is the town office.」

I asked around. They pointed me at the place that handled crime.

「Stop! Who are you.」

Armed gatekeeper. Same as the city gate on day one.

Expected. I was ready.

I took out Princess Helene’s fan and showed it.

「The princess sent me. I want the man in charge.」

「Princess… That is the royal crest. It is real.」

He checked it with magic, or whatever that light was.

His whole manner changed.

「Please wait. I will announce you.」

「OK.」

He ran inside.

About ten minutes.

「Sorry to keep you. Almosso-sama is waiting. Please come in.」

I followed him to an office.

Middle-aged. Well dressed.

He stood. Serious face.

「Kefka Almosso.」

「Kakeru Yuuki.」

「I do not know the name. How should I address you.」

「Yuuki or Kakeru. Either.」

「Then Kakeru-sama. I understand you are here on Her Highness’s errand.」

「Ah. Proof.」

Second time using that lie. A little guilt. I held it and showed the fan.

「This is… Her Highness Helene Teresia Mercouri’s. Forgive the caution. The gate said a man in unfamiliar clothes. I wanted to be sure.」

「Fine.」

I had expected suspicion. That was why I led with Helene.

「We have something more important.」

「What would that be.」

「People in this city are collecting copper coins, melting them, and selling the metal.」

「…That is not a joke.」

Almosso’s face changed.

Fair, given the size of it.

「I am not joking.」

I told him what I had heard and seen.

The missing change at the diner. The men behind the door.

All of it.

「We have had reports of copper running short. Peddlers come through. I assumed it was leaving with trade…」

「That is what is happening. You need to move.」

「We do. Does Her Highness know.」

「…No.」

I said that to myself too. I did not know how royalty handled this.

「I was only asked to look into the copper.」

Flat lie.

「Is that so. Then we act first. Damaging coin is a felony. We take them, then we ask for a ruling.」

「Yeah.」

「I will call soldiers.」

Almosso clapped.

Footsteps. Three armed men came in.

Three. Not many. Better than none.

Several targets. I could not be everywhere at once.

That was what I thought.

「Seize that man.」

「Ha!」

「Huh?」

One of them pinned me and locked my wrists behind my back.

「You…」

「I am sorry. That is how it is.」

「You are in on it!」

「I am.」

「Why.」

I asked him while they held me.

「Because it pays. Officials who run a town like this are given a measure of minting rights. Damaged coin is collected, exchanged, struck again. The fee on that is set by us — quite a nice living —」

Almosso smiled.

Ugly smile.

「—but selling it as copper is better. I had a partner in the back. I did not expect Her Highness’s eye.」

「…」

「Luck is still with me. You say she does not know. So if we remove you here, remint what we have recovered, we can still hide it.」

「…」

「I will have to ask you to disappear. If you resent anyone, resent your own recklessness.」

「No hard feelings.」

I said it.

The voice came out cold. Surprised me a little.

Almosso stared. What are you talking about.

「What does that mean.」

「What it means.」

I stood up.

Held from behind. Stood anyway.

「Nngh!?」

I tore the cuffs.

Steel. Came apart anyway.

Almosso’s eyes went wide.

That look annoyed me too.

「Looks like I should catch you first.」

I said it like a statement.

Time to start.