MV – Chapter 187: Prisoners and the Minor Villain

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In one of the reception rooms of the Onodera family residence, among those reserved for hosting the highest-ranking guests, Lanpeach and Bacchus sat facing each other on sofas with a table in between. Beside Lanpeach was Libra, while dwarves stood behind Bacchus as his guards.

Steam rose from coffee cups on the table. The black ripples of the coffee reflected in his eyes, Bacchus, the powerful figure hailed as the king of dwarves, sighed and turned his weary gaze to Lanpeach.

“Don’t you think the treatment of prisoners should be handled with caution?” (Bacchus)

“I don’t. These people will be managed by us, and we’ll also be seizing the internal facilities.” (Lanpeach)

Bacchus spoke gravely, so Lanpeach returned his words with a cold stare, showing no intention of conceding or even negotiating.

Faced with Lanpeach’s stern gaze, Bacchus scratched his head, trying to find some middle ground.

“This land has belonged to the Onodera family for generations. Can’t that be taken into consideration? The facilities of these guys are located within after all.” (Bacchus)

Bacchus couldn’t give in easily, either. These are Underground District facilities after all. The prisoners’ equipment far surpassed the current technological level. Investigating even a single magic circle could yield significant discoveries.

More importantly, the dwarves’ innate curiosity screamed for analysis and research of new technologies. Other dwarves in the clan were no different, their eyes gleaming with interest.

Backing down here would undoubtedly invite backlash from the other dwarves. Even as the head of the main family, if the branch families united against him, his authority would be severely undermined, and his influence would falter.

Normally, his intimidating demeanor and the power of his Armed Family would make it easy to extract concessions from his opponent.

“No. The technology has been deemed dangerous, so we’ll be confiscating everything.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach, however, showed no sign of budging. He took a slow sip of the coffee on the table, and added a sugar cube to counter the bitterness.

“I understand the ways of the Underground District, but we also have our pride to consider. Of course, we don’t intend to defy the Underground District, but could you at least take our position into account?” (Bacchus)

Bacchus played the sympathy card with a weak expression unlike his usual negotiations. His guards and branch family members standing behind him wore disgruntled looks but remained silent, aware of who they were dealing with.

Lanpeach understood Bacchus’s position as well. Still, handing over demon technology would undoubtedly lead to disastrous consequences.

“Even if you capture these prisoners, it’ll be pointless. They’re just the lowest-ranking soldiers who were equipped with advanced gear. It’s like asking random adventurers for the secrets of spirit armor. Interrogating them would yield no useful technical information.” 

The door creaked open, and a dwarf carrying dorayaki entered while cutting into the conversation… No, it was the one following closely behind, like a duckling after its parent, Mira. She moved around the dwarf like a puppy eagerly awaiting food.

“Hmm… I see. So, there’s no technical value to be gained. In that case, it’s better not to risk obtaining unnecessary information.” (Bacchus)

Bacchus understood Mira’s point precisely as he folded his arms and groaned.

While information about the Underground District’s power struggles might be obtained, the Onodera family wasn’t in a position to handle such intelligence. He didn’t want to poke the snake and be swallowed whole.

“Still, if you could at least hand over a single weapon or a piece of spirit armor, it’d be a great favor to us. Can’t that be arranged somehow?” (Bacchus)

The girl sitting beside Lanpeach, happily munching on dorayaki, was suspected of being an agent from the Underground District. Her words carried weight, unlike Lanpeach’s. Though there were doubts about Lanpeach’s origin as well, Mira’s background was clear.

“Well… I’ll consider it since the dorayaki is delicious. Most of the internal facilities can’t be retrieved anyways. Aren’t those enough?” (Mira)

The time-stasis capsules and devices where the demon soldiers had been sleeping were all recoverable, but many other items had to be left behind: walls, chairs, tables, cables inside the walls, light fixtures, and so on. These were everyday items, impossible to retrieve in a short amount of time.

While these objects weren’t particularly significant from a military perspective, nor were they crucial from Mira’s point of view, to Bacchus and his people, even a single wall made of an unknown alloy or a single cable filled with lost technology was a veritable treasure trove.

Everyday items form the foundation of all technology. Imagining this treasure trove, Bacchus gulped and nodded, a slight smile forming on his lips.

“I see. If you’re willing to part with all that, then there’s no issue. In that case, we’ll leave the prisoners in your hands.” (Bacchus)

“That’s probably for the best. It’ll take some time to bridge a 1,200-year gap.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach shrugged and prepared to eat a dorayaki after Bacchus agreed. Mira had already informed him that with current technology on the Surface District, it would take decades just to analyze a single alloy and another few decades to reproduce it. For the ever-hungry dwarves, it would surely make for perfect sustenance.

However, the dorayaki that should have been placed two per person had vanished. The culprit? A girl chewing away like a squirrel with her small mouth. How many is that now?

“Well then, since we’re done here, may I go?” (Lanpeach)

“Of course. Thank you for saving the sacred land of the Onodera family, for defeating the monsters, and for using us as decoys to secretly infiltrate the place.” (Bacchus)

“That last part’s a bit questionable, but don’t worry about it too much. You got a mountain of lich spirit stones out of it and made a hefty profit, didn’t you? I’m not interested in those stones, so use them as you like.” (Lanpeach)

“That’s a big help. Let’s call this a win-win.” (Bacchus)

“Indeed. By the way, lich spirit stones fetch a high price at the Hunter’s Guild. You might want to consider selling them there.” (Lanpeach)

With that, Lanpeach waved and left with a sly smile befitting a minor villain.

The Onodera family made a fortune from this incident and immersed themselves in new research. They also began collaborative projects with the Tateno family, and for a time, they withdrew from the public eye to focus on their work.

The Onodera family wagged their metaphorical tails like a dog given its favorite treat, content and quiet, absorbed in their research. But that’s a story for another time.

◇◇

At the Lanpeach Complex…

“Ah, this place is way better than the apartment I used to live in.”

“Your apartment was a six-tatami one-room place, wasn’t it?”

“Still, the building was called Tekka Complex, so it’s technically a complex, right?”

“Either way, at least it’s not a pit dwelling.”

“And there are even young girls living here.”

The former Harkein guards had moved into the rooms assigned to them in the Lanpeach Complex. Contract workers can be easily dismissed, but conversely, it’s also easy for them to quit. As for the last speaker, maybe they should be thrown into the sea.

“No loyalty whatsoever. Well, that’s just how contract workers are… I think?” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach rested his chin on his hand, looking weary as he watched the scene.

“I hope we can gather some information, but judging by their behavior…” (Mira)

Mira stood there, holding a dorayaki in each hand, her expression tinged with mild disappointment.

“Hey, how much luxury does this month’s salary allow us?” 

“Hmm, apparently, the days of counting the calendar until payday while surviving on instant ramen are over.”

“What? You ate such high-end food? I cooked my own meals. Leave bean sprout recipes to me.”

It turns out you can learn a lot from casual conversations without needing to interrogate anyone.

“No matter how many years go by, humans never change. There are always the wealthy and those struggling to make ends meet.” (Lanpeach)

“Soldier, you already knew that ages ago. Put three humans together, and inequality arises. Even just a married couple and a single person create a mental gap. Don’t feel too bad about it, okay?” (Libra)

“Is that your simplistic view of how sad it is to be single? Marriage is practically a graveyard, and divorces happen all the time. Love doesn’t necessarily come with marriage.” (Lanpeach)

Libra smirked, patting him on the head, but he swatted her hand away.

“So, Pla-san, what do you think love is? For example, my love for dorayaki surpasses that of a certain blue raccoon.” (Mira)

“Is that so? Then I guess you don’t want freshly fried donuts. I was planning on giving them to those former soldiers as a welcome gesture.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach pulled a large box of donuts from his Dimension Pouch. The freshly baked aroma wafted through the air.

“Pla-san, my love for food surpasses even that of gourmet genes. Come on, give me the donuts too since I have moved here!” (Mira)

“When did you even move in here? Hey! Don’t just take out one and attempt to snatch the entire box! Divide it properly!” (Lanpeach)

“No! Daddy, give me all the donuts! I’ll make sure to divide them fairly~” (Mira) 

Mira clutched the box to her stomach, curling up as she jammed her face into it and began munching. You greedy little puppy!

“So, Soldier, what do you think love is?” (Libra)

Libra asked while snatching a donut from the gap in Mira’s curled-up body and munching on it herself.

“Hmm, I don’t trust spousal love, but parental love is probably unchanging?” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach gave up on tearing away Mira, turned his gaze down the corridor, where two little girls were toddling toward him.

“Aah, Papa-shan, welcome home~ What’re you doing? Shomething shmells yummy!” (Koume)

“Father, pick me up! I want a hug to say welcome back!” (Mei)

Lanpeach gently caught the two girls as they leaped into his arms, smiling warmly at them.

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