Chapter 14: Peddler, Villain is an executive of an organization, Part 2

A single building in the shopping district near the Solarite Kingdom’s academy.

A lone candle dimly illuminated a round table in the center of a darkened room.

“Hmm…”

A man sat at the table, groaning.

Reyes, the red-haired leader of the “Under the Lamp” organization.

Despite being flanked by the second and fourth-highest ranking officials, the air around him was thick with tension, silencing them.

Even though Reyes was the youngest.

The reason for his unease was the absence of the third-highest ranking official, a woman named Kayleen, despite the summons.

Or rather, it wasn’t her absence that bothered him, but the fact that she was coming.

Under the Lamp wasn’t meant to become this big.

Like any leader, Reyes dreamed of his organization growing powerful enough to control the nation from the shadows, but he knew his limitations.

Even if he single-handedly built up the organization, it would remain just another moderately successful group in its field. He never thought he could displace existing powers and become a dominant force.

In the Amadeus game, Under the Lamp was a minor organization that got caught up in the protagonist’s search for relics and was subsequently eliminated.

Since the developers liked to name organizations after random phrases, it was natural that Kayleen vaguely remembered the name.

Aside from the leader’s well-designed model, the organization wasn’t memorable enough for her to recall its details.

Yet, this organization had become a prominent force in the shopping district near the academy, the heart of the Solarite Kingdom’s economy.

And the reason, of course, was Kayleen.

Expanding an organization required money.

Recruiting members, upgrading equipment, everything revolved around funds.

But a single girl, brought in by a low-ranking member, had completely changed the game.

Moreover, it wasn’t just money that Kayleen brought to the table.

Reyes wasn’t exactly a strong leader. He’d managed to attract people with his ambition and the organization’s unique nature, but that was it.

His blunt demeanor often hindered negotiations with other organizations and trading companies.

However, after Kayleen started taking the initiative in negotiations, deals that previously required them to compromise suddenly saw the other parties conceding first.

Naturally, her network of connections grew, to the point where mentioning “Under the Lamp” to major trading companies elicited responses of “Where did you hear about them?”

Initially, they had thought she was just a girl with a keen eye for business, but she demonstrated skills on par with a seasoned merchant heir, or even a bored royal playing at business.

Frankly, Reyes found Kayleen intimidating.

She always wore a white half-mask and used the alias “Rin” during their meetings and their initial encounter.

That in itself wasn’t unusual. Most members hid their identities due to their shady pasts.

He’d felt a flicker of fear when he first met her.

Back then, before the organization’s growth, Reyes was even younger.

Looking closely, even the mask couldn’t fully conceal her unsettling red eyes and the perpetually smiling lips that gave away nothing of her thoughts. It triggered a primal alarm within him.

When they met again, perhaps blinded by the connections and wealth she brought, he found her incredibly beautiful.

Kayleen was indeed beautiful, but most people were initially put off by her enigmatic smile and suspicious eyes, preventing them from appreciating her looks.

However, since she provided the missing piece to his organization’s growth, he saw her in a different light.

But as time went on, the amount of money she brought in escalated, and she even attracted major trading companies known throughout the kingdom and beyond. It became overwhelming.

For instance, during a meeting, he’d expressed his concern about the Wilfred Trading Company encroaching on their territory and suggested withdrawing.

“Hmm… Ah, the Wilfred Trading Company? I know someone there. I’ll talk to them.”

And just like that, the Wilfred Trading Company reduced their operations in the area.

The Wilfred Trading Company was a prominent player in Bagus, a central hub for trade. Fearing repercussions, Reyes had cautiously brought it up to her, but she just waved it off, saying it was nothing.

At this point, he began to suspect she was either a merchant heir playing at business or a runaway royal building their own power base.

Seeing her in this new light, he began to notice the nuances in her expression that he’d previously ignored.

Was that constant smile a sign that she was planning to take over his organization after helping it grow?

Or perhaps, seeing how relaxed she was, she’d already laid the groundwork and he was just a puppet leader.

These unsettling thoughts fueled his resurfacing fear.

Moreover, some members were so enamored by the food and drinks she brought to meetings that her influence within the organization had grown immensely. She practically held the most power in the room, making his earlier thoughts seem less and less paranoid.

Fearing a takeover, Reyes had secretly expanded their illicit dealings, which led to the current predicament.

The topic of the wanted posters would inevitably come up during the meeting, as it was the reason for the summons.

His secret dealings would be exposed, and if that information reached Kayleen, she could use it against him.

That’s why Reyes felt both dread and immense discomfort.

It felt like he was about to be judged.

Creak.

“Hmm… Am I the last to arrive?”

“Oh, not at all, Miss Rin.”

Kayleen entered, her long hair flowing behind her. The first to greet her was the second-in-command.

He headed the security division of “Under the Lamp,” the division that had benefited most from Kayleen’s financial contributions. He was also quite the drinker, which made him favor Kayleen even more.

Naturally, Reyes seethed.

It irked him that this man, lower in rank and younger than him, addressed Kayleen with such respect, even using honorifics. He usually spoke informally even to Reyes.

“You’re here, Rin.”

“Yes, I am, Reyes.”

Now she was calling him by his name?

“Didn’t I tell you to call me ‘Boss’?”

“Oh my, were we ever that close?”

Kayleen retorted with a smile, making Reyes flinch. He thought he’d gotten used to her unsettling aura, but apparently not.

“Let’s put the jokes aside and discuss the reason for this meeting, shall we?”

“…Alright. This wanted poster is—”

“Your fault, isn’t it?”

“What…?”

“Isn’t it? Reyes. Aren’t we wanted because of your actions?”

Reyes started sweating.

Had she found out?

Where did the information leak from?

“Isn’t it? Reyes. Aren’t we wanted because of your actions?”

Hmm.

What was he trying so hard to hide?

I’d been trying to recall where I’d heard the name “Under the Lamp,” and then I remembered that Amadeus’ developers often used names derived from proverbs.

Then, looking at our boss’s face, it hit me.

There was a minor villain group with a boss who looked like that, wasn’t there?

I remembered a low-level character with unusually good modeling, prompting rumors that it reflected the designer’s personal preferences.

But that realization came nearly two years too late.

I’d been too relaxed, too unsuspecting.

Well, I hadn’t engaged in any illegal activities, only trading, so this warrant shouldn’t be a problem for me personally.

But a warrant meant some illegal activity had been discovered…

This organization was known for illicit dealings, wasn’t it?

Robbing tombs for kingdom treasures, kidnapping academy students for ransom…

Or perhaps dealing in drugs they’d somehow acquired, or even human trafficking.

Since people rarely changed their true nature, I assumed Reyes, our dear boss, must have been caught doing something illegal, so I casually brought it up.

And lo and behold, our boss looked utterly flustered.

Oh ho…

I’d never seen him make that expression before.