Chapter 15: Peddler hunted by assassins, Part 1

Honestly, I hadn’t intended to contribute so much to the organization’s growth.

I just wanted a place to hide, not to actively participate in deals.

Being able to run a shop near Lucia in disguise was enough…

The reason things escalated was due to my slight dissatisfaction with the current situation.

First, I was a transmigrator.

A fairly hardcore one, at that.

In stories where the protagonist transmigrates into a game or novel, they always use their knowledge of the original work to hoard opportunities and build a harem.

Honestly, who wouldn’t be envious?

I’d even made plans for what I’d do if I ever transmigrated into my favorite game.

However, after actually transmigrating, I found it difficult to utilize my knowledge effectively.

Joining the main storyline to fight demon lords and other bosses required some level of “divinity” possessed by the protagonist and other hero candidates…

I was… well, perhaps not ordinary, but as a mere merchant, my combat abilities were far below those of the protagonist’s party. I certainly didn’t possess any divinity.

Besides, I lacked the courage to face danger head-on like the protagonists, wasn’t a skilled fighter, and this body wasn’t particularly strong.

The original protagonist would eventually clear the game, so why should I bother helping?

I was barely surviving as it was and had no time for such things.

The only original work knowledge I’d used was knowing the protagonist would be at the academy at this point. Unlike other transmigrators, I hadn’t done anything significant.

It made me wonder if I was truly a transmigrator or just reincarnated into Kayleen’s body.

So, when I finally found an opportunity to utilize my knowledge, I went all out.

That’s how this organization grew.

Whenever Eric and Cedric found a potential trading partner, I would visit them personally to close the deal.

Of course, since I wore a half-mask to conceal my identity, and they were approached by suspicious individuals with an arrogant demeanor, most merchants refused to deal with us.

That’s where my knowledge of the original work came in handy.

Organizations and trading companies couldn’t always stay completely legal and ethical while growing.

And since this was the type of game where such entities received their comeuppance, there were often side stories or events exposing their secrets or bringing them down.

The Solarite Kingdom, where I spent most of my time, had many such stories.

Fortunately, I remembered most, if not all, of them.

I didn’t have a particularly good memory. I’d just saved those miscellaneous stories for when I had nothing else to do.

I remembered enjoying them quite a bit.

Anyway, this was my method:

I would subtly hint at what I knew to the merchant who refused to meet, and when they asked,

“…Where did you hear that?”

I’d reply with,

“Heehee… Well? Will you let me in now?”

Then I’d start a one-on-one meeting.

I’d slowly expose their weaknesses and manipulate the terms of the deal in our favor.

Honestly, I felt a twinge of guilt watching those middle-aged men sweat and flinch as I calmly revealed their wrongdoings.

But what could I do?

It was their karma. They should have thought twice before resorting to illegal activities.

After repeating this several times, meeting some familiar faces, and even completing the deal our boss had requested, my previously empty coin purse was overflowing. And as my purse grew fatter, so did the organization’s coffers.

Seeing this, our boss, Reyes, enthusiastically expanded the organization using the money and connections I’d brought in.

Perhaps blinded by the profits, he went from being slightly intimidated by me to openly expressing his affection.

He even confessed his feelings once, which I indirectly rejected.

When we met again after some time, he seemed to have regained his senses and reverted to his usual awkward demeanor.

As time went on, about two years in, I realized this organization wasn’t the meritocratic haven I’d imagined.

I realized I’d inadvertently nurtured an organization that would have likely taken an illegal path otherwise.

I hadn’t been too concerned because Reyes seemed to give me subtle warnings whenever he was about to do something illegal. And with so much money coming in, I doubted he’d do anything foolish that might jeopardize his cash flow.

Yet, here we were, wanted for illegal activities.

This was quite disappointing. It felt like a mother discovering her child smoking.

It was intriguing to see our boss, who usually maintained a stoic expression except when flirting with me, look so flustered.

But if I left things as they were, I might end up being pursued by both the Magic Tower and the Royal Family…

How should I handle this?

Should I clean up Reyes’s mess?

Did I have to take responsibility for someone else’s actions?

Or should I leave the organization now?

With my savings, I could hide my identity and start anew somewhere else.

But I was reluctant to abandon the organization I’d worked so hard to build, the position I’d established.

Was this the sunk cost fallacy I’d learned about in social studies class?

The best solution was to pin everything on Reyes and get rid of him…

This organization was destined to be destroyed by the protagonist anyway, so wouldn’t it be fine if I took over after getting rid of the boss?

Just as I was about to speak to Reyes,

“Reyes. I specifically said no illegal—”

BOOM!

My words were cut short as the meeting room door burst open. Or rather, it was blown off its hinges.

Blue smoke wafted from the destroyed doorway, indicating a spell had been cast.

Several figures stood in the ruined entrance.

Each bore a crescent moon insignia on their chest.

“You…!”

Reyes’s eyes widened in shock.

Honestly, I felt the same.

““Moonshadow…!””

Our second-in-command and Reyes exclaimed in unison.

As they said, these were the Moonshadow.

Moonshadow in the Solarite Kingdom. Sound familiar?

They were a powerful force, rivaling the Knights, operating directly under the Solarite Royal Family.

While the Knights worked in the light, the Moonshadow, true to their name, operated in the shadows, carrying out assassinations and other covert operations.

I vaguely remembered a character from their ranks appearing later in the game, but that wasn’t important right now.

How did they pinpoint our meeting place so quickly, just a day after the warrant was issued…?

What had Reyes done?

Did he kidnap a royal or something…?

“Still following me…?”

Before they could incapacitate everyone in the room with magic, I made my escape.

I used the ample funds in my pocket to create a smoke bomb.

It had been a while since I’d used my bag and notebook so aggressively…

Survival came first. Organization, money, everything else could wait.

Unlike the Knights, who prioritized capturing their targets alive unless they were truly evil, the Moonshadow killed without hesitation.

Their motto was, “Eliminate any potential threats to the kingdom.”

I had strategically positioned myself near the emergency exit. I groped my way through the thick smoke and burst out of the room.

With Reyes, the head of security, and the fourth-in-command as decoys, I figured I’d bought myself some time.

But one of the Moonshadow agents broke off from the main group and pursued me relentlessly.

I tried blending into the market crowd, but the agent followed me without hesitation.

This was troublesome.

Hmm…

It was Reyes, not me, who committed the crimes, but these people were notoriously stubborn and fiercely loyal to the kingdom. Explanations would likely fall on deaf ears.

Should I fight my way out…?

I hadn’t fought in a while, and I wasn’t confident…

As I ran, I reached a dead end.

The Moonshadow agent entered the alley a moment later.

“Surrender and drop your wea—Wait…!”

Seeing me trapped, the agent drew their sword, but I quickly opened the stone door beside me.

I threw myself into the dusty, long-unused space.

With a creak, the stone door closed, the entrance vanishing, leaving only a solid wall.

I hadn’t been running blindly.

As a large organization, we had numerous branches and secret escape routes. This was one of them.

It was even magically sealed, accessible only to a select few VIPs.

I was pleased that the romantic escape route functioned perfectly, but I couldn’t relax just yet.

Secret passages like these, accessible only to a select few, were…

KABOOM!

…always vulnerable to overwhelming force.

The building shook as a powerful spell blew apart the wall, not just breaking it, but obliterating it.

Debris rained down into the passage.

Thanks to our persistent pursuer, I had to keep running, my legs burning.

And then I reached another dead end.

There was a way forward, but a thick iron gate blocked the path.

Panting, I searched for a way through.

A single ray of light illuminated the space beyond the gate, revealing a figure.

A girl huddled on the ground, staring blankly at the sliver of light.

She looked familiar.

“Eek…!”

Our eyes met, and she crossed her arms over her face, a textbook defensive posture.

“Stop right there…!”

The Moonshadow agent finally caught up, breathing heavily.

They should have had more stamina than me, but they’d cast powerful spells twice, once to destroy the meeting room door and again to destroy the secret passage entrance. And they’d been chasing me for almost an hour.

The agent’s eyes widened as they saw the girl huddled beyond the gate.

A reaction similar to Reyes’s. No, even more pronounced.

“Your Highness…!”

Hmm…

Reyes had become much bolder compared to the original story.

Back then, he’d just been robbing ancient ruins. Now, with his newfound wealth, he’d made a much more daring move.

Even so, this seemed a bit excessive.