It’s All That Fool’s Fault

<-This chapter is unedited->

Ever since the [Four Leaves] were erased by the Mitsugoshi Company, Gettan has been continuously investigating them.

Once he's able to identify the organization lurking behind the Mitsugoshi Company, Gettan can then prepare himself accordingly.

"Nothing came up, you say?"

Gettan raised his voice after he heard Garter's report.

"Y,Yes…"

Garter's voice is trembling.

"Don't tell me that you are really going to dismiss them as some ordinary company? Then again, if you've investigated this much and nothing has come up, then, it's natural to think so...…"

There were some unnatural points, but no matter how much they investigated, there's still no smoking gun.

Then there's no other option but to think of them as normal.

"Well, that's fine. Since that's the case, then there's no need to hold back. Let's crush them."

Gettan lifted his mouth.

Finally, this business war would be settled and he can achieve his goal. Or so it was supposed to be.

————–However.

"U,Umm...…"

Garter while fearing for his life opened his mouth.

"R, Recently, the products prices have risen and...…."

"The inflation was predicted from the start, right?"

"No, it occured earlier than expected, so we looked into it..."

"What happened?"

"We've discovered counterfeit notes."

"What?"

Gettan's small voice echoed through the room.

"Counterfeit notes. We've discovered a large amount of them."

Gettan ground his back teeth.

"A large amount you say? How much?"

"W,We are currently looking into it but, umm , it's tremendous."

"Don't fuck around with me!! If it is circulating that much, why did you take this long to notice it!!"

"Hiii…..P,Please forgive me!"

Garter is trembling while giving excuses to Gettan, who has a menacing look on his face.

"Th, the appearance of the counterfeit notes is almost the same as the genuine one, and as it was distributed little by little, it was hard to...…."

"Shut up!! A massive amount of fake money is circulating!? Do you understand what this will cause?!"

The credit system will collapse and will result in a panic.

The worst-case scenario is being drawn in Gettan's mind.

"Track down their source immediately!! If you can't do it, I will cut off your head myself!!"

"Ye,Yes!"

"The matter with the Mitsugoshi Company is on hold…..!"

Under the current circumstances, they can't afford to take care of the Mitsugoshi Company right now.

When he had this thought, Gettan suddenly noticed it.

'Don't tell me it was their doing…..?'

However, he quickly negates that thought.

If the credibility of the Great Trading Alliance collapsed, naturally their credibility would also be damaged.

While the Alliance will collapse first, there's a strong possibility that the Mitsugoshi Company will also follow.

There is no difference in outcome regardless of who collapses first. Eventually, both of them will fall.

"A counterfeit...It must be some fool within the Alliance who did this….. I will tear that fool apart, limb from limb."

"Hii....!"

"Determine the culprit immediately. You got it? Immediately!——–If you've understood, then get started already!!!!!!!"

"Ye,Yes..."

Garter hurriedly ran away from the ogre-like Gettan.

The Alliance mobilized a large number of people to find the source of the counterfeit bills.

Even so, it will take them quite a while to find the source of the counterfeit bills that are circulating in the market.

It's still not publicly known yet that there are counterfeit bills circulating. However, some smart people have started to notice it.

People having doubts in the notes are beginning to appear.

There's not much time left.

The collapse is already approaching.

"Stop! Search that carriage."

Late at night, several men stopped a carriage that's about to leave the capital.

They were Garter's private army and they'd been instructed to stop suspicious carriages and inspect them

Of course, they've not received legal permission to do so and they have no law enforcement authority. However, for those who conduct business, the orders of the Alliance cannot be ignored and as such, all merchant carriages are forced to comply.

This carriage also stops as ordered.

Mercenaries of the Garter Company roughly handled the carriage.

"Stop...."

"What?"

Hearing a low voice from somewhere, a mercenary stopped his hands and started looking around.

"You will surely regret it...…."

"Haaaa"

The mercenary snorted and laughed at the advice he received, and then opened the package on top of the carriage.

While his eyes widened at seeing the large amount of gold coins inside, his neck was cut through.

"Wha!?"

"I'd warned you, that you'd regret it."

The mercenary who had his head cut off let out a fountain of blood and crumbled to the ground.

"B,Bastard! Who are you!!"

The remaining mercenaries drew their swords.

"The name is John Smith. You can regret hearing it in the next world."

"What did you sa—————!?"

Several thin strings gushed out in the moonlight.

However, no one noticed its glimmer.

Without knowing, without noticing, every single one of their heads went flying.

As the blood started raining down, the carriage laden with cold coins started moving again.

The carriage slowly increased its speed and left the scene, leaving behind the countless bodies whose necks have been cut and John Smith himself.

He moves his fingers as if playing a piano, while manipulating countless strings extending from his fingers.

And, spoke to an empty space.

"I know you are there…"

At the same time, the steel strings tore into the darkness.

Something moved in the darkness.

A woman wearing a black body suit appeared from the place where there should be no presence. Her body suit is like a beautiful dress, her face is hidden behind a mask, but her blue eyes are staring at him through the gap.

"Nice to meet you, John Smith."

With a beautiful voice like a bell, she bowed and greeted him. Her platinum hair shone in the moonlight.

"And, Goodbye."

And then, a jet-black sword cut down John Smith