CH 173.1

Chapter 173.1. Washizu’s Miscalculation

-?’s POV-

“Screw you! What in the world did you do? Why is my warehouse half-destroyed? Why is there a mountain of cargo missing? What have you done!?”

The furious Washizu Yoshitaka had an alarming aura of rage. With his buzz-cut and tough-looking face, his well-trained physique is tanned from the sun. Even without anger, he exudes an intimidating presence.

His face is flushed red with anger, and his furious state has caused even his loyal subordinates to disappear.

“What are you going to do? What the hell happened? It was billions worth of cargo. How could all of it disappear overnight? Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable!”

Yoshitaka, the head of Washizu Shipping, screams while slamming his fist onto a multi-million-yen table crafted from a single ancient tree he had painstakingly carved.

The magic wooden table, which he proudly showcased to visitors, explodes loudly, transforming into splinters that scatter through the air.

Despite the table, cherished as a treasure, shattering, Yoshitaka’s anger surpasses any sense of disappointment. He trembles with rage, his body trembling, as he glares ahead.

Yoshitaka is currently in his office, a room with excellent security measures that prevents eavesdropping and blocks magic surveillance.

As for the interior, although it’s an office, a chest placed against the wall is filled with whiskey bottles and crystal glasses are set upon it, emitting a sparkling and beautiful brilliance.

The artwork is top-notch, and there are luxurious furnishings that an average person could live off of by selling just one. The sofa and table used to entertain visitors also cost a fortune.

In his territory, within the office created to intimidate visiting clients, Yoshitaka is raging like an erupting volcano.

[Washizu-dono, you should understand the answer to that. Not knowing, pretending ignorance, that was your choice.]

A calm voice came back from a monitor embedded in the wall, glaring hatefully and snappishly.

The huge monitor that filled the top half of the wall was divided into as many as 12 sections, each showing an old man or a young man. The resolution, however, was extremely poor, and it was impossible to determine what they looked like.

“That may be true, but this is unforgivable!! How the hell did this happen!? The warehouse district has become an empty lot. An empty lot! What kind of magic could cause something like this?”

[We’re also bewildered. We’re contacting Nidhogg to lodge our protest, but they get caught off guard, and are in disarray.]

[As a well-intentioned third party, you merely ‘loaned a ship.’ You shouldn’t be able to make any complaints.

He grits his teeth in frustration and bites his lip regretfully. They hit a sore spot. Yoshitaka was just a third party who “loaned a ship.” With that kind of position, he intended to feign ignorance no matter what happened.

However, with his warehouses disappearing, the situation has become unimaginable.

The warehouse complex vanished along with the cargo that was supposed to get delivered from the New Year. And moored next to it was the ship he had lent. Whatever happened, he doesn’t know why the warehouses disappeared, but it seems Nidhogg used the ship. If that’s the case, even an idiot can figure out that Nidhogg is the cause.

However, as someone who positioned themselves as a third party, Yoshitaka had no overt connection to Nidhogg, so he couldn’t make any claims or complaints as the perpetrator even if he suffered damages.

If he makes a claim now. It would raise suspicions about how he knows who the culprit is.

If Takano County got wiped out, he would step forward as the next head of the main family. If Takano Miu survived, she would become his support, and he would seize control.

Regardless of the outcome, Yoshitaka had a naive notion that he could stand in Takano County as the main family.

No, Yoshitaka realizes now that he was in a hurry, thought to himself.

If that fool Arashi became the head, it would only lead to our downfall. He believed that by waiting for the right opportunity and gradually expanding his influence, he would eventually be able to take over the main family.

Until Takano Miu appeared, she was a rare recovery magician. She became the recognized head of everyone around her.

Moreover, she had a father who was skilled at making money. Feeling anxious he continued to wait passively. Takano County would have no vulnerabilities, but he acted in haste.

Even so, this situation is beyond the worst-case scenario.

“All the assassins sent to the main family were captured alive! Do you understand the implications? The assassins sent by someone were conveniently caught by Takano County’s security. The disappearance of the warehouse district and the commotion about the assassination of the main family, anyone would make the connection!”

He wanders around the office restlessly like a bear and keeps talking to himself.

Being suspected was expected. At the New Year’s gathering, he planned to boast and insist he had nothing to do with it.

However, that was accepting the outcome. At that time, Yoshitaka should have had the power to make anyone in Takano County unable to oppose him.

But all the plans failed, and all that remained were losses. Yoshitaka wanted to avoid getting suspected. He fell into a crisis all at once.

Of course, it was already too late, but Yoshitaka didn’t want to admit it.

“This is troublesome. The warriors might investigate thoroughly, not just a typical assassination incident. If that happens, my name might come up. No, more importantly…”

He glared at the monitor and clenched his fist tightly.

“The cargo is gone! I went to great lengths this time, and that’s where they hit me. That damn trashy guy, Yoshiyuki, came and talked about transferring shares and whatnot. He said he would provide replacement cargo. How dare he underestimate me!”

He spat out his frustrated words and sat roughly on the sofa annoyedly.

He kicked the remnants of the broken table forcefully. As the wooden pieces scattered, Yoshitaka turned his face towards the monitor and adopted a blaming tone.

“Tell your boss. Prepare the cargo. If everyone acts, we should be able to handle it adequately.”