Mob, if I were a high school student, could I be an adventurer, too, Leah?

"And I'm surprised, I can't believe the Malos were already following this case"

That said the master laughed with one hand at the cup of tea.

The day after I got the call. We were summoned by our master to a coffee shop outside the city.

This coffee shop, which is the destination of the master, has a good atmosphere of slow time without the appearance of any other guests, where we were reporting on each other's recent developments.

"That's also ssssss. I can't believe my senior master... was a godless senior."

When Anna said so, the master smiled with a beautiful face, still not sure if she was a man or a woman.

"Well, I don't know how to use the link in the first place, Master."

"I see."

Explaining so, Anna nodded as she was convinced.

My apprenticeship to the master was shortly after the tournament.

When I found out that Link existed at that tournament, naturally I immediately started looking into it.

No matter how many links are publicly kept secret, it is difficult to keep them completely secret in this information society.

Fishing for SNS, blogs, online message boards, etc. should give you some clue even if you don't know the full story... That's what I thought. I started looking into it, but the results weren't fantastic.

Link, I could find about the word. Some referred to what seemed to be a telepathic link, the initial step of the link.

But that was the limit.

Even with that kind of information, I couldn't pick up the right answer from the vast amount of information that exists in jade stone confusion online without having the right knowledge of the link.

I decided to go back to basics when I was in a state of sooner, saying that I couldn't do this on my own.

In other words, he decided to beg the others to teach.

So what I relied on was the godless moon that inspired me to get to know Link.

Though God Moon and I had exchanged contacts after the finals, we hadn't been in touch very often.

That's why I asked for half of it, but contrary to my expectations, the Godless Moon happily admitted my apprenticeship.

In exchange for just one condition......

"That's what it is, doesn't it smell like water, Malo? I can't believe we're doing an adventurer's club on our own. I wish you'd invited me, too."

Master with a stubborn face.

No, even if they say so...

"My master is a different school... and this is a club thing for once"

"Oh, I envy you. My school is so tough."

He was such a sighing master.

"No, this one's been stopped from the school side."

Anna smiles so bitterly.

As a matter of fact, the Adventurers' Club has so far called itself the Adventurer's Club.

"Oh really? Well, that could change if we get the hounds and solve this case."

That said the master sipped a sip of tea.

"But you're a houndster. Yeah, you're good, it sticks. I have more taste than Announ, who was called tentatively in the guild."

"Anno un......"

Is that the name the Alliance gave to hounds?

Certainly the unidentity of a houndster is something you deserve to call Announ.

But, well, as far as we're concerned, a houndster would be more appropriate as a word to show him.

"By the way, about yesterday's call..."

When I cut out that story, my master changed his expression to something serious.

"In a nutshell, the hounds overdid it"

said the master.

"More than a hundred murders in a year, access to the labyrinth in ways that are not generally known, suspicions of possession of witchcraft prohibited by law, and… although this is uncertain of authenticity, there are also suspicions of distributing cards to the subordinates that appear to be curse cards. They can all destroy the system of modern society that relies on the labyrinth and the adventurer system."

We snorted at the master's words.

It is a major case in criminal history at a time when more than a hundred people have already been killed, but in a way it is more problematic than that that that means.

When the adventurer system was advocated in the United States, the first subject of discussion was how to prevent crime in the labyrinth.

To rely on a person's conscience, a weapon called a card was too powerful and convenient, and also the space of a labyrinth was indispensable to the object of rubbing sin.

But the military alone has its limitations in combating Angola.

It was licensed and gated access control that was installed as a bitter measure that bellies could not be replaced on the back.

The first sacrifice shall have no choice, but the second victim shall be prevented at all costs.

That's the original meaning of the gate.

In developing countries without gates, like developed countries, some say the labyrinth has been turned into a completely lawless zone.

However, if there are other ways to get in and out of the labyrinth, the measure of this gate would also be pointless.

On top of that, there could be such a big incident, and even the adventurer system itself could be viewed as problematic if it ended up as an unsolved case.

"We need to capture the houndsmen at all costs and receive the technology before the public makes a scene... yes the country and the guild thought about it. A bounty was placed on a hound the other day."

"Bounty..."

Words I'm not very familiar with in Japan, but I hear there is a clean profession abroad that makes me a bounty hunter.

There are two main job descriptions. One is to catch the defendant who was released on bail, alright, but fled as it were. The other thing is to go get the criminals who escaped into the labyrinth on behalf of the police. Nowadays he is more famous for his role as the latter.

In the wider United States of the land, the number of labyrinths is proportionately high, just as it is impossible to install gates in all labyrinths. It seems that many people escape into such a gated labyrinth, and if they say so, they will be given a prize for the crimes they have committed, or for bail.

If this prize money seems expensive and you can make safer money than catching criminals outside the labyrinth for a minute with a barrier of cards, is it a popular profession in the United States around veterans and such?

"So, how much is a hound bounty? He's killed over a hundred people... 300 million or something?

When Anna said so, the master put up pins and index fingers.

What the... 100 million, that's outrageously low. He said I was just a little disappointed for some reason...

"No, ten billion."

"Ten Billion!?

We shouted out loud and pressed our mouths in a panic.

Looking around, remembering that there were no other customers, that Anna's spying magic props were being activated, and howling down her chest.

Then again, I questioned my master.

"Ten billion... Seriously?

It's a little out of common sense. Ten billion yen... a few hundred million yen for a mafia boss overseas. If it's also a ten-billion prize neck, it shouldn't be strange to be in global news......

"I don't have to know. This is a quest that only some professional adventurers decided the Alliance had no involvement with houndsmen."

"Only professional adventurers mean that the master..."

"Yeah, recently, finally."

That said, the master has shown me a four-star gold license.

We applaud lightly.

"Congratulations"

"Yeah, thanks"

Right, were you already a pro? Well, it was only a matter of time.

By the time I was teaching Link, the master had already passed the hundred D-rank labyrinth steps and written exams, and the only remaining conditions were the number of C-rank cards and practical exams.

Then for a few months, it wouldn't be strange if the master had cleared it.

Nevertheless, being a student and a professional is usually a feat. Maybe it's the youngest pass?

"So now there are successive professional teams coming together from all over Japan to catch houndsmen..."

So the master showed a slightly palatable sleigh.

"Honestly...... 10 billion prizes for anything is too expensive. This is the same amount as the A-Rank Labyrinth tread prize. Besides, it is only paid in full in the case of a live catch. Houndsmen could be holding bigger secrets than we think. For example -"

So the master laughs niggardly.

"You know, about the last labyrinth extinction. As a matter of fact, many adventurers are more interested that way than the prize money"

Ten billion prizes are hanging on A-rank labyrinth treads, partly because it has never been broken by anyone, but partly because it is expected that there will be a key to labyrinth extinction ahead of it.

Come there. It's the same prize money as the last labyrinth extinction case and the A-rank labyrinth tread prize... it was more of an impossible story not to push evil.

"So we decided to gather those adventurers and lay a siege net to ensure we captured the hounds"

"A siege net... a ssss?

Anna looks surprised.

So is that. How do you siege hounds entering and leaving the labyrinth by unidentified means?

To us like that, the master took away a bunch of papers.

"Nor were the guilds or the police playing separately. Look at this."

"Is this... a map of the labyrinth?

That was a map of the F-rank labyrinth spanning dozens of species. I guess he borrowed the paperwork from the guild from the fact that the guild's red umpire is being pushed in the lower right corner.

"A map of the labyrinth from which the victims by the hounds came out is arranged in date order. Have you noticed anything compared to the first and last of this?

Even so... Anna and I looked at each other like we were in trouble.

At first glance, it looks no different than a normal labyrinth. If I insist, is it about as much as there are forest based labyrinths? Speaking of which, was the labyrinth that Shoko Sato sacrificed and the labyrinth that I was attacked a forest field? But the maps also usually mix graveyards and caves. It won't have much to do with it.

but that's where the weave said.

"This... is a similarity labyrinth!

"Discover"

The master nodded satisfactorily.

"Little night, what's that similarity labyrinth?

"A similar labyrinth is a labyrinth whose internal structure is extremely similar. It is the order of the hierarchies that is fragmented, but one by one the maps of the hierarchies themselves are characterised by almost the same. The cause of this is uncertain, but one theory says that the labyrinth of parenthood is the same."

Ha, and I remember when I helped Mr. Shinosomiya.

With that said, the labyrinth and Shoko Sato's labyrinth at that time were also very similar to that map.

Is that because those two were similar labyrinths?

"Does the fact that all the victims' attacked labyrinths are similar labyrinths mean that houndsters can come and go through similar labyrinths?

"Coming and going between the labyrinths? Can you do that?

"I don't know...... but if you think about it, you also know why there are no entry or exit records at the gate. We're going in and out of another labyrinth..."

When Weave said so, his master nodded as well.

"At least, the Alliance seems to think it's likely they're coming and going through a similar labyrinth"

"... doesn't that mean you've already identified the killer?

"What!?

I was stunned by what the weave said.

Have you already identified the hounds? Such an idiot.... No, wait. Right......

"Even if a houndsman had come and gone through a similar labyrinth to mislead the access control of the gate, there should be a record of when the victim was in another similar labyrinth when he came out. You mean if we stack that information, we can identify the killer?"

"That's the thing. That's unusual, seniors."

It's unusual. It's rare, actually!

But the master shook his head and denied it.

"But it wasn't that easy. Indeed, those diving in that similar labyrinth could only be ascertained when the victim was diving into the labyrinth. But... then I couldn't identify the killer. Because…"

So the master lurked his voice as if to speak of suspicion.

"Because they were already dead. Ten years ago in Angola II."

Already died ten years ago? Such an idiot...... no.

If you use a demonic prop to change your appearance, the CCTV footage will be anything. Transformation and phantom-like magic props are forbidden by law to possess, but the killer who's done it so far won't care about it.

But......

"If you're a surveillance camera, what about registering a license as deceptive with that? You shouldn't be able to register a license with a dead man's registry for as much as you want"

"Unfortunately, it was empty on your part. The houndster apparently possesses a magic device that causes the machine to malfunction, and what was in the entry and exit records was cod"

... well, I'm small and dismayed.

Well, if you think about it, they've caught the houndster. Was it a meaningless question at the time of this story?

But what is a magic prop that deludes the machine...... is it a subspecies of machine destruction? I've never heard of such magic props, but I'm no longer surprised by what hounds have used.

So I had a slight discomfort. If the houndsman had a magic prop to mislead the machine, why keep the CCTV footage? If you can totally mislead, you should also be able to scratch the CCTV footage.

Is it the ability to deceive only those that you touch directly, or only those that concern entry and exit?

"It's just..."

says the master.

"Like I said, the police and guilds weren't playing either. I'm sure the Malos also investigated and knew that houndsmen were targeting newcomers, but they identified what was sidelining the roster of newcomers to houndsmen. … that is, an insider in the Alliance"

"The Alliance has an insider..."

A heavy silence falls on the field.

It was more of a feeling I didn't want to believe than... An organization of people, not to mention an adventurer's guild. Some of them would be bastards...... I can't believe officials were cooperating in over a hundred serial killings.

"A collaborator, even so, he himself didn't seem to know who the hounds were or what their purpose was. Simply because he felt like he was making a dime. He knew it was a serial killer, and he blued it."

I see... it was used more than a collaborator, do you feel?

"... Could it be that the unauthorized employee isn't named after you?

When Anna said so, the master looked surprised.

"Yes, but... maybe we know each other?

"Do you know..."

Chillari and Anna looking here.

"Maybe it's a source for Gremlin's purchase route?

"Yes."

I see, apparently, that's what he's been doing from time to time.

"The operation uses this insider in reverse. More on this."

That's how the master handed out the Ops to us.

Here's the rough stuff.

First, stream a false roster of new adventurers through insiders in the guild. The majority of them are dummy fictional figures, but some real people, this side of the line, are planted. A professional adventurer with no exposure to the media, or a collaborator of equivalent strength, etc.

Next, after contacting the new adventurers who had already been flown off the roster in confidence and not diving into the labyrinth on the same day, the adventurers in their role dive into the designated labyrinth.

If the police can secure the hound that caught on to the labyrinth, that's fine. The operation has been a great success.

Most importantly, you can't catch a visiting adventurer from one end of the spectrum - if you do that, a hound user who sees how you're catching an innocent adventurer will escape - so fate will be next in line with maneuvers in the labyrinth.

The labyrinth where the adventurers dive and all its similar labyrinths are ambushed by professional adventurers.

If you notice a trap and run to the ground, the police will secure it there. Even if you fled to other similar labyrinths, there are other adventurers ambushing there.

That's why it's a trail.

There are only a few similar labyrinths per species in the city, but dozens across the country. It is an extremely massive operation because it places police officers and professional adventurers in all of it.

As for the prize money I care about, those who are actually caught hounding will split two billion, and the remaining eight billion will be divided into mountains. Distribution shall be calculated per professional adventurer and treated as one professional team in a team. About 100 million yen per capita, etc.

"I have a few questions for you."

I hear you've read it. Anna raised her hand.

"Go ahead."

"So what do adventurers do? You act alone, you're dangerous, aren't you?

"Each team will prepare the role. On our team, my sister, a former self-defense officer, is supposed to be in charge. As an operation, if you can lure a houndman into the labyrinth, you'll be half-successful, so you should be able to join your buddies instantly with a metastatic magic card when you decide he's been attacked by a houndman."

"I see, the next time the full prize is paid is only in the case of a live catcher, but what happens if a hound user harms himself or something?

"If a hound user harms himself, the prize will be reduced to 100 million yen. Given the distribution to each team, it's pretty much free work. In the unlikely event that the adventurers have been murdered, they are not guilty in view of being murderers, but no prize money. Completely free work. Other teams might charge you for your expenses. You can poke me, but I might buy a grudge."

... a reduction to 100 million is a lot tougher. It's like I'm telling you to make sure it's alive.

"I see... Next, how much suss are we getting?

"But how about me and my sister, half in the Adventurers' Club over there?

Half in the masters, half in the Adventurers' Club? That's a lot generous.

My master explained to me with a bitter smile that such thoughts were on my face.

"As a matter of fact, we have a minimum number of people to participate in this operation. It's a decision that the Pro Class will not be allowed to participate in the operation until there are at least two of them, plus at least four of them. And I've just become a pro, and I don't know many pro's on Samtsu."

Oh, was that what you said? And I was convinced.

From the character of my master, I should try to do most of the things alone. Nevertheless, I thought you were a lot stuffed with chopped wings to rely on me.

Simply because you're understaffed, I can tell you why you brought the story to me.

"And finally, what about the day of operation?"

"So far, we're talking about Sunday in about three weeks"

Sunday in about three weeks...... just the full moon day? It is this weekend that Lianhua and his revival cards arrive. Don't be spared and on time by Operation Day. It is also likely that you will be able to bottom up the fighting power of cards that have not yet been the limit of growth. As far as my party was concerned, I was likely to get an op day in the best conditions.

… although that is the same thing for hounds who use Lycanslope as well.

Perhaps we'll be more sure to attract them by choosing a day that's convenient for them as well.

"More than that from us, but anything from seniors or midnights?

"I'm not special."

"Well, I have one too.... blah blah blah, why are you leaving this operation to the adventurers? If we leave it to the militia, we don't have to pay 10 billion in prizes, and it's sure and cheap, right?

"Probably, but..."

It was the weave, not the master, who answered my question.

"For the survival of the adventurer system, isn't it? If the militia settled this as it were, the adventurers would just have been harmed. The public eye also leaves nothing but condemnation of the adventurer system. But if the adventurer solves it in his own hands, he will be given both a positive and negative rating for the adventurer system."

"... I guess that's the place"

To Weave's guess, the master smiled lightly and put his mouth on the cup.

I was slightly uncomfortable with the trick.

... What, did you tease me? The usual master would clearly say that if it suited him. I don't say this in such a dizzy way.

Should I go in deep, no, I guess there's a good reason why my master won't tell me. For example, the confidentiality of the request?

"So, will you take it? Of course, I'm going to stand on the arrow in the fight against hounds whenever I can."

"Just give me a minute. Take Confirmation"

"Okay. Then I'll try to take my seat off."

Once the master leaves the store, he asks Anna and the others.

"... what do we do? If we're going down, now's the time, right?

So far, we've moved in one direction or another to find a houndsman outside the labyrinth.

This time, however, there is a good chance of a direct confrontation with a hound user.

... Since I saw the body of Lion Hall, I'm getting more confused as to whether it's really good to involve Anna and the others.

Now, as they may say, it's still a line we can turn back.

If he's not dead, he's safe. That's all.

Anna and the others looked at me like that.

"I wonder what you're gonna say, come this far. That's not gonna happen, Senior."

"Such preparedness is so determined. The first time I decided to go after a hound."

"Right."

I smiled bitterly. Well... I was willing to be told that.

The two of you who have cooperated in the investigation so far will say we will do it to the end, he said.

In the first place, if you're a race that tells others to stop and stop, you haven't become an adventurer or anything.

"Besides, the seniors were just going to take it upon themselves to say we were going down, weren't they?

"Oh."

At the time my master brought this story, I had decided to take this.

That was because I had an appointment with my master, although I also wanted to settle with a hound user.

When my master is in trouble, I only help him once. That's the condition for you to tell me the link.

So I wasn't just going to go down.

"In the first place, we don't always fight blah-blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. No one gets off the job just waiting in the labyrinth for tens of millions of yen."

"Or so it is."

I don't know how the transfer of hounds works, but if we can transfer to any similar labyrinth, the odds of coming to our labyrinth are a few tenths.

If you've come to our labyrinth, just settle with this hand. If you don't come, that's delicious. That's what this was about.

I said I'd call my master back.

"I would love to take this story"