Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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“Please come this way.”

After about 15 minutes of walking from Sakae Station.

Shimizu, who stopped walking, gestured at the building with his hand.

Although it looked a little shabby, it was a neat building equipped with everything needed.

It’s not like the <Judgement of Fire> clan in Yeouido, but still a pretty large building.

It was the clan tower of the <Man’s Term> clan he belonged to.

“Welcome! Welcome to the Man’s Term clan.”

It wasn’t just one or two.

It was the same after passing the desk, at the ID check place, and even inside the elevator.

Moreover, most of them were ordinary employees, not Holders.

‘…Man’s Terms?’

I was puzzled for a moment.

It was a completely different image from the clan name.

Seeing my reaction, Shimizu burst out laughing.

“Haha. You seem quite surprised.”

“Ah, yes. It’s much more…”

As I hesitated, Shimizu asked back.

“Gorgeous and vibrant, right?”

“Yes. You’re right.”

“Haha. Unlike our rugged clan name, our clan focuses on commerce and large-scale businesses. Naturally there are female employees and many ordinary clan members.”

Shimizu shrugged and continued.

“The clan name is just what the Master came up with in the early days. Recently, we also felt that this clan name is not appropriate for business, so we are considering an official change.”

“I see.”

A clan focused on trade and transactions.

Shimizu’s explanation became more credible as I looked around the clan tower.

Unlike <Judgement of Fire>, filled with department rooms and conference rooms, the interior of <Man’s Term> clan tower was overwhelmingly full of ‘warehouses’.

Warehouses related to trade with the United States, warehouses related to trade with Korea…

Or warehouses related to domestic transactions within Japan.

There were various warehouses and departments to manage them.

Shimizu slowly moved and introduced the internal departments floor by floor.

And the place we were looking for…

We were only able to arrive on the 7th floor.

“This floor has the department and warehouse that oversees trade with Korea. Our clan’s Korea trade department has an exclusive contract with the Judgement of Fire clan, so it also oversees transactions with Judgement of Fire.”

Shimizu, continuing his explanation, looked at Kwon Oh-jun for a moment.

“How would you like to proceed with the regular inspection this quarter?”

“I think I should discuss it with my team members. Kim Seong-cheol.”

“Yes.”

Kim Seong-cheol, a mage-type Holder, stepped forward.

For paperwork during hunts, it was always Kim Seong-cheol or Lee Soo-mi who took charge, and this time it was Kim Seong-cheol.

Holding the prepared documents, Kim Seong-cheol moved to a specific department with a <Man’s Term> clan employee.

“Then I’ll continue the explanation. As you know, the contract form between our clan and Judgement of Fire is intermediary trade. More precisely, we serve as the link between Latin America and Korea.”

“Latin America…”

It was the most critical region related to this investigation.

Hearing my murmur, Shimizu nodded and continued.

“That’s right. We export Korean-made equipment like weapons and armor to Latin America, and export potions and special items made in Latin America to Korea.”

The reason was obvious.

Korea is one of the globally recognized Holder powerhouse.

Naturally, the overall talent pool of Holders is broad, which also affects the special-type blacksmiths.

Cheaper and better quality equipment than the US.

There was no better country than Korea to import them.

‘…While potions are well-made in Latin America.’

Latin America is not just good at making illegal items like [Berserk Potions].

In general, the quality of crafted special items is good.

Latin America has so many alchemists rather than combat-type Holders. Naturally, this was a strength in trade.

Korean equipment to Latin America.

Latin Americans crafted special items for Korea.

The <Man’s Term> clan was carrying out this business by exclusively contracting intermediary trade with <Judgement of Fire>.

“Regarding the cause of illegal item smuggling you requested, it is either mixed in secretly during the import of these special items, or smuggled in.”

“Smuggling?”

Smuggling.

With that one word, the expressions of the <Anti-Villain> members, including me, changed.

What we tried to investigate after coming all the way to Japan, the clue came from Shimizu’s mouth.

“Yes. Illegal items secretly mixed into our clan are picked out after inspection in the process of re-exporting to Korea… It is difficult to find the items they smuggled in directly.”

Shimizu pointed at the map attached to the wall of the warehouse.

The arrow is drawn between Latin America and Japan.

Its color was black.

“Because they sneak into Japan through unauthorized warp gates for smuggling.”

Unauthorized [Warp Gates].

In other words, they cross borders through illegal magic phenomena.

I quietly murmured at that statement.

“Unauthorized warp gates…”

“Yes. Although we are the clan in charge of legal intermediary trade here, in fact Nagoya is the area with the most illegal item smuggling in Japan.”

In other words.

It is correct that <Villain> conducts transactions of illegal items like [Berserk Potions] through Nagoya.

So tracking it will allow us to find the route and related parties.

Shimizu was precisely conveying that the first activity of the <Anti-Villain> Circle was in the right direction.

After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I suddenly asked Shimizu.

“Then does the Man’s Term clan know the location of unauthorized warp gates?”

Based on the circumstances, examining the interior of the <Man’s Term> clan seemed meaningless.

They were carrying out intermediary trade through clean contracts, and <Judgement of Fire> was confirming this through regular inspections, so there was nothing more to question.

Then the key was smuggling, as he said.

And criminals [Warp Gate] that were unauthorized.

We needed to know the location.

But Shimizu made an awkward expression at this question.

“That’s the thing…”

He pointed at the map on the wall again.

This time it was a domestic map of Japan with Nagoya City drawn in detail, right next to the previous map.

There were random circles marked here and there within the city.

It looked like a sign that inspection of certain places was complete.

“Of course, since it is directly related to our clan’s profits, we do make efforts to find them. But as I said earlier, we are not a clan focused on combat, so there is a limit to how much we can search. Unauthorized warp gates are mostly secretly created inside dungeons or outside barrier fields.”

[Warp Gates] created in barrier-free fields or dungeons.

To find and crack down on them, you have to go through killing all the monsters in there, so naturally manpower shortage arises.

I frowned a little at that.

“How vicious.”

“Yes. It’s a ploy to avoid the dragnet. Moreover, the Japanese Holder Association has no will to actively investigate this… Although we have consistently investigated, it has been difficult to grasp accurately.”

After thinking for a while, Shimizu continued.

“So if Do Jae-hyun wishes, I can connect you with the head of our anti smuggling team to assist the investigation. Eradicating smuggling in Nagoya has been a deep desire for our clan as well.”

At those words, I glanced back at Kwon Oh-jun.

“Team leader, is it okay? Our circle intends to actively investigate.”

After all, this investigation involved collaboration with <Judgement of Fire>.

It wasn’t something I could decide alone.

Fortunately, Kwon Oh-jun readily agreed.

“Our clan’s job is the regular inspection of the trading clan and escorting the external activities of the Anti-Villain Circle. Anything else is up to you, Do Jae-hyun. Don’t worry and make the decision. We’ll support you no matter what.”

With that, I deeply bowed my head in gratitude, then looked back at Shimizu.

“Yes. Then please proceed, Mr. Shimizu.”

“Understood. This way, please.”

He led us back to the 9th floor.

Unlike the other floors filled with warehouses, the 9th floor consisted of a large department interior and conference rooms.

The humble exterior and overflowing paperwork.

Only a few employees were busy working inside the department.

Passing them, we headed to the team leader’s seat in the center.

“Ms. Akiba?”

At Shimizu’s call, a woman sitting at the desk raised her head.

Long black hair hanging down and red eyes.

She had a strange vibe, muted by her neat composure.

At a glance, it was obvious she was not an ordinary person but a Holder.

“Greet them. They are Holders who came from Korea to collaborate with us. They will help explore unauthorized warp gates.”

And Shimizu’s brief introduction that followed.

At that, the woman stood up from her seat.

And greeted us in the most polite posture.

“I’m Akiba Miyura.”

In a pure white narrow-sleeved kimono and wide hakama (traditional Japanese clothing), she had a prominent contrast of white and red.

And the large longbow on her desk.

It was like…

A unique appearance, as if looking at a miko (shrine maiden).

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