145 The name Parrot (3)

"Hmph, they're just bullies. Don't worry and wait for us to return."

Jiss confessed what he knew. He didn't want to scare those who were going to save his brother, but he couldn't bear the guilt on his conscience if he sent them off this way.

"They appeared out of nowhere and took over the island in three months. They're not a simple organization. According to one of Falkoa's direct subordinates, they were known as the Parrot Bandits before arriving on the island."

"Parrot thieves?"

Shirone's eyes widened. Amy, too, was lost in thought, as if this was unexpected.

The Parrot Bandits were the thieving gang to which a man named Lucas, who had raided the academy with Arcane, belonged.

Amy had seen Lucas' martial arts. As the effect of Abyss Nova faded, she remembered him as a formidable enemy who couldn't be defeated even with the combined attack of Eruki and Neid.

If it hadn't been for Siena's sudden intrusion, the situation where all the students would be safe wouldn't have been possible.

Nevertheless, knowing their identity didn't change the situation. It was crucial to leave as soon as possible, as the life of an innocent girl was at stake.

"It's okay. We've even fought and won against Parrot Bandits' vice-leader."

Jiss swallowed his tears and gritted his teeth.

"Thank you. Thank you so much for doing so much for a guy like me."

Until now, the nobles Jiss met didn't even treat the back-alley gang as human beings.

Perhaps it was natural. Why would they, monopolizing the wealth and fame of the world, pay attention to someone from the shadows?

But these people were different. They were willing to fight for him, who had only planned to deceive others with superficial words.

"How should I truly repay this favor?"

Ashamed by Jiss' continuous gratitude, Amy put her hand on her waist and sighed.

"Enough. Somehow, you saved me. Rather, it's us who have been helped."

"But it's such a dangerous task..."

"No need to complicate things. It's not like we don't know each other now. Moreover, you asked for it like a man, so we're doing this."

Jiss looked at Amy with an absurd expression.

How could the words "be manly" fit in this situation? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

"Tsk, if you pity me, forget it. Manly, my foot. What kind of man would beg so embarrassingly? I have no pride left."

"What are you talking about? You threw away your pride to ask for your sister back."

"Well, that's true, but..."

Amy smiled and gently pushed Jiss' forehead.

"That's what being a man means, idiot."

When Amy left those words and walked away, Jiss almost burst into tears. But he felt he had to hold back. It was because he thought that if he cried now, it would pour cold water on his resolve.

Rian patted Jiss on the shoulder and followed Amy.

"Don't worry. You saved my friend, so I'll make sure to save your sister too," added Tess.

"Instead, you should give them a proper tour when they return. I'll definitely get what we've earned for our effort," said Shirone.

In the end, Jiss couldn't contain his tears. Ignoring his bandaged wound, he ran to the door and shouted to Shirone and the others as they walked away.

"Be careful! You really have to be careful! I won't forgive you if you don't return safely!"

Shirone and the others didn't look back. But their quickly hastened steps were a more definitive answer than a hundred words.

***

Shirone and his group rented four horses in the western commercial district. Tess believed that if they were pursuing in a carriage with little mobility, they wouldn't be able to arrive on time.

Even though they boasted to Jiss, the actual situation was unfavorable.

Above all, the identity of the Freeman Organization, which they learned about belatedly, weighed heavily on their hearts.

The vice-captain of the Parrot Bandits, Lucas, was a Class B criminal.

The number of delinquents wasn't just a measure of the severity of the offense, but also an estimate of their power.

Even a serial killer disturbing the city wouldn't be confined to the Inferno Western Prison if they weren't strong but mentally ill.

Shirone had a premonition that they were involved in something quite serious.

Certainly, there was something strange. After the Arcane incident, she heard that the leader of the Parrot Bandits was a Class A criminal and currently wanted.

So, who was this Freeman of the Freeman Organization they had to contend with now?

"Amy, are you really sure it's the Parrot Bandits' Guild? Doesn't it feel like something's off?"

"I thought the same. How could a wanted organization establish a base in a touristy place? The pursuit of the Parrot Bandits Guild must have intensified after the Arcane incident."

Tess, riding to the right of Amy, interjected in the conversation.

"It's not the Parrot Bandits Guild."

"Huh? Do you know something?"

"The name Parrot Bandits might have changed when they crossed over to the Tormia Kingdom. Their original name is the Parrot Mercenary Band."

"Mercenary Band? They were mercenaries? Then what about Lucas?"

"I don't know about that. But I do know how they became a band of bandits."

"How's that?"

Shirone asked immediately. But Tess was afraid to tell them.

In terms of content, it was a common story. However, in this situation where they had to fiercely fight in the future, she thought that the information about them could break Shirone's fighting spirit.

"Tess, if you know something, tell us."

When even Amy couldn't contain her curiosity and asked, Tess couldn't help but start explaining.

"There was a rather controversial incident related to the Parrot Mercenary Band on the continent. Do you know about the vase incident that happened in the Iron Kingdom seven years ago?"

"Ah? I do. I learned about it at the academy."

What Shirone knew was this. At the noble gathering in the Iron Kingdom, an Upper House noble named Valtes announced that he would give his prized vase to anyone who proved braver than him.

Then, a Lower House noble named Moose challenged him. What he did was throw the prized vase against the wall.

On the surface, it seemed like a venture among drunken nobles, but a closer look revealed the long-gestating political conflict.

"The noble system in Iron is bicameral. The Upper House conveys the King's will, and the Lower House represents the common people. Thanks to that, the Iron Kingdom has become a wealthy country, but the conflict between nobles is severe."

Including commoners in politics weakens the nobles' authority. But as the number of autonomous commoners increased, the nation's wealth was destined to strengthen.

"The power of the Upper House comes from authority, and the Lower House's comes from taxes. Ultimately, conflict between the two factions was inevitable. When Moose, a Lower House noble, acted arrogantly, Valtes's stomach boiled. It might have been dismissed at that moment, but the resentment remained."

"But, what does that have to do with the Parrot Bandits, no, with the Parrot Mercenary Band?"

"There was a plague outbreak, and three months later, a civil war broke out in Moose's territory. An unknown army invaded. From here, it's information I heard through intelligence that it was Valtes who instigated the civil war by hiring mercenaries instead of soldiers to attack Moose."

"So, could it be that the mercenaries involved were...?"

"That's right. They're the Parrot mercenaries. Of course, many mercenary groups participated, but the Parrot mercenaries displayed overwhelming power and broke through Moose's defenses. However, just as they were about to break the resistance, Valtes's soldiers suddenly came from the rear and attacked the mercenary group by surprise."

Shirone could guess the situation at that moment.

Hire mercenaries to attack the enemy, then use private soldiers to attack the mercenaries. That way, victory and innocence could be obtained simultaneously.

"Valtes had no intention of executing Moose from the start. Because the power of the Lower House, backed by the commoners, is stronger than expected. I suppose they only wanted to give them a good scare. So, from the beginning, the mercenaries were just disposable pawns. To assault the territory and punish them again, a perfect strategy."

"But if it ends like that, wouldn't the Lower House nobles just stay silent?"

"Of course, they wouldn't, but they couldn't show it on the surface. After all, the Upper House are nobles protected by the King. There must have been some kind of agreement. The fact that Moose hasn't brought up the incident over the last seven years means they must have received some compensation from Valtes."

After hearing that, Rian frowned with disgust.

"So, were the mercenaries the only ones left out in the cold? I can't understand the politicians' thoughts. It's against chivalry."

"It's natural to think that way. But I've come across much more unsettling intelligence in my family. The world doesn't always go as we think."

Everyone fell silent at Tess's words. One day they must advance to a place where the great power of the world operates. The Plague Incident wasn't their affair, but it wasn't anyone else's affair either.

"Whatever it is, they were abandoned. All the mercenaries who attacked Moose's territory were executed on the pretext of treason, and the Parrot Mercenary Band was naturally dissolved."

Then Amy asked.

"But in the end, they survived, didn't they? That's why they must have sought refuge in the Tormia Kingdom."

"That's right. The mercenary band was destroyed, but a small number of capable individuals managed to escape the battlefield. From here on, it's guesswork, but wouldn't it have been difficult for those branded as rebels to maintain a mercenary group? That's why they fell into banditry and eventually flowed to the island when accused of being criminals."

Tess's reasoning was reasonable, but Shirone felt somewhat uneasy.

Above all, to maintain the name "Parrot" while fleeing from the charge of treason, they would have needed substantial resources and power, and an exceptionally capable leader.

"Could it just be a coincidence with the name, right? After all, there are countless guilds in the world, and the name 'Parrot' isn't particularly rare."

Tess hesitated to answer. The situation she had been worried about had finally arrived.

"Shirone, do you remember the woman you mentioned last time?"

"Huh? Noona Marsha?"

After rescuing Amy from the Royal Palace, while having a late-night snack, Shirone briefly spoke about Marsha.

Of course, he didn't go into detail about everything.

"More than anything, I intended to take the story of how she almost suffered a terrible fate at the hands of her adoptive father to the grave.

"When I heard what Jiss had to say, I thought it was just speculation. But there is a reason why that is not possible. The name of the leader who was leading the Parrot Mercenary Band at that time came to my mind."

"The name of the leader? Isn't it Freeman?"

"Claire Marsha. That's the name of the leader."

When Tess finally confessed, Shirone's expression went blank. The image of Marsha, who had been kind to him as an older sister, and the leader of the mercenary band, Marsha, did not properly merge in his mind.

"At first, I thought they were just two people with the same name. But when I heard that she was raised by mercenaries, I wondered. Then, after hearing from Jiss, I became convinced. Those who rule this island are the remnants of the Class A mercenaries who were betrayed in the Kingdom of Iron seven years ago."

It can't be. How could Noona Marsha...? I explained it back then. She is not the type of person who does bad things like this."

"Really?"

Tess looked at Shirone with an intense gaze. She was different than usual. It was the eyes of a spy who could see through a person's mind.

"Do you really believe it? About the Marsha you're thinking of."

Shirone bit his lip. He really knew it. As much as he wanted to trust her, his insight was already questioning everything.

"I'm sorry. You're probably right. It seems... so."

As he examined each one, all the circumstances aligned. Now he could understand her reaction when she spoke of collusion between nobles and criminals.

Translator's notes:

"Bicameral" refers to a legislative body or system of government consisting of two separate chambers or houses.

1. 상원 귀족 발테스가: "Noble Valtes of the Upper Chamber" or "Valtes, the noble of the Upper Chamber." 상원 (Sangwon) refers to the "Upper Chamber," which often is the higher or more prestigious chamber in a bicameral legislative system.

2. 하원 귀족 무스가: "Noble Moose of the Lower Chamber" or "Moose, the noble of the Lower Chamber." 하원 (Hawon) refers to the "Lower Chamber," which typically is the lower or less powerful chamber in a bicameral legislative system.

Example:

- United States: The United States Congress is comprised of the Senate as the Upper Chamber and the House of Representatives as the Lower Chamber.

I am using "Chamber" because I like how it sounds.