Chapter 193: Struck Rich From Wandering
"We’ve brought almost all the nobles under your control, Master." the former leader of the Eight Fingers reported, kneeling on one knee alongside Coco Doll, Hilma, and the other former department leaders.
"You’ve done a good job." Shido nodded, his eyes scanning the list of names in the ledger handed to him. His gaze paused as he spotted a few notable figures, there was even a Marquis among them. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips. Having nobles of that rank under his influence would greatly accelerate his plans to conquer the kingdom.
"Thank you for your praise, Master." The former leader bowed deeply, followed by the others, their heads lowering in unison.
Currently, all of them stood on equal footing, unlike in their previous organization, where a clear hierarchy had existed under a single leader. Now, they answered only to Shido.
Despite their usefulness, they were still wanted criminals, having been broken out of prison by Clementine. Adventurers and soldiers continued to scour the kingdom in search of them, unaware that the Eight Fingers were already moving in the shadows, working to conquer the kingdom from within under Shido’s command.
They had already tasted the effects of Shido’s slave crest, and none of them dared to entertain thoughts of betraying him. They had become obedient subjects, following his orders without hesitation.
With their previous organization razed and destroyed, they had begun working on new ventures under Shido’s command. Unlike their past dealings in slavery and drugs industries Shido found distasteful, he had directed them to build legitimate businesses that could gather resources and influence while maintaining a cleaner public image.
Fortunately, even though their operations had been destroyed, most of their treasures and hidden reserves had remained untouched. As a result, despite the collapse of their former enterprises, they still retained substantial wealth. This financial backing allowed their new businesses to flourish quickly, expanding their influence throughout the kingdom while serving Shido’s growing ambitions.
"But this isn’t enough." Shido’s voice was calm, though his gaze was sharp. While he was satisfied with their efficiency in bringing the nobles of the Re-Estize Kingdom under control, it wasn’t enough to fulfill his objective.
"If possible, I want you to bring Marquis Elias Brandt Dale Raeven under our control." Shido proposed this calmly, his eyes shifting to the subjects kneeling before him.
Currently, they were meeting in a secure location, hidden somewhere in the capital where no one would easily find them. Shido had placed a powerful barrier around the area, concealing all sound and presence, ensuring that even magic casters using detection spells would fail to discover them.