Weston did not expect that even in this parallel world, there were middlemen.
Judging by what Village Chief Jack said, this 'Agency Guild' doesn't just handle Magic Guild business; they also earn transfer fees from other types of guilds!
In this era where transportation is generally undeveloped, they indeed played a certain role.
A hundred years later, when information exchange is faster and transportation is more convenient, there would be no room for such Agency Guilds to survive.
"Where is this Agency Guild you mentioned?"
Village Chief Jack replied, "It's in the small town south of the village. It takes about two hours to walk there. Since I often go to town to sell firewood, I'm quite familiar with the area."
"Have you posted commissions there before?"
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"Yes, I have. But the people who came for the previous few missions weren't Mages, so you probably wouldn't know them."
"Oh?"
Weston looked curious: "Your previous commissions weren't sent to a Magic Guild, but this time you sent the mission to Magnolia. Did you hear about the reputation of our Fairy Tail somewhere?"
"Well..."
Village Chief Jack scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile: "I have indeed heard of Fairy Tail in the small town. After all, your Guild helped Her Majesty the Queen quell the war and unify the Fiore Kingdom, and that news spread quite widely."
"But that has nothing to do with this commission."
"In fact, we are only responsible for issuing the commission. It is the people at the Agency Guild who decide what type of guild it should be sent to, and which specific guild should receive it."
"After all, we are just ordinary people and don't know much about guilds."
If everything Village Chief Jack said was true, then... that 'Agency Guild' seems far more suspicious than the people in this village!
Weston pondered for a moment, then discarded his preconceived notions and regained his focus: "Since the identities have been clearly confirmed, we can now officially begin discussing the contents of the commission."
"Where exactly are the Bandits you mentioned in the commission, and how much do you know about them?"
Upon mentioning this, Village Chief Jack suddenly looked sad.
"In fact, I don't know much about that gang of Bandits."
"I only know that they arrived in this vicinity about two months ago and are stationed in the northern mountain range."
"They come down the mountain to raid once every half a month. Each operation involves over 300 people, and every one of them is well-equipped. Several nearby villages have suffered at their hands."
"Everyone has reported it to the Constables in the Towns, and while those Constables said they would handle it, we haven't seen any action."
"A week ago, that group of Bandits came to our village and stole our stored grain for the winter. If we can't get this grain back, the villagers will starve to death this winter!"
"I hope you can help us eliminate this gang of Bandits and retrieve our grain."
"The reward, as stated in the commission, is that we and the nearby villages are willing to offer twenty percent of the recovered stored grain, or the equivalent in money."
"If you have any other requirements, we can also discuss them."
Weston and Precht exchanged a look, and through their eye contact, they both saw the helplessness in the other's eyes—
'What do we say about this situation?'
'You make the decision!'
'We might end up doing this for free, you know?'
'I don't mind.'
'How generous!'
The surrounding areas are not wealthy, and the raided villages are probably just as poor as the one before them.
Leaving aside the fact that the stored grain stolen from these villages might not have been much to begin with, even if there was a lot, so much time has passed that most of it has probably been eaten.
Even if they successfully retrieve it, how much would twenty percent be?
Not to mention, if they actually took the grain or money, perhaps a third of the people in these villages would die this winter.
Therefore, looking at the whole picture, this commission would definitely result in a loss, not a profit.
Village Chief Jack clearly understood this point, which is why he appeared so restless and uneasy.
"Sigh... We will take care of the Bandits. As for the reward, let's discuss it when we return!"
Seeing Village Chief Jack's distressed appearance, Weston and Precht genuinely couldn't bear to refuse.
One of the founding principles of Fairy Tail was to help those in need, not to earn a lot of money.
In a situation like this, failing to step forward wouldn't be the style of Fairy Tail.
Village Chief Jack hadn't expected Weston and Precht to agree so readily. He immediately became emotional, tears and snot flowing as he cried out: "This... I am truly grateful!!"
That evening, Weston and Precht did not stay in the village but immediately set off for the mountain north of the village where the Bandits were stationed.
"Precht, what do you think?"
"It's very similar to what we guessed before. It's highly possible that those 'Bandits' are soldiers who fled here after being defeated in the previous war."
"What's your reasoning?"
"The frequency and number of the Bandits' operations."
The Bandits operate once every half a month, which basically suggests they finish their food supplies during that period. Based on the speed of food consumption, one can estimate the total number of people in the Mountain Stronghold.
By comparing that to the number of Bandits deployed in each operation, one can easily calculate the proportion of the group's personnel composition.
This kind of logical thinking and calculation ability might be difficult for ordinary people.
But for Precht, who had fought alongside Weston for a year, it was as simple as eating and drinking; he could calculate it in a few tries.
"To confirm, once we get there, we just need to see if the excellent equipment the Village Chief mentioned the Bandits possess is similar to the uniforms of the Royal Army we fought against."
"Hmm... it seems you really learned a lot during the previous war. My heart is greatly comforted!"
Precht did not reply.
His Guild Master was good in every way, except for occasionally acting crazy, like a half-grown child.
He really didn't know whether he or Mavis was the real minor... Before long, the two arrived in the mountains.
"This is the place the Village Chief mentioned, the Bandits' gathering spot..."
"Let me test you again. How should we find the Mountain Stronghold now?"
Precht turned to look at Weston: "Naturally, by relying on your Super Ancient Text to simulate movement trajectories based on the surrounding environment. That's your specialty!"
"What if I weren't here?"
"Don't forget, I used to be a Treasure Hunter. No prey can escape a hunter's nose!"
Ah!
I forgot about that!
"Then you lead the way."
Precht glanced at Weston suspiciously, but still walked forward as instructed.
"Why do I feel like your behavior is strange today?"
"Oh dear—was I discovered?"
Weston gave an awkward laugh and raised his hands in surrender: "Fine, I admit I have another plan in mind."
"What plan?"
"Precht, do you... have any intention of taking over for me and becoming the Guild Master later?"
"...Huh??"