Home/How to Survive in a Good Small Guild/ch 74

Chapter 74

"To this end, Arclight Guild has collaborated with the Star Tower to utilize statistical analysis. If you look here..."

Our presentation proceeded smoothly. The Shadow Lion Guild, listening from outside, would probably think it was a flawless, solid presentation.

And they'd try to copy our content and do it better.

But from now on, we'd present content subtly different from what we'd prepared before.

"Many people call quickly responding after an incident 'early detection.' But that's not early detection—it's rapid post-processing. The two are completely different concepts."

There was a reason they'd insisted on the title "Next Signal." They'd wanted to cover not only our early detection project but also post-processing.

"Both early detection and post-processing are important concepts in public safety, but post-processing does not align with the current Imperial Family's policy direction."

I explained the Imperial Family's policy direction that Cedric had prepared in advance. The interviewers nodded as they listened.

"Therefore, Arclight Guild will never aim for post-processing. We will devote all our personnel and information to early detection, efficiently preventing risks in advance. If our personnel are spread across post-processing, we won't be able to capture anything with certainty."

Following my words, Cedric once again explained the Imperial Family's policy direction.

"His Majesty the Emperor values early detection, not post-processing. Let me now explain the details."

Even I had been surprised at first—the analysis of the Emperor's policy goals was so thorough. The interviewers' eyes widened as they listened.

"So that's what it meant!"

"Goodness, interpreting it to that extent!"

"Now that I hear it, it really does make sense!"

"To follow this, His Majesty the Emperor..."

By the time our presentation ended, it was clear that all three interviewers were satisfied.

They were all muttering the same thing.

"That's right, we must not pursue post-processing against His Majesty's will."

"Ah, I almost failed to grasp His Majesty's intentions."

They threw questions at me, but they were all ones we'd prepared for through intense practice with Cedric. And rather than being hostile, the questions seemed to come from genuine interest in our project.

"Thank you."

After finishing the presentation, Cedric and I exchanged glances. He also looked proud of our presentation.

Unable to contain my joy, I shook Cedric's hand like a congratulatory handshake. His face flushed as he said.

"G-great work."

"Was it okay?"

"It's always okay."

On the other hand, Shadow Leon, who'd been waiting in front of the interview room, looked extremely flustered.

Of course. His "post-processing" had now become something the Emperor disliked.

If they plagiarized our guild and presented after us, they'd have to pay the price.

This was the system of striking before you're struck.

"No. 10."

"Y-yes!"

Leon tried not to show his fluster as he entered the interview room. Annamaria, following behind, also seemed anxious.

"Therefore, we will conduct both early detection and post-processing! But we'll make sure our personnel aren't spread thin!"

Leon seemed very conscious of my presentation, but it backfired. Having to hastily change his presentation on the spot made it look awkward to everyone.

After his presentation, the interviewers' questions were exactly as expected.

"Isn't this post-processing?"

Hearing their harsh criticism, I smiled with satisfaction.

"Unless something unfair happens in between, we'll be selected."

"Yes, and the current Imperial Family operates the selection process transparently, so it should be fine."

Still, one thing bothered me.

I'd hoped they'd only copied our title, but their presentation content was quite similar to what we'd prepared before.

That meant our first-round documents had indeed been fully leaked.

'Public officials? Even though they'd be strictly punished if caught, did they use connections to get the information?'

Just as I was naturally suspecting the public officials, Leon came out with a red face.

"You... you..."

He glared at me, so I smiled brightly.

"Right now, you're not Shadow Lion Guild—you look more like Red Lion Guild."

When I said that, referencing his face, Leon and Annamaria exchanged glances.

Then Annamaria approached me in Leon's place.

"Um, I've been hiding this because I felt bad for bullying a weaker guild, but there's something I need to tell you. Oh dear, you look so pitiful."

"Stop with the nonsense and just say it."

"...E-eventually, Arclight Guild will collapse soon!"

"Excuse me?"

"There's a spy inside Arclight Guild."

"We only have four members including me."

"That's exactly why one of them is a spy. We've already received plenty of information, and soon Arclight Guild will fall! There's nothing you can do anyway. Just, since I feel sorry for you, prepare yourself mentally."

Did she think I'd fall for that? A claim that there's a spy in our guild?

When I looked at Annamaria as if it were ridiculous, she quickly left with Leon.

Only Cedric, who remained beside me, looked uneasy.

"A spy...? No, how..."

"Don't worry, Cedric. There's no spy in our guild."

"What's the definition of a spy?"

"Hmm, someone who hides their identity and infiltrates our guild with malicious intent to leak information to outsiders?"

"Then I'm not one."

"...Isn't that obvious?"

Was he worried I'd suspect him? But that was just nonsense the Shadow Leon Guild had thrown out to divide us.

After all, there were only three members besides me—where could a spy possibly be?

Alright, let's review.

Spy candidate #1: Me, Odrette Lavendel. But I've never heard of a Guild Master being a spy. Unless I'm under hypnosis, I'm not a spy.

Spy candidate #2: Susanna Herb. She's been with me since the previous Guild Master's time, and now I have leverage over her, so she obediently follows my orders. She seems satisfied with her salary raise too.

It's possible someone got to Susanna in between... but if she were a spy, she'd have to do double the work. Susanna is already busy writing her essay as soon as she leaves work—she doesn't seem to have time for spy activities.

Spy candidate #3: Morian Croucher. I know for a fact that he has no background connections. When he first joined, I looked into him just in case, and that's how I found out about his apartment...

If he were doing spy work, he'd be making a lot of money—he wouldn't be living in a place like that. He was genuinely happy when he moved to a decent place recently thanks to me...

Spy candidate #4: Cedric Alte. Contrary to his initial impression, Cedric is very capable. With his abilities, he could handle double work.

But he's the most loyal to me among our members, and he's the one who led this project to success, so I don't suspect him at all.

'...Come to think of it, I don't really know much about Cedric.'

I'm not suspecting Cedric of being a spy, but I am curious about his past.

I only knew he'd come from a "family-like" company—I knew almost nothing else about him.

Maybe I should look into Cedric just in case? Having made up my mind, I spoke.

"Cedric, would you like to meet separately this weekend?"

"Excuse me?"

His ears turned red. As expected, no sane person would want to meet their boss on the weekend.

"Well, if you don't want to..."

"No, I enjoy meeting my boss separately on weekends."

Oh, he's not sane. That suddenly made him suspicious. With this mindset, who knows what he might do.

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