Half a day later, outside the dungeon.
Adjutant Karen vented his frustration by kicking "Mole" Moriarty, who had been tied up like a rice dumpling.
"Run, then. Weren't you pretty good at running, Lord Mole? Why aren't you burrowing anymore?"
Moriarty wriggled on the ground like a worm, shrinking his neck in fear as he begged with a tearful voice.
"I've been wronged! It was all Hades's doing, it had nothing to do with me! Have mercy, my two knight lords, please let me go."
Alice's expression remained calm.
"Your crimes will be judged by the kingdom's laws and courts."
With a wave of her hand, the soldiers who had rushed over immediately stuffed Moriarty, along with more than a dozen sniveling Rusty Keys thieves dragged from the fortress, into the prison wagon in one go.
Karen walked to Alice's side and clicked his tongue in amazement at the packed prison wagon.
"Never thought Yano would really clean up the Shadow Fang Squad and dig this 'Mole' out while he was at it."
"What a pity. A talent like him should have belonged to the Border Guard Legion. Now, I suppose he's enjoying being an adventurer."
"Or perhaps, as you said, there may be some mysterious force behind him."
Then, as though remembering something, he pulled a crumpled note from his pocket.
"Oh, right, Commander. That kid left a letter too. He stuffed it in Moriarty's pocket."
"What did it say?" Alice took the note.
"Uh, he said... 'Respected Instructor, please deal with this trash. Don't forget my bounty. Just send it straight to the Adventurers' Guild. Thank you.'"
"So he was worried about the bounty."
"You were right. Perhaps this fellow is better suited to being an adventurer."
Alice smiled faintly, then nimbly swung herself into the driver's seat