Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 109: Auditor

"Huu..."

Rey lingered near the exit as the other advisors dispersed, his eyes tracking the one person besides himself who hadn’t voted—a woman he estimated to be in her mid-thirties, with sharp eyes behind thin spectacles and an air of meticulous precision in her movements.

She gathered her documents methodically, arranging them in perfect order before placing them in a leather case.

Everything about her suggested someone who valued organization and accuracy above all else.

As she moved toward the door, Rey positioned himself to intercept her path naturally.

"Excuse me," he said, his elderly voice polite. "I don’t believe we were properly introduced during the meeting. Modred Helt, Rank 12."

She paused, studying him with those sharp eyes. "Elara Venn. Rank 7. I serve as the organization’s Auditor."

The truth is that everyone had already been introduced in the meeting, but sometimes that was insufficient to properly gauge a person’s worth and their standing in the organization.

Unlike those who occupied high ranks, like Aldric, Brennan, Vera, and Cassius, Elara had not stood out at all.

She was mostly silent in the meeting, her presence almost invisible.

Even lower ranked Advisors participated more than she did. The mere fact that this was the case ironically made her stand out even more in Rey’s eyes.

Coupled with the fact that, just like him, she didn’t join the majority vote, made him even more curious.

That was what led to this situation.

"Auditor," Rey echoed with interest. "That’s an unusual role for a criminal organization."

"Perhaps," Elara replied, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "But necessary. Someone needs to ensure our resources are being used properly, that revenue streams are accurately reported, that our financial records could withstand external scrutiny should authorities ever gain access."

Rey nodded appreciatively. "I imagine that makes you quite unpopular with some of the other advisors."

The corner of Elara’s mouth twitched—almost a smile.

"You have no idea."

"I noticed you didn’t vote," Rey continued carefully. "Neither did I, which makes us a minority of two. I’m curious about your reasoning."

Elara hesitated, clearly weighing whether to engage with this newcomer.

Then she seemed to come to a decision.

"Walk with me. I need some air, and this conversation shouldn’t happen within these walls."

They exited the warehouse together, moving into the cool night air of district four. Elara led them to a small park—one of the few green spaces in this industrial area, currently empty of civilians.

"Why didn’t you vote?" Elara asked once they were seated on a bench removed from any potential eavesdroppers.

"I asked first," Rey replied mildly.

Elara studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "Because the numbers don’t add up. The entire proposal to approach the Yellow Lily House—it’s too convenient, and it was too quickly agreed upon by advisors who normally fight over every decision."

She pulled out a small notebook, flipping to marked pages.

"I’ve been conducting internal audits of our advisors for the past month, ever since Lady Z’s father died and unusual financial patterns started appearing. What I’ve found concerns me deeply."

Rey leaned forward with genuine interest.

"What kind of patterns?"

"Unexplained income in several advisors’ accounts. Small amounts, carefully disguised, but present nonetheless. Meeting patterns that don’t align with their reported activities. Purchases of luxury items that shouldn’t be affordable on their declared earnings from the Red House."

Elara’s fingers traced columns of numbers.

"Aldric, for instance. He’s been meeting regularly with known Yellow Lily intermediaries for the past six weeks. He claims they’re intelligence contacts, but the frequency and locations suggest something more substantial."

"You think he’s been bought," Rey stated.

"I think multiple advisors have been influenced, yes. Not necessarily through direct bribery—that would be too obvious. But through favors, promises of future positions, guarantees of personal security if the Red House falls. The Yellow Lily is sophisticated enough to make those kinds of arrangements."

She flipped to another page. "Brennan’s financial reports show revenue declines, but when I cross-reference with our actual operational data, the numbers don’t match. We’re not losing as much money as he claims. Someone is skimming, or more likely, deliberately misrepresenting our financial position to make an alliance seem more necessary."

"To create a crisis that requires the solution they’re offering," Rey understood. "Classic manipulation."

"Exactly." Elara looked at him directly. "So when ten out of twelve advisors vote for a proposal that effectively surrenders our independence, I have to question whether those votes reflect genuine strategic assessment or external influence."

’What a smart woman...’

Rey also considered this matter carefully.

"But surely some degree of financial irregularity is normal in a criminal organization? We’re not exactly paragons of fiscal transparency." He added, trying to probe even further.

"There’s a difference," Elara said sharply, "between the normal operational secrecy of illegal commerce and betraying your own organization. Yes, we’re criminals. We operate outside conventional law. But we still have codes, internal rules, and expectations of loyalty to the House."

She gestured emphatically with her notebook.

"When you join the Red House, you’re expected to be transparent internally even if you lie to the outside world. Your income, your expenses, your activities—all of it should be knowable to the organization’s leadership. That’s how trust is maintained in a system that can’t rely on legal enforcement."

"And you’re seeing violations of that internal transparency," Rey concluded.

"Systematic violations by multiple senior advisors, yes. Some might be acting in what they genuinely believe are the Red House’s best interests—perhaps they think an alliance with the Yellow Lily is truly the optimal survival strategy. But others..." She trailed off meaningfully.

Rey sat back, processing this information.

"You’ve been conducting this audit alone? Without reporting to Lady Z?"

"I’ve provided her with preliminary findings," Elara said carefully. "But she’s dealing with so many immediate crises that she hasn’t had time to fully engage with the implications. And honestly, without more concrete evidence, it’s difficult to act on suspicions of advisor corruption."

"Because you need proof of actual betrayal, not just financial irregularities that could be explained away," Rey understood.

"Precisely. Which is why I’ve been gathering data, building a comprehensive picture. But it’s slow work, especially when I have to maintain my normal auditing duties while conducting this investigation in secret."

"I see..."

Rey was silent for a moment, his mind calculating angles and opportunities.

’Although Lady Z is aware of the situation, and this woman has also been diligent in her findings, the problem remains.’

Why was that the case?

It was becoming increasingly obvious to Rey, and it went back to the same problem he noticed before.

’There aren’t many competent members in this House. Even if Lady Z has proof of their corruption through the audit, without proper replacements, purging them would only further weaken the Red House.’

As enlightening as the Audit’s results were, they came a little too late—many Advisors were already too compromised.

’Not all ten of them should be sellouts. At least people like Cassius appear somewhat trustworthy, but they’ve also fallen into the same camp as the ten. I’m sure if we were to take this Audit objectively, even he would have been ensnared in one or two things that would raise red flags, likely without his knowledge of the full scope of what he has gotten himself into.’

So what did all of this mean?

It meant too much damage would be done if they were to operate strictly by the findings of the Audit.

If they were to also partially apply the findings, it would not be an impartial judgment, and as such, it would be a corrupt proceeding which would be called out for sure by those who would rather fall with others.

’This is why Lady Z isn’t jumping at the opportunity to expose everyone. She would rather keep working together with known traitors while finding another way to solve the situation than to cause everyone to sink.’

A very reasonable position to have.

But Rey was dissatisfied.

’You are too passive...’ He shook his head internally. ’I understand the organization’s reliance on the Advisors, which is also why Lady Z could not refuse the majority vote, but she is being too complacent.’

Give someone an inch, they will take a mile.

Generosity is always met with greater expectation, trapping the benevolent in an insidious trap.

People would always take advantage of the powerless.

That was simply the truth.

’So, to remedy the situation, you need to flip the board entirely!’ After thinking for some time, Rey finally arrived at a decision.

"I could help you."