Chapter 36 – The Best Item (1)
‘I don’t think they would discuss something important in a place like this.’
The opponent wasn’t a fool and was certainly not someone who couldn’t discern appropriate places for conversation. In fact, they were currently discussing trivial matters over a meal.
However, it was still possible to let one’s guard down in a fleeting moment. Above all, it was necessary to understand what kind of person was provoking Ethan—me—so I deemed that eavesdropping wasn’t entirely meaningless.
And anyway, we had to eat.
“The guild should be running normally within a few days. Quite a few adventurers left after the last incident, but the area isn’t immediately short-handed.”
In the meantime, Patrick brought up another topic regarding the Adventurer Guild, which had shrunk since the last erosion incident.
“The guild’s information network is considerable. The people who use spatial teleportation the most each day are probably the guild members.”
“Did anything happen that day elsewhere?”
“At least until we got here, I hadn’t heard any such news, but you never know.”
He shrugged at my question. Both Renia, who was currently investigating the incident, and Patrick, who had connections to the Adventurer Guild, were genuinely looking into what had happened that day.
If Renia was a distinguished scholar of high status and the guild was firmly investigating, news should reach us soon.
“What if such an incident occurs far away again?”
“It would be nice if they could solve it themselves, but if not, we’ll have to think about it.”
Patrick’s words, carrying the implication of whether I would step in, made me ponder for a moment. I thought the likelihood that I alone could solve this problem was low, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility.
Even if I didn’t want to be bothered, I couldn’t just sit there and die because of it.
“It’s not just about knocking Ethan down.”
And at that moment, information that seemed to carry more weight than mere small talk began to leak from Herman’s table, which I had been listening to like white noise.
Calmly having a meal with my companions, I focused on their conversation that the wind spirit relayed to me.
It was the moment when Ethan’s adversaries, whom he had only suspected, were being laid bare.
“But brother, our spare funds aren’t that abundant right now. The leaders must be demanding goodwill…”
“Damn, now those old has-beens are still just as money-hungry as ever.”
Money—most of their conversation revolved around it.
Ethan, too, pondered how to protect and manage his business, as it was his primary occupation; thus, the organization as a whole ultimately revolved around money.
Whether that was normal or not, Ethan’s aspiration for a promotion was essentially a contest of who could generate more results and bribe the upper echelons.
‘The artifacts must have been ridiculous after all.’
From that perspective, the relics Ethan had begun distributing through me would have been akin to nuclear bombs in the eyes of other competitors, so it was understandable they would try desperately to sabotage him.
“Right now, it’s impossible to raise spare funds with what we have.”
“I know. Starting more work here is foolish. Once the remaining spots are filled, all that will be left is debts and the work we’ve taken on.”
Having finished his meal, Herman began to whine, mixing in sighs and irritation. He seemed a bit out of sorts, having drunk fruit wine since the afternoon on a pleasant day.
“We need short-term profits. Artifacts or something like that. If that guy Ethan has hidden something away, we’ll be left behind.”
He grumbled about needing to make more money quickly. The mention of artifacts made my body flinch.
‘Didn’t he plan this out longer term?’
There was no more substantial conversation beyond that, but I at least knew that those who had ambushed Ethan were the other group leaders working with Herman.
It was a significant breakthrough, but there were still plans to carry out in this place.
Having identified the attackers, I now needed more information so I could launch a counterattack for revenge.
“We’ve eaten, so it’s time to unload our luggage.”
“Do that. I’m done here for now, too.”
After Herman’s group left the table, we finished our meal and stood up as well.
I didn’t particularly oppose Patrick’s suggestion to go back to the inn. Thankfully, I had gathered most of the necessary information from our conversation. Any additional activity would occur later when it got darker.
Until then, we could enjoy ourselves freely.
“This is the biggest city in the area. It’s bright even at night.”
“The night view made of luminous stones isn’t bad either.”
An evening welcomed in the foreign city of Id. As the sun set and darkness fell, lights began to illuminate the streets. The night view that Rina admired wasn’t made up of electric lights and skyscrapers.
In my eyes, it had a completely different kind of mystique and warmth.
Many people didn’t just go to sleep as night fell; they engaged in activities different from those during the day. Workers and adventurers finishing a tired day of labor drank, while some headed to the nightlife spots that only opened at night.
“The count’s boring personality has died down quite a bit lately. Whether in pubs or entertainment districts.”
Patrick marveled at how this place had developed more compared to a few years ago.
I was also intrigued, but the truth was that my reason for being out at night wasn’t purely for enjoyment and sightseeing.
“You two go have fun. I have somewhere to go.”
I decided to part ways with Patrick and Rina to act separately. I aimed to quietly approach the vicinity of Herman’s house that I had discovered during the day to gather information.
They were doing something near Ethan’s house, but if they didn’t have the power to commune with spirits, it would be somewhat hard for them to notice.
“Want me to use more of you?”
As I parted from my companions and hurried down a different path, both the wind and earth spirits were clamoring. They wanted me to use them more.
It was indeed an impressive ability to be able to commune with them just by standing still, yet spirits always sought more intense and numerous interactions.
‘They seem to enjoy it more than I do.’
They found joy in everything we did together, from battling monsters to engaging in this secret intelligence operation.
Chuckling at the sight of the wind spirits more actively leading the way, I unknowingly entered a quiet affluent district.
This district, located in the north of the city, had mansions and high-end stores that couldn’t be compared to the slums of the poor. Herman’s mansion was here, with paving materials that differed from the surroundings.
“I’ll allow it, so go and find out.”
Smiling, I dispatched the eager wind spirits into the mansion to relay messages.
Inside, where many people were, the wind spirits quickly sought out Herman, already memorizing his face, and began to relay everything he said to me.
In the meantime, I tried to act as naturally as possible to avoid suspicion.
After all, numerous servants from various mansions were busily going about. Even now, disguised as a maid, I blended in effortlessly among them.
“Did you find something that would pique my interest?”
And just then, amongst the inconsequential chatter the wind spirit was relaying, I finally heard something worth listening to.
*
“It’s information accidentally found out after getting that scoundrel Rogers drunk.”
“Interesting. I can’t believe the minor scum who used to sell off the poor have gotten their hands on such an incredible item.”
Herman, unable to even imagine that the wind around him could overhear his conversation, showed interest in the urgent report from his subordinate.
It might be a significant event that could fulfill his longstanding concern for a promotion.
“An elf slave.”
“Yes, I don’t know where they picked her up, but she seems to be a clear elf with blonde hair and green eyes. If the group leader can retrieve her and present her to the guild leader, they’ll easily get what they desire. However, they plan to sell her at an auction in the black market. As you know, once it goes to the black market, the moment this information spreads, competitors will surge.”
His subordinate’s eyes sparkled.
If they wanted to gain immense profit, they had to pay a price. Herman knew this too, which is why he smirked.
“Something a mere bunch of thugs shouldn’t have. Rex, doesn’t that mean we need to take it?”
Valuable items inappropriate for their status were more likely to bring blood rather than profit.
He was eager to teach the unknowing informants the harsh truth of that life.
“Prepare the kids. Before this news spreads any further, take care of it without anyone noticing.”
“Yes!”
He decided to mobilize his subordinates to sweep away the rivals and seize the elf slave. There was no need to buy it when they could just take it.
“…What did I just hear?”
And naturally, all this conversation was conveyed to the one who was eavesdropping outside the wall.
The ears of the girl with red eyes glimmering from beneath her hood twitched.
