Chapter 100

Chapter 101 (100/324)

101

The Black Flower, the intelligence organization with the most extensive information network in the Alton Empire, had a branch here in Trasden.

After leaving the castle, I headed to the slums, a rather gloomy place within the territory.

Although Trasden was a fairly prosperous territory, there was always a gap between the rich and the poor.

Even in the capital, the most splendid place in the empire, there were beggar dens.

It was a story of how all human settlements were the same.

Anyway.

I don't understand why these intelligence organizations always set up their bases in slums or back alleys.

It must be easier to escape surveillance from such places, so I can't entirely fault them.

But from my perspective, visiting such a place wasn't a particularly pleasant situation.

Meanwhile.

Leonhardt, who had been following me closely, tilted his head.

"Master. Are we heading to the slums?"

"Yeah."

"Why there...?"

"I'm looking for a place there."

With that, Leonhardt and I entered the slums. It was a truly dirty and messy place.

Garbage was scattered everywhere.

The people passing by were all emaciated, and their eyes glinted with a rather ominous light.

Why do they all look so dissatisfied with life?

If I had visited this place alone, I would have had to deal with unwelcome guests.

Of course, with the knight guarding me, such an unpleasant incident wouldn't happen.

'There should be a tavern... somewhere around here.'

Their rendezvous point.

It was a tavern that existed in the slums of each city. Not all taverns were Black Flower rendezvous points, but the ones they operated always had the name of a flower in them.

To put it in Korean terms:

Dandelion Tavern.

Sunflower Tavern.

Something like that.

They really love flowers.

Since it's a hassle to find, I might as well ask a resident for directions.

"Excuse me."

The middle-aged man passing by flinched at my words.

"What... what is it?"

With a knight who clearly looked like one standing right behind me, he must have immediately recognized that I was someone important. To commoners, nobles like me are a kind of natural disaster.

So, I can't blame him for his attitude.

Especially for residents of the slums, most nobles treat them worse than cockroaches.

"I want to ask for directions. Is there a tavern here with a flower's name in it? Any flower will do."

"...There are about three... but I'm not sure which one you're talking about..."

"All three. Where are they?"

The resident pointed in the direction with his finger.

Unfortunately, the three taverns were in completely opposite directions.

'This is a hassle.'

This kind of thing isn't rare.

In this case, I'd have to go into the tavern and call out the secret phrase to filter out the right one.

"Here."

I threw a gold coin to the resident who answered, and his eyes widened.

His pupils were instantly filled with greed.

Well, well.

Now this guy is starting to look back and forth between me and Leonhardt.

It looks like he's trying to estimate the value.

What a funny guy.

I chuckled and activated my Mind Eye, then looked into his eyes.

"Hey."

"Y-Yes?"

"Your name is Gerond, right?"

The moment I said that, his eyes widened.

"N-No..."

No way.

It's written right on top of your head.

Ignoring his words, I continued.

"It seems like you're trying to call some thugs to extort us, but you'll die if you do that."

I subtly signaled to Leonhardt.

Swish!

Seemingly understanding my intention, Leonhardt drew his sword and emitted a killing aura.

At that moment,

The guy collapsed and wet his pants.

Receiving the full force of a seasoned senior knight's killing aura, it's no wonder he reacted like that.

"Ah... Ah!"

"Stop."

After the aura subsided,

"If you want to live long, it's best to think carefully about what I said."

The guy started nodding frantically.

He's completely terrified.

At this point, any thoughts of mischief would have vanished.

Leaving him there, I started moving in the direction he had indicated.

Thud.

Thud.

As we walked,

Leonhardt quietly asked,

"Wouldn't it be better to take care of him?"

Leonhardt.

It seems he felt something from that guy just now.

You're a sharp one, aren't you?

"It's fine. No need to see blood. A warning is enough. He did give us directions."

"...Understood."

With that, Leonhardt and I entered the first tavern.

Ding.

As we opened the door and entered, the interior became visible.

Worn-out wooden tables and chairs.

There were no customers.

A middle-aged woman owner looked at us with a lack of enthusiasm.

Is this the place?

"Order."

At my words, the woman owner slowly approached.

"What would you like?"

Even with Leonhardt standing next to me, she still had that attitude.

It seems we chose the right first destination.

I smiled at the woman owner.

"Flowers bloom even at night, don't they?"

"..."

"I have something I want to know."

"Follow me."

With that, I followed the woman owner into a space that looked like a kitchen. It was an ordinary-looking kitchen, but when she touched something, a hidden room appeared inside.

"Come in here."

"Okay."

Inside, a dark corridor was visible.

Fortunately, there were torches hanging in various places.

"...Do you know this place, Master?"

"Yeah. It's an intelligence organization."

"...An intelligence organization?"

"I found out by chance. Let's go in and see."

Following the corridor, we soon arrived at a room that looked like an office.

Unlike the tavern we just left, this room was filled with rather antique furniture.

A figure in a mask stood there.

Beorn.

So, there's a guy like this too.

He soon approached me.

"Are you Kyle Seltarion?"

"Do you know me?"

"Of course. Are you here to make a request?"

"Right."

"Please sit over here."

I sat in the seat he naturally offered.

Our eyes met for a moment.

"Interesting."

"What is?"

"How did you find out about our 'Black Flower'?"

The curiosity in the masked figure's eyes was clear.

How did I find out?

I've been through similar situations dozens of times, so I know.

Of course, I gave a vague answer.

"I have my own information network. You guys are good at this kind of thing, right?"

"..."

"Are you not going to take the request?"

"Please tell me."

"Hellaim Viscount Family. If you have any information about them, sell it all."

"...The Hellaim Viscount Family... Please wait a moment."

Beorn started rummaging through some documents.

A moment later,

He looked at me intently after putting down the documents.

"We don't have much information currently."

"Then find out more. From the family composition to why they fell, and everything that happened."

"Since the family has been wiped out, the cost might be high..."

"If you know who I am, you know the price doesn't matter."

"...The request fee starts at two platinum coins. It may increase later."

Two platinum coins.

No problem.

This will be much faster than me finding out.

I have more than enough spare money.

I've been getting pocket money from Abel by giving him the swordsmanship book from time to time.

I immediately handed over two platinum coins, and he politely accepted the money and gave me a document.

Hellaim Viscount Family.

Head of the family: Jaiden Hellaim. (Deceased)

Family members:

Merhan Viscountess (Currently unknown)

Saven Hellaim, eldest son of one son and two daughters. (Deceased)

Ersiel Hellaim, second daughter of one son and two daughters. (Currently identified)

Niera Hellaim, youngest of one son and two daughters. (Currently unknown)

Detailed Information:

Viscount Jaiden was a lord highly praised by the people of the territory, but he began to show different behavior about seven years ago.

Reports of violent behavior and intermittent seizures.

Reports of addiction symptoms.

In January 296 of the Imperial Calendar, the viscount and his knights massacred the territory.

The massacre was ended with the support of the Amnus Baron Family.

Most of the viscount and his knights were killed during the suppression.

The eldest son, Saven Hellaim, is also reported to have died.

It is judged that the family lost control of the territory. The current territory of the Hellaim Viscount Family has been incorporated into the Amnus Baron Family...

While the viscount and the eldest son died, the rest of the family, except for Ersiel Hellaim, are missing.

Ersiel Hellaim is currently assigned as a personal maid to Kyle Seltarion.

There are rumors that she is a spirit mage.

'Amnus Baron Family.'

One of the territories adjacent to the viscount family.

However, seizures and addiction symptoms.

A lord who was once highly praised suddenly went mad and rampaged with his knights?

It's clear that something fishy is going on.

"Interesting."

"I will report the rest of the information as I find it."

"I have one more addition. Amnus Baron Family. Investigate this place as well."

The only organization that benefited from the disappearance of the viscount family was the baron family that swallowed the entire territory.

There might be more to it.

The most urgent thing now is to get deeper information about both the viscount and baron families.

I can't be sure what happened with just this information.

"The fee will be two more platinum coins. Is that okay?"

Without a word, I threw two more platinum coins, and the figure bowed.

"I will give you as much information as possible. Bring all related information to me. I'll pay the additional fee when it's due."

"Understood."

It's really convenient to have an intelligence organization.

I even want to create one myself.

'Tch.'

Unfortunately, it's impossible right now.

To create an intelligence organization with branches throughout the empire like the Black Flower, it's hard to imagine how much money would be needed.

And to place the right people in the right places, a tremendous amount of work would be required.

It's an impossible story right now.

'Well, an opportunity will come someday.'

With that, I left the branch.

As we moved to leave the slums,

"...Master. We have a tail."

"Level?"

"...They're not just simple thugs."

"How many?"

"At least twenty."

Who are they?

At first, I thought it might be the resident I let go earlier, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

A slum resident wouldn't be able to gather more than a few back-alley thugs.

If it were that, my bodyguard wouldn't have said such a thing.

While holding the Staff of Valor in my magic bag, I cast Haste on Leonhardt.

As we were surrounded by dozens of people,

'These aren't just simple thugs.'

Simple thugs wouldn't be able to move so stealthily.

These are assassins.

Well-trained assassins.

They wouldn't follow me just to extort me for a single gold coin.

Who sent them?

While circulating mana in my circle,

I looked at the surrounding figures.

"Who are you?"

"...The shadow never forgets a grudge. I will avenge my brothers. Kill him!"

With the words of the apparent leader, dozens of figures started to charge.

The shadow.

Now that I think about it, one name comes to mind.

Black Shadow.

The organization that sent people to kill Ersiel and Saron.

Thanks to the storm, their main base was destroyed.

Are these the remnants seeking revenge?

A farting dog barks.

What a funny bunch.

No need for words.

Instead of moving my mouth, I started moving the mana inside my body.