Chapter 49

Eleonor did not leave with Selvi but remained in her spot, hesitating.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a gesture that could only be seen as having unfinished business.

In the end, I spoke first.

“Sir Eleonor, is there something you need?”

“It must have been your first time seeing Selvi today, but you handled him well.”

“I happen to be used to that kind of personality. But that's not what you're curious about, is it?”

“It's just that I was curious how you figured out the identity of Selvi, whom you were seeing for the first time. Could you perhaps tell only me? I will never tell Selvi.”

As if her interest as a historian had been piqued, Eleonor's eyes were shining strangely.

That curiosity felt as dangerous as Selvi's rebellious personality.

I answered simply.

“It's a secret.”

“Ah……”

When it seemed I would absolutely not tell her, Eleonor was greatly disappointed.

But this couldn't be helped.

If I told her I knew his identity because I saw it in a game in my past life, she'd treat me like a madman, wouldn't she?

What's more, the treatment of madmen in this world is worse than that of cockroaches.

I'd be grateful just to be confined in a monastery.

“But wasn't that too difficult a mission to assign? It won't be an easy task.”

“You’re worried about Selvi.”

“Because he's a close junior. And he was acting up too much for a newcomer.”

Eleonor, who had been struggling with the subjugation of the thieves' guild until recently, was concerned for Selvi.

Her eyes seemed to ask if I had deliberately given him an impossible task to break his spirit.

“Of course, it won't be easy. But I didn't deliberately throw a difficult mission at him. Just by looking at him, it’s clear Selvi is not the type to have his spirit broken no matter how hard you try. Fighting would just tire us both out. We don’t have the luxury for that either.”

“Then?”

I announced the grand plan I had prepared in advance.

“I plan to establish an intelligence organization in Fasa through Selvi. For now, it’s sort of like laying the groundwork. Once the information network is established, we will slowly expand it to all of Apennia.”

“Ah. As expected of Lord Gryph. You have already thought of the future.”

“This will be helpful for Selvi too. He needs a way to prepare for when his clan members come to catch him, doesn't he?”

Selvi wouldn't be happy about a visit from his relatives either.

Relatives are often burdensome to see even on holidays.

Since I've said this much, Eleonor will convey my true intentions to Selvi.

So he won't do the job carelessly.

And I have no doubt that the intelligence organization will work hard for me as well.

Because if a suspicious pursuer appears in the city or if there are any strange movements, the intelligence organization will be the first to notice.

Eleonor, thrilled by the fact that she wouldn't have to take on this complicated task herself, left satisfied.

***

Outside the mercenary headquarters.

Selvi was waiting for Eleonor instead of moving recklessly.

“Sis, you’ve met a strange fellow indeed. To have such guts even after knowing I'm from the Murray Clan. Isn't he afraid of getting stabbed in his sleep?”

“See. I told you it would be fun, right?”

“Sis, you’re great in every way, but why is your standard of judgment always interest? If you’re too curious, you won’t live long.”

“This brat has no filter. He’s asking for it. I saved him from unemployment, and he doesn't know how to be grateful.”

“Ow! My back!”

Smack!

As a crisp sound echoed, Selvi curled his body.

He shed a tear at the pain he felt in his back.

Eleonor, with elven blood mixed in her lineage, had a slender build, but as a knight, her hand was heavy.

Considering what knights use to establish discipline, it was natural that Eleonor had a knack for violence.

“So, what's your impression after meeting Lord Gryph?”

“Well, he's much better than the alternative. Better than playing the untalented bard in the Elance palace or herding sheep in the fields of Caledonia.”

Although he had chided Eleonor, Selvi also felt an interest in Leon, who had seen through his identity.

In the first place, it's impossible to dream of being a bard without curiosity.

Besides, the first task he was given wasn't that difficult either.

It was the kind of thing he had always done in the clan.

Although Caledonia had a strong impression of being a backward tribal society, the conflicts that occurred beneath the surface were beyond the imagination of civilized people.

The barbarian who had entered the world of civilized people gave a twisted smile.

Eleonor pretended not to see.

There is nothing good to be gained from looking at something hideous.

“First, let's go and apologize to Rhom. We're colleagues from now on, and you're the newcomer, so it's not good to be on bad terms.”

“Well, alright.”

Eleonor, who was about to walk away, suddenly paused.

“By the way, I sent letters to the other guys too, but why has no one replied?”

“Huh? You did? I don't know about the others. I haven't heard of anything happening.”

“These guys, their discipline has become so lax. To not come when I call.”

Eleonor was disappointed that only one person had shown up, then wondered why she was disappointed.

And a moment later, Eleonor realized the reason.

Of the people she had called to escape from overtime, only one had shown up, and even that one had been assigned to another task.

Considering her original purpose, this invitation was a huge failure.

“No way. Lord Gryph! How could you do this to me!”

As fate decreed that she would continue to be one of the candles lighting up the mercenary headquarters, Eleonor despaired.

It seemed that no matter what she did, she could never escape from overtime.

Selvi laughed in disbelief as he watched the despairing Eleonor.

Who would look at that person and think she was a member of the Phoenix Knights.

She wasn't originally like that, but it seems Eleonor's personality has also changed a lot in the time they haven't seen each other.

If so, perhaps Selvi Murray could also change here.

“Let’s see what I can do.”

I have to make that tiny employer of mine not just admire me, but acknowledge me.

Otherwise, my pride would be too hurt to bear it.

Selvi began to move, full of anticipation.

***

Kicho, a merchant from Lepanto, gaped as he pulled his cart into Fasa.

The atmosphere of this city was strange in some way.

It was overflowing with a vitality he had never felt anywhere else, as if every day were a festival.

Should he say it was as if the city were a living creature.

To Kicho, that atmosphere was just unfamiliar.

‘Business must be going well.’

To exaggerate the rumors a bit, it was said that all the goods of Apennia were flowing into Fasa.

Kicho himself was one of the people who had come to ride that wave and make a fortune.

Kicho passed by the gallows, from which a person had been newly hanged not long ago, and headed for the warehouse district.

The town crier shouted, “These are state criminals who tried to defraud the government!”, but Kicho couldn't care less and had no interest.

He was actually disappointed that he had missed the execution scene.

In this era, the execution of criminals was one of the fun things to watch.

“Kicho, you’re here.”

“Evas.”

When he arrived at the warehouse district, a young Orc man greeted Kicho.

He was one of the merchants in Fasa with whom Kicho did business.

He heard he was from some family, but they weren't close yet, so he didn't know that much.

“You brought the ordered goods, right?”

“Of course. I went around all the nearby villages to get them. I had a hard time matching the quantity.”

“I see, this much is fine.”

Evas opened the cart Kicho had brought and nodded his head.

Inside were the byproducts of deer, roe deer, and horses, as well as moldy, spoiled meat.

Their method was for Kicho to supply the spoiled meat, and Evas would process it to look fresh and sell it off.

After receiving payment for the meat, Kicho looked over Evas' shoulder and spoke.

“Business seems to be going well? Where on earth are you selling all this?”

“You shouldn't covet another's trade secrets.”

“How stingy.”

“Hurry up and settle the payment and go back. Don’t forget to prepare for the next schedule. And the atmosphere isn't good these days.”

“Why?”

“You don't know? How can you be so slow with the news? The rumor is rampant these days that Leon Gryph has unleashed a monster on the streets.”

Evas gave him a light scolding.

Just then, Evas' servant came running out from behind the warehouse, screaming.

“Boss, we’re under attack!”

“Damn it? Is it that monster? How did he know this place……”

“What's going on?”

“It's none of your business.”

Kicho was bewildered, but Evas, instead of answering, turned to run away.

However, the disaster was already upon them.

A pair of red lights flickered in the dark void.

Soon, a mass in the shape of a mist flew through the sky and landed in front of them, and at some point, it transformed into a vampire youth with a socially rebellious appearance.

“You rats, got you!”

The vampire youth’s eyes shone with a red light.

At that eerie gaze, Kicho’s body froze, but Evas swung his club without hesitation.

“You monster! Die!”

But the vampire youth simply reached out and snatched the club.

Evas, disarmed in an instant, froze.

The vampire youth spoke.

“Why are third-rate villains like you always spouting the same lines? If I were a professor, you'd be expelled.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“It means you need a good beating!”

The vampire youth, in turn, began to beat Evas.

Under the shower of club blows, Evas couldn't get his bearings.

“Ah, fuck! Ah! Stop! Ah!”

“Your words lack grace and refinement, so one more.”

“Ack! Aaargh! I’m dying!”

Naturally, no one came out to see Evas screaming.

Because they had run away long ago.

The vampire youth, who had turned Evas into a tattered mess in an instant, turned his gaze to his next target, Kicho.

Only then did Kicho realize the situation.

It seemed something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

“Wait a minute! I have nothing to do with this!”

“Don’t you think that lie is too flimsy? Next time, think it through and come up with a decent excuse.”

“Ack!”

The next moment, the club descended upon him.

All Kicho could do was scream loudly.

After a few rounds of pounding.

Selvi, standing straight in the darkness, looked down at the unconscious men.

“Here! It’s them!”

Just then, the mercenary soldiers swarmed into the warehouse district.

They held clubs in one hand and began to beat Evas' servants who had not managed to escape.

The situation was quickly brought under control, but Selvi berated his subordinates who had arrived late.

“You’re too slow! These guys could have run away long ago if they wanted to.”

“We’re sorry, boss.”

“Call me Boss. Anyway, that’s enough, drag all these guys inside.”

“Yes, sir.”

Selvi's subordinates looked at him with fearful eyes.

This Caledonian barbarian vampire, who had been appointed as their new captain, was a master of interrogation.

His methods were so ruthless that among the guys caught so far, there was none who did not open their mouths.

Thanks to him, they had found a clue to the thieves' guild, but from a subordinate's point of view, it was impossible not to be terrified.

Selvi had already seen through how his subordinates looked at him.

But Selvi, being from the Murray Clan, did not care.

Fear was an efficient means of controlling subordinates.

The saying, 'The law is far, but the fist is near,' didn't come from nowhere.

Selvi, who had already experienced the effectiveness of fear in his clan, was only pleased by his subordinates' reactions.

In fact, right now, the smell of rotting meat wafting from the warehouse was much more serious.

“Damn it. No wonder their stomachs hurt from eating this crap. To think they tricked people into buying and eating this.”

Vampires, it seems, have a superior sense of smell compared to other races.

So their senses tired more quickly.

Thanks to that excellent sense of smell, he had found a clue, but it was not something he would recommend to others.

‘I can’t stand this job either. I need to take care of this quickly.’

Selvi took out his interrogation tools and went inside the warehouse.

Inside, the terrified thieves were trembling.

“Now, shall we begin.”

It seemed tonight would be long as well.

Eleonor had lamented that Selvi had escaped the fate of overtime, but Selvi too was not free from the pressure of Leon Gryph.

The constellation floating in the night sky for them was, for the time being, pointing to ‘additional work.’

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