Corellius and Asher stood in front of the building.
“You’re really going in there?”
“Yes. Even if the residents lie, this place couldn’t dare lie to a priest.”
The large sign read.
『First Information Office – We provide all information you need.』
Corellius didn’t hesitate and opened the door, with Asher quickly following behind.
‘But is an information guild this upfront about their business?’
Furthermore, the building next to it prominently displayed a sign that read 『First Information Office』.
“Welcome! Except for what we don’t know, we’ll tell you everything at ‘First’ Information Office. How can I assist you?”
As soon as they entered, a young man with a friendly look approached them with a sly smile.
“You’ll really provide truthful and accurate information, right?”
“Of course! No place in this information street values honesty and credibility as much as we do. Certainly.”
The young man thumped his chest confidently.
“Alright. Then bring all the information about this fief and Lord Raul.”
“Information about the lord and the fief? All of it?”
The young man asked with wide eyes, and Corellius nodded.
“Bring everything without leaving anything out. If there is anything hidden, you will face appropriate punishment.”
“Oh my, how could I deceive a priest? But, it will be quite costly. Is that alright?”
Thud.
Corellius pulled out a pouch from his bosom and placed it on the table. As a glint of gold showed through the slightly open pouch, the young man’s posture folded in half.
“I’ll get it for you as quickly as possible. Please follow me here!”
“Ahem.”
While Corellius stood up, the pouch disappeared.
“…It’s public funds. Is it okay to spend it like this?”
“It’s an investigation expense, so it’s fine. And if it’s not enough, we can receive more donations….”
Ignoring Asher’s worried words, Corellius hardened his expression.
‘This time, I will reveal what you’re hiding!’
*
“They’ve entered the First Information Office.”
“What? Do you mean the one on the main street?”
“Yes, that one.”
“…Oh dear.”
Raul took a sip of his tea with a troubled expression. He had been keeping an eye on them, just in case, but he felt a sudden relaxation of tension.
‘Well, they were always like that.’
People who didn’t really understand the ways of the world, like frogs just leaping out of a well. They might know a lot from books or hearsay, but they knew nothing about the real world.
Thinking they could obtain ‘hidden information’ from a place with an upfront information office sign on the main street. Those information offices were under Raul’s support and management.
They were set up as a kind of communication channel to provide players with easy access to information about Connect.
‘If they really wanted to find a true information guild, they should have brought Shimar, the guide of their party.’
That was why the church assigned him in the first place. Raul could only chuckle at this absurd report.
And it seemed Kane felt the same. Gone was the murderous intent, now barely holding back a sneer.
“Ahem. The shop owner contacted me. They want to know how much to reveal….”
“There’s nothing to hide. Tell them to handle it appropriately. But make sure they charge the full price.”
“They’ll handle that even without being told. That’s their specialty.”
“Oh, and make sure to give them ‘this’ at the end. Tell them it’s a service.”
“This?”
Kane checked the document Raul handed him and let out a quiet exclamation.
“Indeed! This could work.”
Thinking about being indeed a master, he secured the document and pulled out another one from his inventory, handing it to Raul.
“This is the investigative report you requested. It’s a summary of their origins and activities.”
“That was fast. How did you manage it in just one day?”
“It’s my job. We’ve been investigating since they set foot in the fief.”
“Excellent. Even if they seem foolish, don’t underestimate them. Keep a close watch and report any special occurrences.”
“Yes, Master.”
Kane stepped back, and Raul reviewed the report.”
“Hmm. Indeed.
The members of the hero party weren’t much different from what Raul had anticipated. It was evident at first glance that Kiera was a saintess, and it wasn’t difficult to guess that Mage Regan was a mercenary mage.
‘A mage from the Tower wouldn’t easily participate in the temple’s matters. And being a 5th circle mage while working as a mercenary certainly classifies him as a genius.’
Being in his twenties, he indeed was a talent fitting for the hero party. And then there was Shimar.
‘An A-level mercenary who survived the wall for 10 years.’
Something about that concerned him. Why the wall, of all places?
Next was Asher.
‘A commoner who lost his family and village in the Gate Incident and suddenly awakened. Classic case.’
Losing his family to monsters, awakening his hidden power through rage was the most typical hero story arc. Moreover, he was 18 years old, an age where pure rage could burn unstained.
‘Which means he’ll be easily manipulated. He himself wouldn’t realize it.’
Lastly, the problematic individual.
Paladin Corellius.
Just by looking at his background, Raul got an insight.
‘Yes, there had to be a reason.’
No matter how pure and troublesome the hero party was, there was no reason for them to be so hostile towards Raul. How could those who were just beginning their activities get information and dig up Raul’s flaws?
‘The Delamain family of the Brennan Republic.’
It was where Raul’s uncle, baron Jayden, took refuge and a family that had intervened in the internal conflict of the Ashton countship. The Delamain family must have suffered significant losses when Baron Jayden was defeated.
And they were currently in a legal dispute with the Ashton household over Jayden’s inheritance.
‘So, they planned to stab me in the back this way?’
Corellius was a Paladin belonging to the Bataar Order branch in the capital of the Delamain family. He must have joined the hero party through the influence of the Delamain family.
‘The Delamain family and Corellius.’
Raul’s thoughts deepened.
*
Bang!
“Damn it. You call this information? Bring out some real information, not this nonsense!”
“Sir, this is all the information we have. Isn’t this enough?”
As the young man who had been serving them said, the room Corellius and Asher had been led to was literally piled high with various documents.
Comprehensive list of cities, castles, and villages in Viscount Raul’s domain
First Knight Order branches
First Knight order directory
First Knight Order activities
Activities and related materials of Viscount Raul de Ashton
There was almost all publicly available ‘surface information’.
But there was not a single piece of the type of information Corellius wanted.
“Not this superficial information. I meant real information! For example….”
“Yes. For example, what kind of information?”
As the young clerk asked with a smile, Corellius’s face turned red.
“…You know what I mean? Secret information! Like the secrets the viscount is hiding!”
The clerk’s smiling face suddenly hardened.
“Sorry, but we don’t deal with ‘illegal information’. Surely, you’re not asking for ‘illegal’ and ‘dirty’ information, are you?”
The clerk’s expression implied that a priest wouldn’t ask for such information, so Corellius couldn’t bring himself to say it outright.
“…Ugh. Never mind! Let’s go, Asher.”
“…Yes.”
While Corellius was fuming with anger, Asher had a thoughtful expression. As they were about to leave the room, the clerk suddenly called out to them.
“Wait a moment. This is some ‘service’ information from our shop owner. It should be quite useful for your party. Please review it later.”
“No thanks. At this point, what….”
Corellius scoffed and ignored the clerk, but Asher bowed his head in thanks and took the document. Later at their lodging. They had rented a large annex room, so all the party members were gathered in the living room.
“How did it go, any results?”
Shimar asked with a slightly mocking tone, to which Corellius snorted and remained silent. At that moment, Asher stood up and bowed.
“I apologize. It seems I misjudged the situation. Viscount Raul is not the corrupt noble I thought he was. I am deeply sorry for causing trouble to everyone!”
“H-Hey Asher! What are you…”
Corellius, startled by Asher’s sudden action, tried to stop him, but the others were quicker.
“It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes. Admitting and reflecting on them is also important.”
“I knew it. How could a city be so vibrant and the residents’ living standards so high if the lord was corrupt? You’d have to be blind to think otherwise.”
Saint Kiera patted Asher’s shoulder as if she found him commendable, and Mage Regan snorted as if to say ‘I told you so.’
“The reactions from the strangers were the same. Everyone we met today praised the lord. When we asked if they were forcibly relocated or mistreated, we were ignored as if we were mad.”
Shimar didn’t bother mentioning that some aggressive strangers grabbed him by the collar or reported him as a spy. Unless all those people were brainwashed, continuing to distrust Viscount Raul would only be unreasonable stubbornness.
“Ha, everyone has lost their minds. Do you really think a city like this was built by normal means? A mere 17-year-old kid? Does that make sense to you?”
Corellius persistently refused to give up, but this time Saint Kiera didn’t hold back.
“Enough. I will no longer tolerate slandering an innocent and excellent lord.”
“Innocent? On what grounds….”
“Even if he were guilty, investigating that is not our duty. If you continue to deviate from our original purpose, I will expel you from this investigation team, sir Corellius!”
The party members were shocked by the saintess’s surprising declaration.
“Ha, what authority do you have? Do you think the church will allow that?”
“Yes, absolutely. If I refuse to work with you, who do you think they’ll side with?”
Saints, who were scarce in their orders, versus Paladins who numbered in the hundreds. Even though skilled Paladins were fewer, the outcome was obvious. Kiera had remained silent out of respect for elders and other orders.
However, leaving Corellius unchecked any longer could jeopardize their mission.
“So, what will you do? Will you leave, or will you follow the original plan?”
Despite her loud voice, her clenched hands beneath the table trembled. She didn’t want the party to break apart in this manner.
“…Alright. I’ll follow the saintess.”
Corellius surrendered. Even with different thoughts, being expelled from the investigation team was pointless. He wasn’t interested in returning to the temple’s smelly old training grounds for ascetic practices.
“Good. So, we need to proceed with recruiting the strangers…but honestly, it seems difficult now.”
“We visited all the notable stranger guilds in the city today, but they all refused. They said they couldn’t work with those who insulted the lord, First Knight Order, and themselves. Thanks to someone, it’s all messed up.”
Shimar glared at Corellius while talking, making Corellius snort and look away.
“At this rate, it will be impossible to reach our destination on time. Is there any good plan?”
At that moment, Asher pulled out a document from his bosom and spoke.
“There’s a way right here!”
It was the document they received from the information office. Saintess Kiera breathed a sigh of relief after checking the contents.
And the very next day. Kiera and the hero party boarded a portal and left Viscount Raul’s domain. Watching from a distance, Bernard curiously asked Raul.
“What kind of magic did you use? I thought they wouldn’t leave until they achieved their goal.”
“Well, it wasn’t that difficult. To put it simply, ‘passing the bomb’ maybe?”
Bernard wondered where exactly this ‘bomb’ had gone.
(To be continued)
TL’s Corner:
Passing the hot potato to other nobles is the best way.