Chapter 115. Calia (3)
Restaurant Malena.
This was a place Calia often frequented, and on the days she made a reservation, she would rent out the entire building.
For there was always the possibility of poisoning or assassination, her knights would occupy the entire restaurant and check every single ingredient.
From the restaurant owner's point of view, it was an immensely troublesome matter, but the guest in question was the only daughter of a Marquisate. There was no way he could dare raise any complaint.
Moreover, since she paid far more than the original price, the owner had no choice but to greet Calia with a smile.
Calia and Verden sat facing each other at a table.
At her side stood Vespa, the commander of her knights. Even with another person watching, Verden showed no sign of discomfort.
"You seem accustomed to dining with nobles, most people tremble nervously."
"I was fortunate to have a few opportunities."
Calia showed a relaxed smile.
"A few, you say. You claim to be a commoner, but it doesn't seem entirely so. By the way, are there any foods you cannot eat?"
"None."
"That's good. Recently I had a course meal put together for myself, my knights tell me it's excellent, but I wanted to hear an outsider's impression. Would you oblige me?"
That much was no problem.
Verden too had a certain degree of knowledge when it came to food.
Calia gestured with her hand.
The knights themselves served the dishes.
As an appetizer came escargot, a snail dish.
Alongside were well-baked bread and a clear, consomme soup. After that, oven-roasted sea fish was brought out.
Next was a small appetizer to cleanse the palate, and then came the main courses.
Pork neck steak followed by a rare-cooked tenderloin steak, with fresh salad at the side.
Lastly, for dessert came a finest chocolate cake with coffee.
Verden and Calia.
Neither of them spoke a word during the meal. Though dining etiquette had become more relaxed these days, this was the traditional noble way of dining.
Verden did not bring up business hastily.
Since she had asked for his opinion on the food, that was what he focused on. If he could not meet even such a small request, there was no way he could hope to have a proper conversation with Calia.
Only when they reached dessert did the conversation resume.
"Well, how is it? Judging by your expression, it doesn't seem bad."
"It was excellent, overall harmonious, especially the snails went down without any sense of aversion. However, personally I found two points lacking."
The first was the fish dish.
It was moderately oily and quite tasty, but within the context of the entire course, it lacked in texture. He thought a fried fish would have been better than an oven roast.
Calia nodded in agreement.
"I see, now that you say it, frying would have been better. And what's the other?"
"This is not so much a complaint as a question. Why did you include both pork and beef in the meat courses?"
Having two types of main meat dishes was excessive.
At this natural question, Calia crossed her arms and replied.
"Because that's my preference."
Then there was nothing to say.
Preferences were to be respected. After all, this was a course Calia had designed for herself, it was not for others to nitpick.
Calia let out a small laugh.
"I only asked half in jest, but you took it seriously. And judging by your dining etiquette, you surpass most noble offspring by far, yet you say you are a commoner, what an interesting man. The more I converse with you, the deeper my curiosity grows. So let's move on to the main point."
Calia's eyes turned toward Verden.
"Asher, why did you approach me?"
***
Calia and the knights' gazes fixed on Verden.
In that silence, Verden drew out the documents Perne had given him. The commander first checked that there was nothing wrong with the paper itself, then handed it to Calia.
"What is this?"
"Information on the illegal sources of funds held by Count Plishr."
"...!"
Calia's eyes widened.
She immediately flipped through the documents, confirming with her own eyes.
Count Plishr's villa, narcotics, smuggled goods, not only illegal slaves but even connections to the Union and the Third Prince, all were described in detail and in logical structure.
'Where in the world did he get this?'
None of it could be brushed aside lightly, it was all dangerous information.
If true, even knowing it would be enough to endanger one's life.
But for Calia, this was an unprecedented opportunity.
If she used this well, she could achieve an accomplishment unmatched in her lifetime. Stirring a hornet's nest full of venom would bring great upheaval, but if left alone, the hive would only become a greater threat later.
Above all, the family motto of the Esperanza Marquisate was the Just Path.
Even if this brought great turmoil to the Kingdom, especially since her father loathed the slave trade, he would not reproach her but rather surely support her. The same would likely apply to her siblings as well.
'But still.'
Calia tossed the documents onto the table.
"How am I to believe this?"
The compilation of information was highly convincing.
Yet the possibility of forgery could not be dismissed. This was not just Calia's caution—such a grave matter could bring political disaster upon the Marquisate if not absolutely certain.
"I know the identity of one of the clients who frequents the villa."
"Client? And who is that?"
"I will tell you if you agree to my terms."
Srrng!
The moment he finished speaking, Commander Vespa drew his sword. The silver blade aimed at Verden's throat.
"A mere Mage dares speak of a deal with Lady Calia? How dare you mock the Esperanza Marquisate?"
A fierce aura poured from him.
Say it at once or be cut down.
That unspoken threat pressed down upon Verden, but he did not flinch in the slightest. Even with a blade before his neck, he calmly gazed at Calia, waiting for her reply.
Calia soon shook with laughter.
"Truly bold, this is a first for me, quite refreshing. You are of an entirely different breed than the noble brats raised in cradles or the mercenaries who care only for coin."
As Calia leaned back in her chair, Commander Vespa withdrew his sword.
"Fine, I'll hear you out. But if you demand something outrageous, I cannot say what Commander Vespa might do, so choose your words wisely."
What he intended to bargain was already decided.
After a brief pause, Verden explained that he was in conflict with the Union, giving only a concise outline. He left out any mention of the black mages.
For he had not a single solid piece of evidence. To attempt to convince her rashly would surely backfire.
Calia nodded.
"So, with this information you want me to oppose the Union and the nobles who back them. Meanwhile your informant will build up a force to stand against them... And what I gain is immense merit as a member of the Esperanza Marquisate. Not a bad bargain for me."
But.
"There is a condition missing. If that so-called client does not yield definite information, then this all amounts to nothing."
Calia knew well the darkness within the Kingdom, as well as the shady dealings behind the Union.
But of course, eradicating all of it was an extraordinarily difficult task, short of tearing the nation up by its roots.
Simply harboring suspicion and trying to dig into the affairs of other nobles or the royal family could mean not only her ruin, but in the worst case, the utter downfall of the entire Esperanza Marquisate.
To punish criminals in the upper echelons required solid information. And to gather that information, a clear justification was needed.
And another justification is needed, to justify that justification.
A cycle of contradictory reality.
That is the struggle of nobles, and in truth, a political war.
Calia pondered for a moment, then spoke again.
"Then let us do this. Recently someone has come under my service, together with him, bring that client to me alive. Hm, if I had to put it, you could consider it a commission."
If she moved her knights carelessly, it would attract public attention.
That was why she passed the role along in the form of a commission. It was similar to the commissions Verden had taken in the Principality of Gray.
"If you complete the commission successfully, I will see that you are properly compensated. And if the client provides information convincing enough for anyone to accept, I will be your ally as much as you need. This I promise in my own name."
A noble had pledged her name.
That meaning was by no means small.
"Of course, the commission must be carried out in absolute secrecy. Should anything unfortunate happen along the way, I will abandon you without hesitation. Even so, do you accept?"
Naturally.
"I accept."
"Good. So, who is this client?"
Verden spoke.
"They call him the Black Wolf Toreld."
***
Ched, the black mage who had handled mana stone supply in Mildruen.
He had gone missing along with two other black mages. They tried to find traces, but aside from testimony that he had left Mildruen, they gained nothing.
Well, mana stones could be obtained elsewhere.
It would naturally take some time, but it was only a minor irritation.
The reason the old man, with liver spots across his face, was enraged lay elsewhere.
"Where, did you say, is the 'betrayer' who stole the Orb of Command?"
"F, forgive me, Master, by the time we traced his movements, someone from the underworld saw the wanted posters and..."
In that instant, the old master's magic flared.
Something invisible bound the black mage.
"To find that thief, I had the Third Prince declare a flight ban across the entire Kingdom, and even provided coin and manpower from the Union. And yet, it was snatched away by an outsider? Are you telling me in roundabout words that you wish to die, now?"
"Ghhhk... Aaaaaghhh...!"
Crunch, crack, crack.
As the old master clenched his hand, the black mage's body began to twist. Arms and legs slowly bent in the wrong direction, the sound of torn ligaments and muscle snapping could be heard.
Only after folding an elbow the wrong way while he was still alive did the old master release the spell.
The black mage collapsed to the floor with a thud, then immediately pressed his head to the ground.
It was a plea for forgiveness. Blood dripped, but no one paid it any mind.
"I ask again. Who has taken in the betrayer?"
"T, Toreld, one of Count Plishr's clients, he sent a letter to the Count saying he wished to trade, since he was sheltering the wanted mage."
"The Orb of Command?"
The black mage desperately denied.
"Which means the betrayer has likely hidden the Orb somewhere."
The old master stroked his long dangling beard.
"I shall speak with the Count myself, you, negotiate with him directly. And from the betrayer, you will obtain the whereabouts of the Orb of Command, without fail."
His pale eyes gleamed with coldness.
"If you fail, I will crush your flesh over the span of thirty days, starting from your fingertips, slowly. Do you understand?"
"...I shall remember, Master."
The black mage bowed deeply and vanished into the darkness.
The old master massaged his temple, calming his throbbing veins. Beside him, a beautiful woman lounging on a sofa swung her legs, smirking.
"Why so furious? If you just wait, things will work themselves out."
"Silence. Had you not been careless enough to let the Orb be stolen..."
"How could I have known a betrayer would emerge? I even engraved a curse magic circle upon the Orb, fearing it might be lost, yet he still fled with it. How on earth did he do it? My curse should have sealed his black magic and slowly rotted his body away. Did he perhaps have some rare magical item hidden? It didn't seem like he was hiding his true ability."
The woman rose leisurely to her feet.
"Hey, why not just safely make another one? With the Union and the nobles, we could squeeze out money or whatever, and create one more Orb, couldn't we?"
"You know that the ritual is already being conducted with the current Orb. To complete a new one now and attune the magic to it would take far too long."
The old master let out a breath.
"Besides, all of this is for our bargain with the Third Prince. Do you think he would permit something that diminishes his own power? If we misstep, two years spent in this Kingdom could end with nothing to show for it. That must never be allowed."
"What, are you tiptoeing around him? That pathetic Third Prince?"
"Quiet. And I have another party tracing the betrayer's path, we will soon find him."
At his words, the woman widened her eyes.
"Another? Ah, no wonder that ugly Kunel isn't at your side. You sent him after the betrayer?"
"He already failed at such a simple task. Isn't it natural not to trust him? And the betrayer must have hidden the Orb somewhere. Even if he neutralized your curse, the deathly aura of the Orb is not something a mere black mage can endure."
The old master's eyes gleamed.
"So when the Orb's location is uncovered, you will personally reclaim it."
The woman tilted her head crookedly.
"Me? Hm... Can't I just tell Kunel to fetch it while he's at it?"
"Being prepared in advance lessens worry. And you know full well we were obstructed once in Mildruen, don't you? It's clear it wasn't leaked by the betrayer..."
The woman snorted.
"What. Are you about to say, that there may be others pursuing us? You're overthinking it. It was coincidence, nothing more, stop worrying. If such people existed, they'd have struck somewhere far more critical than Mildruen, wouldn't they? Don't you think?"
"Coincidence, is inevitability in disguise. On that note, I will give you one piece of advice."
The old master's black eyes turned upon the woman.
"Live so carelessly, and you'll die with no one the wiser, Viola. That is the world."
The woman, Viola, twisted her lips in disdain.
"You're only three years older than me, what are you talking about? Fine, cut the unlucky talk, when the Orb's location is found, contact me. As you say, I'll go find it myself."
Viola stepped down from the sofa and disappeared into the darkness.
The old master gazed at the spot where she had vanished, then closed his eyes, quietly blending into the shadows.