Chapter 179 – Secret Social Hall (1)
The sky was gradually brightening in the early morning.
Verden stood in front of a full-length mirror, gazing at his own reflection.
Mage's Regret. And the Robe of the Wanderer.
The blend of gray and green gave off a cold impression while carrying a certain weight, as if one were looking at metal.
'Not bad.'
Verden moved his body lightly.
Not only in appearance, but the fit was quite good. It was incomparable to wearing equipment made from Mahbat's Leather.
Before long, fully equipped, Verden left Calia's residence.
Since they had already held a farewell gathering at Samwell's tavern yesterday, there was no need to say goodbye again. He wasn't fond of noisy scenes to begin with.
"You may pass."
Following the guard's guidance, Verden passed through the castle gate.
Once he had distanced himself from Rines to some degree, he soared into the sky. After confirming his direction, he ascended above the clouds and activated his mana circuits.
Verden streaked through the heavens.
Having rested enough, his condition was at its peak.
At full speed, Verden managed to arrive at Asern in less than half a day, before the city gates closed.
Verden strolled along the streets of Asern.
'...Feels a bit unfamiliar.'
Well, it had been about a month since he had left.
The subjugation of the black mage this time had been the longest commission Verden had ever undertaken. Of course, he had gained much in return as well.
With those thoughts, he stepped into Perne's tavern.
Judging by the emptiness, it seemed today was a rest day.
When Verden made his presence known, a sound came from the back, and the spirit Blue appeared first.
Blue flickered faintly.
The light carried a mix of fear, but also, strangely, a sense of joy.
'...What is this?'
Fear was understandable, but joy?
Though he had revived the spirit that had once tried to kill him, for safety and Perne's protection, he had restricted some of its actions with a Coercion magic circle.
So why would it show such positive emotions?
'Is it because it's made of my mana?'
After all, Blue's body was composed of Verden's pure magic power.
Perhaps that influence ran deep, though he couldn't be certain.
Before long, a woman with light violet hair emerged.
Perne, her eyes widened, and she let out a deep sigh.
"Haa, so you are safe after all."
"It has been a while."
"...And as always, you remain unfazed."
Verden sat down.
Across the bar, Perne and Blue faced him.
A cup filled with drink floated gently and landed in front of Verden.
Serving through a spirit—surely this tavern was unique in that regard.
After moistening his throat, Verden asked,
"Where is Geltone?"
"That adventurer left Asern. Because of the undead crisis in the kingdom's south, the Adventurer's Guild issued a request for aid."
Especially since Geltone was part of a Mithril-ranked party.
There was no reason not to employ such valuable strength. Postponing theoretical lectures was inevitable. Not that he knew whether Geltone had been ready anyway.
"What's the current situation in the south?"
"They did scatter the undead army by defeating groups numbering in the hundreds. But because of that, the undead dispersed in all directions, which has become troublesome. Still, it's only that the subjugations have become more tedious, not that casualties will spike, since their numbers have lessened."
Perne then handed him a document.
"And this is an exploration report sent by the relic expedition. It's organized by date, so it should be easy to read."
"Much obliged."
Verden skimmed through the report.
Currently, the relic expedition Seekers were in the Arregon Mountains. Thanks to traces left behind by the missing expedition, they had already finished searching the Teinche Hills early, and their pace in the mountains had been swift.
'The terrain of the Arregon Mountains is said to be unsuitable for building ruins....'
Whether the Demon King's Tomb would truly depend on geography was questionable.
Still, the opinions of specialists held more weight than his own.
Thus, the Seekers were preparing to pass through the mountains and enter their final search site, one of the two great prohibitions of the kingdom, the Eastern Marshlands.
Time had been greatly shortened.
If all went well, they might find the Demon King's Tomb sooner than expected. Verden found the report's contents satisfactory.
"In addition, the pursuit of Oesu is progressing steadily. At this pace, you should obtain the information you want within two months at the latest."
"That is good to hear."
All the news was favorable.
"Well, I've told you everything, so... may I ask something in return?"
"Go ahead."
Perne leaned forward.
"What exactly happened in the southern kingdom?"
***
Verden briefly explained what had occurred with Glory of the Dead.
Hearing of the undead army being unleashed, and the black magi who had ravaged the diocese, Perne's face slowly lost all expression.
"That black mage faction... was that strong?"
Perne felt a chill run down her neck.
She had thought it grave since they were deeply tied to the Third Prince, but to that extent? Their power far eclipsed the Union.
'And he actually subjugated such foes.'
She had known Verden was strong.
But to possess strength that even worked against magi—it made her realize anew that the mage before her was an extraordinary existence.
Perne's lips trembled.
"Um... but won't Glory of the Dead come seeking revenge?"
"They won't. It seems Glory of the Dead already accomplished some purpose within the kingdom. They will not set foot here again. At least, not for a while."
What that purpose had been still nagged at him.
But since he couldn't uncover it now, pondering further was a waste of time.
"That's a relief then..."
Only after hearing his firm reply did Perne relax. Then, to shake off the tension, she changed the subject.
"Ah, come to think of it, the armor you're wearing under your robe, Sir Asher, I haven't seen it before. Did you purchase it new? Or───"
"It was payment. Not from Calia personally, but directly from her family."
Compensation bestowed from a marquisate.
It could never be a light matter.
Thinking about it, it wasn't surprising.
Not only had he saved Calia's life, but the subjugation of Glory of the Dead had been entirely thanks to Verden.
But his words weren't finished yet.
"And, I received a commission from the marquis himself."
"...What?"
Perne's eyes widened in shock.
The Marquis Esperanza himself, issuing a commission? One could swear it was no trivial matter.
"W–what kind of commission is it...?!"
Perne was Verden's informant.
Moreover, under Calia's protection, betrayal was out of the question, as much as with Verden himself. That must have been why the marquis had said confidential information would be passed on through Perne.
In other words, Perne was qualified to hear the contents of the commission.
However, Verden had no need to explain what it was.
"I haven't heard the details myself. But soon enough, the specifics will be delivered to you, and then you'll know."
Verden rose from his seat.
"I'll be going now."
He had work to do.
He needed to consider what enchantments to register onto Mage's Regret. As he left the tavern, Perne blinked, watching his back.
Then, clap, she lightly tapped her own cheek.
"Right, it's not like this is the first time. No need to panic. Isn't that so, Blue?"
Blue shimmered faintly.
Perne had already grown accustomed to her life now.
She was no longer the person she used to be. Even if one day her tavern were to blow away in its entirety, she believed she could face it calmly.
Whatever the commission, it didn't matter.
She would simply do her job as an informant. Perne resolved inwardly.
And a few days later.
"An infiltration of the old royal castle...?"
The commission letter sent by the marquis went far beyond her expectations.
***
"No, Sir Asher. Is this for real? If you're caught, you'll become the target of the King of Estiria and the First Prince. No matter how powerful the House of Esperanza is, they can't openly oppose the royal family!"
"Then I simply won't get caught."
Verden pointed to the commission letter sent by the marquis—or rather, the Old Royal Castle Infiltration Plan.
It contained all manner of classified information.
The complete blueprint of the old royal castle.
The types of magic circles within, the number and placement of troops as well.
Truly, intelligence befitting the kingdom's foremost marquisate.
Where had they even gathered such information... surely it must have been prepared over a long period.
"And even the infiltration method was detailed."
Verden's finger pressed against one document.
Seeing it, Perne narrowed her eyes.
"You mean the 'secret social hall' hosted by the First Prince."
The infiltration method devised by the marquis was not simply scaling the walls.
It was to use the secret social hall the First Prince clandestinely hosted.
Its purpose was to rally the forces that had been scattered by the undead crisis.
Naturally, its participants were his supporters—crime syndicate leaders, including Vintert of Roafra.
And among them was a collaborator of the Marquis Esperanza.
Through that collaborator, they would enter the social hall, then infiltrate the old royal castle—passing beyond its thick walls and protective barrier.
Perne pressed her hand to her forehead.
"The information the marquis sent is incredible. If the First Prince learned of it, he'd lose his mind. And to think that 'this person' was working with the marquis...."
The collaborator was deeply tied to the underworld.
In fact, Perne knew him personally, and Verden had also met him before. Thanks to dealings with him, Verden had once gained a tremendous profit.
Perne nodded.
"Yes. There's no doubt this plan isn't baseless. By using the mask called the Face of Deception that the marquis sent, and with the collaborator's help, the infiltration itself won't be a problem. As for the castle's security... with Sir Asher, it's well within possibility."
But.
"The participants aren't pampered nobles, they're criminals hardened by countless battles. And we don't know what the King of Estiria and the First Prince are trading, either. There are too many unpredictable variables... have you ever done an infiltration like this before?"
Not exactly the same situation, but.
He had experienced something similar.
When he entered the treasure vault and power source of the magic tower.
And when he disguised himself as Dr. Gluttony.
Verden answered,
"A little."
"...At least not none at all, that's a relief. Ahem, in any case, not a single mistake can occur. Since it's already known that you're connected to the House of Esperanza, if your face is exposed, the consequences will reach not only me but the entire marquisate. So, if an unavoidable situation arises───"
Her slender finger drew across her neck.
"You know, right, that if there are no witnesses, whatever you do is assassination and infiltration?"
"If I'm discovered by the First Prince?"
"Just kill him. A civil war may break out, but in fact, that would make us safer."
Perne spoke firmly.
Of course, she didn't truly mean for him to kill, but it was a desperate warning to never get caught.
"I'll keep it in mind."
"I trust you. Then, let's each make our preparations."
There wasn't much time left.
Before meeting the collaborator, Verden needed to memorize the castle blueprints and troop placements, and consider how to dismantle the magic circles.
'Well, a day should be enough.'
Memorization was one of Verden's fortes, and even at a glance, he could already see how to neutralize the circles. There was no way time would be lacking.
And then.
"Huu, to think he'd even commission me."
Perne too had her own task.
To cooperate with the marquisate's agents.
To track and monitor the movements of those attending the secret social hall.
The goal was to gather information on the criminal syndicates hidden across the Estiria Kingdom. In other words, the marquis aimed to kill two birds with one stone through the social hall.
'So that's why he didn't give the intel directly to Sir Asher, but sent it through me.'
Sweat beaded in Perne's palms.
The numbers were vast, the scope wide, and the danger high, making it an extremely difficult job. It would require numerous exceptional informants and equipment, costing an astronomical amount of money.
In terms of scale alone, it was easily among the top few information pursuits she had ever undertaken.
The upfront funds the marquis sent through the commission were 1.7 billion Elks.
Within that budget, Perne would have to fully mobilize her intelligence network.
'That's what it means to be an informant.'
The die was already cast.
Perne quickly steeled herself.
"Blue, will you help me?"
Blue flashed.
A bright, affirmative glow.
And so, time passed quickly, until the day came to meet the collaborator.