Chapter 140

Preparation (1)

Beep. Beep.

A click echoes in the dark.

It was only after a few more small, annoying noises rang out that one side of the wall was brightly lit and the beam projector revealed itself.

“Oh sorry. It’s been a long time since I’ve used it, so I don’t listen well.”

The muttering was a middle-aged man with a thick body wearing glasses and constantly muttering something with his mouth.

Contrary to the first impression, the shirt and slacks are quite neat, but the feeling of standing hunched over somewhere cannot be erased.

I put one hand in my pocket and press the remote control in my hand, but no one pointed it out here.

I’m just looking at the eyes of one person with my head down with my pods on.

As she lifted her head, her eyes shone coldly through her light brown hair.

Was it an illusion that the thick smell of blood wafted from the tip of his nose for an instant?

Irina Pesfield answered quietly.

“No... don’t mind it. Continue.”

“yes. To continue the explanation in that sense... First of all, there are three candidates who are presumed to have killed the expedition team.”

While saying that, the man casually flipped through several slides that floated on the wall.

Appearing at the auction house, they were wearing masks, and as a result, the members of the exploration team who directly met them were wiped out, making it difficult to dig up the proper identities.

At least, it would not have been possible to investigate through the intelligence organization without the contact that Brook sent right before the chase.

He said while showing the three pictures that appeared on the screen in turn.

“First of all, the first candidate is Aladale Bomber, a genius wizard who has recently been attracting attention in the Gravein Mage Tower. After ending his long apprentice life, he has recently started appearing in public, and he is a perfect candidate for the traces of powerful manipulation-type magic that have remained in the field.”

Dark brown skin and cool smile. When a young man with an impressively tall face flirts with his two fingers, the demonic beasts rushing towards him are indiscriminately cut off.

The remaining members of the exploration team, including Irina, watched the video carefully.

When he felt that enough time had passed, the man turned the slide.

“The second is Shah Marah, a wanted criminal in the first degree who is said to have recently escaped from an out-of-district prison camp. As a very powerful psychic, using his telekinesis, it is also possible to explain the traces of the brutal battle left on the scene. Personally, I think this is the most likely, but...”

The man muttered insipidly and played the same video, and a man with a shaggy beard bursting or burning the heads of people around him without even touching them. started playing.

No one frowned or averted their eyes, even though a naked video of a person dying was being played.

The members of the expedition here are not only unfamiliar with the Balkan lifestyle, but they are talented people who share every moment in a harsh environment in their own way.

A person so stupid as to be agitated by this level of brutality and bloodshed cannot work in the Exploration Team.

The problem is that the enemy of the exploration team is so strong that even such talented people will disappear in vain.

When the team’s reaction was unsatisfactory, the man cleared his throat and turned the slide toward the last candidate.

“Now, the last thing I want to show you is...”

A thin young man with black hair. It doesn’t have a striking appearance or characteristic, but the sharp expression is impressive enough to be seen through the screen.

Unlike the previous two, it was noteworthy that the photo was not looking at the camera from the front.

Everyone was at a loss for words at the photo of the camera approaching from behind, as if they were aware of it, and turned their heads slightly to look at the camera.

Between the blurred gazes beyond the hem of the jet-black coat, not pupils, but blue eyes were flowing.

“sorry. First of all, Candidate Lee is a freelancer who does not have an official identity, and he is very good at avoiding being photographed himself. I also had a hard time finding this material.”

Thinking so, the man continued talking slowly in order not to offend her.

“Uh... I think I mentioned it earlier, but personally, I think the second most wanted criminal, Shah Marah, is more likely.”

“Why?”

“The traces left at the site are an infallible manipulation series, but skilled telekinetic powers can follow those traces similarly. In addition, Sha Marah belonged to the ‘Nine Counts’, known as a vicious criminal organization, so there is a good chance that he was targeting the people leaving the auction house.”

The man said that and kept his mouth shut, but the members of the expedition quickly exchanged glances.

In order to avenge the dead members and recover some of the stolen artifacts, he requested an investigation, but the man did not know that the expedition team was looking for a talisman of medicine.

It was possible to ask for good information, but it was difficult to expect a proper judgment from him.

“....great job. You can stop now.”

Irina understood this right away, gave the man an appropriate reward, and sent him back.

The man left immediately after confirming that the promised amount had been deposited into his account.

He was well aware of the fact that Irina was telling him to go away immediately.

As soon as the door to the meeting room opened and closed and the man’s presence faded, Irina spoke.

“I need to investigate a wizard named Ban. We need someone much more professional than that goofball.”

The members turned their gazes with bewildered expressions at the name that popped out as if it had been decided from the beginning.

“Isn’t it a bit early to move yet...”

“Shouldn’t we have a little more discussion?”

“Can you tell me what the captain thinks the basis is?”

“You don’t have to think hard. If you think about the time you were conducting the exploration of the ruins, it would be simple, right?”

Looking around at the silent members, Irina smiled coldly.

“Of these three people, who is the person you hate the most?”

“.........”

“This bloody smell was only done in the way I didn’t want it to come to me the most.”

Should I say that it was the dogma of the leader who lost his reason in anger?

Or should I say it was an intuition he had accumulated while leading the exploration team for a long time.

Either way, the members couldn’t even think of going against Irina’s words.

As a result, I didn’t even notice that it was the judgment closest to the correct answer.

“Check Ban’s movement, the magic and weapons he uses, his fighting style, his residential environment, and his clients. Get everything figured out and get to work. Please contact our supporters.”

Irina muttered quietly as she stood up from her seat.

“If we deviate from the original plan any further, this side will rather bleed.”

At the point of failing to obtain the talisman of medicine, the idea was already wrong.

The death of Brooke, a talented member there. At the same time, even the damage to the artifact that was put up to obtain the amulet.

I had to finish the work before the purpose and means were reversed any more.

Hadn’t the sacrifices necessary for that been paid in the meantime?

Just do what you always do.

Irina’s eyes shone coldly as she looked at the members who started to move according to her words.