Book 8: Chapter 178: Steady Advance ~ 31

Book 8: Chapter 178: Steady Advance ~ 31

Granfeld moved away from the people who had contacted him at a great speed, and then he dashed into an alleyway. The gap is barely wide enough for a single person to pass through, and he is running at a fairly high speed.

The most important thing to do was to report back. He carefully scanned the area, ducking between buildings to see if there was any sign of surveillance around the inn since his arrival in Ares.

What a total and utter blunder.

So far, he had not received any good information about people who had cleared the Labyrinth of No Return. He had not even received any information on the fortress because of its distance from Fort Dalewood, which was built by the 13 city-states that jointly paid for the fortress at the entrance to Dalewood Gorge, where the Labyrinth of No Return is located. This may have created impatience within Granfelt.

He did not expect to be caught in the rear, even in the middle of town.

Fortunately, the other party did not seem to be able to keep up with his physical abilities, but there was no telling where the watchful eyes would be.

However, Granfelt himself is not good at stealth. He doesn't sense any suspicious signs in the vicinity. The only thing that would make it better would be if he was not good at it and sneaking around strangely. He quickly blends in with the crowd and casually returns to the inn.

The innkeeper does not inquire. Granfelt managed to suppress his impatience and returned to the room he had been assigned. He knocked, knocked again, and opened the door.

There was a slender man. He is completely covered by a cloak, even though he is inside the room.

I'm sorry, they were suspicious of me.

Granfelt's first words were an apology, not hiding his blunder. The slender man stands up quickly and carelessly. Granfelt prepared to be reprimanded, stiffens, but gives priority to his report.

I don't know if they were guards, academy patrolmen, adventurers, or what, but......

So you're saying they tracked you

A slender man reaching for Granfelt's back quickly uttered a curse.

...... Ah!

With a "pop" sound, the charm stuck to Grunfeld's back burned in an instant. The charm was used by Count Kraut, who had died in the turmoil with Satoru, as a marker of consciousness for art such as Distant View, and was carried by a spectator to watch over Satoru.

That is, the evidence that the body of consciousness was tracking Granfelt's trail. To perceive the body of consciousness in the art of surveillance, one must have a flair for spiritual sorcery, and Granfelt had no background in the spiritual arts. So it is not surprising that Granfelt did not notice the tracking, but it was a huge blunder that he did not notice that the charm was attached to him in the first place.

I-I am so sorry!

Putting his sword aside, Granfelt prostrated.

It was not an apology that would be forgiven, but it was all he could do. No matter how much of a contract he had made, if he displeased this man, he would be left with nothing but death. And that would be a betrayal of his hometown's expectations as well.Fịndd new updates at novelhall.com

Fortunately, Grunfeld's main man wore a cloak even in the inn, so there was little concern that his identity would be revealed, but a blunder is a blunder and at an irreparable level.

However, the man did not give a second thought to Granfelt, who fell flat on his face but forgave him with a calm smile.

It's okay, it was time for Ares to move on.

Granfelt was more awed than necessary, but the man gave a small smile and put his hand on his chin. He pondered who had affixed this Granfelt's charm. The simple answer is that they were thought to be agents of another country, and either patrolling the Academy of the Wise or the Ares Guard had spotted him the former is the most likely, considering the existence of the charm.

However, even if such a group were to raid this inn, to be honest, they would be no match for the man. Or, by having them step in, a new breakthrough may open up.

But, well, it will be troublesome. To be honest, I don't want any trouble.

I guess I shouldn't do it after all. I was thinking of at least threatening to send them a letter and telling them to stay out of it.

That's about right. ...... No.

Sheryl shook her head from side to side in agreement. She pulled her chin back and thought for a moment. Derek says that Sheryl is most picturesque when she has this expression on her face. Sheryl, who had been pondering with a picturesque expression, looked up as if an idea had just occurred to her.

Just the swordsman one, you remember his look, don't you? I'll ask a painter I know to draw a portrait of him.

Both Sheryl and Derek used to be members of the patrol at the Academy of the Wise. Although the Academy of the Wise's patrol is originally in charge of the security of the academy, its work is very diverse because the Academy of the Wise is both an investigative and intelligence-gathering institution.

They also help maintain the security of the town and control criminals. Among them, she has a connection with a physiognomist. She had Satoru's portrait drawn so that she could pass it on to Baron Dantes.

Two cards. I'll put my hand on the patrol, Derek put your hand on the adventurers. There is no need to be direct(?), just tell them he's an agent. Tell the adventurers that you will offer them a reward for their information.

The adventurers in Ares are doing their part to maintain security, and those who are in good standing are doing so voluntarily. Some even make a living as bounty hunters. Derek nodded broadly.

I see...bounties are paid when necessary, isn't that right?

Sheryl nodded. If it is revealed that he is an agent of another country, the movement of this swordsman will be hindered. If it is possible to restrain the opponent's movement without having to take direct action, it is better to do so.

They don't know if he's actually an agent or not, and it doesn't matter. There is no doubt that he is a suspicious person in some way since he immediately ran away without making any excuses when Derek called out to him.

If my guess is correct, they will eventually get in touch with me in some way.

Derek agrees with that opinion. Whatever this swordsman is, it is clear that he is probing Satoru. Sheryl is the closest person to Satoru in this town at the moment.

A bad threat could lead them to identify us. Making threats is a medium strategy on top of a poor one.

At this point, only the upper echelons of the Senate and the Academy of the Wise should have been informed of Satoru's case. The same goes for the information that Satoru and Sheryl are connected.

If this information has not yet been leaked to the other party, Sheryl's poor attempts to contact the other party could lead to a snake being poked out from under the bushes. It may be possible to control the opponent's movement, but it is also highly dangerous.

By the way, what's the plan?

We go out from this side. If Derek says this swordsman is as good as Zelphys of the Holy Sword Clan, then we are no match for him. But that doesn't mean we can ask for Satoru-sama's help at this level.

Derek nodded. That would certainly be a bad idea.

I see. I'd like to ask you about a better plan.

Sheryl smiled wickedly at Derek's question.

I haven't come up with anything.

How honest.

Derek laughed as well.

At any rate, there is no doubt that the man in the cloak is a high-ranking practitioner who can perceive and destroy consciousness. The other side must have sensed that Sheryl and Derek were suspicious of them, so they could use this as a warning. They decided not to make any unreasonable contact with them or to monitor them since there was a high possibility that Sheryl would pull a snake out of the bushes. [TLN: /Snake out of the bushes=to stir up trouble for oneself]

However, Sheryl had one catch. She didn't mention it to Derek, but the swordsman and the mystery man were in the same room where Satoru had been staying at Ares.