Chapter 163

Chapter 163

After an early dinner.

As I tried to go out of the imperial palace, the guards stopped me.

"His Highness Fernandez has ordered you to wait in the private residence."

"What the heck?"

They seemed to be treating me well, but apparently, the intention was to confine me inside the private residence and make me play around there.

I obediently returned to my room for the time being.

Ashs life was all about making a scene, but there was no need to create chaos in this situation.

I have a quiet way out!

I pulled out a cloak that I had brought from Crossroad.

[Invisibility Cloak (SSR)]

When I put the cloak on my shoulders and looked in the mirror, it showed empty space. It was working properly.

I was worried that if I couldnt see myself, I might lose my balance, but fortunately, that didnt happen.

I could see my body translucently.

Good, then...

I closed the cloaks collar, and looked at the bright city lights through the private residence window.

Lets head out to town for a drink!

There were many reasons why I was brought to the capital, but one of them was to deal with matters that couldnt be handled outside the capital.

Ill meet the architect, make contact with the top, and...

The Mercenary Guild!

Time to draw a hero!

***

The stealth provided by the [Invisibility Cloak] was level 3.

So it would be detected by detection magic of level 3 or higher. And this place was the heart of the empire, the imperial palace.

Detection magic would certainly be in place at the entrance, so there was a chance of getting caught right away.

But I was lucky. My accommodation was not in the main palace but in a distant private residence.

Naturally, the level of surveillance was much lower.

Crouching next to the wall, I stared intently at the private residences main gate, guarded by the sentries.

Perhaps due to my increased Intelligence and Magic Power stats, I could vaguely sense the magic cast around me when I focused.

Theres surveillance magic, but its about level 1?

I didnt have to wait long before it was time for the guards to change shifts.

For a brief moment, as the door opened and the soldiers passed by, I slipped through quietly.

Easy, too easy!

After that, everything went smoothly. Ashs private residence was located on the outermost part of the imperial palace, and the security network to be breached was correspondingly thin.

It didnt take long for me to completely leave the imperial palace area and stand at the entrance to the city.

Making sure no one was watching, I removed the invisibility cloak and looked back at the imperial palace, whistling. Ill get some fresh air, Dad!

***

Walking the streets myself, the city seemed much larger than it had appeared from the sky.

The streets, thoroughly cleaned around the imperial palace, became dirtier as I headed south, but in return, they gained vibrancy.

Boisterous conversations echoed, and the smells of alcohol, fire, and bread wafted from mats and stalls scattered around.

I pulled my robes hood deep over my head and threaded my way through the bustling back alleys.

Having grown used to the quiet of Crossroad, the crowded place made my eyes spin.

I stopped in a quieter spot and took a deep breath, unfolding the map from my pocket.

Lets see, where to go...

Since the harbor was south of the imperial palace, commercial facilities and guilds were naturally situated to the south.

The aristocratic houses and the salons, high-end cafeterias catering to them, seemed to be to the north of the imperial palace.

I dont need to worry about the class distribution of this city.

Having confirmed my destination, I folded the map and put it away.

I had three places to visit in total.

The architect, needed for the Crossroad tourism city project; the top, necessary for taking over the magic stone distribution network; and the Mercenary Guild, just to check if I could draw a hero.

The architects office was the closest among the three. I hurried, hoping to arrive before it got too late.

***

The architects office.

"Coming in~!"

BANG!

I kicked the door open and entered, startling the architect, who had been intently examining blueprints.

I had personally requested these contracts, but the architects and merchants had refused me, risking their lives.

This meant that Big Hand was a more frightening threat than me.

Is it Fernandez? Or the Emperor?

The two who immediately came to mind. They are obviously above me.

But it seemed too... petty for them to have directly blocked me.

All for a small city in the margraves territory, just for small work, with just an architect, just a merchant.

Its hard to imagine that the regent or the emperor would block such a minor matter.

Either of them could mess with me far more efficiently.

So who on earth could it be...?

Lost in thought, I found myself standing in front of the mercenary guild. I swallowed dryly, looking up at the building.

Continental Mercenary Guild, New Terra Headquarters.

Please let me pull a cheat-level hero!

Of course, I knew it. There would be hardly any mercenaries here who were actually out in the field.

This was the capital of the empire. A city garrisoned by the royal standing army, and one of the safest places in the world.

It was far removed from strife and chaos. There was no way that mercenaries, the warhounds seeking battles, would be here.

This place merely acted as a headquarter overseeing various mercenary guilds scattered across the continent and dealing with administrative tasks.

It was unlikely to be a space for actually recruiting mercenaries. But still.

Ill at least be able to find out where the useful mercenaries are.

I came here to find out where the SSR-grade friends were roaming around the continent.

As long as I could find their location, I could figure out how to scout them.

And who knows? Perhaps a high-grade hero character is waiting for me inside? Theres always a possibility!

With that thought, I flung the doors of the mercenary guild wide open, without really expecting much.

But then.

Flash-!

...?

As soon as I opened the door, a dazzling golden light spilled out. What the heck?!

A woman was standing in front of the empty counter of the mercenary guild.

The gold-colored aura unique to SSR-grade characters was emanating from her.

She was a young woman with short, military blue hair, dressed in a plain black and white maids uniform. But what caught my eye the most was...

A coffin.

A massive black coffin that she carried on her back.

I was momentarily overwhelmed by this utterly unbalanced, absurd visual, and my mouth fell open slightly.

SSR-grade characters often have unique appearances, but a maid with a coffin? Id never seen this character in the game before.

Ah.

With her eyes, the same military blue as her hair, she glanced at me. It was a lifeless stare, like that of a dead fish.

She grabbed the hem of her skirt with a stiff, doll-like motion and bowed to me.

...You have arrived, Your Highness.

Huh?

The architect, and your contact with the top brass, I knew you would come here, so I was waiting for you.

Her toneless voice had an unmistakable sharpness to it.

My master wishes to see you. Please... follow me obediently.

I could instinctively sense that this womans master was the Big Hand who had manipulated the architects and top brass.

At the same time, I felt threatened.

A person who could manipulate the merchants in the capital, predict my movements, and even boldly summon a member of the royal family like me.

This was dangerous.

Whos your master to command me to come? How dare you be insolent to the royalty?

At my words, the woman tilted her head.

Wont you come?

And what if I say no?

Then I have no choice.

Click-

The woman laid her hand on the enormous coffin on her back.

There was a short handle on top of the coffin, and she effortlessly picked it up with one hand, as if it were a club.

Ill have to take you by force.