327 303. That's a lie.

"Arc Paradise... it's amazing."

Having completed his interview with Professor Eekoi, Joey went back to Vinz's newspaper headquarters and caught an article about Arc Paradise in the past.

For humans, it's a long life anyway, and there are hundreds of articles by the elf, Arc Paradise.

From there, Joey glanced at what seemed like a clue.

- The Second Firth Test, and the Castal Kingdom, hides something. She is sure of that.

Making the Second Firth test a cover story is taboo in the reporter's neighborhood.

Naturally, a positive article is a mountain. However, when it comes to negative articles, companies do not try to touch them at all as if they were a match.

No matter how one looks at it, it is unnatural.

I'm sure there's something behind it.

And everybody doesn't say it, but they want to know it.

That's why a stubborn newcomer like me has to take on the assault of death.

Joey's resolve was strong.

Such a sense of purpose drives her to turn the pages of the article.

Finally, he stayed at the company and spent the night researching Arc Paradise articles.

"... Baileys? I think I heard it somewhere."

At dawn, Joey finds a name in the article that bothers him.

Baileys, I feel like I've seen a name somewhere lately.

Ahh!

And I remembered immediately.

Just a few days ago, Baileys was the name of the proline dungeon breakers whose representatives appeared in the Vincent's new dungeon breaker section.

"If you think about it, this article..."

Articles in which a bounty hunter named Baileys, who had been commissioned by Baron Copdo to capture Arc Paradise, was arrested on suspicion of murdering the Baron.

As a result of the verdict, why does Baileys, who should have been dropped into slavery, lead the second-grade dungeon capture team instead of slaves? I can't help but wonder.

"... I see."

Joey, who pulled out the newspaper a few days ago, was convinced when he saw the team member.

Famous title contestants such as Cubelo and Champagny were named after themselves.

Yes, they are famous in many ways. He is an honorary title contender and a "servant".

"Baileys was bought for the Second Firth test."

It's connected.

The seemingly uninvolved people of Second Force Test and Arc Paradise were connected by Baileys.

That means Arc Paradise is much more likely to have information on the Second Firth test.

Arc Paradise knows what's happening in the King's Landing right now, and what's moving under the water.

"...... no"

Joey thought of going to see him right away, but his cold head stopped him all night.

If the Second Firth Test is really covering something up, the Castal Kingdom is probably a guru too.

If so, the Castal Kingdom knows that Ark Paradise has information.

I can see that I don't imitate such a fool as to make it easy for such an important person to see someone.

We must formulate a plan of action.

When Joey returned to his desk, he continued to gather intel on Arc Paradise.

--Are you sure you don't have a printer?

“Yes, Arc Paradise itself claimed to have been stolen.”

“I'm sorry, it's a dead end for us.”

"Even so, it's something I didn't actually possess."

"Can't you... visit me?"

"I'm sorry, that's what you're telling me."

I see.

A few days later, Joey was visiting the prison where Arc Paradise was housed.

We'll have some conversations with the guards there.

Joey's preliminary investigation revealed that Arc Paradise was stealing the printer and that Second Firth Test wanted to buy the printer.

Based on this information, I thought it would be best to falsely request a visit from the "employee of the printing company who owns the printer". In addition to being unnatural, I am in a position to talk about visiting people whether they have a printer or not.

But the guards refuse. The guards were told by their bosses not to let anyone see them.

Even as Joey, it is naturally woven.

"... even if it's me, I'm here at the top." I can't pull back. "

But that's it.

“How about this?”

A bribe.

The guard stiffens in front of the five coins offered by Joey.

He needed the money that was stuck in his family.

Yes, Joey came here to shoot down the guard's day in order to get through this bribery operation.

Although she is a newcomer, she is a reporter for the Vins newspaper. If this kind of preliminary investigation was done, it could be referred to as an interview.

"It's not bad for each other, is it?"

…………

And the bribes were exquisite.

Makes people realize that it is a mutually beneficial transaction after saying that they are only following their superiors' orders faithfully.

"Naturally, I won't say anything about the visit. You can get money as a loyal guard who follows your instructions. I can give you our money and fulfill the instructions above. It won't hurt each other at all.”

"... five minutes. More than that."

"Thank you."

The guards lost their temptation and unlocked the door to the dungeon.

It's the deepest.

Okay, okay, okay.

Joey descends the stairs and follows the dimly lit aisle. Then, as I passed some of the cells, I heard a moody snort coming from the back.

Probably Arc Paradise. Joey has an instinct.

- What can I do for you?

The prediction was true.

“Nice to meet you, Arc Paradise. This is Joey, the reporter."

Face to face.

A beautiful elf man stared at Joey. That's all it takes to make Joey's knees tremble.

"It's a pity. I wish you were a little taller. It's a pity."

Ark turns her back as if to say, "I lost interest."

"I'll ask straightforwardly." What's happening in the capital now? "

I don't know.

Shit. Joey realizes his mistake.

I was in a hurry because I was in a hurry to get five minutes.

Ark doesn't necessarily speak frankly.

"No, you know that." What's moving beneath the surface of the water without the public's knowledge? Tell me, I must inform the people of it. "

"Let me know, what are you going to do?"

“War? Disaster? Famine? Knowing what will happen may help you plan something and save your life.”

Even if informing them would increase the damage?

“I don't know. But I think we have a right to know. I'm not the only one living in this country--"

"No, no, no."

Joey tried to get Ark's interest somehow, but Ark stopped him on the way.

Then, I continued with my words with a look that I couldn't bear.

"My nose is going to bend. I can say that a lot."

"What are you doing?"

"What? You didn't notice? Sounds good, if you can spend time in the weather without thinking about it like that. It must be a very happy life."

"...... If you don't want to stir me up, just do it." But please tell me what you've heard from the Second Firth Test and what you're hiding. "

"Second Firth Test"

As soon as the name came out, Ark changed the color of his eyes and looked back excitedly.

Depressed by that force, Joey unexpectedly takes a step back, even though it's over his jail cell.

"Yes, that's right. If you want to distract me, you have to say the name."

"After all, the Second Firth Test is hiding something?"

"I don't know, but if it were, I'd hide it too." I owe him a debt of gratitude. "

"Hmm...?"

Joey wonders what it's like to be captured and jailed by a Second Firth test.

"Watashi has been forgetting important things for a long time. Thanks to him, I was able to return to my beginnings. Thank you. If I can't cut it,

Beginner?

"That's right, I always thought I wanted to have it." But it was different. I just wanted to get it. "

……

"I am strongly attracted to things that I never get. But if you get it, you lose interest. Watashi likes to pursue things that are unlikely to be available."

That's why Joey thought, but he didn't say anything. Because if you put it in your mouth, the mouth of the ark is likely to be more tightly closed.

Leaving her alone, Ark grew more and more excited.

What did you start with?

Is that me?

"Yes, that's your first time." The right to know, for the people? It's just journalism? It's not... it's not, is it? "

"...... ah......"

With his sharp eyes peering into his eyes, Joey suddenly felt the horror of being grabbed by his heart.

It is being seen through. That's what I figured out.

"I would like to be evaluated by putting out scoops that are not handled by any company yet. I would like to make my bosses who are underestimating themselves say that there is. I want everyone to realize that this world is strange. You must be doing something sloppy to beat that man and that country to the death and make you feel like a revolutionary hero. I'm sure everyone will be in tune. He praises me for doing well. It acknowledges my achievements. So I have to make it clear. It is evil to hide something, and it is good to reveal it. You mustn't forgive me. You are enforcing justice. That's why you sometimes need rough treatments, so do you even justify bribes?”

"Oh, no! I don't do reporters with that kind of obscene idea!"

"Really? Well, maybe." But I can't say I don't have any of those thoughts at all. Isn't that right? "

"... no, no, no, no. I'm not."

Joey gets bribed by Ark and is a wolf. From the look of it, it was clear that it was not much of a picture planet.

"I think you should get your beginnings back."

"What are you trying to say?"

"A lot of your messy desires, and their roots, are aggregated into one." You know what? I'm telling you to sharpen it. "

…………

"You don't seem to know. I'll teach you."

Ark opens her mouth gracefully with a thin smile.

"--It's my desire for knowledge (...). Knowledge is what fills the depths of my heart." You do too, don't you? Your desire for knowledge has driven you mad and led you to a psychopath like me. ”

Joey thought he was right.

What does the Second Firth test hide? I want to know that, but I'm crossing a dangerous bridge like this.

All this is due to one's own lust for knowledge.

"It's like a wasp."

I can't deny Ark's words.

"... I'm certainly interested."

"Yes, I'm interested. Both I and you are interested in him." Do you know why? "

Because you're a mysterious person, right?

No.

“So, what do you say?”

Ark said, turning his smile into a smile.

"Because he's a psychopath, too."

The word that Ark uttered just before passes through my head.

And Joey understood.

The result of being attracted to each other by anomalies is that we are in this situation.

I am also undoubtedly a member of the Anomaly.

"Well, it's about time." Goodbye, Joey. Thank you for your time. ”

Ark turns her back to rigid Joey and says goodbye.

Meanwhile, Joey was quietly forced to make a decision.

If we leave here, our daily lives will return. It was still close enough to make it.

But if you step in... you'll admit that you're a psychopath.

Become a psychopath or not. Choose between two.

It was about five minutes after he came to prison, and Joey made up his mind.

"I really don't care about letting the people know. I can't help but want to know the secret he's hiding. Please, please, tell me.”

"If you say that much, I can't help it."

Ark looks back as he looks down.

"Two months from now, there will be a stampede. Now they are probably devising a countermeasure. If you consider the various influences, you should keep silent. If you want to take the back, you can find out who is involved in the Court Magic Division and the Knights."

"-Oh!?"

"Oh dear, you've heard it." Then I'll have you listen to one of my commands. "

"I-Is that an order...?"

"Yes, orders. You can do whatever you want to hear or not to hear."

Ark spoke ruthlessly to Joey, who was upset when he heard the stunned facts.

"Slap the Castle Royal covering up about Stampede. You can use the name of Watashi."

That's what Joey was trying to do in the first place.

Holding the facts to light and pursuing where the liability lies. Naturally as a reporter.

It was a convenient order for Joey, but... questions arose.

Just one last thing, okay?

Here you go.

“Why would you do that? Weren't you indebted to the Second Force test?"

Yes, if you write about stampede concealment, it will indirectly lead to accusations against the Second Firth Test.

If you're feeling grateful, you can hide it.

"You know that, too."

Me too?

"Yes, I'm interested in him, as are you."

Yeah.

"I... I want to see his reaction." When the nation to be defended got in the way, what would he do?... I couldn't help but want to know. "

…………

How about you?

Ark speaks with a trance face.

After a moment of silence, Joey quietly left the scene without responding.

Ark laughed and saw off her back like that.