[Side story] Both arm scales (3)
“Here is your pay. “I have enough change.”
“Oh my, thank you! You’re so big! Get well! “Be blessed~”
Commercial city Old Deck.
The scenery of this port city, spread out along the coastal area at the western end of the empire, is reminiscent of the Age of Exploration. Looking at the row of sailing ships lined up along the wooden pier on the coast, it feels like the era of the sea has truly arrived.
And the appearance of the large commercial stores lined up along the golden sand near the beach gives off a different kind of grandeur than that of Hwangdo or Seongdo.
If you want to make money, go to All Deck.
That simple and clear one-sentence proposition has never been denied since the founding of the empire.
[ Oh, indeed… This is the center of logistics distribution that humans talk about… You’re not very energetic, Master Ed! This fire candle mug will get you excited just by looking at it! ]
“There is nothing good about being too excited. “Because the goal is not to be noticed.”
[ Yes, that’s right. After a long time helping the master alone, I was reminded of the time I was on Aken Island. Wow, I lived really hard back then, but like now, I had to support the master on my own. ]
The fluid mug followed suit, flapping its wings, and started talking about old times alone.
[When I was a low-ranking spirit, I would work all night like the workers here and then go in the morning to receive a new schedule. At the time, I was suffering so much that I blamed the world, but in hindsight, I realized that it was all just a matter of flesh and blood. As expected, they say that hard work is worth it, but it seems that everyone gains strength and settles down in that way through hard work. So, Master Ed… I’m so fortunate to have Master Ed here. If I had to tell you about the hardships I had before attending Master Ed… . First of all, you have to start when you have just risen from the status of a fluid spirit… What was my motto at that time… ]
It may be something new now, but mugs have a lot to say.
I wonder what is so touching about him, as he sits on my shoulder and continues his tirade, shedding tears of emotion.
I pulled my robe hat tighter and made my way through the crowds, crossing Oldeck’s market street. I listened to Mug’s pointless explanations and tried to gauge the meaning of the letter from Rienna.
Chief Secretary Rienna is the best confidant who is completely loyal to Lortel Cacheln, no matter what anyone says.
The fact that she, who rarely appeared in front of others, bothered to write a letter on Lortel’s behalf meant that there was a high possibility that something had actually happened to Lortel’s life. This is because Lortel does most of the important work himself. He would never entrust me with anything, much less sending a letter to me.
In any case, the period in which I can move without any schedule pressure is too short. Since I couldn’t come to the site and check it now, I grabbed a carriage myself and arrived at Old Deck after driving for three days.
The information power of merchants should not be underestimated. There is nothing good about the story that Ed Ross Taylor personally visited Alldeck. Therefore, for now, he moved with his robe tightly pressed down, hiding his identity.
I continued crossing the market street that continued along the stone floor, then turned a few times and entered the alley.
After going inside for a while, leaving Mug’s chatter behind, a dark-looking tavern came into view.
A wooden mug full of beer was rattling around a small signboard. Seeing that it was noisy inside, it seemed like it was open for business.
As I opened the door and went in, I could see at a glance the inside of the bar, which was filled with rough-and-tumble workers. For a moment, all eyes were on me, but everyone soon paid no attention and started talking again.
– ‘A small bar located at Old Deck’s Central Market Street 3-ga, enter the second alley and turn three times. The company name is Song of the Waves.’
– ‘Please sit alone in the innermost seat as much as possible, order a draft beer and two handfuls of peanuts, and stay still with your robe hat on.’
The method of contact is quite secretive.
I did as I was told and went to a corner seat, ordered a draft beer and two handfuls of peanuts, and sat quietly.
I sat quietly like that for about 10 minutes, but no one spoke to me. In a noisy bar, I seemed strangely alone, sitting alone and drinking beer.
After sitting like that for another 10 minutes…
“You cool master over there, do you want to go on a date?”
A bar girl spoke up as if she was trying to do business. A red-haired woman wearing a fancy dress looked at me with an alluring gaze, and then she continued.
“To come to a bar alone in broad daylight like this, to sit in the innermost seat, to order two handfuls of peanuts and a draft beer, and to sit alone for over 10 minutes… “It looks a bit pathetic~.”
A tone that seems to emphasize my current situation. This woman’s signal to talk about the exact conditions of the meeting is a signal.
I nodded and said.
“Okay, let’s go out together. “I’ll pay and come back.”
“Oh, you speak so well. Shall we link arms~?”
The bar girl, smiling skillfully, wrapped her arms around me in such a seductive manner and walked out of the bar.
Since it was a common sight on the floor of a corner bar like this, the workers inside the bar didn’t seem to care and were absorbed in their stories.
After leaving the street with the woman, I walked with my arms crossed for a while. Then your woman put her lips to your ear and whispered.
“There are a lot of eyes watching, so you will blend in with the crowd a few times. “I’ll walk towards the most crowded street as much as possible until I get to the second market street, and if there’s no sign of me being followed, I’ll leave as far away as possible.”
“okay.”
I had to walk along the road for almost 30 minutes. I spent some time going back and forth between Old Deck’s lively market and briefly checking out the commercial buildings. The sight of famous commercial buildings whose names everyone knew stretching out along the street was indeed quite magnificent.
After wandering around the streets for a while until I was sure I wasn’t being followed, the woman finally took me by the arm and dragged me into a dark alley nearby.
After turning the corner a few more times, I was able to push through the gap between the buildings with no one passing by.
“It was rude, Master Ed.”
“No, don’t worry. By the way, my impression has changed quite a bit… ”
The red-haired woman dusted her face, ripping the disguise tools off her face.
That look… The face I often saw in the office of the assistant manager of the Sylvania branch of the Elte Chamber of Commerce.
It was Lortel Kecheln’s chief secretary, Rienna Clemson.
“this… I’m not used to this either… If you need to, you should do it… .”
The sly bar girl was gone, and the indecisive secretary I had seen back then had returned.
Rienna Clemson was the only confidant who took Lortel’s side during the Elte Company takeover operation led by Dune Grex.
As a result, he completely entered Lortel’s power and became, in effect, her right-hand man.
Although my indecisive and timid temperament still remains, seeing him tactfully drag me to a deserted place makes me feel refreshed in handling the work itself.
“I was acting like a bar girl who didn’t fit in… . I was sweating so much that my makeup almost came off… ”
“So, let’s get straight to the point. “Why did you send such a strange letter?”
“… ”
Lienna didn’t bother to look around once more, then tied her hair back and took out her glasses and put them on.
After that, I slowly lowered my voice and spoke.
“Lord Lortel has been struck by a curse prepared by Slog Keldlux.”
“… what?”
I spoke with narrowed eyebrows.
“You used such violent means?”
“I don’t know if it’s violent or not… Actually, it’s a bit ambiguous.. I have to look at it… But if you ask me, yeah… It’s violent… ”
“I don’t think Lortel will easily fall victim to such an overt act of terrorism. Lortel is as good a suspect as Slog, and his magic skills are better than most wizards.”
“that’s right. but… The situation is a bit special… ”
“No, no matter how special the situation is… Do you really think you can usurp the position of leader in such a reckless way? ?”
I heard that Slog Keldlux appears to be a sincere and considerate merchant, but inside he is a sinister human being who is raising hundreds of serpents.
This kind of reckless approach does not fit well with the human image of being a slog. On the contrary, it looks like it is ripe for a backlash.
“When you say curse magic, what kind of curse is it? Even magic that causes instant death, such as disrupting breathing or stopping blood flow, is probably not the case… ”
“yes… In the first place, there is no immediate problem with Assistant Manager Hoeju’s health… However, he was incapacitated… ”
“then… Is it a suppression curse?”
“that… It’s similar… ”
Secretary Lienna seemed unsure of how to explain it, so she spoke in a half-hearted tone.
“First of all, it will be easier to understand if you meet the owner of the company in person… ”
*
After that, I had to go through the market streets for a while longer.
The scene we were about to see was a top secret even within the Elte Chamber of Commerce, and he repeatedly explained its importance throughout the trip.
It was worth it. The fact that an important person like Lortel has been neutralized is enough to cause confusion.
Meanwhile, Lienna added the story. At this point, I am the only person who can safely take Deputy Lortel out of this Old Deck without any compensation and protect him well.
From what I heard, Lortel always talked about me to Secretary Rienna whenever he got the chance. I don’t know how deep he talked about it, but if you are truly cornered and in crisis, this person will definitely reach out to you without anything in return… He muttered the story.
That is correct.
I am confident that Lortel will definitely help me if I fall into crisis.
So, it is natural to ensure the opposite as well.
A two-arm scale must always remain level.
Since I received something, I just give this and that.
“We have to turn around and go underground from here.”
“Going underground again? “It’s already the third time.”
“It’s necessary.”
After going in and out of the tangled back roads, and going in and out of the sewer several times, I arrived at the back door of the dingy brick building.
Lienna quietly knocked a couple of times and spoke lines that sounded like an unknown foreign language to the person on the other side of the door. She seemed to be a cipher.
After delivering the password, the back door of the old brick building slowly opened. Inside is a dark counter. There was a sturdy man sitting in one corner. Judging by the pattern on her cloak, she is a merchant belonging to the Elte Company.
He bowed his head and greeted Chief Secretary Lienna, then bowed his head to me as well.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
To that extent, he restrained himself from showing any politeness and made a movement that seemed to be leading me inside.
Chief Secretary Lienna raised his arm to block the man’s movements and gave orders simply by tilting his head and turning his gaze backwards. He will personally guide you, so please remain guarded at the entrance.
The man nodded and closed the door. Lienna led me into the dark hallway.
“It’s an abandoned inn that used to be renovated and is being used secretly. Deputy Hoeju is in the innermost room.”
“okay… “I wonder if it’s something that’s hidden so deeply.”
After reaching the door of the last room, Secretary Rienna turned her head again and asked me to please.
“It’s a duty of confidentiality. If I say more, it’ll only hurt my mouth. but… that… Don’t be too embarrassed… do not… ”
“Embarrassment… ?”
“Well.. no, let’s go in first.”
After saying that, Secretary Rienna opened the door.
The scene inside the room was quite brutal.
As it is an abandoned inn that is no longer in business, it is full of old and shabby wooden furniture here and there. A scene in a dark room with no lights on, a round table in the middle… A familiar girl with reddish-brown hair was sitting with her back to me.
Lortel Kecheln. Anyone could see that it was the back of that colossus. However, I feel a strange sense of discomfort… .
“Assistant Manager Hoeju.”
The moment Secretary Rienna entered, calling Lortel like that, Lortel turned his head.
The moment a sense of discomfort arose in that lively gesture… Does this mean that my intuition is still alive?
“Lienna!”
Lortel jumped off the chair with an angry expression, ran to the door as if showing off, and fell into Rienna’s arms.
It’s so lively that it feels unnatural.
“… ”
While I was at a loss for words, Lortel spoke in tears.
“I did as Lienna said, I didn’t go anywhere and just sat still! She was so bored, but she said Lienna would praise her, so she endured it! As she read the journal intently, she was also rummaging through her memories! Umm, not really… Nothing came to mind… ”
“Yeah… Assistant Manager Hoeju… well… You did it… ”
“huh! ruler! “Can you pat me on the head?!”
Saying that, he took Rienna’s hand and placed it on his head, humming happily and smiling.
Something… Hasn’t your height shrunk a bit? Just when I thought about it… Secretary Rienna spoke.
“here… that… this person… This is Master Ed Rosstaylor… ”
“Ah, hehe!”
Lortel was startled, and quickly hid behind Secretary Rienna’s back, sticking his head out.
She looks up at me nervously, with the appearance of a shy girl, and speaks in a sound that makes a mosquito crawl.
“Ugh… Well, it was written in the journal… young master… This… I never thought I would see you in person… I didn’t know… So suddenly… ”
“Hey, Assistant Manager Hoeju. “It’s not polite to hide behind me like this.”
“Oh, um, wait… Yeah, I don’t like it… ”
No matter how you look at him, his shy and shy appearance does not suit his age group.
With a stern face, I looked towards Rienna for a moment.
“… ”
Is this a new hidden camera? Even if you try to escape reality… There is no meaning… .
still… I had to hear a clear explanation.
“… Well, your height hasn’t decreased as much as expected, but the really important thing is your mental age… that… As you can see… .”
Lienna finished speaking with difficulty.
“this… like that… That’s it… ”
“… ”
“… … .”
“… … … … … … ”
I froze for a moment, then walked backwards to the center of the room, took out a wooden chair, and sat down.
He just rested his chin and swept his hand around his mouth. Looking so worried… She had no choice but to sit for a while.
The thing that made me sweat and break out in cold sweat was… This is because I certainly did not expect this situation.
“Why, why is everyone silent… ? Oh, I’m scared… ”
Lortel was trembling, holding Rienna’s collar tightly and burying his head in her back.
Sadly, for a while, the only sound that could be heard in the room was the sound of the clothes rubbing against each other.
