Dark Organization (4)

The flash of the luminous body in the darkness was very noticeable.

“Let’s go. It’s the direction James went.”

“Y-yeah. Let’s go, quickly.”

Alec looked with concern at Yona, who was still red-faced and breathing lightly.

Although Yona herself didn’t seem to care, Alec couldn’t help but worry.

“Are you really okay?”

“I’m, huff… fine… haah! I told you so!”

Alec closed his mouth due to Yona’s irritation, but it still seemed strange.

Yona was barely enduring because of the heat rising from her right arm, but she also knew that her condition was a bit off.

It’s just that her priority was focused on saving Rubina for now.

“I think it’s here.”

As soon as they turned the corner of the alley, there was a building with its door wide open.

The two unconscious men collapsed in front of the building were too ugly to be decorations, and above all, the sound of something being smashed and flying around from inside the wide-open door was almost telling them that this was the place.

“Let’s go in.”

When Alec and Yona entered, panting, they saw the unscathed Kairoc and James with his waist stained with blood, both breathing heavily.

More than twenty men were sprawled around, and more men kept appearing from somewhere.

“James!”

Yona rushed over.

The blue holy power gathering in her right hand seeped into James’ waist without hesitation as she touched him.

“You came just in time. It was getting a bit tough.”

“…I’m sorry we’re late.”

“You came before I died, so it’s fine. Let’s go down to the basement first. Over there.”

James nodded towards Yona and Alec.

“Right. The two of us can handle this. So go ahead. As a rule, kidnappers don’t want to be close to the sky. They’re probably underground. Go and save Rubina. How scared must she be?”

Kairoc said this while swinging his axe shaft again, striking the shoulder of one of the men.

Amidst the diverse screams echoing, Yona nodded to Alec.

“Let’s go!”

Alec patted Kairoc and James on the waist and ran without hesitation towards the stairs on the opposite side of the hall.

Yona followed right behind him.

“What is going on here!?”

As soon as Alec and Yona disappeared down the stairs, guards in uniform appeared at the building entrance.

It seems the guards have been dispatched after all the commotion caused by setting off two flash bombs.

It was half-intentional, though.

“As you can see, strange guys were doing strange things.”

James ripped off the pendant from the neck of a collapsed man with a cracking sound.

He tossed the pendant to a higher-ranking guard, who caught it reflexively and examined it closely.

“…Dark Organization…!”

The guard’s face hardened.

He handed the pendant to another guard next to him and said,

“Take this to the Regent’s residence and report. Tell them we’ve raided a gathering of the Dark Organization, report quickly! Hurry!”

The guard assigned as a messenger left a hasty salute and quickly left the scene.

“As the Capatia Port Guard, we cannot stand idle! Enter!”

Ludvik and Bigrin didn’t know what ingredients were used in the food they were bringing.

It was their first time even seeing fish, let alone knowing their names.

But as if considering this, Ceres continued to explain the dishes as she guided them.

“This is a dish made with a fish called cod. Although it’s a white fish, it has a firmer texture. So it’s cooked with a richer flavored sauce, spices, and herbs.”

“This is made with flounder. It’s called Dover sole meunière, fried with flour coating and butter.”

“Ah, that’s not a Capatian dish. It’s from a far-off place. The name… well, ‘octopus bread’ might be appropriate, it’s made by mixing octopus into a batter of starch and flour. Now, if you sprinkle these very thinly sliced dried bonito flakes on top… see, doesn’t it look like it’s dancing?”

When all these dishes were laid out on the table, it was truly a spectacular sight.

“This is a wine called Chablis. It’s one of the Chardonnay wines.”

Ceres poured wine into Ludvik and Bigrin’s glasses with a soft whisper.

“Chardonnay is a wine that’s not aged in oak. The dry Muscadet from the Loire Valley pairs very well with seafood dishes. Our Capatia is by the sea, so unoaked Chardonnay wines are very famous. Please, try some.”

“Oh, ah. I-I see! You’re very knowledgeable, Regent.”

“It’s nothing. I just came to know a lot because I like it.”

Ceres skillfully deflected Ludvik’s words.

Her demeanor was so mature and charming that Bigrin couldn’t take her eyes off her.

‘This is… the charm of an adult woman…’

“My, Saint, does it not suit your taste? Why aren’t you eating?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it!”

Bigrin, who had been staring blankly at Ceres, hastily stuffed an octopus ball into her mouth.

“Saint, that’s hot-“

“Ah, it’s hot…!!”

Bigrin’s face turned bright red.

The flour that spread out as soon as she bit into the octopus ball was so hot that Bigrin could only calm down after drinking the wine Ceres offered in one gulp to cool her mouth.

And once she calmed down, embarrassment washed over her like a tidal wave.

“Aren’t you eating, Regent?”

“Oh my, I should-“

At that moment.

-Knock knock.

Ceres closed her mouth and shrugged, asking for Bigrin’s understanding.

“Come in.”

The dining room door opened quietly, and a white-haired man in a dark blue butler’s coat bowed deeply at the doorway.

“Regent, I deeply apologize for interrupting the banquet.”

“It’s alright.”

The white-haired man slowly approached Ceres.

Finally standing beside Ceres, he bowed gently in greeting and whispered something in her ear.

“Now, you say?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Those fellows never have a single redeeming quality. I understand. You may go.”

Ceres’s face momentarily crumpled.

But when she turned back to Ludvik and Bigrin, it had changed back to a soft and gentle smile.

“It seems there’s a bit of a commotion.”

“A commotion?”

Ludvik thought that the “bit of” in Ceres’s words was probably just a kind of modifier.

If it were really just a small commotion, there’s no way it would be reported directly to Ceres in the middle of a banquet.

“If it’s a commotion, may I ask what kind of commotion it is?”

“Hmm-“

Ceres’s gaze rolled and settled on the Celestial Church pendant hanging on Bigrin’s chest.

“Since the Saint is here too, I suppose it’s alright to tell you.”

“Pardon?”

Bigrin was startled at being suddenly mentioned.

The meal had long been forgotten, and both Ludvik and Bigrin were looking at Ceres.

“Recently, we received intelligence that some vicious cult members have been stirring up trouble. They’re a group that dares to try to overthrow the Celestial Church and attempt to resurrect demons. It seems they were caught holding a meeting today, causing a commotion.”

“Where is this happening?”

Ludvik stood up abruptly.

Overthrowing the Celestial Church and attempting to resurrect demons – this was clearly like a precursor to disaster.

“Defeating demons and demon lords is the primary duty of a hero. Even if it’s just a precursor, it’s a great task for me, so please allow me to participate in suppressing these evil-doers.”

“M-me too. Trying to overthrow the Celestial Church, it’s absolutely unacceptable.”

Ceres looked back and forth between Ludvik and Bigrin, then smiled gently.

“I see. It’s truly encouraging that both of you are so eager to help. Well then-“

A smile settled on Ceres’s lips.

“I shall guide you.”