148 Information Gathering

148.

“So… I don’t know the details very well… but I’ve heard rumors…”

The perverts didn’t have much useful information.

They seemed to be the lone wolf type of duo, moving only for their own desires. They didn’t belong to any specific organization.

The information from their mouths didn’t stray far from what the head of the security force said or what one could logically deduce.

However, the pickpocket provided a pretty significant clue.

“I don’t know the whole picture either… but I’m supposed to deliver the stolen goods to a man named Bashaba.”

“Bashaba?”

“Yes, he runs an orphanage east of Hwaris.”

“I heard that there are fences and appraisers in the organization too. Haven’t you heard anything about that?”

“I don’t really know about that… I just bring him the stolen goods, that’s all.”

“Hmm… really?”

He blinked his teary eyes and nodded vigorously.

“Yes, yep! Not a single lie!”

His face didn’t look like he was lying.

But an orphanage, huh…

A thieves’ guild and an orphanage.

It’s a combination that I’m not sure if it fits or not.

Well, I guess in reality, they launder funds obtained through crime through charities too.

The pickpocket, being the lowest of the low, didn’t seem to know any more information.

Anyway, we’ve got a lead. Let’s go find a man named Bashaba at the orphanage east of Hwaris.

He’s probably playing a middle management role for White Blow.

“U-um, excuse me…”

One of the perverts timidly spoke up.

“This is just a rumor too… but I remembered hearing a sinister rumor about that guild.”

“A sinister rumor? What is it?”

His face is full of terror, no joke.

What kind of rumor is it?

“The rumor is that traitors are torn to shreds and killed. Even suddenly in their own homes while they’re sleeping… without any signs of intrusion.”

That’s like a ghost story.

But is it a credible story?

To me, it just sounds like a story artificially created to prevent people from leaving the organization.

“T-then, I, I too…”

But if that rumor is true, the one who should be most afraid is the pickpocket who opened his mouth.

In fact, the pickpocket’s face was turning pale. As if he was imagining his own body being torn to pieces and killed.

“I-I’ll live a good life. From now on… Hero-nim will take responsibility and protect me, right?”

What a shameless bastard.

“Protect you… I guess that’s how it’ll turn out. You guys can’t leave this room.”

“Y-yes? Why?”

“Well… you might leak that I’m chasing White Blow, right? Stay here until everything is resolved.”

“T-that can’t be…”

Riel, who had been listening quietly, was fidgeting. She looked like she wanted to say something.

“Um, I’ve met that person before. He came to our convent to preach. I might remember his face if I saw it… He had a very kind face.”

He must be disguising himself that way.

But it’s good that Riel knows his face.

“Then Riel, you come with me. To Priest Bashaba’s orphanage. Selena, please stay here to watch these guys and wait.”

“Okay.”

Selena should be able to handle anything that happens. And we can contact her with the communicator if things get urgent.

Leaving Selena and the criminals in the basement of Carano’s mansion, Riel and I headed east of Hwaris.

========================================

The further east we went, the more the atmosphere of the streets changed noticeably.

For the worse.

Old buildings were huddled closely together. There were also shacks that seemed more like they were cobbled together with whatever materials were available rather than actually built.

The people looked the same way. They were completely different from the residents near the neat and reverent central square.

It was hard to believe they were citizens of the same Hwaris.

People with faces full of anxiety and discontent. Homeless people with tired faces. Young women wearing revealing nun outfits. A group of men hiding in the back alleys with fierce eyes like criminals.

In short, the east side of Hwaris was a slum.

“But Hero-nim, are you planning to go find Priest Bashaba just like this?”

Of course, I wasn’t planning to.

Going to see him recklessly isn’t a good idea.

If he really is a middle manager of the thieves’ guild, it’s highly likely that he’ll become suspicious. If a hero suddenly shows up, he’ll be on guard from the start.

Of course, there’s also the method of pushing through with force.

But the guy is a well-reputed person who has even been the protagonist of heartwarming stories.

If I rashly use force, I might have to turn the entire Hwaris against me.

At least, it would be good to meet him with some kind of card to pressure him.

“Of course, I’m not planning to.”

It’s a clue I barely managed to grab. I need to approach it carefully. And what I need for that is information.

If it’s information gathering in an RPG, I can’t think of anything other than a bar.

Riel and I went into a bar where people were gathered.

“Welcome!”

Even though it’s a gloomy neighborhood, the bar owner greeted the customers with a cheerful voice.

I sat down in a seat facing the bar owner and ordered first after looking at the menu.

“A glass of whiskey. What about you, Riel?”

“I’ll have milk, please.”

“Okay. Please wait a moment.”

Soon, the owner skillfully brought out a glass of whiskey and a glass of milk.

I subtly placed two 100g coins on the counter and gestured to the owner.

The owner quickly pocketed the coins and asked in a whispering voice.

“Yes, what is it?”

“If, just if, someone in this neighborhood happened to get their hands on some stolen goods, who would be the best person to go to? Secretly, if possible.”

The owner looked flustered.

“Huh, I don’t do anything like that at all…”

I handed him a bundle full of coins. It contained well over 2,000g, judging by the weight.

Only then did the bar owner start to chuckle and confess.

“Ahem, do you see that big guy sitting in the corner over there? That guy is a friend who is familiar with those routes. His name is Shuji.”

“Thank you.”

I downed the whiskey in one gulp and approached the table of the man named Shuji that the bar owner pointed to.

Shuji, who was eating a meal with his drink, looked up at me as I approached his table.

“Huh? What’s up?”

He had a wary look. Shuji’s gaze quickly scanned me, the sword at my waist, and Riel in her nun outfit.

“I have something I want to get rid of.”

I naturally took a seat at Shuji’s table. And I took out a necklace that looked expensive from my pocket.

It was the item that the pickpocket had stolen from the Great Temple.

Shuji’s eyes lit up as he saw the sparkling necklace. He carefully covered the item with his arm, so no one would see.

“You want to sell this?”

“Yes. Secretly. You know what I mean, right?”

“You came to the right guy. You don’t look like you’re from around here.”

“Even though I look like this, I have a wide network. Actually, I already made an offer to a man named Bashaba. But I refused because the price wasn’t right.”

“Huh? Bashaba?”

Shuji asked back.

Is it a bust?

I thought there would be some connection between the fences.

“That old man tends to lowball. And he has the face of a saint.”

Good. It seems to be working out well.

If I can get more information about Bashaba like this…

“But what should I do? I can’t buy this item. And I don’t have anything more to tell you.”

“Why, why is that?”

“If I snatched an item that old man Bashaba had his eye on, I’d be done for. Well, I’m glad the miss told me about it. I would have been in big trouble if I had bought it without knowing.”

“I-is that really true?”

“Yes. If you really want to sell that item, you should just take it to old man Bashaba. Well, then.”

Shuji returned the necklace to me without hesitation. And he jumped up from his seat and left.

I was just sitting there with a dumbfounded look, watching his back.

I’ve learned at least two things for sure.

The fact that Priest Bashaba, who is in charge of the orphanage, is really a criminal.

And the fact that he is a figure who is feared to some extent among the fences.

“What do we do now, Hero-nim?”

Riel asked, wrinkling her cheeks.

“Let’s go around a few more places. Maybe we can get some other information.”

So, Riel and I left the bar and collected information about Bashaba, scattering a considerable amount of money as tips in other bars.

The time when the sunset was setting was approaching.

Nevertheless, there were no particular gains. I could only be sure that there was an atmosphere of reluctance to mention Bashaba. There were even people who refused to talk as soon as his name came up.

Haa…

Maybe it would have been better to just go head-to-head. There would be risks, but…

As I was leaving another bar and walking down the street, Riel tugged at my sleeve.

“U-um, Hero-nim…”

It was a very small voice.

“Yes? What’s wrong, Riel?”

“T-the person who just passed by… that’s him. Priest Bashaba…”

“R-really?”

I reflexively almost turned around. But I barely managed to hold back.

Slowly, in a way that wasn’t unnatural, I turned my head.

I can see the back of a small, old man. He is neatly dressed in a priest’s robe.

“Let’s follow him. Carefully, so we don’t get caught.”

========================================

Bashaba’s pace was slow. Frustratingly so.

But from the point of view of someone tailing him, a slow pace was better than a fast one.

Because I could follow him without losing sight of him while hiding my presence sufficiently.

Riel and I patiently followed the slow-moving Bashaba tenaciously.

Bashaba passed the end of the alley and entered the warehouse district adjacent to the pier.

This might be the best opportunity I’ve caught by chance.

The warehouse district. And Bashaba, who deals with stolen goods.

The place where White Blow stores the stolen goods might be right here.

If that’s the case, the Divine Iron I’m looking for is likely to be somewhere here too.

That’s when it happened.

“Hehe, what are you doing in a place like this? Why don’t you come play with us if you’re bored?”

A group of thugs spoke to us at a glance.

They’re not even hiding their lecherous expressions.

“I’m not interested, so get lost.”

“Don’t be like that, let’s play together. With that nun over there too. Huh? What do you say?”

While we were arguing like that, Bashaba kept walking.

If I don’t follow him quickly, I might lose him.

But if I make a fuss, I’ll get caught…

“Riel, please keep following him. I’ll deal with these guys.”

Looking at the faces of the thugs who were just full of lust, I sighed.