Chapter 172

Chapter 172. Playing Catch-Up (4)

Today, the establishment of a new investigative body was confirmed at the council’s meeting.

Thus, they were discussing their steps in accordance with this decision.

Observing today’s gathering, I could deduce several inferences beyond the factual information.

“Gallonic doesn’t seem to be quite the wise type.”

Considering his hostility towards me, it was a reasonable hypothesis.

If he had even a slight depth of thought, he would have donned a smiling mask in front of me.

“Perhaps he needs a strategist…”

Based on the stories I pieced together from Gretman before attending this banquet, Gallonic Hogue seems to be backed by the royal family.

There were rumors that the Hogue baron family belonged to a branch of the royal family, and it was said that they’ve had active interactions over the past few years.

Thanks to this, it seemed Gallonic had lived a life untroubled by ruling over others.

It also implied he had no hesitation in wielding power.

However, when the meeting didn’t go as he wanted, he immediately called for someone to consult.

I gauged the influence of the two by alternating my gaze between Gallonic’s grave face and the back of the skull-headed figure.

“In reality, it seems that the skull’s opinion holds more weight.”

And the skull knew Vellego.

When I slightly shifted my gaze down, Vellego, still with a shocked expression, caught my attention.

“I should probably look into him later.”

For now, I needed to focus a little more on Gallonic and the skull’s conversation.

“Hmm… Since you don’t seem to favor my strategies, there’s nothing left but to try another method.”

“What is that?”

“Why not submit a plea to His Majesty the Emperor?”

“What?”

Their ensuing conversation wasn’t heading in a pleasant direction for me.

“So it’s come to this, after all.”

This was my concern from the moment I suspected Gallonic had a heavyweight backing him.

“Don’t mention the investigation outright; approach more from an emotional angle.”

“An emotional angle?”

“Did you mention that the Outsider actively stepped up to request the investigation? Then, highlight that action—perhaps claiming he disrespects the Order, or that he’s trying to stir things up in the regions the temple is looking after would suffice.”

“Oh.”

“If it goes any further, he might even propose to investigate Atar’s territory. Approach it like that, and His Majesty might take initiative out of pride.”

“Yes, right. His Majesty’s pride…”

According to their conversation, the Emperor seemed to be a person of strong pride who disliked losing.

‘If it’s really like that, then this is dangerous.’

The moment the pressure comes from the Emperor, the Order might not utter a sound and abandon the investigative body.

‘What should I do…’

I couldn’t help but grimace at the unwelcome conclusion.

Regardless, Gallonic and the skull continued their conversation with satisfaction from having found a solution.

Unlike earlier, their voices grew a bit louder in volume.

“I’m glad I called you.”

“Thanks to Gallonic, I got to visit Gemal for the first time in a while, and I’m pleased for various reasons too. It’s fun to see that half-wit trailing behind me like a fool.”

“Oh, you mean that half-wit.”

“Yes, he’s my brother by blood, but his intelligence isn’t very high.”

“Not everyone from the same womb turns out the same. Being tied by blood isn’t always pleasant, so you’re having a hard time.”

Thanks to overhearing their conversation, Vellego’s shoulder flinched without my help.

And in no time, his face became flushed with embarrassment.

Because of this, I realized that the ‘half-wit’ they were talking about was likely him.

‘Brother, huh…’

It seemed that skull was Vellego’s brother.

I ignored Vellego’s quivering with humiliation and kept my sight fixed inside the room.

However, the two continued to belittle Vellego with biting remarks for quite a while.

It reached the point of discomfort even for someone like me who didn’t particularly like Vellego.

And that wasn’t all.

After they were done with Vellego, they started listing names of people I didn’t know, along with derogatory nicknames that they probably made up to belittle them.

Gallonic and the skull insulted and dismissed others as if it was as natural as breathing.

It seemed as though they were satisfying their sense of superiority through such acts.

“With personalities like theirs, dealing with them shouldn’t be too difficult.”

I gathered information about them, avoiding giving Vellego any glance.

I noted their habitual expressions and names of places mentioned in their conversation, or names of those they seemed to have close relationships with, making sure to jot them down in my inventory notebook so as not to forget.

The disguised insults in their conversation ended after nearly thirty minutes.

I kept silent even after both had left through the door.

‘They probably aren’t as keen as the knights, but…’

Better to be cautious.

Only after I confirmed all signs of the presence had receded did I unfolded the back cover of the notebook and said,

“It seems that you don’t have a good relationship with them, similar to mine.”

Vellego’s shoulder trembled, his head down since his defamation began.

I continued, as if I hadn’t seen it.

“Want to exchange information?”

There might have been more information I could gain from Vellego.

Since I was at the royal city, I intended to gather as much as I could.

“Information…?”

“I’ll tell you what I know about those guys, and you share what you know.”

“…”

“That skeleton scoundrel you were tailing…”

“Skeleton? Pfft!”

Before I could finish my sentence, Vellego burst out laughing all of a sudden.

He seemed quite pleased that I called his brother a skeleton.

Of course, I didn’t say it to please Vellego.

I simply treated the skeleton as he treated others.

‘Besides, he really looks like one.’

His eyes were so sunken as if lacking vitality, and his complexion was pale, accompanied by a gaunt body.

He was so bony that he looked like skin wrapped around a skeleton.

Since I didn’t know his actual name, I addressed him as ‘skeleton’ along the way.

“Heh, skeleton, how fitting.”

Amused, Vellego kept giggling.

His response seemed simple enough.

Just moments ago, he had been trembling uncontrollably with anger, yet now he laughed at something satisfying to him.

‘As expected, he’s quite emotional.’

Though simple, such people have their own strengths.

‘Since they’re straightforward, they don’t do shady things behind others’ backs.’

Even if they attempt something, it is easy to detect, making them less threatening.

“Information…”

While I was lost in my own thoughts, Vellego seemed to have made up his mind and spoke, raising his chin,

“I saw black smoke from Reitan. So, during the investigation, it seemed connected to the traitors. What about you?”

“For the same reason, but the one I’m tracking is Gallonic Hogue.”

Reitan, the one moving with Gallonic, seemed to be involved with traitors.

“That makes the suspicion grow stronger indeed.”

It seemed I was not the only one who thought so.

Evidence of that was Vellego smiling cynically and saying,

“I was right! Watching over him for a few months, he frequently sent telegraphs from Santorna. However, when I tried to trace the recipient, I couldn’t find anyone. The regional administrative office said the person was missing since the old explosion incident, but to use the missing person’s name to send and receive messages? At that point, I had a hunch. It might be that the unsavory fellow is mingling with the traitors!”

Not only did he eagerly spill out the story, but he also seemed overjoyed at the thought of being able to bring Reitan down.

Unlike him, however, I neither felt joy nor did I smile.

I merely clung to the familiar words that emerged from his mouth.

“Santorna…”

Before attending the banquet, I had searched through Bihar’s map in my inventory.

It showed that Santorna was a rather large city located in the north of the Atar Empire.

And there was another word associated with that place.

“The Santorna where Atar Empire’s mage tower used to stand?”

“Yes, that Santorna.”

Things revealed whenever these shadows were uncovered kept pointing toward the same conclusion.

Naturally, the suspicion only grew stronger.

“Does it mean the one coming from Santorna to meet Gallonic is a traitor?”

No, it’s too early to conclude. It might be merely a courier.

“What about you?”

While I slightly lowered my gaze to organize my thoughts, Vellego raised his eyebrows and urged,

“Share what you know. Didn’t we agree to exchange information?”

There was nothing to hide, so I shared everything I knew.

While sharing, I also recorded the overheard conversation from earlier in my notebook.

Later, I tore out the relevant page and started waving it, wedged between my fingers.

“This was the conversation they had earlier, let’s calculate its value separately.”

“What?!”

“How many more passages like this exist in the capital?”

His flinching shoulder served as his answer.

It was a good guess, and it hit the mark.

‘Such information would be beneficial.’

I didn’t know how often I’d visit the capital.

But it wouldn’t hurt to know this sort of information should an opportunity arise.

I handed a notebook and pen to Vellego and said,

“Information on other passages.”

My tone was firm, implying there is no room for negotiation.

Vellego started contemplating, eyeing the paper and the notebook in my hand.

Fortunately, there was no need for prolonged urging.

Not long after, Vellego snatched the notebook and scribbled with clumsy handwriting.

A few minutes later, he returned the notebook, boldly demanding,

“Now, hand over the paper.”

I generously met his demand.

Afterward, I quickly scanned through the notebook I received back.

“Three more passages, huh?”

I didn’t know where the Ginkgo Palace was, but at least I got the information itself.

If the opportunity arises, I could check it myself, and once confirms, I could use them secretly.

It was a more significant harvest than expected.

Vellego seemed unfamiliar with using a Monami pen for the first time, making the handwriting a mess.

“At least it’s legible.”

To be sure, I reorganized the written content, while Vellego also checked the paper he had received from me.

Thankfully, the translation and interpretation aspects of this interface worked on the Biharin as well.

Therefore, Vellego being unable to decipher Hangul didn’t turn into an inconvenience.

“Huh…?”

However, that didn’t mean Vellego hadn’t gotten a bad deal.

Checking the back of the paper I handed him, Vellego asked,

“Is this all?”

The eavesdropped conversation he missed wasn’t lengthy.

Even that was mostly about how to tattle on the Emperor.

Consequently, realizing he had made a significantly disadvantageous trade, Vellego began to question in a surprised voice,

“You, you rogue! You swindled me?”

“Calling it a swindle… You traded without assessing the value of the information yourself?”

“You, you swindler!”

“Fine, call me swindler if you want.”

I chuckled softly and turned on my heel.

In a heightened temper, Vellego hastily followed and began to dispute.

Although not long before he exhausted himself, resulting in a lot of heavy breathing.

I exited the secret passage ahead of Vellego and spoke,

“But why were such spaces created?”

Vellego, trailing behind me, snorted and muttered,

“Hmph, do you think I’ll fall for that again?”

“Oh, so you do know?”

“Ugh! Absolutely not! Isn’t it obvious just by looking? It’s for surveillance!”

I suppressed a satisfied smile, watching Vellego unwittingly revealing everything he knew.

“Really.”

This one’s easy to manage.

“Hmm… Is it okay to use this at will even if we aren’t royalty?”

Vellego and I continued chatting while heading toward the banquet hall.

“The only royal who might know about this is the Princess.”

“Seriously?”

“How would it not be? Maybe information about this kind of space was lost about 100 years ago when the dynasty changed due to a rebellion.”

I looked at Vellego with surprised eyes.

To which Vellego frowned distastefully as he replied.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Vellego is surprisingly useful.