The Best Merchandise (1)

‘They probably won’t discuss anything important in a place like this.’

The opponent isn’t some incompetent person, nor someone who can’t distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said in certain places. In fact, they were currently just having a meal while engaging in trivial chatter.

But there’s still a possibility that they might let their guard down for a fleeting moment. Above all, I judged that it wasn’t meaningless eavesdropping since it was necessary to understand what kind of person was picking a fight with Ethan, that is, with me.

And anyway, we needed to have a meal too.

“The guild will probably be running normally within a few days. Although quite a few adventurers left after the recent incident, this wasn’t an area that immediately lacked manpower.”

Meanwhile, Patrick brought up a different topic. It was about the Adventurers’ Guild, which had been shrinking after the recent erosion incident.

“The guild’s information network is considerable. The people who use spatial jump points the most in a day are probably guild officials.”

“Did they say if what happened that day occurred anywhere else?”

“At least until we came here, we hadn’t heard such news, but you never know.”

He shrugged at my question. Both Renia, who is currently investigating the incident, and the Adventurers’ Guild that Patrick has connections with, were sincerely investigating what happened that day.

If Renia, a scholar of high status and reputation, and the guild, which is widely spread across the entire continent, are determined to investigate, news should surely come soon.

“What if such an incident occurs again in a distant place?”

“It would be good if they could resolve it on their own, but if not, we’ll have to think about it.”

I briefly did some mental calculations at Patrick’s words, which implied asking if I was thinking of stepping in. I thought the probability that only I could solve the problem was low, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility.

Even if I dislike troublesome things, I can’t just sit and die because of it.

“It’s not just important to bring down Ethan.”

And at that moment, from Herman’s table, where I had only been listening as if it were flowing white noise, information that seemed to have more value than just small talk finally started to leak out.

While calmly having a meal with his colleagues, I focused on the content of their conversation relayed by the wind spirits.

It was a moment when the true intentions of the enemies, whom Ethan only had suspicions about, were nakedly revealed.

“But brother, we don’t have that much spare funds yet. The commanders will surely demand sincerity…”

“Damn it, those old relics are just as greedy for money now as they were before.”

Money, the topic of their conversation was mostly about money.

Since Ethan’s main job is also worrying about how to protect and run his business, the entire organization is essentially about money.

Whether that’s normal or not, I don’t know, but the promotion Ethan is aiming for is ultimately a battle of who can achieve more results and bribe the higher-ups more.

‘The artifacts must have been quite overpowered.’

In that sense, the ancient artifacts that Ethan started distributing through me must have been like nuclear bombs to other competitors, so I could understand why they were desperately trying to interfere with Ethan.

“With what we have now, it’s impossible to prepare spare funds.”

“I know. It’s stupid to expand our work here in the first place. If the remaining positions are filled, we’ll be left with just debt and unfinished work.”

Herman, who seemed to have finished eating, started just talking, mixing sighs and irritation as he complained. He seemed a bit disheveled, probably because he was full, the weather was nice, and he had been drinking fruit wine since the afternoon.

“We need short-term profits. Artifacts or something like that. If Ethan doesn’t have anything hidden separately and falls behind like this.”

He grumbled that they needed to earn more money instantly. I flinched for a moment when he mentioned artifacts as an example.

‘It seems they didn’t commit these acts with such a long-term view.’

There was no more nutritious conversation after that, but at least I easily found out that it was Herman and other branch leaders who had joined hands to attack and interfere with Ethan.

I had solved the most important task, but there were still schedules to keep here.

Now that we knew who attacked us, we needed more information to make it easier to counterattack and retaliate.

“Now that we’ve had our meal, we should go unpack our luggage.”

“Do that. I’m done with what I needed to see for now.”

After Herman’s group left, we also finished our meal and got up from our seats.

I didn’t particularly object to Patrick’s suggestion to go to the lodging. We were lucky to meet the target and heard almost everything we needed while sitting there. Additional activities will be done after it gets a bit darker.

Until then, we were free to enjoy ourselves.

“This is also the biggest city in this area. It’s bright even though it’s night.”

“The night view made of glowstones isn’t bad either.”

Evening in Id, a city in a foreign country. As the sun set and it got dark, lights began to illuminate the streets. The night view that Lina admired wasn’t one of electric lights and skyscrapers.

To me, it was a night view with a completely different sensibility, somewhat mysterious and cozy.

Many people also didn’t go to sleep immediately just because the sun had set, but engaged in different activities than during the day. From workers and adventurers drinking alcohol after finishing a hard day’s work to those heading to entertainment districts that only start business at night.

“The stuffy count’s personality has softened quite a bit recently, so they’re rapidly increasing. Be it taverns or entertainment districts.”

Patrick was amazed that this place had developed more than a few years ago.

I was interested too, but in fact, coming out at night like this wasn’t purely with the intention of sightseeing and touring.

“You two go have fun and then head back. I have somewhere I need to go.”

I decided to act separately from Patrick and Lina. It was to secretly go near Herman’s house that I had discovered earlier today to listen for information.

It’s what they were doing at Ethan’s house, but unless they have the power to communicate with spirits, it should be quite difficult for them to notice.

“Use us more?”

As I hurried my steps down a different path after parting from my companions, both the wind spirits and earth spirits were clamoring. Asking me to use them more.

In fact, being able to communicate with them just by standing still is an incredible ability, but the spirits always wanted even more intense and frequent communication.

‘They’re enjoying this more than me, I swear.’

They enjoy everything they do with me. Not just fighting magical beasts, but even this covert spy game.

Smirking at the sight of the wind spirits, who were somehow more enthusiastic than me, shaking their bodies and taking the lead, I soon entered a quiet wealthy district.

In the wealthy district located in the north of the city, there are mansions and high-end shops that are incomparable to the shacks in the slums. Herman’s mansion was here, where even the paving material of the ground was different.

“I’ll allow it, so go and find out.”

I smirked and instructed the eager wind spirits to go inside the mansion and relay words.

Inside the mansion where many people were, the wind spirits began to find Herman, whose face they had already memorized, and relay everything he said to me.

Meanwhile, I acted as naturally as possible to avoid suspicion.

Anyway, there were many servants belonging to each mansion busily coming and going around. Disguised as a maid, I too blended in naturally among them.

“You say there’s an item that might interest me?”

And then, among the meaningless conversations relayed by the wind spirits, a conversation worth listening to finally came up.

* * *

“It’s information I accidentally found out after getting Rogers drunk.”

“Interesting. To think that those guys who only sold poor people through usury would get their hands on such a top-class item.”

Herman, who couldn’t even imagine that the wind around him was eavesdropping on this conversation, showed interest in the story of the subordinate who had hurriedly come to him.

Perhaps it was an important matter that could fill the one shot he had been worrying about for his promotion.

“An elf slave.”

“Yes, I don’t know where they picked it up, but it seems to be a clear elf with blonde hair and green eyes. If the branch leader can obtain it and present it to the overall commander, you’ll easily be able to get what you want. But they’re planning to put it up for auction in the black market. As you know, the moment this information spreads to the black market, competitors will rapidly increase.”

The subordinate’s eyes sparkled.

If you want enormous profits, you have to pay a corresponding price. Herman knew this too, so he smirked, raising the corners of his mouth.

“It’s not an item that a mere gang of thugs should possess. Rex, you’re saying we should take it, aren’t you?”

A precious item that doesn’t match their status is more likely to bring blood than profit.

He intended to personally teach this truth of life to those who carelessly leaked the information.

“Get the boys ready. Before this news spreads any further, we’ll handle it quietly so that not even a mouse or bird knows.”

“Yes!”

He decided to mobilize his subordinates to sweep away the opponents and snatch the elf slave. If they can do it this way, there’s no need to buy it with money.

“…What did I just hear?”

And of course, all of this conversation was also relayed to the one eavesdropping outside the wall.

The ears of the one with red eyes gleaming under the hood twitched.