"Oops, it's unusual. I can't believe Mr. Omae showed up on Cocoli Street this time of year."

"What do you mean, you got something nice? It's a corner, so I asked him to drop by."

Owen, a pedestrian trader, exchanged words with the pawn owner of a certain store, a familiar face on Cocoli Street.

What he specializes in is fur.

He collects fur from a hunter who is benevolent and wholesales it to Cocoli Street.

But at times, he always visits Cocoli Street before winter, this time foolishly early.

As he put it, the carriage was loaded with tap and fur. They are all of good quality and will definitely come with a good price.

"Thanks. I hear the beasts and demons are active and well taken this year. As far as I'm concerned, I appreciate this every year."

"Ha-ha-ha! Sure would if it came from Mr. Omae and the others!

Pavilion owner and Owen laughed at each other and entered into price negotiations for fur.

Settling on a sum satisfactory to both sides, Owen leaves the store.

Now I buy items in Cocoli Street and sell them in another city.

This is how traffickers make money.

I may leave the city soon, but this time I plan to stay in Kokoli Street for a while.

The reason for the stay is to temporarily relieve the fatigue of the long journey.

But the original purpose is separate.

Owen keeps the carriage and takes the inn.

I left the inn without keeping my hips down.

He had a side business that people couldn't tell him about.

He is an external collaborator of the Legion of Gold and Executioner.

If the Executioner (Seeker) is asked to work, he/she first obtains as much information as possible about the subject.

What kind of person they are, their appearance, age, family structure, neighborhood information, security system, map of the city, structure of the building, map of the city interior, survey of people around the target person, survey of people entering and exiting the building, etc.

Executioner (Seeker) members may stretch their legs locally to obtain information and obtain it directly.

However, depending on the target, it can become noticeable among executioner (Seeker) members.

For example, small villages and towns, cities divided by academics and the powerful, religious establishments, etc. - places where outsiders can come in and become evil noticeable.

If it stands out, it alerts the target and reduces the chance that it can be killed.

To avoid doing so, let people in and out of the vicinity obtain information on a daily basis. That's an outside collaborator like Owen.

Executioners (Seekers) use outsiders who are not regular Legion members to obtain information unilaterally without passing it on to their opponents.

If someone comes in and out of the place that isn't unnatural, it doesn't stand out - that's the dimension.

Instead of obtaining information, of course, they are paying quite a bit of an information fee.

And if you destroy information, you have no life, even if you are a collaborator.

In the past, external collaborators who betrayed the executioner (Explorer) have been tortured and killed by their families in a 'better off dead' manner.

Because we know that, external collaborators will never betray the executioner (Seeker).

Owen is an outside collaborator who has been to Cocoli Street many times, so this time an arrow of white feathers stood.

The executioner (Seeker) also gave him superior fur to make a reason to visit Kokoli Street.

Profits from this fur may be missed again apart from information fees.

Treated as a necessary expense only.

And out of the inn, Owen walks out to the headquarters of the New and Pure Maiden Knights.

(I didn't think Legion would sell a fight to the executioner (Seeker)...)

He has visited Cocoli Street in business many times.

For this reason, he is also familiar with the Knights of Pure Maiden, a former legion (Legion).

I also know how the "New and Pure Maiden Knights" were made and the "Red Armor Case".

On top of that, I pitied the lutes selling fights to the executioner (Seeker).

(It seems dark back there selling off the young girls, but this one saves just enough money to get the store out in a little while. You don't even know who you are, resent yourself for selling fights to executioners.)

Save almost the target amount with this information fee.

Not open-air.

Buy land, build buildings, buy sales rights.

The dream of becoming the Lord of every Castle in every country will come true.

Because of that, but Owen wants to make this request a success.

I reach the headquarters of the New and Pure Maiden Knights, which I don't really lean on for my usual work.

The gate is open and hostile to the executioner (Seeker), but he doesn't appear to be on special alert. In the ground, the girls were sweating at the training.

(Do these guys really know who they're selling fights to?

Owen gets spooked by that looseness of vigilance.

Hostiles are an army of gold (Legion) classes, executioners (Seekers). They say it's a bunch of assassins fighting for one or two on the continent...

(Well, less alert is easier and more helpful to work with...)

He slowly walks out around headquarters.

Remember the road width, details of the buildings lined up in the vicinity, details of the headquarters and the height of the walls. I can't do it on a boulder at once, so I hide and write it down.

Moreover, it does not just coincide the letters, but makes them its own original cryptography.

At first glance, it appears only to be the purchase of the store and the sale value of the product, but it is a cryptography that Owen only understands.

When you give it to the executioner (Seeker), of course, modify it so they can see it.

Take time again, and sometimes visit again the next day to sort out the information in detail.

It's a job I've done many times.

Gather information the way you're used to it.

About five years since he became an external collaborator.

This is the job. I'm sorry I was suspected of being suspicious and locked up in jail once or twice.

Sometimes the area around the target is investigated in tension that pierces the skin.

Easier things to do in this investigation than at that time.

The people around you are sparse, ordinary people who can tell at a glance that they are walking irrelevant.

That's just Owen, too.

(Are you sure you're hostile to the Executioner? Isn't that a false alarm?) I'm not nervous enough to suspect.

It's a lot easier to work because of you...

Thus Owen followed Cocoli Street when he obtained perimeter information for the headquarters of the New and Pure Maiden Knights without bitterness.

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Leaving Cocoli Street, Owen headed for the Inn Town, about three days from the city.

When he enters the tavern, he sits at the counter and asks for alcohol and a knob.

A pair of men sat next to me drinking appropriately.

There's something sharp about the men's faces, but they're not particularly noticeable.

Owen takes the paper out of his trouser pocket and places it on the counter table.

I can wear the hat that one of the men wore on it.

In the meantime, time flies. The goods ordered by the men arrive.

Owen left the store at a price when he indulged in alcohol and knobs all the way.

There's a motorcycle parked on the way to the hotel.

This completes the handover of information.

After that, ask the executioner (Seeker) who scrutinized the information to pay for the information.

If I receive that money, I can have a memorial shop.

(Take the store, put the business on track and my wife will get it. He was a three boy farmer in a small village, but I used to get here)

If I hadn't been an external collaborator of the executioner (Seeker), I wouldn't have had a store so quickly.

Merchants about the same age would have difficulty saving the same amount if they didn't do it as early as 10 years later, or 20 years later.

Few people lose their lives in the meantime when they are attacked by accidents, illnesses, burglars and demons.

(You're really lucky yourself)

Satisfied with the strength of his own luck, he dives right into the floor when he returns to the inn.

Owen enjoys the softness of a well-dried futon, the smell of sunshine. Tomorrow I'll have to go to the wild house again.

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

"Good morning. And even so, it's still late at night."

(Hey, what!? What the hell is going on!?

Owen noticed, he couldn't move.

Apparently, he's tied to a chair, blindfolded, and his mouth blocked with a cloth.

What you hear from your ears is the voice of a young man.

"If you shout out, I'll kill you. If you try to escape, I will kill you. If you lie, I won't kill you, but I'll cut your fingers off. Nod slowly if you know what I mean."

Her voice was still young, but she sounded as cold as a blade.

I only had one conversation with the head of the executioner (Seeker), Mute Assassination (Silent Worker).

When I handed over the information, I rarely answered a couple of questions on the spot to confirm.

Even then, my guts felt freezing cold.

I feel so cold from the person I'm talking to right now that I can't beat that silent assassination (silent worker).

Owen nodded slowly as he sweated.

"Omae is a collaborator of the executioner, isn't she?

"Ki, collaborator? Do you? I'm sorry, but I have no idea."

"I lied, so I cut my fingers off. Which finger do you want?

"Wait!

"Loud voice"

In a hurry Owen drops his voice.

"I really don't know. True. I'll do it for the money. So don't cut my finger off, don't kill me."

"Right or not. Then why were you handing the paper to the liquor store pair? That would be a description of information around the headquarters of the New and Pure Maiden Knights. Or are you saying it's a recipe for cooking?

Owen is stunned.

How does this guy know he gave a bunch of paper with information to an executioner (Seeker) member?

The man laughs coldly.

"It's no use hiding it. When I entered Cocoli Street, I had a star of sight that Omae was a member or collaborator of the executioner."

At the time Owen appeared in his usual shop, a report had arrived in Muir, a PEACEMAKER diplomat, as a suspicious person.

He was caught in Muir's built-up vigilance net because he showed his face at an unusual time.

Later, Muir gathered as much information as she could about Owen, especially the funds she had.

The information was scrutinized by Barney, the third family member whose parents are exchangers.

As a result, it turns out he hides it well, but clearly has more money in his possession than the size of his business.

At that point, PEACEMAKER was blacklisted and monitored all the time.

"I let him swim after and let him follow me. It was the moment I handed over the paper to the demonic men that confirmed it."

(Were you followed by Cocoli Street? No! Impossible!

Nor has Owen been an external collaborator of executioners (seekers) to Dade for years.

Because it is directly linked to my own safety, my life, I checked my nerves again and again for tails. There were several carriages that followed him out of Cocoli Street, but they chased him through and moved on, broke up at the crossroads, etc., and eventually not a single one disappeared.

Occasionally, I rendezvoused with carriages from another city or village, but it's hard to believe they were tailing themselves.

(So how did he follow himself!? You can't be! Think common sense!?

I scream all over my chest but desperately think back over and over, but Owen has no mistakes.

"Silence takes affirmation"

"Oh, yeah. An accomplice of the executioner."

Complete blockage.

Owen had to honestly say the answer.

I beg for my life as I shed cold sweat disgustingly.

"Well, it's just a matter of checking the information, giving it to me, and getting paid. I'm not a full member, I'm a complete outsider. I don't know anything about being questioned about an executioner (Seeker). True. So don't kill me. Please. I'll give you as much money as I have."

Executioners (Seekers) do not tolerate traitors.

Dead people will kill you with an execution method called Better, but if you defy now, either way, you will be killed.

That's why I dared to beg for my life, aiming at a critical line that would not betray me.

But the reply from the man was unexpected.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. Some information is called other external collaborators? I buy it from them. Instead, I'm here to talk about making money."

"Also, a money-making story?

"Oh, I'm going to give you a new and pure Maiden Knights headquarters plan now. I want you to give this to the Executioner (Seeker) member. Of course it's not fake. It's a real map."

confused without knowing their intentions.

It doesn't seem to give away deceptive information to disrupt the executioner (Seeker), nor does it call and capture members.

But no matter how odd the offer, you have no right to defy Owen right now.

If you refuse, they'll just kill you.

"Wow, okay. Thank you."

"Nice negotiation. Keep the drawings on the bed. Better not be a bad petty worker or act. We're always watching over you. If you do anything extra, your brain is supposed to blow up to the Heavenly God's residence. You know what this means, don't you?

"I know. I know. I would never do anything extra."

Owen nodded and agreed many times.

"Then remove the rope of your hands and feet. And keep it up. Slowly count to 100 in your mind. When you're done counting, you can take your blindfold."

When he nodded at the instructions, he slowly started counting 100 in his chest, as he was told.

The ropes of the hands and feet are simultaneously severed.

Fear runs on my spine.

I thought there were only men in the room, but they have more than one besides him.

I'm really glad I didn't have a bad resistance.

And Owen slowly finishes counting 100 and takes the blindfold.

At first, I had a hard time checking my surroundings because I had been compressing my eyes the whole time. There was a round piece of paper on the bed when the pain caught and my eyes became blind.

It would be a schematic of what the man calls the new and pure Maiden Knights headquarters.

This is proof that what happened earlier is not a dream or illusion.

But the windows and doors didn't sound open at all.

It sounds terrible trying to open both for the cheap lodging.

Owen realized that he had been blinded by a hell of a lot of them.

There's only one way out of their eyes.

It is to obey their instructions as obediently as livestock. Even if it is treachery against the executioner.

And Owen was firmly determined to wash his feet from outside collaborators only this time.