Legend

Ray, Seto, and the guards were walking towards the aristocratic city.

The aim is the stronghold of those who appear to be the masterminds of the Kobolt affair.

That, too, is not a disposable base as Granger knew it to be, but a real base.

Most importantly, given the prudence of the other side, it is not surprising that there is another base besides the one we will be heading to.

Either way, the Rays were headed for that stronghold, but not all of them are walking together.

If it comes down to things like Ray and Seto and a large number of guards moving around together, it stands out, naturally.

That's why Ray and Seto walked around feeling like they were appropriately buying and eating, and each of the guards moved in their own personal clothes, parting into several groups.

The reason I've been so vigilant is because this time they still think they have a high ability to gather information.

Particularly large was the possibility that there was a traitor among the guards, but this time it seemed unlikely that the information was being circulated over there, as they were acting quickly to get information and then move on to action and monitor each other among the guards on top of it.

(Well, if there's more than one connection over there, and that multiple cooperates... I can't deny the possibility that there's information flowing over here. However, given the speed of action, I would like to think that it is highly probable that I have not given the other side time to respond…)

Ray turns his gaze around as he eats the skewers he bought at the stall.

Is it a professional pattern, the guards don't look particularly prominent and at first glance they just look like regular passers-by.

The way it blended in meant that the guards were used to the work of this hand.

(With that said, there was a TV special edition or something. But there was a masked police car, but is that what it feels like?... No, one way or another, a personal clothes guard or something like that?

Walking down the road remembering when I was in Japan, I guess it was because the aristocratic city eventually approached me. There are also fewer stalls naturally.

Some aristocrats can't stand to have something like a street near where they live.

Of course some are acceptable, but the number is not high.

"Ray, it's time"

One of the approaching guards briefly tells Ray that he's coming to Ray's side.

He's wearing normal clothes that don't seem like guards, but his expression has changed from ordinary people's to guard's.

That was not just the guards who came talking to Ray, but the other guards as well.

Probably because we're getting closer to the aristocracy and there's less people around us. They don't all come together individually, they come together on Ray's side.

There are still some passers-by, but if that passers-by also sees Ray and Seto, they decide that's what it is and go too far without paying particular attention to it.

If Ray and Seto are here, it's not weird no matter what happens.

I was sure you thought that way.

I had a few things to say about that, Ray, but sometimes it's convenient now, and I never complained.

Proceed with the guards that have gathered, and eventually you will see the building you are looking for.

Pretty splendid mansion just close to the aristocratic district.

Even less, it's not such an easy building for the average person to buy, such a mansion.

"Is that the mansion?

"That's right.... if what the redcloth man is saying isn't cod."

"Cod outta here, or it might be possible that you took that kind of means to help yourself... but that man felt in danger after he leaked the matter to me, you know? Or you could have perceived your danger and made it look like you didn't know anything..."

As I agree with Ray's words, the guards around me nod.

If you talk to that man at all, you'll soon find out that he's not the kind of person to turn his head on such things.

Because it was obvious that you had the short-circuited personality as it seemed.

I guess that's why you followed stupid orders like breaking dirt walls.

"Anyway, suppose I just sneak in?... I'll ask you once, okay?

The guard asked Ray, nodding quietly.

It was a question in the sense that we don't have to have something like an investigation warrant, but if you're a guard, this much impotence is a routine tea meal.

That is more than a guild that brings together many adventurers. Many cases cannot be solved without doing so.

… although, naturally, if such imitation became irrelevant, the corresponding responsibility would be taken.

Especially this time, even if it is not the aristocratic district itself, it is happening in a mansion close to the aristocratic district.

If what the redcloth man was saying was cod, no doubt the guards present on this occasion would be taken responsibility.

Even if I knew that... still, the guards weren't going to stop this action.

Though monsters to the extent of a cobolt, it is clearly dangerous to have someone in the guild who manipulates them in large numbers.

Because it is obvious that if there are more people in the spring and there is a massive outbreak of cobolts when construction begins, it will be catastrophic.

As guards, there was absolutely nothing wrong with anything more than being likely to be such a danger and, if nothing, to be responsible for ourselves.

Also, it's not like the guards are unmatched.

If the risk is high, the return is also, naturally, significant.

If we can catch one of Kobolt's masterminds here, it will also be of great benefit to the guards in their assessment.

Still, it just seems like the risk is overwhelmingly higher if you try it on Ray.

(I don't know what to say, people are good or they have a strong sense of responsibility as guards...... that's what it looks like)

Ray is convinced with a grin as he looks at the snorting guards.

"Then go."

"Oh."

The guards nod at Ray's words... one of them opens his mouth.

"You should just be careful. From what I've seen, that mansion seems like a lot of convenient places to hide from. I mean, if there's anything you can do, you can hide somewhere and do us a favor, or in some cases you can ambush us here."

"Uh, right. Outside, Seto would find a place where his enemies are hiding, but when they imitate him like that in the mansion or something, it's a bit of a hassle. Fortunately, there are no redcloth people here."

Each of the guards reacts to Ray's words... but he stands in front of the Mansion Gate, making sure everyone is convinced, naturally, that he can handle any surprise attack at any time.

If this is an aristocratic neighborhood or a mansion like the one where more dignified people live, it's not strange to have a gatekeeper... unfortunately, there is currently no such thing as a gatekeeper here.

Above and beyond that, we do not imitate that we call out of the gate here very manly, but go straight into the mansion through the gate.

It would not be strange if someone were to enter unauthorized on the premises of the mansion and the people of that house would come out immediately.

But so far nothing like that has happened at all.

"Nobody's coming out. Are you not aware of this one at all, or are you waiting for this one in the mansion?... Which one do you think?

Ray asks, but the guards aren't familiar with this mansion either.

No, I can point my gaze at whether or not Ning Lo Ray could have predicted it, even if he has been dating a redcloth man for some time that brought more information here.

But even though we've been dating a long time, that's only about an hour...... no, it's only about a few dozen things.

With that degree of dating length, it's Ray's honest feeling about what he can anticipate.

Either way, Seto and some of the guards do not enter the mansion and prepare to deal with it if anyone escaped through some back door or window.

Other faces arrived in front of the door to enter the mansion.

"You didn't think there'd be any reaction when you got here. Did you think that if you pretended to be away, you could delude me?

"I don't know. I can't say there's any chance that Ray's doing what he says. But... I don't know if you think you can do that to us. If they find us, we can't delude them."

"Didn't realize someone was coming, or something?

Listen to the guards and knock on the door as a courtesy for once.

I didn't even think Ray would come out with this, but still... and that's what I thought...

"Huh?"

The first person to utter such a voice was Ray, who knocked.

I knew that no one would ever come out of the door, and that's what I thought, because there were signs of someone approaching from across the door.

I'm just surprised he decided he wouldn't imitate someone coming out so dignified, and the guards question him after seeing how Ray is doing like that.

But before the guards asked Ray why he was so surprised, the door opened.... Ray didn't open it, someone in the mansion opened it.

"Yes, which is it?

It was the old man who showed up saying that.

He's wearing neat clothes to see, and if he's called a butler, he looks convincing to everyone.

……

Ray gently turns his gaze to the guard next to him.

What do you think? I asked with a gaze, but the color of confusion is strong in that gaze.

Naturally. If you manipulated the red cloth behind you and thought it was the base where one of the Cobolt's masterminds would have something to do with it, then this is how you came out because you were the only one who looked like a butler.

But the guards who were gazed at also wonder how to return to Ray's bewildered gaze.

According to the materials in the guard, this mansion is currently for sale, and no one should have lived there.

That's why I was deciding it would be just the right place to use it as a base... I could have said it was a completely unexpected result.

"Uh, I'm sorry. I'm a guard, isn't this mansion currently empty?

"Guards, is that it? For that matter, I'm dressed..."

It's not strange to look suspiciously at the guards the old man talked to when you think about the guards in private clothes.

It hurts for the guards to get poked there too, but still another guard who was next to the guard who was relative to the old man managed to make an excuse.

"Actually, there have been reports of suspicious people lately that this mansion is good to be vacant. However, as you know, this is close to an aristocratic neighborhood, and if so many guards have gathered and moved around such a place, the opponent may realize that and escape. So that's why I came here in private clothes."

"Ha. But the... As you can see, this mansion is currently being purchased and used by my husband.... Have you not contacted the guards around there?

"You're not here. That's why I thought this place was a deserted mansion. If it's conceivable, there are big events like the construction of the additions, the New Year's Eve, and the dismantling of Giganto Turtle, and that's probably why we're late to contact them."

You're putting the demolition of Giganto Turtle in that? It was Ray pointing his gaze at the guard, such as, but the guard lightly flushes Ray's gaze like that.

"Really? You've been busy here in the Guild lately. So there's nothing wrong with this one."

"... no"

To the words of the old man, it was Ray who said so.

There was some discomfort in the words of the old man in front of me.

It's really nothing. Ray doesn't even know where the discomfort was in the exchange.

I don't know... Still, I'm pretty sure it was uncomfortable.

In the first place, even the guards had an uncomfortable exchange, so the guards suddenly turn their gaze of doubt to Ray, who opened his mouth.

"Ray?"

To the words of the guard, Ray thinks a little… and understands why he was uncomfortable with the old man in front of him.

"Why do I smell blood from you?

That stinks so slightly of blood that normal people wouldn't notice.

I guess it was because Ray's body was created by a single gate of Zeppyr and he had five senses sharper than a normal human being that he could sense the smell of that blood.

To Ray's words, the old man strengthens his body.