Marquis' Express Butler

I hold the black star that Chris gave me. I felt cold. It looks like it's made of iron. I think I can use it as a token of appreciation.

By the way, I can't believe this is the only marker to identify the enemy. Chris looked great.

We get so close these days, sometimes we forget he was a mystery dealer.

It is reliable in many ways.

“Black... walks a dark path?" That's a hell of a name. ”

“An elite assassin raised by the Delfino family. Hardly anyone on the outside. I don't have that much information. ”

“That's why you brought it up 500 years ago. ”

Chris nods. Few know what happened 500 years ago between the Adelines and the Delfinos.

But the Delfino family line will be different.

I would have trained with blood and sweat to make up for what happened 500 years ago.

When I touched the marker, I handed it over to Chris, who kept it safe with evidence.

“Can I get you anything else? ”

“Looks like you cleaned it up and got nothing else to save. It seems like a temporary residence in the first place. There 'll be plenty of other hideouts. ”

“Let's hope there are survivors. ”

Chris shrugs. It was a gesture that told me not to expect. In the past, even when I was attacked in the royal city, all the survivors bitten and killed themselves.

A secret society would value a cause more than their own lives. It wouldn't be suicide.

Still, I hope there's an exception.

Me and Chris came out of the house. Now the fire is almost extinguished and there is nothing but smoke.

Arthurs and Eluna approach just in time.

“What do you think?”

Arthur sighs and shakes his head.

“They're all dead. No survivors. There were some critically wounded, but they were foaming and dying like they were poisoned. They're terrible. Oh, by the way...... Didn't the people who were attacked in Dylan's kingdom commit suicide like this? ”

“I was.”

I was only so sure. These guys ambushed me in the royal city the other day.

The attack or kill method is exactly the same.

I felt like I had finally taken off one of the burdens that was pressing me. At least Duke Bahamut didn't send an assassin to me.

“Are you all right? ”

“Nothing.”

“I'm fine. ”

“Then let's get back to it. We have to fill our bellies and come up with a next plan. ”

We return to Silvershire.

* * *

The evening was plentiful. Tons of the most expensive dishes at the inn. You used a bag of gold coins handed over to the Red Velvet Cluster.

Chris and Elona don't eat much, but me and Arthurs aren't the type to leave food out in front of our eyes.

Arthur is a knight in particular. The knights are very energetic, so some people are quick to get rid of them. That's why it's good to have plenty.

After we had enough to eat, we entered a mission meeting.

“Things aren't going so well. I think those two were pledges, but I missed them. They're probably hiding deeper. It'll be harder to find. ”

Chris started the briefing.

As a matter of fact, while we were returning, we looked for Mana, but we couldn't find a way to keep an eye on us.

“Most unfortunately, our cards were exposed to the enemy. Today's raid was the best we could come up with right now. ”

Chris looked at me as he blamed me. I turned my gaze away.

He's trying to figure out why he used fireballs to write hidden cards. It was good to confuse the enemies in unexpected situations, but it wasn't in his calculations until it burned.

“The enemy will not be defeated once or twice. ”

“Okay, let's talk productive. What are you doing talking about old times? ”

On my way back to town, I told Arthurs my secret. Actually, I'm Mana User. And it wasn't an explosion, it was fireball magic.

Of course, he was shocked to death.

His liking rose to 99, but his eyes changed.

If there used to be a rival consciousness, it would be the eye of desire now. I felt like it. Now the gap is too clear.

Chris clears his throat and continues his briefing.

“It may be that the Blacklings in the lair have almost been wiped out, but they'll regroup for a while. Our paths are exposed anyway. ”

Chris's analysis was reasonable. I nodded and asked him.

“I need more information on the blackness. Even if we can't pinpoint the location of the hideout, there's got to be a command unit or something. ”

“There's that much information. The Black Blade is made up of three groups. Maybe one of them is who we're dealing with. It's run by a man named Black. He's the main man. Black must have been the last one out of the cabin. Commander of the Blackbearers.”

Black. I think I'll look a few more times, but I'll keep that in mind.

“What about the woman next to him? ”

“Purple. She's the only woman in the organization. There are three others. Blue and Red, these two are in charge of the other two groups. And Green is on a special mission. Black, Blue and Red are in charge, Purple and Green are deputies. ”

You're not even a Hureshman. You're named after a color. Clumsy.

By the way, I understand that five people are the center of darkness. I think the organization is more organized than I thought.

“What do you think is going to happen? ”

“They won't be watching us anymore unless something special happens. The Watchers were backtracked and the whole hideout flew away. ”

“Then there's only one way to find out. ”

“I'll find a needle on the beach. ”

“Can't we use your network? The mystery council in the Royal Road has stopped operating, but the network on every continent should still be alive. ”

Chris nods. Then I laid out the map that I had left behind. It was a thumbnail of the map we saw in his room.

“I'm still trying to figure it out. It may take some time, but we should be able to retrieve information about secret organizations traveling around the commercial city of Barista. ”

Chris picks up the middle of the map.

Commercial city of Barista.

I've been to several places between the Royal Road and Adeline territory. It is a large enough city to fit the commercial slang and is also a strategic point between the royal archipelago and the Adeline.

In other words, it is the middle gate that must be passed through to get to the territory of Adeline.

“There are no significant threats between Silvershire and the commercial city of Barista where we live. I think there's a good chance that another group of blacksmiths is hiding somewhere near Baristas. ”

“Impossible to pull it out, isn't it? ”

“I told you, you can't see the shadow unless something special happens. ”

“Then there are two options we can choose from. The first is to conduct a search like this. Secondly, joining the mainstream. ”

The silence has gone on for a moment. It's because none of the choices were good for us.

The first option is more likely to go to waste when it is unlikely to find an enemy. If the enemy's power is concentrated, as you saw in that situation, the blow of the main battlefield will increase.

The second option is the safest, but Merritt is running out of opportunities to build a ball. Those who have suffered so far become ashamed.

“I've done what I want so far, and this time I want to give you a choice. Choose whether it's the first or the second. ”

“I'm number one. ”

Arthur spoke first. For him, this operation was the perfect opportunity to be a knight. You don't want to miss this.

“I think I'd like the first one, too. Wouldn't it be nice to trust Chris' network? ”

Eluna is the first. All that remains is Chris' choice. This is not a majority. Unless it is unanimous, each person should listen to the reason chosen.

Chris opened his mouth.

“To be honest, I'd like to choose first. It's Arthur's promotion that's at stake. Some of the things we've been through. ”

Chris looked at Arthurs and Eluna alternately.

“But we must make this mission as safe as possible. It's hard for me to ignore uncertain situations when I plan. ”

“Then it's a second bet. Join the basics.”

“No, I want to compromise. ”

I tilted my head a little differently than I expected. I was curious about his compromise.

“We had to come the way we came anyway. We'll reach the commercial city of Barista. First we wait there and wait for the principal to arrive. ”

“That's not compromise, that's in two. ”

“The headquarters has about three days to reach Barista. In the meantime, we'll find another enemy hideout on our own. ”

That's not a bad plan. It's better to complete the mission than to play for three days.

“You explained that before, right? There are five blacksmiths in total. One of them, Red, is a little unique. A sparkle like a name. I wouldn't do nothing if I knew Black was down. ”

“You mean you can disobey orders and commit arbitrary acts? ”

“I'm not going to be a dictator, but I'm going to make you do it. ”

“Looks like there's a way. ”

“I intend to use my network to spread the word. From the tavern to the children. The leader of the Blackbears was foolishly defeated by Dylan! ”

Chris stretches out his arms and smiles brightly like an actor on stage.

“The rumors will spread and be exaggerated indefinitely. Then it's natural to get into Red's ears. Then he will have no choice but to act independently despite his orders. He's a man of great loyalty to Black. ”

“I don't know if it'll work, but let's try it. You don't disagree with anyone else, do you? ”

Everyone agreed.

After a long operation meeting, we close our eyes for a moment and begin preparing for departure immediately.

Of course, before I left, I had to write a letter to Confucius Hamel. Uniquely, Chris suggested that three letters of the same content be prepared.

I quickly filled out what I needed, sealed the letter and handed it over to Chris.

“Why did you prepare three? ”

“There's a possibility of loss on the way. No matter how much they use my network, I can't say it's safe unless they intervene. ”

The letter had everything to do with this. It'll be a little bitter the whole time, but it'll be a big help in your escort strategy.

Of course I didn't write the compromise Chris gave me in that letter.

I wrote down specifically what had happened so far, which the enemies could also know. You blew up one of the enemy's lairs, but did not inflict a fatal blow. I want to join the commercial city of Barista and take action. That was it.

“Prepare the horses. I'll be right back. ”

“Escort?”

“That's enough.”

Chris leaves the inn with a letter in his hand. And he soon returned as promised.

We left Silvershire.