Loki invited me to one of the safe houses.
The place is a newly built apartment not so far from Shizukukan in the stars. Inside the beautiful room was filled with costumes and props for disguise. According to Loki's story, there are multiple similar safe houses (safehouses) in the capital.
"A knob. Well, take it easy."
Sitting in the living room chair, Loki brought two cheeses and a glass of wine. I open the wine Loki gave me and pour it into each other's glasses.
"Smells good. How much did you do?
"Millions. It was a wine from a year when the grapes weren't very well made, so it was relatively cheap to buy, but it didn't make it less flavorful than it was in the best years. Blah, you don't know the difference if you cross a certain level, do you?
"Best."
I laugh and tilt the glass. The moment I tried to keep the wine in my mouth...
"Ah."
Loki, sitting across the street, suddenly turned her eyes round and made a barbaric voice.
"Admiral, nosebleed! He's got a nosebleed!
"Huh?... Oh, it's true"
When I put my hand on my mouth, red blood stuck to my finger. Not a lot, but there's blood coming out of his nasal cavity. I put a glass on the table holding my nose down. It's not a funny story to have nosebleeds in a million wines.
"Oh, oh, you look terrible... Here, wipe it with this."
Loki grabbed the towel that was nearby and handed it to me. When you hold your nose down with a towel, the white, soft fabric gradually stains red.
"I'm sorry. It helps."
"Fine. Nothing. Is that better than that? What's with the sudden nosebleed?
"It's the aftermath of the Demon King (Lord) War. Due to a series of predictive abilities, the entire body as well as the brain is weak. That's why you bled your nose."
"... did the doctor see you?
"Naturally. According to the doctor, if you stay still for a while, you'll be fine."
In fact, he's still recovering considerably. Immediately after the battle, he suffered from headaches and bleeding and was unable to always lack strong medicines. There is no longer a need for medication, and I am leaving it to natural healing. As the doctor said, we are returning to a healthy body. Training, which is routine, is also starting to resume little by little, but so far I see no major problems.
"So, what's the information I like?
Loki blushed when I urged her to talk with a towel on her face.
"No, even if they tell you to talk in that state..."
"The blood stops immediately. Just talk to me."
"Uh-huh... Oh, yeah! That might work!
Unexpectedly Loki clapped her hand and stood up, removing a small silver box from the sideboard. And then he opens that lid and gives it to me.
"... tobacco?
What was inside was a cigarette cigarette. Loki nodded as I frowned.
"Oh, it's haemostatic and analgesic"
"I know that works for tobacco. But I'm a Seeker, right? Tobacco reduces cardiopulmonary function, so don't smoke."
"This tobacco is an alchemist's medicine. It works similarly to normal tobacco but does not produce toxins that harm the body. For that matter, the flavor is quite off and the value is tense, but I think it would be perfect for the current Admiral."
"Dependency?
"Quite. It's just that the Admiral has mental tolerance, right?
"... Hmm"
As Loki says, being a magician, I have mental endurance. Not only is it resistant to mental disorders (debuffs), but its ability to maintain itself is also an effect of resistance. The dependence on tobacco is no different.
"Then just one bottle"
When I took the cigarette and put it in my mouth, Loki set me on fire with a match. While I can smell red phosphorus, I inhale smoke deep into my lungs. The aroma was thin and slightly resembled vanilla. White smoke spitting out into the void shakes like a spirit body (ghost).
I keep smoking while I drop ashes in the ashtray at the table. By the time I finished smoking one, my nosebleeds had stopped completely thanks to a constriction of blood vessels. He's also very smart.
"For the first time, you look like you're smoking."
"Thank you."
"I thought I'd see the Admiral swallow in smoke."
"I used to smoke poison gas at work, but I could swallow it with this much smoke."
"Ha, I see. Explorers are horrible after all. So, did you like that cigarette?
"Not bad."
Works really well. This doesn't seem to be a problem for everyday use.
"That's more than anything. I'll do it case by case, so make use of it. The store you're selling will know when you see the engraving on the back of the case"
"Are you okay? Smoking this means you have a disease that's bothering you too, right?
"Mine happens sometimes. You just have to buy it when you need it."
"Hmm. If that's the case, I'd appreciate it."
I lit another cigarette, rubbing a match with one hand. Then moisten your throat with the wine you were missing while smoking purple smoke.
"Yeah, delicious. It's a wine that's classy but unpretentious and has a deep taste. Excellent rich acidity similar to blackberries and spicy aromas unbeatable by tobacco smoke"
"... are you really new to smoking? There's a gang of Yakuza parents out there."
"You idiot. I know you said it was the first time."
That said, it's not a bad story that Piercing is out there. I'm prone to gender misunderstandings because of my mother's conceded face. Thanks to my frequent appearance in the paper, I was less mistaken than before, but I was also concerned that I still didn't have enough piercing as a man. If you can make it up to me, you didn't throw away the cigarettes either.
"Don't give me shit, just give me the info"
"... that, but still, why don't we change the day?
"Ahhh? What are you talking about now, you?"
"Admiral, you better get some rest. If you can't do it even though you're not in the right shape, it won't be a lot of results."
"Don't be ridiculous. Though you are the best informed person that information is lifelike. Don't tell me it's hot."
"I know that, too. That's why I'm here to see you. But you are also being targeted by the King of Tsubaki. If I show you where you're weak, they'll hunt you down, huh?
King of Tsubaki, anything in the back society that will solve any problem with even money. Even Loki, who is the best informant in the Empire, can't even grasp his place because of his disgrace.
He's my enemy. Until I killed Andreas, my employer, I tried to block my plan. That was clearly a behavior that transcended the boundaries of the store for anything, and there is no question that it was of personal harm.
"You think I freak out every time I eat corpse meat?
"I'm sure the Admiral will never fear anyone. But that's why I think it's dangerous. You know it's work, fear that helps you."
"Well, tell me."
I smoked and sat back deep in my chair.
"It's about the King of Tsubaki, but you don't have to worry. Because he's my enemy, but he won't attack me right now. He has his purpose. You can't just leave me alone."
"The purpose of the King of Tsubaki? What, that?
"I guess he wants to destroy this world."
"What? Duh, what do you mean, it?
"Meaning as words say"
I have never exchanged words with the King of Tsubaki. I don't even know who he is. However, having him retrieve the modified bodies and have the experts examine them, it turns out that the power is extremely close to the ability of the devil (the beast) than the skill of a person.
So is the King of the Beast the Devil? Or is he the one who gained the power of the devil (Beast)? We don't know that far yet, but either way, we will definitely be hateful to mankind. There was no way a guy like that could just stick to me. More importantly, if you wanted to kill me first, you would have attacked me right after the most vulnerable Demon King (Lord) battle.
"Anyway, the King of Tsubaki will not be a problem right now."
"No, but it doesn't change that the Admiral isn't in perfect condition."
"Change the day because it's not full. You're doing that, and you really think you can be Seven Stars (Legalia)?
"It's..."
Loki fell preoccupied with the answer and turned away.
"Loki, can you imagine yourself in ten years?
"What the hell, from a stick to a stick..."
Answer me.
"Come on? If you're lucky, aren't you doing well? What about the Admiral?
"I can clearly think of that. Ten years from now, it's a full season, physically and mentally. We will grow more clans than we do now and lead the world's strongest clans with fame."
"Damn, that's awesome. I'm no match for the Admiral."
Loki whispers the wine as if he were stubborn. You must have thought I was underestimating Loki. But that's not what I was trying to say.
"Don't get me wrong. I don't want to take a mental mount. True, I live a long way ahead of me. But it's just a dream."
"A dream?"
"Yes, it's a dream. No matter how much people put into HR, they don't get a definitive future. The future is just like the smoke that's bubbling here, and if you blow it, it's obscure enough to disappear. So I'll never leave it to you tomorrow. The only thing I believe in is me being here right now. Change the day? I will not forgive myself for such a body. Never."
Plus, I keep laughing.
"Apparently, I'm better at hunting people than hunting demons (beasts)"
I still don't know what Loki's story is about, but it would definitely be about the Seven Stars (Regalia) first. From here on out, what I need to hunt is not the devil (Beast), but the same Seeker. My best fight awaits.
"... Admiral, you're crazy."
Loki laughed and said, but the voice was shaking a little.
"Are you afraid of me?
"You're scary. Even if we can talk intimately, you're still a monster."
"Then you'll finish the story before the monster eats you."
"... ok. - What I brought you is information about the third star of the Seven Stars, the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei)."
After all, is it the Seven Stars relationship? I look forward and encourage ahead.
"What kind of information is that?
"Johann Eisfeld, master of the Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei), intends to start a railroad company in this empire"
"The railroad company...... so?
To an unexpected answer, I was about to drop a cigarette.
Creating a railway company means passing railroads through this empire. Railway technology itself already exists and is therefore never possible. Locomotives running on demonic (beast) guided engines (engines), rugged and precise tracks, all of which can be easily manufactured with the technical capabilities of today's empire.
The problem is that empires are more prone to abyss (avis) than other countries. In other words, the tracks and the abyss (Abyss) - there was a good chance that the danger zone would overlap, and that was why railways were not prevalent in the empire. Although some techniques control the location of the abyss (Avis), railways will not be able to easily transfer the location of the occurrence, as extensive land needs to be used.
In our neighbouring Republic of Rodania, we have heard that the railways were opened four years ago and have had significant economic effects. In contrast, an empire in which magical civilization is more developed than in Rodania remains ironically dependent on the power of horses. It is a long way off that airships, the latest transport technology in the Empire, become popular. Therefore, if the railroad really opens up, the empire can be further developed. When that happens, it's a realm of no one else.
"Is that story true?
"Oh, definitely. Johann is in a cooperative relationship with Volcan Heavy Industries."
"Volkan Heavy Industries...... you're a big company fighting for one or two in Imperial City. But how are you going to solve the problem of Abyss?
"From there, it's up to the investigation."
I guessed what Loki was trying to say and I had to laugh bitterly.
"I see, you're good at business"
If you want the truth, pay for it. I don't find that offensive. Whatever you get, there is a legitimate consideration.
More importantly, Johan's plan must be prevented by any means. Because the value of the clan is determined not only by its ability to fight, but also by its influence on society. If you allow Johann to run away like this, it won't be possible for me to get to the top.
When we had a conversation before, I knew exactly what an ambitious that man was. I have a good attitude towards the apex, but unfortunately I am not going to give in easily.
Either way, in order for me to be a Seven Star (Legalia), I needed one of my existing clans to crush me. And the reason why it shouldn't be a mermaid's soul song (Lorelei) doesn't exist anywhere.
Mermaid Soul Song (Lorelei) - No, Johann Icefeld. Ask him to disappear.
"Admiral, you look bad."
"It just looks that way with the addition and subtraction of light. So, how much is the investigation cost?
"Billion Phil."
"A billion? Yeah, a million gifts got expensive."
Typically, the fee for asking Loki is low and millions of fils. It's as high as 10 million fils. Yet this time it came a hundred times the highest price. But you don't seem to be fooling me. I mean, I guess that's the decision that makes the investigation so difficult.
"Is it that hard to investigate Johan?
"That's hard. Unlike corrupt nobles and officials, active and highest-level Explorers (Explorers) are the opponents, and I need to be prepared to do the same. Think of the billions as the price of my life."
"Understood. Let's pay a billion fils."
It's a painful expense, but it's a necessary expense to defeat Johan. The opponent is far more generous than me. There's no way I can spare you and win. He is an enemy that should be challenged by betting everything. When I took out the check and wrote down the amount, I gave it to Loki.
"I'll give it to you in advance. Make sure you succeed."
"Oh, I know."
Loki nodded with a strange face. But don't try to touch the check.
"What's up? Is there a problem?
"... there's something I'd like to ask the Admiral"
"What are you asking me to do?
As I tilted my neck, Loki shook her body uncomfortably.
"I know this isn't the brother-in-law I asked for, but there's no one else I could ask for.... If I fail to investigate and die, can you ask for my brother?
"My brother? What are you talking about?
"It's just one family. I have no other family than myself. I now live with a servant in a suburban mansion.... so if anything happens to me, give me that billion to my brother. Then, it would help if my brother could work out a way to live alone. Admiral, you're good at that, aren't you?
"You're definitely good at it. But you, brother..."
I push the cigarette I was smoking into the ashtray. The unexpected aspect of Loki taking care of her brother - no, that's a weakness. If it's true, it would be a secret I don't want to tell anyone.
"You gave in to Albert before because he found out about your brother?
"... oh, as the Admiral has guessed. If I didn't listen, they threatened to kill my brother. You didn't have a choice against me."
"You're an idiot.... stupid, you."
I'm all alone now, too, but I know how important my family is. Still, it's too blind. I wonder how much he cares about his brother.
"Admiral, you owe me that time. So I want to help you. I'm worried about my brother, but if you're going to be my guardian, I can try my job with confidence."
Loki's gaze at me was sincere everywhere. I'm not lying. So I lit the third cigarette, blew it and then nodded.
"Fine. We have a contract."