“Ah, Johann, come in.”
“Has everything been okay?”
“Hmm, just a bit chaotic lately.”
Chaotic atmosphere… must be because of the competition for the position of the head of the guild. Other than that, I can’t think of any other reason.
I comfortably sat on the sofa and rested my chin on my hand. I wanted to relax after walking around all morning. Seeing me like that, Sif sat across from me and stretched, saying,
“Ugh—have you had lunch yet?”
“No. I was going to eat here.”
“Then shall we go?”
“Are you not taking your siblings?”
“I have to take them.”
Without waiting for a response, Sif and I both stood up. As I left the room and looked back, Sif was locking the door to the office.
“Is it really necessary to lock it?”
“You never know. It’s unlikely, being inside the guild, but still.”
Is being thorough about locking doors a remnant from living in the slums? I thought that as I followed Sif, who was leading the way. Every time we walked down the corridor, people we passed looked at us with strange expressions.
Sif was getting some weird stares.
“Sif, what have you done? It seems the staff looks down on you.”
“What did I do? I guess it’s a little tough since I suddenly took over the office and came in through parachuting.”
Tough—that’s not a word I particularly like. But it seems like bringing Sif into Yeomyeong-gwan is the right call. Since we’ve gotten to know each other during the dungeon exploration, there shouldn’t be much resistance.
Still, it’s unavoidable that some level of awkwardness hangs in the air. After all, Sif is a woman, and by bringing her in, it’s inevitable the siblings would come along too.
I thought I might need to discuss this with Karina later on.
“If there’s something tough on your mind, just tell me. I’ll do everything I can.”
“Thanks.”
A smile bloomed at the corner of Sif’s mouth. Thinking back, the first time I met her was when I got ambushed in the dungeon. I never imagined she would become a business partner.
We moved over to Sif’s lodging and brought out Lulu and Terry, who were playing with dolls. Unlike before, they ran up to me eagerly as soon as they saw me.
“Uncle! No presents today?”
“Uncle! Let me ride on your shoulders!”
“Sorry, but there are no gifts.”
“Lulu, Terry. Don’t annoy Johann too much.”
Sif grabbed the back of their necks and lifted them. The two floated in the air, squirming to escape Sif’s firm grip but couldn’t get away and drooped their ears.
Cute kids, indeed.
“Let’s hurry and eat.”
“Eat?”
“What’s for lunch today?”
“I hope it’s meat—”
“You know you have to eat your vegetables, right?”
“Ugh. I don’t like vegetables!”
We made our way to the cafeteria, occasionally joining in on the kids’ chatter.
“This is the cafeteria.”
“It’s big.”
“It’s a large guild. There must be at least 200 employees eating here.”
True to Sif’s words, the cafeteria was packed with people. We barely found a place to sit. Luckily, a spot opened up, allowing us to sit in the corner with our trays.
“Bon appétit!”
“Hehe, meat! Meat~”
“Don’t be picky, finish your salad too. Got it?”
“It doesn’t taste good!”
“If you leave food behind, no candy for you!”
“Hmph, I’ll just ask you for more later!”
“No candy for bad kids who are picky!”
“…Che.”
The kids puffed out their cheeks and began to eat. I watched them for a moment before picking up my utensils. The meal was decent enough.
…Did I end up with a refined palate only eating at Yeomyeong-gwan?
“So, whose side are you going to take?”
“Seems like Bedin would be a better choice?”
“Wouldn’t Adam have more to gain?”
I made small talk with Sif while occasionally overhearing others. Most of the chatter was fluff, but some useful information slipped through.
“Looks like the fight for the successor is tighter than expected.”
“Seems that way, right? Adam goes without saying, but the other two are veterans too…”
It wasn’t a two-power system but a three-power one. In fact, this arrangement benefits me. If one side had already tilted, figuring out Dern’s whereabouts would probably be harder.
“Let’s head back to the office for now.”
“Okay.”
After finishing our meal and sending the kids back to their lodging, we headed to the office.
Upon returning to the office, I comfortably sat on the sofa and looked at Sif, who brewed tea in a pot in the corner of the room, placing a cup in front of me.
“It’s set aside for guests, but you’re my only guest.”
“Don’t you interact with other employees?”
“I told you, there’s some tension. It’s not like I don’t at all, but…”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Anyway, since I see you, I assume you have some questions, but I don’t know that much.”
“It’s fine. I’ve gotten some information already. What I want to know is about Bedin and Gross. Have you met them?”
“Hmm… I’ve talked to them once before. Other than that, we’ve only crossed paths a few times.”
“What kind of person is Gross?”
“Hmm, a person who insists on having money in every transaction? Seems like he really loves money.”
“Anything else?”
“Always has a grumpy face.”
Worst boss ever.
“And Bedin?”
“He’s the highest-ranking executive… um, he seems to be well-regarded? Gross seems to have more influence, but Bedin isn’t someone to dismiss either. Don’t know why he’s estranged from Adam, though.”
“You can’t easily predict people’s true colors, so he might be after the guild leader position too.”
“Hmm, so it might be noisy for a while. I just need to focus on my prosthetic arm work, so I don’t mind.”
Sif grimaced like she had a headache while sipping her tea.
“Then, I assume you haven’t heard about the ‘business’?”
“Business?”
Sif tilted her head at my words, looking like this was the first she had heard of it. I would have to either meet Adam again or visit the black market to uncover the details of the business.
“Ah, speaking of which, I think I heard something about the guild leader Dern and executives having some friction over business matters.”
The key is whether Bedin and Gross are among those executives. For now, I was done with my business. I stood up without hesitation.
“Sif. Do you know where the information dealer in the black market is?”
“I do know…”
“I’d appreciate it if you could tell me the location.”
“Um… okay.”
I verified the location of the information dealer with Sif and turned to leave.
“Well then, I’m off.”
“Okay. Take care.”
The information dealer should have a wealth of information.
——————–
“Oho, to think a distinguished guest would come to such a humble place.”
A middle-aged man with a shady impression looked at me in surprise at my arrival. I sat on a chair and regarded him.
“I want to buy information.”
“Information? What kind of information?”
“I want to know about the Dern guild.”
“Hmm… it sounds like it could be rather pricey, do you have the amount ready?”
I placed 50 gold coins on the table that I had prepared in advance. The nameless information dealer whistled at the sight of the coins and opened his mouth as if pleased.
“You’re quite generous, esteemed guest. What information do you seek?”
“I heard that the Dern guild was trying to push a business project that was thwarted by the guild leader. I’d like to know more about that, along with information on Bedin and Gross, and Adam.”
“I’m afraid 50 gold coins won’t suffice for such heavy information.”
I placed an additional 50 gold coins on the table.
“Oho. You are quite the hero, so generous!”
“Just spill it quickly.”
The information dealer shoved the coins into his pouch and replied with a grin.
“Well, that business involves distributing a certain ‘drug.’”
“A drug?”
“Yes. More specifically, a drug known as the ‘Call of Heaven.’”
That name sounds ominous. I associated the sinister name with something sinister.
No way… could it be that?
“…Is it a drug?”
“Oh, do you know of it?”
“No. Just a guess. Such strange names are usually attached to drugs.”
A drug business… If distribution is done just right, one could make a fortune. Given the state of the empire right now, hiding it wouldn’t be too difficult. I can understand why Dern, the guild leader, would oppose it so vehemently.
Though he’s a figure leading a massive guild, he hadn’t touched anything like drugs or slaves.
“Who initiated that drug business?”
“Gross and Adam. Adam came up with the plan to sell the Call of Heaven, and Gross endorsed that plan.”
“Yet it seems you’re at odds in the battle for succession.”
“Well… it’s a matter of who gets the upper hand, isn’t it?”
“It’s complicated.”
“That’s just how power struggles work, isn’t it?”
“Did Bedin oppose the business?”
“He sided with the guild leader of Dern but was rather passive about it.”
So he might not be a threat, for now.
“Where’s the guild leader of Dern?”
“West of the black market, there’s a small hospital. He’s there receiving treatment, so just go find him.”
“Treatment? Is he injured?”
“How do you think Adam and Gross dealt with him, a thorn in their side?”
“Being his son, he shows no mercy.”
“Oh, he’s not his biological son, he’s adopted. He’s never been married…”
An adopted child.
Is there a complicated situation I’m unaware of?
“Is there any other information you want?”
“None that I can think of.”
I stood up without hesitation.
Most of the puzzle pieces have been gathered, so now it’s time to fit them together one by one to see the incidents unfold.
[The information dealer seems to know a lot of strange stuff.]
“Please come again next time.”
“If such a situation arises, I’ll come again.”
I headed towards the hospital located in the west.
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