’We can’t use force in the salon. If we make enemies of the information guild, we won’t be able to do anything.’
Anxiety was felt from Oliver’s mind.
’Even if you say that... when force is needed, it must be used.’
Such things aren’t under my control, Oliver.
Oliver went mentally silent.
A masked woman sat in the middle of a large room.
The atmosphere felt more like visiting a fortune teller than an information broker.
Ding- diding- ding.
Beside her, a woman in a dress played what looked like a golden instrument.
Feels like I should shout "Raise the red lantern!" any moment now.
When we sat before the masked woman, she spoke.
"What have you come to buy?"
"Information."
"About what?"
"About Oban VanKloss."
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The courtesan playing the instrument made a mistake.
The masked woman glared at the courtesan and jerked her chin.
The courtesan hurriedly gathered her instrument and left the room.
"This is talk that needs privacy."
From there, I could be certain.
So Oban VanKloss really is in the imperial capital. That’s why they reacted that way.
By the way, dismissing the courtesan was quite an interesting performance.
I told Oliver.
’Oliver, one person above the ceiling, one under the floor, one hidden behind that folding screen behind the woman.’
With presence detection and magic detection abilities, this much is simple.
Talk that needs privacy, yet she has three people hidden nearby.
Oliver asked without revealing he knew this fact.
"Is Oban VanKloss in Hanagu?"
"The price is 100 gold coins."
"..."
Oliver sighed.
’That’s a refusal.’
’Why?’
’Too expensive. This means refusal.’
Asking 100 gold coins for one piece of information means refusal, he says.
But...
’I have lots of money though.’
’...Do you have 100 gold coins?’
’Ah wait a moment.’
When I asked Pelerian if I could use it, he snorted and answered.
Saying didn’t we just get 500 coins worth.
"That’s just pocket change. Use it."
’Yes! Thank you!’
I told Oliver to hold out his hand.
I opened subspace in Oliver’s sleeve.
Clink clink clink-
Various gold items poured out of his sleeve.
This should be enough for one-fifth of 500 coins worth.
"Urk!"
The masked woman didn’t make such an undignified sound.
Obern was watching the piling gold items with desperate eyes.
By the way, it was still pouring out.
100 gold coins is quite a lot.
Ding.
Finally stopped after the last gold coin fell.
Honestly, it was more than I expected.
’Mm, kind of a waste...’
"Seems you didn’t even know how much 100 gold coins was."
’Not a waste at all!’
The masked woman seemed surprised too as she stayed still.
After silence lingered for a while, she spoke first.
"You must be an esteemed guest. I will tell you."
Her voice trembled slightly.
Guess she didn’t expect we could pay. This is why commoners...
"Oban VanKloss is not in Hanagu. However, he was sighted within the sewers in the past month."
Oliver clenched his fist.
It was extremely brief for 100 gold coins worth of information.
But it was clearly important information.
Because Obern’s survival chances had increased once again.
"Is Oban VanKloss the ruler of the Heaven Medicine Party?"
"I’ll answer that question without charge."
The masked woman spoke decisively.
"He is not the ruler of the Heaven Medicine Party, but they are clearly in cooperation. That’s all I can say."
Next question.
"The imperial bank’s vice president seems to have disposed of some items through the underground auction house."
"Oh, is that so? What kind of items?"
"We haven’t fully identified what items they were. However, they were worth at least 300 gold coins, and possibly antiques or precious metals."
"That’s quite a vague request."
Her mouth visible below the mask showed an awkward smile.
"Would you like a compilation of items suspected to have entered the auction house through the imperial bank in recent months and their whereabouts?"
"Yes."
"The price is 10 gold coins."
Oh.
The price dropped significantly.
’This one’s much cheaper, Oliver.’
’This is still expensive. She’s really trying to milk us dry.’
’What...!’
’Getting only one service after taking 100 coins...’
That’s a bit shocking.
"What, now you regret the 100 coins?"
Pelerian laughed beside me.
"This is why poor people... Such small capacity."
’I don’t regret it at all though?’
It’s not about small capacity, just thinking rationally.
Wonder if we could haggle even now?
"I’ll investigate right away and compile it into a booklet. Please have some tea while waiting."
"Yes."
Since there was quite a lot of information this time, it couldn’t be explained verbally.
The masked woman brewed tea herself.
When the tea leaves in the teapot had steeped sufficiently, she took out three crystal cups and poured tea.
Obern and Oliver picked up cups and drank the tea.
Naturally, she didn’t give me tea. I was hidden in Oliver’s sleeve to begin with.
"Today’s information was expensive, but I’ll charge less in the future. Please visit often."
"Ah, yes..."
How shameless.
They chatted for a while.
It was really just chat. She didn’t ask anything like why we were seeking this information or where we came from.
So.
At first, there seemed nothing strange about what the woman said.
"How is the tea?"
"Yes, it’s excellent."
"I often serve tea here. But watching people, there’s something interesting."
Despite her covered face, covering her mouth while laughing was quite coquettish.
"What’s that?"
"When I let them choose their own teacups, and I drink first, they drink without any suspicion."
"...?"
"Your sense has dulled considerably, Noksu."
Noksu?
Oliver flinched.
Was his real name Noksu?
Then how did this woman know Oliver’s name?
She removed her mask.
The right side of her face was twisted with burn scars.
"I am the Burnt Rose."
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"Rae...?"
"Oh my, you remember my name."
What? They knew each other?
And still couldn’t get a friend discount.
Clang!
Oliver, or rather Noksu, dropped his teacup.
Looking at Obern, his face had already turned pale as he clutched his throat.
"Don’t worry, it’s not lethal poison. Though you’ll die before you break."
Finally, Oliver collapsed too.
No!
’Wait, I have something to ask!’
I quickly jumped out of Oliver’s sleeve onto his chest.
’Oliver!’
"Ugh, urgh."
’Can we get the 100 coins back now?’
Oliver rolled his eyes to look at me.
He definitely nodded.
"...A snake?"
Then the unmasked woman looked at me in surprise.
"Ssak."
Hello.
Let’s have a chat now.
First, let’s all come out and talk.
「Using Beam lv6.」
「Using Beam lv6.」
「Using Beam lv6.」
Pipiping!
Holes opened in the ceiling, folding screen, and floor.
"Aah!"
"Ah!"
"Ugh!"
A trio of screams rang out.