The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

“Is this really happening?” Yeonwoo asked cautiously, deep in enemy territory.

“Don’t worry. They won’t arrest you here.”

“That’s not the point. Brook and Barres know you found the temple, right? Aren’t there going to be more assassins?”

“They won’t send anyone right away. As long as the citizens know me, it’ll cause a stir if I’m suddenly killed. It’s more problematic if I die.”

Barres’s use of this place as a forward base was a story for another time. Until then, he had to lead the city and aim for a central advance, so he couldn’t arouse unnecessary suspicion.

“This way.”

The knight led them to a large central room on the second floor. At first glance, it looked like a royal audience chamber. It was a space that had been remodeled at Brook’s request after he became mayor.

“Your Honor, the adventurer Black Dragon has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

A reply came immediately from inside, as the knight reported.

“Follow the red line.”

Following the knight’s instructions, Hanbit stepped inside. Since he’d stored his weapon in his inventory, he wasn’t stopped.

“So, you’re… Black Dragon?”

A voice came as he reached the end of the red line.

A gaunt man sat on a chair a few steps up.

[Edlen Mayor Brook Norton]

The first appearance of Edlen’s mayor from Hanbit’s perspective. However, the important thing was the man standing next to him.

[Barres Loberger]

“Hmm.”

The same snake-like eyes under the parted hair and thick eyebrows. The double chin and the way his protruding belly swayed were exactly as he remembered. And that unpleasant gaze scanning him.

“I am the adventurer Black Dragon. It’s an honor to meet you.”

-Honor?

-Looks like shit as always.

-If only it weren’t for that guy;

-Black Dragon, pull out your sword and kill him now.

-This is your chance.

The chat window erupted with the appearance of the enemies. Hanbit wanted nothing more than to kill them, but the only thing he’d gain was emotional satisfaction.

“… I heard you found a temple in the underground waterway. Why did you go there?”

Brook got straight to the point. His hollow eyes were desperately trying to gauge his opponent.

“Your Honor, isn’t exploring the terrain the top priority for adventurers? Especially for outsiders, Edlen would be a novelty. They would want to check every corner.”

“T-that’s right.”

Barres, stepping forward a little, met his gaze and said, “I heard the temple is quite large. You’ve done a great service to the city. It’s something we missed.”

“Yes. I was surprised when I saw it myself. I didn’t know those trashy Holy Kingdom bastards had infiltrated Edlen. If I find any hidden spies, I’ll twist their necks for the sake of Edlen and the kingdom.”

“… Your loyalty to the kingdom is admirable.”

-lol

-Saying this to his face

-Let’s hear a five-minute tirade of insults

-He’ll probably cry if you insult his parents

[KindWordsGoodWords donated 5,000 won.]

[10-year veteran of community lurking]

When he expressed strong hostility, Barres’ expression darkened slightly.

However, he soon continued as if nothing had happened.

“Did you find anything inside the temple?”

“I didn’t find anything special. Oh, I did find a piece of a uniform.”

“A uniform?”

“It was a piece of cloth from a uniform used by the Holy Kingdom. Judging by the degree of wear, it seemed to have been left recently.”

“…?”

Barres couldn’t completely hide his surprise. If a Holy Kingdom uniform was found in Edlen, there was a high probability that they were those who operated in the shadows. It was unusual for such a being to infiltrate without his knowledge.

“Since this involves a foreign country, we’ll have the city take over the investigation. As for your contribution, you’ll be rewarded.”

“No, I can’t just ignore it because I am the one who found it.”

“You could lose your life. Isn’t that too much for an adventurer to risk?”

Barres furrowed his brow slightly at the firm reply.

Hanbit responded with a confident expression.

“I’m aiming for the Investigation Corps. If I catch the Holy Kingdom’s spies, there’s no better contribution than that. I need to secure a nomination from a country first.”

“…Investigation Corps?”

The Investigation Corps, an organization that gathers the world’s strongest individuals to find Erport. Candidates are nominated by each country’s king and then go through a verification process before officially joining the Corps.

Barres, who knew the detailed structure, smiled and said, “I’ll write the recommendation myself. There’s no need to risk your life for nothing.”

“This contribution isn’t enough. I’ll definitely catch the spies and get concrete results.”

“I said it’s okay. His Honor thinks so too, right?”

“Uh, yeah, yeah…”

Brook, who had been listening to the conversation, was startled and responded belatedly.

He was looking at Hanbit with an uneasy gaze.

“An adventurer’s beliefs are important. Even if I’m cut in half and become a corpse, I will bring all the Holy Kingdom spies before you two.”

“Hic!”

When Hanbit expressed his fierce determination with a direct gaze, the startled Brook pulled back his chair and stood up.

His expression was full of fear.

-lol

-Startled.

-Folks, this is what happens when you commit a crime.

-Brook is really transparent.

-If it weren’t for Barres, he would have been caught planning his scheme. lol

It was a reaction that even the viewers could easily understand.

Barres, who looked at Brook disdainfully, stepped forward, pointing at him.

“I understand your enthusiasm. How about we share information? It’s better for Edlen to catch those guys quickly.”

“I’ll consider it. Adventurers are greedy creatures by nature. Don’t expect too much.”

Creak-

A sound like grinding teeth echoed through the quiet room.

Watching the amusing scene, Hanbit greeted them with appropLiate manners.

“Then I’ll take my leave. Let’s receive the reward all at once.”

“…Fine, just don’t get your hopes up.”

Barres was fuming, and Brook was trembling.

After seeing that scene, Hanbit left the room.

The alarm sounded immediately afterward.

Ding-!

[Main Quest #10 completed.]

[Progress increases.]

[Main Quest #11: Kidnapping]

The confrontation with Brook and Barres has ended.

Since you rejected all their offers, their vigilance seems to have increased significantly.

There’s no time to waste.

Execute the plan immediately.

Objective: Infiltrate Norton Manor and kidnap Brook.

Reward: 150,000 gold, 50,000 experience points, 7 stat points

*Current progress: 76 percent

* * *

“Oh? You’re back already?”

“Adventurer!”

In the basement of an old building, Lia and Flona, who were inspecting Camon’s workshop, welcomed Hanbit.

“It wasn’t going to take long. Why are you checking the workshop?”

“I was wondering if there was anything that could be helpful.”

Lia was also joining the upcoming kidnapping mission as the hidden passage connected to the manor can only be opened with Norton’s ring.

“Black Dragon.”

At that moment, a voice came from behind.

Turning his head, he saw Artsvel standing there with a strange smile.

-ㄷㄷ

-She’s so scary when she smiles like that;

-I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

-Let’s just bow our heads first.

“…Ah.”

He could quickly figure out the reason for the unusual atmosphere.

This was because they hadn’t had a proper conversation since he had given her a brief explanation when he brought her here.

“Ahem.”

The white-haired old man coughed and took a few more steps back.

He was very good at reading the atmosphere, knowing that it could become uncomfortable at the slightest provocation.

“I’ll be right back.”

Hanbit headed towards the exit where Artsvel was. She seemed to be examining a teleportation-type magical artifact.

“…How far have you gotten with the explanation?” Hanbit asked casually as he approached.

Perhaps it was too cautious, because Artsvel chuckled. “Lia told me everything. And it was a good thing you didn’t tell me right away.”

She added that she had seen people under Barres’ command frequently on the streets since yesterday. Considering the current situation, it wasn’t good for Lia and Hanbit to be seen together. Especially with Holy Kingdom assassins involved.

“Thank you for protecting Lia. I couldn’t have done it with my abilities.”

“…I could do it because I have a master. The Holy Kingdom assassins are on a whole different level.”

“Come to think of it, I heard he’s a spirit mage, right? I thought they had disappeared from history.”

Artsvel looked at the white-haired old man who was avoiding their gaze from a distance.

Naturally, they had hardly spoken to each other.

“Most of them have hidden themselves, but spirit mages exist all over the world. My master is one of them.”

“So, you’re a spirit mage too?”

“In a way. I’m just starting.”

The conversation continued in a relaxed atmosphere. Hanbit decided to bring up an old story.

“When did you find out that Lia was from the Norton family?”

“I knew from the beginning. I caught her when she was trying to go to the Norton manor alone.”

When she was younger, Artsvel had found a child awkwardly hiding and trying to move forward while cleaning in front of her shop. Thinking she was lost, she had stopped her, and the ring on the child’s finger had caught her eye.

“Uncle William is a benefactor to our family. I never thought he would die so unjustly, nor did I think he would have a daughter.”

The gang that had ruined Artsvel’s family had been banished from the city by William. Since then, he had helped her set up a general store, and she felt deeply indebted to him. That’s why when she heard that William had been executed on charges of being a spy for the Holy Kingdom, it was as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer.

“But is it okay to kidnap him? Lia said she has to go with you too.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be with Master. And it won’t take long.”

He understood Artsvel’s concerns, but the kidnapping plan was already well-established. Since he had scared Brook so much, he would choose to isolate himself. It was a moment when his distrustful nature would shine.

“I see you’ve already arrived.”

At that moment, Cowen appeared at the entrance. Hanbit, who was with Artsvel, asked him, “How are the preparations?”

“I’ve created my alibi, and I’ve induced as many people who work at the manor at night to leave their posts.”

The old retainers participated in the plan in various ways. After all, having worked in Edlen for so long, they were more than qualified to be helpers.

“Artsvel, stay with Flona.”

“Okay,” Artsvel patted Flona’s head beside her and replied.

Hanbit turned his gaze to the entrance of the passage connected to the manor.

“Then let’s enter at midnight.”

———