Chapter 197

"Those… how?" Dunberton's eyes widened in astonishment.

Just moments ago, things seemed manageable. A relationship with one person could be brushed off as mere gossip.

It was commonly thought that if the parties involved were fine with it, such relationships could be acceptable, regardless of the family's status. However, the situation was entirely different if these encounters involved four different individuals.

"…Where did you get these?"

"I cannot disclose that," Kartna replied with a grin, clearly amused.

"Well, what do you say? It might be fun to see how they would react to this information."

No, it definitely wouldn't be fun.

Dunberton had whispered his sweet nothings of pure love, and their hearts were won over in the process.

"But when passionate love cools, it often can turn into the sharpest iron of all. Still, as a man of the Dunberton family, you might manage to…"

"…Understood."

"What have you decided?"

"I'll grant the purchasing permission. But my name won't be involved. It'll suffice to say that it was an accident caused by a subordinate."

"And if this subordinate's head rolls because of you?"

"…It can't be helped."

"Indeed, it can't. Just stamp your seal here, and our business will be concluded. You know thieves maintain the cleanest transactions, especially in deals, right?"

"I'm aware. You don't lie. You just don't offer answers to unasked questions."

"What if our goal is unclear?"

"…I won't worry about that."

Count Dunberton sighed, almost in resignation. It was clear what the thief before him wanted. To blackmail him with the evidence he so fortuitously obtained, and secure the forbidden moonstone for sale.

'There can't be any other motive.'

There are few motives more powerful than the prospect of immense wealth. In such cases, it was almost fortunate that his blackmailer was a thief.

"Is there anything else you desire?"

"Nothing."

"Then make a good profit and leave the Empire. As long as you don't overdo it… I'll ensure you're not pursued."

"Thank you for your consideration. As much as you've done for me, I'll make sure our relationship ends cleanly here."

"Take it."

Thump.

The count presented the stamped permit. It was authorization for purchasing moonstone from Moonstone Village. With the seal of the Dunberton family, it allowed unrestricted purchase of moonstone.

"Thank you."

"Let me repeat myself. Although this area is under my jurisdiction, purchases are always reported to the royal family. Do not overdo it."

"I'll be careful. Then."

"Wait, the photos?"

"I left them in there. Check your pocket."

Dunberton, startled, frantically searched his pocket and found the four photos.

"When…?"

He looked up in confusion but had to close his mouth. Kartna had already vanished.

* * *

After entering Camilton and having parted ways with Seojin, Kartna had to hustle to carry out his orders. He needed to pick out the weakest nobles, those caught in a compromising position, especially those with connections to the moonstone mines.

But that wasn't all.

The initial clues he had were insufficient, and ultimately, Kartna had to actively engage with the local thieves settled in Camilton. Being a thief himself, Kartna knew the workings of this underworld well. Transactions were strictly business. The give-and-take was reliable, but finalizing a deal, whether verbally or written, required a tug-of-war of sorts. Fortunately, Kartna had enticing enough conditions to offer.

"Gold and treasures? The recent incident at the Valaran royal palace? Or perhaps the tale of an adventurer who has just set foot in the Empire, still unidentified by the emperor?"

Seojin had said it was okay to use himself as bait. Not just his identity, but the events he had experienced were fair game too. Thanks to this, Kartna could flex in negotiations with the thieves for the first time.

'It was a rather enjoyable struggle.'

At the end of it all, Kartna reached his final destination.

'Moonstone Village, huh.'

Once there, it seemed no different from any ordinary village. People woke up in the morning, laborers went to the mines, and in the evening, smoke rose from chimneys as citizens prepared dinner.

But some distance away from the village, there stood an impregnable barrier. Without the permits from several nobles, including Count Dunberton, even Kartna couldn't have entered. And the same would have been true for any accompanying adventurer.

"Did you contact them?"

"Just did. They said yes."

"Did you really contact them?"

"He said he just spoke with the Golden King, Rat Muedron, and Saint Aikora. Vegetable Wholesaler Raul was there too. They can now decipher the divine language, and they're about to go raid the Temple of Luna."

"It's true, then."

Kartna coolly accepted it. The adventurer, Montblanc, introduced by Seojin, was telling him one unbelievable tale after another, and that was precisely the foundation of trust.

Because Seojin was at their helm.

'No one but someone who knows Seojin could say such things. Exactly.'

What she had just said was far more believable than the fact that he had lost the underground 7th floor.

Glancing around, Kartna turned to Montblanc.

"So, what now? Shall we go in?"

"Yes."

"And buy the Moonstone right away?"

"Not yet. We're to stay here for a while, until further notice."

"…Stay here? Under what pretense?"

"Hold on. Asking now… Ah, they said to look for 'Roosevella' at the Roosevella Inn."

"Is that some kind of code?"

"It's a person's name. The inn is named after her."

"Ah."

"Say Seojin's name and they'll let you stay. You'll have to pay, though. Being an adventurer is fine, but… don't steal anything, he said."

"What does he take me for?"

"A thief."

"…"

"Ah, Seojin said to add 'competent' in front of that."

"Competent thief, then!"

Kartna was thoroughly satisfied. Not only was he unfazed by being called a thief, but he also took pride in being recognized for his skills by Seojin himself.

"Please assure them I'll behave as if I'm not a thief from this moment on, until I leave this place."

* * *

-He said he won't steal anything.

-That's not good enough. Is that exactly how he put it? Nothing more?

-To be more precise, he said he wouldn't be a thief until he leaves this place.

-Ah, that's alright then. Trust me and wait at the inn. I'll see how things go and contact you afterwards. It would be good if you could get closer to the locals, but don't push it.

Seojin concluded his conversation with Montblanc. Kartna was a different kind of thief. If he'd gone out of his way to say so, it was meant to ease Seojin's concerns.

'Not be a thief, huh?'

Only those who understood the implications among thieves knew what that meant. It was akin to saying he would retire even though it was restricted to the duration of their stay, it was still a significant declaration.

"Let's go then. You can do what you mentioned, right?"

"Of course."

"If it gets tough, just give me a sign. I'll take over."

Seojin addressed Aikora.

Their destination was the temple. Specifically the main temple of Luna, the largest of its kind in the Empire.

It was their job to get the results they wanted there, while Golden King and Rat Muedron were tasked with other duties.

-Conis. What's the atmosphere like in the guild?

-It seems some sort of order have been given. Players following the Golden King and the Rat Muedron have become busy.

-Do you know what they're doing?

-Those in charge are extremely skilled at managing the players. They've dispersed them in a cell structure, so much so that players don't even know what role they play in the bigger picture.

-Excellent. That will continue for a while. What you need to watch for, Conis, is

-Whether anyone has noticed something hidden. Also, approach players who have made contracts with major NPCs in the palace, as before. Is that right?

-Perfect.

This was the part of the plan Golden King and Rat Muedron were responsible for. They were tasked with the transportation and storage of the moonstone, and if necessary, its concealment.

And the responsibility?

It would fall on the players who were currently undertaking the task.

Of course, the Golden King was only an NPC, and as such, it would be difficult to produce concrete evidence.

That's where the two players who had been planted in the guild early on came into play, Conis and Kargar.

They could check all guild chats in real-time, and as everyone knows, the chat window was a magical place that could relax any user.

Lastly, the task Raul was charged with was…

"It's hard to say if persuasion will work. He seemed quite loyal to the emperor."

Was opening a path. Land routes were impossible. No power in this land could leave the emperor's domain unchallenged.

But if by sea, especially if one could board the fleet of Grand Admiral Martini, who had the emperor's backing…

'Escaping to another country would be nothing. Coming back in as well.'

It meant that a sea route to and from this Empire, previously inaccessible to anyone, would now be opened.

"It's going too smoothly."

"…Pardon?"

"No, just thinking aloud. Doesn't it seem like things are progressing too easily? What do you think, Aikora?"

It was a sudden doubt, and a concern as well.

A worry that they might be walking into a trap due to their overconfidence.

However, Aikora quickly dismissed Seojin's fears.

"Not at all."

"Oh, really?"

"It's all thanks to you that everything is smooth sailing. I'm sure of it. What we're attempting is something no one else has ever done before, and they're the most outstanding adventurers in their nations, right?"

"That's correct."

"And they all failed."

"If they had been more cautious, they might not have."

"There were times when they should have been cautious but weren't, and times when they should have stood firm but didn't… Each of these moments might seem trivial on their own, but trials tend to come one after the other."

Aikora smiled after saying this.

A single success might not be hard, but to succeed without ever failing was incredibly difficult.

"Well, if we were on the wrong path, Luna wouldn't have let us go so easily, right?"

"It is a trial to man, but perhaps not to the gods."

"Always trying to make me feel better, and now you're making me anxious."

Seojin chuckled, and Aikora showed him a warm smile.

Despite being flustered by the astonishing events that had unfolded, she was, after all, a saint.

"The trial, if it is one, I'm sure you'll be able to overcome it easily, Seojin. And to me… it doesn't seem like a trial at all."

In the direction Aikora pointed, the temple came into view, along with priests preparing for the saint's visit.

Seojin laughed.

"That's one way to look at it."