The next night after we asked Eliante and Kalk to find the mansion.
『In the end, we couldn't find it on our own』
「Nn」
「woof」
We also looked around the noble district at night. However, even though there were stone statues of dragon, reliefs of lion, and angels like statue made of bronze. We couldn't find anything that matched the cipher.
It seems that Eliante couldn't get any remarkable information either, so she will continue her search.
We couldn't find it on our own or in the Adventurer's Guild intelligence network. So now we are relying on our last hope, Kalk.
(will he get any clue?)
『Well, even if it doesn't exist, at least we can narrow down our search range, right?』
With Kalk's information network, we can find out about downtown and entertainment districts to some extend. So, even if Kalk couldn't get any useful information, we can exclude this area from our search range.
『then, let's go』
「Nn」
I used my doppelganger skill to create my body split. According to Urushi's nose, Kalk is already inside the bar.
I push open the cracking door and step into the bar. As expected, at once all of their gaze turned to me. Perhaps, because they know i was talking with Kalk yesterday, so no one seems underestimating me now.
Oh yeah, yesterday i dissolved my doppelganger into thin air. Seeing that, they may consider me as an eerie person.
Today, no one trying to trip me with their feet, and no one is ridiculing me either. Rather, they don’t want to get involved with me, so they opened my way.
『Yo, it's been yesterday』
「so you came huh? have you prepared the money? 」
『is it mean, you have found it?』
「yea」
That's amazing! Even an organization like adventurer’s guild couldn't get any clue. It seems we can't underestimate on Kalk information networks.
『Then, this is it』
「Are you really going to pay before hearing the information first?」
『Oh, I’m good at spotting lies, and you are not stupid enough to try to steal away this money, are you?』
「hmmf」
It is unlikely for Kalk to try escape and steal the money. Either in the sense of him losing his credibility and he also knows he can't escape from me.
Kalk snorts in an unamusing way, he probably doesn't like being insulted because they have to put themselves in the line.
『――Silence, can you tell me right away?』
「Here」
『A paper? what's about these number?』
「It's the address of the mansion you are looking for. It's in the center of the noble district. It's the villa of Count Olmes behind the mansion of marquis Ashtner. Opposite the mansion of Count Bailleys」
『Ormes…』
「It used to be the residence of Viscount Lesseps, but it seems that he was crushed by a scandal. Do you know? it's the concubine of marquis Ashtner」
Viscount of lesseps is, Serdio. The connection with Marquis Ashtner is perfect
「In front of Count Olme's villa, there is a stone statue of Manticore that faces the garden of the villa, and the garden is decorated with a stone statue of a war maiden…What do you think?」
It seems this information would be a hit.
『It's perfect. it saved me from looking for it』
「Even though I was forced to accept it, business is business. I'll do it perfectly」
『You have my gratitude』
As i thanked Kalk, i dissolved my doppelganger. The paper has been secretly handed over to Urushi in the shadow. No, wait. Kalk's information network may be helpful again. For the time being, i have to tell him in advance. We'll be bothering Kalk again.
『I'll come again when i have another thing to ask』
「Never come again」
『I'll make a best of you』
「Oi――」
I grinned lightly at Kalk who had an annoying look on his face while dissolving my doppelganger
(Master, how is it?)
『I never thought i could get the information this good』
(Then?)
『Ou, I know where the mansion is located. However, even if i was told the address, i don't know where the exact location is』
I was told it was behind Marquis Ashtner's mansion, but i don't even know where it is.
「woof!」
『You finally returned, Urushi』
Urushi has returned to Fran's shadow, we looks at the paper given by Kalk, but we still can't understand it.
(Then, ask Eliante)
『You're right, that's the fastest way』
(Nn)
We decided to go straight to the Adventurer's Guild. It's still in the evening, i hope she's still be there…
「Oh, Fran. What's wrong? 」
It seems it was an unnecessary worry. Eliante, who looked exhausted due to excessive work, welcomed Fran with a weak voice.
「Sorry, but i haven't received any information yet」
「Nn. That's okay, got information on my hand」
「Eh? did you find it on your own? 」
「Wrong, talked to an information broker」
「What do you mean by information broker? I also asked information broker among our adventurers. So you are saying you procured information faster that us?」
[TLN: I tried to make Fran's dialogue to be as short as possible and sounds monotone, it's like that in the raw. wdyt?]
Eliante stopped her works and turned her gaze to us. She seems to have been very surprised.
「Nn. Talked at the bar」
「By any chance, do you make a contact with the Thieves Guilds?」
From the shock, Eliante's eyes sharply narrowed. Did you just call it the Thieves Guild now?
「Nn? Thieves Guild?」
「You didn't know? They are like an underground organization that active in this royal capital」
「Don't know」
「Then, how did you find that bar? you won't find it if you randomly go inside any bar to look for information broker」
Apparently, from Eliante's aura, the Adventurer's Guild and the Thieves Guild are not in good terms. We should keep quiet about this.
However, we can't tell her about me, so we told her that Urushi remembered the smell of the person we met in the back alley and went to see that person again, relying on his nose.
「I see…If it's in the commercial district, is there someone you know?」
「Nn」
「I see, I’ll believe you. But you shouldn't get involved with them as much as possible」
According to Eliante, the Thieves Guild has been acquiesced as an evil organization. In a big city like the royal capital, various people and criminals are wriggling behind it. The royal capital would be in a mess if they were simply left unchecked. Only the Thieves Guild could control those criminals to some extent.
Of course, acquiescence does not allow them everything and be overlooked. If the Thieves Guild goes too far, the country will crack them down. It seems that they are good at determining their limit line. Cause even if the soldiers are not deployed, bounty will be given to members of the Thieves Guild.
In that case, it was natural for them to be incompatible with the adventurer's guild to which those bounty hunters belong. I wonder will they get retaliation for catching a member of the Thieves guild, but that doesn't seem to be a problem. It seems they know that the Thieves Guild will also be crushed if they mess with the Adventurer's Guild. Besides, in their world, it seemed the one who get captured were often said to be idiots.
「Well, in the end, it's a group of criminals, their reserve, and their collaborator. It's not going to be a problem if you are not good with them. But be careful?」
「Nn. Understand」
Fran did not come into direct contact with Kalk, so that wouldn't be a problem.
Rather than that, the location of the address is more important now. Fran tells Eliante the address and the information that it is the villa of Count Olmes, behind the mansion of Marquis Ashtner.
Apparently Eliante knows the place. With just that address, she seems to be able to point the place to some extent, it seems Marquis Ashtner's Mansion are famous. She drew a map on the spot.
「Here」
「Nn. Thanks」
「…you know, you are prohibited to make an enemy of noble. After confirming the location, immediately come back at once. Never try to infiltrate alone」
「I understand」
As expected, we couldn't suddenly infiltrate into Count's mansion alone. We'll just check the location first. However, Eliante looks uneasy.
「Do you really understand?」
「Nn」
「…Aah, you are worrying」
Fumu, should we ask what rumours Eliante has heard? It seems that she thinks Fran was a wild kid that tends to rampage.
「It's fine, won't do anything stupid」
「Really really, right?」
Author Note:
The short story drawn by Maruyama-sensei published in the January issue of Monthly Birz is the best. Fran is so cute.
Moreover, the pancakes that appear on it look delicious!
I went to eat pancakes unintentionally. A man alone…
But it was really delicious hahaha……
