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'Well, that makes sense. I only know this because I read the original story, but the plan to absorb the dark organization is probably top-secret information, something only a handful of guild members would even know.'
Railey gave a smile to the guildmaster, who remained silent.
"Gathering information about the other side isn't something only you can do, after all."
"……Yeah, I suppose that's true. But if you're from the same line of work, then you wouldn't really have a reason to come looking for our guild."
"No. My information is scattered and biased. I can't even reveal its source."
"……"
"And as you can see, I'm just a child. I can't exactly use this information to act publicly or build capital."
"……I see. I think I understand roughly what you're after, little lady."
The guildmaster nodded, his voice turning serious.
"So first you'll be wanting a proxy account and a false identity?"
"Mm-hmm. And since the information I'll be trading is worth quite a lot, there'll be plenty of money left over. So, there's also something I'd like you to investigate for me."
"You sound awfully confident. Just what kind of information are we talking about?"
Railey's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Information on the lands within the Empire where Essence Oil will be produced."
"……!"
"If my information is correct, the price you'd be willing to pay won't be cheap, right?"
The guildmaster drew themselves upright, their demeanor growing earnest.
"……Indeed. That would be worth a great deal. So then, little lady, what is it you'd like investigated?"
"Countess Laom's recent contacts with figures from the Kingdom of Donovan."
"……"
"She's probably been meeting them on an ongoing basis. I'd like you to find out about that."
***
After Railey accepted the fake antiques meant as a cover and stepped out of the shop, the guildmaster leaned back in their chair with arms folded.
Though their tight schedule meant they really should have been heading straight to their next appointment, they wanted to chew over what had just taken place.
"Honestly… I did not see that coming."
They had already dug into her background, yet not a single trace could be found of Railey Elestine ever meeting with others in the same business.
Aside from her visits to this antique dealer and the Grand Duke's residence, there was nothing of note.
Even when they delved into her past, all that surfaced was a childhood of poverty—scraping by on scraps and others' pity—nothing out of the ordinary. With a long exhale, the guildmaster slowly removed their mask.
From within the robe emerged the face of a woman who looked to be in her late twenties.
Her reddish-brown hair was loosely tied back, and her deep crimson eyes gave her a fierce air.
A massive scar ran across the middle of her face, cruel in appearance.
And yet, even that scar lent her an untouchable allure. She was a beauty of the kind that could transform even menace into magnetism.
The guildmaster muttered quietly.
"Walter… just what kind of monster have you taken in as your daughter-in-law?"
Either way, since it had come to this, she decided she would keep watching closely.
She pressed the mask back firmly onto her face, as though trying to erase her own existence.
***
Railey arrived at the restaurant a little earlier than the promised time.
There were some things she needed to take care of before Serge showed up.
"Parnel, would you like to have lunch with us too?"
"No, I couldn't possibly intrude. Please, don't mind me, just enjoy a pleasant meal together, the two of you."
"Hmm, but I doubt Young Master Serge would really mind……"
At Railey's reaction, Parnel gave a faint smile.
She could already imagine how grimly the ill-tempered young master would glare if she were tactless enough to sit at their table.
Even aside from that, Parnel in her heart regarded both Railey and Serge as younger siblings. Naturally, there was a part of her that wished the two would grow closer.
She had not the slightest intention of interfering with the slow process of these still-young ones building affection for each other.
"All right. Then I'll see you later, Parnel."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Parting ways with Parnel, who remained stationed outside the restaurant, Railey was led to the reserved table.
The moment she sat down, a boy from a nearby table stood and greeted her.
"Lady Elestine. What a pleasure to meet you like this."
"…You must be Master Paulton?"
"That's right."
The boy, with a swaggering air, seated himself across from her.
Yesterday at the Grand Duke's residence she had only heard his voice, this was her first time actually seeing his face.
"You're… completely different from what I imagined."
"In what way?"
"Well, I thought you'd have a more scholarly look."
Just as Railey said, Paulton's appearance was nothing like the image most people conjured up when they thought of a mage.
Tousled ash-gray hair, a handsome but somewhat roguish face, a well-built body, and ears lined with piercings.
Had one not known his identity, it would've been easy to mistake him for a wastrel or a thug.
Paulton snorted.
"As always, people hear 'mage' and immediately picture some stiff, frail bookworm. Nothing but prejudice, really."
"I suppose that's true…"
"And Delica, too, she used to tease me when I was little just because I wore glasses back then…"
"……"
Railey thought he probably had a bit of a complex about that, which might explain why he went out of his way to cultivate such a wild appearance.
"Anyway, enough small talk. About Delica."
"Yes."
"…That fellow changed her words—saying now that she won't be able to run away again. You said you had a guess why?"
"Yes."
Railey drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"You know there are information brokers in the underworld, don't you, Master Paulton?"
"I know. But really, stop calling me 'Master.' It's creepy. Just call me Paulton."
"…Mm, all right. Anyway, I managed to get information through one of those brokers."
At that, Paulton narrowed one eye.
"Those types don't just hand out information so easily."
"Yes. Let's just say… I happened to make a connection."
"Hmmm."
The Magic Tower was, at its core, an exclusive research institute. Since they had no need for political struggles or information wars, they rarely had any ties with the kind of underworld figures who trafficked in information.
Which was why the information Railey brought was, in fact, valuable.
Folding his arms, Paulton studied her for a long moment, then gave a nod.
"All right. Go on."
"Yes. According to that source… the Kingdom of Donovan is using the renewal of their magic-oil trade contract as leverage to force this marriage arrangement."
"…What?"
The Magic Tower was also the institution that developed state-of-the-art magical devices. If the supply of magic oil were cut off, it would be a crisis of the highest order for them.
"Are they out of their damned minds?!"
"That's right. Which is why Lady Aidelica must be in such torment over this."
"Haa…"
Paulton roughly raked his already-messy hair with both hands.
"And there's one more thing… I'm not certain, but it's something that worries me."
"…What is it?"
"It has to do with a poison said to have been secretly developed in the Kingdom of Donovan."
Railey, mixing in just the right hint of conspiracy, mentioned the rumor that the Donovan princess's descent into idiocy hadn't been due to illness at all, but from poison.
It wasn't information she had gotten from the underworld, but she deliberately brought it up, knowing the mood would prevent Paulton from probing the source.
At those words, Paulton's eyes sharpened with menace.
"…You mean the Donovan bastards might use that poison on Aidelica?"
"It could just be speculation, but when it comes to something like this, being cautious never hurts."
As expected of the intelligent man slated to inherit the Tower, he immediately grasped the possibility—without Railey ever directly saying it—that the poison might reach Aidelica as well.
"The one most suspicious is the Grand Duchess's close lady-in-waiting. That's why I've already asked someone to investigate whether there's anything unusual about her movements—whether she's had contact with Donovan."
"……"
"So… Paulton, I'd like you to investigate the poison itself. Details about it, from a specialist's perspective. And as for warning Aidelica to be careful of poison, I think it would be better coming from you directly than from me. It's a sensitive matter."
"…Fine. I'll do it."
"And also…"
Railey quickly went on to convey her other requests.
Though surprised by her swift handling and resourcefulness, Paulton carefully considered her words and nodded, agreeing to them.
Then, with a strangely meaningful look in his eyes, he asked her.
"Little miss… ever thought about coming to the Tower?"
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