Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Looking for Someone (2)
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In other games, it might be different, but in DAT, the title of information broker was fairly common.
'Though in the late game, there wasn't much information worth buying anyway.'
For a veteran like Regin, there wasn't much to gain from information brokers.
But for those just starting out in the game, they served as a system to purchase necessary info with currency.
'I used to think it was a well-designed system.'
It was a great way to gauge the flow of the game world by observing NPC reactions.
And you could visually see the value of the knowledge you gained while playing.
Perhaps Regin himself had been one of the players who engaged in the most information trading early on.
Unlike all those times, his heart was beating a little faster now.
'This is the first time I've been this tense preparing for an information deal.'
The situation of needing to find One-Eyed Jack and confirm if he'd secured the requested info.
Regin's mind was a whirlwind the entire way there.
Class 3 criminals were strictly monitored by the kingdom, so he couldn't be sure Jack had uncovered the execution date.
"It's been a while. You're back sooner than expected."
The place Regin headed to after setting out was none other than a restaurant on Middle Street.
He'd have preferred to go straight to the black market, but it wasn't always open.
'Most merchants gather on set dates, so I'd probably just waste my time today.'
That's why he'd come to the person with the deepest ties to the black market.
"It's been a while, Mr. Preton."
Preton Mak Delbach.
Eldest son of the Delbach family, and the one who'd made Regin an offer before.
'Before heading out on my second expedition, I promised to deal with One-Eyed Jack and made a separate deal with this Preton.'
With the noble Preton, it had been a deal regarding expedition support.
Preton had approached Regin back then and entrusted him with a personal quest.
Delivering a letter to Chimihi.
"I delivered the letter safely."
"I see. Did you receive any reply?"
Regin pulled out the gold coin he'd gotten from Chimihi and handed it over as he continued.
"He said to tell you 'heads.' Along with the gold coin."
"......Heads."
Preton took the gold coin with an inscrutable expression.
He fiddled with it repeatedly, lost in thought.
But to Regin, who had no idea about their code, it was an unreadable face.
'I can guess, though.'
As a veteran who'd played DAT for ages, he could only speculate based on the situation.
"......This isn't the time. Anyway, good. It seems the letter was delivered reliably. That was what I asked for."
"Correct."
"And in exchange, I'll provide the material support as promised. All materials available up to the 10th floor, right?"
"That's right."
Regin had clearly completed the quest.
It might seem minor, but Preton had needed the letter delivered quietly.
And that request had been fulfilled precisely.
There was no reason or excuse to skimp on the reward.
"Just say the word. I'll procure any item you need."
"......"
"And honestly, I hope this isn't the last deal."
"You have another request?"
"This is actually the beginning. This delivery, I mean. Depending on how you feel about it, Mr. Regin, I've been considering making a proposal."
Regin's eyes lit up.
There had been things he couldn't interpret when Preton was fiddling with the coin.
Now it felt like he'd found a major clue.
'They need to exchange a few more messages with Chimihi.'
He didn't know what 'heads' meant, but he could tell right away it wasn't something extreme like a complete cutoff in communication.
In other words, Preton was still at a disadvantage.
Regin had grasped in that brief moment that Preton needed him more than he needed Preton.
"Preton."
"Yes."
"For this letter delivery reward, I'd like to add one more thing."
"Pardon?"
"Delivering a letter isn't hard. But if this is the start of something......"
"......"
"It wouldn't match the risk. I'd be hard-pressed to fully back out of this now."
"......If you accept one more proposal, does that mean you'll continue dealings in the future?"
"Who knows. I'm just saying my position is heavily disadvantaged right now."
Support for one item from the 10th floor would be reward enough, but Regin decided not to settle.
"One-Eyed Jack."
"Jack?"
"I need a quiet place to meet him. And bring him here."
"You mean information broker Jack?"
"Yes."
Leveraging the advantageous situation, Regin demanded what he needed most.
Honestly, every minute and second, every opportunity was precious to Regin too.
He just didn't show it like Preton.
"Understood."
In the end, Preton nodded.
"Take a carriage after your meal. We'll move to one building over. I'll send Jack there."
* * *
......This isn't some kidnapping, is it?
The thought crossed his mind while riding in the carriage.
No matter how noble Preton was, his way of handling things and the attitudes of his followers had a stiff edge.
'The vibe is straight out of the mafia.'
And for Regin, who knew the roots of the Delbach family, it felt even more so.
The quiet carriage ride resembled mafia movements from the movies.
"Wait here."
Worried about threats or worse, Regin relaxed as he prepared for contingencies.
He'd even worn Flexis's cloak and stayed vigilant.
The destination was just a small, ordinary house in the heart of Middle Street.
'High foot traffic. And no easy place to hide weapons.'
No need to stay tense.
Regin sat at the table to rest and wait for Jack.
He dismissed pointless doubts like whether Preton could really find Jack.
'Jack's probably more nervous than me. He might actually get kidnapped.'
A chuckle escaped him.
All these thoughts made him newly aware of the family he was dealing with.
'......Maybe the most dangerous family among all in DAT.'
There were plenty of families with superior martial prowess.
Some rose to nobility through military merits, others through magical knowledge.
Their combat power was on a level the kingdom couldn't ignore.
'The Delbach family is different in nature from those powerhouses.'
They weren't nobles who earned merits for the kingdom.
They were the strongest family to rebel against it.
'I only learned these details after entering DAT.'
He'd picked it up rummaging through libraries.
This unified kingdom had nearly fallen not to enemy states, but to its own nobles.
There had been major controversy over the king's successor, and the Delbach patriarch wouldn't stand by.
He rallied allies, executed the previous king, and assassinated the contentious first prince.
That's why the second prince, originally lower in succession, became the new king.
'In the process, Delbach lost their patriarch and nearly collapsed.'
Whatever deal he made with the second prince, the new king spared the Delbach family.
He focused on his own tasks and ultimately conquered all enemy states to form one kingdom.
That was the birth of the founding emperor, 120 years ago.
'Much happened, but the Delbach family has lingered as the kingdom's shadow ever since.'
No wonder Regin compared them to the mafia.
The difference? They nearly swallowed the kingdom whole.
Creak—
Lost in these thoughts, the door opened.
One-Eyed Jack entered, visibly tense.
"R-Regin Petrichio!"
"You've arrived."
"......You have ties to the Delbach family?!"
His bluish wrists suggested poor circulation, and his eyes squinted sensitively at the light.
Regin asked, flustered instead.
"......Did they rough you up or something?"
"You bastard. You tell the Delbachs to drag me here and play innocent?"
"It really was a kidnapping......"
Well, that was the Delbachs, still handling the kingdom's shadows.
'......I might've ended up like that if I'd worded it wrong.'
Compared to their peak, their influence was a speck, and now the kingdom held their leash.
But their nature was unmistakable.
"First off, my apologies. I urgently needed to meet and asked for it, but I didn't expect such aggressive methods."
"......"
"If there's a next time, I'll ask them to bring you politely."
"You damn—there's a next time?!"
Thud.
Jack lightly smacked the table but lowered his voice, glancing at the rough-looking men outside.
"......Regin Petrichio. I don't know what you want, but be careful next time."
"I already told you last time what I want. Information on Ferma."
"Ah. Damn it. It really was about that. I was hoping not. One question before I answer."
"Yes?"
"What kind of guy are you?"
Jack continued in a trembling voice.
"How does Ferma get nabbed by the kingdom right as I start digging for info?"
"He got caught right as you started investigating?"
"Yeah. And soon as I return from the tower, Delbach goons grab me......"
"You couldn't find out anything about Ferma Benishis?"
"......I became a Class 3 criminal overnight. Just trying to dig personal info gets you severe punishment."
Jack continued, sounding aggrieved.
"I don't know what's going on......but let's call it even. I don't want to get more involved."
"You couldn't even find the execution date?"
"......"
"Jack."
Regin stared at his face for a long moment before slowly speaking.
"Don't you want to work with the Delbach family?"
"......What?"
Jack had misunderstood Regin as vaguely tied to Delbach.
Born from how they'd brought him here.
Plus, the info target Ferma had been arrested by the kingdom. It painted Regin as dangerous.
'Do I need to clear up the misunderstanding?'
Regin's mind raced.
Unlike DAT's limited dialogue options.
Here, he could use every means available for the info trade.
"If you provide the info I want, I'll recommend you to the Delbach family."
"......"
"Not peddling cheap black market scraps. You'd handle noble-level intelligence."
They didn't have that influence yet, but he could negotiate with Preton.
To Jack's ears, though, it'd sound different.
"......You can recommend me to Delbach?"
Jack, who'd spent his life in alleys and black markets.
Bound by status and circumstance, he'd never escaped his meager lot.
Quick-witted enough to scrape by with deals, but Regin's attitude shook him.
"I heard Preton has two hidden siblings...... Is one of them you?"
His eyes flickered rapidly.
"I'm not a Delbach family member. But I can make the recommendation—that much is true."
"......Tch. Not that I want to work for Delbach or anything. Since you asked, I'll answer."
Jack swallowed hard and sat.
"Ferma Benishis. His execution is about 35 days away. He'll probably die right around then."
Regin nodded slowly.
'......He's still alive.'
Meaning Ferma's execution hadn't happened yet.