Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 267
Chapter Title: The Information Guild of Zion
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“…Is this the place?”
Seo Woo-jin narrowed his eyes as he examined the building in front of him.
Its dilapidated exterior looked about a hundred years old, teetering as if it might collapse at any moment.
“I wasn’t expecting anything grand, but this is a bit much.”
This was the only information guild in the city, pointed out by the soldier guarding the main gate.
It was fortunate that such a place existed, but it didn’t inspire much trust.
“I was picturing a bar or a pub.”
Wasn’t that the cliché?
Ordering a drink like White Dragon’s Tears that didn’t exist and exchanging passwords.
But upon arrival, it wasn’t even a tavern—it was a decrepit house that seemed like it would crumble from a single knock.
“Maybe I should’ve just asked that soldier earlier?”
The soldier could surely answer simple questions about geography.
He had come to the information guild specifically to ask a few more things, but in this state, it might be better to go back to the soldier.
Creaaak—!
That was when it happened.
The door opened, and the rusty hinges let out a screech.
“Hm? Who might you be?”
The man who stepped out appeared to be in his mid-forties.
His bushy beard and unkempt hair made him look shabby, but his eyes, peeking through, were surprisingly clear and didn’t match his appearance.
“Could you be a customer? Hahaha, no, that’s unlikely.”
The man muttered to himself and burst into laughter, scratching his head.
“Is this the information guild?”
Seo Woo-jin stared at him blankly before cutting straight to the point.
“Oh, you’re actually a customer?”
The man’s voice was filled with surprise.
He clearly hadn’t expected Seo Woo-jin to really be a visitor here.
“It’s been ages since we had a customer… Ah, never mind that—come on in!”
The man hurriedly guided Seo Woo-jin inside with a flustered expression.
‘It’s pretty clean in here.’
Unlike the exterior, the interior was remarkably well-maintained.
There was no dust or cobwebs, and not even a single crack.
It was believable as a completely different place.
‘So it is a guild.’
He wondered if the rundown outside was intentional.
Like the headquarters of a secret organization.
‘Though it’s too shabby to pass for that.’
Even a common soldier knew about it, and the man who came out was ushering him in as clumsily as if guiding him to a restaurant seat.
“You’re a new face, aren’t you? I pride myself on knowing everyone in this city.”
The man casually probed with a perfectly natural expression.
It was so smooth that Seo Woo-jin almost revealed his identity without thinking.
‘Well, now.’
He needed to raise his evaluation of this guild a bit.
The skill to draw out carelessness and extract information like this was nothing to scoff at.
“I’m from Massive Guardian.”
At this level, it wouldn’t take them long to figure out where he was from.
After all, even soldiers knew about the information guild.
So he answered without hesitation.
The man’s eyes sparkled.
“You don’t seem to be a knight…”
The only knights from Massive Guardian were the Blue Shield Knights.
But Seo Woo-jin wasn’t wearing their signature blue armor.
The man thought for a moment, then his eyes widened.
“Could you be the Hero?”
This time, Seo Woo-jin was surprised.
That kind of deduction meant they already knew he and his companions had gone to Massive Guardian.
Even though he hadn’t given away that he was the Hero to anyone along the way.
“…You seem more capable than I thought.”
Seo Woo-jin readily acknowledged it.
There was no reason to lie, and the man already seemed convinced.
“Ha, I never dreamed I’d live to see a Hero.”
He extended his hand to Seo Woo-jin with an awestruck expression.
“Would you mind shaking my hand?”
It was an exceedingly casual gesture, but Seo Woo-jin was no longer fooled by the man’s outward appearance.
As he gripped the hand in return, he asked,
“Think you can guess my name too?”
Was the question too sudden?
The man looked flustered.
“Haha, I don’t know that much. We’re not quite that good.”
As he said it, he tried to pull his hand away.
But he couldn’t.
Seo Woo-jin wasn’t letting go.
“Answer me, and I’ll release you.”
Strength began to flow into his grip.
The man was undoubtedly feeling a dull pain by now.
“Urk—”
The man looked troubled.
But only for a moment.
Resigned, as if realizing he had no choice, he opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you D-grade ‘Sword Soldier’ Seo Woo-jin?”
At the answer, Seo Woo-jin smiled and let go of his hand.
‘As expected.’
This organization’s abilities were impressive.
Of course, it couldn’t compare to the Empire’s elite secret intelligence agency, Crusiel, but it was still remarkable.
“Mind telling me how you knew?”
“That’s a trade secret, so…”
The man gave an awkward smile and refused.
“Then no helping it.”
Seo Woo-jin shrugged and gave up on hearing the answer.
‘I’ve got a few guesses anyway.’
Among Heroes connected to Zion, there was only Seo Woo-jin.
Plus, his face had been exposed while coming and going from Massive Guardian.
A competent intelligence organization wouldn’t miss such a key detail.
‘Put a few things like that together, and I stand out.’
It sounded simple, but deriving that result was impressive in itself.
Seo Woo-jin raised his evaluation of them once more.
“This way.”
After passing through corridors and stairs to the third floor, the man guided him to a room.
‘About thirty people…’
They weren’t visible to the eye, but people were lurking throughout the building.
They felt more like watchers than assassins.
Their levels weren’t that high, so it was a bit sloppy.
Any decent knight would notice them.
But among them, one person.
The one hiding in the ceiling of the room Seo Woo-jin had entered was different.
“Not bad.”
“Pardon?”
The man glanced at him, having overheard the mutter.
“Nothing.”
Seo Woo-jin shook his head and sat in the chair.
‘An assassin.’
The scent of honed killing intent wafted down.
Unlike the others, this assassin was concealed so subtly that only someone at the superhuman realm could detect him.
It was odd for such a skilled individual to be in this backwater little city.
But he didn’t show it and settled into the sofa the man offered.
“May I ask what brings you to us?”
The man sitting across from Seo Woo-jin asked.
His cautious tone was evident.
“I’d like some introductions first.”
“Ah!”
At Seo Woo-jin’s words, the man made an ‘oh no’ face.
“I got so nervous I was unintentionally rude.”
He apologized, straightened his posture, and spoke.
“My name is Johan. I run Zion’s modest information guild, Uzet.”
‘It doesn’t seem that modest.’
He hadn’t seen other guilds, so it was hard to judge precisely.
But considering Johan’s skills and the levels of those hiding, it wasn’t an organization to underestimate.
If this was truly a minor guild, then major ones would rival the power of a nation.
“As I mentioned earlier, I’m Seo Woo-jin. Nice to meet you.”
They shook hands once more.
“So, Seo Woo-jin, what brings you here…?”
What else would one seek from an information guild?
Information, naturally.
“I’d like a map marking the route to Aier and some details.”
“…Aier?”
Johan’s expression turned strange.
“Are you aware there’s a war going on there right now?”
“Of course. That’s why I’m going.”
As Seo Woo-jin nodded, Johan pondered briefly before speaking.
“What information do you need?”
“First, the current state of the war. Then the Holy King’s location, and if possible, the positions of the Apostles hiding in Aier.”
At first, his face showed it was expected.
But as the requests continued, Johan’s expression hardened.
“You don’t mean the Demon King’s Apostles by ‘Apostles,’ do you?”
“That’s exactly who I mean.”
“Mm…”
A groan escaped Johan’s lips.
Explaining the war in Aier was easy.
Real-time updates were coming in, and it wasn’t a big secret.
But the Holy King Mardetain’s location and the Apostles were another matter.
“That’s a tricky request.”
He couldn’t share such information lightly.
They were sensitive enough to draw blood if mishandled.
“If you don’t know, the map alone will do. I can commission the rest from another guild.”
Seo Woo-jin spoke politely, but the intent was clear.
‘If you don’t know, I’ll ask a competent organization.’
It was an obvious ploy, but effective.
It pricked Johan’s pride.
“…It won’t be cheap.”
Seo Woo-jin grinned at that.
‘Bringing up money means they have it.’
Impressive.
For a guild in this backwater to know the Holy King’s and Apostles’ locations.
“How much?”
Seo Woo-jin pulled out a leather pouch and flipped it over.
Gold coins poured out endlessly.
It was only palm-sized, but a spatial expansion spell was on it.
The amount inside could buy a whole territory, with some exaggeration.
No matter how pricey the information fee, he could pay.
“Very well. Please wait a moment. I’ll compile it and bring it right over.”
Seeing the pile of gold on the table, Johan stood with a stern expression.
“I’ll wait.”
As Seo Woo-jin leaned back, Johan bowed and left the room.
Thud thud—
He heard hurried footsteps.
Then orders to his hidden subordinates to fetch the information.
Snicker.
Even without Divine Dragon Eye, he could grasp everything happening in the building clearly.
Then, suddenly, he sensed the assassin above him moving.
No longer hiding his presence, the assassin boldly revealed himself before Seo Woo-jin.
He descended like a feather, without a sound.
“I am No. 36, in charge of Crusiel’s Zion branch.”
“…Crusiel?”
Was this a Crusiel branch?
Seo Woo-jin frowned at No. 36’s words.
But it was a misunderstanding.
“I was merely taking shelter here to hide for a while.”
“I see.”
An Imperial intelligence agent infiltrating Zion’s information guild.
He couldn’t even guess how vast Crusiel was.
Then, No. 36 pulled a single sheet of paper from his bosom and handed it to Seo Woo-jin.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor commanded me to deliver this letter to you, Seo Woo-jin.”