The Client from the Tower of the Stars
"Everyone, meet our new Assistant Manager Morian."
"Hii, nice to meet you all."
"A pleasure to have you."
The arrival of an experienced hire one rank above him left Cedric looking rather glum, so I gave his shoulder a quiet, consoling pat.
Having been stabbed in the back by villains twice already, both Susanna and Cedric seemed to hold out very little hope for Morian. For her part, Morian paid the chilly atmosphere no mind whatsoever and simply found her seat.
Ding-a-ling—
"Sounds like we have a visitor."
At the chime of the bell, Susanna, who handled all client reception, headed outside. A moment later, she came back in with wide, startled eyes.
"Guild Master, someone is here from the Tower of the Stars."
"The Tower of the Stars?!"
I shot up out of my seat the moment the words left her mouth.
As I mentioned before, the empire had not only its three great powers but also a fourth faction balancing the scales between them.
Like the Red Rose Salon I'd encountered last time, the Tower of the Stars was one of those four factions.
It was an organization where the empire's most celebrated scholars gathered to conduct their research, and thanks to them, all manner of science and technology had flourished—or so I'd heard.
If we played this right, we might even be able to put my knowledge of the original story to use on this commission.
"Cedric, come with me, will you?"
"Of course."
It seemed too early to hand anything over to Morian, and I was still in the middle of teaching Cedric how an information guild actually worked.
Besides, as he'd proven last time with his knowledge of the noble families, Cedric had a knack for pulling out strangely useful information.
When Cedric and I reached the reception room, we found a man sitting there in a daze, a cup of tea Susanna had poured for him sitting untouched in front of him.
The man had an unruly mop of gray hair and a pallid complexion, like someone who hadn't set foot outside in years. On top of that, with his monocle and flowing robe, he radiated the unmistakable air of an eccentric scientist.
"Good day to you. I am Audrette, Guild Master of the Global Information Network Guild."
"And I am Cedric, assistant manager."
I'm going to have to change this guild's name soon. It's mortifying.
"I understand you've come from the Tower of the Stars."
"Yes, that's right…."
The man spoke slowly, as though conversation were something he hadn't practiced in a very long time. Then he fished around inside his robe and held something out to us.
"An identification card verifying your membership in the Tower of the Stars."
Only after Cedric had vouched for its authenticity did I finally nod.
"Might I ask your name?"
"Latel…."
Not a name I remember from the original story.
"Where did you hear about our guild?"
"Marquis Heindel…."
"Ah, I see."
Apparently, resolving the Marquis Heindel affair had earned us a few favorable whispers in noble society.
"Then what brings you to us today? Please, tell me in as much detail as you can."
"Someone stole my paper…."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"The paper I was going to present at the international association… scholars from the Kingdom of Norian submitted it first…. The exact same content, word for word…."
"You're certain the content was identical? Then you're saying there's a traitor inside the Tower of the Stars who leaked your paper?"
"That's exactly it…."
At those words, Cedric suddenly put on a grave expression.
"This is the kind of matter that could escalate into a conflict between nations. The Kingdom of Norian planting a spy inside the Tower of the Stars—it's an affront to everything fair and just!"
"I know, I know…. Let's solve one problem at a time. Mr. Latel, is there anyone you might suspect?"
"Not the slightest…."
Cedric and I exchanged a glance. If there was truly no one he suspected, then there was only one course of action left.
Just like last time, we'd simply have to suffer through the legwork ourselves.
"Don't worry, Mr. Latel. We will find them—I promise."
Right. Let's make this Tower of the Stars commission a success and build ourselves some connections while we're at it!
"Your Highness, you're here early today."
"I am. Work's gotten lighter ever since the new employee started."
When Cedrian let slip something dangerously close to a smile, Eric eyed him with open wariness.
“May I ask why you seem more devoted to guild work than to your actual position as Crown Prince lately?”
"Must be your imagination."
"You are obtaining information through that guild, aren't you? You haven't told me a single thing."
"It's not as though there's been nothing to show for it. Using my identity as 'Cedric Alte,' I've earned Marquis Heindel's goodwill, and now I can come and go freely at the Red Rose Salon. Though I still haven't managed to reach any information on the Temple…."
"What a convenient segue, actually. There is a guest waiting for you, Your Highness."
"A guest? Without an appointment?"
"Yes, he insisted on waiting until Your Highness arrived."
"Who in the world is so disrespec—"
"Marquis Heindel."
"……!"
Cedrian flinched at the name. He knew exactly why the man had come.
He's here to ask about it, of course.
The Marquis had seen him with his own eyes, undercover inside the Global Information Network Guild. Now that he'd been recognized, there was no question the man had come to demand an explanation.
"Did Marquis Heindel actually discover Your Highness's infiltration?"
"Well…."
At Eric's question, Cedrian deflected for no good reason—he knew perfectly well a scolding was coming either way.
By the time he'd shaken Eric off and made his way to the reception room, the door opened and Marquis Heindel rose to his feet in a formal bow.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"…At ease. Sit."
Cedrian's eyes drifted, of all things, to the coffee cup set before the Marquis. So his guild can serve coffee now— wait, why am I even thinking this? Has Audrette Lavendel brainwashed me or something?
While Cedrian was quietly questioning his own mental state, the Marquis spoke first.
"It has been some time since I last came up to the capital, and I wished to see Your Highness's face. I last laid eyes on you when you were still a boy, and I see you've grown into a fine young man in the years since."
"How very sentimental of you."
"Why on earth are you in that guild?"
Pfft!
The question, landing so bluntly, nearly made Cedrian spray his coffee across the table. He barely managed to swallow it, cleared his throat, and composed himself.
"Ahem. There is something I need to verify, so I am conducting an undercover investigation myself. You will not acknowledge my presence there, understood?"
"Of course I won't, but… why would Your Highness go in person over such a trivial matter?"
"Because it is a serious matter that I must monitor personally. That guild possesses considerable value. If its secrets slip out, things become… complicated."
"Could it… have something to do with the Temple?"
"……!"
"If Your Highness would go so far as to investigate in person, it must involve the Temple."
Faced with the Marquis's unnervingly sharp instincts, Cedrian finally nodded.
"You're right. There are things about the Temple that raise my suspicions, so I've been investigating them from inside that guild. It is a far more effective method than doing so under the Crown Prince's name."
"I trust Your Highness will not misuse any information of mine obtained through that guild."
"Is that why you came?"
"It is."
"Just as you keep my secret, I swear to keep yours."
Cedrian added, "If you require it, I can even swear an Oath."
"Then let us do so."
Since the Marquis did not refuse, Cedrian invoked his ability.
"I, Cedrian Elbaron, swear upon my people's trust in me that I shall not use any information regarding Frederick Heindel for the sake of the Imperial Family."
"And I, Frederick Heindel, swear upon the North that I shall never speak to anyone of His Highness the Crown Prince's life within the guild."
A brilliant light filled the room. Only once the Oath was complete could they finally lower their guard around one another.
"By the way—that capable woman in your guild. Is she an enemy, or an ally?"
"An ally. For now."
"'For now'…?"
"Sometimes she feels more like my enemy…."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
As her employer, she did have a habit of making his life miserable….
Then it occurred to Cedrian just how long it had been since he'd last demanded anything from Audrette.
It was time to request information—to find out how close she could actually get to the Temple.