The Masked Broker
"However, there is one problem."
"A problem?"
"It is not easy to meet this information broker."
You met him just fine last time, didn't you?
"What kind of problem is it?"
"He is incredibly difficult to track down. He rarely shows his face."
So that was all. That won't be an issue. I already know the secret to meeting the information broker of the Descartes Duchy.
"It won't be a problem. Let us head straight to him."
"Actually, there is one more problem."
Franche pursed her lips. What is it this time?
"...What is it this time?"
"We need permission to leave the estate."
Permission? For just stepping out? Can't we just say we're going for a walk?
As I stared at her with a bewildered expression, Franche continued.
"When I went to the auction house to buy you, and when I visited the information broker before, I had to sneak out."
"Sneak out? Is such a thing even possible in a place like this?"
"Yes. As you know, no one in this family pays any attention to me. If I slip away quietly, I can easily escape through a gap in the iron fence."
The lady of the Ducal House of Descartes escaping through a gap in the fence? That's a bit pathetic.
Is that why she was completely unescorted when she came to the underworld?
What a ridiculous lady. Is she foolish, or just incredibly naive? Yet she seems to know everything she needs to.
I spoke up.
"Then let us simply sneak out again."
Franche didn't answer, merely pursing her lips once more. Now what?
"My personal maid has changed, remember? She won't be indifferent to my whereabouts. If we can solve this one issue, we can slip away, but..."
Her voice trailed off. Well, that was simple enough.
"Let's just take her with us."
"...What?"
"I mean we should make her our accomplice."
An entirely unexpected solution. Franche's eyebrows shot up.
"Is that really so easy?"
"Of course."
"How do you plan on doing that?"
"First, call her in."
Franche nodded and rang the small bell on the table.
Tinkle.
The moment the sound faded, the door swung open. As expected of a personal maid, she must have been waiting right outside. Surely she hadn't overheard our conversation?
"Did you call, My Lady?"
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn't. Franche set down her teacup.
"There is something I need you to do."
"Please speak, My Lady."
"......"
Instead of speaking to the maid directly, Franche stared at me. It felt like she was starting to dump everything onto my shoulders.
What will she do if I ever leave her side?
I offered a bright smile and stood up.
"Her Ladyship has some business to attend to outside."
"Outside? Then I must inform the Young Duke..."
Instantly, I slipped behind her, raised the edge of my hand, and struck the back of her neck.
Thud!
The maid collapsed limply, like a doll with its strings cut. I caught her before she hit the floor.
I've only ever seen this in historical dramas, but I'm glad it worked.
Hopefully, this wouldn't cause trouble later. I felt a slight twinge of worry.
Franche's eyes went wide, her mouth hanging open.
"You... you... what did you just do...?"
"I knocked her out."
"Why...?"
"So we can take her with us."
"......"
Franche was utterly speechless. I continued.
"My Lady, did you honestly expect to convince her with mere words?"
"Of course. How else were we supposed to bring her?"
"If we had tried, it would have only led to an argument. This maid was assigned to you by Lord Eden."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Even if she is your personal maid, her ultimate loyalty lies with Lord Eden."
Franche's mouth opened and closed silently. Had her brain short-circuited?
If we had tried to talk to her, she would have refused without hesitation. Then she would have reported to Eden Descartes that the lady was trying to sneak out. If Eden found out, it would have caused another massive uproar.
She had already snuck out once before and spent a staggering five hundred million gold on a slave. If she tried to slip away again? The consequences were obvious.
Franche spoke in a trembling voice.
"Still, wasn't knocking her out a bit excessive...? And how are we even going to get past the gates like this?"
"That won't be an issue. I will carry her."
"How?"
"I will conceal our presence and leap over the fence."
"...I suppose you can do that."
Franche blinked quietly.
"Then let us depart immediately. To the information broker."
"Very well..."
We slipped out of the mansion and scanned our surroundings. Once we confirmed the coast was clear, Franche squeezed through the gap in the iron fence hidden by the bushes.
I slung her personal maid over my shoulder and leaped high over the fence.
Thud.
Landing lightly, I looked around. Franche had gone ahead, but where was she?
"Over here."
Turning around, I saw Franche brushing dirt and dust off her dress after pushing through the bushes. Fortunately, it wasn't heavily stained.
"Let's go. To the information broker."
We walked through the duchy. Perhaps because it was broad daylight, the streets were teeming with countless people.
In the Empire, underworlds existed everywhere, regardless of the location. This was because nobles frequented them. Thus, it was difficult to find any territory without one.
Even so, public security wasn't terrible. Since these underworlds catered to nobles, the criminals knew exactly who they shouldn't cross.
Though low-life bandits are a different story.
Most bandits were failures who couldn't find work in the Adventurers' Guild. Just as even the cleanest streets have trash swept into hidden corners, bandits were the inevitable refuse of society.
Just then, the maid on my shoulder began to stir.
"H-huh?! What... what is going on?!"
"Shh. You've been kidnapped."
"...What?!"
I quickly explained the situation to her—why this had happened, and what she needed to do from now on.
"...But still, I must inform Lord Eden..."
"Then I have no choice. From this moment on, you are officially missing."
"No! I won't say a word!"
"Can you swear to that?"
"O-of course!"
"If a single word of this reaches Lord Eden's ears, you will vanish off the face of the earth that very day."
"I-I swear I won't say anything!"
The maid cowered, looking like a helpless lamb standing before a predator.
I asked her, "What is your name?"
"I-It's Helena..."
"Right, Helena. You'd better watch your step from now on."
"Watch my step...?"
"Prioritize Her Ladyship's orders above all else. If you don't, you might just find yourself going missing."
"Hic! Y-Yes, sir!"
Threatening through fear. It was simple, straightforward, and highly effective in the short term. The only downside was that the effect didn't last forever.
Still, she won't dare tell Eden.
Even if Helena reported this to Eden, Franche would only receive a light scolding. But for the maid, it wouldn't end so easily. She was smart enough to know which choice was better for her survival.
Franche, who had been watching silently from the side, finally spoke.
"...Did you just threaten her life?"
"Yes."
"I don't particularly like that sort of thing."
"It was an unavoidable choice."
"I suppose so..."
Franche nodded reluctantly, and we resumed our walk.
After walking for some time, Franche stopped in front of a certain tavern.
"We have arrived."
As expected, it was the exact same place I knew. He was inside. He was highly competent, so I needed to recruit him as an ally.
"Let's go in."
Franche put on the mask she had brought along. It was the same cheap animal mask she had worn when she came to buy me.
Tinkle.
The bell rang as the door opened. Instantly, the eyes of everyone in the tavern locked onto us. They had recognized Franche as a noble.
What are you looking at?
To prevent any annoying trouble, I released a wave of bloodlust. Instantly, the patrons stiffened and cowered, their skin breaking out in goosebumps.
Franche whispered to me, seemingly unaware of my bloodlust.
"The information broker is in here. But meeting him won't be easy. He didn't grant me an audience easily when I came alone, either."
That was just because the bastard was incredibly moody. If he was in a good mood, he took clients; if he wasn't, he'd ignore them and just drink.
"Leave it to me."
"How? You aren't planning to tear the place apart, are you?"
"What do you take me for...?"
"Consider your behavior and words up until now."
Well, she had a point.
"Anyway, it's nothing like that, so do not worry."
"Alright... I'm sure you have a plan."
I walked up to the tavern's counter alone.
"I'd like to take a look at the menu."
"Which menu would you like?"
"Special Course C."
The receptionist stiffened, his expression instantly turning solemn.
"We are not accepting clients today."
"Did the Master say so?"
"Yes."
He must be in a bad mood today. But I had a way.
I spoke.
"Then tell your Master this: I am here to see Seldas Freya of the Freya Count family."
The receptionist flinched violently, his shoulders trembling.
"What... what is your relationship with the Master...?"
"Why do you need to know? Just deliver my message."
"U-understood...!"
The receptionist scurried into the back room. I waited patiently.
"What did they say?" Franche asked.
"We will be able to see him shortly."
"I guess he is taking requests today after all."
"Yes, it seems so."
Franche stood there blankly, looking like a squirrel that had woken up too early from hibernation. Her emerald eyes sparkled through the gaps of her cheap animal mask.
Those eyes are beautiful, no matter how many times I see them.
Franche tilted her head.
"Is there something wrong with my mask?"
"No."
"Then why are you staring at me like that?"
"No reason. I was just thinking that your eyes are always beautiful."
"...Are you flirting with me right now?"
"Of course not. How could a mere slave harbor such irreverent thoughts?"
"...Right."
What was that? She actually sounded a bit disappointed.
Just then, the door behind the counter swung open.
"The Master wishes to see you immediately."
He took the bait. I nodded.
"Let's go in."
"Alright."
We stepped into the back room.
Countless books lined the shelves. A massive map was spread across the wall. There was a reasonably sized desk and a long sofa.
A man wearing a mask sat behind the desk. His name was Seldas Freya. He was one of the sub-male leads of this game.
The moment Franche sat on the sofa, Seldas spoke.
"I will get straight to the point. How do you know my true identity?"
I quietly whispered to Franche what she should say. She nodded and spoke.
"An information broker who loves money should act like one. Did you expect to obtain this information for free?"
"......"
Through the eyeholes of his mask, I could see his eyes narrow. It was proof that we had, at the very least, piqued his interest.
"An interesting guest. So, what is the reason you went to such lengths to meet me? State your request. I will accept the method of how you discovered my identity as payment."
I whispered the request to Franche once more.
"I am looking for someone."
"Someone? Who?"
"Do you know the name Cazar Uplain?"
"It is a name I have never heard before."
Seldas tilted his head. He undoubtedly wore a haughty expression beneath that mask.
"Regardless, I want you to find him."
"Very well. I will accept the request. But you must pay the price properly."
Franche nodded. Yes, not answering verbally was a good move. It made her seem far more mysterious.
"...But now that I look closely, that is the same animal mask from last time. Looking at the man standing behind you, it seems you made good use of the information I provided?"
"Let us refrain from personal chatter."
Yes! She was doing perfectly!
"A cautious guest indeed. I did not take you for one."
Seldas tapped his desk with two fingers—a habit of his when he couldn't contain his curiosity.
I whispered the next request to Franche.
"I have another request."
"What is it this time?"
Franche raised her chin, looking down at Seldas.
"I wish to start a business."