A Great Favor and a Forged Seal
As soon as they returned to the Zen Kingdom, a massive crowd gathered at the inn where Adel was staying.
“Thank you. You've done me a great favor. I nearly ended up trapped in the Forbidden Zone for life.”
“I was just fulfilling the commission I accepted. Truth be told, I have a favor to ask of you as well.”
“Of me? I'll help with anything. What can't I do for the benefactor who saved not just me, but the entire Leviathan Guild?”
Piz Gwahl, the leader of Leviathan. Unlike his younger sister Pausa, he was a man of integrity. Though his face was pale from the ordeal in Cove, his eyes burned with sharp intensity.
“If you'd like a map of Cove's terrain beyond the Isle of Savages, I can provide the information.”
“R-really?”
“But distributing the completed map would have to wait ten years. As you know, it can only happen after the demon realm situation stabilizes.”
“Hmm……”
Piz nodded.
“Then I'll take the information when you deem the time stable.”
At his gesture, a subordinate brought over a large pouch and set it before Adel.
“Sell the info to me alone, not anyone else. Consider this a down payment.”
The heavy pouch brimmed with gold coins.
“The commission fee is plenty. Instead, if it's alright, please give this money to Meister Crul. There will be many materials to buy going forward.”
“Crul…… You mean the Red Dragonkin blacksmith on the market street? He's famous for not associating with anyone…… Impressive.”
Piz nodded in understanding.
“Fine. So, what is it you want commissioned?”
“Take a look at this.”
Adel pulled a weathered map from his bosom and placed it before him.
“An acquaintance bought this in Ruinxen recently. It bears Leviathan's official seal, so it seems like one produced here…… Do you know where it leads?”
“Hmm.”
Piz donned a monocle and slowly examined the old map, feeling its texture.
“Indeed…… That's Leviathan's seal.”
“Yes, it is.”
“It's impressive you came to rescue me just to verify this…… Hmm. Looks like it was a wasted trip.”
Piz stroked his chin gravely, murmuring as if troubled.
“Is there a problem?”
“Haha, no. If I had to nitpick, it's that you could've deciphered this map without rescuing me.”
“What do you mean?”
“The seal is Leviathan's, but it wasn't stamped during production. Subtle difference—the ink hasn't soaked in properly. It's superficial.”
“Meaning it was stamped onto a finished map later?”
“Exactly. But the real question is whether this map was made by our guild.”
Adel eyed the map.
“I'd have to ask my sister about this. The seal on it is hers, not mine.”
Pausa Gwahl. The mention of her involvement stirred unease in Adel. After all, he knew what she had done in his previous life.
While her brother was stuck in Cove, she made a deal with the Azal Kingdom.
In the end, Sea Wave Island escaped Cove after twists and turns, but the battered Piz couldn't resume proper activities. Sea Wave Island naturally fell to Pausa, and that marked the decline of Leviathan, the world's top sea chart guild.
Hmm, but from what I see now…… It doesn't seem like she deliberately left her brother in Cove.
If it were for public opinion, she'd at least have pretended to search.
Heading into the Forbidden Zone is a life-risking endeavor in itself, and she followed me.
Adel wondered if Pausa's true nature from his previous life hadn't yet emerged.
Or maybe she has her own plans……
He'd need to watch her more closely.
“Y-you called, brother?!”
The door burst open as Pausa rushed in, pale-faced and shouting.
“You shouldn't be moving yet. You need rest.”
“I've rested enough. More importantly, we have much to do. Look at this first. Isn't this your seal?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Pausa glanced at the map on the table. Her face drained of color at the sight. She clearly recognized it.
“N-no way…… Is this the map that guy asked me to appraise for you last time?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Crack!
Piz, seeing Pausa's flustered expression, struck the back of her head hard, convinced.
“A-ack! What was that for, brother?!”
“Your face says it all. I've heard the rumors for a while now—taking bribes from antique dealers to stamp Leviathan's authentication on mystery maps.”
“Th-that's……”
“Those absurd maps get authenticated as treasure charts and resold at auctions for ten times the price.”
“No! It's a misunderstanding!!!”
“Then what was that look on your face?! Who authenticated this map with latitudes and longitudes that don't match anywhere?!”
Piz shouted sharply at Pausa.
“At least check the damn map before stamping! You fool…… What do you take the guild's honor for? Selling it for pocket change?”
“It's not like that……”
“Then what is it?!”
Under Piz's scolding, Pausa shook her head, on the verge of tears.
Something's off.
Stamping a non-guild map was wrong, but Pausa's reaction seemed less about guilt and more about hiding why she stamped it.
“Pausa.”
“Y-yeah? Wh-what is it?”
Seizing the chance, Pausa rushed to Adel's side.
“Who told you to stamp this map's seal?”
Gulp.
The dry swallow hit Adel's ears. A sign of her tension.
“That reaction…… Means it's someone hard to name. Like a high noble of a kingdom, or someone you can't even mention. For example……”
Adel fixed her with a stare.
“The Forgotten Ones.”
“What?”
Piz whipped his head around at the words.
“Speak straight. You didn't make a deal with those continental scum, did you? We don't associate with such evils!!”
“Of course not!! Why would I deal with them? Even a scoundrel like me knows they're vicious!!”
Pausa yelled.
“……Then who? Tell the truth.”
“Well……”
She hesitated, then let out a low sigh.
“The Azal Kingdom. They just asked for a few stamps. The pay was insane, though.”
She glanced at Piz.
“Oh, right. I was going to tell you, brother. But…… They demanded secrecy……”
“Azal Kingdom?”
Piz tilted his head and looked at Adel.
“Was the client Karon Azal by any chance?”
“The fifth prince? Hmm, not sure, but it wasn't anyone who came to me directly.”
“What did they look like?”
“Face was covered, so I couldn't tell. But the voice was unique. Androgynous—couldn't say if man or woman.”
“Voice…… That's odd.”
Adel's eyes narrowed slightly.
One suspect, but I need to investigate more. They're completely unconnected to Azal Kingdom.
Kalderet nodded at Adel's words and buried his face again, lying down.
“If they asked for a few stamps, there are more than this one?”
“Yeah. Three in total.”
“Really…… You. Even if the money's good, pulling stunts like this. Do you have a brain?”
Piz shook his head at Pausa's answer.
“B-but with the money I earned, we built an extra ship! Without it, we couldn't have gotten materials to repair Sea Wave Island.”
“Is that an excuse?!”
“But it's not a fake map, brother!”
As Piz raised his hand roaring, Pausa dove under the table in panic.
“What do you mean?”
“You must've gotten an earful in Cove. Even you missed this.”
“Spit it out.”
“L-look here.”
Pausa crawled out from under the table with a grin.
“At first glance, it's a mess…… But there's a clever trick hidden. Here. Slightly worn, right? Fold the four corners, then diagonally……”
Pausa folded the map.
“Hold it to the light, and the lines realign.”
Sure enough, the lines from the folded parts shone through, forming a new map.
“Give it here. Let me check.”
Piz snatched the map from Pausa and began measuring.
“Where'd you get this?”
“Lord Bucket of the Garam Archipelago had it. He said a Leviathan guild member saw it and called it a map of the deep sea path.”
“Hmm? One of ours?”
Pausa tilted her head, feigning ignorance.
“Strange. No one in the guild should know this map but me…… Deep sea path? What's that? Did we have a member who knew something I didn't?”
“Exactly. The client who commissioned you is unknown, yet someone knows what this map is. Quite the coincidence, like having a guide.”
“What do you……”
Adel said,
“Have you checked the other maps?”
“No, not that far……”
“Maybe all the maps you stamped are the same. Folding isn't that rare a trick.”
“No way.”
“Yes. It's like it's calling to those who obtain it.”
“Who would……”
“Who knows. Even the Azal Kingdom bit might be a lie. That'd be fortunate, though.”
“Fortunate how?”
“The truth? Piz Gwahl will tell you.”
“W-wait, this location……”
Piz, peering at the folded map on the table, muttered in bewilderment.
“Isn't this the Secret Palace?”
Cling.
At that moment, the weathered pendant around Adel's neck, 【Ice Crystal of the North Sea】, trembled as if in response.
Spot on.
Adel gripped the necklace bearing one of the Secret Palace Lord's three treasures, the Heavenly Palace Stone.
So the one who commissioned Pausa was that guy after all.
When he heard about the androgynous voice, Adel had suspected. Confirming the map's destination turned suspicion to certainty.
Daran Samakal. Son of the Secret Palace Lord, and one of the three fanatical followers who had trailed him.