74. Common sense?
"I'll try asking around about that gem," Glaint said after listening to my story.
"Me too," Audrey added.
"Thank you—I owe you both a favor," I replied. Unlike Fors and Xio, they were far wealthier than me and had no need for monetary payment. "If you ever need my help, just say the word. I'll lend a hand without hesitation, so long as it's within my ability."
Glaint merely nodded, as if it were nothing; he had already grown accustomed to people seeking his help in such ways. Still, a faint spark of interest flickered within him. Unlike ordinary folk, Beyonders possessed abilities that could go beyond the mundane. He wasn't certain how far his own powers could reach, but perhaps they might prove useful in the days to come.
"I will—when I have something truly worthwhile for you," Audrey replied with deliberate care. Her days in the Tarot Club had taught her the weight of such exchanges.
Hearing this, Glaint also adjusted his way of thinking.
"Got it." I nodded, acknowledging her intention. "Aside from that, does anyone know where those gems actually come from?" This time, I directed the question not only at the noble but also at the other two, who had been silent until now.
As expected, both Glaint and Audrey shook their heads. They were aware of the gems' existence, but the origins remained shrouded in secrecy. Only those in connected circles truly knew, and while some with power might have obtained one through force, even they remained ignorant of its true source.
As for Fors… let's not even bring her up. That lazy woman wouldn't leave her house if she could avoid it.
My true intention, however, was to ask Xio—she had connections that ran along a different tangent than those nobles.
"Sorry, I don't know about this either," she admitted, her answer no less disappointing.
"But the black market—the backstreets—has undeniably grown more chaotic of late. I first thought it was due to the strained relations with Intis, or perhaps the recent spate of robberies. Still, we might uncover a clue there," she reasoned, voicing her deduction aloud.
"I see, thank you. You're sounding more and more like a proper sheriff. I'll need you to pay closer attention to this matter as well—I'm planning to head there myself," I replied, subtly hinting the way to improve more quickly, acting method. After all, having a stronger ally/friend was never a bad thing, and her advancement might prove crucial in the future.
And… I really wish you'd stop staring at me. I could feel Audrey's gaze boring into me like a drill. Who knew what thoughts were running through her mind?
Well, it was probably because of the acting method I had just hinted at—but I forced myself to think otherwise. I needed to lie to myself if I wanted to avoid her piercing gaze from laying bare my emotions and reactions.
Xio, smiling at the flattery yet missing the hidden meaning behind my words, asked, "If you plan to go there, would you like to come with me?" It wasn't a bad idea—having a supporter was always useful, and she already had some grasp of my abilities.
"It would be my pleasure," I replied with deliberate cheer. With my part settled, it was now the others' turn.
"I've become an apothecary," Glaint announced, revealing his advancement. Last time, he had purchased the recipe from Emlyn, and with his connections and his family's considerable resources, acquiring the rare Sequence 9 materials had been relatively straightforward—Sequence 9 materials, while uncommon, were still occasionally seen on the black market or at auctions. He had also consulted us on the proper method of brewing the potion. Now, at last, he had officially become a Beyonder. Thanks in part to our support, he wanted to share the achievement with us.
"Congratulations," we said—the most obvious response.
"I'm still learning, of course. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything," he said gleefully. "Also, if you happen to come across a recipe, I'd be happy to buy it at a fair price," he added, directing a particular glance at the three of us—me, Xio, and Fors.
"Well, we won't turn down an extra source of income," Xio said, nodding in agreement with Fors. I wasn't much different.
Then, finally, Audrey handed Xio a cheque. "This is your reward for the last mission."
"Reward?" Glaint asked, curiosity in his voice.
Audrey waved it off with a soft smile. "I just asked her to do some small tasks for me."
Xio and Fors, staring at the cheque, flinched. Small? they both muttered in unison, the memory of what they did still fresh in their minds.
"Actually, I have another mission," Audrey said. The moment she spoke, Xio and Fors visibly stiffened, almost cowering in fear. What kind of insane task is she about to assign?
Audrey almost sulked, perfectly reading their reactions. She understood all too well how jaw-dropping it must be for a flower-headed noble's daughter like herself to suddenly assign others a mission to assassinate a neighboring country's ambassador.
"I want you all to look for someone called Lavenus," Audrey continued, ignoring their fearful expressions.
"Lavenus?" Fors furrowed her brow, trying to recall the name. It sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
"The scammer? He's in this city?" Xio asked. As a bounty hunter, she was more familiar with wanted criminals, and naturally, she already had some information about Lavenus.
Then Audrey handed them a collection of portraits depicting Lavenus in every style they could imagine. Unless he had undergone plastic surgery, no matter what disguise he wore, these portraits would make him easy to recognize.
"Did he swindle money from you?" Fors asked, studying the photo. It was clear she wouldn't be this prepared unless she had a personal vendetta.
"Uh… um, yeah, something like that," Audrey replied, avoiding direct eye contact.
"What about the reward?" Xio added.
"Um…" Audrey hesitated, clearly unprepared for the question. "100 pounds?" she offered, her voice uncertain.
"Deal," Fors and Xio replied in unison. It was a safe yet profitable job—hardly anyone would turn that down.
Glaint, however, felt nothing unusual; 100 pounds was just slightly more than pocket money to him, and that was all.
"Ms. Audrey, 100 pounds just for that…" I began, commenting on her loose approach to money. It was far too generous to offer 100 pounds for a bounty that was exactly the same amount. The deal was already set, so nothing would change, but this lady really ought to be more careful with her finances. Just as I was about to continue…
"Chris, you're no different," Fors muttered. My enhanced senses caught her words, but her quick retort caught me completely off guard, leaving me dumbfounded. "Huh? Me too?" I asked, turning to her.
Fors, equally unprepared, muttered softly under her breath, her gaze meeting mine with a trace of guilt.
***
Later that day, I met up with Xio as promised.
"Hello, Ms. Sheriff. Good evening. How are you feeling?" I said in a low voice, audible only to the two of us, a subtle hint of teasing in my tone.
"Good evening," Xio replied nonchalantly, dressed in her usual adventurer's outfit. "Feels good." She flexed her arms up and down, proudly displaying her soft looking upper hand.
"And what about Miss Fors?" I asked, noticing the other person was absent.
"She went to other gatherings."
"Oh, the one she mentioned last time? The psychology alchemists, right?" I asked. She nodded in confirmation. "But I didn't realize she was tracking some dangerous secret organization."
This came up after we had been talking about Lavenus. She had only briefly mentioned the organization, and Fors had also been moving around, trying to gather information on it.
"She needed them to advance," Xio replied, understanding the situation—after all, she was no different. She needed MI9, too. At least they were still better off than Fors, who had no clue. What about him? Xio stole a glance at Chris, still mostly unpredictable but with a clean record worth checking.
"Is she going to be okay?" I asked.
Xio shrugged casually, reminded of her friend's abilities. "She's safer than us. One teleport, and most mundane Beyonders wouldn't stand a chance."
"I see. How about you?"
"Me?" She paused thoughtfully. "Ah, it's fine. They've also noticed the circulating materials on the black market. They accepted my advancement, but in return, they want me to gather information about their loss of monopoly. If I manage that, I might even be able to get the Interagattor formula."
We had raided their garden and taken their belongings, and now they wanted to reward us for returning them. "What a profitable business" I commented, letting a smile spread across my face.
"Right?!" she exclaimed, hopping slightly with excitement. "But… well, we can't really do this anymore," she added, sounding a bit dissatisfied.
"Well, if we did it twice, they might catch on… or maybe they already know and are just weighing the benefits of investing in you," I imagined the worst-case scenario. After all, Xio's path was Sequence 8 Sheriff, then Sequence 7 Interrogator—they had acted as enforcers of the order.
"That… might be true," Xio admitted, thinking along the same lines. "Okay, enough of the gloomy talk. Let's head to the Braveheart Bar for now."
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I uploaded it using my phone. This is my first time doing it. So I'm not sure if it broke the formatting or anything. If it did, I'll fix it later