Chapter 58. The Salamander's Heart (1)
Pale usually received his clients behind iron bars and glass when selling information or arranging commissions.
It was a defense measure, built at great expense, to protect his life and property. Some customers expressed discomfort, saying it felt like a prison, but there was no helping it.
This was Gray. Not every guest who visited here came with courtesy.
Back when Pale's information brokerage had just taken off, there were those who tried to seize his information when a conversation went wrong, or even assassinate him to silence him.
To survive as an information broker in this era meant wagering one's life.
However, once his prestige rose to a point even nobles could not ignore, the story changed.
Those who once tried to kill him suddenly went quiet, as if nothing had ever happened. At times, fearing their own dirty laundry might be exposed to the world, they even showed friendliness. Should enmity arise, both sides might end up dead, so they clasped hands in tacit understanding.
An intangible force that could become a sword or a shield, depending on how it was used. That was information.
Of course, that didn't mean Pale's life had become safe.
The moment he showed even the slightest gap, those around him would rush in to tear him apart. Thus, there were only three cases when Pale met someone directly, without iron bars or glass.
Someone he trusted.
Someone whom bars or glass could not block.
Or someone who fit both.
Pale had always abided by this rule. Today was no exception.
"So, you're saying I meet that condition?"
"Yes."
Pale's influence was limited to the southern part of Gray, but his information network stretched across the entire duchy. There was hardly any news he missed, and the reliability of his information was considered extremely high.
Yet even so, he had misjudged Verden.
When introduced by the Butcher, he had certainly been a 3rd-tier. But only a few months later, in a commission to track down a viscount, he had boldly displayed 4th-tier magic.
What in the world? Had he been hiding his strength? Why? Or had he actually grown in such a short time?
Whatever the reason, it was clear Pale had miscalculated his full power.
Whenever he hired someone, he meticulously gathered information and assessed the person, and his judgments were rarely ever wrong… But here, the source of the information was Count Rodenmeyer.
There was no reason for the count to lie. No matter how he thought about it, the count had nothing to gain.
Pale excluded his subjective thoughts, focusing only on objective information.
Asher was not a 3rd-tier but a 4th-tier Mage, and as long as proper distance was maintained, they could surely benefit each other. Up to this point, it was understandable.
But that assessment was overturned yet again.
'Th-this can't be…'
Soul Tree.
One of the two main figures who had slain that abnormal species, rivaling a special entity. When Pale first received this information, even he was so startled he checked its authenticity multiple times.
Of course, the result never changed.
Already, in Lorian, Asher's name had appeared in the papers, spreading his fame, and powerful figures were now turning their eyes toward the gray Mage.
And there were more than a few who had personally witnessed the massive firestorm he created.
So, to sum it up.
Asher was on par with, at the very least, the bloodstained sword Leira, who was expected to become the next mithril-rank adventurer. In other words, even at minimum, he possessed magical talent far beyond that of an ordinary 4th-tier Mage.
On top of that, his tier limit was very likely at least 5th-tier or higher.
'Then treating him accordingly is only natural.'
The role of the credit rating Pale assigned was as a filter.
It was to screen out outsiders whose abilities had not been properly evaluated. Under no circumstances would he allow anyone to buy information or accept commissions beyond their assigned grade.
But he could raise someone's rating at his own discretion.
That was where his information network came into play.
By offering valuable intelligence first, he drew out the other party's trust in return. And the gray Mage before him had more than enough worth for such treatment.
"For that reason, I've decided to raise Sir Asher's grade from 4th to 2nd."
The reason he didn't immediately grant the highest grade wasn't ability, but trust.
Grade 1 information and commissions were merits Verden could obtain by maintaining a friendly relationship with Pale. That was the point Pale wanted to emphasize.
Verden thought,
'Well, this is good for me.'
If someone was offering better treatment on their own, there was no reason to refuse.
The so-called price was merely handling commissions Pale arranged.
'No, I still get paid, and I can choose which requests I take, so it's hardly a price at all.'
This was a deal.
A mutually beneficial relationship where neither side lost.
"Then I'll gladly accept."
"Thank you. I look forward to working with you."
With those closing words, the greetings ended.
The conversation turned to the main matter.
***
"By the way, had you been intending to take commissions, you would have used the contact network I provided… Seeing you come here directly, you must have another reason?"
"I need information."
Verden pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Pale.
Written upon it were various high-priced alchemical materials. Among them was a rare plant, a single specimen of which could fetch hundreds of millions.
"Not the sort of thing you'd find at a local shop. But that doesn't mean they can't be acquired. Give me some time, and I can secure them for you."
"Would it also be possible for you to purchase them on my behalf?"
"That benefit is only available to those of grade 3 or higher. Since Sir Asher has just been promoted to grade 2, it is indeed possible. Of course, not for free—there will be a handling fee of about 6%."
That cost was within expectations.
It was better than wasting time wandering around to save a bit of money.
"I'll leave it to you. And there's one more thing I need to buy."
"What is it?"
"I need information on an excellent alchemist. Preferably with an introduction."
Mediocre ones wouldn't do.
Even if the difficulty of producing a Demon core wasn't considered high, that was only in comparison to using an orb as staff material. Considering the rarity of the materials, the chance of failure had to be reduced to the lowest possible. Even if it cost more.
Pale nodded.
"No problem. Fortunately, there are a few alchemists connected to my information brokerage. Mostly to sell potions or items they craft. I'll select about… three candidates, and hand them over along with the alchemical materials. So the total cost will be…"
He tapped on the calculator and showed the figure to Verden.
Even factoring in the payment to the alchemist for producing the Demon core, it could be handled within Verden's budget.
'But if I do that, I'll end up penniless.'
While waiting for the materials and information to be prepared, it would be better to earn money rather than just continue private research. That way he could maintain his current lifestyle smoothly.
Verden pulled out the cash he had withdrawn in advance from the bank.
Stacks of hundred-thousand Elks and ten-thousand Elks, hundreds of notes in total. Without even needing a machine, Pale's quick hands counted the amount.
"It seems about right. I'll give you the balance when you leave. Do you need anything else?"
"I'm thinking of taking a commission."
At that, Pale smiled as if he had been waiting for those words.
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Soon after, Pale returned with a document.
On the top of the request form he took out, the word Locus was clearly written.
Verden asked,
"What's Locus?"
"An information broker active in northern Gray. Since I operate in the south, our business doesn't overlap, so I wouldn't exactly call him a rival… But unlike me, he dedicates himself to illegal work. You could call him a loach that dirties this whole trade even more."
"I see. So this request is about him?"
Pale briefly summarized the request form.
"Locus's methods are so full of illegal dealings that countless criminals and dangerous people gather around him. That does mean he makes money, but he makes enemies as well. Recently, it seems he stirred up a hornet's nest somewhere, and it has blown into major conflict. His brokerage is practically on the verge of collapse."
"Collapse?"
"Because of this item. Take a look."
The material Pale showed had an illustration of a heart, shaped like a blazing flame.
"The heart of a rare magical beast, the Salamander. If magically processed and smelted into metal, it creates a weapon imbued with searing heat. And because the heart remains alive for nearly a month even after being removed, its vitality is so strong that it's also used in potions or special stimulants. In every way, it is an extremely hard-to-obtain material."
"And an ordinary broker had something like that?"
"From what I've gathered, he brought it in from the Estiria Kingdom across the border. He must have stolen it from someone, then hid it away in a warehouse to avoid pursuit. It wouldn't be the first time he's done such a thing."
Where exactly he obtained that information, no one knew.
But this time, it seemed his opponent was not the type to let things go. Locus's brokerage had been utterly wrecked.
"So, the request is to retrieve that heart?"
"That would be ideal, but it's too risky. Unless the thief who reclaimed it and Locus destroy each other… No, even then, it would still be treated as stolen goods. There's no need to shoulder unnecessary risk. It's better if the item just disappears. In that sense, what I need is something entirely different, namely information."
Currently, Locus had gone into hiding.
Since his headquarters was raided, he would surely have carried off not only the Salamander's heart but also all the confidential information he had hoarded throughout his life. Many other brokers were already desperate to seize it.
"Competition will be fierce, complete chaos. Skilled individuals across Gray will be tracking it."
"Not an easy task, then."
"Which is why it's a grade-2 commission. But the pay will be different from before as well."
Pale showed the figure on his calculator.
'Indeed, this is different.'
It was more than all the payments he had ever received from Pale combined.
If he completed this single commission, Verden would never need to worry about money, even after producing the Demon core.
Verden nodded.
"Where should I begin?"
***
Northern Duchy of Riviant.
The season was shifting from autumn to winter. Because of the terrain near the snowy mountains, unlike other regions, snow had already begun to fall.
"More ale! Bring more ale, now!"
A man with a thick cloak thrown over his shoulders, a beard unkempt from not having washed in days, bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The innkeeper of the small village, face pale with fear, brought over a mug of ale and said,
"Sir, you seem quite drunk already, perhaps you should stop…"
"Shut your mouth! Unless you want to die, just bring me drink!"
"Y-yes!"
The man snatched the drink away and drank straight from the bottle.
Then, pulling crumpled bills from his pocket, he tossed them at the innkeeper. It was an action to make one's blood boil, but the innkeeper could only pick up the money in silence.
This was a peaceful village.
An outsider with a cold blade at his waist was terrifying. All they could do was endure and wait for him to leave.
At that moment, someone entered the inn.
A man with a hood pulled down over his head. Another outsider, a face not seen before.
"Step outside for a while."
"Eh…?"
The hooded man, Verden, handed him two hundred thousand Elks.
Sensing something unusual, the innkeeper hesitated, then quickly accepted the money and dashed out.
Staff in hand, Verden fixed his gaze on the drunken man.
'That's him.'