Chapter 20: The Last People for Preparation (1)

A few months later, Patrick found two red flags planted atop the spire.

He immediately headed toward the eastern district of the outer castle and entered the tavern Blue Sunset.

There, Regina Foster, the branch manager of Eye of the Moon, was waiting for him.

“I planted them just before sunrise, and you’ve already arrived.”

“I saw two flags raised, so I came straight away. Don’t tell me you found both people, just as the number of flags suggests?”

“That’s right. That’s why there are two. However, one of them wasn’t in good condition, so I brought them here directly.”

“Who are you referring to?”

At his question, Regina slowly opened her mouth.

“A child named Dike, a hard dwarf. He was living in a border village of the Edina Kingdom, but we brought him here. He went through something terrible there.”

“What kind of thing?”

Patrick’s expression grew even more serious.

Regina sighed before continuing.

“It was a village of dwarves on the frontier. His parents were apparently killed by imperial soldiers who crossed the border. At least, that’s what the informants who went to retrieve him said.”

“Oh… That’s quite a grave matter.”

To have witnessed one’s parents being killed right before their eyes—if one’s mind didn’t collapse after such an event, that would have been strange.

“He was alone in a dwarf village where no one else remained. So we brought him for now. But as for what happens next…”

Eye of the Moon never inquired about their clients. Even if they somehow found out, they neither pretended to know nor leaked any information.

That was precisely why Eye of the Moon had remained the top in the intelligence trade until now.

“I’ll take him with me. Where is he now?”

“Follow me.”

Patrick stepped out of the room and followed her guidance down the hallway.

After walking through a long underground corridor, they arrived before a room tucked away in a corner.

“Here.”

When Regina opened the door, a small child was sitting curled up in the corner.

Perhaps because he had been brought there by force, he reacted tensely at the sight of the two.

“Hmm… His condition looks worse than I expected.”

“He struggled so violently that we couldn’t even wash him after bringing him here.”

The Edina Kingdom was far north, beyond the Prios Kingdom.

Having crossed two borders, Dike must have gone through a great ordeal.

“I’ll try talking to him first.”

Patrick slowly approached Dike.

The boy’s light sky-blue hair, covered in dust, shimmered faintly under the candlelight.

Patrick knelt on one knee beside him.

“My name is Patrick Waver. I heard your name is Dike…”

At his words, Dike cautiously glanced through the strands of blue hair that fell over his eyes.

Patrick continued speaking softly.

“I heard you went through something terrible. If you don’t mind… would you come with me?”

“……”

There was still no answer.

He only stared quietly, unmoving.

“If what you want is revenge, perhaps I can help you. What do you say?”

At that, Dike’s eyes widened, and for the first time, he spoke.

“Y-you mean… you?”

He had reacted to the word revenge.

“I can’t give you a definite answer yet. But the person I serve might be able to grant what you wish for.”

“What if… they don’t?”

What mattered most now was giving Dike a reason to live. Patrick had to plant in him a purpose to hold on to.

“I can’t promise anything, but the one I serve wouldn’t overlook your goal.”

“T-that person… is the one who’s looking for me? Not you? You’re not planning to make me a slave, are you?”

Dike had been told that someone had requested his retrieval through Eye of the Moon.

In the Empire and several other countries, non-human races were often enslaved. That was what terrified him—

that he might be taken as one of those slaves.

“The person I serve would never enslave anyone. In fact, they need you. If you’re willing, how about meeting and speaking with them directly?”

His tone was exceedingly cautious.

At that, Dike lowered his wary gaze and slowly lifted his head.

“They… need me?”

“Yes. Otherwise, why would someone send for you all the way from a distant land? Do you think you’d be worth that much trouble just to be used as a slave?”

At that question, Dike slowly shook his head.

He was merely an eleven-year-old half-dwarf boy; there was no way his worth could amount to hundreds of gold.

Even Regina, the branch manager who had received the request, couldn’t understand the reason behind it.

Of course, the same went for the other people Patrick had asked her to find.

“If you have nowhere to return to, and you have something you wish to achieve, then trusting me once might not be so bad.”

Patrick extended his hand toward the boy.

Dike hesitated for a moment, then slowly took Patrick’s hand.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure you never have reason to regret this.”

Dike’s head dipped in a faint nod.

“It might be difficult to meet him looking like this. How about washing up first?”

“Ah… okay.”

“Could I trouble one of your people for assistance, Branch Manager?”

He was speaking to Regina, who stood by the door.

“That much I can do as a courtesy. I’ll send someone right away.”

Moments later, at her call, several attendants came in and led Dike away.

“Now then, let’s finish the remaining discussion. What about Fordman?”

Because Dike’s situation had been urgent, that matter had been postponed until now.

The two returned to the previous room and sat down.

“Merchant Fordman traveled all over the kingdom and entered the royal capital yesterday. He said he’ll stay for about seven days before leaving again. Here’s the location of his lodging.”

Regina handed Patrick a slip of paper.

“You’ve really found them all. Then, let’s settle the payment. Ah, since Dike was brought from another country, there’ll be additional costs.”

“As expected, precise as always. Clients like you are rare, you know. Fordman’s case is 150 gold, and with Dike crossing two borders plus the travel expenses, that’s 250 gold.”

That was 100 gold more than usual.

It was quite a sum, but Patrick didn’t hesitate. He pulled out a pouch and handed over 350 gold.

“Always a pleasure doing business with someone so tidy.”

“It’s thanks to your good work.”

“Then I suppose we’ll meet again for the next deal.”

“That depends. I only follow the orders of the one I serve. If they command it, I’ll see you again.”

At Patrick’s formal tone, Regina looked a little disappointed.

After all, she had made a considerable profit from a job that, while lengthy, wasn’t particularly dangerous.

In addition, the scent of money practically wafted through the air during the whole exchange.

“If a good opportunity ever comes up, please be sure to visit again—White Flash.”

At those words, Patrick’s expression hardened.

But he didn’t stop her to ask how she knew that name.

Meanwhile, Regina walked away, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared down the long corridor.

“What a troublesome organization.”

Any investigation into a client was strictly forbidden.

Yet, driven by curiosity, Regina had apparently dug into Patrick’s past and uncovered the title White Flash.

Clicking his tongue, Patrick waited silently.

Before long, Dike, now neat and clean, was led in by a female attendant.

“You look much better now.”

“Th-thank you.”

“The Branch Manager also said the boy’s clothes were a complimentary service.”

The attendant said only that before leaving elsewhere.

Once the two were alone, Patrick took Dike and headed up to the first floor.

Inside the dim tavern, filled with rough-looking men, Dike quickly hid behind Patrick.

“Are you frightened? Don’t worry too much. None of them will dare do anything to you.”

“S-still…”

Patrick sighed lightly and turned his gaze toward the men.

As soon as a few of them met his eyes, they quickly averted their gazes.

They were reminded of the throwing knife Patrick had hurled last time.

“Better now?”

Dike nodded, and the two were finally able to step outside.

Once outside, Patrick paused to think.

Regina had told him that Fordman’s inn wasn’t far from here.

“Dike, I have somewhere to stop by for a moment. Would that be all right?”

“Y-yes, it’s fine.”

“Thank you.”

Patrick gently took Dike’s hand, and they walked down the street together.

Before long, they arrived at an inn called The Fairy’s Rest. Patrick entered first and approached the counter, where a young woman was standing.

“Excuse me, but is there a merchant named Fordman staying here?”

“Fordman? Ah! Yes, he is! Would you like me to call him for you?”

Since he was a merchant, it wasn’t unusual for people to come looking for him about his wares, so she answered readily.

“I’d appreciate it if you would.”

Just as the clerk was about to move, a man suddenly jumped in from the side.

“Right here! I’m Fordman!”

Coincidentally, Fordman had been eating in the first-floor dining area.

Hearing his name called, he quickly ran over and spoke.

“So you’re Fordman. My name is Patrick Waver, and this young one here is Dike. Would it be possible to speak somewhere more private?”

At the polite request, Fordman hesitated briefly before replying.

“Well… Is this about some kind of deal?”

“You could say that. If there’s a fee for your time, I’m willing to pay it.”

“How much are we talking?”

“I’ll give you two gold coins. That should be fair for a short conversation, don’t you think?”

Patrick pulled out two gold coins and waved them in front of him.

Clink—!

In an instant, the coins disappeared into Fordman’s hand.

As expected, just like His Highness Raion said—money makes him drool.

Patrick had heard about Fordman’s greed beforehand from Raion.

“With this much, you could talk to me all day if you wanted! Let’s go up to my room then. It’s so quiet up there that you can even hear the mice chatting away!”

Apparently, Fordman’s sales pitch was running on full throttle.

“Ahem! That’ll do. Let’s just head up.”

“Right this way!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep