It was unclear who exactly had stolen the Sordin Order’s sacred relic, but one thing was certain.
It had to be stopped as soon as possible.
If the Growler obtained the sacred relic, Nordenark would evaporate entirely.
Along with the hundreds of thousands of people living there.
Just imagining it is horrific.
This place was also imperial territory, so I couldn’t ignore it.
I immediately summoned Cordell McNeil and Jaren Burgess for a strategy meeting.
“The best way would be to catch the one with the sacred relic. But realistically, there are many difficulties.”
As I started, both nodded with stern faces.
Even a Black Agent of the imperial guard knights and an underworld boss couldn’t help it.
How to catch when we didn’t know who the culprit was.
Then the remaining method was to target the final moment.
“First, finding the Growler should be priority. To hand over the sacred relic, it’ll have to show itself.”
“It won’t be hard to find once it reaches there. Growlers only appear at night, and the sacred relic shines brightly.”
Cordell McNeil and Jaren Burgess each offered opinions.
They made sense.
But this plan had a huge risk.
“If we fail, it’s over. You know that?”
“……Hmm.”
“Ahem!”
As I pointed out reality, both cleared their throats briefly.
If we couldn’t stop the sacred relic from being handed to the Growler?
Nordenark’s destruction aside, we’d be in danger first.
To execute the plan, we’d have to go very close to the explosion’s center.
Even for the empire’s sake, the risk was too high.
“If there’s truly no other way, we’ll have to. But let’s not only think of targeting the last moment.”
“Yes, that’s better. I’m old so it doesn’t matter for me, but my family…….”
“I left a fox-like lover and rabbit-like ladies in the capital.”
Jaren Burgess looked at Cordell McNeil with a baffled face.
Seeming to silently ask what nonsense that was.
I shook my head and tried to refocus.
“He’s always like that, so don’t mind.”
“Your Grace? That’s a bit harsh.”
“Then can I relay your words to the beauty salon as is?”
“Huh?”
“You said rabbit-like ladies.”
Emphasizing the plural, Cordell’s face turned ashen.
He seemed to finally realize his mistake.
“I didn’t peg you for a playboy.”
“No way. Nothing’s set yet, so I’m keeping all possibilities open.”
“Whoa! Trash.”
“Ehey! You act otherwise, but you’d do the same, Your Grace.”
“I’ve had no scandals so far.”
“……You won’t really say it, right?”
“Depends on you.”
“I’ll always be loyal to Your Grace.”
Look at that shameless face.
He’s never obediently followed my words even once, yet boldly says that.
Truly incorrigible.
If I relayed his remark to the beauty salon, it’d probably have no impact.
He’s the type with all possibilities open.
“Alright, the talk veered off. Sorry. Let’s continue.”
“Yes, I’ve deployed members to investigate everywhere. If lucky, good news soon.”
Jaren Burgess had mobilized all his subordinates for this.
He’d even sought cooperation from other underworld bosses.
Naturally, they had to move.
Their turf was in crisis.
“Good work. What about you, Sir McNeil?”
“Huh? Me?”
“You’ve been spying; must’ve got something?”
“Nothing much. I was just looking for Sordin assassins.”
“Ha!”
I let out a short sigh and stood.
This guy really doesn’t communicate.
For proper talk, extreme measures were needed.
What to do?
In such cases, body language is best.
Swish.
“Uh uh? W-wait. I was about to say? Your Grace is too hasty.”
“Go ahead.”
“I found the assassins’ positions, but they quickly returned. No need to monitor the Sordin Order anymore.”
A bit more sincere, but zero substance.
Of course, not as angry as before.
If nothing gained, at least say it nicely.
That way, less infuriating.
“Good. Keep answering like that. Sincerely.”
“Ha, haha! Of course.”
His awkward laugh suggested he’d revert soon.
Still, I didn’t press more.
He’s always like that; what can I do?
Educate him every time he acts up.
Anyway, all we could do now was search.
To add more effort, I tried to stand.
But right then.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
Something clicked, making me tilt my head; Jaren Burgess hurriedly tried to support me.
Seeming to think I was unwell from the awkward freeze.
I waved it was fine and looked at one corner of the living room.
“Hey, you two.”
—Huh? What’s up.
—Why?
Then Shugl and Feltron replied sleepily.
They seemed to have been lounging on cushions, enjoying sunbathing.
“When we went to the Sordin temple. There were two mid-level priests left, right?”
—Yeah.
“One is Priest Terence; then who’s the other?”
—I don’t know? They didn’t say. You didn’t ask.
A suspicious scent wafted.
Doesn’t it?
If something was stolen from a secret place like the temple basement, it could be an insider.
No, seems highly likely?
Suspicion was turning to certainty.
I jumped up and grabbed my coat.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“I think I need to go to the Sordin Order. Find out who that mid-level priest is.”
As I said that and tried to leave Jaren Burgess’s house, Feltron’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
—Huh? I know him.
“Huh? How?”
—He’s one I controlled.
“Ah?”
My mind cleared instantly.
If true, we could nab the suspect right away.
I immediately grabbed Feltron and brought him to my face.
“You know where? Can you control again?”
—Authority too weak for connection. But tracking’s possible.
“Oh?”
Music to my ears.
I shouldered Feltron and Shugl, dashing outside.
Then the left-behind Cordell McNeil and Jaren Burgess stared at each other.
“What the hell is this?”
From outside, it must’ve looked weird.
Feltron only telepathed to me.
Probably seemed like I was monologuing with a white bat in hand.
Like a crazy person.
Unlike puzzled Jaren Burgess, Cordell McNeil was unfazed.
“He’s unpredictable. I’m used to it.”
But isn’t it odd.
That I, now outside, heard this conversation.
Simple reason.
Cordell hadn’t come out, so I’d returned.
“Sir McNeil? If you want to see her at the beauty salon again, shut up and move quick.”
“Eek!”
Perhaps because his secret love life was at stake, Cordell McNeil let out a weird sound and dashed out.
Not a kid, yet can’t take eyes off for a second.
Tracking with Feltron leading was smooth.
He guided us somewhere plausible.
A place full of abandoned warehouses and trash piles.
Perfect atmosphere for assassins to hide.
—Beep beep. Detecting. Beep beep.
Of course, Feltron wasn’t entirely trustworthy.
He’d been making those weird sounds since earlier while flying.
“Can’t you shut up and do it? More dignified-like.”
—No. This helps focus.
“……”
No credibility, but if he says so, what can I do?
Need his power, so endure the annoyance.
“No? I’m not your subordinate; why endure? Shut up and focus.”
—I’m not speaking with my mouth. Telepathic will transmission.
“You’re done. Pro instructor. Forward.”
Higher rank doesn’t directly scold the much lower.
Just chew out the immediate underling.
Order sorts itself.
—Forward at attention!
—Kuek!
Shugl pounded Feltron just right for my taste.
As expected from a senior; definitely different.
I watched contentedly as the sugar glider disciplined the bat.
“In pro terms, this is cascading ass-chewing.”
Refreshing inside, but couldn’t leave them like that.
Need to find the bomb terrorist quick.
I stopped Shugl right away and pushed Feltron’s back.
“Snapped out of it?”
—Kk! Be, beep…….
He didn’t completely stop the weird sounds, but the annoying vibe was gone.
Feltron perked his ears like that for a while, then raised both hands.
—Whoa!
“What? Found?”
—Not here? Really don’t know.
Became subordinate, should obey meekly.
But why so infuriating?
Needs intense real education.
Right as killing intent rose.
Feltron’s fear-soaked face changed.
—Oh? Here!
“This time for real? Or you’re dead.”
—This area! Hurry.
Thud thud thud!
Feltron hopped on all fours.
Wondered if that’s okay, but soon nodded.
Ah, not a real bat anyway.
I sprinted after him through alleys.
Past abandoned warehouses and trash, soon the city wall.
Feltron scaled the wall instantly and glided outside the city.
This is easy.
Thud thud! Thud thud!
Ramping Beast’s Heart while running, the wall was no problem to climb.
Modern climbers would’ve felt powerless seeing it.
I kicked up the smooth wall like flat ground.
Anyway, over the wall, I saw Feltron who’d moved far.
Surprisingly, he was with a huge faint blue something.
“Uh uh? Th-that’s?”
Cordell McNeil, following behind, voiced shock.
Seemed to recognize the bizarre entity’s identity immediately.
“What’s that?”
“You’re asking me? It’s a Growler!”
“Ah?”
Not like I encounter monsters often.
Plus, that one’s super rare.
Anyway, finding the Growler is good. But where’s the Sordin mid-level priest?
Right then, an eerie feeling hit.
We came for the sacred relic thief suspect.
Yet, a Growler is here?
What does that mean?
“Right before handing over the sacred relic?”
Bad omens don’t miss.
From the forest, a man burst out running toward the Growler.
Holding a glowing rod.
Is it just me or the translation in this chapter is super bad?