Chapter 28: The Capital’s Rumors

After completing their inspection, the man and woman regrouped and began talking.

“What do you think?”

“There was a battle—more like a one-sided massacre.”

“Gardion Tower mages, probably?”

“Most likely.”

“Where’d they go?”

“Based on the carriage’s direction, either Laverium or Delkain.”

“If it’s Laverium, the 2nd Branch is there, so no worries. Shall we head to Delkain?”

“Sounds good. The report?”

“I’ll handle it.”

Their conversation flowed smoothly and ended quickly.

The man pulled a small crystal orb from his pocket.

The orb glowed, and a gruff voice emerged.

– What’s the matter?

“We greet Lord Adir. We’re contacting you with an urgent report.”

– What is it?

“Gardion Tower mages are heading to Laverium or Delkain. We plan to pursue them to Delkain. But if they’re in Laverium, what should we do? Keep tracking?”

– …

Adir let out a low murmur.

The two waited silently for a response.

After a long pause, Adir spoke.

– If they’re in Laverium, return.

– I’ll leave it to the 2nd Branch.

“Understood.”

Swish!

With the man’s reply, the orb’s light faded.

The two resumed their earlier façade as a cheerful couple, moving on with smiles.

“But do you think Breck was really killed by Gardion mages?” the woman asked, her face brimming with curiosity.

She still couldn’t believe Breck was dead.

“Who knows? But that’s what the situation suggests,” the man replied with a shrug.

Honestly, he found it hard to believe too.

Breck wasn’t an ordinary cadre.

Yet, all evidence pointed to Gardion Tower mages.

“Could the two of us take them down?” the woman asked cautiously.

Though they were following orders to track, she was uneasy about their chances against the mages.

Truthfully, she hoped the mages were headed to Laverium.

“…It’d be tough,” the man said with a wry smile.

“But! If we freeze their mana and ambush them, our chances aren’t bad.”

“Did Breck not know that?”

“Ahem, enough negativity. Let’s think about a bright future,” the woman said, clearing her throat to change the subject.

“Bright future?”

“Breck’s mission. Won’t it be reassigned to someone else?”

“…!”

The woman’s eyes lit up at the man’s words.

Breck’s mission involved absorbing two major earldoms in the Glaco Kingdom and recruiting Rud Tower, one of the top ten magic towers—a critical task.

Yet, it wasn’t particularly dangerous.

In other words, it was a high-return, low-risk mission.

If they could secure that mission?

“…Nice,” the woman said, finishing her thoughts with a broad smile, her earlier gloom gone.

The man grinned back.

Taylor, spotting the city walls ahead, spoke to the carriage’s interior.

“We’ll arrive in about three minutes.”

At his words, the carriage window opened, and Gaon poked his head out.

Gazing at Laverium’s towering walls and the splendid buildings within, Gaon thought, It’s developed a lot.

Laverium, the capital of the Laco Kingdom.

It wasn’t his first visit.

Ninety years ago, he’d come for Tower business.

Back then, Laverium was already grand as the kingdom’s capital, but not to this extent.

Well, it’s been ninety years.

Ninety years was enough time for mountains and rivers to change.

Laverium’s prosperity was only natural.

After his observation, Gaon returned inside and asked Rotes, “Are there places in Laverium selling elixirs or spirit herbs? Mid-grade or higher, not low-grade.”

Since reaching the 7th Circle, low-grade elixirs were useless.

Mid-grade or higher was necessary, though even mid-grade had limited effect now.

“There should be some at the royal palace’s shop, near the Adventurers’ Guild. Shall we stop by?”

“Yeah, after we collect the bounty.”

“Understood.”

As they spoke, the carriage slowed, signaling their arrival at the city gate.

Laverium’s gate had three passages: one for merchant caravans, one for residents and visitors, and one for royalty and nobles.

Naturally, Taylor headed for the third passage.

“Please stop for a moment,” a knight guarding the passage said as he approached.

Taylor promptly presented his identification.

“…!”

The knight’s face lit up with surprise upon seeing it.

“It’s an honor to meet a mage from Gardion Tower.”

He smiled, returning the identification, and glanced at the carriage.

“Identity confirmed. And inside…?”

“An elder and an important guest of the Tower.”

“…!”

Whether due to the mention of an elder or an important guest, the knight flinched, quickly stepping aside and signaling the soldiers.

They cleared the path, and the knight addressed Taylor and the carriage loudly.

“Welcome to Laverium. Enjoy your stay.”

Taylor nodded in acknowledgment and drove on.

Once inside, he continued straight along the main road toward the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Wow, isn’t that a Kerhen Workshop carriage?”

“Look, it’s got their emblem.”

“Here for the auction?”

“Seems like it.”

“Guess the royal palace’s special auction is attracting big names.”

Inside the carriage, Gaon, who had been meditating, opened his eyes at the chatter.

He asked Rotes, “Where’s the Laverium auction house?”

“It’s south of the palace, about twenty minutes from the Adventurers’ Guild. Are you planning to go?”

“…”

Gaon murmured, thinking.

A regular auction wouldn’t interest him, but a royal palace-sponsored special auction was different.

Rare elixirs might appear.

“Let’s spend today in the city. I want to look into the auction.”

“Got it.”

Rotes smiled and told Taylor, “Drop us at the Adventurers’ Guild, then book a private residence at the Scarlet Inn and rest.”

“What if no private residences are available?”

“Book a royal-grade room.”

“Yes, sir!”

After the conversation, Rotes said, “Shall I gather info on the auction at the Adventurers’ Guild?”

“Please do.”

“I’ll dig up everything!”

Gaon chuckled at Rotes’s enthusiasm and closed his eyes again, resuming his meditation.

The Abyss won’t stay quiet.

He’d disrupted their plans multiple times and killed several of their cadres and members.

Knowing the Abyss, they’d surely come for revenge.

Are they in the Laco Kingdom too?

Lyren, the Sailer family’s heir, was an Abyss cadre.

There could be others among the Laco Kingdom’s influential figures.

Soon, the carriage stopped, and Taylor announced, “We’ve arrived.”

Gaon and Rotes disembarked.

“See you later,” Taylor said with a polite bow before leaving.

The two entered the Adventurers’ Guild.

It’s quieter than I expected.

Was it the large building or the capital’s guild?

The interior was surprisingly calm.

Some groups sat at tables, chatting, while others browsed the request board on the left.

“I’ll look around,” Gaon said.

“I’ll be back soon,” Rotes replied, bowing before heading off.

Gaon approached the request board.

Escort Request: From Laverium to Blurgwell via Maiton

Departure: October 15

Client: Rost Caravan

Reward: Negotiable

Orc Subjugation in Drag Prairie

Duration: Ongoing

Client: Adventurers’ Guild

Reward: 5 gold per orc head

While scanning the requests, Gaon overheard adventurers talking about the auction.

“Going to the auction?”

“Gotta check it out. The palace put a lot into it.”

“I heard Luell’s Seed or Roel’s Seed is up for grabs.”

“Luell’s Seed, not Roel’s! They say it’ll go for at least 50,000 gold.”

“No way, I heard it could exceed 100,000 gold. The Asur Caravan’s ready to bid whatever it takes.”

“Marquis Samog’s after it too. This auction’s gonna be wild.”

Gaon was slightly surprised.

Luell’s Seed?

It was a key ingredient in Luell’s Blessing, one of the continent’s finest elixirs, produced only ten times a year in the Seionia Holy Empire.

Gaon knew it was tightly controlled there.

For it to appear at an auction?

If the price is reasonable, I’ll bid.

He decided to join the auction.

Not just for Luell’s Seed—if that was available, other items would likely be extraordinary too.

There could be elixirs he’d want.

Soon, he noticed wanted posters on the board.

Gaon quickly scanned them, searching for the Hedin Mercenary Band.

He found them shortly, their faces—including Hedin’s—posted.

“…?”

But he was slightly confused.

All the Hedin Mercenary Band posters had an X marked on them.

What’s this?

As he puzzled over it, he overheard more chatter.

“Is that story true?”

“What story?”

“About the Hedin Mercenary Band.”

Gaon focused on the conversation.

“You know, the ones who killed Viscount Mongbl and fled?”

“Yeah, what about them?”

“They say the 2nd Prince took them all out.”

“What? The 2nd Prince?”

Gaon’s confusion deepened.

The 2nd Prince took out the Hedin Mercenary Band? All of them?

It was absurd.

What’s going on?

Maybe the prince had killed a few.

Some members Gaon hadn’t seen were marked with an X.

But all of them?

Impossible.

Hedin and dozens of others’ bodies were with Rotes.

Hmm…

Gaon murmured inwardly.

The X marks meant the Laco Kingdom recognized the Hedin Mercenary Band’s deaths.

And they were attributing it to the 2nd Prince.

This isn’t good.

He had a bad feeling, like he was about to be dragged into something troublesome.

“If this is true, the 2nd Prince is making a move, huh?”

“Yeah, the king values martial prowess, and the 2nd Prince outshines the 1st Prince in that.”

Gaon frowned at the continued chatter.

The successor hasn’t been decided?

He’d assumed the crown prince was set.

But it seemed the succession was still open.

That made things worse.

If the truth about the Hedin Mercenary Band’s fate came out now?

At that moment—

Creak.

The door opened, and Rotes walked out, his face full of concern.

He approached Gaon and whispered, “There’s a problem.”

“The rumor that the 2nd Prince took them out?”

“Yes. I showed the guildmaster the bodies, and he was shocked.”

“What’s the plan?”

“It’s a royal matter, so I didn’t hand over the bodies. The guildmaster said he’ll contact us later.”