Chapter 56 056

Adamantine, the legendary ore, was said to be blessed by God.

Its existence was in similar vein as Orichalcum and Mithril, but it had completely different properties from those two.

"And this is it, you're saying?"

"We chanced on this information on total coincidence, too. So, I've made put in the request, but… I didn't expect it to be actually succeed. I didn't expect someone like you to appear."

"Your source?"

Kartna, the guild master said like Seojin was acting difficult. ,

"We paid for it, so…"

"Two free chances of appeal. Plus, I'll answer your call right away if I don't have anything urgent to do."

"How about three times?"

"Deal."

"It was an adventurer priest from the Church of Luna."

"Priest?" Seojin tilted his head.

Players could also hold classes related to religion, and the Church of Luna wasn't a strange choice by any means. However, selling the whereabouts of relics to thieves was a different problem.

"He came and made a proposal first, saying that he knew the location of some Adamantine. The Scroll of Truth proved his claims and I bought it right away."

"What was his name?"

"I do not know. I didn't ask and I didn't care. Nobody except you knows my real name."

"I'm doubtful."

Kartna picked up a stack of paper. It was the Scroll of Truth. Its effect? The ones who sign it cannot tell a lie to the other party.

Seojin nodded.

"I feel like I took a loss."

'Thank you, Robert!'

Seojin hid what he was really thinking. He made a rash decision due to his urgency. He could have earned more out of Kartna had he been more cautious. Still, that was no longer important to him.

Adamantine! Seojin would have completed the contract like the nice guy he was and taken a moderate reward in return for Amber Pearl if Ironblood hadn't ransacked every reward in advance. It was because they had done so that he was able to reach this conclusion.

'Achievement? Quest rewards? They don't mean anything in the face of adamantine.'

This was the metal of Gods in the realm of men. Seojin could get something much more precious than the promised rewards if he processed it properly.

"You did reveal a bit of what you were thinking, but this is about adamantine after all. I'm still thinking about if I can steal it from you somehow. Oh, but of course." Kartna waved his hands as Seojin's eyes gleamed. "I stay focused on my work once I've started, we're professionals."

"We need to get started quickly then."

"We should get some dirt on the relationship between the Count and Ironblood, right?"

"Just get evidence of Ironblood snatching the money meant to be sent to the palace. That should be enough."

"The Chancellor of the Treasury must be pleased. I'll see you in five hours."

There was a rustling sound from all sides. Seojin looked around interestedly and soon realized that even Kartna, who had been right before him, was nowhere to be found.

'Yeah, thieves. There's no better job than them when it comes to the cool factor.'

All Seojin had to do was wait until Kartna returned with information and Robert gave his own official statement. Cutting off Henrite wouldn't be enough to save Robert if Seojin turned this into a big issue right after he apologized.

'You're giving me so much, I'm grateful. That doesn't mean I'm going easy on you though, Robert.'

The present Seojin had been preparing for him was near completion. He just needed to decorate it and hand it over.

[Sumone's comin'. Assassin. Ayo that's fast.]

At that moment, Flappy sent Seojin an urgent message. Seojin was about to reply but soon forgot. It would be foolish to waste such precious time on confirmation.

"Kartna? Anyone here?"

"…"

"I'll take everything from your warehouse if you don't come out."

"…Oh, sorry, I was dozing off. I'm here."

Kartna popped out of thin air in his bartender outfit, just as Seojin expected. It didn't make sense for them to leave their base empty.

"There's a hiding spot in here, right?"

"There is."

"Let me borrow it for a moment and don't ask me why. If anyone asks, I'm not here, and send for help from the Church of Luna if they threaten you… no, it'd be better to call them now."

"Wait, wait, the price comes first."

"Are you planning to take a fee?"

Seojin grinned, and Kartna nodded vigorously.

"Consider it a free service."

* * *

Heidi, one of the top elite members of the Seventh Knight, was running across the rooftops.

'His trail is so obvious… is this a trap? Or a show of confidence?'

She was also an assassin, and once she had a variety of skills that she could use to track a target down once she decided on one. Seojin's footprints were clearly visible to her eyes and they were leading her to the job guild building of Erzebet. As she went further, she confirmed that he was at the Thieves Guild.

'…The guild is almost empty, what is he up to?'

Heidi focused on her senses, utilizing her "mind's eye" skill. Even the top tier skill of rouge class couldn't catch any surveillance measure.

'They don't seem to be prepared for my arrival… should I go in?'

Henrite warned her that failure was not an option for this mission. Heidi could also see what was going on, and she thought even a little risk was unacceptable.

'The guild master is done for if I fail.'

That meant she would lose her job as well. Heidi thought to herself for a while before jumping down to the ground like a cat.

'There's nothing to trap me here.'

The city itself wasn't even a high-level field. Heidi walked down the stairs with confidence that she could easily escape even if there were traps that she couldn't spot.

"Welcome, what would you like to order?"

Heidi squinted at the neatly dressed bartender.

"I know a man came here recently. Tell me where he is and I'll leave you alone, you have my word."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"…There's a hiding spot, I'll find it myself."

"Oh, I see… You're telling me to call the Church of Luna."

"That's it. Hand him over, the church is after him too, so forget the lame threats."

"Oh, so you want me to call them right now? Then…"

Kartna didn't even see what happened. The next thing he knew, the edge of a dagger was pressed against his neck, and a simple slice would bring about the end of his life.

"…I didn't know you were this competent."

"Nothing is more precious than life, don't you think so?"

"Yes, I agree, I'll take you inside."

Kartna didn't resist anymore and raised his hands, knowing there was no way he could beat her. She would catch him before he could take a couple of steps if he tried to run away. However, just as Heidi learned something from Kartna's words, Kartna also learned from her.

'This woman can't see through the hiding spot.'

The hiding spot was cladded with spellbane, a metal that blocked magic. Their plan would have been busted from the beginning if she could see through it.

"We're here."

"Good work."

"I thought you'd kill me once I was done guiding you."

"You'd better run away now if you were lying."

"Thanks for your tip."

Kartna ran away as soon as he heard those words.

"…"

Heidi lost visual of him as it caught her off guard completely, but she didn't care.

'I can find him myself.'

She was going to destroy the entire building to catch the guy if necessary, just as Henrite ordered. She could escape with her evasion skills, even if the Church of Luna tracked her down.

The moment she opened the door…

"No one can hide from the moonlight!"

Bang!

Heidi was knocked out by the sudden impact to her head.

* * *

Meanwhile, Seojin was enjoying his free time, waiting for Kartna in the ordinary housing near the guild which was his real hiding place.

[Shay's fainted. So much fahwar merciful priests, eh?]

[How are they reacting?]

[They're talking now…]

Flappy reported in real-time. According to her, the priests seemed quite satisfied, although, they were slightly disappointed that it wasn't Seojin.

[Thay say thet thay could rip more stuhf frum Ironblood. Ah'm purdy shore thuh Goddess will bay so proud uh them. Sarcasm intended.]

[Good job, how about Kartna?]

[He's leavin'. Do yawl want may tuh keep an ah on him?]

[Yes, please.]

Flappy went back to her original role. The Church of Luna should be pretty satisfied since he tossed them the bait of Ironblood. It seemed they were planning to get more compensation than what they originally agreed upon.

'Luna will cry a river.'

Seojin smacked his lips, remembering the soft-hearted girl, Luna, whom he knew in Asgard. She must have been seeing everything from above but she wouldn't intervene, even when her heart was broken.

'Well, she'll eventually thunder down on them, but not right now.'

The corruption wasn't still severe enough yet. It had only been a year since the game had launched, and Seojin knew the devs weren't planning to reveal such a big event so soon.

Soon enough, the door opened.

"Mister Seojin."

"Good job, your fleeing speed was impressive."

"You say that like you've been watching all along."

"There are ways to do so."

"Then you could have helped me… I thought I was a goner. Don't you think you need to reward me handsomely for the risk?"

Kartna whined too much for a man in the position of guild master, but Seojin didn't budge.

"Isn't it just an occupational hazard for you?"

"True, but only when I'm after treasure."

He flopped down on the opposite side of Seojin.

"Should I expect anything worse from now on? I'd hate to risk my life every day."

"No. nothing more. What about that work we talked about?"

"Once everyone returns, it will be done. About the Count… well, he probably doesn't even know what happened to his house."

That was rather obvious. Seojin felt everything was planned to turn out this way from the start, and he was just following the dev's plans.

'Any sane aristocrat would have their own private army in real life, up to the limits that the royals allow, of course.'

In fact, that was what Baron Bolton did. He only ruled three towns, but even he managed to run his own order of knights. That was normal, natural behavior.

'Being a gateway city doesn't make it right to leave such affairs to adventurers alone. At face value, they make use of good manpower at a cheap cost, but what if an adventurer stabs them in the back? Just like I am right now.'

It was even more confusing after considering that nothing in this game was made without intention.

'Maybe what I'm doing now is the intended narrative for Erzebet.'

If that were true, it was frankly surprising to think that the devs were able to lead players down the route they intended for a VRMMO, not a clumsy PC game.

'I don't know, it's too early to be sure. Maybe I'm just abusing the system.'

Whatever the case, Seojin was gaining a lot thanks to it.

He pulled up his list of friends.

- Yes, Seojin!

BunnyRabbit answered with professional kindness, even when called unexpectedly. Seojin gave her the information that she was longing for.

"I got a slab of Adamantine, identified three clients of irregular contracts, and will soon replace the Lord of Erzebet. I will expose the relationship between Ironblood and the Lord now, preventing them from cutting ties with the Seventh Knight."

- …What?

Bunny was clearly confused, but Seojin was not planning to elaborate.

"Deliver that information to Hailstorm, but tell them not to leak it. Tell them I said they'll get a share of the pie too. do you understand?"

- …Yes!

That was the only answer BunnyRabbit could give.