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Chapter 36
Even for the sake of dealing with Baal, and to prepare for the time when she had achieved all her otaku goals — she needed him.
Even though it was still early, the tavern already had a decent number of customers.
Amid the lively noise, Helen scanned the staff with her eyes.
[Frederick ignored the employees in brown suits and walked toward the one in black.]
Recalling the scene in A Secret Night where the male lead brought Laila here, Helen approached the middle-aged man dressed in a black suit.
“Is there something you’re looking for, ma’am?”
The man asked politely.
[What’s the nastiest drink in this place?]
“What’s the nastiest drink in this place?”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, but in the next instant, he smiled warmly as if nothing had happened.
“For nasty drinks, we have two kinds — Gargoyle’s Tears and Revenge of the Shadow. Which would you like?”
It sounded like a simple choice, but the correct answer was neither.
“How pathetic. That’s not what I wanted.”
Helen gave him a sharp look and turned on her heel.
To an outsider, it might have looked like she was picking a pointless fight — but that wasn’t the case.
It’s the passphrase to meet the guild master.
She was repeating the exact code that, according to the original story, the guild master had used for decades.
Just as she stepped out the door, the man in black followed her outside.
“My apologies for failing to satisfy the lady. By any chance, are you looking for a particular kind of nasty drink?”
This was the final step.
“I’m looking for something best enjoyed… in secret, at night.”
“I see. Please, follow me.”
After passing through a dim hallway and descending a maze-like staircase, a hidden underground room appeared.
It was a small, five-pyeong (about 16 m²) reception chamber meant for receiving guests.
Helen glanced at the flowerpot — she remembered from the novel that pressing the hidden switch behind it would reveal the real guild hideout — then fixed her gaze on the hooded figure seated on the sofa.
“I’ll take my leave then.”
After the employee exited, the hooded figure silently gestured for her to sit.
As Helen sat down, a faint curve appeared on his lips.
“What brings the great lady of the divine beast’s household to seek out someone as lowly as me?”
It wasn’t surprising that he recognized her; she hadn’t concealed her appearance, and as the guild master, information was his trade.
“There are only two reasons someone would come here, aren’t there?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He raised one finger.
“One, to buy information.”
Then another.
“And two, to sell it.”
Clasping his hands together gracefully, he asked,
“So which applies to the Duchess today?”
“I’m selling information — in exchange, I want a ticket to the auction at 2 a.m. on the 20th.”
An auction at 2 a.m. on the 20th, requiring a ticket — Michael immediately realized where she wanted to go.
“That’s not hard. If your information is worthwhile, I can get it for you within a day.”
Normally, people of Helen’s status came to buy information, not sell it. His assumption had missed the mark — which only made her more intriguing.
“I assure you, this information will be quite valuable to you. You’ll find it worth your while.”
“Haha! To speak with such confidence — now you’ve piqued my curiosity.”
He smiled, until she began to speak.
“It’s about an herb called Benevon. It’s said to dramatically improve the condition of children born frail. What parent wouldn’t want that?”
“Yes, I’m familiar with it,” he said smoothly.
Of course he was. As soon as he’d heard about Benevon, he’d contacted the doctor selling it — all for his sickly daughter.
“If you know Benevon, then do you also know this? Benevon is actually a fake name the quack doctor made up. The herb’s real name is Temperen.”
“…Temperen?”
“It’s a plant that grows only in a small, little-known kingdom on the eastern continent. If consumed for less than a year, it acts as a medicinal herb. But if you continue taking it beyond a year, toxins start building up in the body.”
Helen continued her explanation.
“After three years of continued use, the toxin reaches a critical level. Then, after a long dormant period, blue marks begin to appear on the body — and once they do, death is inevitable within a week.”
The guild master’s smile vanished.
Not laughing now, are you?
Helen knew exactly why his face had hardened.
In A Secret Night, this incident was detailed because it tied directly to how he came to work closely with the Crown Prince — the guild master himself was one of the victims.
One day, people — nobles and commoners alike — began dying with the same symptoms: coughing blood and high fevers. Blue marks marred their bodies.
At first, everyone thought it was an epidemic.
But when people from completely different backgrounds began dying in the same way, investigations began.
Eventually, they discovered a single connection — all the victims had been buying the same herb long-term from the same doctor.
The Empire of Kailuma had no records about Temperen. And since the herb produced genuine improvements early on, no one suspected Benevon.
Michael, too, had his doubts but couldn’t dismiss it when he saw others benefitting.
By the time the truth came out — that the herb was poisonous — the doctor had long fled into exile.
Public outrage erupted. Many begged the Imperial Family to capture him, and countless others sought revenge on their own.
But hunting down a man who had deliberately vanished wasn’t easy. Years passed.
Eventually, Frederick and Faye — now adults — were tasked with finding him.
And they did. Though Faye disobeyed the order to bring him back alive, pretending it was an accident, she killed him instead.
He deserved it.
That man had cheapened human life, deceived others, and exploited the desperate love of people wanting to save their loved ones.
Michael, who had lost his daughter and regretted not investigating sooner, had lived in remorse ever since.
“If someone took it for more than a year but stopped before three years, are their lives still in danger?”
His voice trembled with fear and hope.
He no longer looked like a composed guild master — he looked like a desperate father.
“If they stop before reaching three years, they’ll survive. But if they’ve taken it for over a year, part of their body will likely be permanently damaged.”
“…”
“However, if the toxins are neutralized before symptoms appear, there’s a chance to prevent both death and disability.”
That much information, she knew, he would confirm soon enough.
His deathly pale face softened — a faint glimmer of relief and hope flickered in his eyes. Slowly, he regained his composure.
“I’ll verify your information and contact you within a day or two. If it’s true, we’ll provide you with transportation and whatever else you need. But if it’s false, you won’t receive the ticket — even if we’ve already obtained it.”
“Fine by me.”
“But… are you sure it’s wise to give away your information so easily?”
What if I just take it and run?
His suspicious, testing gaze made Helen smile faintly.
“I’ll be needing your help quite often in the future. Consider this an advance gesture of trust.”
“You plan to come again?”
“Yes. There are plenty of things I’ll need from you — and before long, you’ll find you need me too.”
So she’s offering me something this valuable just to build trust?
The thought amused him, and Michael laughed heartily.
“I’ll be looking forward to your next visit.”
I hurried toward Ace’s studio.
I have to get there before the consultation ends!
Even the short distance felt agonizingly long.
Trying to keep my expression calm and casual, I walked in — only to find that the consultation had already ended.
The Duke sat with a cold teacup before him.
“I’m sorry. I was walking outside for a bit — didn’t want the smell to cling to me.”
It was the best excuse I could come up with.
The Duke said nothing, simply looking at me.
…And under that gaze, shame prickled beneath my skin.
Just as I struggled to find where to put my eyes, he stood up.
“I’ve heard illegal human trafficking rings have been rampant in the Empire lately. Especially people with blond hair or red eyes — men and women alike — have been disappearing.”
…Why was he suddenly talking about trafficking?
“What I mean is — don’t go anywhere alone, Helen.”
