DBOFS 69

Chapter 69

That day, the one who came to see Harris was the Viscount of Radian, Yanis.

“The dungeon has broken out…!”

Sighing, Jade let out a breath.

“Are we just going to leave the fissure until it turns into a full dungeon? Are you kidding me?”

However, the location where the dungeon appeared was under the territory of the faction opposed to Harris.

“Well, at least they weren’t the hardliners…”

If she had handled things diplomatically at the banquet, she thought, Harris becoming the minor duke might allow her to plead on their behalf.

But that day’s banquet was less “we’re glad Harris became the minor duke” and more “absolutely opposed to the child of a disgraceful man.”

“I got swept up and muttered a few words, then later apologized to the late duke, but by then it was already too late.”

In the end, as time dragged on, the dungeon incident occurred.

And Harris, as the minor duke of Godwin, declared by the previous duke, had the responsibility to fulfill his duties properly.

Harris had promised her—he would become the minor duke.

Perhaps for that reason, he set off quickly, showing no emotion.

“They said it’s not a particularly high-level dungeon. I’ll finish quickly and return; you stay here.”

“Yes.”

“If you’re caught secretly following me after agreeing to stay, you’ll truly regret it.”

“Ah, I really won’t go!”

Jade muttered inwardly.

“I wasn’t planning to go anyway! I only had a reason at the time!”

In any case, this event wasn’t without its gains. Not only did she secure the loyalty of that opposing faction, but she also…

“Alucas, you bastard.”

…managed to obtain some information. Jade sat in the residence of Alucas of the Western Pavilion, arms crossed.

“Well, from the moment I stepped into the banquet hall, he had that ominous, knowing smile.”

She had a suspicion, and sure enough, it was true.

Such a busy and proud man—no matter how much the late Duke Godwin called him—arriving at an unknown dungeon so quickly had seemed suspicious.

“Looks like you’ve made a move at the Rayerga family, haven’t you?”

It seemed they had some prior acquaintance and had even taken a contract.

For mercenaries, the Marquess of Rayerga would be a more appealing client than half-owner Godwin. After all, cash talks.

“Godwin may be rich, but in cash reserves, he can’t beat Rayerga.”

It was the second-largest trade hub after the capital.

Click—

After waiting a long time, Alucas appeared, accompanied by his aide, Luken.

Without greeting her, he plopped down across from her and gulped down the now-cold tea.

“Why are you here again?”

“Yes. Nice to see you too, Alucas. I came today because…”

Hearing Jade’s purpose, Alucas set down his cup carelessly and said:

“Basically, all contracts are confidential, Jade.”

Though ready to leave, perhaps caught off-guard by her presence, Alucas seemed languid and indifferent.

“You shouldn’t ask without basic common sense.”

She had merely asked what contract he had received at Rayerga, and he chastised her for lack of common sense.

“Well, I really am lacking in that area…”

Jade smiled and replied:

“Lies.”

“Good grief, lies? If you don’t trust someone—”

“Talking about confidentiality. How many contracts have you taken and then abandoned? Since when do mercenaries uphold such ‘sacred codes’?”

“……”

Jade might lack common sense, but she was no fool.

Alucas, probably planning to answer her quickly and leave, ran his fingers through his hair.

“Ah, right. That happens… But generally, I don’t talk about completed contracts.”

Jade then pulled out the royal newsletter she had brought.

[The Power of the Ability, Saving the Princess!]

Below, a detailed report continued, describing how Alucas’s mercenary group took the contract and how they completed it.

“…That should have come from the royal family first.”

“Commander, just tell me~ Why keep your lips sealed like it’s some great secret—ugh!”

Luken, fiddling with his light pink curly hair behind Jade, raised an objection, only to jump away screaming when a sudden flame attack hit.

“Ah, really! Always just me—!”

Bang. With Luken gone and the door closed, it was just the two of them.

Jade politely set down her teacup and got to the point.

“Did you deliver the note?”

“…You wanted to know what contract Rayerga gave me, right?”

“Ah, of course, I will hear about it. But first, now that the aide is gone, the urgent matter!”

“….”

“Did you send it or not?”

Alucas stared at Jade silently.

The first day they met, she had manipulated him, even achieving a sedation contract, and used him as a middleman.

“Please deliver this note to Camilo, the head of the Information Guild.”

At first, he was stunned.

How dare a guide of an unknown noble attempt to approach someone even he could not control?

“And how did she even know the name ‘Camilo’?”

Camilo, head of the Information Guild, kept all personal information secret—abilities, gender, age, nationality, and lineage were all unknown.

“He only allows someone of my level to even know his name.”

And yet she casually called him “Camilo.”

“…Are they familiar with each other?”

Despite knowing it was impossible, Alucas’s mood soured.

“…Dare to make the Mercenary King a messenger?”

“No, I’m repaying a favor. And considering who it is—”

“Setting aside the assumption that I’d naturally comply, what if she read it and stole it halfway?”

Only then did Alucas realize she was expecting him to think: “You wouldn’t betray me.”

Jade, as always, gave an answer beyond his expectations.

“Because you wouldn’t want to make the head of the Information Guild an enemy.”

Seeing her smiling, Alucas realized the note contained extremely secret information the guild head would never want to reveal—even to the Mercenary King.

“There will be a banquet in Godwin soon. Please tell him to send a reply during it.”

And Jade, delicate and ethereal, yet seemingly harmless, was not afraid of him at all.

“…Delivered it.”

Alucas said, drinking tea out of sudden thirst.

“They said they’ll send a reply soon.”

“Hmm.”

Jade nodded calmly, pouring tea.

Her composed demeanor made Alucas smirk, slightly irked.

“That’s it?”

“Excuse me? That’s it?”

“What, you’d call it a lie again?”

“….”

Jade sipped the not-at-all warm tea, smiling slightly.

“Before you arrived, what if I had poisoned it and you drank it so eagerly?”

“You drank it too.”

“I might have preemptively taken an antidote before you arrived.”

“…I see.”

Alucas stopped, realizing she meant he couldn’t harm her even if he wanted to.

“Even if I were to try, ‘Camilo’ is not someone you can exploit even as a fake name.”

Jade sipped her tea leisurely, showing no sign of poison.

“This feels worse than I thought,” Alucas thought.

The dark, alluring smile of the man radiated vitality. Even noblewomen, famed for their composure, couldn’t resist clinging to him.

“Wow~ eyes like a feast~”

“….”

But Jade simply sipped tea and gave a thumbs-up, unmoved.

“Still too young?”

Her transparent blue eyes could look innocent, like a child, yet at times seemed unfathomably deep.

“…You’re not underage, right?”

“Probably… not? I think??”

Spirit aside, what about her body?

Jade wrinkled her nose and squinted, like a cat considering something.

“But what does that matter….”

“Alright, so they still aren’t fully grown inside.”

“…??”

Well, internally she’s definitely adult! Jade paused at Alucas’s next words.

“You shouldn’t think of getting close to that kid.”

“Excuse me?”

“Not all S-ranks are as good-natured as me.”

“Ho… confident, aren’t you? Also, the Information Guild head was S-rank?”

“You knew his real name and are pretending not to?”

“Ho… that was a bait, good thing I didn’t bite.”

“…Don’t even speak.”

Even Alucas, the Mercenary King, only knew from the guild head that his name was Camilo and that he was a highly skilled individual.

“Was she testing if he was an ability user?”

Knowing the name might also test the degree of familiarity.

“But I won’t fall until he gives information first!”

Jade smiled subtly, sending an unspoken message, and the Mercenary King finally spoke.

“The Rayerga contract was just one thing.”

Capture alive the culprit behind the plague that had once wiped out the Rayerga family.

“Ah, so it was a man-made disaster.”

Hearing more details, Jade asked:

“So did you really capture them alive?”

“Without harming a single hair.”

Alucas smiled and shrugged.

“Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult. We already had all the data: who the culprit was, what they looked like, where they were hiding, and how many guards they had.”

“…Then couldn’t someone else have done it directly?”

“Look, no one else could have done it so safely except me.”

“Must have been tough, huh?”

“Not easy. For the non-awakened, yes. For me, not a big deal.”

“Impressive.”

“Are you mocking me?”

“It’s praise.”

Clap clap clap—Jade clapped with bright, eager eyes.

“….”

Alucas felt absurd for being pleased by something so small.

Perhaps that’s why he added:

“One thing, though, seemed strange.”