Chapter 312 - Ark (2)
The airship carrying Verden slowly lowered its altitude.
He thought the distance seemed too short to stop, but it was nothing more than a needless worry. With near-perfect, delicate control, the airship adjusted its course and docked precisely at Ark's pier.
"You've done well, candidate."
Those who had been waiting below greeted him politely, then proceeded to inspect the vessel.
Verden watched the scene.
"Are they all members of the Ark?"
"At the same time, they are also residents of the Ark."
People living on a floating island.
He had already half-expected it, given the size of the island and its buildings…
'…It still doesn't feel real.'
Even as he stepped down the stairs and set foot on the floating island, he felt the same way.
Verden's mind was tangled with complexity.
He felt indescribable bewilderment at this magical yet incomprehensible reality, and that emotion bordered on astonishment.
At the same time, curiosity surged within him.
It was the instinct and habit of a Mage facing the unknown. Because of that, Verden found it difficult to open his mouth.
Just how vast was the Ark's scale?
Truthfully, that was not what he was curious about at the moment.
What he wanted was simple—he only wished to look around this place, called Ark.
"What is the schedule now?"
"The Ark Council will be held tomorrow, so for today, you may spend your time as you wish. However, as a candidate of the Ark, your authority restricts the areas where you can freely move."
"For example, the library…"
"Of course, you may enter. Shall I guide you there?"
"I'd appreciate that."
"Haha, there's no need to put it that way. That is my role, after all. In any case, I am glad the Ark seems to please you. Ah, Lady Leira, what will you do?"
"I plan to head to the training hall."
Leira tapped the hilt of her sword.
Unable to move properly aboard the airship, she wanted to swing her sword and refresh her stiff body.
"Then I shall see you later."
Leira left without hesitation.
Beside her, Taila followed along.
"Then we shall also head to the library… hmm?"
The Listener suddenly cut his words short.
His gaze fell upon another pier in the distance. To be exact, upon an airship attempting to dock there.
"The last airship from the Western Continent has just arrived. Judging by the time… Sir Locke should be aboard that one."
A candidate of the Ark, Locke.
The warrior who had subjugated Gluttony alongside Verden in the Principality of Riviant, and the disciple of Elder Ren Balhagne of the Ark.
"Locke went to the Western Continent?"
"I heard that Gluttony appeared in the Western Continent. Thus, Sir Locke personally took on the investigation. Since we are already here, would you like to meet him?"
Why had Gluttony appeared in the Western Continent?
Such a question came to mind, but that was not what Verden wanted to know most.
What he truly desired was the situation in the Western Continent.
More precisely, the latest information about the magic tower of Bohemirn, the kind that newspapers could never convey.
"That sounds good."
Having reached his conclusion, Verden nodded.
***
Adrian's mission was the investigation of Riverungr.
Specifically, whether the corpses of magical beasts managed by the Adventurer Guild—their materials and related resources—were being properly distributed and disposed of.
Naturally, the Adventurer Guild itself was a target of scrutiny.
And so too were the upper ranks of Riverungr.
'The guild wouldn't be able to act independently.'
Adrian understood the inner workings of the Adventurer Guild all too well.
He had already decided where to begin.
'First, the Adventurer Guild Master.'
Finding him was easy.
Just before sunset, a young man emerged from the guild.
Adorned with various accessories and expensive clothing, he walked with the air of someone flaunting himself. At his side was a guard who clearly looked like an adventurer. Even from afar, he stood out.
'And three more, keeping their distance, secretly protecting the Guild Master.'
As if he were some noble.
For a mere guild master to employ such an escort could only mean he had something to hide. Evidence wasn't necessary.
From Adrian's experience, this alone was enough to be certain.
Maintaining his distance, he trailed after the man without being noticed.
Two days passed this way.
It was during the night, when darkness swallowed the city streets.
A plain carriage rolled down the street. From it, the Guild Master stepped out, carrying a box, and headed into a building right beside the Hefin River.
This time, no guards accompanied him.
Adrian immediately spread his senses wide. Soon, he heard the Guild Master's voice.
───…Is he inside?
───He arrived just a while ago. Please, go on in.
The Guild Master straightened his clothes before entering the building.
The man who let him in gazed outside for a moment, then closed the door.
Not long after, as the Guild Master stepped into the central chamber of the building, his presence vanished completely.
'Protected by magic.'
But that was no problem.
Magic was versatile, but not omnipotent.
Especially if it wasn't high-tier magic, its flaws stood out all the more. Even a swordsman could exploit them in many ways.
Adrian closed his eyes.
He calmed his mind and breath, directed his energy, and focused all his nerves on hearing.
In place of the vanished presence, voices emerged.
Through the gaps in the magic, he heard the alternating tones of a younger voice and an older man's. The way they spoke down to the Guild Master made it clear—they held higher rank.
'A noble?'
Perhaps someone from the city's administration.
The two spoke ceaselessly, laughing heartily.
After sharing the expensive liquor the Guild Master had brought, the atmosphere seemed to grow even more lively. Most of it was meaningless chatter, yet they never paused.
Adrian quietly sat, listening in on the conversation.
Patience soon bore fruit.
He caught a clue.
───The funerals for those adventurers who died are all done. Haha, even without donations, the priests went out of their way to pray for their souls. Saved us money.
───That's fortunate indeed. But what about the money…?
───Tsk, tsk, so impatient. Even without your prodding, I've already handled it well. Selling off the belongings of adventurers with no ties brought in quite a sum. Here, this is the promised share.
───Thank you, Advisor Torlin. But what about Bishop Lena?
───That she noticed? Ha, as I've said before, don't worry about that. That one only cares for money, she's far too naïve. She won't even dream that something's going on. More importantly, what about the demi-humans?
───Ah, yes. The corpses you mentioned are all loaded onto the ship. The guild's ledgers are neatly arranged, so even if an audit comes, there's no need to worry about being exposed. But, about that, there's something I wanted to ask…
───What is it?
───What do you intend to do with demi-human corpses that haven't even been dismantled? The amount I've delivered so far is already enormous.
───Hm, your mouth is the problem. Do you really need to know? You make money, we gain profit. Isn't that enough? Curiosity, my friend, is often poison. If the Mayor were to hear your words, he would be greatly displeased.
───F, forgive me. I misspoke.
───Enough. Pour the drinks.
The voices continued without pause.
But no further useful information was spoken.
Adrian calmed his energy and opened his eyes.
'The Mayor's advisor, huh.'
He had found a lead.
He now understood, more or less, what was happening in Riverungr.
The smuggling of demi-human remains.
It wasn't particularly unusual, a crime all too common in the Central Continent.
'But it's strange that they're moving whole corpses instead of just materials.'
Holding onto that one doubt, Adrian pondered.
What should he do next?
'Should I tail the advisor?'
It wasn't a bad option.
If things went well, he might discover where the demi-human corpses were being taken, and with whom they were being traded.
But there was no guarantee.
If the advisor simply left the place and only made a report, then Adrian would have no choice but to follow the Mayor of Riverungr himself.
Adrian prided himself on speed, but when it came to delicate infiltration, he wasn't as confident.
The so-called Guardian of the City stood by the Mayor's side, making a silent abduction impossible.
Too ambiguous to end quietly.
And he didn't want to spend too much time on this investigation either. Above all, finishing the mission before his lord arrived was the most important.
Then…
───I'll leave it to your discretion.
'Yes, that is what my lord said.'
No need to hesitate.
He would handle this the same way he always had.
Why waste time?
Adrian already knew.
Even when secrecy was required, it didn't always mean one had to move quietly.
At once, he pulled a cloak over his shoulders.
Not blue, but a gray robe that thoroughly concealed him, as he exhaled.
There were seven people inside the building.
Two Mages.
Three who had awakened their energy.
One Guild Master and one Advisor.
'I'll suppress them in one strike and extract the information.'
Even a frontal assault was no problem.
As long as his identity wasn't exposed, it was still infiltration.
Filled with determination, Adrian pushed off the ground.
***
The airship that had been moving slowly came to a stop.
As the gangplank was lowered, two figures trudged down.
A youthful man with brown hair, and another man cloaked in a black robe.
The young man, Locke, let out a long breath.
"Haah, finally here. It feels so peaceful to return to the Ark after so long. Don't you think so, Theon?"
"Isn't that obvious? Try making a fair comparison."
"Oh, listen to you. Aren't you being a little too rude to a candidate of the Ark, for just an assistant?"
"Assistant, my foot. You're just dragging me along against my will. I'd rather take another assignment. If it's Gluttony, I wouldn't even step on its shadow."
"Well, true enough. You are Gluttony's traitor. If you ever get caught by Gluttony… you won't even leave bones behind. You'd be chewed to bits."
Theon had once been a member of Gluttony.
In the principality city of Marceau, he had served as the doctor's hand and tried to kill Verden. Later, hunted down by Gluttony's implantors, he was captured by Verden.
His fate was nothing short of tragic.
Once a mere disposable tool, he now found himself as a pawn of the Ark, helping subjugate Gluttony's Fifth Fang.
Afterward, he was provisionally placed under the Ark and subjected to thorough training.
It was at least a fortunate outcome.
As a child, Theon had been kidnapped and forced to become an assassin for Gluttony. But since he was immune to Gluttony's most powerful control tool—the shards of Gluttony—there was ample room for rehabilitation.
Remembering his tumultuous past, Theon lowered his head.
"…It's strange that I'm even still alive."
"You're unlucky, yet also lucky. Anyway, if you hate tagging along with me so much, I can tell Master. You could train in the Ark instead."
Locke's master, Elder Ren Balhagne.
Just recalling his strict training made Theon shudder.
"That's… no."
"Then stop grumbling and just help. If we mess up in the Western Continent, we might both end up dead. Anyway, I'm starving. Let's go eat first."
The two continued walking.
Having spent over a year together, they had grown used to traveling side by side. Theon pulled a water bottle from his spatial bag and moistened his throat.
It was then.
A shadow blocked their path.
"…Huh?"
Recognizing who it was, Locke's eyes widened.
"Brother Asher?! I heard you were coming, but when did you arrive?"
"Just now. Seems you've returned unharmed."
Verden shifted his gaze.
"And you too, Theon."
Those merciless blue eyes, engraved in memory.
The moment he faced them, Theon's eyes went wide.
"Cough, cough!!!"
He choked in shock.
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