[649] The Way They Live (2)
"Ra Enemi is..."
Rian's voice trailed off in disbelief.
He'd paid for even shabby information, and Shirone's knowing smile didn't help.
'But what is this...?'
Of course, it was possible Ra had been reborn as a woman.
Still, that wasn't something Shirone would consider important, and even if Ra were male, what's the point of calling it a "presumption"?
'No one's going to spoon-feed you like at school.'
Shirone felt the disappointment too, but having learned how this world worked, the three gold didn't feel like money wasted.
'For some people Ra's gender could matter. So you can't say the information's worthless just because it's a presumption. But...'
What nagged was the word "presumption."
"Explain it."
Shirone's eyes suddenly sharpened, and Estera was visibly taken aback.
'Was she always like this?'
Graduates of magic schools who came to a guild usually did so because they'd given up on official careers and were trying to make a living. Especially fresh grads—rookies—managers often squeezed them a little as part of business. Leaving as much profit for the rookie as possible helped balance losses in deals with veterans.
'What now. Should I just tell her?'
Normally charging for an explanation would be the right move, but Estera's instinct—honed by dealing with countless mages—warned her as she looked into Shirone's eyes.
'Let's watch a bit longer.'
Estera followed that instinct and explained.
"Information dealers classify info into four tiers: Confirmed, Presumed, Suspected, and Rumor. Even in cases like this verification is hard, but for Confirmed you have to attach evidence or documents."
"Then what's Presumed?"
"It just means you don't need to attach anything. Other than that, it's basically the same as Confirmed. That's why, unless you're a mage who deals in information professionally, most people sell info as Presumed."
Mages traveled to many places, so they naturally had far more information than ordinary people. After finishing a contract and returning to the guild, they'd sell what they'd gathered on the road for extra income.
'Information from all over gets collected. More people use the guild, so it's not a loss for the guild either.'
Rian asked, "But how can you trust it without attachments? In this case there's nothing to verify."
"That's something the buyer has to accept. Information is only an auxiliary means to accomplish a mission. That's why other mages don't request above Presumed unless absolutely necessary. But one thing—if it's a nationwide guild, they don't trade info recklessly. The card had the provider's name under it, right?"
Shirone recalled the name engraved on the card: Marka Inter.
"Anyone can buy, but only guild members with verified identities can sell. If you're suspicious, you can go find the provider yourself. Remember, guilds aren't government agencies. Whatever the guild, its operations have to be based on trust."
"What if the provider was running a scam?"
"They'd lose their guild membership. Every guild connected in the network would be notified."
Estera, aware Shirone was worried, added, "Of course betrayals happen, but if you only focus on the bad things you'll never get anywhere. Guilds survive because most work on a foundation of trust."
They wouldn't destroy the guild system—their livelihood—unless they intended to take the profit and run.
Shirone nodded. "How much did the owner sell this card for?"
"Fifty silver."
The guild had made a full 1 gold 50 silver, but Marka Inter likely sold multiple pieces of information, so the price was reasonable. Honestly, without a guild system, who would buy such information for fifty silver?
"So there were no Confirmed-tier entries."
Estera smiled awkwardly. "Right. There were no Confirmed entries with the keywords. As I said, that's an expert's domain. Verification is thorough, and the price is steep."
Rian grumbled, "Then you should've told us that from the start."
"Heh, but didn't you learn a lot? Think of it as tuition."
"Don't start on trust now—"
Shirone cut Rian off.
"I'll buy them all."
Estera blinked. "Huh? What did you say?"
"I'll buy every information card here. There are twenty-six left, so that's fifty-two gold, right?"
When Shirone placed five mid-grade gold coins and two low-grade gold coins on the table, Estera realized what kind of instinct she was dealing with.
'This kid...'
Very quick. It was obvious from her behavior that this was her first time at the guild. Yet buying every information card at once was a decision that bypassed every rookie mistake.
'Veterans would have made the same call.'
Estera dropped her pretense and handed over the cards.
"…Take them."
Shirone stuffed all twenty-six cards into her arms, turned to Estera, and said, "Also, I want to join the guild."
That too was the right move.
'For her age, she switches posture insanely fast.'
Ten minutes earlier the mages had been verbally attacking her; now she showed the disposition to exclude emotion completely from mission work. Her skill might be unknown, but as a mage her future looked bright.
"All right. Honestly, membership makes things really convenient. Fees are much cheaper, and B-rank and higher contracts go only to guild members."
That was Shirone's intent as well. "Yes. I want some work."
If she'd bought information, she could also sell it. The Silverring Guild had a free join-and-leave policy, so she planned to make the trip to the capital pay for itself.
"Hmm, what do you want specifically? Combat, negotiation, instruction, exploration, transport—there are many fields."
"Transport. I'm heading to the capital."
"Ah, perfect. One job fits that exactly, and the pay's high. Let me check your mage certificate?"
Shirone produced an unregistered certificate.
"Here."
Estera picked it up and inspected it. "Hm? Alpheas School of Magic? That's one of the five great schools."
A graduate of a prestigious school rarely showed up at a guild, so Estera's interest spiked.
"What's the name...?"
Estera's face hardened as she checked the name.
At first she thought she'd misread it, but no matter how many times she checked, it was the name she knew.
"Arian Shirone! You're Shirone?"
Her memory and thought finally aligned, and Estera's eyes widened.
Even though they'd been working in mundane trades for a long time and wouldn't normally care about a student's name, Arian Shirone was special—she'd set records as one of the kingdom's greatest students and was even a candidate for the Ivory Tower.
Rian grinned. "Heh heh, so we've been found out. Yes, this is my lord Arian Shirone. And I am Maha's—"
"What! Arian Shirone!"
Mages in the hall stood up at once.
They knew only those with power on par with the kingdom's archmages could earn such recognition, even as a candidate. Suddenly, the once-chatty youngster who'd seemed like a fledgling now felt towering.
Estera swallowed and examined the certificate. 'This is real. It's not forged.'
If Arian Shirone joined the Silverring Guild, they could eclipse the other three great guilds in no time.
'What do I do? We should detain her... Ah, damn it! The master had to be out now of all times.'
Estera's thoughts were obvious, so Shirone double-checked. "Membership really is free to join and leave, right?"
"Of course."
Estera said with a coy smile, but privately she thought, 'Not you.'
She couldn't detain Shirone even if she wanted to. If Shirone was still taking tests for the Ivory Tower, there was no reason for her to join a kingdom guild at all.
'But if she joins, why would she leave?'
Resolving her thoughts, Estera handed over a key.
"Since you decided to join, we should provide lodging. Take this and go to Room 3 on the fourth floor."
"All right. But don't I have to fill out some paperwork?"
"Hohoho! No need to wait. I'll come up to your room later and take care of it. Oh, here's your certificate."
Because she'd been made a fool of, Estera's service suddenly improved—but Shirone held no grudge.
"All right. Then I'll leave it to you."
As Shirone climbed the stairs, mages swarmed the counter all at once.
"Estera! Can I have a copy of that guild member certificate? No, sell it to me! How much?"
With attached proof, selling it as Confirmed-tier info would fetch at least a hundred gold. Estera exhaled.
"Dream on. From now on that information is exclusive to the Kentra branch of the Silverring Guild. Go drink somewhere."
The mages licked their lips and turned away, but instead of the hall they headed for the exit.
If someone was a candidate for the Ivory Tower, even Presumed-tier info would be valuable. That was the guild's trust, and based on that trust Shirone's name spread across the kingdom.
* * *
Room 3 on the fourth floor where Shirone went was a large room with seven beds.
"This is overkill."
Even a child knew it was wasteful, but it was an excellent way for the Silverring Guild to show its intentions.
"Anyway, it's fine. It's free."
Rian said as he flopped down. Shirone, sitting on the opposite bed, took out and read the information she'd bought.
"Oh right, I bought the cards. Anything useful?"
After Shirone skimmed a card and set it down, Rian came over and checked each one.
"Let's see. Ra Enemi is presumed to be a mage... What kind of obvious nonsense is this?"
To some people it might matter, but Rian regretted his two silver.
There were a few noteworthy entries. "Presumed to have graduated from Kazra Kingdom's magic school. Suspected height between 175 and 180 centimeters. Rumors they met someone from the Ivory Tower. Huh?"
Rian frowned at the next card. "Rumor that Ra Enemi is deaf?"
He then flung the card onto the blanket. "Can people really sell information like this?"
"Some cards have similar stuff."
Shirone sorted a few and showed them. "Rumors that Ra Enemi is blind. Suspected to suffer a rare disease. Rumor that he's mute. Each one's from a different provider, including the one you read."
"It's odd, for sure. But some of these have to be lies. The mage thing is Presumed."
"I don't trust it easily either, but it's hard to dismiss. If they were scamming, the provider's membership would be revoked, and in severe cases they might get retaliated against."
By that logic, providers sold information at the risk of their lives.
"But what if—these were all just Rumor-tier trash from the start? Then there'd be no retaliation. After all, rumors are meant to be blabbed."
Rian had a point.
"Right? Confirmed requires evidence; Presumed is probably someone who's seen the evidence themselves."
"Then Suspected?"
"Maybe it's hearsay from someone involved. Rumor would be hearsay of hearsay."
"...Pretty worthless then."
"Still, putting all this together, we learned one important thing."
Shirone pointed to the Ra Enemi entries on the cards.
"There's just too much information. Especially since Kazra has closed its borders right now."
Shirone's paternity-confirmation incident was the cause.
"Huh? Come to think of it, how did info from Kazra leak all the way to Tormia?"
"That's the point. Even foreign guild members can obtain Presumed-tier info. So the Ivory Tower does know where Ra is."
Shirone's thought had solid footing.
"They know but can't find him."
A presence hiding in that strange contradiction.
"They know and yet... can't find him?"
That was Ra Enemi.