Chapter 60

Chapter 60
## Chapter 60

“Wow, the city center is truly something to behold.”

While strolling through the northern districts of Tibron, Lucian offered a constant stream of amazed observations.

To any casual observer, he appeared to be the textbook definition of a provincial aristocrat overwhelmed by the scale of the capital. Because his wonder was partially genuine, his portrayal was so seamless that no one would have suspected a ruse.

Walking at his side, Raymond played his part perfectly.

“The external fortifications were imposing, but the inner city surpasses them. It is easy to see why this place is considered the crown of the Empire.”

“I agree. I suspect it would take nearly a week just to glimpse every corner.”

“We have allotted a generous amount of time for our stay, so please, do not hesitate to investigate whatever catches your eye.”

“That is the plan. How about we venture toward that district next?”

Local residents of the capital spared the duo derisive smirks as they passed. Their judgmental looks spoke volumes: *Another country noble trying to make a splash in the big city.*

Naturally, even under the weight of such condescension, the pair moved forward, maintaining their facade of blissful ignorance.

“Hmm, the scenery is becoming rather drab. Have we strayed from the main path?”

“It appears we have wandered into the slums. Should we retrace our steps?”

“No, let’s explore a little further. It is all part of the cultural experience.”

With wide eyes reflecting a manufactured innocence, Lucian pressed deeper into the impoverished quarter. He acted exactly like a sixteen-year-old heir who had never known hardship. Raymond trailed behind him, masking a weary chuckle.

“Goodness, the filth is increasing by the yard. I believe I detect a foul odor.”

“This is the gutter of the city, after all. I don’t believe it is prudent to venture any further.”

“I was reaching the same conclusion. Let us turn back.”

Just as Lucian, who had only skirted the edges of the district, prepared to retreat—

“Hehe, young masters. Is this your debut in the capital?”

A man with a severely curved spine approached Lucian, his movements oily and subservient.

Lucian wrinkled his nose in visible disgust and shifted away.

“How insolent! By what right do you speak to me so familiarly? Move along!”

“Oh, a thousand apologies! Please, have mercy! Forgive my boldness!”

The hunchback shrank back as if struck, collapsing toward the ground in a fit of trembling. It was a display of weakness so exaggerated that any prideful nobleman would have felt a rush of ego. While it seemed authentic to a passerby, it was a finely tuned act.

“I—I only intended to offer the young lord a proper tour! Despite the grime, there are many secret wonders tucked away here….”

“Secret wonders?”

“Indeed, indeed! I actually serve as a guide in these parts, earning a few copper pieces from generous lords such as yourselves.”

“What coins? There is clearly nothing of value to see in this wasteland.”

When Lucian scoffed but didn’t immediately dismiss him, the man looked up with a groveling grin.

“If you know where to look, there are many fascinating sights. For instance, the hidden markets or the whisperers of secrets.”

“The black market and information brokers?”

“Precisely. Is it not true that matters which cannot survive the daylight are always tucked away in shadows like these?”

“Interesting.”

At the guide’s prodding, Lucian rubbed his jaw as if contemplating the offer. Taking the silence as an invitation to continue, the man smiled, baring rows of stained teeth.

“Why not see for yourself? You might acquire rarities or guarded intelligence that isn’t available in the high streets. If you wish, I shall show you the path.”

“Ahem. I am not particularly intrigued, but it is the burden of nobility to show kindness to the destitute. I suppose providing you with a single task wouldn’t be out of the question.”

“Oh, thank you! May the grace of the Eight Gods shine upon you, benevolent master!”

“Lead the way, then. But if the sights are as dull as I suspect, I shall hold you responsible.”

“You will be amazed! I shall take you to the hidden exchange first!”

The guide scrambled to his feet and began ushering Lucian toward an obscured corner of the slums. Lucian and Raymond exchanged a subtle glance before following him into the shadows.

—

“I suspected as much.”

Lucian gave a short, dry laugh as they reached a dead-end alleyway that resembled a stone trap.

Without warning, Lucian and Raymond were surrounded by more than a dozen armed men. The guide abandoned his subservient posture and sauntered over to stand with the criminals.

“I’ve delivered the marks. Strip their valuables and discard the remains.”

“Chief, why do you have to make ‘rob them and leave them in their underwear’ sound so theatrical?”

“Larceny is an art! I was merely trying to give the young master a proper fright, you see?”

“Man, you have a dark streak. The kid is probably shaking in his boots by now.”

“Puhahaha!”

Bellows of laughter filled the narrow space. It was an intimidating display intended to make any provincial noble collapse in terror.

However, Lucian merely shrugged and glanced toward Raymond.

“What is your assessment? Can you manage this lot?”

“Hmm, it might prove slightly difficult.”

“Is that so?”

“Engaging in this terrain with both hands tied behind me is a bit much. I believe I will need at least one arm.”

“When dealing with refuse like this, you are supposed to say a single leg is sufficient.”

“In a string of individual duels in the alley, perhaps, but if they swarm me simultaneously, I’ll require my hands.”

“Hahaha!”

This time, the amusement came from Lucian’s side.

Observing the two of them entirely unperturbed, the faces of the bandits, including the guide, twisted with fury.

“Listen here, milords. It seems you fail to grasp the gravity of your situation—”

*Fwoosh!*

Before the hunchback could finish his threat, a sudden roar of displaced air erupted, and a portion of the stone masonry exploded into dust.

Raymond had unsheathed his blade and leveled the wall in the blink of an eye. The guide, who hadn’t even registered the sword leaving its housing, froze mid-sentence.

“The architecture in this district is quite fragile, likely due to neglect. I thought the narrow space would be an obstacle, but I suppose I can simply remove the obstacles.”

“Try to avoid killing them if you can; just disable them. If we leave corpses, I will have to waste time explaining the mess to the city guard later.”

“Are you not going to give them a chance to surrender first?”

“I assumed it would be a waste of breath, so I skipped it. But shall we offer them a choice?”

Lucian paused to consider for a second before addressing the paralyzed leader.

“I will provide you with two paths. One: drop to your knees and answer my inquiries. Two: fight back, watch your men perish, receive a life-altering beating, and then answer my inquiries.”

“Who… who in the world are you?”

The leader pulled a jagged, curved blade from his robes, his gaze sharp with caution. Even after seeing the disparity in strength, he looked prepared to strike if backed into a corner.

Lucian reached into his vest and tossed the bronze emblem he had been given earlier onto the ground before the man.

*Clang.*

“…The mark of the Black Scale Knights!?”

“It was presented to me as a gift. I was instructed to display it if I encountered any minor inconveniences.”

At Lucian’s revelation, the thugs began to shudder. If there was one group they feared, it was the Black Scale Knights—the First Prince’s personal legion—the most elite soldiers in the land, assigned by the Emperor himself to protect his heir.

And this boy held a token directly from them?

“I thought you were just some child acting tough because of a skilled guard, but you’re actually a high-ranking player. Heh!”

“C-Chief. What are we supposed to do?”

“What do you mean? You’ve worked for me this long and you’re still asking? I’ve explained a thousand times what the protocol is for a situation like this!”

The leader glared at Lucian with eyes that didn’t seem to flinch. Lucian was secretly impressed by the man’s grit.

*Is he choosing death over the humiliation of kneeling in front of his crew?*

If that was the case, Lucian felt he should provide the mercy of a quick conclusion. Just as Lucian was about to signal Raymond—

The man crouched low as if preparing a desperate lunging strike, then suddenly bellowed:

*Thud.*

“I’ll tell you everything! Just spare my life, great lord!”

“…”

—

“So, you are a regional manager for the Thieves’ Guild? Specifically for the Tibron sector?”

“Yes! My associates refer to me as ‘John of the Bent Blade’!”

“Bent blade, indeed. More like ‘John of the Bent Back.’”

“Your sense of humor is divine, milord! If it pleases you, I shall adopt that name immediately!”

The man, who introduced himself as John, rubbed his hands together so frantically they nearly smoked. Lucian shook his head at the pathetic display of groveling.

“Does a manager of the Thieves’ Guild possess no dignity? You collapsed the moment I showed you a small medallion.”

“Oh, you don’t understand the struggle. Do you have any concept of how difficult it is to operate as a thief in a city as heavily guarded as Tibron? The second you draw the ire of the powerful, it’s *shink*—the end of the road.”

John mimed a blade crossing his neck and let his tongue hang out.

“People who live elsewhere think being in the capital is a position of power, but in truth, we could be erased tomorrow by a single decree from the Emperor. Why do you think I am merely a branch manager and not the Master of the Guild, despite being in charge of the capital?”

“I understand.”

Lucian had wondered why the leader of the capital’s underworld wasn’t the head of the entire organization, but it seemed the scrutiny from the crown was simply too intense. Even in the heart of the Empire where the riches were greatest, the thieves walked on eggshells.

“Conversely, that implies you are exceptionally well-informed. If you couldn’t navigate the political tides of the capital, your head would have been on a spike years ago.”

“Aha! Your perception is truly frightening, milord. You’ve deduced everything from just those few remarks.”

“Spare me the flattery. Let me ask you a question.”

“Anything! Just name it!”

“Do you know of anyone who has been purchasing massive quantities of Moonlight Grass lately? Not a collective, but a specific individual.”

John blinked at the unexpected inquiry, but quickly lowered his head when he saw Lucian’s eyes narrow.

“I can investigate that immediately, though it may take a few days to be certain.”

“As long as the data is precise, I do not mind the delay.”

“And, if it’s possible, I’ll require a small deposit for expenses….”

John formed a circle with his fingers and glanced at Lucian. Lucian laughed at the man’s boldness to request funds even while his life hung in the balance.

“Is this sufficient?”

*Clink.*

John went still as a pouch filled with gold hit the cobblestones. It was significantly more than a standard deposit. If a man who didn’t appear to be a spendthrift threw down such a fortune, it sent a clear message:

*I will give you what you require. But you had better produce results quickly, or there will be consequences.*

John swallowed hard and pressed his face to the dirt.

“I shall return with your answer within forty-eight hours.”

—

Two days later.

An operative from the Thieves’ Guild arrived at Lucian’s lodgings and handed over a parchment. It contained a ledger of individuals who had recently acquired Moonlight Grass.

“He was true to his word.”

“He managed to compile this in a metropolis of this size.”

“I provided a lavish advance; he likely used it to bribe the necessary clerks. There is nothing quite like the combination of force and gold to loosen tongues.”

Still, the efficiency of the search was noteworthy. As Lucian scanned the list, his eyes locked onto the name he had been anticipating.

“Exactly as I suspected.”

Lucian grinned at the name ‘Heide’ listed at the very top. The volume of Moonlight Grass purchased next to it was many times higher than any other entry. Given that Heide had previously displayed no fascination with the plant, it was highly irregular.

Furthermore, there was an even more questionable detail.

“The records show he bought Moonlight Grass on the very day we spoke with him. And the day before that, and the day before that.”

“Didn’t that man claim he was out of town until recently?”

“He did. And he didn’t appear to be deceiving us.”

If Heide hadn’t been lying, there was only one logical conclusion: while he was away, a third party had been utilizing his credentials to procure the herb.

Lucian held the parchment over a candle flame until it turned to ash and stood up.

“Let’s move. I believe I know the location of our target.”

“To where?”

“To Heide’s residence.”

“What? You intend to visit that pathetic man once more?”

“Just because it is the home of an alchemist doesn’t mean the alchemist is the only resident.”

Lucian offered a knowing smirk to the confused Raymond and exited the inn.

Locating Heide’s home was a simple matter. It was one of the residences provided at no cost by the Alchemist Guild to its registered practitioners. Lucian approached the house, which lacked even a basic sentry, and knocked. There was no immediate answer from within.

*Did he venture out for more Moonlight Grass?*

—W-who is there?

Just as Lucian concluded the house was empty, a hesitant voice reached his ears. It was a soft, barely audible sound. Lucian spoke up.

“Please open the door. I am here to speak with a resident of this house.”

—M-Master Heide is not present at the moment. He is away, so please return at another time.

“I am not here for the alchemist.”

—T-then you have come to the wrong residence.

“I have not. I am here for you.”

—…?

“The thief who has been surreptitiously buying high-priced herbs using his master’s identity.”

*Thump, crash, clatter!*

The moment Lucian finished his sentence, a series of chaotic noises erupted from the other side of the door—the sound of someone stumbling, falling, and knocking over furniture. A few seconds later, someone scrambled to the entrance and threw it open.

*Rattle!*

“It’s a misunderstanding! A total misunderstanding! I wasn’t stealing! The Master instructed me to do it for his experiments…!”

The individual who opened the door shouted out a desperate justification, perspiration dripping down their face.

But the frantic explanation didn’t even register with Lucian. The face revealed behind the door was far more startling than any story they could have told.

*A child?*

Staring up at Lucian with eyes wide with terror, like a cornered animal, was a young boy, roughly the same age as Lucian himself.