Chapter 40 - Mysterious Woman (2/2)

There was no point in explaining everything in detail to his enemies anyways.

Woohyuk gave her a look, and Leifina nodded back.

[I’ll take the left.]

She had progressed nicely in her time with Woohyuk. At the very least she had reached a level that he wouldn’t need to constantly be worried about her safety.

Woohyuk looked straight ahead as he raised Grandia. Sword dance between these two opponents ensued.

* * *

Due to the Warlocks’ interference, the silver haired woman was able to escape aboard her carriage. They weren’t able to catch up given the massive head start she was given.

They didn’t know her destination, so it would be difficult to catch her anytime soon.

‘At least we have a clue.’

The assassins that were sent after her would likely have more intel on her. They must be based somewhere in the city, and it wouldn’t be too hard to find them based on their unique tattoo.

‘A Rogue Guild wouldn’t want to be in the limelight.’

They had to carry out requests with a certain level of secrecy, so they couldn’t be headquartered in a commercial area or a high class residential one.

They preferred places that were rarely frequented and had poor living conditions.

“Password.”

A man blocked a back alley entrance, as Woohyuk walked up with Leifina.

A password was necessary if one wanted to enter without the Guild’s tattoo.

“I’ve come to meet your leader.”

“Password.”

The man completely ignored his request. Clearly they were careful no to allow any strangers inside.

Woohyuk nodded as if this was the expected result.

“Moonlit Hourglass”

He had done some reconnaissance about the group prior to coming here, asking around in the city. Naturally he made sure to learn the password ahead of time.

He didn’t say the password right away, because he wanted to buy himself some time to scan the place, looking for any traps or enemies in case this guild would be hostile to them.

“...Follow me.”

The man led Woohyuk inside. Taking so many twists and turns that it felt like they were in a maze.

KKiiic

After walking around for some time, they finally came to the Guild’s headquarters as they opened the wooden door before them.

As the man gestured for him to go inside, Woohyuk stepped in cautiously.

“You are a new face.”

The voice of a middle aged man rang out in the dark candle lit stone room. It was a level of darkness such that an average person wouldn’t be able to make out the others’ features.

“I have something to ask you.”

“Didn’t you come here to place a request?”

“My questions are part of my request.”

The man became silent as he examined Woohyuk carefully.

“You can ask one question.”

“Do you know who the passenger was in the black carriage that was assaulted last night?”

Shiiing!

The sound of multiple swords being drawn at once rang out in the room.

In addition to the boss, several of his subordinates had been hidden within the room. Just one of many traps prepared in case of intruders.

Woohyuk had already been aware of this, and wasn’t bothered.

Even if they were invisible, he could still grasp everything within this room by simply pushing his perception to the limit.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Silver hair, golden eyes, young woman with pale skin, about a foot shorter than me. Also she carried a dark scythe.”

“....”

“Strong enough to single handedly take care of all your subordinates. It just happened to take place as I was walking by the other day.”

As he explained his encounter the other night, filling it with dramatic flair, a guy appeared in front of Woohyuk.

Ferdinand, the Master of the Black Morris Rogue Guild who was known as the city’s top assassin.

“You seem to be from a very remote area if you don’t recognize her by face, but why are you so interested in her?”

“Is she that well known?”

“Going only by that description, then indeed one would assume that she’s Elizabeth Valencia, the second Princess of the Ravenna Empire.”

It was instead almost certainly a lookalike, but even Ferdinand couldn’t confirm the facts regarding this.

“Do you know who is behind this?”

“Count Oscar, but his role in all this is unknown.”

Elizabeth, the eldest of the two, had a twin sister Isabella who had died six months back. It was also well known that Count Oscar had professed his love for Isabella.

Although it had been an impossible love and the union between the two could never happen, it didn’t make sense for him to have taken such extreme measures.

“It’s been quite some time since Elizabeth hasn’t shown her face in public, but it’s unlikely that she’s been kidnapped otherwise the Royal family would have been in an uproar. ”

“How did you come to know of her existence?”

“It happened while investigating Count Oscar for a different request. We found out that he had been attending some secret meetings.”

After Isabella’s death, the Count was said to have locked himself in his house. So when he showed interest in something other than a social gathering, a rival noble was naturally curious and requested an investigation.

Ferdinand himself had been the one to stalk him, and stumbled upon a woman who had the same appearance as Elizabeth.

“Did she let you leave unharmed?”

“I almost lost my head while trying to evade that scythe. No matter how much they looked alike, it can’t be Elizabeth. She fought like some beast.”

Monster… the moment he heard that wonder a certain character came to mind.

Lucas, the same guy that had performed the banned experiments and created chimeras.

If he happened to be present in this world….

“Where is Isabella’s body kept?”

“In an underground Mausoleum beneath Beatrice Cathedral in the kingdom’s capital, Marlene. It is a place that none can enter.

The security was extremely tight because it was a place reserved only for the royal family.

Even a Rogue master like Ferdinand wouldn’t be able to break inside.

Still, Woohyuk was thinking about something else entirely.

“It might be possible if the entity wasn’t human.”

“Do you think the Demons are involved?”

“Maybe.”

“Hmm…”

Ferdinand revealed a complicated expression. Demons were truly difficult to handle and was considering putting and end to his involvement

“Why are you looking for her?”

“It is due to a request, there is a noble willing to pay a lot of money.”

Ferdinand didn’t reveal his client’s information, and given his profession Woohyuk didn’t press him for a name either.

“How much do you know about the secret meetings that Oscar was taking part in?”

“Nothing other than the fact the location changes every time.”

Ferdinand hadn’t been able to learn much because last time around he had been discovered. Still at least he had discovered that there was a woman who held the same appearance as Elizabeth.

“At least we are certain that the carriage from last night was headed toward the capital. As it happens, there will be a large banquet held at the Imperial Palace.”

If Elizabeth being replaced by this look-alike was part of some grand conspiracy, then there was a good chance that something might go down during the banquet.

Hearing Ferdinand’s explanation, Woohyuk couldn’t help but become interested.

“Is the Imperial Treasure also located in the basement of the Beatrice Cathedral?”

“Although it’s history is unclear because it had occurred so very long ago, it is said that the treasure has some connection to the Demon God which Leonard, the Empire's founder and first emperor had defeated.

‘Demon God...’

He had met Solomon’s 72 Demons Kings, but had never heard of him.

Just going by its name alone, it seemed to be of a higher position than the Demon Kings. Woohyuk couldn’t help but want to learn more about him.

“Will you be staying here for some time? Any more questions I can help you with?”

“... Let’s put an end to any meaningless hostilities between us.”

“With a single hand gesture, several Rogues appeared inside the room. Leifina, who had been nervous this entire time, let out a sigh of relief.

[Fortunately everything turned out well.]

[This is just the start.]

Clearly it wouldn’t be easy to obtain Nakron’s hidden reward.