Chapter 128 : Secret Meeting Behind The Scene
The next day after parting with Ven Reis flew southeast.
After arriving at the post town used by Arein as a base, Reis held a secret meeting with Arein in a certain inn.
「How’s your progress, Arein? 」
「We found some who knew about the leader but, a majority of them aren’t worth much. They didn’t look like they could single handedly beat several knights. For the time being, there is one group of travelers who have caught my attention, but……….」
Reis and Arein had their secret discussion which got drowned by the surrounding noise of adventurers coming to have breakfast.
「Uhm, what is it about them that is worrying you? 」
「Despite them knowing about our leader, they barely took the bait. They retreated when our side approached and didn’t seem to be interested in that topic at all. The other’s took interest when we said the leader’s name, but were the type who were excited to be contacted by us……. My deepest apologies, the result of my investigation isn’t very satisfying.」
Maybe because he felt unsatisfied or disappointed by the results of his investigation, Arein replied with an awkward tone.
「What’s with that face, you found the person you’re looking for right? You’ve been narrowing down the candidates. You can even say that the search is heading in a favourable direction. Good job.」
「Thank you very much.」
「I’m speaking the truth. Now, I want to ask you to do something for me.」
Reis said so without any expressions on his face.
「…………… May I hear what is it? 」
Arein’s expression stiffened as Reis only showed this sort of expression when he had something important to do.
「Please don’t be that stiff. I’m only giving an additional objective to your current task.」
「And what might it be? 」
「Do you know about the first princess of Bertram kingdom? 」
「Yeah, only by name as I used to live in Bertram kingdom. Her name should be Christina right?」
「Exactly. What I’m about to tell you right now is an open secret in Bertram kingdom royal castle but, it’s a fact that princess Christina has escaped from the royal castle.」
Arein’s eyes opened wide when he heard Rein say it with a nonchalant expression.
「In short, doesn’t it mean that what the Bertram kingdom army that is staying in Creia is searching for…………..」
「Most probably princess Christina」
「A~h, what are we doing rampaging behind the scenes, isn’t this kingdom slowly drifting towards it’s demise?」
Arein said so with a wry smile on his face.
But, Reis slowly shook his head in denial.
「The thing called “country” won’t be ruined so easily you know. However, The matter of this kingdom currently suffering from a major political blow by duke Euguno is troublesome. Do you get what I mean? 」
「Yeah, well, that is only natural.」
「I’m glad that you’re smart. The main problem starts from this point on. Though the Bertram kingdom army is currently staying in Creia to look for the princess at the north and east highways, they are yet to find princess Christina. On the other hand, here we are, gathering at an almost abandoned south highway. That’s definitely not a coincidence right? 」
「Yes, it’s as you say.」
「When it comes to that, there’s a possibility that they’ll send a search team to look for the princess at the south highway as well in a few days. But, it would be too late by that time. Since the difficulty in finding her will keep increasing drastically as time passes.」
「Right.」
Arein had a wry smile as he agreed with Reis, since it was true that it becomes harder to find someone as time passes.
「And this is where you guys come in, just in case, I want you to look for princess Christina along this route.」
「I don’t mind doing that but, does it mean I have to postpone my current duty? 」
「No, I never said that you have to find her but, it is possible that the one we’re looking for may be related to princess Christina. Rather, the possibility of him having something to do with princess Christina is higher.」
The person they were looking for was definitely Rio. Although it was nothing but his intuition, Rein’s was usually on the mark.
「……………. In short, that is an additional task along with the previous one? 」
「Probably. Since she is most likely travelling along with attendants and there should be a few of them. Maybe the one who spoke the name of the leader is amongst them. Our target should be avoiding public attention.」
When Reis said so, Arein suddenly ――、
「…………… I happen to know a group of travelers who fit your description. All of them were hiding their faces.」
So he told Reis.
「Hou. Where are they right now? 」
Reis’ eyes opened wider as his lips formed a grin.
「Lucci is tailing them. Since they took the east route from the junction to the south from here, maybe they’re just few hours away if we use a griffon.」
Arein replied after calculating Rio-tachi’s movement speed in his head.
「I see, east route huh. The goal of their party should be Marquis Rodan’s territory, if the princess is amongst them but, there’s a possibility that they’re going to take the north route as a shortcut for their journey or going in a roundabout way via the east route towards Galwark kingdom……… It’ll be troublesome if they choose the latter right?」
Reis squinted his eyes as he pondered in low voice. Arein quenched his thirst with the fruit water during that time.
A few seconds later――,
「Arein, you go and join Lucci for the time being.」
Reis suddenly gave that kind of command to Arein.
「With pleasure.」
Arein readily accepted that order as that was his duty.
「Don’t stop following them even if you have to use slightly overbearing means. Investigate and make sure whether princess Christina is with them or not.」
「……… What should I do in case princess Christina isn’t with them? 」
「Let’s see, depending on how my work goes, I’ll join you two later. Since my business will take a few days, I’ll give further instruction after I join you guys. In case they’re about to cross the national border and head towards Galwark kingdom before I join you, I’ll leave it up to you to decide on how to obstruct them. Well, there should be no problems.」
Chapter 128 : Secret Meeting Behind The Scene
The next day after parting with Ven Reis flew southeast.
After arriving at the post town used by Arein as a base, Reis held a secret meeting with Arein in a certain inn.
「How’s your progress, Arein? 」
「We found some who knew about the leader but, a majority of them aren’t worth much. They didn’t look like they could single handedly beat several knights. For the time being, there is one group of travelers who have caught my attention, but……….」
Reis and Arein had their secret discussion which got drowned by the surrounding noise of adventurers coming to have breakfast.
「Uhm, what is it about them that is worrying you? 」
「Despite them knowing about our leader, they barely took the bait. They retreated when our side approached and didn’t seem to be interested in that topic at all. The other’s took interest when we said the leader’s name, but were the type who were excited to be contacted by us……. My deepest apologies, the result of my investigation isn’t very satisfying.」
Maybe because he felt unsatisfied or disappointed by the results of his investigation, Arein replied with an awkward tone.
「What’s with that face, you found the person you’re looking for right? You’ve been narrowing down the candidates. You can even say that the search is heading in a favourable direction. Good job.」
「Thank you very much.」
「I’m speaking the truth. Now, I want to ask you to do something for me.」
Reis said so without any expressions on his face.
「…………… May I hear what is it? 」
Arein’s expression stiffened as Reis only showed this sort of expression when he had something important to do.
「Please don’t be that stiff. I’m only giving an additional objective to your current task.」
「And what might it be? 」
「Do you know about the first princess of Bertram kingdom? 」
「Yeah, only by name as I used to live in Bertram kingdom. Her name should be Christina right?」
「Exactly. What I’m about to tell you right now is an open secret in Bertram kingdom royal castle but, it’s a fact that princess Christina has escaped from the royal castle.」
Arein’s eyes opened wide when he heard Rein say it with a nonchalant expression.
「In short, doesn’t it mean that what the Bertram kingdom army that is staying in Creia is searching for…………..」
「Most probably princess Christina」
「A~h, what are we doing rampaging behind the scenes, isn’t this kingdom slowly drifting towards it’s demise?」
Arein said so with a wry smile on his face.
But, Reis slowly shook his head in denial.
「The thing called “country” won’t be ruined so easily you know. However, The matter of this kingdom currently suffering from a major political blow by duke Euguno is troublesome. Do you get what I mean? 」
「Yeah, well, that is only natural.」
「I’m glad that you’re smart. The main problem starts from this point on. Though the Bertram kingdom army is currently staying in Creia to look for the princess at the north and east highways, they are yet to find princess Christina. On the other hand, here we are, gathering at an almost abandoned south highway. That’s definitely not a coincidence right? 」
「Yes, it’s as you say.」
「When it comes to that, there’s a possibility that they’ll send a search team to look for the princess at the south highway as well in a few days. But, it would be too late by that time. Since the difficulty in finding her will keep increasing drastically as time passes.」
「Right.」
Arein had a wry smile as he agreed with Reis, since it was true that it becomes harder to find someone as time passes.
「And this is where you guys come in, just in case, I want you to look for princess Christina along this route.」
「I don’t mind doing that but, does it mean I have to postpone my current duty? 」
「No, I never said that you have to find her but, it is possible that the one we’re looking for may be related to princess Christina. Rather, the possibility of him having something to do with princess Christina is higher.」
The person they were looking for was definitely Rio. Although it was nothing but his intuition, Rein’s was usually on the mark.
「……………. In short, that is an additional task along with the previous one? 」
「Probably. Since she is most likely travelling along with attendants and there should be a few of them. Maybe the one who spoke the name of the leader is amongst them. Our target should be avoiding public attention.」
When Reis said so, Arein suddenly ――、
「…………… I happen to know a group of travelers who fit your description. All of them were hiding their faces.」
So he told Reis.
「Hou. Where are they right now? 」
Reis’ eyes opened wider as his lips formed a grin.
「Lucci is tailing them. Since they took the east route from the junction to the south from here, maybe they’re just few hours away if we use a griffon.」
Arein replied after calculating Rio-tachi’s movement speed in his head.
「I see, east route huh. The goal of their party should be Marquis Rodan’s territory, if the princess is amongst them but, there’s a possibility that they’re going to take the north route as a shortcut for their journey or going in a roundabout way via the east route towards Galwark kingdom……… It’ll be troublesome if they choose the latter right?」
Reis squinted his eyes as he pondered in low voice. Arein quenched his thirst with the fruit water during that time.
A few seconds later――,
「Arein, you go and join Lucci for the time being.」
Reis suddenly gave that kind of command to Arein.
「With pleasure.」
Arein readily accepted that order as that was his duty.
「Don’t stop following them even if you have to use slightly overbearing means. Investigate and make sure whether princess Christina is with them or not.」
「……… What should I do in case princess Christina isn’t with them? 」
「Let’s see, depending on how my work goes, I’ll join you two later. Since my business will take a few days, I’ll give further instruction after I join you guys. In case they’re about to cross the national border and head towards Galwark kingdom before I join you, I’ll leave it up to you to decide on how to obstruct them. Well, there should be no problems.」
