The Duke’s Madness

If you ask who the most powerful person on the continent is, everyone unanimously chose the emperor of the empire.

‘I can’t help but do that. A country where the sun has not set since thousands of years ago. The person who rules the country is the emperor.’

And now.

The name of the continent’s most powerful person was mentioned in Willett’s mouth.

Arthur asked a question without hiding his curiosity.

“Is it metaphorical, or did the real emperor give the order?”

“It’s both. The emperor gave the order, and the high officials gave the order again. And it is this mission that the officials under him have given another order.”

Arthur tilted his head.

“Did the emperor even say something like catch the spies?”

“It is similar. Recently, the magic stone processing technology, which is said to be the core of magic engineering, has been leaked.”

“… A magic stone crafting skill?”

“They say it’s a core technology for all things that move with magic stones. Anyway, without this technology, neither cars nor trains can move. It seems that the Empire has monopolized this technology until recently.”

Pointing to the document Willett handed over.

Arthur read the part written in the document.

[Industrial Spy: Martial Dust]

[Crime: Consultation on leaking core technology]

…

Arthur, who understood the contents beyond memorization, nodded.

‘aha. In other words, Martial Dust… This guy is accused of stealing lucrative technology. It’s a skill that makes a lot of money.’

As I raised my head with a thought, Willett took a bite and explained again.

“At this point in the transition period of a new era, technology is the most profitable. And Martial Dust is accused of stealing that technology.”

Arthur licked his dry lips and asked.

“hmm···. But after hearing the case, it seems very big. Why doesn’t the imperial family directly step forward?”

“Because it is still suspicious. Right now, all the forces the imperial family can mobilize are being mobilized to pursue spies more suspicious than this guy. It sounds like you don’t have enough energy.”

“So you’re saying it might not be?”

“So, isn’t it an attractive quest? Thousands of gold just by catching it. However, if this guy is an industrial spy who stole the real technology and ran away, he could make a connection with the imperial family. But there is something better.”

Willett’s eyes light up.

“Most of the guys who jumped into this now don’t know this fact.”

“… Don’t you know?”

“I mean, I don’t know why a thousand gold was taken by something like an industrial spy. This···. That’s a pretty big advantage.”

Arthur raises his eyes.

“uh···. So, are you saying that what you just said is not shared information?”

“that’s right. very few… okay. Information that only the elite offices know. That’s why I didn’t tell you the information either.”

“and···. But how did old Willett know about this?”

Willett clicks his tongue.

“You’re casually asking about trade secrets. Of course, but I can’t tell you.”

Arthur shrugged.

After thinking about it, he brightened his eyes.

‘This is more than expected… It’s funny, isn’t it?’

At first, he accepted the request simply for money, but the story is different if he is involved with the imperial family.

‘Finally, the person I have to kill is Can Madrid. He is a powerful man who will rise to the throne of the future empire. And now, this request is related to the imperial family.’

Of course, I don’t know how this request will help, but on the other hand, there seemed to be no reason why it wouldn’t be helpful.

Because of that, Arthur raised the corner of his mouth and muttered.

‘It’s a perfect quest to spend a day or so. It won’t be bad.’

After that, when you return the handed over documents, Willet proposes.

“I’ll take you to Area D if you want.”

“Oh really?”

“It’s a service that accepted the request.”

“Hey, old man Willet is a service…. I guess the sun will rise in the west tomorrow.”

Willett narrows his gaze.

“What are you looking at me for?”

“An old man with a good heart, but inflexible to a salty man?”

“… … .”

“uh···. Did I speak too bluntly?”

Willett didn’t answer.

Instead, the gaze that was glaring at Arthur was turned away.

At the sight, Arthur burst into laughter without knowing himself.

“Isn’t old Willett’s pout look so cute?”

“Shut up.”

In the meantime, the car that was running started to slow down gradually.

At the same time, instead of neat civilian quarters, we began to see crumbling shantytowns.

Arthur, realizing that he had entered District D, stood up at the scenery that did not match Arcane.

And as we prepare to get out of the car, Willett, who has been silent, opens his mouth.

“As a salty and inflexible old man, I will give you one piece of advice.”

Arthur turns his head.

“Don’t stand out. When a group gathers and things go wrong, the first targets are those who become singularities. Hide quietly, seize the opportunity. okay···. Isn’t there something you’re good at?”

Arthur raised his eyebrows at Willett’s words.

“Something that makes people feel uneasy. Make good use of it in this mission.”

* * *

After breaking up with Willett, Arthur entered the abandoned village of District D-42.

The crumbling shantytowns were the first to catch my eye. Beggars with their eyes loose sat helplessly between them.

“Only a penny…. Please.”

Beggars with their faces on the floor lift tin bowls.

Arthur pondered for a while as he touched the coin in his bosom.

‘If I throw a coin, I’ll have to give it to other beggars.’

He could show mercy, but it was a refusal to be a nuisance.

Arthur walked in, past beggars handing out tin bowls.

Then, instead of the beggars begging, armed mercenaries began to appear.

gun and knife.

There were even those who walked with Helbirds on their back.

Looking at it, Arthur was able to confirm that this was the ‘gathering place’ that Willett had spoken of.

‘Didn’t I tell you to take the exam here first?’

If it was usual, it would have been over with only the permission of the public official in charge.

However, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Arcane’s former brokers and mercenaries participated in this mission.

As a result, city officials came out and inspected various procedures, including weapons permits.

‘As long as it’s big, I’m going to go… A public official with a heavy ass moves everything himself.’

Arthur stroked his chin and lined up.

After waiting for 10 minutes, my name was called as if it was my turn.

“Are you Dawn from the Willett office?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Show me the mercenary card.”

At the words of a clerical official, Arthur held out the card handed to Willett before he came here.

The official who received the plaque looked around and asked a question.

“Resolving 3 quests, is it D-class mercenary Dawn?”

Arthur tilted his head and asked.

“A grade D? Haven’t you been graded yet?”

“Is it written like that on the plaque? Number of requests resolved 3 cases. D-class mercenary Dawn.”

At the official’s words, Arthur raised his eyes.

‘When I asked why they were given a new card, it was because of the grade.’

The rank of a mercenary is simply the name value.

This mercenary solved the request to some extent, so it was worth getting this much money.

It was the rating that divided it objectively.

‘Among them, the D grade is not higher than the higher grades, but I heard that it is difficult to go up after only 3 requests…’

Usually all mercenaries start at F rank.

From nob le mt l dot com

No matter how excellent your skills are, resolving a request is another matter.

However, starting at grade D, which is two steps higher than grade F in grade assignment, means that the quests I have done so far have been worth it.

‘Hmm… As expected, Elder Willet’s request is good.’

As Arthur smiles with his thoughts, the official in front of him asks a question in a suspicious voice.

“Isn’t it you? Is that an impersonation?”

Arthur comes to his senses and answers.

“no. I am correct. I was a bit confused.”

The official tilted his head at the rather strange tone of voice, but soon passed.

“Here is your permit. By the way, if you are caught pretending to be a mercenary, you will be sentenced to 20 years in prison.”

“thank you.”

Arthur bows his head, accepts the documents, and exits the checkpoint.

After that, I stood and looked around for a while.

It seemed that this place served as a base, and there were also stalls and a small bar.

In the process, there were also mercenaries who got drunk and talked loudly.

Looking at the scene, Arthur stroked his chin and muttered.

‘This is the right starting point… Now, what shall we do?’

The given time is only one day.

I have an appointment with Elin tomorrow, which means I have to catch Martial Dust within 24 hours.

‘Once I came, but… I can’t search all over this wide area.’

This abandoned village in District D was the largest in Arcane.

The reason was that this abandoned village was the gathering place for everything abandoned in Arcane.

‘To the east there is a landfill, and to the west there is a lake full of polluted water.’

And heading south, there was an abandoned village and a beggar that I had seen a while ago.

Considering its area alone, it is the size of 2-3 cities combined.

It was not possible to inspect the wide area one by one.

‘If I had found the traces by myself in the first place, someone else would have caught them long ago. Then what should I do?’

Pay close attention, should I join another group?

It was when Arthur was contemplating as he stroked his chin.

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice tickled my ears.

“You see it like this. No, is it normal to see?”

“… ?”

“It’s been a while, Dawn. Looking at his expression, he doesn’t seem to remember.”

Arthur blinked his eyes for a moment.

Then, with a belated exclamation, he smiled at the man in front of him.

“Aren’t you the Titan Fighting Gang, Mr. La Borde?”

* * *

A fighting gang that made a connection in the second commissioned mission.

The titan fighting gang’s new boss, La Borde, raised an eyebrow.

“oh···. Is it surprising that you remember?”

“Of course I remember. Nice to meet you.”

In greeting, La Borde held out his hand.

When Arthur holds his hand, La Borde secretly makes a fortune.

“Seeing you come here… Maybe because of the wanted bounty?”

“I guess so.”

“What about the party?”

“Are you together?”

“Usually, missions like this are done as a group, isn’t it?”

Arthur pondered and answered.

“No, not yet.”

La Borde stroked his chin and gestured.

“Can you give me a minute?”

“Time?”

“I have something to say. Exactly, it is a suggestion.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

‘It’s a proposal… My suggestion here is to catch the wanted criminal.’

Could it be that La Borde knows something?

At the question thrown, Arthur judged that it may or may not be so.

‘The most likely is the former. He’s not the kind of person who will come to me just because he knows me…’

With his thoughts, Arthur enters the dark alleyway led by La Borde.

And he found that his predictions were correct.

“What would you do with the information?”

“Information?”

“okay. What would you do if you had information specific to the location of Martial Dust?”

Arthur opens his mouth in admiration.

“oh···. really? But are you sure?”

“I can’t guarantee that. But it seems to be right with a high probability.”

“What is your reason for being sure?”

La Borde snaps his fingers.

“B-class mercenary, immortal Carpe. He’s the one who shared the information. He’s one of the few people on this floor that’s pretty trustworthy.”

“Ummm… If that’s the only reason, don’t you believe it?”

“that’s right. If that’s the only reason, yes. But if you look at it differently, that reason alone is enough reason to be together.”

Arthur tilted his head.

La Borde explains.

“Now there are over 50 offices gathered here, and there are 1,000 mercenaries.”

“… … .”

“If you include combat gangs like us, the number is unfathomable. In a situation like this, there are many sources, and among them, Carpe is a reliable enough person.”

Arthur stroked his chin.

‘I could miss it by wandering around, so I have to move even with this kind of information in hand, right?’

It was a risk, but not a bad decision.

Assuming you can trust him, Carpe.

‘Anyway, even if I move alone, I’m not in a state where I can do anything… I don’t think it’s bad.’

If you gamble, though, someone you know seemed better.

Moreover, even more so now that there is no set destination.

After thinking this far, Arthur replied.

“great. I will accept it, Mr. La Borde.”

“Since we decided to share the profits, I’ll give you 5 of the percentage of what fell to my share.”

“oh···. Aren’t you giving too much? You must have a lot of family members.”

“Not much. A few people fell off after Boris’ guy betrayed him. And you deserve it too.”

La Borde raised an eyebrow.

“If you’re like Dunn, it’s probably the best insurance we can afford. Even if that other side does nonsense, I can trust you and stand strong.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes and exclaimed.

“this… There were other tricks too. I was simply trying to help me.”

“You were right to help. So, the ratio is also 5:5, didn’t you approach and talk to me first?”

Arthur burst into laughter.

‘Uhm… This is also a calculated word. I trust you to this extent, I’m trying to show you this.’

I’ve felt it before, but La Borde was also a rather peculiar gang.

Just like Boris, who died by his own hand.

‘It should continue to be unique in a good way… It’s not that fun to kill someone who makes a good impression.’

With thoughts, La Borde beckons and Arthur follows.

After following La Borde for about 10 minutes, several people sitting in the clearing came into view.

The sharp atmosphere, or the energy of the rings you can feel.

Looking at them, there were some who reached a level that could not be ignored.

It was when Arthur raised the corner of his mouth in the tension he felt because of that.

A man raised his eyes and murmured.

“… what?”

At these words, all eyes are focused on the man.

“That madman… Why are you here?”