The Duke’s Madness

I took out a scrapbook in which I gathered information from newspapers and various sources.

“… .”

Written in it is the information of the prey that must be killed in this life.

Among them, it was the information of those who were active based in Arcane.

Arthur murmured as he was looking at their photos and information that would never be forgotten and should never be forgotten.

‘No matter how much I know the future knowledge, the future and now are different.’

For example, Ares Arekis, whom I met a month ago.

The man was also different in many ways.

So Arthur started to collect information anew, and this scrapbook was the collection of them.

‘When the time comes, I’m going to hunt… It was a collection of information, but isn’t now the time?’

It wasn’t that I made up my mind spontaneously.

A variable named Leon Madrid.

My growth rate is faster than I thought.

It was the result of a combination of several factors.

‘It’s okay to move after growing a little more definitely… . The variable named Leon Madrid is hanging in my mind.’

A man who still can’t decide whether he’s a friend or an enemy.

His ominous eyes were enough to touch nerves in many ways.

So Arthur judged that it was not bad to go hunting earlier than planned.

‘There’s nothing good about being in a hurry… . Conversely, it would be foolish to miss the opportunity rather than the ebb and flow.’

If Leon Madrid is aiming for Can Madrid, the prey will inevitably be the same.

And Arthur didn’t want to lose that prey.

Like I said to Julie, revenge is only meaningful when I do it with my own hands.

‘hmm… . Then, if I were to go hunting, which one would be better?’

With thoughts, Arthur turned the first page.

Arthur, who was worried, touched a picture of a man with his hand.

“Slave Trader Hamburg.”

One of the targets of revenge that he failed to kill in his previous life.

And the culprit who drove the Bavarian vassals to ruin.

Arthur, who was rubbing his picture with his fingertips, raised the corners of his mouth.

“This garbage… . Do you think it would be the most appropriate?”

* * *

The man who drove the House of Bavaria to ruin was Count Dormund.

But it wasn’t Count Dormund who drove the Bavarian family into despair.

‘To tear the Bavarian family apart… . They were human scum that followed him.’

And one of those scum was the slave trader Hamburg.

As soon as the name of the Bavarian family was torn apart, he captured the Bavarian retainers and sold them in the slave market.

However, he was not satisfied there, and he also enslaved the lords of the Bavarian territory.

It wouldn’t be strange to say that he was second only to Kane Dormund in terms of crime.

So I had to kill it, but my future self couldn’t kill the Hamburg.

‘Hamburg is one of the capital lines that raises Kane Dormund’s back funds, so he was receiving generous protection.’

Because of that, he was hiding all over the place, and he couldn’t find his future self.

However, Hamburg at this point was different.

Arthur burst out laughing as he read through the information about Hamburg in his scrapbook.

“A travel entrepreneur? You’re doing something funny, man… .”

Hamburg at this point was known as a businessman who runs a travel company called Lalalal.

Arthur, of course, did not believe this.

“Arcane Travel Package… Stria Travel Package… . Did you put a lot of effort into camouflage?”

Officially, slavery is prohibited in Arcane.

However, there was no way that a slave market would not develop in a city where huge capital was gathered like Arcane.

‘It’s probably a camouflage company built for the main business… .’

So it was a suitable prey.

As a slave trader, Hamburg probably already has grudges in many places.

Even if he died suddenly, it wasn’t too strange, and even if he was caught, there wouldn’t be much trouble.

Of course, the assassination itself did not look easy.

‘From a broad perspective, he is also one of the humans from the underworld of Arcane.’

They probably hired quite a few mercenaries or fighting gangs, and it could be dangerous if they came in unprepared.

Thinking this far, Arthur stroked his chin.

‘hmm… . Then, should I go to a travel agency that is run by Hamburg first?’

Arthur nodded and asked Anna to make a reservation with the travel company he runs.

After a day like that, Anna delivered the answer with a rather puzzled expression.

“It’s this Sunday, Gongja. however… .”

“however?”

“Tell me to bring a mask as a preparation… . Do you?”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

“mask?”

“yes. mask.”

“What mask?”

“Oh, will you? What kind of mask is it?”

Anna and Arthur, who had blinked at each other, immediately shrugged.

“Shall I get one for myself?”

“huh. Please.”

Along with the answer, Anna held out her ticket.

＜Lalalalal＞ It was a ticket from a travel company.

After accepting the ticket, Arthur turned his gaze to the calendar.

“sunday… . Then there is still some time left.”

With a murmur, Arthur stood up.

“I need to make some preparations. The knife, the pistol, and my body.”

* * *

next day.

Arthur visited Willett’s office as soon as he finished school.

Willett, who was tidying up the store, sighed and muttered,

“… What else is going on?”

“I want to buy some information. old man.”

“information?”

“yes. information.”

Willett tilted his head.

“Is there a request that appeals to you?”

“It’s not like that, but I want to take care of some personal matters.”

“A personal matter?”

“yes. Do you know anything about the slave market?”

Willett is startled.

“… Did you have any interest in that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It is a slave. I didn’t know you were interested in that kind of thing… .”

Willett’s eyes narrowed as he was speechless.

Arthur narrowed his eyes at the sight and made excuses.

“uh… . I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that.”

“Wouldn’t that be the case? Then why are you asking about the slave market?”

“To kill the humans who open the slave market.”

“… .”

“So I need some information, just in case you know.”

Willett murmured in bewilderment.

“You’d rather buy a slave? Why do you want to kill a human from the underworld who opens the slave market?”

“hmm… . I can’t give you the specific reason, but it’s a personal grudge.”

“You’re going to kill a human from the underworld because of that grudge?”

“yes.”

Willett shuts up.

Willet, who was still glaring at Arthur, shook his head.

“Just looking at you makes my head hurt.”

“yes? why?”

“Think about it for yourself.”

With these words, Willett gets up from his seat and goes downstairs.

As Arthur follows, a tavern located in the basement appears.

Willett went straight into the office and sat down.

“There are usually two ways to buy information. One is to hand over the appropriate information, or to buy it with money. And I would like to receive it electronically.”

Arthur raised his eyes.

“uh… . I don’t have any information that Mr. Willett would be interested in?”

“Why not? How did you deal with the last Martial Dust case?”

“yes?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I already know everything.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“As expected, Elder Willet. You have wide feet.”

“My feet are a bit wide.”

“hmm… . What are you curious about?”

“Did Martial Dust steal the real ‘secret’ of the Empire?”

Arthur was worried.

‘I don’t have to get close to the prince, but I don’t have to pretend.’

If so, it would have been better to cover the answer here.

After all, he has a secret of his own.

Arthur answered with thoughts.

“yes. I think it was really stolen.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because the people of the Black Cross moved. Taken and Carpe, whom I met last time, were also there.”

Willett removed the pipe he was holding from his mouth.

It was a normal action, but Arthur correctly read the slight commotion mixed in.

‘Information I didn’t know. You don’t know everything.’

With judgment, Arthur filters the information again.

What to say and what not to say.

While sorting them out by looking at Willet’s reaction, Willet asked the question again.

“Then it must be true that Martial Durst was captured by the Black Cross?”

“Yes.”

“You… . How did you come out alive?”

“Me?”

“okay.”

Wallet stares at Arthur questioning.

“Only 130 mercenaries died there. Among them are B-class mercenaries. It wouldn’t have been a battlefield where you could survive simply because you were lucky… .”

With these words, Willett blows out cigarette smoke.

Arthur pondered and answered.

“Wouldn’t he have survived because he deserved to survive?”

“… Better than a B-class mercenary?”

“yes. Can you explain the process as well?”

At Arthur’s proud answer, Willet tapped his fingers.

It was when silence fell in the room with the regular beating.

Willet, who has finished his thoughts, opens his mouth.

“what… . That’s it. That’s enough to give you an idea of what’s going on.”

“uh? Can I ask you some more?”

“If I ask, won’t you tell me the point?”

“… .”

“Then it would be a waste of time to hear more. Say whatever you want.”

Arthur sincerely admired Willett.

‘Was that nursery rhyme just an act? How much do you know?’

I knew Willett was an excellent broker, but to be honest, it was amazing that he knew what was going on that day.

“… what? Why are you looking at me with such burdened eyes?”

“Elder Willett looks really great.”

“… suddenly?”

Willett waved his hand, showing a puzzled expression.

“Okay, let me ask you a quick question. Stop saying flattery that doesn’t suit you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Aren’t you going to ask me a question?”

At the prompting, Arthur stroked his chin and opened his mouth.

“A travel agency called ＜Lalalal＞… . To be precise, I need information about a man called Hamburg who pretends to run the travel agency.”

Arthur’s words raised Willett’s eyes.

“… Hamburg? Do you know what kind of person that person is?”

“yes. Aren’t you a slave trader?”

Willett shuts up at Arthur’s answer.

He was genuinely surprised, just like Arthur a moment ago.

‘As expected, Elder Willet knows.’

Along with his thoughts, Arthur asked a question without hiding his anticipation.

“I want to buy information about him, is that okay?”

Worried, Willett slowly opened his mouth to answer.

“I’ll tell you just once, so listen carefully and choose.”

Willett warns in a cool voice.

“I don’t know what kind of grudge you have against him… . give up If your life is worth it.”

Arthur opened his eyes wide.

“uh… . Give up?”

“okay.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Reason is overflowing. Can you speak a little more calmly?”

Willett’s gaze sinks low.

“If you try to kill him, you will die. I’m not kidding… .”

Willett, speechless, offers sincere advice.

“I am really going to die. You will be killed perfectly, with no exceptions.”