The Duke’s Madness

“So… . That slave trader is raising money behind Kane Dormund?”

Arthur nodded.

Leon rubbed his chin and murmured.

‘Interesting… . Even Martial couldn’t get the information about Cain Dormund.’

It is Martial who stole even the secrets of the imperial family.

Even if you search all over the continent, it will be hard to find a better spy than him.

However, Arthur Bayern knew information that even Martial had not been able to find out.

‘Should I believe this? no… . Isn’t it bad if you don’t believe me?’

True or not, Arthur Bayern has come to your aid.

This was a very good sign for Leon, who runs a secret society to deal with Can Madrid.

‘Heir to the Duke of Bavaria. Where can I find a better talent than this?’

So whether it was true or not didn’t really matter.

If it is correct, it will cut the money line of Cain Dormund, who can be said to be the right hand of Can Madrid, and even if it is not, you will be able to gain Arthur’s trust.

Thinking this far, Leon smiled and opened his mouth.

“So, are you friends from now on? Yesterday’s enemy, today’s friend, like this floor maxim?”

Arthur burst into laughter.

“What is a friend, a cooperative relationship.”

With these words, Arthur rose from his seat.

“This Sunday at 1:00. See you in the central square. I will tell you more about it then.”

* * *

on the day of the appointment.

Arthur murmured while checking the condition of the beast and the meteorite sword.

“hmm… . I impromptuly recruited him, but will it work out?”

Leon Madrid.

The prince of an unknown empire.

Apparently, the goal was to kill the man, Khan Madrid, but Arthur didn’t believe it.

‘There can be enough other intentions.’

From nob le mt l dot com

Nevertheless, the reason I offered this job to Leon Madrid was because his ability was so outstanding.

‘No matter how much bloodline ability you have… . It’s not easy to hypnotize 100 people.’

In addition, considering the numerous fighting gangs and mercenaries hired by the Hamburg side this time, there was a high possibility that Leon’s ability would be a great help.

‘It’s an assumption that I won’t betray, but… . It doesn’t matter if I betray.’

If it hits him in the back of the head, he’ll just have to kill him this time.

Thinking this far, Arthur took the repaired beast and the meteorite sword and headed to the B-17 area.

“Howdy-! Arthur Bayern!”

Leon, who had been waiting to come first, beckoned.

Arthur, who was walking towards it, raised his eyes.

“… What is that outfit, Prince?”

“huh? Costume?”

“yes. Where are you going to play?”

At these words, Leon proudly lifted up his T-shirt with a palm tree on it.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“… .”

“There are special clothes that are sold only in the Huai Islands, but these days, young kids say they always wear these clothes when they go on a trip!”

Arthur tilted his head.

“Are you a fashion conscious person?”

“Try not to fall behind. But that’s not the only reason I’m wearing this.”

Leon’s eyes twinkled.

“Aren’t we the guests who booked the tour package anyway? In order not to arouse suspicion, you should dress appropriately!”

Arthur groaned.

“Hoo… . So you disguised yourself?”

“yes! Rather, your outfit stands out more! What kind of drab cloak do travellers wear?”

Arthur stroked his chin.

Listening to Leon’s words, it was definitely unreasonable to see the current outfit as something worn when going on a trip.

‘I have to look like a perfect traveler so I won’t be suspicious… . That way, the chance of being assassinated will increase, right?’

After thinking this far, Arthur asked cautiously.

“… Do you have another set of those clothes, Prince?”

“Of course not. I knew this would happen and prepared in advance!”

“But you can’t hide your weapon without a cloak, right?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll hide it very cleverly. hehehe… .”

With Leon’s boast, Arthur changed into the clothes given to him.

At the same time, the pistol and knife he was wearing became transparent, a surprising change that occurred without feeling any magic power.

“Wow, what can’t you do with those eyes? Is this even possible?”

Leon raised his finger and drew a v.

“My eyes are a little special! But when are those slave traders coming?”

“Maybe he will come in a little while. 10 minutes later?”

With these horses came a refined carriage from afar.

Leon and Arthur, who had been watching the scene, stopped chatting and looked away.

“… Are you the ones who booked the ＜Lalalal＞ travel package?”

“Yes, it is.”

Upon Leon’s answer, the coachman who got off the carriage suggested it.

“I’m going to go to the destination right away, would you mind? The resort built in B-41 area is the first destination, and it has a very nice view… … .”

Arthur cut off the explanation by raising his hand.

“I have a lot of money and nothing I want to buy.”

“… .”

“So I want to visit a private place instead of that resort, is that okay?”

At these words, Leon narrowed his eyes.

‘what… Sound, is that?’

Is it some kind of password relief?

Leon, who looked away with his thoughts, was startled.

It was because a bizarre clown mask was written on the driver’s face, which had been putting on a friendly smile a while ago.

“this… . They were not traveling, but they had business on the other side.”

The coachman, who bowed respectfully, explained in a cool voice.

“I will direct you to Area D-52, not Area B-41. Please get into the carriage.”

* * *

The carriage runs.

Among the four residential areas that exist in Arcane, to District D, which is called the slum.

In the midst of that, the prince raised his ability and asked a question.

[Could that be the password just a moment ago?]

Arthur nodded at the prince’s words that came to his mind.

[…] Isn’t that too clumsy? Can you enter the slave auction with a password that doesn’t sound like that?]

Arthur quietly raised his hand and pointed forward.

Leon, who turned his gaze, was startled.

‘Pretend not to see, but keep your ears open.’

It was hard to see that he was a normal coachman with a lot of nerves.

Leon, who had thought this far, aroused his lineage ability.

[Say it in your heart. Then you can talk to me without making a sound.]

At this, Arthur pretended to look out the window and complied.

[Can you hear me? Prince?]

[Sounds good.]

[oh… . This is a strange ability.]

[It’s a kind of telepathy. It’s also a higher level of communication because you can’t feel the magical power.]

Arthur nodded and said.

[Let’s talk like this from now on. That coachman, he’s been fiddling with his hands a little while ago. It seems that they don’t completely trust us.]

[…] Passwords aren’t everything?]

[That’s probably not it. Maybe this password is everything. It’s not like there are one or two slave markets in Arcane in the first place.]

[Not just one or two places?]

[yes. There is competition here too. But if you thoroughly inspect and invite people in, will you be able to attract a lot of guests?]

Leon’s expression becomes ambiguous at the explanation.

Then the carriage slowed down, and the coachman turned his head and said,

“You have to walk from here.”

At the explanation, Arthur and Leon got off the carriage.

The coachman, who was watching the scene, pointed to my mask.

“I bet you didn’t forget to bring your supplies, right?”

“Sure. Tricky.”

With these words, Arthur takes out his mask.

Leon, who was next to him, narrowed his eyes.

“This… . what else?”

“It’s a preparation? write it once Leon.”

Leon put on a fox mask with a shy expression.

Arthur was a tiger mask.

The coachman, who was watching the scene, bowed his back.

“Welcome to the ＜Lalalalal＞ auction house.”

At the same time, the iron gate blocking the way opens.

Leon and Arthur looked away and opened their eyes wide.

“Hoo… ?”

Area D-52.

It was another world that existed in the slums.

* * *

Unpleasant laughter can be heard from everywhere.

Kyahahahahaha~

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Leon, watching the scene, hardened his expression.

‘drug. weak… . What should I call this?’

Everyone on the street was bursting with mad laughter.

I couldn’t even see his expression because he was wearing a mask, but I could definitely feel that his smile was unreal.

It was because the average human hadn’t laughed that long.

Then Arthur, who was next to him, murmured.

“hmm… . They are crying.”

“… Are you crying?”

“yes. Can you hear the sobs in your voice?”

Leon’s eyes widened.

When I listened closely, it was because I was really crying like Arthur said.

‘what? Are you saying it’s not an ordinary drug?’

Arthur scratched his head as Leon’s expression became vague with his thoughts.

“They say that if you laugh while crying, hair grows on your ass. hmm… .”

“… Is that what you would say in this situation?”

“You didn’t say anything, didn’t you?”

Leon shook his head.

In the meantime, the coachman who was walking in the lead turns his head.

“It is a drug distributed by us.”

“Any medicine?”

“yes. It’s a very special drug. A fantasy world where you can escape from the pain of reality and go to the place of your dreams. The medium that goes in there is what we call [AB-21].”

With these words, the coachman holds out something.

blue and red. It was a strange mixture of two colors.

“… Would you like to try it?”

At the coachman’s invitation, Arthur shrugged.

“Because we didn’t come here to get medicine.”

“then… ?”

“I heard that an auction is held here?”

The coachman nodded.

“You mean the slave auction. I need a reservation, so I’ll get you a place to stay.”

A coachman led Arthur and Leon into a room bathed in brilliant lights.

“In a little while, another manager will come to pick me up.”

With an explanation, the coachman bent down and left the room.

Leon, who was watching the scene, muttered as he took off the mask he was wearing.

“This is a bad place… . The air, the atmosphere, and the scenery.”

Arthur nodded.

People walking through the streets like zombies.

Buildings immersed in dim lighting and darkness.

District D itself was originally such an abandoned village, but it was strange that such a place existed.

‘Perhaps it was covered by a special barrier? Then I guess there are wizards too… .’

Thinking, Arthur tapped his fingers.

In the meantime, Leon, who fixed his mask, opens his mouth.

“So what is the operation?”

“Operation?”

“No way, I’m just going to assassinate you openly, it’s not like this isn’t the case.”

Arthur nodded.

“Yes. Once here Hamburg Ericsson. We will locate him.”

“What next?”

“Assassination by combining my powers and the prince’s powers. I plan to escape after that.”

Leon narrowed his eyes.

“Is that the end?”

“Are you finished?”

“… If you listen to the explanation, it’s just an assassination?”

Arthur tilted his head at Leon’s question.

“Then is there a more effective method?”

“It’s not… .”

“I could make a detailed plan, but think about it. Prince.”

Arthur pointed to one side with his finger.

At that moment, the prince’s eyes slowly changed into half-moon shapes, and he quietly admired them.

“Are you watching?”

“yes. As for the people over that roof, I kept watching as I came, but those people were watching at regular intervals.”

“… .”

“In a situation like this, it’s better to take into account the variables that occurred on the spot and make an on-the-spot judgment rather than sticking to a plan.”

Leon groaned.

“Is that plausible? But are you confident?”

“I am confident. As long as the prince doesn’t grab my ankle.”

Leon shook his head.

‘If you look at the skills you showed then, it’s not a lie… .’

However, he could not move without any information, trusting only Arthur’s words.

Thinking this far, Leon awakened the ability hidden from his eyes.

At that moment, the space shook, and the narrow-eyed man.

Martial Durst appeared and bowed.

“Martial. Hamburg Ericsson. Find out where he is.”

[I understand, Prince.]

With these words, the narrow-eyed man disappears.

Arthur, who was watching the scene, opened his mouth and asked a question.

“Did you bring him too?”

“It is always connected to me. Let’s leave the location to Martial for now.”

At the prince’s answer, Arthur secretly raised an eyebrow.

“Are there any other followers besides him?”

“It is spread all over the place. Not now.”

At the end of these words, a light silence descended.

Someone came and knocked on the door.

“May I come in?”

“yes.”

At the answer, the door opened and a man wearing a clown mask appeared and bowed.

Judging by his physique, he seemed to be a different person from the coachman a moment ago.

“Fortunately, I was able to reserve a spot at the auction today, sir.”

“oh. That’s good.”

“yes. It’s actually a very lucky case. It is difficult to participate in a slave auction without a reservation. there… .”

The coachman, who was speechless, raised the corner of his mouth.

“A very special slave is coming out for today’s auction. Have you ever heard of an ‘elf’?”

Arthur raised his eyes.

“Are you an elf?”

“yes. A species that disappeared a thousand years ago… .”

At the explanation, Arthur involuntarily burst into exclamation.

“The owner of the forest, who is said to be the incarnation of beauty. It is said that the descendant will be auctioned today.”