Chapter 299 – Underwork (1)
We decided to discuss the details once we got into the lodging.
“Give a room with a big bed!”
“Leave that witch out of it. I just need a quiet room.”
Both Lily and Samuel wanted separate rooms, but I ignored their preferences and ended up renting an entire annex furnished with high-end interiors.
It wasn’t safe to have them in separate rooms.
Samuel, after admiring the lavish interior, looked at with a curious expression.
“What does that look in your eyes an?”
“Do you know how much this place costs for one night? An entire detached annex right in the heart of Aintrier during the Dark Sales period.”
“Apparently, it’s about 250 Gold per night.”
“Thank goodness our captain is rich…”
“Not my money.”
It was exactly the money that ca straight out of Fenry Chaser’s pocket.
If Fenry were to learn that I dropped 250 Gold on one night’s lodging, he’d probably kill .
But there was no helping it.
A high-end lodging like this minimizes leaks of information.
‘That’ll probably be about three days at most…’
I had revealed the World Tree’s leaves in front of everyone.
Since it was a rare item shown to the public for the first ti, people were surely sent out everywhere to dig up related information.
‘Those aiming for Samuel have probably already heard that the mission failed.’
They might be searching the underground canal for traces even now.
With everyone’s eyes on us, a location attached to the center would be safe for now—as the saying goes, “the lamp is darkest beneath it.”
Of course, even if the flock of Paris (the Cleaners) becos entangled, a seriously secure hideout is needed.
“What kind of conditions does the house need to et?”
In response to Elton’s question, I gave the answer I’d been thinking of:
“First, it must be attached to the center.”
If it’s located in the city center where the major funds flow, Lord Azonne won’t be able to move rashly.
He’d try to move in a direction that causes as little commotion as possible.
“And it must be a place where a space portal can be created,” I continued, looking at Samuel.
At the ntion of a space portal, Samuel reacted imdiately.
“A portal? To connect with where?”
“Ordor Forest.”
“Hmm… Ordor Forest, huh?”
After a mont’s thought, Samuel asked ,
“Could you explain why we’d install a portal?”
“I plan to rescue those non-humanoid races enslaved by Aintrier.”
“...Are you planning to wage war against Aintrier?”
“Is a war really necessary? There are plenty of legal ways to bring those races in.”
“Even if you had all the money, it’d be difficult.”
“That’s a problem I’ll handle. So think of a place that ets the conditions I ntioned.”
“There is one.”
“Well, there is one, but…”
Without much further deliberation, Elton and Samuel answered in unison.
When I looked at Elton, he nodded and spoke,
“While we were hiding here, we also kept scouting for a place to use as a hideout. There is one place that fits your conditions.”
“Where is it?”
“A Grade 1 Storage Depot.”
“Storage Depot??”
“I an, it’s a warehouse for storing goods and collecting commission. It’s attached to the city center, and because warehouses are specialized, a huge number of people go in and out. Even if the non-humanoids are seen there, they won’t be suspected. They’re treated as commodities in this place.”
“Do you think we can get it?”
At my question, Samuel smiled thinly at the corner of his mouth.
“We couldn’t get it because we’re short on money, but if you’re the captain, it should be possible. How much money do you have?”
“Lack is not an issue.”
“To purchase a Grade 1 Storage Depot, you need to have top-tier status. To be recognized as top-tier in Aintrier, a deposit is required—starting at a minimum of 200,000 Gold. In order to buy a Grade 1 depot, you’d need 500,000 Gold.”
I was well versed in the major information and overall trends in Hell Gri, but I didn’t know these finer details.
It was fortunate that Samuel, who was very knowledgeable about Hell Gri, was by my side.
“If you give the money, I’ll get it.”
The sa went for Elton and the Ghosts.
Perhaps because all five of us had road Hell Gri with Samuel, we were all well inford about the local conditions.
I handed over a pouch filled with jewels.
When Samuel saw the jewels in the pouch, his brows furrowed.
“If you try to exchange jewels for local currency, you’ll lose a lot to commission fees.”
When I took off my bracelet and handed it to him, Samuel inspected it with wide eyes before looking at .
“VIP Bracelet? How did you get this? I never give it to anyone.”
“Is this bracelet transferable to another?”
“It is. It’s valued more for the bracelet itself than for status. But if any trouble arises, the owner of the bracelet takes the full bla. It’s a case where great benefits co with heavy responsibilities.”
“The commission issue is…”
“As a VIP, the commission is waived. It will also be of great help when purchasing the depot. VIPs are under the protection of Lord Azonne.”
“That’s a relief.”
Elton, who received the bracelet, prepared to head out with two of the Ghosts.
He wrapped himself in a robe and, after asking Lily, cast a shamanistic ‘Cham’—and because he was affected by the ‘Cham’ that gives off a friendly aura, he looked like a completely different person—softer rather than rough.
“I’ll be back within two days.”
When Elton left with the Ghosts, I returned and sought out Lily.
“Did she fall asleep in the anti?”
While I was out to see them off, Lily had lain down on a soft bed and drifted off into dreamland.
Completely defenseless, she was sprawled out on the bed, so I grabbed Keros and covered her with him, fearing the cold.
Perhaps because it was warm, she smiled as she hugged Keros and fell into a deep sleep.
The remaining two Ghosts left to watch the surroundings of the annex, and I called Samuel over separately to invite him to the table.
I placed a cup in front of him.
A wisp of steaming smoke was curling from the cup, and when he inhaled its aroma, he tilted his head curiously.
“This is the first ti I’ve slled this aroma. What kind of tea is it?”
“How about the Curse of the Fissure?”
“It’s in serious condition.”
I had eased his curse in the last cabin with twilight leaf tea, but due to frequent use of its special property, the fissure in his body was progressing once again.
“Can you open a space portal?”
“It’s impossible with a barrier in place. My body would shatter first.”
“What if you treat it?”
“If my condition were better, it might be possible—but it’s not sothing that can be treated in a short ti.”
Samuel’s hands trembled as he fiddled with them. His body seed to be undergoing a discord of flesh brought on by the fissure.
I lightly tapped the teacup and said,
“Drink this and tell in detail what changes appear in your body.”
“Shouldn’t you at least tell what’s in it first?”
“It’s a leaf from the World Tree.”
“...What??”
“I mixed in about a spoonful of sothing special inside the leaf. Please drink it and tell how it feels.”
Samuel glanced at the blue leaf floating in the cup, then brought the cup to his lips.
Slurp—
The mont he took a sip,
“…?”
A gentle light began emanating from his body.
It was a faint yet distinct golden aura.
The trembling of the hand that held the cup slowly subsided, and the contorted body gradually straightened with the sound of cracking bones.
As the warped energy began to flow straight, Samuel’s eyes went wide and he stared at the cup.
The Curse of the Fissure was healing.
Samuel quickly downed the rest of his tea in one shot.
“C-captain!”
Then he pounded the table and called out to . His face was flushed with excitent.
After achieving 5-star, the characteristic of Sacred Power that settled into ‘Order’ was showing its effects.
Judging by Samuel’s intense reaction, it appeared to be working like a miracle.
“Once you get a taste, you want more.”
I smiled and then placed the leaf imbued with Sacred Power into warm water.
While Elton was out securing the hideout, I planned to test the effect of the leaf on Samuel.
Ah, but before that, I needed to wake up Lily.
“It’s special treat ti.”
“…Hmm?”
At those words, Lily rubbed her eyes and got up.
I rang a bell and ordered my attendant to bake so cookies.
anwhile, Samuel, who had eagerly finished another cup, grinned at and gave a thumbs-up.
“Good! Really good! With this pace, I’ll cure the curse in no ti.”
“The healing has only just begun, though.”
“What? Just a few more cups and it’ll be enough.”
“No.”
I shook my head with a serious expression and said firmly,
“If you overdo it with the tea, you’ll trigger even worse side effects. Additional help is needed.”
“Help?”
“Begin.”
When I said that while looking at Lily, who blinked as she surveyed the surroundings, she pointed at herself.
When I handed her a cookie, she let out a short exclamation—“Ah!”—then opened Keros’s mouth and pulled out her staff.
“You said one cookie per shamanistic spell, right?”
“Make it a strong one, please.”
“What if he dies? He’s the youngest!”
“He won’t die.”
“Wait a minute! What are you doing to … Ghuuuaahh!”
Samuel suddenly leapt up, clutched his chest, and began trembling on the floor.
Lily’s curse erupted.
I grabbed Samuel and shouted,
“Samuel, you must drink the tea!”
“Gluwwk!”
For now, I needed to see what curse this Sacred Power would counter.
I felt sorry for Samuel, but I intended to conduct the necessary experint while curing his Curse of the Fissure.
“Isn’t this sothing I should be doing?”
Think of it as paying for treatnt.
Two days later, Elton arrived carrying a bundle of notarized docunts.
As if with absolute certainty, he had newly established a top-tier organization under a pseudonym and, having purchased a Grade 1 Storage Depot, secured a proper hideout.
“It cost a total of 700,000 Gold. I ended up spending 200,000 Gold more than I originally planned.”
“Is that under the condition that the transaction details remain secret?”
“I paid for hush money as you instructed, but did we really have to go this far? 200,000 Gold seems outrageously high.”
“It’s a large sum, but it’s necessary. Don’t worry about it. Have you received the notarization?”
“It cos with a penalty clause—10 tis the fee if any secret information is disclosed.”
“Very well. Good work.”
“If that’s what you think…”
Elton looked over at Samuel, who was sprawled on a bed, as Samuel groaned softly.
“What did you do to him?”
“I cured his curse.”
“You an, he wasn’t cursed anymore?”
Seeing Samuel with his skin rotted black and his muscles withered, staring blankly at the ceiling—it looked as if he were a patient awaiting his death.
All of the curses that had afflicted Samuel had been removed. However, because Lily had poured on the curse so vigorously, it seed it would take so ti for him to fully recover.
“Did you bring the potions?”
“Here.”
I gave him the potions to drink.
Fortunately, they seed effective; his complexion gradually improved. When he ca back to his senses, he glared at with wide, furious eyes—a look that promised I’d be on the receiving end of plenty of curses later.
“I’m leaving this place tonight.”
Late that night, I carried Samuel and climbed up onto the roof of the annex.
Everyone was already there, waiting and preparing.
I looked up at the night sky.
It was a night with a full moon.
I nodded at Lily, and with a blushing face, she bestowed her blessing upon us.
The Blessing of Moonlight.
Bathed in a gentle halo of light, we slowly faded away behind the glow.
rged with the darkness, we silently moved to the new hideout following Elton’s guidance.
Once I slipped unnoticed into the Grade 1 Storage Depot, I imdiately moved to the next phase.
After summoning the Ghosts, I spread a rumor.
“Tell everyone that the World Tree’s leaves can cure even near-incurable curses. And once the rumor spreads enough, inform the Information Guild.”
“The Information Guild, you say?”
“Yes. Go there and place a high-priority request.”
“What kind of request?”
“Request that they find . I can’t cure the curse if they can’t locate .”
I fiddled with my thin pouch and continued,
“Let’s start with a fee of 200,000 Gold. Then every day, I’ll raise the request fee by 100,000 Gold.”
We need to recoup the 700,000 Gold spent on the operation before we start.
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