Chapter 90
At my words, Bong-sik looked extremely uncomfortable.
Despite having the Brand's command authority, he couldn't hide his discomfort, giving the impression this was truly troublesome.
"Well, I'm not sure how much you know, but this isn't someone I can handle."
"I know."
"No, you don't understand."
Despite knowing better than anyone that he'd become corpse #14 in the Abyss if I dismissed him now, Bong-sik argued back.
Bong-sik, talking back?
However, that very difficulty also served as evidence of his sincerity.
"Though Shadow Hand isn't counted among the top major organizations, they've firmly established their position by finding niches between those major organizations. Valen is their leader. His name being known isn't because he's weak. It's a display of confidence."
The underworld of Res Limen was often compared to a jungle.
Only a small part was visible from the outside, with an infinite ecosystem within and deep darkness that could never be seen from the surface.
In this context, organizations in the underworld were compared to trees.
The survival competition among trees in nature was fierce.
Grown trees spread their branches wide and block the sky with abundant leaves.
Mature trees block light with their large shadows, reducing sunlight for their surroundings, and ultimately causing young saplings beneath them to wither and die.
How pitiful was the struggle of a sprouting leaf trying to grow in such a forest?
If even trees compete this fiercely, how much more intense must the competition be among humans in the underworld?
Moreover, in Res Limen, called the world's center and teeming with all manner of mysteries and oddities, the competition could rightfully be called war.
A new organization that firmly established its identity as an information broker despite countless checks and pressures from existing organizations with vested interests meant they had something surpassing those existing powers.
However, thinking back to the undiscovered ruins incident during training, they seemed cooperative with the City Guard.
Didn't they immediately deny involvement?
To my doubt, Bong-sik responded somewhat bewilderedly.
"The City Guard... of course. No organization in Res Limen can beat them."
The City Guard's scale exceeded all five major guilds combined.
Though most City Guard members fell far short of proper Explorers in quality, quantity had its own merit that quality alone couldn't match.
Besides, not all City Guard quality was poor.
Among the three divisions comprising the City Guard, the order by numbers was Guard-Security Force-Expedition Team, but the quality was the reverse.
The Expedition Team was openly dedicated to Abyss exploration like a guild, serving as the City Guard's treasure.
While generally considered a step below Frontier or Conquerors, they were more than qualified to be among the five major guilds.
Moreover, each organization's leadership consisted of elites who built their skills through actual exploration.
No single organization could defeat the City Guard.
If you can't beat them, join them.
Following this famous general-turned-emperor's saying, Shadow Hand took a cooperative stance with the City Guard.
And thanks to that, they had survived.
Survival meant strength.
Therefore, Shadow Hand was strong.
"Because of their cooperative relationship with the City Guard, even the Guard leaves them alone for most incidents."
"And you managed to get information from such an impressive place?"
"Well, I mainly used Gravediggers' internal documents. The information from Shadow Hand was just a possibility."
Then is there no choice…
As I let out a small sigh, Bong-sik’s face twisted strangely with contradictory emotions of half relief, half anxiety.
"Have to start from scratch then."
"Pardon?"
"Since I understand there's no direct hotline, we'll have to work our way up slowly from the bottom."
While borrowing Fiona's name to leverage the Grand Duchy's authority might force a meeting, such methods created a mutual burden.
This time, I would try what I could do on my own.
If Shadow Hand truly proved too big for me to handle...
I have plenty of places to lean on.
"Go back to where you got information last time and try to make contact with higher-ups."
"...Are you serious?"
"I don't like repeating myself."
Bong-sik could no longer refuse and complied with the order.
After sending Bong-sik off, instead of following immediately, I returned to Telema School.
Entering the school, I saw Mea coming down to the first floor, rubbing her eyes as if just woken up.
She quickly closed her mouth mid-yawn when she saw me.
"...You're here?"
"Yes. You just woke up?"
"...Yeah."
Mea went behind the bar table and grabbed any random liquor bottle within reach.
Then she poured a glass and gulped it down.
Of course, it was water.
"Not going anywhere with them today?"
"We decided on personal maintenance. Um, where's Hecate?"
"In the workshop."
She pointed toward where Hecate would be.
"Something up?"
"Ah, just had something to ask."
"Hecate?"
Sending me a look that said, “Why not ask me?”, I awkwardly smiled and replied, "I'm looking for someone."
"Hmm..."
As mentioned before, finding people was like a Devil Sorcerer’s specialty.
It was a basic livelihood skill that struggling Devil Sorcerers learned.
Of course, Mea knows about it too.
But only “knows about” it.
Mea wasn't one of those “struggling Devil Sorcerers”—she was a highly capable one who could make a living through exploration alone.
She didn't need to rely on mundane skills like person-finding.
"Must be someone hard to find."
"Probably."
"...Let me know if you need anything. I'll be here today."
"Will do."
Mea stayed behind the bar table, presumably to handle school business in Hecate's stead while she was holed up in the workshop.
I headed to where Hecate would be.
Standing at the door, I heard the lock open by itself.
A sign to come in.
When I entered, Hecate had somewhat cleaned up her desk, compared to the usual, and greeted me.
"I heard. You need my help?"
With a research magic monocle fitted over one eye, Hecate's eyes sparkled.
Her gaze suggested she was determined to show this presumptuous newcomer the dignity and capability of a school head.
I reluctantly stated my business to such an enthusiastic Hecate, "Yes. There's someone I want to find."
"Great!"
Bang!
Hecate cheerfully struck the floor with her staff and crossed her arms.
This naturally emphasized her ample chest, drawing my attention.
If that was school head dignity, Hecate might rival the heads of the six major schools.
Unaware of my stray thoughts, Hecate continued her lines.
Yes, lines.
"You've come to the right place! Trust in Hecate Cley! Nothing is impossible for the great Devil Sorcerer who uncovers the world's mysteries through devilish arts!"
The stiff delivery made it obvious these were prepared lines.
"So? Who are you looking for? Need at least a name if there's no physical evidence?"
"Shadow Hand's Valen Whickerton. Though it might be an alias."
"Valen Whickerton, good. Request accepted. I’ll show you what kind of person leads the school you belong to," Hecate declared proudly.
And, moments later.
It was confirmed.
Hecate really did have a screw loose.
“No! This can't be...! He's blocking this? What kind of powerful amulet does this guy have...!”
Shouting such excuses? Reasons? Hecate spectacularly failed.
Well, I wasn't 100% certain this would work, but it was still disappointing.
What I'd overlooked was that Hecate also fell into the category of highly capable Devil Sorcerers like Mea.
Capable Devil Sorcerers didn't do detective work.
That was what it meant.
So in the end, we'd have to do the legwork…
§
"You've arrived?"
"Yeah. Is this the place?"
The location of Shadow Hand's middle management.
That was how Bong-sik described it.
"It's certain. I... paid the price."
Bong-sik’s Devil Magic was naturally location-tracking.
For Bong-sik, who needed to find connections and people, there was no choice.
It was mandatory.
And unlike Mea, he paid the price himself.
I didn't know what kind of pact he made, so I just assumed he paid well enough.
"Going in."
§
Sudden uninvited guests.
Duncan, Shadow Hand's middle manager and Third Branch director, came down to the basement immediately after identifying their backgrounds.
Jan Wasik, former Gravediggers team leader, current Union-affiliated Senior Explorer.
Notable for being an Expert promotion candidate.
His companion, Roman Sun, famous member of the Raid Generation and Telema School Novice Explorer.
Notable for presumably building substantial relationships with his classmates.
Though he'd sent out a double first, these two would notice quickly.
Following the principle that 999 out of 1000 uninvited guests have ill intentions, Duncan acted without hesitation.
Well, if they were that 1 in 1000 with good intentions, things would end at the double.
And once again, Duncan confirmed his belief wasn't wrong.
The two not only made unreasonable demands after noticing the double but even caused a disturbance by insisting on meeting him personally.
Though Shadow Hand had its own military force, it was difficult to station Expert-level forces at each branch.
As an organization more focused on being information brokers, they prioritize information security and survival over counterattack and elimination when conflicts arise.
Duncan, a Senior-level Explorer himself, retreated underground without fighting because of this policy.
Because this place storing information was very safe.
“Try breaking in from outside all you want,” Duncan muttered with a smirk.
"Special magic alloy directly supplied by Golden Intellect's Lapidary branch."
A hardness and strength that even Expert-rank Explorers, even combat specialists, would struggle to scratch.
A Master Explorer could break through, but it would take considerable time and effort.
By then, the City Guard would arrive to handle the situation.
Finally feeling the worth of all that money spent on maintenance.
"Think this is my first time? How amateurish."
Well then, time to move.
After downing his champagne in one gulp, Duncan leisurely rose from his chair.
Though the money they'd have to feed the City Guard again was regrettable, they could always get it back in double through revenge later.
Stealing the magic alloy and running?
That had been prepared for as well.
The entrance's magic alloy had been treated for tracking anyway.
Though Shadow Hand's combat power wasn't high, information's power sometimes exceeded pure force.
This was a chance to teach that ignorant rookie a big lesson.
However, whether they could use that lesson next time was uncertain.
Just as Duncan was about to sort through the top-secret information that regulations required destroying in such situations, wearing a vicious smirk.
"There's some left. What a waste."
A voice that shouldn't be there, someone else's voice.
Duncan unconsciously froze and turned his head.
Someone was sitting where he'd been, having appeared without any indication of when.
Holding his champagne bottle casually.
"Sit down."