Donovan and Adele’s eyes widened significantly at the information Kousuke provided.
“….Is that true?”
“It is. However, I will leave the judgment of how to interpret it to you both.”
What Kousuke had just spoken about was a magic item used by Isac, ranked second among combatants. Donovan and Adele, being in charge of Crown, immediately noticed its abnormality.
“Is it a magic item that can replenish magic power? ….I thought the items being sold at Crown were the first of their kind.”
“Ah, me too. I’ve thought many times how much easier it would have been if something similar had existed when I was active.”
Donovan said that with a wry smile, and Adele nodded in agreement.
“Well, setting aside such absurdity, it is indeed abnormal. So? You didn’t just come with that story, did you?”
Donovan had already heard that Isac had lost to Kouhi yesterday. If Isac, who wasn’t particularly well-known as an adventurer, suddenly acquired three such magic items to fight with, the route of acquisition would immediately be suspected. Kousuke, with a wry smile, replied to Donovan’s expression, which seemed to imply he had already figured that out.
“Yes, well. By the way, there seems to be a noble named Dames loitering around with quite an attitude…”
“Hmm? Ah, well… wait, no way!?”
Donovan was about to reply with a wry smile to Kousuke’s words, but he flinched as he understood what Kousuke wanted to say. Adele, listening to the conversation next to him, had a similar expression.
“Well, that’s how it is.”
“Seriously… That young master, huh.”
Donovan exhaled with a sigh at Kousuke, who was offering a wry smile.
As Donovan watched, Adele tilted her head and asked, “However, Mr. Dames is a viscount of the Dominating Empire. If the magic item Isac was using is, as you said, a national treasure-class magic item, I don’t think it would be lent out so easily…”
“Well, I suppose so.”
Kousuke had also heard from Mitsuki that Dames was a viscount. It wouldn’t be strange for him to own one, but he didn’t seem to have the financial means to lend out three of them to others simultaneously. Kousuke nodded meaningfully to Adele, who insisted on this point.
It was Donovan who first noticed Kousuke’s intention. He patted Adele’s shoulder and shook his head. “From here on, isn’t that something we should investigate ourselves?”
Donovan’s words made Adele’s expression change to one of realization. “Indeed, you are absolutely right.” Relying solely on information from others would lead to trouble in critical moments, such as when Kousuke and his group were gone. It was Crown’s responsibility to scrutinize the provided information and analyze its details.
Nodding while observing Adele’s self-reflection, Donovan suddenly looked at Kousuke. “By the way, as a matter of business, would you be willing to conduct that investigation for us?” Kousuke offered another wry smile to Donovan, who was making a request through the proper channels. It was Crown’s job to obtain information by making requests to those with the appropriate abilities. From the conversation so far, it was clear that Kousuke and his group possessed such abilities. It was only natural for Donovan, as the Guild Master, to request it directly from Kousuke.
“Unfortunately…” Kousuke refused with a shake of his head. Donovan immediately nodded. “Ah, I see. That can’t be helped.” Donovan had hoped Kousuke and his group would accept, but there were other parties he could ask. He understood that Kousuke and his group had come to Seichun with a certain goal, so he expected to be refused.
To Donovan, Kousuke added, as if he had just thought of it, “Perhaps it might be better to inform Headquarters.”
“Oh? Why?” Within Crown, it was an unwritten rule that matters occurring within a branch were to be settled by that branch. To go beyond that and ask for the Headquarters’ help meant that the branch could not handle it on its own. It wouldn’t necessarily lower his standing as Branch Manager, but any Branch Manager would likely prefer not to resort to that option. However, each Branch Manager was selected for their ability to seek help from Headquarters without hesitation when necessary. Donovan, too, would have undoubtedly contacted Headquarters if he had determined he couldn’t handle it. That was precisely why he was listening to Kousuke’s words. Incidentally, he was asking this to confirm if Kousuke shared the same thinking.
Unaware of Donovan’s thoughts, Kousuke shrugged his shoulders and replied, “It’s a simple prediction, but if all three magic items were of national treasure class, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone of Marquis rank or higher was involved.” Kousuke said no more. If someone capable of mobilizing the country’s army was involved, it would be impossible for the branch alone to deal with it. In such a case, it was implicitly suggested that it would be best to have the backing of Headquarters prepared. “Hmm.” Donovan nodded to Kousuke’s words in a dual sense. One was that he understood by inferring what Kousuke had deliberately omitted. The other was that he recognized Kousuke’s ability to think about such matters.
Donovan had heard that the adventurer named Kou, whom he knew, was instrumental in establishing the Seichun branch. This was an excellent opportunity to see for himself what kind of power that person possessed. And that purpose had been sufficiently fulfilled. From Donovan’s perspective, Kou was not just an ordinary adventurer. Incidentally, the name Kou brought to mind a certain being, but he did not investigate further. It was truly a case of “better safe than sorry.” Moreover, with this much information gathered, it was possible to predict who the mastermind was and what they were trying to achieve. Aiming for high ranks in combat battles to gain attention, and then securing the rights to “Aether,” the most crucial material in Gazenran Tower. It was the same thing Kou had done when he established the branch, so it was impossible for Donovan not to understand. Therefore, it was his role as Branch Manager to consider how to deal with it as Crown.
Seeing Donovan contemplating these matters, Kousuke wondered if everything was alright. “Well then, I should be going now.”
“Ah, thank you for coming all this way. You’re returning to the tower, aren’t you?”
“Yes. There’s still much to be done.”
“I see. If you need anything, feel free to ask. I’ll prepare it as quickly as possible.” Donovan’s words were his utmost gratitude for Kousuke providing information. Kousuke nodded once and accepted it honestly. “Yes. I understand.” With that, Kousuke rose from his seat.
As Donovan watched Kousuke and Mitsuki head towards the tower from the window, he said to Adele, who was waiting by his side, “Good grief. To bring back this much in just a few days of stay.”
“Thanks to you, our corroboration has become much easier.” The branch had also been actively working on the matter of “Aether,” but their intentions had been unclear. Thanks to the information Kousuke brought, what appeared as disconnected points now formed a continuous line. As Adele said, it was undeniable that the investigation had become easier now that their target was narrowed down.
“For now, I’ll leave the selection of suitable personnel to you.”
“Understood.” Adele said that and left the room. It was likely to start working immediately. Watching her go, Donovan began to check the schedule for heading to Headquarters. Due to the information provided by Kousuke, a decision has been made to head to Headquarters. Outside the Central Continent, although they are known, their influence as a branch is still not that significant. Of course, they are by no means comparable to ordinary guilds.
