1096: Esmeralda's Request

Getting down to business, I want you to search for Raydoss spies, as well as any n.o.ble families suspected of committing treason.

n.o.bles too?

Old lady Esmeralda suddenly started explaining her request, which left Fran a little puzzled.

Searching for spies was fine, though barely within the scope of an adventurers job. But should you really be asking adventurers to take down n.o.bles committing treason?

Yeah, but dont get the wrong idea. Im not asking you to take the lead or anything. We just dont have enough manpower, so we need any help we can get. Besides, we wont need to hide anything from you.

?

Remember this? Youre the source, right?

Esmeralda took out a sheet of paper, which appeared to be a rather long list.

After taking a closer look, I realized that it was quite similar to the list we found from the slavers.

Of course, now it makes sense. This list contains all of the clients who are n.o.bles or merchants within the Kingdom of Kranzel.

Hyah-hyah-hyah, you really turned it in at the perfect time. All of the idiots who might have made it disappear are long gone, and your name backing it gives it more credibility. You might not look like it, but you really know your stuff, eh?

Shes overestimating Fran! It seems Esmeralda thought Fran purposely hid the list until her adventurer rank rose high enough to make her credible.

The timing truly was perfect. Kukuku National law prohibits the trade of illegal slaves, and anyone ignoring the law is asking to get their a.s.ses kicked. Now we have our pretenses.

However, removing too many n.o.ble families will also cause chaos

Esmeralda scoffed at the maids argument.

Hah! So what? It looks like our agents have gotten soft while I was sipping tea in retirement. This is exactly why the n.o.bles are getting full of themselves. Look, you need to keep them scared. They should be terrified of the consequences of going against us. Thats the only deterrent that will lead our country to stability.

But

No buts! Annihilate your enemies, and crush the guilty! If something looks suspicious, you investigate until you find something! Otherwise, whats the point of our agents! In the first place, why is a little girl like you trying to talk back to me!?

Ahh!

!

In an instant, Esmeralda emitted a tremendous amount of killing intent. It was both dense and deep, like the pressure one would feel at the bottom of the sea. Even this maid, who seemed to be a high-ranked agent, turned pale and started trembling.

Fran, too, almost went into a combat stance. Esmeralda definitely had a powerful aura befitting the former head of the intelligence division. The fact that she looked so weak must be because we could not perceive through her disguise.

Sorry you had to see that, missy. These young ones have gotten so ill-behaved. I guess Ill have to re-discipline all of them.

Nn. Thats all right.

Hyah-hyah-hyah! Im impressed that you didnt even flinch!

So, what about the request?

Oh, yes, of course. Us old folks tend to go off on tangents a lot. After the incident with that Ashtner fool, we took down most of his crew too. But there are still a number of n.o.bles in the capital connected to Raydoss. Its very likely theyre covering for Raydosss spies. You with me so far?

Nn.

So we want to take down all these traitorous n.o.bles, but investigating them takes too much time. In that case, why not get them on a different set of charges? Thats where this list comes in handy.

Makes sense. Arrest them for slave trading rather than the alleged connection to Raydoss.

Youre a good fighter who can sneak around, and you already know about the list so theres no confidentiality issue. Thats why I want you on the case. How about it?

Esmeralda handed us a request paper, which looked fine to me.

Master, can I?

Yeah, might as well take them out.

n.o.bles involved in the slave trade are as bad as Raydoss in Frans mind. If she can crush them with the governments stamp of approval, then she would not hesitate to do so.

Fran accepting this request was inevitable.

Okay. Ill take it.

Great! Youre a big help!

Wait, hasnt it only been a few days since we provided the list? Did they really have the time to double check if everything was accurate? Fran asked about that, and Esmeralda smirked.

We found the traces of a proper contract on that list of names, making it a magical doc.u.ment. Well, they probably kept it in case they ever wanted to blackmail the n.o.bles.

We never noticed anything like that, but it seems like their alchemists managed to find out more than us.

Moreover, the signatures and seals found on the doc.u.ments were identical to those on previously found slave contracts. Kranzel determined that the doc.u.ments were authentic as a result.

In addition, all the n.o.bles on the list had previously worked for Marquis Ashtners faction, and the government was searching for any excuse to investigate them. Even if the evidence wasnt solid, ridding themselves of the n.o.bles was a higher priority.

Why are you telling me so much?

Because youve pretty much been involved since the beginning, and already took the job. Better work hard, alright?

Nn. Ill take care of it.

Esmeralda seems to want us to start immediately. She threw some kind of object at us.

Put that on, missy.

Whats this?

A mask with a recognition blocking effect.

The mask was the type to cover her eyes rather than her mouth, slightly resembling a masquerade mask. It was completely black with gold on the edges, which made it seem a bit edgy.

It doesnt provide any defense, but it makes your face hard to recognize. Grudges from the n.o.bles are rather annoying, so keep it on.

Okay.

This is a pretty high-quality item.

I was wondering how Fran should disguise herself, but this solves the issue.

Give it back when youre finished with the request. That thing can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Aw, of course!

We werent allowed to keep it, since a.s.sa.s.sins and such would do anything to get their hands on something like this.

First, were sending you to the mansions of some n.o.bles who have been acting suspiciously.

Nn.

Their fate has already been decided, so feel free to go all out.

Got it.

Wait! You need to hold back!

?

If Fran really goes all out, the surrounding region will get blown to smithereens too!