My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 280

Four days remain until the slave auction at Wyrang’s Indulgence. If I acquire an artifact to sell, securing the Third Hero should be manageable. However…

“I lack the funds to purchase Stella.”

Even if I sell Sylphy’s Ring and the Purification Stone, I won’t be able to buy both slaves. Moreover, considering that auction prices are random, I might not even be able to secure a hero.

What should I do…?

Borrow money from my father, Paroco?

No, that approach won’t work.

To meet my father at the Marquis Medis House, I’d need to hire a magician for a teleportation, but the cost is far too high.

It would be a case of paying more for the transportation than the act itself.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue in frustration. It was irritating to have to worry about something that wasn’t even mandatory.

Stella didn’t possess any special abilities like a hero.

She was just an ordinary woman with striking looks on par with heroes, without any other advantages.

But a pretty face can generate money. Nobles would spend generously to own her.

The noble who buys Stella would use her like a tool to fulfill his carnal desires, which would serve as the foundation for her becoming the deputy commander of the Habito legion as a Succubus Queen.

That was the problem.

Even though I knew she would become a deputy commander, I couldn’t just sit back and let it happen.

While some might argue that this made her essential to buy, that’s not entirely true. If the heroes grow quickly enough, they could easily handle a deputy commander.

“Still… I suppose I must buy her.”

There’s no reason to take the difficult route when an easier path is right there.

I looked at Tina and Iris, who were peacefully sleeping. I sighed as I gazed at the two slumbering girls.

Perhaps I should lighten the burden on the heroes.

Having made up my mind, I stood up and donned my robe.

Luckily, I still have time.

First, I’ll head to the Secret Garden. There are ways to earn money beyond just selling items.

*

Secret Garden.

The Information Guild, where information is bought and sold.

If there’s a top-tier information guild in this world, it’s this place.

And the building I’m looking up at is the ‘Rebeel Garden,’ a tavern operated by the Secret Garden.

Usually, it looks just like any other tavern, but if one says a specific phrase, they can gain the opportunity to buy and sell information.

Moreover, the connections among the nobles here are considerable, making it a chance to link up with one of the four great dukes.

I slowly pushed open the tavern door. Even though it creaked loudly, no one paid any attention.

Despite it being dawn, the tavern was still lively. Adventurers, back from their quests, were drinking madly to relieve their stress and share stories.

The alcohol was thick in the air to the point that I could wrinkle my nose just standing nearby.

Of course, I didn’t actually wrinkle my nose. With expression management in place, the only thing I could afford to control was my actions.

I moved towards a quiet spot where I could drink alone, trying not to draw attention. Once I settled into my seat, a waiter approached.

There was no sound from her footsteps. It marked her as a guild member of the Secret Garden.

One could say she was lost in the noise, but as I stepped on the old wooden floor, I didn’t produce any of the usual sounds.

“What can I get for you?”

“‘A tongue is light but information is heavy.'”

“……”

I spoke without raising my head. The steady rhythm of her breaths halted as if she were a trained person. I kept my gaze fixed on the table until the waiter whispered her next words.

After the sound of fabric brushing against each other, she leaned in close to my ear and whispered.

“I shall guide you this way. Please don’t turn your head; keep your eyes on my back as you follow.”

She turned on her heel first. I got up and followed her. With every step, the unique orange glow of the tavern faded into a more ominous air.

Not long after, we arrived in front of a worn wooden door. Without hesitation, she opened it.

“Enter through the third door inside. You will find the person you’re looking for there.”

“Okay.”

I handed her a silver coin and stepped inside.

Candles flickered on a shelf imbedded in the wall, illuminating the path even in the darkness.

I stood in front of the third door and pushed it open. Inside sat a woman yawning.

It would be more time-efficient to meet someone at the head or deputy head level, but with my current lack of credibility, I would likely only meet a low-ranking employee.

“Welcome!”

The room felt somewhat like a solitary confinement cell. However, seeing the gap in the wall behind her suggested there might be an escape route in case anything went wrong.

Moreover, there was a transparent barrier between us. It seemed magic had been used to prevent either of us from intervening with the other.

‘Hello there.’

“Nice to meet you.”

I hadn’t expected much. Since expression management is my default, what could I do?

“Well, speaking informally right off the bat… If you knew you were coming to the Secret Garden, you’d have to be someone strong, right? Or perhaps a scion of a noble recognized by the Empire?”

‘You missed the mark. I’m neither.’

“Information is money. If you plan on getting my information for free, you should reconsider. Otherwise, I suggest you just cut your losses.”

I gave her a slight glare, which made her flinch and recoil. The sound of wooden chair legs scraping against the floor echoed through the air.

“…You’re not someone to take lightly. It seems you’ve had your share of dealings with the Information Guild before—not your first time, I presume. Alright, let’s stop with the probing.”

She desperately smiled to keep her composure as she shrugged her shoulders.

“So? What do you want?”

“A delivery scroll connected to Duke Todiah. You have that, don’t you?”

“What… We are not merchant traders, but information dealers—”

“If you provide that delivery scroll, I’ll give you valuable information. It would be worth the trade.”

The exclusivity of information is crucial in surviving in this world, but right now, I couldn’t afford to be picky.

To buy both a hero and a future deputy commander, I needed to grab what I could.

“What kind of good information are we talking about…?”

You’re never going to know it.

Because this information is connected to the ‘Demon Tribe.’

“It’s a tale related to Aioum Kingdom. In the past, there was a family that went extinct because they were associated with the Demon Tribe. Are you aware of this?”

“……”

She nodded. She remained silent to gauge whether I knew what I was talking about.

“Right. It’s the Forna family.”

“Hmm… What of it?”

“However, Forna was pressured by someone and had no choice but to be led away. They couldn’t refuse, and even if they tried to stop it, they were powerless. Do you understand what that implies?”

“…Are you suggesting there’s someone else in league with the Demon Tribe?”

This time, I nodded.

“Aren’t you curious to know who the real informant is?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Even someone like Dex, the head of the Secret Garden, wouldn’t have known this information at all. Isn’t that right?”

“How do you… know the head’s name…!”

“That’s not what’s important. What I’m selling now is information linked to the Demon Tribe. This is a national problem, and it would fetch an astounding price.”

If I could use this information to resolve issues in the Aioum Kingdom, it would be great, but that seems unlikely.

A certain noble likely has control, casting a mind-controlling influence like a plague.

Furthermore, the Empire and Kingdom aren’t on good terms due to resources right along the border. They wouldn’t even consider each other’s claims unless a problem erupted.

“Are you feeling intrigued now?”

“……”

Her gaze from beyond the barrier settled on me. It felt like she longed to see my face hidden within the robe.

“Well, shall we return back to the trade? Bring me the delivery scroll connected to Duke Todiah, and then we can talk.”

“Hold on a moment.”

She rose from her seat and hurriedly slipped out through the back door.

About ten minutes passed.

A man with black hair and a mask appeared. As soon as I saw the faint green eyes visible through the mask, I realized that it was Dex.

Now I understood why it took so long. He had brought the head of the Secret Garden. I hadn’t expected to encounter Dex directly.

This worked out nicely. It would make the conversation smoother.

“Dex, is it?”

He flinched at my words. Though masked, I could tell he was caught off guard, and he let out a hollow laugh as he pulled off his mask.

“…You know who I am?”

“How could I not?”

“Most don’t know.”

He said playfully, gesturing for the woman behind him. She exited through the back door.

“So, I hear you want this delivery scroll.”

He reached through the gap in the barrier, handing me two scrolls. The knots on both scrolls were marked with ‘Todiah.’ Two scrolls were needed for exchanging information.

Once again, I checked with him.

“Is this the delivery scroll connected to Duke Todiah?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

I grabbed the scrolls he presented and inspected them.

In situations like these, appearances were vital. I had no discernment of whether they were genuine, so what I focused on was his visible reaction rather than the scroll itself.

Dex, an experienced individual dealing with numerous humans, maintained a poker face. Nicely done.

“Okay.”

I tucked the scrolls into my robe and stood up.

“Investigate Mens Trading Company. There should be something off about them.”

“Are you not going to clearly identify who has a connection with the Demon Tribe?”

Did he think I might flee, so he stood up with me?

It’s obvious that Mens Trading Company is connected to someone, yet he asks me this?

‘Do I have to explain that point?’

“Is this fool really the head of the Secret Garden? What a disgrace for the Secret Garden to fall so low.”

Although, even that seems unnecessary to say.

“What, what did you say?!”

“Consider who owns Mens Trading Company.”

“…Mens Trading Company… Marquis Lector?”

Hearing him mumble, I turned away.

“Wait! How do you know this information?”

“Why? Do you think I might have some ties with the Demon Tribe?”

“No, not at all. If you were with the Demon Tribe, you wouldn’t be spreading such information. I’m just curious why you know things that Aioum Kingdom couldn’t even manage.”

“Then I’m relieved. But don’t dig too deeply. You’ll end up dead.”

Dead, my foot.

You’re just saying that because you can’t explain this information.

I swallowed a sigh internally as I opened the door and stepped out.

From now on, the Secret Garden would keep an eye on me. Even if my face was only partially revealed, they’d likely be sending out pursuit teams soon.

And they would verify the information I provided.

I didn’t mind if they follow closely. Given I came to the Information Guild, I had braced for that.

The problem starts now.

I must persuade the noble Glair Todiah to extract funds from him.

Naturally, I already had a plan in place for the persuasion.

Utilizing his daughter, Ella, who was suffering from an infection of a magic beast.

Yet, the variable would be my expression management and how that influences my words.

I exited Rebeel Garden, desperately concealing my perplexed heart.