So it was from the side of Santea?
But if one thought about it, there was no other force besides them who would dare bring a spy directly to Calderic.
And as far as I remembered, the Shadow was a person who carried out the imperial family’s request several times and was in close contact with them.
I continued asking her.
“What is your purpose of infiltrating this castle?”
“Gathering information about the Seventh Lord”
“Why did the imperial family request such a thing?”
“I don’t know the detailed reason, because I’m only receiving a fee and carrying out the request. But… A mysterious person has become the new Lord of Calderic, so wouldn’t it be natural for Santea to send someone to investigate?”
Well, that’s not really surprising.
They requested the Shadow to spy at the Seventh Lord, even infiltrating the castle. Certainly, what other purpose would there be besides me?
I didn’t ask further and just stared at her.
She averted my gaze with a worried expression on her face.
It didn’t matter that the one behind her was Santea.
Anyway, whether it’s Calderic or Santea, they planted spies in each other’s camps without stopping.
Of course, having a spy infiltrate a Lord’s castle was still a pretty serious matter.
However, in a case like this one, it would be unfair to blame the castle’s security. Because the opponent was the Shadow.
“Hey, my lord. May I say something?”
She looked at me and cautiously opened her mouth.
“It is a great honor that you recognized me at first glance, and I think you probably know a lot about me, but I am not someone who’s affiliated or entangled with any faction.”
“...”
“This time, too, I was just accepting the request from the imperial family in a very thorough, business-like manner, and there was no personal intention. Of course, it might sound shameless to say this when I’m caught like this...”
“What do you want to say?”
I stopped her from talking because all I could hear was nonsense.
“I understand that there will be a Neutral Nations Conference soon. If you wish, I could make a full confession to the fact that I was a spy sent here at the request of the Imperial Family. If you would just show a little mercy on my life...”
She said with a nervous laugh.
Since the emperor would directly take part in the Neutral Nations Conference representing Santea, what she’s suggesting would give Calderic a strong cause to squeeze them openly.
I said, “Huh,” and laughed.
I knew that the Shadow’s character was roughly like this. For her, nothing was above her own life.
That’s why there was no hesitation in selling her client like this.
I wondered if she knew nothing would come out if she continued talking nonsense, so she sold out her client to survive.
But her offer wasn’t very appealing.
Because I wouldn’t really get anything by putting pressure on Santea. It would not help my next goal.
Now more than anything else, I was more interested in her existence itself.
What should I do with this woman?
Being a spy was a crime that could immediately send her to be executed, but I had no intention of killing her.
It was a waste to just execute such a talented person.
Few people in the continent was as quick as her, with excellent information gathering skill and tracking abilities, not to mention a fighting power equivalent to level 67.
She’s not a character who played a specific role in the game, like helping the player or something. But it’s not like she had ever done anything villainous.
I needed an excellent informant more than anything else.
I had so far been concentrating on finding mysteries, but now my aim going forward was to focus on the full-fledged main story.
For events that would occur in the future, my game knowledge might not be enough to solve it. I needed to gather important information.
The only problem was that she’s not a person who I could put under me and let her obey my orders.
If I let her go collect information, she would surely run away and disappear.
'The problem is that there’s no way to catch her easily and deal with her.'
If I released her to collect information, they would run away and disappear. Or maybe she would then stab me in the back if it’s convenient for her.
Those whose names or nicknames spread throughout the continent didn’t have such a reputation for nothing.
She wasn’t the kind of person who would easily succumb to halfway threats or weaknesses.
Even if she was now acting with a low posture, as if she would lick my feet at any minute, she was still looking for ways to survive out of this situation.
...Ah.
Locked in my thoughts, I let out an exclamation inwardly.
That’s because it reminded me of one thing she possessed. It would be extremely useful in the current situation.
“I have no intention of killing you. Yet.”
“...Really? Thank you.”
She replied, but her face did not brighten at all.
Maybe it’s because I added the word ‘yet’.
And she was right being anxious.
“Stigma ring.”
“...Yes?”
“The ancient artifact you have. There’s no doubt you have it now. Take it out.”
Her eyes trembled.
But it was only for a moment, and soon she asked again with an expression as if she didn’t know what I was talking about.
“Stigma ring...? Ancient artifact? Excuse me, what are you talking about?”
I thought that was fairly good acting.
Was this her reaction to the fact that I talked about the existence of something that no one but herself should know?
I shook my head and continued.
“It’s no use even if you act like that. How do you think I know the name of that ring?”
“No, I really do not know what you’re talking about...”
“Asher, if she takes nothing out before I count to three, cut her throat.”
Asher immediately drew her sword.
“One.”
I crossed my arms and started counting.
And before the count of two, her mouth opened again. With a confused gaze, showing that she didn’t understand what was happening.
“...What the hell is this? How do you even know about the artifact that I have?”
I shrugged.
“That’s not really important, is it? Just take it out.”
In the golden age of ancient magic, they said that all kinds of magic existed.
A stigma ring, an ancient artifact that could leave a magical mark on someone that any means couldn’t erase.
And the owner of the ring could locate the branded target no matter how far away they were.
I remembered the Shadow used this artifact in the game before.
She hesitated with a more determined expression.
Aside from how I knew of the existence of the stigma ring, she couldn’t have guessed why I asked her to take it out at this moment.
“I’m tired of warning you again and again. Are you really planning to die like this?”
“...”
In the end, she was almost in tears and had no choice but to take out the ring from the bosom of her robe.
I took the ring she took out and looked at it.
It was an old, dirty silver ring with a small hexagonal pattern engraved in the middle.
“Here.”
When I handed it to Asher, she accepted it with a puzzled face.
I couldn’t activate the ability of the artifact because I didn’t have magic power.
If you inject magical power, you will activate the artifact's ability.
“Ah, yes.”
Although Asher seemed puzzled why she had to do it herself, she did not ask further and just injected magic into the ring.
Then, a purple light radiated softly from the hexagonal pattern engraved on the ring.
I turned my gaze to the Shadow.
“Where would you like to be branded?”
“...Wrist.”
She held out one arm weakly, looking extremely reluctant.
Asher took the ring that radiated with light and stamped it on her wrist. Then, according to the pattern of the ring, a purple hexagonal pattern was engraved.
I took the ring from Asher again and examined it.
A thin, faint beam of light emanated from the ring, pointing exactly where she was.
Good.
This result satisfied me.
Now I could locate her no matter where or how far away she was.
In short, she was in a position where she could not escape from me for the rest of her life.
That magical brand would stay with her forever until I used it on another target.
I said to her, who was staring blankly at the brand on her wrist.
“Don’t feel too down. I swear I won’t kill you if you do what I ask you to do. I would even give you your ring back.”
She replied in a sharp voice.
“Do I have a choice? What do you want?”
“It’s information gathering.”
The first thing I ordered was related to the terrorism in the Santea Empire's capital.
The Mystery of Possession, which I had previously failed to get in Hallumenta. A terrible disaster caused by the villain who got that mystery.
First, the unit of damage was the biggest disaster among future events I knew, so I thought to investigate that first.
Anyway, after this, I got myself one very good informant.
***
At my request, she immediately left for Santea to investigate.
I suddenly felt like I was making threats here and there lately, just like the situation with the Thunder Lord.
But what could I do? I was just trying my best for a peaceful future.
Time continued to pass.
Reef was formally knighted, and Rigon continued his explosive growth and reached level 26. Asher continued to teach the two siblings diligently while not neglecting her training.
As usual, I was sitting in my room reading a book, and then I received news from the Overlord’s castle.
'Are we leaving in three days?'
Now was the time for us to move to a neutral country for the conference.
After I finished my preparations, I got ready to fly to the Overlord’s castle with Ti-Yong.
“You just have to remain in the castle and continue to focus on guiding the siblings.”
Rigon’s growth was unusual, so this time he didn’t dare to take Asher and left er in the castle, but...
“I want to go with you, Sir Ron.”
I looked back at her, a little surprised.
It was the first time she had asserted her will against my orders.
'Is it because of Santea?'
This meeting was a place to discuss the conflict between the two neutral countries and directly face the royal family of Santea.
I looked at her, saw her head lowered, and said.
“Okay. Then, I’ll let you accompany me.”
So, I took Asher and headed to the cage where Ti-Yong was.
I had already ordered the servants to ready the saddles.
Purr.
I stroked the neck of the guy who was still pushing its head in, and climbed on its back with Asher.
It seemed displeased with the fact that another person was riding its back, but after whining and shaking its body a few times, it didn’t make a fuss any more.
“Safe travels, my lord.”
“Yes.”
After receiving the butler’s farewell, I tapped Ti-Yong.
It flapped its wings with a mighty roar and soared into the sky.
