# 85
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“Are you surprised that I'm really a child? However, you shouldn't spread rumors.”
I said with a smile.
If something like that happened, Darryl would have to pay a hefty fine for breach of contract.
Not only that, but it would be like losing the goose that lays the golden egg, or rather the magic stone, so I will never make that mistake. …
To celebrate them being partners, he made a funny joke.
However, the man just looked at the necklace and the magic stone with a harsh face.
I just shrugged and continued.
“Well, I have something extra for you.”
"What."
“Give me this down payment now and all the money that will come to me in the future as security until the final settlement. This way, I can prepare for the next item, because I don’t find it easy to break out...”
After a little hesitation, I confessed that I was working as a maid for the Duke of Elade.
“Are you sure you won't do anything notable like sending them by delivery, I think it would be better if we meet near Elad Palace...”
“Why would you have such trouble? I can just bring her directly to where you are staying.”
While I was thinking about where to go, I laughed out loud at something I heard.
I think I definitely said “Elad Palace,” but did I misunderstand?
Although Daryl is said to be a powerful enough guild to threaten Tyrensium, it is currently a new guild.
In the past, I was able to get in and out of high-level agents like me from Elad Palace, but I don't know what Daryl's level is now, but he was very confident.
“Don't be pretentious, it's not a place where anyone can come.”
When I spoke firmly, I stopped.
"Are you trying to sneak someone up as an employee? I don't really like that."
I didn't want strangers coming in and out of the palace because of me, whether they were sneaking in or coming as employees.
But the man raised his eyebrows at my words. It felt rather cheap.
“There are a total of twenty-two benches in the Duke’s Maze Garden, and among them, the blue bench closest to the western entrance is rarely visited. How about meeting there at the end of next month?”
A shiver ran down my spine as the words flowed out as if I knew what was inside the palace.
I had complete confidence in Elad's security, but was there a loophole?
Or is it worse than when you were active?
Once I got back, I thought I should check to see if anyone had infiltrated the palace and if there was any information leaking out.
“You are so honest when doing business, but why are you so worried? All you have to do is exchange things with each other.”
“…Okay, but don’t even think about wandering around the palace, whether it’s the main building or anywhere else, I won’t let you do that.”
“Of course, but...”
Just when I thought I wasn't sure whether the man's words were confidence or courage, the man opened his mouth and asked.
“How in heaven’s name did you know about this place? The upper part and the password...”
“How much will you give me?”
"What?"
“You're trying to buy information from me, you're the guild leader, so you didn't ask this question without even thinking about it, right?”
Armed with the mentality of an ex-detective, I shrugged.
“But my information is really expensive, it won’t be enough to hand over the entire guild until I open my mouth.”
naturally . ...I just meant I wouldn't tell you.
Seeing the silent man, it seemed as if the story had reached a certain conclusion, so I put on my robe again and stood up.
Then he looked into the air next to the man and said.
“Don’t go through the trouble of following up, it will only drain your strength, even if you do a background check, you won’t find anything, I’m really just an ordinary maid.”
“Then it was a good deal, good luck in the future.”
* * *
“...Good deal. Please take good care of me in the future.”
The man who was left alone laughed and took off the earrings he was wearing.
Then the magic was lifted, the dark brown hair changed to cold silver hair, and the black eyes changed to blue, revealing the original appearance.
Daryl's guild leader, Lucio, touched his throbbing forehead.
He secretly founded a guild and was operating with complete anonymity, to the point where he deliberately asked Askart to create it for fear of being caught in the process of obtaining magical tools.
By now, his innocent friend must firmly believe in Lucio's words that he wants to move freely even when he goes out because he is always in the spotlight.
“Where on earth did the information leak?”
The shock he received was evident in his blank voice.
However, it wasn't simply because of the guild's top-secret information, which was impossible to even pinpoint where it was leaked.
To be honest, I was more surprised by the sudden revelation of my sister's maid's identity, which I was strangely nervous about.
“No, I can’t even say that I revealed my identity, I still don’t know what happened.”
I already knew that Lia's mana was massive because of the previous escape incident, but I didn't know that it was possible to control her mana enough to create a magic stone.
Obviously, since she refused to support the Duke and refused to become Thelin's apprentice, she would not be able to learn magic properly.
I couldn't figure out how these things were possible.
Moreover, the way he suddenly came to the guild, spoke casually, and proposed a deal was enough to make you wonder if he was really the kid who was shaking when he saw you.
Even though she introduced herf as an ordinary maid, I was confused because I had no idea who the child really was.
But one thing was certain: Leia had a secret and had no intention of sharing it with Duke Elad.
“That means she can leave at any time.”
Only then did Lucio fully understand the meaning of what the little girl had shouted.
Not long ago, when I came to the Academy Festival and learned that all the excitement I had gained by purchasing raw jewelry was planned, I was shocked, but at the same time, I felt sad for no reason.
“...Is it possible that you are still thinking in vain?”
She thought she might have given up on the idea of leaving after the last storm.
Judging by her current actions, Leah seems to have some understanding of my abilities and value.
Since he works secretly without telling anyone, he might suddenly leave the dukedom one day.
“She will leave alone...”
Ha, while he was snickering and imagining Leah's disappearance, Lucio felt pain in his heart for some reason.
“Poet.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At Lucio's call, a man dressed in black appeared out of the air and bowed.
“Did you hear what I said earlier? There is no need to chase after him. Instead, contact Heron finally, we have some work up there, so he will be busy from now on.”
“Oh.”
“He told me to keep quiet about everything that happened today and I will personally deal with related matters from now on.”
“Are you speaking directly, sir?”
"Yes ."
Lucio nodded, raised one corner of his mouth slightly, and said.
“There is no one more qualified than me to enter and exit Elad Palace.”
* * *
“Ah, what's the point of confronting the guild leader suddenly?”
I quickly ran out of the store and breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed that no one was following me.
Then she went to a nearby alley and got rid of the bag and robe containing the magic stone.
Before leaving the store, when I looked at the box of cookies that the clerk handed me, I felt like I had completed the transaction and started shaking for no reason.
It was good that the plan went smoothly thanks to an accidental meeting with the guild leader, but it was still very surprising.
In the past, when I received exploration offers many times, I had encountered subordinates, but I had never seen a guild leader before.
Even though he pretended to be bold and relaxed, he felt sleepy inside because he didn't look like an ordinary person.
“But mint chocolate cake, is that the Guild Leader’s style?”
Although I thought it was unusual since the first time I heard the password in my previous life, I was even more surprised when I actually received the cake.
“Now that I think about it, there was a faint smell of mint in the room as well.”
Like the library where he lived...
Suddenly an idea came to me and I quickly shook my head.
Lucio was busy preparing for the Imperial Palace banquet, but she thought about it.
The Imperial Family must have deliberately chosen the weekend when the academy was closed so that Lucio could attend, so of course he would attend as well.
Feeling somewhat bitter, I shook my head again and snapped out of my thoughts.
'Is now the right time to think this way? Now I'm going to be really rich!'
Once I save a certain amount of money, I will ask them to recommend some upscale residential areas where I can live on my own.
“It would be nice if it was close to Elad, but it is difficult for even nobles to live in the center of the capital, close to the Imperial Palace.”
However, if you saved a large amount of money, wouldn't you be able to live in the most beautiful house among the common people?
I smiled happily and thought about making a list of investments that I would ask the Duke to make before the jewelry arrived.
Now is a good time to manage the money earned through Spliceia.
If you want to become a rich person that everyone knows about, you have to move slowly.
Let us go out into the streets and think about the mines, territories and commercial objects that will soon lead to large investments.
“Leah!”
Jack must have finished his work and went out into the street near the store.
We were waving our hands and trying to cross when a car passed by us.
I felt like my breath stopped when I saw the person accidentally pass behind Jack.
'my lord !'