At this moment, calling it dawn is a bit late, but calling it morning is too early. The night had not yet completely closed, but the pale blue afternoon light was not bright enough.
The members of Earl Elorance's family sought out the person known as 'The Solver'.
“…You want to save your daughter?”
The cloaked man asked in a low voice. In response to that question, the first person to nod was none other than Lady Louisa.
“That's right. The reward will not disappoint you, please take my daughter away from that Masaka.”
Louisa's tone was extremely tragic, but the desperate sincerity on her face still did not make the cloaked person waver.
"I don't accept compensation. What I want is another compensation."
"What do you want? A title? A letter of introduction? I will do everything I can, just please let me see my daughter again."
In response to the urgent request, the cloaked person was silent for a moment. Then, as if pondering something, he slowly opened his mouth.
"The opponent is a Masaka. Especially Varkan Ha Mashra..."
Hearing this name, the expressions of everyone in the Elorance family simultaneously stiffened. They tried their best to bring Irel back.
First, they turned to the patrol and the Royal Family to ask for help, then to famous mercenary guilds. However, all efforts failed.
‘Hmm, Varkan? Are you talking about that Masaka of Fire? This is a bit…'
'I don't know if you know it or not, but he is more than just a simple Masaka. He is also the leader of the underworld, a powerful figure who controls this kingdom from the shadows.'
‘Making enemies with him… doesn't seem like a wise decision.'
'More importantly, is it certain that Ha Mashra forcibly took Miss Elorance away? Based on the situation… it seems like she ran away on her own.'
Masaka, son of the Godhead, the chosen one. Before those names, the hereditary reputation of a family Earl also became tarnished. In particular, because Count Calver was often stationed at the border, he did not have much influence in the capital.
On the contrary, Varkan is like an iceberg. Just the part that floats above the water cannot predict his enormous strength.
His hands reached everywhere. In addition, the fact that Irel voluntarily left the mansion made no one want to help. That harsh truth caused Louisa pain, tears seemed to be about to flow.
'While I sit here, my daughter has to endure what she has to endure at his hands.'
Louisa bit her lip. She did not believe the letter her daughter sent back. I don't even believe in the words that Irel loved Varkan and that he treated her extremely well.
Irel is still young and naive. Her daughter was raised with so much love and care that she was somewhat unrealistic and completely ignorant of men.
Like most parents, Louisa couldn't stand by and watch her daughter choose the wrong person and ruin her future. This is also the general thought of Calver, the Elorance family's breadwinner.
"Please. Please take my daughter away from that person."
The head of Count Bien, who rarely bowed to anyone but the King, slowly drooped down. At that time, the person still sat silently on the other side of the table quietly
“Hmm”
one hour.
Hearing the noise, Michael raised his head. He was always watching the situation from behind his parents, torn inside.
‘Please support my decision, brother. I need that man.'
In the final conversation, Irel pleaded with him. Even though she only spoke through the door so she couldn't see her face, her voice was still very rational and clear. At least she doesn't look like it
'a foolish little girl, so confused by love that she can't tell right from wrong'
like parents always say.
However, in front of his parents who were worried and sad for Irel, he couldn't say those words. Therefore, Michael could only stand and watch without being able to do anything.
‘Who is he?’
He glanced at the cloaked man from top to bottom. The last mercenary guild they approached refused to accept the commission, but they showed great sympathy for the sobbing Louisa. It was not common for a noble lady like her to shed tears in front of mercenaries.
Maybe that's why the Guild Master stopped them as they were leaving in a daze, then discreetly gave them a map.
‘Perhaps, this place… can help you.’
Hearing that, the Elorance family immediately started asking questions. Basically,
‘this place’
What is it and who runs it?
But the mercenary Guild Master just shook his head.
'Even though I've been dealing with them for a long time, I still don't know how to explain it. You should just go there yourself.'
Faced with that vague statement, Calver objected. But Louisa insisted on going, with the mood
'bowing to all four directions'
The water is still lapping.
In this family, no one can change Louisa's will, except the youngest daughter Irel. But now Irel had left home, so they had to listen to Louisa's words.
Long, winding alleys, winding paths like a maze, bright streets with all kinds of flashy banners. Even with a map, finding the place is not easy.
Yet desperation led the way, and the desire to never break like a walking stick carried them on. Finally, they reached their destination.
‘What are you here for?’
After knocking on the door several times, a man covered in a cloak appeared. He pulled his hat so low that he could only see the tip of his nose, his lips, his chin, and a lock of golden hair reaching his shoulder.
This person calling himself ‘Regis’ had an inexplicably tall figure and a loose robe, making it difficult to guess the gender. His neutral, low voice, if thought of as female, sounded like a female voice, but on the contrary, it could easily be thought of as male.
Should Irel be handed over to such a suspicious person? Just when Michael was doubting, Regis moved his lips slightly.
"To be honest, this is a difficult task. Not only is Varkan Ha Mashra strong, but he also has many other Masaka under his command."
“…As expected.”
“But it's not impossible.”
Hearing these unexpected words, Louisa's head that was drooping in disappointment suddenly lifted up. She stared at Regis, afraid she had heard wrong. But the determined corners of his lips showed that he would not take back what he said.
Seeing a ray of hope after many failures, Louisa opened her eyes wide, her face beamed and hastily spoke up.
“Please, please bring my daughter back. I will pay you whatever you want…”
“Wait, honey.”
Calver used a calm voice to dissuade his wife. Then he looked at Regis with calm eyes.
“Before officially entrusting it, I have something to confirm.”
Regis didn't answer, just looked at Calver.
"The opponent is a Masaka. But I want to know what abilities and plans you have to take my daughter away."
What a straightforward question from a Marquis of the Frontier. He should have felt uncomfortable, but Regis remained unfazed, as if he had expected it. Instead, he opened his hand, pointed at the table, and uttered an unexpected sentence.
—
Emerge.
The large wooden table placed between them vibrated. And amazingly, it began to slowly rise into the air.
“…What, what is this?!”
What happened before their eyes terrified Elorance's family. They looked under the table, suspecting it was a hoax, but didn't see any aids at all. Observing them hesitating whether to believe it or not, Regis moved his lips again.
—
Broken in half.
The old wood fibers make sounds
sprinkle
dry and then crack. Just as he said, the table broke exactly into two halves and fell
bang
to the floor.
“Is this proof enough?”
Regis asked the people who were speechless in surprise. Nghe thấy giọng nói kỳ lạ, vẫn không thể xác định được giới tính ấy, Michael cảm thấy một cơn rùng mình chạy dọc sống lưng.
‘What if this person orders us to commit suicide? Order us to draw our swords and stab each other, or strangle each other?'
Danger. Indeed, this is an extremely dangerous man. Calver also had the same thought, his hand unconsciously fumbled around his belt to find the hilt of his sword.
Regis chắc chắn nhận ra sự đề phòng gần như thái độ thù địch hướng về mình, nhưng hắn không hề bộc lộ cảm xúc. He calmly accepted all eyes and went straight to the point.
“Thật không may, khả năng của tôi sẽ không hiệu quả với Ha Mashra. Nhưng với tiểu thư Irel, nó chắc chắn sẽ có tác dụng.”
“Do you have any plans?”
Louisa quickly asked when she heard her daughter's name. At her impatient voice, Calver and Michael exchanged looks and then reluctantly let go of the hilt of the sword.
“Để đưa tiểu thư Irel đi, trước hết chúng ta phải khiến cô ấy rời khỏi dinh thự Vassalo Moor. Cô ấy phải ra khỏi hang hổ thì mới có thể thực hiện việc giải cứu hay thuyết phục. Để làm được điều đó, sự giúp đỡ của gia đình là điều
absolutely necessary
.”
"Of course I will help! What should I do?"
Louisa asked worriedly. At that moment, Regis's lips revealed a strange smile under his cloak.
“Before starting the main story, I need to receive my reward first.”
“How much do you want?”
"Like I said, I don't need money. Instead..."
When listening
‘remuneration’
which Regis whispered, the whole family's faces froze at once.