Chapter 22

"Pickled herring? Is that tasty?"

Leon frowned and asked.

"Hmm, it doesn't sound very good. Do you really have to eat it, Lilith?"

"Um-hmm, I came here to eat it…."

I said to Theo, pretending to be dejected.

It was a conversation among ordinary noble children, but the woman was listening intently, not missing a word.

She must have figured out that the twins didn't know the true nature of the information guild and that the young girl had a specific purpose.

After quickly assessing the situation, the woman smiled apologetically.

"We don't sell that menu item, but if you want, I can make it for you."

"Really? Can you make it?"

"Lilith, I told you not to use honorifics."

"Shut up, idiot."

While the twins chattered, the woman and I communicated with our eyes.

"Do you have any special cooking instructions?"

"Yes. Would you like me to show you directly?"

"If it's not too much trouble."

I slid off the chair.

"Brothers, wait a moment. I'll be right back from the kitchen."

"That's really unique, from her taste to her preferences."

"Lilith, do you want to come with me?"

When Theo tried to follow, I pinched my nose.

"Ugh. The smell of pickled herring is really strong…. Will you be okay, brother?"

"Ah…."

As expected, Theo, a born noble, looked hesitant.

"Hehe, this is the kitchen. Just hold my hand, and we'll go. I'll be right back. Wait a moment."

"Um-hmm, okay. I understand."

After seating Theo without any suspicion, I followed the woman as she led the way.

The woman guided me directly to a semi-basement connected to the kitchen. The scenery was completely different from the restaurant.

"Rico, a guest has arrived."

A single door.

After a few minutes of silence, a low voice came from inside.

"…Bring them in."

The woman opened the door.

A few candles illuminated the dark interior, and the guild master 'Rico' was sitting in the middle.

Thud.

The woman brought me in and closed the door, then disappeared.

'Ugh. The atmosphere is scary.'

I slowly approached Rico.

Just as described in the original, Rico was wearing a bizarre black Pierrot mask.

The master of the information guild <Red Crow>, who despised ability users, nobles, and the imperial royal family.

Rico knew everything about the system.

He was also a man who risked his life to collect information that could be a 'weak point' for nobles.

'And he will become a loyal assistant to my father in a few years.'

Father began preparing for rebellion and found out about this information guild, then sought out Rico.

I was able to request a deal because I followed the method Father used in the original when he came here.

"Please sit down."

"Yes, thank you."

After greeting, I put my hand on the slightly high sofa and climbed up with difficulty.

Then I took a deep breath.

"Phew. Just a moment. I need to calm down a bit."

"……"

Rico was observing me. The atmosphere was probing.

"How did you know about this place?"

"Huh? You're curious about that?"

I scratched my cheek.

"I can answer, but…."

The first principle of transactions:

To purchase information, you must pay a price.

Not money, but 'information' equivalent to the information you seek.

"If you're curious, you need to give me some useful information in return?"

That principle applies to oneself as well.

You can't just ask for free.

"Ah."

Rico let out a small exclamation. A slightly surprised reaction could be felt under the mask.

Soon, he spoke with a hint of a smile in his voice.

"Upon hearing that, I see. Never mind. I don't really want to know that badly. Let's get to the main topic."

Rico crossed his legs and placed his hands on them.

"I take a deposit. If you need information, please pay the transaction fee first."

He was asking for useful information.

I cleared my throat and said,

"Hmm, what should I say…. Ah! The Duke of Enoch Rubinstein, who disappeared seven years ago, has returned to the capital! Do you know that?"

"I know."

"Ah, you do. Then something else! I'm his daughter. Seven years old, my name is Lilith Rubinstein!"

"I know that as well."

"Oh. You know that too."

"Are you here to play around?"

"No, no."

I waved my hands.

"Actually, I didn't come to buy information, but to ask for a favor! As for information, I already know everything I should. Hmm, for example…."

"……"

"…That the Viscount Onyx has a hidden son?"

"……!"

"Ahaha! You're completely surprised! This is quite high-level information, isn't it?"

Pretending to be cheeky, I pulled back my index fingers like a gun, and Rico let out a hollow laugh.

"Yes, I'm completely surprised. How does a seven-year-old girl, who just arrived in the capital four days ago, know such a fact, and what is your purpose in coming to me?"

"Ah."

"Also, I heard that the head of the magic tower visited to personally verify your talent."

"Wow."

Good grief….

Rico truly knew everything. I was once again amazed by his information-gathering abilities.

"Mr. Rico!"

"…Hmm, yes."

"I want to save that boy!"

"……"

Rico was silent for a moment after hearing my words.

With just those words, he must have realized.

The existence of the Viscount Onyx's secretly hidden illegitimate child, and the fact that the child was being abused….

I knew everything.

"Please pass the secret about the Viscount Onyx anonymously to someone who can save the boy!"

"Ah, so you need a messenger. Who do you want to pass it to?"

"My father."

"Excuse me? Your father, the Duke of Enoch Rubinstein?"

"Yes. Right now, Father only knows the boy's face, so it will take some time to find him. Father has just returned to the capital after a long time… so he's not very familiar with the situation here yet."

I added, folding my fingers one by one.

"He also has to deal with family matters and will soon return to the knights. He's a very busy person."

"Hmm, I don't understand at all. A seven-year-old child couldn't have come here alone, and I assumed it was at the Duke's instruction."

Rico tilted his head, puzzled.

"No, I came alone. Father doesn't know anything."

"Well, that makes sense. Since he doesn't know, you asked me to pass the information anonymously."

"Yes."

"Why not tell him directly?"

"Because I have to explain how I know such things to Father."

I sighed and added,

"I have a lot more to secretly tell Father in the future."

"Ah…. It seems you have some secrets. You can't just say them, and you want to keep them from Father."

"Ding dong!"

"Well, then I understand why you came to me. You want to use me as a messenger to convey information to the Duke—right?"

"Yes! If I told him directly…."

"It would seem suspicious."

Rico fell silent after I spoke.

Or rather, he was probably scrutinizing me with his eyes hidden behind the mask.

Not only knowing about the existence of the information guild and how to deal with it….

But also knowing the secret of Viscount Onyx, which a seven-year-old child could never know in reality, must be surprising.

"You seem to have a lot of questions…."

"Yes. I have a mountain of questions, but I can't ask them directly because of the rules I set."

"Right!"

Rico, who chuckled, leaned back on the sofa and added,

"Twelve years ago, Viscount Onyx had an affair with a maid from his family. When the maid found out she was pregnant, she ran away. Because…."

Rico paused for a moment.

He seemed to be choosing less shocking words for a seven-year-old.

"…Nobles don't want to have illegitimate children."

In other words, she ran away before it was too late.

"Anyway, she gave birth to the Viscount's illegitimate child outside and raised him alone. Six months ago, she sent the child to the Viscount's family. His name is Cheshire."

I was surprised by the words that flowed smoothly from Rico's mouth.

Indeed, a resourceful guild master….

"Because it would tarnish his reputation, he was raised in secret and is being abused by his half-brother. That's all."

"Wow."

Clap clap clap….

I clapped my hands in admiration.

"Should I pass this information to Duke Enoch Rubinstein?"

"Yes! That's enough!"

"Alright, then."

Rico leaned forward and leaned close to me.

"In exchange for passing this to the Duke, I want to know about you. Who exactly are you? You're not just a prodigy."

"Ugh."

I shook my head firmly.

"That's not a good deal. You want to know my secret just to pass one piece of information anonymously. You're overestimating me."

"…Excuse me?"

"Trying to scare a child like that is too much. You've been in business for a while, haven't you?"

"…Hahaha…!"

Rico, who was momentarily stunned, burst into hearty laughter.

"My secret is very expensive. I'd rather you didn't be too curious…. Instead! As a gesture of wanting to do business with you in the future, I brought a gift."

As I spoke, I rummaged through my rabbit bag.

"I only deal with information. I know you're from a wealthy family, but I'm not in a position to be swayed by a few gold coins."

"It's not money. I know everything. I know you've already made a lot of money, Mr. Rico."

In fact… the purpose of my visit today was not just to inform Father about Cheshire's situation.

"What is it?"

Rico.

The guild master who despises nobles.

His mother passed away when he was young, and his sister is suffering from a terrible addiction spell.

All due to the tyranny of noble ability users.

"Gift!"

I plopped a bundle of cloth on the table and, with a sinister smile, said like a drug dealer,

"Here, sir. Open it. You'll be satisfied."