Chapter 62

In a daze, I heard a woman's stern voice.

"――Ah, it's the Black Organization! A tall, large man and a slender woman, both wearing the usual black overcoats! As soon as you get any information, contact me immediately!"

This voice is probably Ms. Lea's.

(Huh... Come to think of it, what was I doing...?)

My head slowly started to function, and my senses gradually became clearer.

(...This is an unfamiliar ceiling.)

It seems I'm lying on my back.

I pushed aside the brown towel blanket covering my body and slowly sat up.

"Where... where am I...?"

"――You're awake, Allen! Don't worry, this is the board room of the academy. They're gone now."

"...They? ...!?"

The moment I heard those words, my heart leaped as if cold water had been poured over me.

The store tour with the president.

The Black Organization that attacked Reia and Rose.

The battle with Zak and Thor.

I remembered everything clearly.

"Right, Reia! Is Reia safe!?"

I immediately stood up and confronted Ms. Lea.

She then shook her head quietly.

"...I'm sorry. By the time I arrived, they had already been taken away..."

"Wha... what..."

My blood drained instantly, and my vision flickered.

"Hey... Are you okay!?"

Overcome by a strong dizziness, I swayed, and Ms. Lea hurriedly supported me.

Despite not wanting to think about it, all sorts of unpleasant thoughts flooded my mind.

What if Reia is in terrible trouble?

What if Reia is humiliated?

What if Reia is... already dead?

These numerous "what ifs" filled my head.

(I... I can't give up... I have to pull myself together...! I can't change anything by sulking here...!)

I clenched my fists, gritted my teeth, and steadied my resolve.

"...I'm sorry, I'm fine now. More importantly, where did they go?"

"...Right. Before we talk about that, let's share some information."

Ms. Lea then laid out wanted posters with photos on the desk.

"This is Zak Bonbarr, the Scorching Flame, and this is Thor Summons, the Magician. As you can see, both are internationally wanted top bounty hunters. --I'm glad you're still alive, Allen, after facing those two."

Hearing Ms. Lea's words, I suddenly remembered.

(Come to think of it... I was supposed to be critically injured, right...?)

I was pierced by the <Scorching Flame's Death Spear> and burned all over by scorching flames. I eventually lost consciousness from excessive bleeding and woke up here.

I cautiously looked down at my abdomen.

(Huh...?)

There wasn't even a single scar, let alone a burn mark.

(...The medical technology in this country is advanced, but isn't this a bit too quick?)

Perhaps Ms. Lea used her authority as the board member to send an excellent doctor?

As I was thinking about this,

"――Now, look at this."

She pointed to a map of the country spread out on the desk.

"Currently, the Arkstria family is strengthening border security to an unprecedented level. Slipping through such a tight security network is extremely difficult. --They are definitely still hiding somewhere within the country."

It seems that while I was asleep, the president used the power of 'Arksria' to take action.

"And based on the Black Organization's objectives, they wouldn't kill Reia immediately."

"The Black Organization's objectives...?"

When I asked,

"...I'm sorry. This is a matter of national security. For your safety, I can't tell you now."

Ms. Lea shook her head with a slightly bitter expression.

"I see..."

It's a very intriguing story, but...

If it's a matter of national security, I can't press further.

"Even though I can't give you the details... They have almost certainly taken Reia to a 'research facility' somewhere in this country. They won't harm her until the 'analysis' is complete, which will take twenty-four hours."

"J-just twenty-four hours...!?"

That was an incredibly short time.

"Yes, depending on the location of the research facility... Midnight tonight is the deadline."

I immediately checked the wall clock in the room.

It was noon.

I had only half a day left.

"――In any case! We can't fight until we know where their research facility is. Allen, help me find it!"

"Yes, I understand...!"

And so, I rushed out of the Thousand Blades Academy to search for their research facility.

"Please wait for me, Reia..."

I'll definitely find you by midnight today...!

■

From then on, I desperately continued my inquiries.

First, I talked to the dorm mother, Pauline, and the swordmaster association's Bonz.

Then, I talked to the student council members, Rimu and Ferris.

After that, I approached passersby in Aurest one after another.

I used all the connections I had and searched tirelessly, but... I found nothing.

"Damn it, what should I do...?"

The sun had completely set, and darkness covered the world.

It was 9 PM.

There were only three hours left until the deadline at midnight.

(While I'm doing this... Reia must be suffering...)

Thinking about it made me feel so frustrated and angry.

But, without knowing the enemy's location, there's nothing I can do.

I was painfully reminded of the weight of 'information'.

(Maybe Ms. Lea has already found it...)

I dragged my heavy feet to her, clinging to the last hope.

I slipped through the gate of Thousand Blades Academy and headed to the board room.

After knocking on the heavy black door, I heard a short "Come in," with a clear tone of fatigue.

"――I'm sorry to bother you."

I slowly opened the door to see Ms. Lea reading through thick documents.

"...Allen, how did it go?"

"I'm sorry, I ran around all day, but... I didn't get any results..."

"I see... I've been contacting people as well, but... the results are not good..."

Ms. Lea sighed deeply.

A heavy silence filled the board room.

After a minute or two,

"――This is just a hunch, but... there is one person who might know the exact location of the research facility."

Ms. Lea said something incredible.

"Really!?"

"Yes... He's a shady character with a lot of dark rumors, but his information network is truly 'outstanding.' He almost certainly knows the location of the research facility."

"Who is it!? Tell me!"

"...But, he's a thoroughly corrupt person. He will never reveal the information willingly. To be honest, it's almost a 100% waste of time..."

"If there's even a chance, it's worth trying! Besides, we don't have time anymore! Ms. Lea, please tell me who it is!"

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke quietly.

"The head of the 'Fox Finance,' which secretly controls the country's finances, one of the Five Great Merchants, Rize Dohrahein. The eldest daughter of the noble Dohrahein family, a woman rumored to have various connections to the underworld, known as the Blood Fox, Rize."

"Rize...!? Is she... Ferris's sister...!?"

When I asked,

"What, you know her, Allen?"

Ms. Lea looked a bit surprised.

"Y-Yes... But, more importantly... Does Rize really know the location of the research facility!?"

"Yes... But, the thoroughly corrupt Rize will never reveal it easily. She is the wealthiest person in the country, and her deviousness is well-known. Extracting information from her is almost impossible. After all, she has everything she wants... You'll probably be turned away..."

That's Rize, with her somewhat peculiar personality.

As Ms. Lea said, she won't easily agree to our request.

But, it might work once!

"It might work...!"

"What? What do you mean!?"

That's right... I had completely forgotten.

(I have it...!)

The immensely wealthy and powerful Five Great Merchant, Rize Dohrahein.

I have the incredible privilege of being able to ask her for help once, no matter what!