Chapter 89

"Was it good to refuse?"

In the still bustling lobby of the Adventurer's Guild, Colette asked worriedly during the discussion with Yu and Rops.

"It's fine.

By the way, don't forget to take this."

Yu said this and handed Colette 30 platinum coins.

"Y-Yu, Yu-san, these are platinum coins!"

It was natural for Colette to be surprised, as ordinary people rarely see or touch platinum coins. One platinum coin is worth 1,000,000 Madoka, and Colette was to receive 300,000 Madoka, which is 1% of the deposit as a reward. This amount was equivalent to Colette's two months' salary. It was only natural that the receptionists around her looked at her with envy mixed with jealousy.

"For now, I'll deposit this amount. And if you like, please share these with everyone."

Yu took out a large number of hotcakes from the item pouch and placed them on the counter. Steam rose from the hotcakes, and the sweet aroma filled the air. The receptionists, who had been glancing at the scene while working, rejoiced.

"Here, it smells good. Thank you."

"It really does smell good."

Colette stiffened at the familiar voice from behind. She cautiously turned around to see Edda, the receptionist in charge of the second floor of the Adventurer's Guild, standing there. The first-floor receptionists around her panicked, muttering about the taste and secrets.

"Yu-san, do you usually bring such things?"

Edda smiled, but Yu felt a sense of pressure from her, as if he were in a battle.

"Yes. Was this offering bad?"

The receptionists around her, abandoning their work, told Yu that it was terrible and that they were always grateful.

"No, no. What's bad is that such a wonderful offering was monopolized by a few without informing me, their superior."

Edda took Yu's hands and expressed her gratitude, then gently placed her hand on Colette's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Colette looked sadly at Rebecca and the other receptionists, who nodded with sad faces. Edda collected the large number of hotcakes and disappeared into the back room, followed by the first-floor receptionists with sad faces.

"What happened...?"

"It's too complicated for me to understand."

"...The greedy always meet a foolish end."

"This is truly a pitiful state for one of the top two Adventurer's Guilds in the Kingdom of Udon."

Yu and the others watched the receptionists silently follow Edda until they disappeared, then went to the second floor to accept a quest and head to the Labyrinth of the Demon Tree Garden. Incidentally, this incident caused the operations of the first floor of the Kama City Adventurer's Guild to come to a complete halt for about two hours, but that's a side note.

---

"Hey, do you smell something sweet?"

"That's not true. Are your nose and hair both senile?"

"There's something stuck around your mouth."

"Oh, how embarrassing... Well, let's stop the jokes. Yu-chan might be a high-level alchemist or a user of time-space magic."

While Edda spoke calmly, wiping her mouth, Morpheus's body tensed.

"Yu-chan? What kind of name is that... No, where did such an outlandish story come from?"

"Oh, isn't 'Yu-chan' a cute name?

I found out today that Yu-chan often brings sweet treats to the receptionists. What a good boy. I've already punished the bad ones."

Morpheus, unable to follow Edda's story, tried to interject, but Edda continued, saying that they had been hiding and monopolizing the treats.

"Anyway, the sweets Yu-chan brings are homemade."

"The story is still off track."

"The hotcakes Yu-chan brought today were homemade, and when he took them out of the item pouch, they were as fresh as if they had just been made."

"Hey, you mean they were freshly made?"

"Yes, do you know how far it is from Yu-chan's house to the Adventurer's Guild?"

Morpheus began stroking his chin beard, a habit when he was thinking.

"Are you suggesting that there might be a time-delay spell on the item pouch? Who in the Kingdom of Udon can attach such a skill to an item pouch?"

"There is no one."

Edda's response made Morpheus nod. The best alchemist in the Kingdom of Udon, 'Dawn's Laran,' can only create a third-grade item pouch, which can store up to 3,000 kg. The national treasure of the Kingdom of Udon, the 'Bountiful Stomach,' is a second-grade item pouch that can store up to 40,000 kg, and the national treasure of Saint Jardark, the 'Infinite Holy Bag,' is rumored to maintain the state of items. If Yu were truly a user of time-space magic, it could lead to war, but Morpheus couldn't decide how to respond. As he pondered, Edda smiled, looking down at his head.

"Excuse me."

Barbara, the second-floor receptionist, entered the Guild Master's office, her face showing clear irritation.

"What's the matter with that face?"

"Because, Edda, they're so annoying!

I don't know what kind of 'Leaf of Authority' they have, but they're arrogant and unpleasant!"

"I'm coming in."

"Wait! I told you to wait downstairs until you get permission!"

Barbara turned red with anger at the adventurers pushing their way into the Guild Master's office, while Edda sighed and smiled.

"Hmm, what is it?"

"I am Karon Baldoessa, the leader of the 'Leaf of Authority.' You'll understand if I mention Elda."

"Elda? Who is that? The signboard girl at the Marilyn bar across the street...? Or is it Edda, my secretary?"

"Don't play dumb!"

Karon, enraged by Morpheus's attitude, slammed his fist on the desk. If it had continued, Morpheus's favorite desk would have been shattered.

"Oh, oh. That's the Guild's property. It would be a big problem if it were broken."

Edda caught Karon's fist. She held it in her palm as if catching a falling cup, seemingly without much effort. The sight shocked Karon's followers, as a weak female elf had caught a B-rank adventurer's punch.

"You... Never mind. What I want to know is that the Guild was hiding information!"

"I still don't understand."

"A newly discovered labyrinth! I know you were hiding some information.

Otherwise, Elda wouldn't have died in a C-rank labyrinth!"

The Guild Master's office was filled with the killing intent of the 'Leaf of Authority.' Morpheus, unaffected, took a sip of the tea Edda had poured.

"I've never heard of someone named Elda, but I did hear that someone who had obtained information from somewhere before the Guild announced the new labyrinth went on a reckless adventure and died.

Adventurers are always on the brink of death. The Guild hiding information? That's why they died? Don't make me laugh.

The labyrinth is a matter of personal responsibility. If they died, it's because they were weak. Blaming the Guild is out of the question."

"Old man... Do you know who backs us?"

"Hmm? Who is it... Edda, do you know? And I'm not an old man."

"I don't know. And you are an old man."

Karon's veins bulged with anger at Morpheus's dismissive attitude, but killing the Guild Master in Kama City would be beyond even the power of the Minister of Finance, Barley Volynox. Karon regained his composure and told his followers to do the same.

"You'll regret this."

"I've only regretted once in my life."

"Hehe, about your hair, right?"

Karon's body shook violently with rage. His followers had their hands on their weapon handles.

"I'll make you regret it...

Let's change the subject. Tell me the information about the new labyrinth and the adventurer Yu Sato. Of course, I'll pay for it."

"The information about the new labyrinth can be purchased at the second-floor reception. But why do you want information about Yu Sato?"

Karon seemed satisfied with the change in Morpheus's attitude.

"Hehe. We don't know the details, but you just need to tell us the information the Adventurer's Guild has on Yu Sato."

Morpheus deduced that Karon knew the Guild obtained information from the Guild Cards.

"What's the matter? I said I'll pay. The fact that the Adventurer's Guild collects information from Guild Cards is known to any high-ranking adventurer.

By the way, can you also tell me where he lives?"

Karon's lecherous smile suggested he would expose the Guild's unauthorized collection of information if they refused.

The door to the adjacent room, where Morpheus took naps, opened.

"Hey, hey, you're being noisy while I'm trying to sleep."

Yawning, Joseph entered the room, glaring at each of Karon's followers as he slowly approached Morpheus. The followers, intimidated by the muscular Joseph, who was over two meters tall, averted their eyes and looked down, their faces pale.

"You... You're Joseph Yorm, the 'Strong Arm,' right? I've heard of you in the capital.

I'm Karon Baldoessa of the 'Leaf of Authority.' You know me, right?"

Karon extended his right hand in greeting, but—

"I don't know you."

"That's impossible. We're both B-rank adventurers."

"I don't know what I don't know.

What do you want? Information on Yu Sato?"

"Don't misunderstand. I'll pay.

The Guild gets money, we get information. It's a win-win."

Karon patted Joseph's shoulder with a fake smile.

"What are you doing? Are you picking a fight?"

"No—Gah!"

Joseph grabbed Karon's right wrist and squeezed. Despite the gauntlet, an unusual sound echoed in the Guild Master's office.

"Stop it!"

One of Karon's followers shouted and tried to pry Joseph's hand off Karon's wrist, but to no avail. The others rushed to help, but the result was the same.

"What's the matter? Are you all picking a fight too?"

"What the hell! What did we do? We're the 'Leaf of Authority.' Do you know what will happen if you do this?"

The followers shouted in near-hysteria, but Joseph yawned and scratched his ear.

Karon's right wrist was turning blue, and his hand hung limply, clearly broken. After a while, Joseph, bored, released Karon's wrist. Karon, drenched in sweat, hurriedly fled the Guild Master's office, followed by his followers, who cursed loudly as they left.

"Joseph, you were awake the whole time, weren't you?"

"What? No thanks for saving you?

Edda, get me a drink."

"Sure, sure. Just wait a moment."

Edda, seemingly satisfied with Karon's humiliation, happily poured tea into a cup.

"You only came out because you heard Yu Sato's name, didn't you?"

"Oh, no. Getting old makes you bitter."

"Hehe, it's true."

"I'm only 133 years old!"