Chapter 10

This is the third update of the day.

After parting ways with the adventurers at the guild, Bar headed towards a tavern.

It was a place that served decent drinks and food at reasonable prices, catering to the general public.

"Oh, welcome!"

A young and beautiful waitress greeted him with a smile.

He occasionally visited and encountered her, but she didn't seem to remember his face.

To her, surrounded by many men, Bar was just another unremarkable middle-aged man, blending into the background.

Unless something special happened, she wouldn't even notice him as an individual.

Bar was fine with that.

He sat at an empty two-seater and ordered a cold tea and some snacks.

After a while, another unremarkable-looking middle-aged man came in and asked him,

"Can I sit here?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Their interaction was like two strangers meeting by chance, but Bar had been waiting for him, and he had come to meet Bar.

When the snacks ordered by the middle-aged man arrived, they ate in silence.

"How are things going recently?"

"There's a young and energetic guy in the group. He's a bit dangerous, but thanks to someone who can keep him in check, the balance isn't bad."

Bar was answering the evaluation of the young adventurer party he had hired as a porter.

"Hmm? They have a promising future, then?"

"It would be good if they added another member for intellectual tasks and one who can handle healing and scouting."

The middle-aged man pondered something.

In reality, he was a close confidant of the head of the Adventurer's Guild, and he was specially informed about Bar.

The current head of the guild was very famous and well-known, so someone like him, who was discreet and not widely recognized, was sent to such meetings.

"You have a high opinion of them, then."

"Yes. If they develop correctly, they could reach the three lines."

"Is that so..."

The middle-aged man's blue eyes widened at Bar's statement.

The "three lines" referred to third-class adventurers, who were highly skilled individuals.

"If you say so, we need to reassess their potential."

It became clear that the guild had not given them such a high evaluation.

(Indeed, their attitude wasn't commendable.)

Bar recalled this with a wry smile.

He didn't mind, but for those who did, it would be a significant point of criticism.

The middle-aged man understood this and thought, "This is the evaluation of the unbothered Bartholomew."

"By the way, regarding the fire the other day, do you know anything about it?"

The man asked Bar.

(It's about the appearance of monsters in various places.)

Bar deduced.

The Adventurer's Guild was doing everything they could, but they thought he might have information they didn't know.

"It's still under investigation. I've only heard the opinion that it might have started elsewhere and spread here."

The middle-aged man's expression stiffened upon hearing this.

He realized that Bar was suggesting two possibilities: a plot by another country or an attack on another country that affected the empire as a side effect.

Whether another country was targeting the empire or was also a target, it couldn't be an ordinary scheme.

"I'll do my best to inform you if I find out anything. Please be careful as well."

"Thank you."

The middle-aged man thanked him and stood up.

No one had overheard their conversation.

The loud conversations around them drowned out their voices.

If someone tried to eavesdrop, they wouldn't be able to do so without Bar noticing.

After conveying his evaluation of the young adventurers and the large-scale appearance of monsters, Bar returned home.

No one would even imagine that he was involved in such matters; it was just an ordinary day.