How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Survive in a Small Guild
Chapter 26
“Well, this is Morian, our new hire.”
“Hey there.”
“Welcome aboard.”
Cedric’s face fell slightly at the arrival of a mid-career employee one rank above him. I gave his shoulder a gentle, reassuring pat.
Having been backstabbed by villains twice before, both Susanna and Cedric seemed to harbor little hope for Morian. He, for his part, remained unbothered by the heavy atmosphere and found his seat without fuss.
Ding—
“Looks like we have a visitor.”
At the sound of the bell, Susanna, who was handling customer reception, stepped outside. Moments later, she returned with wide, startled eyes.
“Guild Master, someone from the Star Tower has arrived.”
“The Star Tower?!”
I shot to my feet the instant those words left her mouth.
As I’d mentioned before, the Empire harbored not only the Three Major Factions but also the Four Balancing Factions that maintained equilibrium between them.
Like the Red Rose Salon we’d encountered last time, the Star Tower was one of those four factions.
The Star Tower was a gathering place for the Empire’s finest scholars engaged in research, and I’d heard that various scientific and technological advances had flourished because of their work.
If I played this right, I might be able to leverage information from the original work in this new commission.
“Cedric, come with me.”
“Very good.”
Morian seemed too fresh to entrust with a commission just yet, and I was still in the process of teaching Cedric the ropes of running an information guild anyway.
Besides, Cedric possessed unusual knowledge, like the insight he’d shown about noble families last time—he’d be more useful here.
When Cedric and I arrived at the reception room, we found a man sitting blankly before a cup of tea that Susanna had prepared for him earlier.
The man had ash-colored, unkempt hair and the pale, withdrawn appearance of someone who hadn’t seen the outside world in years. With his monocle and robes, he cut the unmistakable figure of an eccentric scholar.
“Good day. I’m Odret, Guild Master of the Global Information Network Guild.”
“I’m Cedric, Senior Coordinator.”
I made a mental note to change that embarrassing guild name at the earliest opportunity.
“I understand you’ve come from the Star Tower.”
“Yes, that’s right….”
The man spoke slowly, as if he’d had little practice with conversation. He then produced something from his pocket and extended it toward me.
“An identification card proving his affiliation with the Star Tower,” Cedric confirmed.
Only after his verification did I nod in acceptance.
“And your name would be?”
“Ratel….”
Not a name that appeared in the original work.
“How did you hear about our guild?”
“The Marquis Hendrik….”
“Ah, I see.”
It seemed word of my successful handling of the Marquis’s affair had spread through noble circles.
“Then what brings you to us with this commission? I’d appreciate all the details.”
“Someone stole my research paper.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The paper I was planning to submit to the International Association… Scholars from the Norian Kingdom submitted it first. And with identical contents.”
“Truly identical? Then that would suggest there’s a traitor within the Star Tower who leaked your work?”
“Exactly that.”
At those words, Cedric’s expression turned gravely serious.
“This could escalate into a state-level conflict. The Norian Kingdom sending a spy into the Star Tower… that’s profoundly unjust!”
“I’m aware. Let’s start by addressing the problem itself. Ratel, do you have any suspicions about who might be responsible?”
“None whatsoever.”
I exchanged a glance with Cedric. With no leads to pursue, we had little choice.
Just as before, we’d have to do this the hard way.
“Don’t worry, Ratel. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”
Good—this time, I’d make this Star Tower commission a success and forge a connection with them!
***
“Your Highness, you’re leaving early today?”
“Yes. Work has been lighter since we brought on that new employee.”
As Sedrian smiled faintly, Eric regarded him with an unfamiliar expression.
“Why do you seem more absorbed in the guild lately than in your duties as Crown Prince?”
“Mere coincidence.”
“Are you gathering information from that guild? You haven’t told me anything about it.”
“It’s not entirely fruitless. Under the name Cedric Alte, I’ve secured the Marquis Hendrik’s goodwill, which has granted me access to the Red Rose Salon. Though I haven’t yet reached information about the Temple….”
“How fortuitous that you mention it. The Crown Prince has a visitor waiting for him.”
“A visitor? With no prior appointment?”
“Yes, sir. They’ve been waiting for your arrival.”
“Who would be presumptuous enough to….”
“Marquis Hendrik, sir.”
……!
At those words, Sedrian’s body went rigid. He knew exactly why Hendrik had come.
‘So that’s what this is about,’ he thought.
Marquis Hendrik had witnessed him infiltrating the Global Information Network Guild. Now that he’d been recognized, there was no doubt the Marquis had come to question him about it.
“Does Marquis Hendrik somehow know of the Crown Prince’s infiltration?”
“Well….”
Sedrian hedged deliberately. Eric would certainly give him an earful about this.
After dismissing Eric, Sedrian made his way to the reception room. The moment the door opened, Marquis Hendrik rose and offered a proper bow.
“I am honored to meet you, Your Highness.”
“…Very well. Be seated.”
Sedrian found his gaze drawn to the coffee cup placed before Hendrik. So his guild had finally managed to procure coffee as well—wait, why was he thinking about that? Had he been brainwashed by Odret Ratel?
As Sedrian questioned his own state of mind, Marquis Hendrik spoke first.
“It has been quite some time since I’ve come to the Capital. I wished to see the Crown Prince’s face. The last time we met, you were still young, and I see you’ve grown splendidly in the interim.”
“There’s no need for pleasantries.”
“But tell me—what business do you have in that guild?”
Phew!
At those blunt words, Sedrian nearly spat out the coffee in his mouth. Swallowing it with difficulty, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem. There are certain matters requiring investigation, so I’m conducting the infiltration myself. I trust you’ll make no mention of knowing who I am.”
“Of course, but… why would Your Highness personally involve yourself in something so minor?”
“Because it is a matter of considerable importance requiring my direct oversight. That guild holds significant value. If word were to leak, it would become most problematic.”
“Could it be… related to the Temple?”
……!
“For Your Highness to take direct action, it must involve the Temple in some way.”
At Hendrik’s astute observation, Sedrian finally nodded.
“Yes. I’ve found certain irregularities and am conducting an investigation into Temple matters from within that organization. It proves far more effective than investigating as the Crown Prince.”
“I trust that Your Highness will not misuse any information obtained from that guild.”
“Is that why you sought me out?”
“Indeed.”
“Just as you would protect my secrets, I shall protect yours. You have my word.”
Sedrian added further:
“If needed, I can even swear an Oath.”
“Then let us do so.”
Since Hendrik raised no objection, Sedrian invoked his Ability.
“I, Sedrian Elbaron, swear upon the trust of the people in me that I shall not use information concerning Frederick Hendrik for the purposes of the Imperial household.”
“I, Frederick Hendrik, swear upon the North that I shall not reveal to any outsider what I know of the Crown Prince’s activities within the guild.”
Brilliant light flooded the room. Only after the Oath concluded could the two of them finally lower their guards toward one another.
“By the way, that capable woman in the guild—is she your enemy or your ally?”
“For now, she’s an ally.”
“‘For now’ suggests….”
“There are moments when she feels like an enemy to me as well.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
After all, there were times when she troubled him in her role as his superior…..
Then it occurred to Sedrian that it had been quite some time since he’d last asked Odret for information.
He needed to assess just how deeply she could access the Temple… It seemed the time had come to make another request of her.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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