Chapter 191: Fiona (1)
Gunther kept his promise. He connected me with the mercenary group hired by the crown prince. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Is there anything strange?”
The mercenary leader scratched his head. “Well… I don’t think there was anything particularly odd.”
I placed a gold coin on the table.
“Of course, I want to tell you some things…”
I added another gold coin.
The mercenary grinned, bouncing the gold coin lightly with his fingers. “From what I’ve seen, there wasn’t anything particularly strange about the work itself. But one of the palace soldiers under His Highness the Crown Prince muttered something odd.”
“What was it?”
“Well, he was shaking and muttering that the situation was strange. I’m sure he knows something, but I couldn’t catch what he said because he was trembling so much.”
“Do you know the soldier’s name?”
The mercenary leader grinned again, and I smiled as I placed a handful of gold coins on the table. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“I heard the other soldiers call him Erdo.”
“Good. You must never reveal this to anyone else.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I stood up.
***
I found the soldier named Erdo quickly, but he wasn’t the type to open up easily. I tried persuasion, intimidation, and coaxing, but nothing worked. Erdo was too frightened.
“I might be able to help.”
“High-ranking people always say that at first…”
I sighed. I didn’t know how many times we had met, but it had been quite a few; the trail might have already gone cold.
“Erdo, just answer one question. Yes or No will suffice.”
“….”
“Are you sure the Crown Prince and the others saved the lives of the villagers?”
If he answered Yes, I intended to stop the investigation. The Crown Prince used to be an insufferable jerk, but I didn’t want to undermine someone who was trying to do good just because we were at odds.
“….”
Unexpectedly, Erdo fell silent at this question. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“What’s wrong?”
Wasn’t it enough to just answer Yes? Didn’t they save those innocent people?
Erdo burst into tears. “I’m not sure about that…”
I was taken aback by his outburst. “Wait, no, don’t cry.”
Erdo cried even harder, ultimately failing to give a clear answer. However, he wanted me and Sigren to meet him in one place. He promised to tell us the whole story then.
[“You two definitely saved a lot of people, right?”] What Erdo said while whimpering was exceptionally memorable.
But Abel’s reaction was skeptical when he heard it.
“Isn’t this a trap set by the crown prince?”
“Still, I have to go. It didn’t seem like he was lying.”
Carl paused in thought for a moment. “I’ll go with you, too.”
“But Erdo said he only wanted to see me and Sigren.”
“I’ll hide.”
“….”
Well, it would definitely be awkward for me and Sigren to be alone together. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Well, if something dangerous happens, I guess having help would be sufficient.”
Carl smiled brightly. “I’ll try my best not to hold you two back.”
“Haha….”
The promised day arrived. The three of us went to the palace Erdo mentioned on time. It was the entrance of a village near the capital.
“Thank you for coming.”
Carl hid himself before Erdo appeared.
I tried not to look at Sigren and focused on the depressed-looking soldier in front of me.
“Erdo, what do you want to say to us?”
What was the reason for calling us here?
Erdo hesitated, then opened his mouth. “I was the soldier given orders by His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Orders?”
Sigren also seemed to be listening intently. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“I was instructed to go to the village designated by His Highness and wait. When the right situation arose, I was to inform His Highness.”
“What situation?”
Erdo spoke in horror. “That the monsters had invaded.”
I frowned slightly. “Wait a minute. So you were already in the village designated by the Crown Prince? Does that mean he knew in advance that monsters were going to attack?”
Erdo gulped nervously. “I… I think that’s at least what I believe…”
“….”
Only then did I understand why Erdo had remained silent until now.
“How on earth?”
“I don’t know. To be honest, I didn’t think anyone would believe me when I said this… But I thought you two might believe it…”
I glanced at Sigren. His expression was as stiff as mine. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Then is this town also where the Crown Prince told you the monsters would come today?”
“Well, yes…”
Erdo was sobbing, choked with guilt.
“Please, I beg you. I don’t have any power… but you two are different.”
It was a pleading look, one I was used to. Eyes longing for salvation.
Sigren spoke solemnly. “Carl, contact the mansion and bring in the soldiers.”
Even without looking back, I sensed that Carl had disappeared.
“We have to evacuate the villagers first.”
I said this while holding my throbbing head. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
***
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