Even though there was a small earthquake the night before, people didn't pay much attention.
Although there was no significant damage, the citizens of the royal capital were mostly accustomed to only minor earthquakes, as the Yongsan Vulcan would occasionally cause earthquakes as if it were gaining momentum.
Rather, they were more interested in what was going on in the social circles the night before, and which couples had fought and broken up again, and so… .
“Oh, did a meteorite fall?”
“If that were the case, astronomers and alchemists would have been in an uproar already. They are all desperate to get their hands on meteorites.”
“Then what on earth did this hole look like?”
I didn't even realize that a huge pit had suddenly appeared on the outskirts of the capital.
“I don’t know. Hmm, maybe a large monster slammed the ground with all its might?”
“Come on, you idiot. Stop saying such weird things.”
"……sorry."
There were soldiers who had left the scene, but even they were just tilting their heads, wondering what this unidentified pit was.
I don't know if there were any traces or evidence of anyone being there, but there wasn't even that.
There was only a huge pit, so the soldiers could do nothing, and the incident of the huge pit that suddenly appeared remained an unsolved mysterious case.
Well, who could have predicted that?
“Was I a bit harsh?”
That the hole was created by a single individual.
And last night alone, more than 50 assassins went to meet Dullahan.
It would probably be difficult for soldiers who investigate cases with common sense to solve such an absurd case.
However, the reason why it was possible to erase all traces so thoroughly, except for the pit, is-.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, everything worked out well.”
“Not at all. On the contrary, we were able to obtain information. On the contrary, we are grateful to Lee Han-kyung. For calling us instead of anyone else.”
“…It wasn’t me who called, it was you who were hovering around me?”
“Haha, what’s good is good.”
“…….”
Luna Bridget.
She was a knight belonging to Galahad's Shadow. As you can tell by her green hair, she was the younger sister of the spearman.
As expected from the blood of the spearman, they were quite capable, and they were also the ones to whom I was grateful for having eliminated the traces of the assassins I had destroyed last night.
But I am grateful, I am grateful… .
“Why were you around me?”
“That man gave me advice.”
“That human?”
“The people who are my biological family.”
“…….”
…Do you hate being called oppa that much?
Just when Lee Han was about to feel a little sorry for the window cleaner, he heard words that made his sympathy disappear in an instant.
“‘That rascal is a beast greater than any beast, even though I hate to admit it. He has a very good sense of smell. If you hover around him, you will naturally be able to catch bad things. …By the way, stay far away from that rascal. He will immediately sense that you are watching him.’ – That’s what he said. So I watched from a very far away.”
“…Who is the beast?”
Lee Han clicked his tongue as he muttered that he would have blown up the government if it had been right in front of him.
I was grateful, but now the gratitude has disappeared.
still….
'I feel relieved now that I have no debt.'
It's a gain, because you thought you had a debt, but in reality, the debt is gone.
“But tell them that we should cooperate from next time.”
I think I might feel a little bit of discomfort… .
Lee Han mumbled the words, but Luna, who understood him well, immediately apologized.
“I’m sorry, Lee Han Kyung. I never intended to use you. It’s just that Lee Han Kyung likes to go alone, so it was hard to ask for your cooperation.”
"I?"
“Yes, you always prefer to do things alone.”
"that…."
“I thought that if I asked for cooperation for no reason, Lee Han-gyeong would be displeased… Lee Han-gyeong doesn’t like nobles very much….”
“T, that’s not wrong, but….”
Through conversations with her, Lee Han was able to indirectly feel how other forces viewed him.
There's some misunderstanding… No, it's not a misunderstanding…
'No, what kind of image am I?'
It was a strange feeling of resentment that made me feel wronged, and he couldn't bring himself to ask me outright what my image was.
… I feel uncomfortable hearing it.
* * *
Before he had time to reflect on the new fact that the extremely ominous 'Lee Han Turtle personality disorder theory' was circulating, new information began to pour into his ears.
“There have been rumors lately. That one of the great nobles is hiring criminals who have fled from the Empire to the South….”
“That’s an interesting rumor.”
“Right? But what’s even more interesting is that there’s a high chance that this rumor is true. Especially if it’s Lohengrin that’s absorbing that criminal organization, it’ll be even more exciting.”
“…….”
… It’s not exciting at all, nor does it look like it’s fun?
Just by looking at the eyes filled with life, you can tell why he is a blood relative of the spearman.
Of course, he did not openly express these feelings and Lee Han just nodded quietly.
“I hate to say this, but criminals are incredibly useful when used properly. They are illegal immigrants who have not been issued citizenship, so there is no problem using them in a hurry and then throwing them away.”
A complete failure.
The Blood Baram were once known as the Empire's top assassination organization, but in the end, they are nothing more than fugitives.
Well, if they succeed in their mission, achieve results, and prove their usefulness, then that's a different story.
“Unfortunately, he was attacked by Lee Han-gyeong, so his luck ran out. It was like a young child who had just started babbling being attacked by a hungry beast.”
“You’ve been treating me like a human being all this time.”
“…If we continue talking, then.”
"hey."
The important thing here was not that Lee Han was a beast.
The question was who had hired this organization, and why they had identified Lohengrin as their employer.
“There are no fools who would openly hire a criminal organization. It’s common sense to hire people through double and triple work. So that their identity is never revealed. … However, no matter how thoroughly you work, there’s nothing you can’t figure out.”
Flap!
“Good job, Arpi.”
“Squeak!”
"…squirrel?"
It was a peculiar squirrel, no, a flying squirrel.
A blue flying squirrel, and judging by the subtle aura it gives off… .
'Spirit?'
It was clear that it was a spiritual animal, and it was.
“My name is Arpi. I’m an elite agent raised by Galahad. Say hello, Arpi.”
“Tick!”
"oh…."
It was a flying squirrel that even gave a sharp salute, and Lee Han let out an exclamation of admiration.
“In Galahad, there are many spirits related to fairies. Among them, special individuals are born every five to ten years, and Arpi is one of them. He has had a spirit since birth. He has a long lifespan, and he is smarter than most people. Oh, and he also learns some martial arts, so if he puts his mind to it, he can even kill a lion.”
“…….”
“Above all, he is the best agent among the Shadows. His infiltration skills are so top-notch that His Majesty has awarded him medals three times!”
“Squeak!!”
"…thing."
…maybe smarter than white cats?
* * *
The brilliant intelligence agent, or rather the flying squirrel, took out a neatly folded piece of paper from the miniature bag on his back.
“Squeak.”
There were many drawings and writings on the paper.
The human face and features were detailed and were probably drawn by a flying squirrel.
“I see, Arpi. So this guy is a spy for Lohengrin.”
“Tick.”
“But is there any concrete evidence?”
“Tick tick.”
“Hmm, I’ve been monitoring you for the past few days, and you seem to have noticed that there’s been a lot of food being bought? As if you’re buying it to feed someone?”
“Squeak….”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s suspicious enough.”
Are you able to communicate?
'I just see something squeaking?'
Is it because you are not pure?
For a moment, Lee Han was looking at her and the excellent flying squirrel with blank eyes, and then Luna Bridget turned her gaze to Lee Han.
“Lee Han-kyung, is it okay to think of us as a cooperative relationship now?”
“…It’s not my intention, but I need help, and you need me too, so I guess that’s a cooperative relationship.”
“That’s great. Then I’ll share the information with you, so could you please help me investigate Lohengrin?”
“……You’re not going to barge in?”
Lee Han tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
Given Galahad's strength, I thought he would immediately raise an army and attack Lohengrin, but it was surprising that he didn't do so, and Luna smiled bitterly at his reaction.
“I am angry, but this level of evidence is not enough to justify raising troops. Of course, even if we were to raise troops and attack Lohengrin, no one would dare find fault with Galahad, but if that were to happen, other noble families could raise troops at will. That could easily lead to war, and Your Majesty has no intention of starting a meaningless war.”
“…I understand.”
Certainly, if the force is great, its power may be strong, but it seems inevitable that there will be inconveniences in moving around.
then….
“Should I play alone?”
"yes?"
“Isn’t it okay if I clash with Lohengrin alone, rather than Galahad?”
“Uh… No, are you kidding?”
“…….”
“…….”
“Ha, right, I’m just kidding. How can I defeat a great noble by myself, haha.”
“…Ahaha, that, that’s right?”
…but for some reason, when Luna saw it, those words didn’t sound like a joke at all.
Extremely… .
'I, I think you're being serious.'
– Don't even think about controlling that rascal. He's dangerous. If you define him as your enemy, he'll even turn the royal family into an enemy.
Luna broke into a cold sweat as she recalled what the human had said before she began working with him.
‘There are people who are even worse than that person…’
Horribly… .
'Your facial expression changes a lot.'
Lee Han was puzzled by her sudden change in expression, but he opened his mouth because he had another question.
“But, by the way, there’s one thing I’m curious about.”
"yes?"
“You guys, why does Galahad hate Lohengrin?”
“…….”
“Am I mistaken?”
It was Galahad who strangely burned with murderous intent toward Lohengrin. Yihan found this strange and asked a question.
And she did not deny it, as if these opinions were not wrong… .
“You have good insight, Lee Han-kyung.”
“I stabbed him because I hated him so obviously.”
“Whew, that’s right. I hate it. It’s so horrible….”
“You’re being honest.”
She answered more obediently than I thought, and soon.
“It’s not like I’m going to hide it. I think everyone knows that. That Galahad hates Lohengrin, or rather the current head of the Lohengrin family.”
"why?"
“…It’s nothing else….”
“…….”
… Lee Han opened his mouth slightly while listening to the answer that came out after that.
And he thought… .
'Your Majesty, how dare you keep such a man alive?'
I just wondered why the nobleman who should have died a long time ago didn't die.
‘… Is it crazy to confess to a married woman and ask her to have a child?’
It was Lee Han who was left speechless when he spoke so openly to the Duke of Blake's lady.
‘As expected, these nobles… .’
Disgust was the answer.
