The Intelligence Bureau is essentially a collection of elite bureaucrats.
Young people who become royal officials with excellent grades, or outstanding graduates from military academies, receive a careful proposal if they have sufficient patriotism and no disqualifying factors.
After that, they gain the qualification to enter the Intelligence Bureau through several tests and interviews.
Nevertheless, there aren’t many subordinates trusted by the Director of Intelligence.
To the Director, they all seem like young upstarts full of hot air.
It might be considered excessive criticism, but no one dared to point this out to the Director of Intelligence, who was one of the Eight Heroes of the Kingdom.
Ashton was one of the few subordinates who had earned the trust of such a Director.
He had even contributed to naming the Black Snake King.
Ashton’s strength lies in his deductive ability based on astounding observational skills.
However, because his mind works so quickly, he sometimes reaches absurd conclusions on his own.
In fact, his superior, the Director of Intelligence, quite enjoys Ashton’s mistakes.
Regardless of the success or failure of the work, he says it’s hilarious to watch.
The Director would have probably burst into laughter if he had seen Ashton mistaking Roil and Amain for people from the Magic Tower.
“Haha, what a mistake. How embarrassing.”
Fortunately, that misunderstanding could be cleared up quickly.
Ashton laughed with an awkward expression.
“Why did you think so? Haha.”
Roil also laughed and offered refreshments.
“The clothes you’re wearing, they’re tailored suits from Tailorbillo on Purewell Boulevard, right?”
“… How did you know?”
“It might sound silly to say now, but I have a good eye for detail. And Tailorbillo is a company contracted with the Magic Tower. Mages who come to the capital wear new clothes tailored at Tailorbillo.”
Ashton had his reasons for his deduction.
His inference that they were mages from the Magic Tower wasn’t baseless.
“Above all, your son’s magical talent seems exceptionally outstanding. I thought you must be from the Magic Tower.”
A broad smile appeared on Roil’s face.
No parent would dislike praise for their child, especially if the praise came from an Intelligence Bureau agent.
There were things Ashton didn’t mention.
Amain’s behavior seemed decidedly common no matter how you looked at it.
He didn’t mention that it was common for the Magic Tower to practically kidnap young and talented individuals and exploit them.
‘This has actually become more interesting.’
Ashton smiled slightly.
Then he threw out a statement that shattered the warm atmosphere that had prevailed until now.
“How did you acquire those gold coins and artifacts?”
“Pardon?”
“There were ancient artifacts mixed in. And by kingdom law, the distribution of ancient artifacts must be managed through proper procedures. It’s under our Intelligence Bureau’s jurisdiction.”
Ashton said, still with a smile on his face.
“How did you obtain these items?”
“That’s…”
“I have…”
Ashton interrupted Roil.
“I have a special ability.”
Suddenly turning serious, he tapped his glasses and said,
“The ability to see through lies and truth. It might sound impressive, but it’s actually a simple method. People who lie show various signs. They might fidget unnecessarily. Avert their gaze, fiddle with their fingers, or break into a cold sweat. They might even emit a certain odor. In my experience, no one can hide all these signs. Of course, there are signs I haven’t mentioned. So, I’ll ask once again.”
Polite, but clearly an Intelligence Bureau agent.
“How did you obtain these items?”
Though disguised as a wealthy merchant, Roil was essentially just a wagon merchant.
How frightening must it be for someone like him to meet an Intelligence Bureau agent?
Amain also sensed the atmosphere and tensed up.
He tightly gripped his father’s arm.
“Do I… have an obligation to tell you?”
“You do. For your and your son’s sake, absolutely.”
In the chilly atmosphere.
Finally, Roil sighed and said,
“Alright. I’ll be honest. These treasures weren’t originally mine.”
“Then?”
“I was originally a wagon merchant. I was on my way to Calea City to sell beer.”
Amain turned to Roil in surprise.
Ashton didn’t miss that.
“On the way, I encountered…”
Roil said, seemingly troubled.
“Dead bandits.”
“…Bandits?”
“Yes. I had heard rumors about bandits appearing near Calea Mountains…”
Was there a story about bandits appearing near Calea?
There was.
Pass for now.
“They had these treasures. It seemed they had killed each other fighting…”
“Bandits had such treasures…”
Is that possible?
Well, it’s not impossible, but it’s not plausible.
Fail.
“The one hugging the treasure was a peculiar person. He had a long scar across his head, was as big as a mountain, and had iron shackles on his wrists…”
“What was this person’s skin color?”
Ashton furrowed his brows.
There was a person he was thinking of, hoping it wasn’t the case.
And Roil answered.
“I think… it was dark brown.”
The escaped convict Yatus.
Wild Dog Yatus.
I heard he escaped from prison with fellow inmates, could he have been there?
It was quite possible.
If Roil was fabricating this story, he wouldn’t have included such provocative details.
Then could it be true?
Can’t be sure, so pending.
“Hmm…”
Then, the overall assessment of Roil is.
Still, pending.
“I see. We’ll have to verify this.”
Ashton smiled again.
I should investigate if Yatus really appeared in Calea City.
An escaped convict like Yatus might indeed have such artifacts.
He was originally an adventurer, after all.
“Ah, yes, of course.”
Roil laughed nervously.
A seemingly naive expression.
From the beginning, Ashton never had the ability to see through lies.
Ashton stood up from his seat.
“So, am I… alright then?”
Roil asked worriedly.
“Well, obtaining items from a dead criminal, isn’t that a blessing from God?”
“Ah…”
“Have a pleasant journey in the capital. Here’s my business card.”
Despite his earlier threatening tone, Ashton bowed lightly.
As he was about to leave, he turned his head as if he had just remembered something.
“Ah, your son’s magical talent is real. Do you plan to enroll him in the Academy or the Magic Tower?”
“The Academy seems better. As for where to go…”
“Well, there’s only one top academy in the kingdom. I graduated from there too.”
Ashton said, looking at Amain.
“School Emerald. I recommend that place.”
With those final words, Ashton left.
Only after he had completely gone did Roil sink back into the sofa.
“Whew.”
I thought I was going to die from nervousness.
Thinking that.
Amain tightly held his father’s hand, as if he had gone through a lot.
“… I wonder how he’s doing.”
The snake that went into the mine.
He must be struggling too.
The dwarves wouldn’t quietly accept a snake monster that suddenly appeared.
“Shall we go, Amain?”
“Yes.”
Even so, a contract is a contract.
They will return to Calea to meet the snake again.
