For a moment, Raphael overlapped with that figure.
'The Master was really someone involved in this incident, just like Raphael?'
It was information so sudden it was bewildering. As I looked at the Master in stunned silence, Carcel explained.
"Actually, it’s not that I haven’t conducted any investigation since hearing that Asha borrowed money from this person."
"Did you find out something different from the Master?"
"It wasn't anything special, but there were some slightly suspicious parts."
Carcel continued speaking to me as I listened attentively.
"There are only a few people classified as VIPs in the Information Guild, so one of them is looking for Asha's information even before we get married? I thought that was peculiar from the start."
"Honestly, I did think it was strange back then, too."
"I checked because I thought it was definitely not Asha, but related to the information Asha sold."
Even at Carcel's words, the Master's expression did not change in any particular way.
So I asked Carcel first.
"I sold various things, but honestly, there wasn't any information significant enough to be noteworthy."
Of course, even back then, I vowed never to sell information that could alter the original work.
So, what I sold was something like, "A trade route is blocked somewhere, so the price of a certain raw material is going to skyrocket."
It wasn't information of immense value, but it made a decent amount of money...
Of course, since this information hasn't reached the Empire yet, they will likely find it unusual.
However, it was not enough to attract the attention of VIPs.
"By the way, do you remember the information Asha sold to the Ferrel Merchant Guild?"
"Ah, you mean that production in the County of Selmar, which accounts for about 30% of the Empire's total salt production, will decrease due to an unexpected accident?"
Just then, monsters appeared and contaminated the nearby salt fields with demonic energy.
This information might have been beneficial for a short time, but it was not helpful in the long run.
The empire is a wealthy nation, so much so that it can simply import salt from other countries.
I cautiously asked Carcel.
"Was this perhaps information that shouldn't have been touched?"
"Rather than that, when they found out that information, the Ferrel Merchant Group bought it..."
"Did you naturally purchase a large quantity of salt in advance?"
If you had bought salt before the incident, you would have made a considerable profit from the price difference.
"No. On the contrary, the Ferrel Merchant Guild dispatched mercenaries to the County of Selmar as soon as they heard the information."
"Did they eliminate the monsters in advance?"
"Yes. The type of monster that will appear in the salt fields is similar in form to a parasitic species, so it could quickly contaminate the area. It was there, but we effectively blocked it in advance."
It must mean that the mercenaries sent by the Ferrel Merchant Guild went around eliminating those monsters.
"So, they had no intention of buying that information to make a profit, and above all, if someone knew my information later... If you were trying to get married."
" Yes. There may be various hypotheses, but the incident should not have happened to that VIP, or it should not have been discovered. It can happen.”
"You mean 'must not get caught'…?"
Carcel added an additional explanation to me, asking what that meant.
"I wondered if I would have looked into the source of the information if I had only intended to handle the situation. But the fact that I am going out of my way to find out who Asha is...'
"Is it because this matter must not be known to the outside?"
"Whether Ferrel's actions were truly done with good intentions to stabilize salt prices or were an act of destroying evidence is something that will have to be investigated step by step."
I added to Carcel as he finished speaking.
"Come to think of it, you remember the monster incident in the North, right? That someone took the monsters away."
"They are all connected to monsters..."
"If that case is also connected to this VIP, we have no choice but to assume the methods are similar."
Human behavior patterns occur similarly.
Even if the same crime is committed, the details are bound to differ based on that person's values and personality.
'If this is the mastermind's behavioral pattern, it seems they are much more cautious and play it safe than the Grand Duke.'
At some point, I started to feel a sense of deja vu.
The Grand Duke's decisions largely stemmed from a desire for recognition.
So, whenever he faced things that hurt his pride or were a thorn in his side, he acted impulsively.
However, regarding the monster incident and the recent Lucian assassination, they were so cautious; they were so calm that no impulsiveness could be felt.
'Of course, considering his ruthless nature of eliminating everyone involved without exception in case he was caught, it would not have been surprising if he was the Grand Duke.'
However, even within the same event, subtle differences ultimately make it feel different from the Grand Duke's appearance.
Perhaps, from the very beginning, there was someone other than the Grand Duke at the pinnacle of all these events.
The Grand Duke is also just one of his chess pieces.
Even in the assassination of Lucian, there was no intention to assassinate Lucian, and although monsters keep appearing in areas where they should not be found, they have not caused significant damage.
He boldly commits cunning but unnecessary acts.
If incidents like this continue to occur—which seem trivial yet leave a lingering unease, much like an eyelash getting in your eye—who would be negatively affected?
The Emperor will probably be dethroned.
These days, he seems to be doing much better mentally since using Hyangnam to treat insomnia, but until recently, the Emperor had quite severe symptoms of paranoia.
The Emperor would almost lose his reason, especially when it came to the attempted assassination of Lucian.
A person's mental state affects their work.
'Maybe that's why, in the original story, by the time Lucian became an adult, the Emperor wanted to hand over the throne to him quickly.'
The mentally exhausted Emperor wanted to abdicate the throne.
It seemed as though he had overprotected his son to such an extent, as if his mind had been gnawed away at him until he became an adult, and then, relieved, he gave up.
And in fact, public opinion also assessed that the Emperor was unable to properly handle state affairs due to this aspect of his character.
Major and minor incidents continue to occur, starting with the significant event of Amira's death causing diplomatic friction.
"It seems the Master needs that prescription too, doesn't it?"
"Yes, let's take him."
At those words, the Master hesitated and tried to back away.
I slammed the box containing the ancient dragon's heart stone shut and spoke to the Master.
"The Master probably knows what kind of person Carcel is anyway."
Master also kept his mouth shut at those words.
He had been showing signs of inwardly fearing Carcel for some time now.
I tried my best to reassure the Master.
"So, I would recommend that you come with us of your own accord to remove the device, receive treatment to extend your life, and hand over the information so that you are not eliminated."
My eyes and the Master's met in the air.
He seemed to be looking for an escape route. At the same time, he also seemed to be contemplating my proposal.
"For your information, knights are waiting at the back door as well."
It seems Carcel's vigilance has increased since the recent wedding incident, so he has been traveling with several knights.
At that moment, Carcel reached his hand over the bar counter.
“Wait a moment!”
Before the Master could even resist, Carcel grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up.
"No matter how long you think about it, you won't get a better offer than the one I gave you. Besides, even if you stick to your loyalty, they aren't going to provide treatment like we did."
I also nodded.
"I assume you already know about the Baron Belmont case, too."
Carcel showed not a hint of difficulty as he effortlessly pulled the Master over the counter.
"Even so, if you could give me a moment to think... I mean, I'm not a bear, I'm so strong!"
As he was dragged out by Carcel, completely flustered, the Master shouted.
And just like that, the Master was forcibly taken away. Just five minutes after I paid back the money!
***
"He is someone I consider my benefactor, so I feel bad for having him imprisoned in the magic tower."
Carcel, having captured the Master, handed him over to Isar, dangling him precariously.
Isar then immediately searched the Master's body thoroughly and discovered a magical tool for injecting poison.
"There is good news and bad news."
Isar looked down at the tied-up Master and spoke to us.
To think there were three of us watching a Master who had been strangely stripped naked and tied up.
'I feel something very strange...'
I opened my mouth and spoke.
"Tell me the good news first."
"Whether it is poison or this guy's disease, there is a way to cure it."
"We already know that. What about the bad news?"
"I can't take out the magic tool. So this guy has to die once."
I screamed at that nonchalant tone, as if I had died once or twice before.
"We need the Master to speak up right now, and if you tell me I have to die in front of him, what am I supposed to do?!"
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