The market square was bustling with voices, vendors packing up their stalls.
In front of the Adventurers’ Guild’s stone building, several fully armed adventurers were standing at the door discussing something.
Seeing Ileil and her group approach, one burly man with a beard, upon noticing the silver-haired girl’s proximity, took the initiative to greet her:
“Yo, isn’t this Gro’s little girl? What wind blew you here?”
After hearing this address, Ileil trembled all over.
She looked up into the adventurer’s eyes and said calmly: “I’m here to find someone. Do you know who Old John is? Where is he now?”
“That old guy is the same as always, on duty at the reception desk. Probably busy counting money now.” The burly man’s gaze couldn’t help but be drawn to the golden-haired, red-eyed princess; he curiously sized up Prinshitt,
“You brought quite a few people today… Kaze and Alyssa, these familiar faces are here. But this one is…?”
The red-haired adventurer walked up to the golden-haired, red-eyed princess, but before he could speak, Kaze blocked in front of the princess like a wall.
“She’s the princess of Aressto, Your Highness.” Kaze leaned close to the red-haired adventurer and whispered, “On official business, you better behave yourself.”
“Alright, alright, I’m leaving.”
The burly man spread his hands.
He put away his playful expression and respectfully made way.
“Then let’s go in.”
Ileil glanced back at everyone, then led the way into the guild.
The interior of the guild was more spacious than imagined, the wooden bulletin board covered with quest commissions, the air filled with the mixed scent of ale and leather.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, the mixed smell of ale, leather, and sweat hit them.
The hall was noisy, adventurers gathered in twos and threes at long tables, some wiping weapons, some loudly discussing recent quests, and some even gambling right in the reception hall.
When Prinshitt just stepped into the guild, the noisy chatter suddenly quieted a bit.
A few sharp-eyed adventurers recognized her distinctive golden hair and red eyes, whispers spreading in the corners—
“Golden hair, red eyes… Whose little girl got lost? Looks like a new face.”
“You idiot, that looks exactly like the princess.”
“What is she doing here? Not checking heretics again…….”
“Who knows, anyway, it’s no good.”
…….
“Woo…..” These discussion voices naturally flowed into Prinshitt’s ears.
Her right hand clenched into a fist, unconsciously tightening her collar; it seemed she wasn’t very adapted to this environment.
Seeing Prinshitt’s timid appearance, Ileil felt a bit troubled.
Since she had promised Dorias to take good care of the princess, she should take some responsibility.
Ileil coldly swept her gaze around; those adventurers noticed that the one walking in front seemed like a tough character.
The whispers immediately lowered.
She lowered her voice to Prinshitt: “Ignore them, go straight to find the person.”
“Okay…..”
Clearly, when Prinshitt argued with Ileil, she was quite eloquent, but once Dorias wasn’t around, she softened.
Originally, Ileil thought Prinshitt’s personality should be tougher.
A greenhouse flower…
She momentarily couldn’t understand why Prinshitt would be inexplicably timid in this situation, but thinking carefully, as a peer, Prinshitt having this reaction seemed normal.
Now Ileil, let alone being intimidated in such a chaotic place, felt her whole self had become numb.
Even watching familiar people die beside her, Ileil might not have much emotional fluctuation.
Becoming like this was all thanks to that vile personality father-killer—Gro.
Although this path of revenge was chosen by Ileil herself, Gro, as her revenge target, actually borrowed force to push her hard onto this path.
……
“You are the princess of Aressto, Your Highness. Please show the proper demeanor—don’t make it seem like I’m your leader.”
Ileil retracted her thoughts; she slightly turned, saying so to the princess beside her.
“Don’t get too cocky! I’m not speaking…… just observing the Adventurers’ Guild environment!”
Prinshitt was provoked by Ileil’s challenging words.
She puffed out her chest, disregarding image, loudly retorting to the silver-haired girl beside her.
“Is that so? Then it’s best I was mistaken, Your Highness.”
Ileil looked at Prinshitt satisfied; her reaction achieved the expected effect.
This Ileil’s speech is becoming more like Gro…
Should I say as expected from being influenced?
Kaze wanted to say this directly, but on second thought, forget it.
Ileil and the princess really had something in common; her personality was terribly serious.
Probably besides Gro, no one dared to joke with Ileil.
Behind the guild’s reception desk, a white-haired old man was puffing on a pipe flipping through the ledger.
Hearing footsteps, he muttered without looking up: “For quests, check the bulletin board; for turning in, go to the next window.”
“Mr. John.” Prinshitt stepped forward, her voice clear and steady; it seemed she had adapted to the environment.
“We need to inquire about a person’s information, please cooperate.”
Old John then raised his head; he squinted his eyes, then showed a surprised expression:
“Are you…… Your Highness Prinshitt? Why did you come personally?” He hurriedly extinguished the pipe, fumbling to stand up,
“What can I do for you?”
“We want to find an adventurer named ‘Carl’.” Prinshitt went straight to the point, “He has a scar on his left eyebrow, was a robber in the past, now does some escort work.”
Old John’s expression subtly changed.
He rubbed his rough fingers, hesitating: “Your Highness, that… please allow me to remind you boldly, the guild’s rules are…..”
“Rules? Interesting.” Alyssa sneered; she seemed to have disliked this old guy for a while. “Do you want me to remind you about last year when you secretly sold guild supplies?”
Old John’s face instantly turned pale: “You, how do you know—”
“Cut the crap.” Ileil interrupted impatiently, “We don’t have time to waste with you.”
Old John swallowed, finally sighing in compromise: “Carl….. He is indeed one of ours. But he hasn’t come to the guild for two months; I don’t know where he went.”
He turned and pulled out a registry from under the counter, flipping to a page, “The last record was him taking an escort caravan job, destination is the northern Graystone Town.”
“Graystone Town?” Kaze frowned; he had been there a few times. “Isn’t that a desolate place near Kastit? Who would go there?”
Renn Town is located in the northwest border of Aressto, and Graystone Town is even just a step away from the border between the two countries.
“The caravan’s client was a black-robed person, claiming to be a ‘scholar’.” Old John lowered his voice, “Paid in gold coins, required confidentiality. Carl was quite happy at the time, said this job was easy with high pay.”
Prinshitt and Ileil exchanged a glance.
Black-robed person, high reward, confidentiality requirement—these details were too suspicious.
“What about the other caravan members?” Prinshitt pursued.
“None came back.” Old John shook his head, “The guild sent people to Graystone Town to inquire; people there said they never saw any caravan.”
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