"Three months. Maybe two months at the earliest, but I hear the Holy Nation of Nevast is looking for a change."
Novio's voice sounded a little heavy.
"Is that confirmed?"
"Yes. The date is uncertain, but the fact that Nevast is coming to frontier has been confirmed."
Lucion was calm despite the fact that what Heint had told him was true.
Two months, the minimum.
That meant he had to grow, both as an organization and as a person.
"Nevast doesn't like you, and neither do many nobles in the Empire. I don't know what to make of you among like-minded people."
The Holy Land of Nevast might not even want Lucion himself.
He wasn't even a priest.
With his allergy to divine power, he would be a heretic.
But the stares around him made it impossible to deny himself.
So what would he do in Nevast?
"I will win."
If he disappeared.
No, I'd die.
There would be no cleaner ending.
"That's funny. Who dies so easily?
Lucion raised the corner of his mouth.
"So don't worry about it."
* * *
[...Since Lord Lucion is allergic to divine power, doesn't that make him an assassin by virtue of being a priest?]
As soon as Lucion entered the room, Bethel spoke the words he had been holding back.
"Yes. Perhaps the best assassin of all."
Lucion looked at Hume.
"Hume."
"Yes, Master."
"Tell my brother that I have work to do today, so no training."
"Understood."
Hume replied and sat down at Lucion's desk, pulling out a myriad of invitations.
Lucion sat down at his desk and unwound his fingers.
"Now, let's take a look at the invitations to see how we can get around efficiently, shall we?
Ring.
He was just reaching for it when his contact item rang.
Lucion let out a short sigh, then slowly pulled a mask out of his pocket and slapped it on.
"What?"
Lucion's voice rose slightly.
<Ah. I have some interesting news for you.">
Heroan's voice broke into a chuckle.
Interesting news, given that the Reinhard Mercenaries would be on bed rest for a while, and Krahn would be busy managing both Chefran and Chonest.
"Have you finished investigating the six branches?"
<That's not the fun part>.
"I'm having more fun investigating the six branches."
<Yes, except for you, Mr. Hamel.
"Tell me."
<A baronet in the north, a viscount in the south, and an earl in the north. Or, more accurately, smashed to bits.>
"Suddenly?"
<Yes, suddenly. Do you have any idea who did it?">
Heroan asked expectantly.
Lucion didn't particularly want to fulfill his expectations, but he suddenly remembered what Novio had said two days ago, that he'd gotten it all straightened out.
"...It's not Novio Cronia, is it?"
<Uh, how did you know? I heard that warlocks have big eyes and can see far away, was that true?
"......."
Lucion forgot what to say for a moment.
[That's amazing...?]
Russell was stunned.
[Cronia was... this powerful].
Even Bethel, who knew the general flow of things as a knight, couldn't help but be surprised.
Three noble families had been destroyed.
"I'll have to... ask my father."
Lucion swallowed dryly.
Even if Novio was the Lord of Cronia, he wondered if he would be okay with going to another region and wiping it out.
<Well, it's a mess anyway! I didn't realize the power of change was this strong either. I'll have to revise the information drastically.>
'...You're not going to do it for show, are you?'
Lucion fiddled with the contact item.
He tried to wield Cronia's power himself, but Novio stopped him from doing so.
It was only three days ago that Anthony had told him that he had completed his investigation of the assassin who had attacked Cronia, and Novio had waited three days when he would have smashed it right then and there.
'And today father handed over the invitation.'
Something clicked, and Lucion was pleased.
He'd just confirmed that what he'd said about being a shield was true.
<...Ah, Mr. Hamel.>
"What again?"
<Don't bother, just listen to me. I just wanted to get on good terms with my employer and have a little fun with the information. And have a drink, too.>
"Tell me."
Lucion let out a long breath.
<Lucion Cronia, that is.>
Lucion's body stiffened for a moment as the words came out of Heroan's mouth.
[Relax, listen, what's so alarming?]
Russell's giggling voice came from beside him.
<I've heard rumors of a recurrence of his original illness, but I can't seem to find out, and even if I tried to infiltrate Cronia, there's no way I'd be able to get in. Isn't that what we should be most wary of when the organization grows in size?
"Yes, but the organization's power hasn't grown to that point yet, so finish off those six branches quickly."
<Mr. Hamel. I'm not a wizard, and I don't know how many sleepless nights I've had to investigate the Chosen One out of the blue.......>
"An anonymous reporter reports that you ate and slept very well after investigating Chonest."
<Damn it, Quite...!>
Heroan exclaimed.
He soon found himself stuttering.
<I didn't mean to yell at him, I didn't mean to yell at you, Mr. Hamel!>
Heroan made a pained sound, but Lucion was two beats behind as he studied the invitation.
<...Mr. Hamel. That's not fair.">
"What can I do?"
For a moment, Lucion's hand froze.
<Mr. Hamel, are you sure you're listening to me?
"Yes. I'm listening."
Despite Lucion's grave tone, Heroan's voice brightened again.
<I'm looking into the branches in the near south, for one thing. Oh, and I'm keeping an eye on the others as well, and as you know, it's a long way away and it takes time, so I hope you understand.>
"I do. I understand."
Lucion knew how the rats gathered information.
Around the person they needed to gather information from. They'd start with the family around them, and work their way up, tail to tail, until they had all the information they needed about the target.
In a way, it was a very effective method that was malicious, guilt-ridden, and weak, but in the end, the target was unaware that everyone around him was stealing information, and he would naturally fall into the trap set by the rat.
"Are we done?"
<Hold on, Mr. Hamel. There's still more I want to share with you in private.......>
Took.
Lucion cut him off, knowing that Heroan would continue the chatter beyond verse one and into verse ten.
"...Ha."
Lucion sighed, then looked back at the invitation that had been put on hold because of Heroan.
Northern - Count Roaian.
"......?
Lucion doubted his eyes as soon as he saw the invitation's stationery.
His gaze quickly shifted to the other invitation.
Central - Viscount Vstoron.
Each invitation had a piece of paper attached to it stating the region and the name of the house.
"...Is this why you were so late in showing me the invitation?
Bethel looked at Lucion, who had a puzzled expression on his face.
Even Bethel herself could feel that Lucion was loved.
Lucion's eyes flickered back to the invitation, and a soft smile tugged at his lips.
"...Father."
After studying Novio's handwriting for a moment, Lucion organized them by region and placed them on his desk.
[West is annihilation].
As Lucion finished organizing, Russell spoke up.
Russell's gaze shifted to the left.
North, Central, South, and East, but nothing in the West.
"No wonder there's nothing there. They've already sworn obedience to Cronia, and since we're not on equal footing, don't you think it's odd that they're sending invitations?"
Lucion opened the invitations, checking them one by one and writing them down.
Smart.
-Humph!
A knock on the door came a moment later, and Latta rushed over with a ball in her mouth.
Beep!
The ball squeaked with delight.
Sniff.
Latta sniffed at the scent wafting through the crack and scratched at the door with his front paws.
-Sweets, sweets, Latta's favorite treats!
"Master. I think you must be hungry......."
The door opened and Hume stepped inside, then hurriedly shut up.
Lucion was sitting at his desk, doing something.
Hume's eyes flickered.
"...Did I make a mistake?"
Lowering his voice, Hume looked to Russell for help.
[No. You just looked at the invitation, so don't stand there like that, just come in].
"Is that right, thank you."
Hume walked inside, relieved.
"Put it down here, Hume."
Lucion gestured to the left side of the desk, and Hume walked over as carefully as he could and set down the snack he'd brought.
"Master."
Hume picked up Latta and gingerly called out to Lucion.
"What?"
"Let me read it for you."
"Can you read it now?"
"I can't say I'm perfect, but I'm confident."
Hume shifted Latta to cover his face.
-Hmm?
Latta blinked.
But her gaze was fixed on the bowl of cookies.
"Sure . Read it for me. It'll be faster that way."
Lucion pretended not to see the look on Hume's face at his eagerness to help and offered the cookie to Latta.
"Yes!"
Hume replied enthusiastically, and the corners of Latta's mouth turned up as she ate the cookie.
Wow.
When half the cookies on the plate had disappeared into Latta's stomach, Hume suddenly stopped talking.
"What's wrong, you can't read?"
At Lucion's words, Russell moved to Hume's side and read the words on the invitation with his eyes.
[......?]
Russell's eyes widened.
"It's an auction house."
Miella hadn't been there when Lucion told her about the auction house, but she'd heard it through Lucion.
An item that absorbed light, storing only the regenerative power of light.
No matter how little she knew about it, she knew it was something Lucion needed.
[What?]
Bethel was stunned and approached Hume.
"Give it to me."
Lucion took the envelope and paper from Hume.
'Countess of Southern Deshia,' the envelope read.
"Southern.
Lucion's brow narrowed.
Count Deshia.
Lucion had no idea what that place was like.
Which meant it wasn't in the novel.
Russell rolled his eyes, then opened his mouth.
[If it's an auction house in the South... isn't that where Miella's items will be sold?]
[It's too soon to tell].
But Bethel didn't dwell on it.
"You're right, Bethel. Auctions are held often, whether small or large."
Lucion agreed, and read the invitation.
-Greetings, Saint Lucion Cronia. My name is Nutton Desia, and I am in charge of the Sertio Auction House.
"...Sertio Auction House?
Lucion's eyes moved upwards for a moment.
Even though he had never been to the auction house before, he was familiar with it.
It was the largest of all the auction houses, and it only dealt in luxurious items for the 1%.
He had heard that even invitations to the auction were sold at a high price, as only the wealthy and high ranking nobles were allowed to go there.
"...Ha. Should I think I'm a rich man?
-We are holding this auction under the theme of light. We thought the saint would be the most appropriate person for this theme, so we carefully sent out the invitations. We're also donating a portion of the money raised from the auction to the orphanage, so we're hoping you'll be able to light up the room.
[Light. Holy cow.......]
Russell raised his voice.
It was obvious.
I'm sure there are tons of things with light in them.
[If this is the auction house Miella said it was, does Lord Lucion still intend to go?]
Bethel asked Lucion with a questioning look on her face.
"Even if it's not, I'll still go. It's a good chance to show that I'm worthy of this."
Lucion smirked.
If he didn't say anything, there would be a lot of people watching to see what he would do next.
It was important to keep his first steps under wraps.
The theme of light and giving was a perfect fit for the saintly man himself.
"Well, I don't know if Father will let me go, but I should check with Miella first."
Lucion pulled a contact item from his pocket and waved it around.